Horse & rider 9 17

SAVE YOUR HORSE FROM COLIC Today’s Western Horse Life

FUN, EASY DRILL BUILDS CONFIDENCE

September 2017

BE PREPARED FOR ANY DISASTER

HORSES HELP KIDS: WE COUNT THE WAYS

&

FALL TRAIL RIDING GUIDE

DEWORM RIGHT FOR A HEALTHY HORSE

GROOMING STRATEGIES: TAME THAT MANE

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 Unpublished data.

09.17 CO N T E NTS

AUTUMN’S PERFECT FOR TRAIL RIDING! FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAN A FALL-COLOR EXCURSION, WHETHER IT’S A SIMPLE DAY RIDE OR FULLBLOWN VACATION; PAGE 72.

P H OTO BY C LI XP H OTO.CO M

Features

62

72

80

86

94

Why Kids Should Ride Horses may be one of the best tools ever for fostering healthy, well-adjusted children.

Catch Fall Color Ready to ride through spectacular fall color?

Plan for safety and comfort.

Prepare for the Worst Here’s how you can keep your horse as safe as possible in the event of disaster.

Ace Your Pivot Perfect your horse’s turnaround with these trouble-shooting pointers.

Southwest Solitude Discover history and beauty in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

BY JENNIFER FORSBERG MEYER

BY AUDREY PAVIA

BY BARB CRABBE, DVM

BY JEFFERY GIBBS, WITH ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT

BY KENT AND CHARLENE KRONE

COVER PHOTO BY KATE BRADLEY BYARS September 2017 / 9

CO N T E NTS

In Every Issue 14 From the Editor 17 Riding Outside the Circle 21 Saddle Chat 104 My Collection

10 / HorseandRider.com

LEARN TO MAKE SEAMLESS TRANSITIONS IN GAIT AND SPEED, IN THE RING OR OUT ON THE TRAIL; PAGE 43.

HorseLife

Ride&Train

28 Travel Western dressage at the historic Lazy E.

43 Private Lesson Learn to do smooth, controlled transitions.

32 Health Be ready to prevent, treat deadly colic.

47 Winning Insights Key pointers all youth riders should know.

34 Solutions Taming and beautifying that mane.

51 Trail Insights Follow these expert trail-tack guidelines.

36 Style Western boots for your little buckaroo.

55 ConďŹ dent Rider This fun, easy exercise zaps fear, addds focus.

38 Horsekeeping Use a targeted deworming strategy.

59 Conformation Clinic Aged Arabian geldings.

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER PAULSON

09.17

VOLUME LVI, NUMBER 9 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

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FROM the EDITOR

Young Horse Life IT’S SAID THAT youth is wasted on the

young. In some ways, I guess I could agree with the sentiment—especially when it comes to naptime, metabolism, and endless energy.

But if a youngster has access to a horse, that’s probably the best possible way to take advantage of his or her younger years.

Here are just a few reasons why.

14 / HorseandRider.com

RESILIENCE Do you remember the last time you came off your horse? It probably hurt a lot more, for a longer time, at 40-, 50-, or 60-something than it did when you were a child. And I’d guess from my own recent ousting from the saddle that it made you more cautious the next time you mounted up—even a little fearful that it might happen again.

Kids bounce. And when they come back up, sometimes it’s even with a smile on their face or a look of determination. They don’t have the lingering aches, pains, bumps, and (very large) bruises. Even when they do, say, break a bone, they finish their six weeks in a cast and are horseback before we adults are halfway through the healing process.

DISTRACTION-FREE LIFE When was the last time a kid had to worry about presenting to a client or dropping off a mortgage check? If you can tear them away from their devices, kids are relatively distraction-free in the saddle. Yes, there’s homework to think about, but if the opportunity arises for my sons to focus on riding or math, saddle time wins, and they quickly forget about the class assignments.

That distraction-free mind is ripe for learning, too.

SPONGE-LIKE LEARNING Learning gets harder as we age. Our experiences influence our objectivity and willingness to be educated by people we see as “unlike us.” Kids lack preconceptions that might limit learning opportu-

PHOTO BY MALLORY BEINBORN

nities. And because they’re learning all day at school, their brains are primed to take in all the info to ride better, whether those lessons come from a trainer, instructor, parent, or even the horse.

FRESH PASSION As we age, maintaining passion takes work. We face burnout, hit plateaus, and lose interest. Even if a child has been horseback “since she was born,” horse life is new, exciting, intriguing, and full of opportunities. Children have the energy and drive to take risks and try new things. That passion grows and develops as young riders gain skills, get older, and become skilled horsemen. Then, when they reach parenthood, they can share that passion for all things horses with their own kids.

OUR COMMITMENT TO KIDS You’ll see many young riders on the pages of this issue (in departments and features) and read about reasons why the outside of a horse is good for the inside of any kid.

Look for Bob Avila’s advice for young riders (page 47) and Senior Editor Jennifer Forsberg Meyer’s “Why Kids Should Ride” (page 62).

But our commitment to getting kids horseback doesn’t stop in the pages of the magazine, and we hope yours doesn’t, either. Do you encourage equine pursuits for your children and grandchildren? How are you sharing your Western horse life with kids so it continues for generations to come?

Email me at the address at right to share your contributions.

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

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September 2017 / 15

RIDING OUTSIDE the CIRCLE

Less Me, More We ILLUSTRATION BY ROBERT D. QUIMBY

I SPENT THE past 20 years or so as

a magazine editor, observing and writing about horsemanship, rodeo, and cowboy culture. When that phase ended, I decided that rather than write about people doing interesting things, I wanted to do interesting things.

The first and best opportunity I’ve experienced is as a member of a ranch-rodeo team. My family’s ranch joined up with a neighboring outfit to form a Working Ranch Cowboys Association-approved team, with the goal of earning a spot in the WRCA’s World Championship Ranch Rodeo.

WRCA came into being 22 years ago to showcase ranch cowboy skills, preserve cowboy culture and the Western way of life, and raise money for cowboys and their families who were facing tough times. Since

by Bob Welch

then, their WCRR has grown into the must-attend event for the Great Plains ranch cowboy culture. Spectators pack the Amarillo Civic Center to check out the handiest cowboys at work, as well as shop the best pure-cowboy trade show in the West.

To compete at the WCRR, ranches must qualify by winning one of 23 sanctioned rodeos across six states (our ticket to Amarillo). The WRCA sets itself apart by requiring that teams are from actual working ranches and team members are legitimate working cowboys—no PRCA ringers allowed. Two ranches may combine to field a full team of four to six people, and each team must compete in five events: ranch bronc riding, stray gathering, wild cow milking, team penning, and branding.

Finding the Right Fit During my writing career, I was blessed to attend the gamut of horse-related events, from local clinics to colt-starting contests to major breed association or discipline shows to professional rodeos. As much as I love to watch highly trained horses at work, after a half hour at a show, my attention drifts.

For my tastes, the WRCA-sanctioned ranch rodeos—including the WCRR— provide the ideal convergence of competition, community, and entertainment, even without the rock-and-roll atmosphere of a professional rodeo.

Either in the bronc riding or the wild cow milking, spectators are treated to at least one “tell your friends about it” wreck. And if wrecks aren’t your chosen conversational topic, you can sure talk about the how well the cowboys are mounted. The ranch horses these cowboys ride in the stray gathering and the sorting can only be considered among the best of the equine world.

Even when I’m competing against others on a team, I relish watching our competition’s cowboys and horses as they work. If I’m not competing, you can bet I’m transfixed on the action.

That is, unless I’m visiting with friends or family. The competitors and September 2017 / 17

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SADDLE CHAT

socially speaking

Join the Herd EMA I L

HorseandRider@ aimmedia.com

SN A I L MA I L

5720 Flatiron Pkwy, Boulder, CO 80301

Fun on Facebook Does your horse enjoy a good brushing?

He likes being clean, and he

Jan Heaton When I brush

really wants his stall clean.

my mare’s belly, she makes

Kristin Aschenbrenner We had

sounds like she would for her

Erica Creutz My horse loves

a filly that loved belly rubs.

foal and treats me like she

being brushed and groomed.

When she was a foal she’d

would a foal, by nosing me

He thinks it’s so relaxing, and

roll over like a dog and stay

and licking. She is very affec-

it’s always a great time for en-

on her back while you rubbed

tionate to me and is grateful

joying each other’s company.

her belly!

for the belly scratch!

Facebook.com/ HorseandRider

HorseandRiderMag

@Horse_and_Rider

#SELFIESUNDAY Have you participated yet? Each Sunday, we ask our Facebook fans to share their favorite selfies that include their horses.

Join the fun! “Like” H&R on Facebook, and look for the post on Sundays to share your photos.

#HORSELIFEIRL HrsRdrMag

sugar_grace_1022 when I am with you there's no place I'd rather be #wish #horse #horses #horselifeirl #love #barnlife #country #cowgirl #countrygirl #western #painthorse #quarterhorse #equestrian #scenery Tag your Instagram photos #HorseLifeIRL (In Real Life) for

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

a chance to see your post here!

September 2017 / 21

“FUN ON FACEBOOK” PHOTO BY MALLORY BEINBORN; “#SELFIESUNDAY” PHOTO BY ANTONIODIAZ/DREAMSTIME

SOCI A L

SADDLE CHAT

from you, the reader

WE HEAR YOU Trailering Question My trailer is a threehorse slant-load. After reading “The Long Haul” (July 2017), I had a question. I frequently trailer only one horse at a time. Should I open up the entire trailer to be one large stall box for him on a 7-hour haul?

Janet Sheldon

22 / HorseandRider.com

#TAYLOREDTOBEBOLD

“I had so much fun, and I learned a lot! My friend and I came home inspired to work harder and to continue our barrel-racing careers!”

Sydney Cameron, winner of the Fallon Taylor Win-a-Day Contest, sponsored by Cactus Gear

YOUR STORY My Journey With Max ­ As the vet palpated Max’s spine, waiting for the flinch that indicates discomfort, I thought about my journey with this gelding. Seven now, he was 3 when I got him—and I was a colt-training newbie.

I’d had ideas, though.

I wanted a journey that didn’t sacrifice his playful individuality to my ego. A friend suggested I check out clinician Jonathan Field. “He’s good on partnership stuff,” she said.

I ordered his DVD set and spent the winter working through the lessons. The next summer, we participated in our first clinic, and have caught at least one clinic or camp each year since.

And…it worked! By sticking closely to the program, I got trained along with Max, and it’s led to a fantastic relationship between us.

I’m now an issue-identifier, problem-solver, and darn happy rider.

He’s a happy athlete, too. The vet smiled as she felt a nicely muscled

back, free of all tension and flinching.

It was proof our journey was traveling the right path. …Jan Bagot, Edmonton, Alberta

TOP PHOTO BY NICHOLE CHIRICO; BOTTOM PHOTO BY JULIE MacKENZIE

Great question! Yes, that’s exactly what we do when hauling long distances in a slant-load trailer. We even haul this way for colicky horses being transported to a surgical facility—they’re much more likely to stay on their feet in an open trailer. As an added advantage, it’s much easier and safer to get the horse up if he goes down while on the road. If your dividers can’t be removed completely, make sure they can be tied back securely. In some trailers, we pad the ends of the dividers where there might be sharp edges that could cause injuries. (A bath towel and some duct tape can do the trick). I also prefer a trailer with extra security for the back-door closure, such as a ramp that comes up over the two back doors or a solid butt bar.

Dr. Barb Crabbe, Contributing Editor

you should know

Ride With the Best

PHOTO COURTESY OF EQUINE AFFAIRE

The opportunity: Ride with one of the top clinicians presenting at Equine Affaire.

When and where: November 9–12 at Eastern States Expo in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

The details: Find a complete list of clinicians and information about how to sign up at equine affaire.com. Program fees start at $75 and include clinic participation, event admission, and 24 hours of on-site stabling. But don’t delay! Submissions to ride in clinics close September 8.

Bonus: Equine Affaire isn’t just clinics. Shopping is ideal for the holiday season, with hundreds of retailers filling the trade show.

Championship Season We’d love to see your photos and read all about your success stories from this fall’s championship show season! Send stories about your experiences to HorseandRider@aimmedia.com and tag your Instagram photos with #HorseLifeIRL. You might see yourself and your horse in the pages of H&R! September 2017 / 25

Sally Loves Horses!

SADDLE CHAT

A beautiful children’s book about friendship and horses.

Perfect for young Riders and Horse lovers.

Available at

www.Champyouth.com Amazon & Select Booksellers

champ Youth

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Dixie Midnight No-Sweat Vent Pads

Trainers on the Rise Who are the hot new trainers in the Western world? Featured up-and-coming pros include Madison Shambaugh (above) and Cody Crow, our expert resource for Confident Rider, beginning on page 55. Use his drill to focus your mind on riding instead of your nerves.

Thousands of Endurance Riders, Working Cowboys, and Trail Riders, world-wide, use the No-Sweat vent pad to keep their horse’s back cooler and their saddle pads clean and dry.

Why???

Because it WORKS! Guaranteed. www.dixiemidnight.com Toll Free: 1-888-287-6716 ALL No-Sweats are 100% Made In America By Americans!

26 / HorseandRider.com

The Thinking Rider On tap for September: Calming a hot horse. Follow Horse&Rider on Facebook for alerts on new posts from this informative blog, winner for the second year in a row of the American Horse Publication’s first-place blog award.

“TRAINERS ON THE RISE” PHOTO BY MALLORY BEINBORN, COURTESY OF MADISON SHAMBAUGH; “THE THINKING RIDER” PHOTO BY SHERI SCOTT

by Jody Mackey

TRAVEL / HEALTH SOLUTIONS / STYLE HORSEKEEPING

Western dressage celebrates the legacy of the American West by combining Western traditions with the classical principles of dressage.

T RAVE L

Okla.

WHERE

Guthrie, Oklahoma

W H AT

WDAA World Show WHEN

September 28– October 1

WDAA World Show Immerse yourself in the beauty and precision of Western dressage when you attend the Western Dressage Association of America World Championship Show at the historic Lazy E Arena in central Oklahoma. “We don’t require qualification for our event, so we have competitors of all levels,” notes Dini Swanson, WDAA executive secretary. “People come for the fun atmosphere and camaraderie, but the first priority is always the horse.”

29 PHOTO BY BIANCA MCCARTY PHOTOGRAPHY

Okla.

The growing event, which hosts more than 200 horses during the show, offers 74 classes.

“The thing that hooked me when I attended my first Western dressage event was that everyone has a great time,” Swanson shares. “That fun atmosphere is also found at our world show.”

That element of fun is augmented with celebrations each night of the show, both on the grounds and in a new event that encourages show-goers to visit local restaurants.

If you can’t attend the event in person, you can watch the show online from the comfort of your home—and make plans to be there in person next year!

32

Number of breeds of horses that competed at the 2016 WDAA World Championship Show.

1

2 3 4

5

Don't Miss This explore.

Visit the 1. Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library to learn about the creation of the Unassigned Lands, the Land Run of 1889, and other formative events in The

Sooner State’s history.

eat.

Choose barbecue or TexMex at 2. Stables Café, a Guthrie staple since 1987. Grab breakfast at 3. Katie’s Café, known for its large portions and

friendly atmosphere.

Swanson recommends the famous onion burger at 4. Flat-Tire Burgers in nearby Edmond.

do.

Visit 5. Horse Heaven Ranch Resort in Talihina,

Oklahoma, for luxury cabins, covered barns, and living-quarters hook-ups. Located about three hours southeast of Guthrie, the ranch boasts 100 miles of the Ouachita National Forest to explore horseback.

Oklahoma’s First Capital City The town of Guthrie, among others in Oklahoma, sprang into existence in 1889, when President Benjamin Harrison signed a proclamation opening the Unassigned Lands in Indian Territory to non-Indian settlers. It was Oklahoma’s capital from 1907 until 1910.

30 / HorseandRider.com

PHOTOS BY BY BIANCA MCCARTY PHOTOGRAPHY; MAP COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

TRAVEL

The Facts

Colic know-how can save your horse from this No. 1 killer.

HEA LTH

Be ready for colic

Abdominal pain can be caused by gas in the digestive tract; obstructions and feed impactions; bowel twists, tumors, or ruptures—even issues elsewhere in the body. Call your vet immediately if you notice restlessness, sweating, groaning, pawing, looking at the belly, or attempting to roll. Move your horse to a well-bedded stall or small paddock. Walking him for 10 minutes at a time may provide some relief until the vet arrives.

Prevention Is Best

Colic pain can cause thrashing, so a well-bedded stall or other safe location is necessary until your veterinarian arrives.

Reduce your horse’s overall risk of colic with smart management strategies:

Feed small amounts frequently, or even better, provide 24/7 forage or grazing. Make any changes in feed gradually. Give fresh, clean water of a drinkable temperature.

Provide

exercise, deworming, and dental care on regular schedules.

olic Cautions

If you’re in a sandy environment, place hay in a feeder or on a rubber mat to avoid sand ingestion.

Ask your vet about sand-clearing products containing psyllium.

Where you can, minimize stress-inducing events.

32 / HorseandRider.com

don’t medicate

don’t allow eating

don’t exhaust him

Pain meds hide symptoms; give only with your vet’s OK.

Remove feed; give only sips of water until the vet arrives.

If your horse is lying quietly, it’s OK to let him rest.

LARGE PHOTO BY SHELLEY PAULSON, "COLIC CAUTIONS" PHOTOS (FROM LEFT): RTIMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM, MALLORY BEINBORN, JENNIFER PAULS ON

Colic Keys

ManeCare Supplies

S OLUTION S

Products that promote a healthy, clean mane.

Mane Care

1.

Rosewater Shampoo

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TIP

2.

Mane 'n Tail Conditioner

Keep your horse’s long mane from getting tangled within your saddle by braiding the hair near his withers.

Conditions dry, damaged hair and promotes a stronger, tangle-free mane. $7.99; manentail equine.com.

Tame His Mane We all love a long, flowing mane, but what kind of work goes into managing those gorgeous locks? If your horse has a mane similar to National Reining Horse Association stallion Xtra New Pal Voodoo (photographed here), it takes a little extra TLC to guarantee everything stays clean and tangle-free. To maintain New Pal’s famous locks, trainer Trevor Dare shampoos and conditions the horse’s mane once a week.

And when New Pal isn’t being shown (or washed) his mane remains neatly braided.

34 / HorseandRider.com

Spot-treats serious tangles and knots on wet or dry hair. $10.99; absorbine.com.

P HOTO BY N I CH OL E CHI R I CO

3.

Argan Oil Detangler

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Kids’ Kicks STY LE

Boots three different ways.

Kids’ Boots

1.

Olathe Tall Tops

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2.

Lavender Durangos

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3.

Hooey Boots

Boots for Your Buckaroo Finding the right pair of boots for your little one is no easy feat. Ensure a perfect

fit by bringing a pair of boot socks for your young one to wear when you go boot shopping. To keep him comfortable when he’s on his feet, look for a boot that provides cushion in the footbed, like the Tombstone, shown here ($94.95; ariat.com).

And if he’s between sizes, find a boot that has room for a removable insert.

36 / HorseandRider.com

Olive-and-brown squaretoed boots.

Info: $134.99; twistedx.com.

LARGE PHOTO BY NICHOLE CHIRICO

LEATHER CARE

Experience The Excitement and Majesty of the

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HORSE ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP HORSE SHOW September 7-9, 2017 at the Kentucky Horse Park. www.rmhainternationalshow.com

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859-644-5244 Admin@rmhorse.com Breeders, Equine Services, Trainers and Sales Directory @ rmhorse.com/bests

HORSEKEEP I N G

Parasites

Fall is a great time to assess your deworming program. Check with your veterinarian to see how fecal egg counts can help.

38 / HorseandRider.com

Keeping Worms at Bay Today’s deworming strategies target horses’ specific parasite loads while minimizing the development of dewormer resistance.

How important is controlling internal parasites? The American Association of Equine Practitioners says it’s probably second in importance only to providing your horse with clean, plentiful water and high-quality feed. Worms can rob your horse of valuable nutrients, damage his internal organs, even cause colic and death. That’s why paying close attention to your deworming program is critical.

Deworming That Works The current best advice is to deworm based on results of fecal egg counts (see below) rather than on an every-other-month rotation. This helps you avoid overusing specific dewormers, which in turn staves off development of the parasite resistance we’ve seen in recent years.

Work with your regular veterinarian to devise a deworming program for your horses. He or she can assess fecal egg counts to help you tell which dewormers will be most effective at your property, how often

deworming is needed, and how to target programs for specific horses.

What Else You Can Do Keeping your horses safe from parasites involves more than just deworming plans, however. It also helps if you: • Avoid overgrazing your pastures (this cuts down on the ingestion of parasite eggs).

• Pick up and dispose of manure regularly (and compost it before spreading on pastures being grazed).

• Mow and harrow pastures to break up manure piles, exposing and drying out parasite larvae.

• If feasible, rotate your pastures by allowing sheep or cattle to graze them (this interrupts the life cycles of equine parasites).

• Avoid feeding your horses hay or grain directly on the ground.

• Remove bot-fly eggs regularly from your horses’ haircoats, especially around the legs, chest, and belly.

For Heavy Loads If your horse has a serious infestation of encysted strongyles (a “hay belly” sometimes results from this), ask your veterinarian about a five-day dewormer to ensure thorough treatment. The Panacur PowerPac contains five, 57-gram (double-dose) syringes of fenbendazole; you administer one syringe daily for five consecutive days (adjusting the syringe according to your horse’s weight). Deworming with a product like this in the fall can be especially

Fecal Egg Counts

200

useful, as it thor-

Worm eggs per gram (EPG) that signal a parasite load needing treatment. Fecal egg counts are the key to a deworming strategy that maximizes effectiveness while minimizing parasite resistance. A good approach is to check fecal egg counts on all your horses before deworming, then do a follow-up check—and additional deworming if needed—on any “high shedders” (horses with pre-deworming counts of over 500 EPG).

L A R G E PH OTO BY MA RIA DRYFHOUT/DRE AMSTIME .COM; SMALL HOR S E P H OTO BY S H EL L EY PAU L S O N

oughly eliminates your horse’s load of large and small strongyles (the most common and destructive of internal parasites) after his exposure to pasture.

September 2017 / 39

Merial is now part of Boehringer Ingelheim. Prascend and Vetera are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH. Gastrogard and Ulcergard are registered trademarks of Merial. Š2017 Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. EQU-0211-GEN0717

W E B E L I E V E G R E AT N E S S N E V E R RESTS, AND ‘GOOD ENOUGH’ IS NOT AN OPTION. FROM COMPETITION HORSES TO TRAIL C O M PA N I O N S T O T H E P E O P L E WHO CARE FOR THEM, EVERY M O M E N T I S A N O P P O R T U N I T Y. T H AT ’ S W H Y W E D E L I V E R O N LY E XC E L L E N C E I N E Q U I N E H E A LT H S O L U T I O N S A N D S U P P O R T. BECAUSE A HORSE DESERVES NOTHING LESS. WE DON’T BELIEVE IN LIMITS. WE BELIEVE I N E L I M I N AT I N G O B S TA C L E S A N D U N LO C K I N G P O T E N T I A L .

UNBRIDLE YOUR POTENTIAL

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5,000 I.U. Vitamin E (Selenium Free) The same Vitamin E that is credited with everything from a better health, increased well being and anti-oxidant properties, and is every bit essential to your horse.

BENEFITS OF VITAMIN E: • Antioxidants help maintain a normal immune system • Provides antioxidant support • May help reduce oxidative damage • Supports healthy response to stress • Supports normal detoxification processes • Supports respiratory health

BEST CHOICE NATURAL CINNAMON THE FUNCTIONAL FOOD

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• Prebiotics • Enzymes • Yeast • Probiotics BENEFITS • Foals and Weanling Horses – To promote a healthy, efficient digestive environment, and support immune system health • Adult Horses and Yearlings – To support digestion, weight gains, and feed efficiency • Dogs – For Weanling Pups, Geriatric Adults, and Dogs under Stress

The Cinnamon you purchase in the grocery store is usually a “C” grade. The key difference between WHF Best Choice Natural Cinnamon and the grocery store Cinnamon is our product is GROUND FRESH and can be stored for long periods of time. Grocery store Cinnamon is already a year old and made from the twig/limbs of the Cinnamon tree, the most inexpensive section with little to no nutrient value.

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PRIVATE LESSON / W IN N IN G IN SIGH TS / T R A I L I N S I G H TS / CO N F I D EN T RI D ER / CO N F O RMAT I O N C L I N I C

PRIVATE LESSON

Effective Transitions

WHETHER YOU’RE A BEGINNER OR advanced, ride trails or rails, effective speed transitions are an essential part of your horsemanship. Controlled, smooth changes of gait make for a more enjoyable ride for you and your horse—less bouncing around, fumbled cues, and confusion for your horse. And they net you a better score if you compete. Here I’ll explain how one of my young riders works on her transitions to eventually make them effortless and almost invisible.

September 2017 / 43

PHOTOS BY JENNIFER PAULSON

Lindsay LaPlante gives young riders their first experiences with horses through her Silver Spur Riding School. Learn more about the value of having horses in kids’ lives beginning on page 62.

More about the expert…

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a collected, even lope.

Just as with the jog, maintain proper position in the saddle so you can be an effective rider.

Pay close attention to your horse’s footfalls so you notice when he reaches the desired level of extension when you ask for it in the next step.

Five Extend your horse’s lope

by using pressure from your legs and kissing or clucking to him. Keep control at this faster gait by maintaining soft contact with the bit, but not so much that you hold back your horse’s motion.

Again, it should take two or three strides to achieve the gait extension, just as with the jog/extended trot transition. No matter the gait you’re working on, take more strides if necessary to get it correct. Transitioning incorrectly in two

strides isn’t an achievement if the transition is sloppy or lacks control.

Six Ease back down to a slower lope by slowing your motion in the saddle, sitting deeply in your seat, and softening your leg pressure. Maintain slightly more pressure with your outside leg to keep your horse in a lope and to

ensure that he doesn’t drop all the way to a jog or walk. Use minimal hand cues here to keep from confusing him about what you want. Too much pressure from your hands could make him think you want to drop to a jog or walk, or even stop. Repeat these transitions multiple times in each riding session. They’ll help you determine exactly how much cue your horse needs for each change of gait.

September 2017 / 45

Ride&Train

WINNING INSIGHTS

BY BOB AVILA, WITH JENNIFER PAULSON

Youth Riders Should Know…

Kids and horses make the perfect pair for valuable life lessons.

­ If you’re a kid who gets to ride, consider yourself lucky. You experience the joy of caring for a horse and riding, all while being physically active, and you reap benefits that’ll help form who you are and set your path toward a successful adulthood, both inside and outside the arena.

I raised my son, BJ, in the horse industry, and I’ve coached numerous youth riders to reach their goals and see them succeed as amateur and open competitors. Here are seven insights all youth riders should consider to get the most out of the experience.

PHOTO BY JENNIFER PAULSON

Find a Barn That Fits Youth riders tend to stick together, and trainers who work with kids have a special skillset. Find a barn that’s fun and where you fit in. That means your goals align with the trainer’s expectations, your barn friends share

interests, and you can help each other along with your horses. Then when you travel to shows and events together, it’s almost like having your own team.

You can cheer for each other, lend hands to help when necessary, and build each other back up after tough times with your horses (or at home).

Seize Learning Opportunities There are so many educational outlets to improve your horsemanship. Capitalize on every single one of them. From clinics, DVDs, and lessons to watching other horses warm up and compete, open eyes can take in a lot of information.

Avoid Isolation So many kids—the ones without horses—spend all their time inside. Their

Horses teach kids many things—responsibility, work ethic, empathy, and communication. But only if you're open to the opportunity to learn.

only connection with other people comes via Internet connectivity, whether it be on games or social media.

I can’t discount the importance of keeping up with technology; it’s important in today’s world. But your barn activities open doors for you to build lifelong friendships, as well as encourage an active, healthy lifestyle.

Get Off the Phone This is my ongoing gripe with riders of all kinds, but especially youth riders.

You’re attached to your phones, because it’s part of your DNA. Mobile communication has been part of your entire life. But can you

put down the phone for an hour so you can focus on your horse? Yes. Can you leave it in the tack room when you head to the warm-up pen at the show?

Indeed. (And you won’t run into another rider when you’re filming a Snapchat video horseback.) You’ll be a better horseman for it, too. If you’re not worried about what’s going on with Facebook or getting a text message, you can fully focus on your horse. It’s just one hour; disconnect from your phone, and see the benefits.

Learn About Life Horse-show kids tend to grow up faster because

September 2017 / 47

New to competing with your horse, whether a youth or amateur? Read “Learning to Show” online for Bob’s advice to newcomers.

Learn more online...

your competitors when they have a great maneuver in a pattern. They’ll do the same for you.

Success Can Happen to You

for success. You'll probably also develop friendships within the barn that make riding even more fun.

they have a higher level of responsibility than most other kids their age. You’re responsible for a living, breathing, 1,200-pound animal.

When I had youth riders, they bathed, groomed, and tacked their own horses. If they lived close enough to my place, they came over the day before a show to prepare horses. It taught them that they had a job to do. If they chose not to do it, then they couldn’t show.

As a horse kid, you also

48 / HorseandRider.com

learn that you can’t take your horses (or friends, family, or classmates) for granted. You have to care for your partner. This teaches empathy and gives a sense of duty to do your part.

Perhaps most importantly, you learn that if you don’t do the work, you don’t reap the rewards.

Set High Standards Expect a lot from yourself. Challenge yourself to

always do your best. Don’t accept less than your own best effort. Your horse will rise to the occasion if you’ve put in the work.

This also entails setting goals for yourself. Work with your trainer to set benchmarks for the short term (how many times you ride each week) and the more distant future (qualifying for a world show).

As you work to achieve your goals, be a good sport. Congratulate your barn friends when they reach a goal. Cheer for

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.

LARGE PHOTO BY JENNIFER PAULSON; BIO PHOTO BY MARC LAXINETA, DVM

A trainer who understands your goals and needs as a youth rider ensures that you'll learn the skills you need

It doesn’t matter where you come from. It’s how hard you work. I had nothing when I started as a trainer, but I worked hard, and horses have done very well for me. I made my son practically beg me to show horses before I let him compete. And then I put him on a horse that made him work for everything he got. He put in the time, and he was rewarded with becoming a better horseman. Hard work earns the rewards every time.

#Youholdmyheart aqha.com/myheart

Ride&Train

TRAIL INSIGHTS

BY JULIE GOODNIGHT, WITH HEIDI MELOCCO

PHOTOS BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Be Trail-Tack Savvy Follow these expert trail-tack guidelines for optimal safety, fit, comfort, and control.

­ Safe, comfortable, trailready tack says you’re a dedicated, knowledgeable trail rider. You’ll also be ready for long rides in fall’s cool weather.

On the trail, your tack must stay in place, fit well, and be attached correctly so that your horse can conquer any terrain comfortably. If your saddle doesn’t fit, his back will be sore after just a short ride. If your saddle isn’t securely attached, it could slide backward or forward, especially when you ride up and down hills. If your bridle doesn’t have a browband and throatlatch, it could come off if your horse brushes against a low branch.

Here, I’ll explain what’s safe and unsafe in your trail bridle, trail saddle, and your saddle’s attachments that help to keep it in place—the flank cinch, breastcollar, and crupper.

I’ll also share the type of tack I prefer on the trail and how to fit it to your horse so he stays comfortable and pain-free.

Your Trail Bridle Use a bridle with a browband and throatlatch to help keep it secure and balanced. (One-eared headstalls can come off on the trail.) Adjust the headstall evenly on both sides.

The browband should be level and sit just below your horse’s ears.

Tighten the throatlatch just enough so that you can fit three fingers between the strap and your horse’s throat. This will keep the throatlatch tight enough to keep the headstall from slipping over his ears, but not so tight that it interferes with his breathing when he breaks at the poll.

The bit must sit level in your horse’s mouth. I fit my horse’s bit so no wrinkles show in the corners of his mouth. The bit sits at the top of the mouth, with no gaps between bit and lip.

Your Trail Saddle For trail riding, I prefer a

On the trail, your tack must stay in place, fit well, and be attached correctly so that your horse can conquer any terrain comfortably.

Western saddle that puts my legs and body in a balanced position and with a narrow twist and padded seat for comfort.

Your horse’s comfort is paramount. I prefer to ride in a flexible-tree saddle that conforms to my horse’s back shape and absorbs shock. These saddles are lightweight and allow your horse to move his shoulders.

A saddle horn allows you to pony another horse and gives you something to hold onto in steep terrain. Horn-free Western or

“hybrid” trail saddles tend to be lighter.

A saddle skirt will help keep your trail gear from rubbing your horse’s back.

Back skirting lets you hook on large bags for long rides. Also look for plenty of ties and D-rings to attach jackets and water bottles.

Check the saddle’s fit and placement. The seat should appear level when viewed from the side. The screw at the base of the pommel should sit behind your horse’s shoulder blade, in “the pocket.” You should

September 2017 / 51

If you want to learn more...

Watch Julie explain when to apply a halter over your trail bridle at Horse andRider.com this month.

LEFT: A flank cinch secures the back of your trail saddle when your horse rounds his back. RIGHT: A breastcollar helps keep your saddle from slipping back when going uphill. I prefer a wide, sculpted breastcollar for comfort. Fit the breastcollar so it sits above your horse’s shoulders.

be able to insert your whole hand over his withers under the pommel to ensure that the saddle won’t push down on his withers.

When you saddle up, pull the saddle pad up into the gullet so your saddle doesn’t create pressure at your horse’s withers. Also make sure your saddle doesn’t dig into his back or hips.

Rigging refers to where the D-rings are placed to hold your saddle onto your horse. For trail riding, I prefer Y (centerfire) rigging, in which an additional D-ring allows you to run the latigo front and back to create a “Y” to help hold your saddle in place.

You can also change cinch

52 / HorseandRider.com

placement if your horse gets a saddle sore on a long ride.

Secure Attachments A flank cinch secures the back of your trail saddle when your horse rounds his back. Make sure the flank cinch is snug, but not so tight it causes discomfort. Use a cinch hobble (connecting the two cinches) to prevent the flank cinch from slipping back and becoming a bucking strap.

A breastcollar helps to keep your saddle from slipping back when going uphill. I prefer a wide,

sculpted breastcollar for comfort. Fit the breastcollar so it sits above your horse’s shoulders. Center the middle strap, and attach the collar evenly on each side. Make sure it isn’t so tight that it interferes with your horse’s breathing when his nose touches the ground. You should be able to place a fist between the strap and the front of his chest.

If your well-fitting saddle slips forward when going downhill, consider a crupper—a leather strap that attaches to the back of your saddle and goes under your horse’s tail—to hold your saddle in place. Desensitize your horse to the crupper before hitting the trail.

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.

Ride&Train

CONFIDENT RIDER

BY CODY CROW, WITH J. FORSBERG MEYER

Change It Up!

PHOTO BY JENNIFER PAULSON

This creative exercise is easy, fun, and guaranteed to get you focused on your riding—instead of your nerves.

­ Here’s how this exercise came to be. An older student of mine had been bucked off in a lope depart and was terrified of loping.

Even the thought of it brought panic attacks. She spent her entire lessons worrying about the moment I might ask her to pick up a lope.

I knew I had to get her mind focused away from her fears, so I started shooting directives at her in short intervals.

“Now trot,” I’d say.

Moments later: “Now turn across the arena.” Moments later: “Now stop and back up.” I kept at it until I saw a smile that indicated she was having fun. Eventually, I slipped in, “Now lope,” but only for a stride or two, then back to a walk.

And she did it without even thinking about the fact that she was loping.

Goal achieved!

This exercise focuses your attention by changing what you’re doing each time a helper tells you to, or when you pass a certain marker—in this case, a cone. Here, our young rider passes the cone at a walk.

Why It Works When you’re nervous about something, it’s almost impossible to stop thinking about it. Telling yourself to stop is useless. It’s like telling yourself not to think about an elephant: The only thing you can picture in your mind is huge and gray, with a trunk.

But when you’re active-

ly involved in something physical that commands your attention, it’s hard to stay focused on anything else. If you’re riding around the arena for long stretches of time doing just one thing, your mind can wander back to what’s bothering you.

But if you have to keep changing what you’re doing, you have to stay focused on the cues and movements needed to

accomplish those changes smoothly.

Since that first scaredto-lope student, I’ve used the same technique successfully on different riders with various issues.

It never fails to help the students, plus it helps their horses learn to pay closer attention to them, as well.

The horse focuses on his rider, and the rider focuses on riding rather than on her nerves. →

September 2017 / 55

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.

Horses in transition, like Cactus, deserve a second chance.

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Ride&Train

CONFORMATION CLINIC

Aged Arabian Geldings Evaluate and place these 7- and 8-year-old Arabian geldings. Then see how your choices compare to our expert judge’s. ­ THE FIRST criteria when judging any breed is balance. It’s critical when form to function is a major criterion for meeting a conformation standard. All horses, no matter their intended use, should possess equal and even parts: neck and shoulder, back, and croup and tail.

Arabians have particular breed standards that set them apart from other breeds. In a class of Arabian horses, Arabian type must be considered. The most distinctive Arabian characteristics that set them apart and distinguish them from other breeds are very large eyes, the dished face, tiny ears that tip toward each other, a relatively flat croup, and a high tail set. Other desired traits include a nice high wither, a long and fine neck, long and sloping shoulders and pasterns, short cannon bones, and long forearms with nice flat bone. I base my final decision to break any ties by examining the Arabian characteristics. →

VICKI HUMPHREY Vicki Humphrey owns Humphrey Training Center in Canton, Georgia, with her daughter Jessica and Jessica’s husband, Gabriel DeSoto. Voted Arabian Professional & Amateur Horseman’s Association Instructor of the Year in 2015 and English Saddleseat Trainer of the Year nine times, Humphrey has been inducted into the APAHA Hall of Fame. She also breeds Arabians and Saddlebreds, and has judged Arabians extensively, including the U.S. and Canadian Nationals; the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show; and Arabian shows in Europe, Australia, South Africa, and South America.

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Ride&Train

CLINIC

1st

2nd

3rd

Gelding B

Gelding C

Gelding A

­ This gelding is my winner in a close race. He’s proportionate when divided into thirds from front to back, and has the best length of croup of the three. He’s also the only horse of the three with a tail set high on his croup, as we want to see in Arabians.

He has a long, fine neck with a clean throatlatch, making it a very flexible neck to put in a bridle and useful in a variety of disciplines. His head has a slight dish and a square muzzle, desirable in Arabians as large, flared nostrils gives their muzzles a square appearance. His ears appear to be tight, set close together, and shapely.

He has a well-sprung heartgirth and well-developed loin for strength and the ability to carry a rider. His legs appear clean and “dry,” which means bones and tendons are visible and any swelling would stand out. He has well-angled pasterns, although he appears almost back at the knee, and he could have more muscling in his gaskin for power from behind.

­ This gelding, although showing some nice Arabian type, isn’t as balanced as Gelding B when divided into thirds. His croup is a bit light in substance, and his back is equal in proportion to his croup, but his neck is much heavier in comparison.

Tail carriage is a critical factor when judging Arabians, and though he appears to have good tail carriage, his tail is set lower on his croup than Gelding B’s.

His neck comes out low on the shoulder, and his throatlatch is thick, which will make it harder for him to lift and flex his neck, and will limit the disciplines he’s suited for participating in. His ears appear well-shaped, but his muzzle isn’t as small and square as Gelding B’s, so he has less Arab type.

His leg looks well-proportioned for his body size, but his front pasterns and hoofs are very upright. This makes for a choppier gait and less comfortable ride, and over time, the concussion on upright pasterns can lead to soundness issues.

­ This gelding is in great flesh and appears to be well-conditioned. He has the most sloped shoulder of the three horses in this group. However, he isn’t as proportionate when his body is divided into thirds. He’s quite heavy in his front end, a bit long in the back, and short in the croup. He also has comparatively short legs for his body, and lacks Arabian type in his steep croup and lack of tail carriage.

His neck is nicely shaped, but it’s a shorter neck than Geldings B and C have, and it dips slightly at the withers. He has an appealing dish in his face, but his eyes appear small.

Along with his well laid-back shoulder, this gelding has long, sloping pasterns that I consider almost over-angulated, which can be a weakness and cause tendon issues with work. He’s also slightly over at the knee. He has very short cannon bones, but his joints appear puffy, and he’s a bit camped under in front, which is often seen with a horse that’s over at the knees.

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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A DV E RTO R I A L

Practical Biosecurity Measures at Home and Away

Five Biosecurity Tips You Can Implement Today

Brought to you by Merck Animal Health

1) Include all horses in your vaccination program.

As fall approaches, the rigors of travel, training and performance may be taking a toll on your horse, lowering his ability to fend off illness. The best way to protect your horse from infectious disease is to keep his vaccinations up to date while implementing management practices that reduce his exposure to pathogens at home and away. An understanding of the principles of biosecurity will go a long way in preserving your horse’s health and your time in the saddle this fall.

Horse traffic Environments such as a show or event where many animals and people are moving freely around the facility, interacting with numerous people, animals and objects, are at increased risk for infectious disease outbreaks.

Whether you’re home or away, infectious disease threats may be lurking.

2) Monitor your horse’s temperature daily. An elevated temperature is the first often thesign firstofsign disease. of disease.

3) Practice good hand hygiene - wash hands after you touch one horse before touching another. )M

s t

a AWAY: – Stalls – Horses in adjacent stalls – Trailers – Shared equipment and water sources – Vehicles coming and going – Event officials and support personnel – Human hands and clothing

AT HOME: – Traveling horses returning home – Visiting horses or new arrivals – Shared trailers, buckets, equipment – Horses in adjacent fields – Professionals (veterinarian, farrier, feed delivery, etc.) hands, equipment, clothing – Wildlife

Environmental controls Segregating different populations of horses is an important way to manage introduction of disease. For example, keeping show horses that travel frequently in another part of the farm. These horses have different risk factors, are more susceptible to infectious disease, and present a risk to resident horses that rarely travel. New horses should also be quarantined for a minimum of two weeks before introducing them to the resident herd.

Practice good hygiene, such as regularly cleaning and disinfecting tack, equipment and stalls, and washing your hands after handling each horse.

Horses with nasal discharge, cough, fever or diarrhea should immediately be isolated from other horses and examined by a veterinarian.

Vaccination plus biosecurity is best No matter where your equine adventures take you this fall, help ensure your plans aren’t derailed by a potentially life threatening infectious disease by consulting with your veterinarian on a biosecurity plan and vaccination program for your farm.

The Science of Healthier Animals 2 Giralda Farms • Madison, NJ 07940 • merck-animal-health-usa.com • 800-521-5767 Copyright © 2017 Intervet Inc., d/b/a Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. 3608-BIOSECURITY-ADVERTORIAL-HORSE-AND-RIDER

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Why Kids Should Ride In today’s world, horses may be one of the best tools ever for fostering healthy, well-adjusted children.

BY JENNIFER FORSBERG MEYER

62 / HorseandRider.com

When my sisters and I were small, our mom got us involved with horses.

I was a shy, awkward youngster with glasses and braces, unsure of myself among my four beautiful sisters. Horses were the great equalizer. They helped all of us—but especially me—navigate that tricky passage from girlhood to womanhood. My father used to joke about it.

“Just get ’em horses,” he’d tell other parents, especially of girls.

“Get ’em horses and the horses will do the rest.” →

PHOTO BY JENNIFER PAULSON

September 2017 / 63

As a mother, I saw to it that my own daughter grew up with horses, and in my role as an equine journalist I’ve had countless opportunities to observe the effect horse involvement has on children and families.

And how exactly do horses benefit young people? It’s a substantial list.

Here are just a few of the most important rewards.

Wholesome Fun, Companionship Horses are the perfect antidote to today’s digital mania. Children are naturally attracted to horses, making them a welcome alternative to TV-watching, video-game-playing, social-media-obsessing, or just hanging out.

“I received my own horse at the age of 7,” reports Karissa Dishon, a member of the American Youth Horse Council’s board of directors and a professor at Oregon State University.

“From then on, my spare time was spent outside, at the barn, or obsessively studying horse-knowledge resources. There simply wasn’t time for sitting around. I was inspired to grow as a horseman, so I took every opportunity to do just that.”

Horseback riding does indeed get kids off the couch and out into nature, and it can be enjoyed alone or in groups. And, when the whole family gets involved, the time spent together with horses can enhance the bond among family members.

“Horseback riding served as a way for our family to wind down and reconnect on the weekends,” says college student Madeline McEachin, the AYHC’s 2016 Student Leader of the Year. She says the equine industry also introduced her to what she calls “my horse family”—people she was close to growing up.

“We spent each weekend in our horse trailer, sharing laughs and making memories I’ll have the rest of my life,” she says.

Her horse-show experience isn’t unique; youngsters who compete often make friends with like-minded kids from all over the country.

“My daughter is the fourth gener64 / HorseandRider.com

ation to be involved in horses on my husband’s side,” says Holly Spooner, PhD, an AYHC board member and professor at Middle Tennessee State University. “At 6 she’s showing POAs [Pony of the Americas] nationally, and our POA group is like family. Grace looks forward to competing with her friends from Texas, Indiana, and everywhere in between.”

The benefits of horse involvement are enduring, too, as a child’s riding habit can evolve into a rewarding lifelong hobby—or even a career.

“The horse industry is full of jobs across all sectors,” notes Spooner, whose own horse-crazy childhood led to her vocation. “I’m certain my parents thought I’d outgrow horses.

Instead, I made a career of teaching others about them. It’s a dream job to do what you love every day.”

Plus—horses can be part of your weekly workout.

Great Exercise According to the American Heart Association, about one in three American kids and teens is overweight or obese.

Childhood obesity more than tripled from 1971 to 2011, with too many sedentary pursuits (hello, iPhone) a contributing cause. Obesity now tops drug abuse and smoking as the No. 1 health concern of parents.

Do horses help here? You bet! Riding is terrific exercise.

“People who think the horse does all the work have never really ridden,” observes Katie Phalen, a Central Maryland riding coach and former instructor at Waredaca Farm in Gaithersburg.

It’s true. A 2011 study of the British Horse Society reported that general riding—if done for at least 30 minutes at a time, three times per week—falls within the scientific limits for moderate-intensity exercise (http://bit.ly/ ridingexercise).

Apart from its aerobic benefits, riding also helps a youngster develop balance, coordination, and flexibility. Moreover, the activities involved in caring for a horse—grooming, hefting equipment, cleaning stalls—are great muscle builders.

“Horses were my strength-training regime,” laughs Dishon. “As I stacked hay bales, pushed wheelbarrows, and carried water buckets, my strength and coordination grew right along with my horsemanship skills.”

McEachin’s experience was the same. “I had ‘six-pack abs’ throughout high school, and it certainly wasn’t because I was hitting the gym,” she teases.

Bottom line? When kids and teens come home from school and head out to the barn instead of plopping in front of a screen, it’s healthier for them physically—and psychologically, too.

Mental-Health Booster Kids are under a lot of pressure these days. The stress of “keeping up” on social media, surviving school testing, and managing overbooked lives can strain their mental resources. Horses provide a welcome respite from these stressors, offering the unconditional friendship of a living, breathing creature plus serving as a stabilizing presence in youngsters’ lives.

In fact, research from Washington State University shows that children who work with horses have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as indicated by saliva samples, than do those in a control group.

“We know from other research that healthy stress hormone patterns may protect against the development of physical and mental health problems,” reports Patricia Pendry, the WSU psychologist who led the study (http:// bit.ly/horsesreducestress).

So we’re not imagining the blissed-out feeling we get being around our horses—it’s a real outcome and it can work wonders for a young person’s outlook.

Moreover, the right horse for a child can become a wonderful confidence booster in all aspects of life.

“To take control of a 1,000-pound horse or pony, work through challenging tasks with that equine partner, overcome defeat in the show pen…all require skills that promote a child’s self-assurance and sense of competence,” notes Spooner.

Sounding pretty good? We’re not

PHOTO BY JENNIFER PAULSON

Horses are fun and kids adore them. Learning horsemanship promotes important life skills, and the right horse can be a wonderful conďŹ dence-booster for a child.

I can do it! Kids learn responsibility caring for a horse, and the activities involved—including hefting saddles—build muscles and boost balance, coordination, and flexibility. Horseback riding itself offers proven aerobic-exercise benefits, getting kids off the couch and away from screens.

done yet. Horses can contribute to the development of many other positive traits, as well.

Character Builder Negative influences on children abound these days—in mass media, pop culture, and politics, especially. Handling, riding, and caring for a horse can help counteract these effects, promoting such positive character traits as responsibility, accountability, patience, self-discipline, empathy, and kindness.

Riding families have always known this. And, as Dishon points out, 66 / HorseandRider.com

even non-horsey parents come to appreciate how horses build better kids.

“One mother of a horse-crazed youngster had serious doubts about getting her daughter involved in the beginning. Then, nine years later, she told me, ‘I finally understand. It’s not about how polished a rider she’s become. It’s about giving her the tools she’ll need to succeed in life, in a way that’s engaging and fun.’”

And that’s the key, says Dishon.

“Lessons learned on the back of a horse are just more engaging and powerful to youth, yet they’re the same fundamentals we aspire to

teach all youngsters,” she explains.

“The difference is that, with horses, the kids are excited to see and learn these lessons—as opposed to receiving them as a command from parents or authority figures.”

Research now confirms the beneficial effects of horse involvement.

One study, sponsored in part by the AYHC, looked at youngsters participating in 4-H, Pony Club, or American Quarter Horse Youth Association or National High School Rodeo Association activities in one eastern and one western state. Results found a significant positive relationship

PHOTO BY JENNIFER PAULSON

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PARSING—AND MINIMIZING—THE COST Horse ownership involves certain expenses, but you needn’t own a horse to involve your child with one. Here are some options.

• Lessons. This is the best way to introduce your child to riding anyway. He or she is safest learning the basics on well-schooled lesson mounts under the guidance of an experienced instructor.

• Sharing. If your child is eager to develop a relationship with one horse, consider sharing one. Your lesson barn may allow sponsoring, which conveys some benefits, or you may find another parent who would welcome help in riding and caring for the horse his or her child owns. Such arrangements can be informal (your child rides in return for friendship and help with barn chores) or contractual. In the latter case, a “part-lease”—in which you pay a set portion of a horse’s monthly board, shoeing, and routine veterinary expenses in return for a set number of days’ riding privileges—works well.

• Leasing. A full lease will provide your child with most of the benefits of horse Horse involvement can be expensive, but there are ways to minimize costs depending on the

ownership without the initial expense

activities you choose for your child. Plus, you can even “do the horse thing” without owning one.

of buying. You’ll be responsible for the cost of the horse’s care and boarding, and sometimes an additional fee in the

68 / HorseandRider.com

“I’ve learned that hard work and believing in yourself can get you anywhere,” wrote one 17-year-old study participant.

As to developing kindness and empathy, Dishon notes that having a horse counteracts a child’s natural self-centeredness.

“When youth are responsible for the care of a horse, they learn how to put others’ needs before their own and grasp the bigger picture of life,” she says.

Spooner, who teaches college students to make educated decisions about equine welfare, says she’s already seeing her own young daughter make positive choices that reflect genuine caring.

“She’ll give her pony a break between

case of highly desirable animals. Leasing is an excellent way to fully test the waters—financially and in terms of time and commitment—before you buy. For best success, make sure all terms of the lease (responsibilities, privileges) are worked out carefully in advance.

In the end, horse involvement comes with at least some cost but, as all parents know, expense is a relative term in child rearing. In the 21st century, when parenting is not a job for the faint of heart, horses provide a way to keep youngsters positively engaged during those pivotal years from pre-teen through young adulthood.

In light of all that, as McEachin puts it, the cost of horseback riding “is worth every cent.”

PHOTO BY MALLORY BEINBORN

between horsemanship skills and life skills.

“If your child likes animals and you’re concerned about that child’s problem-solving, goal-setting, or decision-making skills, definitely get him or her involved with horses,” advises Ann Swinker, PhD, a professor in Animal Science at Penn State University and one of the study’s co-authors (http://bit.ly/lifeskillsresearch).

Another study, conducted by the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, found that 4-H horse shows were more than just an enjoyable activity for children (http://bit.ly/4-hlifeskills).

Subjects ranked discovering how to do their best and developing self-respect as among the greatest benefits of their involvement.

Leadership Guide Today’s colleges and employers are looking for young recruits with leadership skills, of course. But they also want young people to possess the ability to work as part of a team. Horse involvement fosters both competencies.

“Just working with a horse requires the rider to take on a leadership role every time they work together,” observes McEachin, referring to the need for a rider or handler to “be the leader” in order to earn a horse’s respect. Children also learn that relating to their horse as a partner—rather than treating him as a servant— brings the best results.

“There’s something about your sport’s involving living beings with brains of their own that forces you to analyze yourself when working with them, and brings out your best traits,” reflects McEachin, noting that equine organizations give youngsters additional opportunities to hone leadership skills.

“As an 8-year-old, I was barely willing to share my name and age with my 4-H group,” she recalls. “Later on, I was leading meetings and participating on the statewide council. 4-H enabled me not only to learn leadership skills, but to practice using them on a regular basis.

“I spent the past year at Penn State,” continues the accounting major, “and as soon as I stepped on campus, I could see 70 / HorseandRider.com

a difference between me and my peers. Of all of the valuable things I gained from 4-H and horse involvement, leadership training is what I’ve used most in the real world.”

Dishon found her equestrian background aided her in the academic setting, as well.

“With horses, the key attributes needed for success—consistency, patience, dedication— are also essential in school (and in life in general). When college is tough and you’re being pulled in a thousand different directions,” she adds, “the lessons you learned about prioritizing your time at the barn will suddenly take on new meaning and great benefits.”

And what about the earlier grades? Horse involvement is a boon there, as well. Spooner says she sees positive effects in her young daughter. “Grace is already becoming a leader in the classroom and in other activities such as dance, and I’m certain it’s the result of the skills she gains with her pony.”

From every angle, horses benefit the youngsters involved with them. Horses can be expensive, true, but they needn’t be prohibitively so (see “Parsing—and Minimizing—the Cost,” page 68). Plus there are many organizations out there eager to help connect kids to horses (see “Groups to Get You Started,” at right).

So, get your kid into the saddle, and encourage other parents to do the same with their youngsters. The world will be a better place for it.

Compete without owning through the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, for grades six through 12.

GROUPS TO GET YOU STARTED • 4-H. A 4-H horse program is the time-honored place to begin a child’s involvement with horses, and ownership isn’t required. To learn about 4-H horse groups in your area (or to start one), check with your local county extension agent (4-h.org/find).

• Certified Horsemanship Association. CHA promotes excellence in safety and education by certifying riding instructors; it also accredits equine facilities and produces educational conferences and materials. Find a certified instructor in your area at chainstructors.com.

• Time to Ride. Partnering with such groups as the American Quarter Horse Association, Time to Ride connects American families to local equestrian resources, including lessons, camps, and clubs. Check out its interactive Web site at timetoride.com.

• Interscholastic Equestrian Association. Serving middle and secondary school students across the United States, the IEA provides the horses and tack for every aspiring rider. “Because we’re the low-cost entry into equestrian sport, we’re exposing young riders to competition who might otherwise not have the financial ability or accessibility to participate,” says Roxane Durant, IEA co-founder and executive director (rideiea.org).

Go to HorseandRider.com to

• Breed and sport groups. If your child has an interest

read how unique horsemanship

in a particular breed or equestrian sport, check the ap-

programs are benefiting kids

propriate organization for special programs or offerings

and drawing new families into

for beginners. For examples of innovative ways such

the horse world.

groups are attracting new enthusiasts, see “Sounding the Call: Hey, Kids!” at HorseandRider.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE INTERSCHOLASTIC EQUESTRIAN ASSOCIATION

classes, and make sure he’s watered before getting a drink herself. I truly believe kindness to our equine partner translates to kindness in all aspects of our lives,” Spooner adds.

Horses also help youngsters learn to lead—in all senses of the word.

Here’s everything you need to plan your fall-color excursion, whether it be a day ride, an overnight adventure on your own horse, or an equestrian vacation at a farm or guest ranch.

Catch Fall

COLOR Ready to ride through spectacular fall color? Here’s how to plan your trip, and stay safe and comfortable on your ride.

BY AUDREY PAVIA

F

or trail riders, fall is a glorious time of year—crisp, cool weather, bright-blue skies, and trees bursting with autumn splendor.

Here’s everything you need to plan your fall-color excursion, whether it be a day ride, an overnight adventure on your own horse, or an equestrian vacation at a farm or guest ranch. (For an exclusive listing of specific fall-riding destinations, equestrian vacations, and guest ranches, go to HorseandRider.com.)

PEAK-COLOR PLANNING

Before you head out on a fall-riding adventure, find out when the leaves are expected to change color at your destination. Leaves turn color at different times, depending on the latitude, elevation, weather, and tree type. Check reports on the Web site for the park or national forest where you plan to ride, or contact the resort or outfitter you plan to visit.

To catch peak fall foliage, pinpoint an area where deciduous trees grow in large numbers. The phenomenon of fall foliage happens only in deciduous trees—trees that lose their leaves to survive the winter. The most colorful are certain species of aspen, oak, hickory, maple, birch, and poplar.

The time between when a leaf turns color and when it drops off the tree is relatively brief. Most trees don’t hold their colorful leaves for more than two weeks.

A storm can knock the leaves from the trees prematurely, making the fall-color season particularly short.

Peak-color dates depend upon several factors, including the current temperature, and the previous seasons’ weather patterns. A warm, wet spring; a moderate summer; and a fall with warm, sunny days and cool nights make for the best fall colors. Drought can seriously affect the colors’ timing and vibrancy.

The higher the latitude, the earlier fall leaves change color. In New England and the upper Midwest, the leaves are typically at their peak color in middle to late September or early October, depending on the weather. In the central Midwest and Northeast, the middle of October usually shows the best colors. In the South and Southeast,

PH OTO BY CLIXP HOTO.COM

September 2017 / 73

the best colors appear in late October or early November. In the mountains of the West and Southwest, September and October offer the most vivid colors.

COAST-TO-COAST RIDING Thanks to a combination of climate and flora, top fall-color regions in the contiguous United States offer an incredible opportunity to experience the best of autumn from the back of a horse. But even areas of the country less known for their fall foliage have regions where the trees give one last explosion of color before they drop their leaves for the winter.

Here’s an at-a-glance guide to fall color in six regions of the country.

Pacific Region. While California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington are known for their deserts and semi-arid regions, they also boast some of the most beautiful—and colorful— mountains in the country. The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range stretches some 400 miles north to south on California’s eastern side. The Carson Range spur lies primarily in Nevada.

The Sierras offer aspen groves that glow yellow among evergreen forests in the fall. Pack stations take riders on multiday trips into the backcountry during the late spring, summer, and early fall. Guided day rides are also available through various outfitters in the Sierras out of Mammoth and Lake Tahoe.

Although Oregon is known for its evergreens, about one-third of the state’s trees are deciduous oaks, maples, alder, and larch. This makes for beautiful color from late September to early October. Silver Falls State Park, Mount Hood National Forest, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forest are among the best places to see Oregon’s rich fall colors.

Washington is renowned for its stunning mountains, and along with those beautiful peaks come great fall riding. At lower elevations, head to riding trails in Alpine Lake Wilderness, Colville National Forest, and Mount Spokane State Park.

“All of our trails are through the 74 / HorseandRider.com

woods and have a vibrant show of fall colors,” says Erin Boyd, horse program manager for Mountain Springs Lodge in Leavenworth, Washington. “Vine maples are prominent in our woods and have a vibrant show of yellow, red, and orange as they change colors. The contrast of the evergreens alongside the vibrant fall colors is breathtaking.

The mild weather and amazing fall colors make it my absolute favorite time of year to ride.”

TOP: “All of our trails are through the woods and have a vibrant show of fall colors,” says Erin Boyd, horse program manager for Mountain Springs Lodge in Leavenworth, Washington. “The mild weather and amazing fall colors make it my absolute favorite time of year to ride.” BOTTOM: “Here, there are 26 intersecting trails of backcountry terrain, with a lot of diversity,” says Ashley Peacock, farm manager for Shalimar Farm, in Cass, West Virginia, which offers guided trail rides to horse owners. “The scenery is stunning,

Southwest Region. Known mostly for

and the fall colors are vibrant and plentiful.”

TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF MOUNTAIN SPRINGS LODGE; BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF SHALIMAR FARMS

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P r a c t i t i o n e r s

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Routine examination by an experienced, licensed veterinarian will help detect dental disease and other health problems early—before they threaten the well-being of your horse.

Call your equine veterinarian today to schedule a dental examination for your horse or find an equine veterinarian in your area at

aaep.org/horse-owners

September 2017 / 75

its desert terrain, the Southwest actually provides many opportunities to see fall color on horseback. Mountainous regions in northern New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona are home to aspen and other deciduous trees that put on a show every autumn.

“We have oak and aspen trees that change colors during the fall,” says MaKenzee Reynold of High Mountain Trail Rides in Mormon Lake, Arizona.

“Our rides go through the Coconino Forest, where we get beautiful color and cooler weather.”

In New Mexico, take in fall scenery in the Sandia Mountains just outside Albuquerque and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe. In Utah, the Uinta and Dixie national forests offer riding trails that wind through a sea of fall colors.

Rocky Mountain Region. The Rockies are amazing all year, but they reserve their most colorful time for the fall. Aspen trees put on the biggest show, ranging from yellow, orange, and red, all with impressive mountain peaks as a backdrop.

“Fall is a spectacular time of year out here,” says Jenn Lynch of Fantasy Ranch Horseback Adventures in Crested Butte, Colorado. “We’re blessed with warm sunshine that makes 50 degrees feel like 70 at our altitude of 9,000 feet.”

Fantasy Ranch offers treks that give riders views of golden aspen trees, meadows of late-season wildflowers, and bubbling creeks. The Wyoming Rockies are also a great place to take in the mountain scenery rich with fall colors.

“We have one ride during early September, the Fall Color Ride, which catches the beginning of the quaking aspens and the willows changing colors,” says Bobbi Wade, co-owner of Blue Sky Sage Horseback Adventures in Big Piney, Wyoming. “Wyoming has glorious days in September, with temperatures usually in the upper 60s to low 70s in the day, cooling down to a little frost overnight, in the upper 20s.”

NORTH OF THE BORDER Our neighbors to the north have their share of spectacular fall scenery. Horse Country Camp-

“The Blue Ridge Mountains are famous for the amazing fall colors that grace our beautiful ridges and valleys,” says Abbie Hanchey, manager of Leatherwood Mountain Resort in Ferguson, North Carolina. “The beautiful trails skirt high ridges and wind along mountain streams that are as beautiful as they are pristine.”

Midwest Region. The deciduous forests in our nation’s heartland reveal glorious colors from late September to mid-October, depending on where you ride. Maples, aspen, oak, and tamarack are among the trees that turn a variety of red, yellow, and orange.

National forests offer trails through gorgeous fall-foliage areas. Top riding trails wind through the Chequamegon and Nicolet in Wisconsin, the Chippewa and Superior in Minnesota, the Ottawa and Hiawatha in upper Michigan, the Willamette in Ohio, and the Shawnee in Illinois.

ground in Foresters Falls, Ontario (horse countrycampground.com), will hold its Fall Colours Kick Off Weekend September 15–17, 2017, to celebrate the autumn beauty of Ottawa Valley. Riders will explore 30-plus miles of

Horse Country Campground in

trails through forests of sugar maples, oaks,

Foresters Falls, Ontario, Canada, will

and other deciduous trees.

hold its Fall Colours Kick Off Weekend

“In eastern Ontario, the hot days and cold nights produce a spectacular array of colors,

in mid-September to celebrate the autumn beauty of Ottawa Valley.

and the Ottawa River is a great backdrop with scenic vistas and views of the river—and Gatineau Hills in the background,” says Horse Country Campground manager Walter Willitt. “After riding, there is nothing better than spending a cool evening by the campfire.”

76 / HorseandRider.com

South/Southeast Region. For fallfoliage riding later in the season, the southern part of our country has plenty to offer. In West Virginia, the Allegheny Mountains provide one of the most striking backdrops for riding in the region.

“Here, there are 26 intersecting trails of backcountry terrain, with a lot of diversity,” says Ashley Peacock, farm manager for Shalimar Farm, in Cass, West Virginia, which offers guided trail rides to horse owners. “The

TOP PHOTO BY TOMMY WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY; SIDEBAR PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM

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September 2017 / 77

Prepare for the Worst Fires, floods, and hurricanes are just a few of the natural disasters that strike fear in every horse owner’s heart.

Develop your evacuation plan to put your mind at ease.

BY BARB CRABBE, DVM

80 / HorseandRider.com

P H OTO BY O LGA M I LTSOVA /I STO C KP H OTO.COM

“FRANTIC EVACUATION IN CALIFORNIA LEFT ANIMALS TO FACE WILDFIRE ALONE.” The 2015 New York Times article headline that caught my eye described horses wandering down state highways, dazed and injured.

One wandering horse was struck by a vehicle and killed, and at least three died in a pasture due to smoke or fire they couldn’t escape. One horse owner reported having a trailer big enough to haul all but two of his horses; he had to pick which two to leave behind. A devastating choice. Some had no choice but to leave their horses when they had to flee their homes. Would they have had a better chance if they’d had a prearranged evacuation plan? Possibly.

When it comes to disaster planning, there are three important questions you must answer: Where will your horses go? How will you get them there? And how will you find them when it’s safe to recover them? I’ll help you answer those three questions. First, I’ll explain the types of natural disasters you’re likely to encounter to help you better prepare so you can understand when and why you might be forced to make the decision to evacuate. Then, I’ll outline a 10-step farm-evacuation plan so you’ll be ready to move. →

PHOTO BY TRENDOBJECTS/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

September 2017 / 81

Trailer-trained horses have a better chance of making it out of a disaster alive and uninjured.

Know Your Enemy Natural disasters take many forms, with hurricanes, floods, and fires topping the list. Each of these different types of emergencies comes with its own set of challenges and disaster-prep particluars.

You likely know the type of disaster common to your particular area.

For example, if you live in Southern California, you’re aware that wildfires frequently require mass evacuations.

If you’re from South Carolina, you know the hurricane risks. If you live in a flood plain, you understand what part of your property is likely to end up under water. But do you know which nearby roadways are apt to become impassable so you can identify the best possible escape routes?

Deciding whether to evacuate or stay put during a natural disaster can be one of the hardest choices you’ll face. With such events as a severe winter snowstorm or freezing rain, staying home may be your only option. If a hunker-down-at-home type of emergency is predicted, prepare by making sure you have plenty of feed and available water—and by taking whatever steps you can to reinforce barns and sheds to provide your horse protection. For hurricanes, floods, and fires, where evacuation is possible, it’s generally the safest choice to get out as early as you can. And if evacuation is mandatory, get out fast. That’s when having a carefully thought-out evacuation plan in place becomes important.

Your Evacuation Plan Step 1: Trailer-Train Your Horses Imagine being faced with rising floodwaters and an evacuation order from your local officials. Pretty stressful?

Now imagine how you’ll feel when you remember that your 2-year-old 82 / HorseandRider.com

has never been loaded in a trailer.

Or that Old Dobbin is as stubborn as they come, and hasn’t been trailered in years. Spending time to train your horses to load and haul with ease is one of the most important things you can do ahead of time to prepare for an emergency. Evacuation may require that your horses be loaded in unfamiliar rigs by strangers—and often in a hurry. If the members of your herd are well-trained and easy to handle, they’ll have a much better chance of making it out alive and uninjured.

Step 2: Identify Your Horses If a disaster strikes, you’ll move your horses out in a hurry, and may leave them with people you don’t know. It’s possible that one or more will be left behind. Reliable identification is the key to being successfully reunited with your herd after the emergency concludes. It’s best if your horses each have two forms of identification—one permanent and one visible. Consider microchipping all your horses as a form of permanent identification. Your vet can implant a microchip—not much bigger than a grain of rice—in the ligament on the top of your horse’s neck. It’s a simple procedure, and typically costs less than $100. The microchip emits a signal with a permanent identification number that can be identified using a scanning device. You can record this number with both the microchip company and your breed registry—meaning that if your horse is “misplaced” during a disaster and evacuation, a microchip can help whoever finds him learn who he is, and how to find you.

A less permanent but more visible form of identification is also important during an emergency. Make a set of waterproof luggage tags with each of your horses’ names and your name

and contact number. You could even include notes about each horse’s temperament that might help whoever ends up having to transport, treat, and house the different members of your herd. Plan to attach these tags to your horses’ halters as a first step during any evacuation. Or if you haven’t prepared tags and find yourself in an emergency, use a large, permanent-ink pen or waterproof paint to write or paint your phone number on your horse’s side or on one hoof.

Step 3: Organize Paperwork If you’re evacuating your horses, you’ll need to take them somewhere to stay during the emergency. Large facilities are often generous about housing displaced horses, but they might have stringent health requirements, such a proof of vaccination and a negative Coggin’s test. A negative Coggin’s test will also be required should you have to travel across state lines. Put together a binder with copies (waterproof) of all these records, along with either copies of registration papers or physical descriptions of all horses. (Be sure to include microchip information.) If you have horses with temperament quirks, special feeding requirements, or medication needs, note these, as well. Not only will this documentation ensure that your horses will be welcome at most facilities, if you have to hand them off to a stranger in a hurry, your rescuer will have vital information about their care.

Step 4: Arrange Transport How will you remove your horses from the vicinity of the danger? Do you have enough trailer space for all of them?

For example, if you have a four-horse trailer but seven horses on your property, will you plan to make two trips? Or

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Be the first to leave an evacuation area, especially when horses are involved. enlist the help of a neighbor or friend?

(Keep in mind that in a natural disaster, such as a wildfire or a hurricane, your friends might be tied up with their own horses’ needs). If you’ll make two trips, what horses will you take first? And which ones can be hauled together? Establish a written plan for which horses you’ll load up first and where you’ll put them in the trailer. Once again, include notes about temperament or any personality quirks that might provide useful information for anyone who might show up to help.

Step 5: Assemble a Disaster Kit Begin with your luggage tags for all of your horses, your binder full of information, and your written plan for transport. Consider including a set of inexpensive leather halters and lead ropes, one for each horse. Leather halters are preferable to nylon because they’ll break more easily if they hang up on something (such as storm debris or downed fences). If you’re in an area with high fire risk, leather is even more important as nylon can actually melt under high temperatures, which can cause severe skin damage on your horse’s head. Include basic first-aid supplies and a small amount of medication for any of your horses that are administered something every day that they really shouldn’t do without (such as pergolide to treat a horse with Cushing’s disease).

Sedation medication would also be a great thing to include in case you find yourself with a terrified horse that you need help to control. Talk to your vet about the best options for sedation based on your experience and the horses in your herd.

Step 6: Arrange Stabling When an evacuation order (or even a 84 / HorseandRider.com

suggestion) comes, chances are your horses won’t be the only ones looking for a place to go. Talk to barn owners in your area who might have extra stalls, or managers of large horse facilities such as racetracks or fairgrounds. Make arrangements ahead of time and list these facilities on your “emergency plan.” Prearranging for an emergency makes your horses a first priority on their ever-growing list of animals in need. It’s wise to have close-by options in the event your evacuation is due to a smallscale disaster, such as a barn fire or local flooding. Remember, though, in large-scale natural disasters there’s a good chance local barns will be in trouble, too, and all of the horses in your area will be seeking refuge. Be sure to identify options far enough away from home that the facilities are less likely to be impacted by the same disaster, and will be willing and able to take your horses in.

Step 7: Plan Your Route Imagine an evacuation. Your horses are loaded up and everything you need is in your emergency kit. How will you “get outta town?” Again, being familiar with the most likely disasters to impact you is important, and reviewing different roadway options will help you plan a route. Have several different options planned, taking into account what roads might be closed or blocked. Keep in mind that if you’re leaving town, so is everybody else, and heavy traffic will be an issue— especially on major highways. Take a look at back roads that might be less heavily travelled to avoid getting stuck. Include maps and directions outlining your possible escape routes (including possible destinations) in your disaster kit.

Step 8: Hold Practice Drills It sounds like a lot of work, but practicing an “evacuation drill” is a great idea— especially if you live in an area where even small-scale natural disasters happen frequently. Remember: When evacuation is really necessary, it’s likely to be a pretty stressful time. Working out the kinks in your plan ahead of time can help things go smoothly when it counts. At minimum, make a time to review your plan with barn staff or family members. Make sure they can locate your disaster kit, and know what their roles would be during an evacuation.

Step 9: Monitor the News Weather apps and social media make it hard to miss reports of impending disaster. If a storm is predicted, pay close attention to its path or to reports of flood potential. If a wildfire is detected, know where it’s burning and whether it is contained. Find out ahead of time where you can tune in to the most reliable and up-to-date predictions and recommendations.

Step 10: Evacuate Early Finally, if disaster strikes and evacuations are recommended, “Get outta town.” Don’t be that person who refuses to leave the area, even when mandatory evacuations are called for. In fact, it’s safest to be the first to leave the area, especially when horses are involved.

You’ll be less likely to be trapped in terrible traffic situations, will be the first to reach a safe haven, and may even be able to help others once your horses are safe and sound.

Get more tips to prepare for wildfires at HorseandRider.com.

A credit-earning turn begins with crossing the outside front leg over the inside front leg and planting the inside hind foot. Sounds easy, right?

Here are my tips for getting it right and solving problems you might encounter.

86 / HorseandRider.com

Ace Your Pivot Perfect your horse’s turnaround with these helpful tips and troubleshooting pointers.

BY JEFFERY GIBBS, WITH ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT PHOTOS BY ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT

September 2017 / 87

F

ROM THE VERY BEGINNING of training, steering is important—it’s right up there with stopping in terms of being an essential element of control. The pivot maneuver builds on the concept of steering, because cueing your horse to pivot is asking him to move left or right by steering. In the show pen, a good pivot will line you up for the rest of your pattern. A bad pivot can set off a chain reaction for further mistakes—missed markers or crooked departures that take away from the rest of your pattern—resulting in a poor score.

Here I’ll explain what a correct pivot looks like, the steps to get there, and troubleshooting tips in case you encounter roadblocks in your pivot training.

What to Look For A correct turn on the haunches starts with your horse stepping across with his front feet, while planting his rear foot on the inside of the turn. You want your horse to maintain a frame with his head straight out from his body—not too low, high, poked-out, or overbridled—and you want him to stay in the maneuver without backing up or jumping out.

From the ground, a pivot should look a lot like a showmanship turn, with your horse maintaining straightness, except for his neck being slightly tipped in the direction of the turn.

As a rider, you should feel a two-beat rhythm as your horse steps across with his outside front foot and holds the ground with his haunches. He should plant his inside rear foot without picking it up as he rotates.

Practicing the Pivot Keep these six tips in mind when practicing pivots at home or schooling before you show.

Choose proper equipment. To work on a pivot at home, I advise you to start with a snaffle bit, riding with two hands for control and correctness.

As your horse progresses, move up into a small correction bit, and work on bringing your hands closer to one-handed show position until you’re ready to try it one-handed.

Leg wraps or boots and bell boots are important to keep your horse from nicking his legs or tripping. They help keep his confidence up instead of building his apprehension if his feet interfere.

Start with lateral movement. To start the turn, begin by teaching your horse to sidepass and move laterally off of your legs and hands. Start with 88 / HorseandRider.com

When schooling your horse’s pivot, it’s a good idea to outfit him in a snaffle and protective legwear.

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asking your horse to move away from your leg on a circle. If you’re going to the right, use your inside—right—leg to hold your horse’s shoulder up through the circle and your outside— left—leg to drive his body laterally.

Hold your hands hip-width apart in front of the saddle horn, and use them to gently block forward movement as you ask your horse to move sideways. If you’re moving to the right, slightly open your right leg to encourage movement in that direction, and ask your horse to move over using your left leg and calf, until you feel him cross over with his legs as he moves to the right.

Once your horse understands the sidepass, move your left leg forward toward the girth, and ask him with that leg to only move his front end around to the right. Keep his inside back leg still while maintaining forward motion and rhythm. Your outside (left when going to the right) hand keeps him from overflexing toward the inside rein. Keep your horse’s head and neck straight. If he overflexes in one direction or the other, there’s a good chance he’ll either step forward out of the pivot or back out of it.

When your horse can perform these basics each time, and you feel that you can execute a 90-degree turn correctly, with your horse’s inside hind foot planted and front feet crossing over, then add more to the turn revolution. You can move up to a 180-degree turn, a 270-degree turn, on to a 360-degree turn, and then add speed to your pivot. Add more steps in the turn and speed incrementally to increase the degree of difficulty to see if your horse can do more.

Stick to the basics. When you’re having trouble in the turn, going faster rarely helps. Break the maneuver down, take your time, and work on the basics of lateral movement and forward motion. Go back to the sidepass.

Ask your horse to two-track (sidepass with forward motion) off your legs instead of turn, so he doesn’t anticipate always turning. Make sure your horse can do the maneuver correctly, slowly.

Master the two-track turn.

Two-tracking ensures that your horse’s body is straight in his shoul90 / HorseandRider.com

LEFT: Teaching your horse to pivot begins with lateral movement in a sidepass, followed by a 90-degree turn on the haunches. RIGHT: If you feel your horse is having a problem with backing out of the pivot, swinging his hip toward your leg, or turning on his belly, try two-tracking into a 90-degree turn and then walking out.

ders and back and his legs are crossing over. After two-tracking a few strides, ask for a 90-degree turn. If you feel your horse tends to back out of the pivot, swings his hip toward your leg during the turn, or turns on his belly (doesn’t stick a pivot foot), use the twotrack-turn exercise.

Be consistent. When it comes to horses, consistency builds confidence. The more times you practice your turn, the more confident you and your horse will be when you get to the show pen. This maneuver doesn’t happen overnight. Always ask for your turn on the haunches the same way, and keep your instructions clear. Practice like you’re going to show, and show like you practice.

My riders practice the pivot for a short amount of time every time they ride. This leads to successful training without burnout or overtraining.

Have a plan. Don’t keep turning your horse until it goes bad. Have a plan of where you’ll start, how far you’ll turn, and when you’ll stop. Don’t let your horse decide when to stop.

Find something to look at, such as a

marker or a fencepost, as a stopping point. This principle applies when you show, so practicing at home will hone this skill for competition.

When you’re ready to stop the turn, say “whoa,” stop cueing your horse to turn, and release your legs. Remember, your horse is moving four legs—it might take him longer to stop than how quickly your brain works, so ask for the stop a little earlier than when you actually want to end the maneuver.

Troubleshooting Following are some common errors I see associated with the pivot.

Turn on the belly. When a horse moves both its front and back legs as he turns, making the belly the center of the turn instead of the hindquarters, it’s called “turning on the belly.”

It’s incorrect. It’s likely your horse is crossing under/behind with his outside front leg instead of over/in front because he’s moving backward.

Related problems include backing up and swinging a hip out of the turn. These issues can be helped by asking your horse to move laterally off your leg while moving forward

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LEFT: Anticipating the turn can mean your horse needs more breaks during a training session where you drape your reins and let him rest. RIGHT: Have a plan of where you’ll start, how far around you want to turn, and when you’ll stop. Line up with a marker to work on precision.

and making sure your horse always moves forward off your leg instead of backward.

If your horse starts swapping ends while you’re showing, slow down your pivot to try to get it correct.

But if he’s anticipating the move, it’s really something you need to fix in the warm-up pen and at home. Again, ask your horse to move off your leg and sidepass instead of doing the turn in practice. Make sure he doesn’t back up or jump out of the turn.

Backing out of the turn. Your horse shouldn’t inch backward as he turns; he should stay in one place. A horse might back out of the turn because he anticipates a stop and a back-up at the end of the pivot. It could also be that you’re holding your hand too high, which can make your horse want to back up as he turns.

Make sure your horse’s first step into the turn is always forward and lateral—not backward. If your horse anticipates a stop and back in the pattern, incorporate breaks as you work with your horse. Ride around and stop—then do nothing. Don’t stop and back, or stop and turn. Stop and sit for a minute. This helps teach him to wait on you for the next cue.

After you’ve done that a few times during your ride, stop and ask him to start a turn, crossing that front foot over just once, and then walk out of 92 / HorseandRider.com

the turn. Do the same thing every time. Don’t react to your horse by changing up how you’re asking for the turn. If your horse backs up, ask him to go forward in the turn. You don’t want him to automatically think about going backward every time he feels the pressure of your hand.

Jumping out of the start of the turn. I’ve seen this happen when the rider tries to train the turning process too fast, instead of breaking it down into pieces. If you just introduce the whole 360-degree turn at once, the horse could get scared and eventually start jumping out of the turn. This is why I recommend starting with teaching your horse to sidepass, then adding a 90-degree turn, then the 180, and so on. It keeps your horse from worrying about the maneuver.

You also want to start the turn slow and end slow for a controlled start and stop. You can add speed in the middle of the maneuver once your horse has mastered the turn.

Anticipating the turn. Whoa means whoa. Take the time to ensure that your horse understands that sometimes he’s not expected to do something right away after you stop. Drape your reins and relax. Let your horse know that “stand here” is the current cue; there’s not another maneuver coming up right away. If your horse is anticipating, after that short break,

you can ask for a sidepass for a few steps instead of a turn.

Horses are creatures of habit. The more you keep your cues consistent, the better your horse will understand.

Make everything black and white, and keep it simple. We don’t speak the same language as our horses, and we’re asking for complex maneuvers. Don’t react to your horse’s reaction. Don’t change your cues; just keep asking until your horse understands.

Jeffery Gibbs operates Gibbs Show Horses out of Collinsville, Texas. He trains all-around, Western pleasure, and futurity horses and coaches youth and amateur riders. He and his clients have won more than 50 APHA and PtHA world championships and allaround titles. Learn more at gibbs showhorses.com.

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Southwest Solitude Discover history and beauty in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KENT AND CHARLENE KRONE

Canyons of the Ancients.

The very name conjures visions of ghostly figures gazing from cliff dwellings in high, shady alcoves. Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, located in Colorado’s Four Corners region, is an enchanting place to bring your equine partner and discover both history and beauty. We explored the area aboard our well-traveled Missouri Fox Trotter geldings, Cowboy and Nate.

Canyon Trails Ranch Canyon Trails Ranch (canyontrailsranch.com) is located about a mile from the Canyons of the Ancients boundary, 15 miles southwest of Cortez. It offers an equine-friendly campground situated on a gentle rise overlooking an emerald field framed in the layered, sun-kissed cliffs of McElmo Canyon. Sagebrush, pinyon pine, and prickly pear cactus adorn the campground. Each campsite has water, electricity, and a corral. We stayed here four nights and had the entire four-unit campground to ourselves.

Ranch owners Kristie and Rodney Carriker are both horse people. Kristie specializes in cutting horses, while Rodney prefers horse packing. Rodney also restores historic carriages and wagons.

Kristie is an amateur archeologist and Native American historian. She’s worked with the Bureau of Land Management on cliff dwellings and generously shares her knowledge and enthusiasm for history with ranch guests.

The day after we arrived, Kristie took us on a sixhour, guided horseback tour of BLM property aboard her horse Tonka. Half this time was spent riding, 94 / HorseandRider.com

Kent Krone rides Cowboy, his Missouri Fox Trotter gelding, along the Sand Canyon Trail in Colorado’s

while the other half was spent exploring and learning about the ancient Puebloan people (also known as the Anasazi) who once inhabited this vast country. Overall, there are an estimated 1,400 ruins in this area.

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. “In the solitude, time seemed to vanish,” write the Krones.

A Glide Through Time Riding with Kristie was like having a magician open the windows of time and gliding through them. She views the past in terms of artistic people who had families— people who struggled for a living, yet strongly needed to express themselves through their art.

“They put art into everything they did,” Kristie said, pointing to a chunk of petrified wood an ancient homebuilder had strategically placed in a cliff-dwelling wall. “People need art in their lives—it’s a way to express themselves.”

Kristie led us to six ruins: two towers and four cliff dwellings. We explored two of the cliff dwellings, which are 800 to 1,200 years old. Rocks used in construction were all sizes, yet the builders were able to create even wall surfaces. The towers’ purposes were varied. Some Hopi tribal advisors think the towers were used as lookouts for fires and enemies, to spot game, to sky-watch, and to decide when to plant crops. (The Puebloan people were ancestors of the modern Hopi and Zuni people.)

We then rode past white-and-pink cliffs splashed with greenery and colorful wildflowers.

At the second cliff dwelling, Kristie held us spellbound. A transformation had occurred—she “became” an ancient Puebloan mother working in her cliff-dwelling kitchen.

That hole by the floor? It was where Mom ground corn into meal for the family’s bread. That slice in the rock wall? Mom used it to sharpen her obsidian knife. And those little holes in the wall? There, Mom secured wooden rods she used for drying thinly sliced meat, or maybe vegetables, so she could save them for later use.

Kristie bustled around in the dwelling’s kitchen, chatting about the family who might’ve lived there.

Suddenly, she leaned out the doorway, shouting at an imaginary child. She pointed out to us how Mom might’ve done the same thing, leaving the charcoal-smudged handprint.

At the end of the tour, Kristie shared something special with us. On their property, the Carrikers had discovered a kiva—a round, underground room used by ancestral Puebloans for domestic, social, political, ceremonial, and religious purposes. The roof had caved in, and the kiva was filled with soil and rocks.

The Carrikers excavated it and put on a new roof, but everything else is original. It’s thought to be one of the best restored kivas in the Southwest.

The kiva had a tranquil, spiritual feeling. We felt September 2017 / 95

TOP-RIGHT: The Krones’ rig at Canyon Trails Ranch campground, located about a mile from the Canyons of the Ancients boundary, 15 miles southwest of Cortez, Colorado. Each campsite has water, electricity, and a corral.

BOTTOM-RIGHT: Kent Krone, aboard Cowboy, and Charlene Krone, aboard Nate, stand in front of a tower of McElmo, built more than 1,000 years ago by ancestral Puebloans.

honored that Kristie chose to share it with us. She told us that the round depression behind our corrals in the campground was another caved-in kiva.

Sand Canyon Trail The next day, we rode from our camp to County Rd. G and turned right.

Within a mile, we were at the trailhead to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. Trailhead parking is severely limited, so riding along the road is a good option.

At the trailhead, Castle Rock, a noted landmark, is on the right. Continue on ahead, riding carefully on the slab rock, and follow the Sand Canyon Trail markers. You can ride up this trail about 4 miles before it’s closed to horses due to narrow, steep switchbacks. This makes for a 10-mile-loop ride altogether.

Sand Canyon Trail is extraordinary in beauty and gives the opportunity of discovery. What’s around the bend?

Another tower? A hidden dwelling? In places, the trail is rocky but safe. The trail’s edges are scalloped with pinyon pines; their fragrance fills the air, and their greenery provides a rich contrast to the red-and-cream-colored rocks.

As we rode along, we saw huge walls of rock honeycombed with nooks, crannies, and alcoves. Over eons, Mother Nature carved, scraped, and hollowed out these mammoth, sandstone ridges, creating sheltered homesites for the ancient Puebloans.

The main cliff dwellings are named and listed in the visitor guide. Some have special characteristics: two stories, exceptionally well-preserved, extra windows, or built to follow the curve of the rock alcove.

This canyon was almost deserted.

96 / HorseandRider.com

In the solitude, time seemed to vanish.

Were those shadows or ghostly figures gliding near cliff dwellings? And why did we feel as though we were being watched?

East Rock Creek Trail On our third and final ride, we eagerly saddled up to ride the East Rock Creek Trail. We’d heard this trail was even more gorgeous than the Sand Canyon Trail. That will be hard to beat! we thought.

We did this ride in September, when the rabbit bush was bright yellow and the sagebrush a gray-green. The cedar trees and pinyon pines were varying shades of green; the sandstone walls

changed color with the course of the sun. Under the sun’s harsh scrutiny, the walls were white and gray. As the sun aged, the cliffs warmed, blushed, and turned gold as though brushed with melted butter.

Again, we rode along the road a mile to the trailhead, but this time we took the third trail to the left.

After a mile, this trail connects with a 10-mile-loop trail. If you have binoculars, take them because there’s so much to see.

We rode down and around a narrow canyon. Occasionally, our horses had to do some high step-ups and negotiate some rocky portions of trail. Overall, though, the trail is quite

FROM TOP-LEFT: Kristie Carriker shares her knowledge of the area’s ruins with Charlene Krone in an alcove above McElmo Canyon. Alcoves protected the ancestral Puebloans from enemies and harsh weather. SECOND FROM TOP: Charlene Krone descends into a kiva—a round, underground room used by ancestral Puebloans for domestic, social, political, ceremonial, and religious purposes. THIRD FROM TOP: The interior of a kiva. BOTTOM: Cowboy studies the map at the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument trailhead.

safe, allowing riders to focus on the stone sculptures and cliff dwellings.

About halfway through the loop, before the head of the canyon, there’s an enormous rock arch, about 150 feet high. We stopped to appreciate this magnificent structure. We felt fortunate to be able to

gaze upon this tremendous arch all by ourselves.

During this ride, we spotted six good-sized cliff dwellings. Altogether on this trip, we observed a total of 26 ancestral dwellings—and we probably missed many of the smaller ones.

Canyons of the Ancients is an especially beautiful trail-riding destination, one that not only is a visual feast, but also feeds the soul.

September 2017 / 97

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Platinum Performance, Inc. www.platinumperformance.com ..............................CV4

Zymol.......................www.zymol.com ....................... 101

Rocky Mountain Horse Association www.rmhorse.com ........................................................ 37

SmartPak

TRAINING

www.smartpak.com ...........................................35,96A-B

The Right Horse Initiative www.therighthorse.org ................................................ 77

White Haven Farm www.whitehavenfarm.com .......................................... 42

Julie Goodnight www.juliegoodnight.com ............................................. 91

United States Equestrian Federation www.usef.org ................................................................ 71

Zymox (PKB Animal Health) www.zymox.com ........................................................... 49

Walkaloosa Registry www.walkaloosaregistry.com ...................................... 89

HOOF CARE

Biosecurity (Merck Animal Health) www.merck-animal-health-usa.com ............................ 61

Outfitters Supply www.outfittersupply.com ........................................... 101 Phoenix Rising Saddles www.phoenixrisingsaddles.com.................................. 83 Saddle Up,LLC www.treelesssaddle.com ........................................... 101 Schultz Brothers www.schutzbrothers.com............................................. 25 Shorty’s Saddles & Tack www.timberlinesaddlecompany.com ........................ 100 Specialized Saddles www.specializedsaddles.com ...................................... 16 Sports Saddle Incorporated www.sportssaddle.com ................................................ 79 Synergist Saddles www.synergistsaddles.com ......................................... 85

TRANSPORTATION Featherlite Trailers..........www.fthr.com/hr ................ 6 GMC......................www.gmc.com ..........................CV2-1

Hooflex (W.F.Young,Inc.)

Hellwig Prducts Co. Inc. www.hellwigproducts.com .......................................... 25

BARNS, STALLS & FOOTINGS

www.absorbine.com ....................................................... 3

Linear Rubber Products www.rubbermats.com .................................................. 24

Magic Cushion (W.F.Young, Inc.) www.absorbine.com ..................................................CV3

MD Barnmaster www.mdbarnmaster.com ............................................. 18

Vettec........................www.vettec.com........................ 83

TRAVEL

PUBLICATIONS, VIDEO, WEBSITES & AUDIO

Ben’s Happy Trails Horsemen’s Cam www.benshappytrails.com........................................... 99

A Home For Every Horse www.AHomeForEveryHorse.com ................................ 58

Circle E Guest Ranch www.circleeguestranch.com ........................................ 27

Champ Youth www.champyouth.com ................................................. 26

Clay County Missouri www.visitclaymo.com ................................................... 89

FEED Bale Barns...............www.balebarns.com ................. 101

Equine Network Store www.EquineNetworkStore.com .......................... 93, 100

Enchantment Equitreks www.enchantmentequitreks........................................ 98

Big Bale Buddy........www.bigbalebuddy.com ......... 101

Equine.com www.equine.com .......................................................... 93

Evening Shade Farm www.eveningshadefarm.com ..................................... 99

Hope In The Saddle www.HopeInTheSaddle.com........................................ 54

Flying M Ranch www.flyingmtexas.com ................................................ 98

ElectroBraid Fence (Woodstream) www.electrobraid.com.................................................. 46

TACK & EQUIPMENT

Golden Acres Foxtrotter Ranch www.goldenacresfoxtrotterranch.com ........................ 99

5 Star Equine www.5starequineproducts.com ................................... 23

Happy Trails www.kehorses.com ....................................................... 99

GIFTS, ART & COLLECTIBLES

Allegany Mountain Trail Saddles www.trailridingsaddles.com ........................................ 27

Hay Creek Ranch www.haycreekranch.net .............................................. 99

Booma Rein..............www.boomarein.com ................ 20

Hondoo Rivers and Trails www.hondoo.com ......................................................... 98

FARM & STABLE EQUIPMENT Kubota Tractor Corporation www.kubota.com ............................................................ 5

Cargill/Nutrena .......www.NutrenaWorld.com ........... 7 Purina Mills..........www.horse.purinamills.com ........ 13 FENCING

Bradford Exchange www.bradfordexhange.com ......................................... 33 Hamilton Collection www.hamiltoncollection.com ....................................... 67

Cashel Company www.cashelcompany.com .............................................. 2

Spirithorse Design www.spirithorsedesign.com ........................................ 97

Dixie Midnight www.dixiemidnight.com .............................................. 26

HEALTH CARE

Horsesaddleshop.com www.horsesaddleshop.com ......................................... 75

Absorbine Veterinary Liniment (W.F.Young, Inc.) www.absorbine.com ..................................................... 11 Adequan (Luitpold) ..........www.adequan.com ........... 4

K&B Saddlery.............www.kbsaddlery.com ........... 100 Leather Therapy (W.F. Young, Inc) www.absorbine.com ..................................................... 79

USRider Equestrian Motor Plan www.usrider.org ........................................................... 91

Horse Heaven Ranch www.horseheavenranchresort.com............................. 98 Rocky Hollow Horse Camp www.ridemtrogers.com ................................................ 99 Valley Springs Foxtrotters/Brushy Creek Lodge www.brushycreeklodge.com........................................ 99 Wyoming High Country Trail Rides, LLC................ 98

HORSE & RIDER VOLUME LVI, NUMBER 9 (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)

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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

IF IT WAS EASY, IT WOULDN’T BE CALLED ENDURANCE. Photo © John C. Nowell

American Endurance Ride Conference

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

SUPPLIES

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

TRAVEL/TOURS/VACATION

AERC.org Free info! aerc.org/InfoRequest

TACK/SADDLES/LEATHER GOODS

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.

866-271-2372

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

Shawnee National Forest Hayes Canyon Campground & Cabins As featured on RFD-TV’s Best of America by Horseback…

www.HayesCanyon.com 618-672-4751

Classified Rates Start as low as $3.75 per word (10 word minimum)

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Contact us at (760) 546-1192 hr@aimclassifieds.com September 2017 / 103

The

The

Collector:

Collection:

Steve Metcalf Pilot Point, Texas

Metcalf, a world-champion trainer, is reluctant to call his assortment of hackamores a true collection. “I’ve acquired these for my profession,” he asserts. “My hackamores are well-

104 / HorseandRider.com

used. If it looks new, it didn’t work for me.”

His 40-some hackamores were made by notable craftsmen, including Luis Ortega, Tom Kerr, Jay Adcock, and close friend Don Brown. Metcalf began

acquiring the pieces when he was a kid. But most came into his hands in his 20s when he began his professional training career.

“A hackamore rides really good,” he shares.

“Quality hackamores

have feel and life to them, and they all ride differently. If used correctly when training a young horse, you’ll have a better horse for using a hackamore and become a better horseman.”

PHOTO BY ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT

My Collection

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