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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Federal Agency Shifts Blame Hiding Their Mismanagement of Wild Horse Program
T
he Federal agency responsible for controlling wild horse populations is seeking to rewrite their mismanagement of this program spanning the last 30 The Bureau of Land Management Guest editorial years. claims wild horses in holding are busting from The Cloud their budget, yet failed to address economic tools that have been at their Foundation disposal for decades to keep horses out of holding and on their legal ranges in the West. “BLM’s recent press release fails to address economical tools that have been at their disposal for decades which can control wild horse populations in a humane manner on their home ranges as the Wild Horse and Burro Act intended,” said Ginger Kathrens, Executive Director of the Cloud Foundation. “BLM’s lack of onthe-range management has come at a very high price. Helicopter contractors make millions. Wild horses lose their freedom. And the American public foots the bill for large scale incarceration.” Kathrens noted that contraception alternatives have been available since the late 1980s. Known as “PZP and PZP-22,” the vaccines render a mare infertile for one to two years or even longer. “Unfortunately, less than 1% of the BLM budget is allocated to these non-invasive tools, much to the frustration of equine professionals, wild horse advocates, and even public land permittees,” states Kathrens. The National Academies of Science (NAS), in their 2013 indepth analysis of the Wild horse and Burro Program (Using Science to Improve the Wild Horse and Burro Program) states “. . .the committee considers the three most promising methods of fertility control to be PZP vaccines (in the forms of PZP-22 and SpayVac), GonaCon, and chemical vasectomy”. “BLM has ignored this recommendation by the NAS. Instead they are now proposing dangerous sterilization surgeries on wild horse mares, operations considered risky even for domestic mares in a sterile environment.” Kathrens continues. “And they are proposing to change the Act, allowing wild horses to be transferred to other government agencies without limitation.” Many fear the wild horses will end up being sold to slaughter as they would lose their protections under the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1971. “This legislative proposal has no place in an annual funding request and by passes key House and Senate Committees with oversight of BLM,” Kathrens stated. “If enacted, it would completely undermine the Wild Horse and Burro Act. All Americans should voice their opposition to this radical and unnecessary change to this landmark law, and demand that the BLM use humane tools to manage wild horses on the range immediately.”
On the Cover:
Be ready when disaster strikes.
4 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
June 2016
June 2016
Special 3 Part Feature:
12 Lessons We Want to Learn - Part II - Jonna Johnson
Cover Story: 24 Summer Health -
Digestive vs. Nutritional Health - Lynsey Whitacre 26 Summer Health - Trail Prep - Don Blazer 32 Summer Hoof Health - Hooves - Tab Pigg
Lifestyle & Real Estate: 10 Pet Care Feature - Summer Heat - Texas A&M 34 Texas Trail - Tom Seay
Columns: 6 18 20 22 38
Horse Bites Ride-N-Sync™ - Terry Myers On the English Front - Cathy Strobel Tack Talk - Lew Pewterbaugh Cowboy Corner - Jim Hubbard
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Jim Hubbard, Steven Long, Vicki Long, Roni Norquist, Linda Parelli, Lew Pewterbaugh, Cathy Strobel, Cory Johnson, Margaret Pirtle Volume 23, No. 6 Horseback Magazine, P.O. Box 681397, Houston, TX 77268-1397, (281) 447-0772. The entire contents of the magazine are copyrighted June 2016 by Horseback Magazine. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Horseback Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other material unless accompanied by a stamped, self addressed envelope. Horseback Magazine is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or management. Subscription rate is $25.00 for one year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Horseback Magazine, P.O. Box 681397, Houston, TX 77268-1397. Fax: (281) 893-1029
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THE SCOTT ROTHWELL TEAM EMERGES AS HIGH POINT TEAM AT THIRD ANNUAL PIN OAK SPORTING CLAYS CLASSIC The Scott Rothwell Team of four blasted its way to take top honors as the High Point Team at the Third Annual Pin Oak Sporting Clays Classic. The Pin Oak Club, a charitable and social organization affiliated with The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, hosted the event on Monday, April 25, at the Greater Houston Gun Club. This year’s Pin Oak Sporting Clays event provided 12 teams of four shooters an opportunity to aim their best shots at clay targets to benefit three children’s charities -- Texas Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Houston at Texas Children’s Hospital, and Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance. Raising over $30,000 at this year’s event, the Pin Oak Sporting Clays Classic teams competed for the High Point Team and High Point Individual honors. Members of the High Point Team included team leader Scott Rothwell, Rob Stacy, Mark Rothwell, and Dave Larned. Top Shot Individual Honors went to Scott Rothwell and Melanie French Rothwell. Prizes for the top team included a shadow box trophy with an engraved medallion adorning a sporting clay on the inside. The top individual shooters received a shadow box trophy, a gun sleeve, and an embroidered blaze orange hat with the Pin Oak tournament logo. Pin Oak Club members Hollis Grace, Erin Ivy and Jeffrey Yates cochaired the event. Ben Westcott served
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herty Photography. Pin Oak Sporting Clays raffle “Horse Bites is compiled from Press Releases sent to Horseback items included: a Yeti Roadie donated Magazine. Original reporting is by Shyne Energy; a gift basket donated done as circumstances warrant. by Whole Foods Market Houston; Content is edited for length & style.” tickets for two to a Houston Ballet performance; a one-of-a-kind, handdrawn charcoal 12x15 work of art as the Honorary Chair. from PriXmier Art’s private collection; “Our sporting clays tournaand a one-night stay at the Four Seament has grown considerably over the sons Hotel Houston. past two years. It is truly gratifying to see so many groups of people come together to support Pin Oak’s charities. CERTIFIED HORSEMANSHIP ASSOCIATION I am especially grateful to my co-chairs AND APHA PARTNER FOR EXPANDED Hollis Grace and Erin Ivy, as well as the EDUCATION AND PAINT RECOGNITION Pin Oak leadership team and volunteers for making this year’s tournament a success,” commented Yates, who co-chaired APHA recently joined forces with the Second Annual Sporting Clays Clas- Certified Horsemanship Association, the largest certifying body of riding sic with Ivy in 2015. Guests included Pin Oak board instructors and barn managers in North America, to help promote education, chair Chris Tresten and sons Michael safety and fun through horsemanship. and William Tresten; Dave Burrows; CHA promotes excellence in Cathy and Craig Taylor of Irish Day safety and education for the benefit Farm; Pin Oak Board member Mary of the horse industry. Among their Jones and husband Rich; Pin Oak Presiservices are certifying instructors and dent Lynn Walsh with sons Devon and trail guides, accrediting equestrian Ryan Walsh; members of the second facilities, publishing educational manuplace team, Trent and Tony Pelletier, als, horsemanship DVDs and YouTube with Susan Pelletier cheering them on; safety shorts, and hosting regional and and Mimi and Daniel Herbert of Irish Day Farm. Irish Day Farm was the title international conferences. APHA also strives to increase education sponsor of The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show which was held March 22 to April among its membership, as well as the 3 at Great Southwest Equestrian Center. greater horse community. APHA Director of Judges, David Dellin, says this Pin Oak Sporting Clays sponnew alliance partnership provides ample sors included Alamo Resources, Walsh opportunities to accomplish APHA’s & Albert, MLN Company, the Law educational goals. Offices of Ray Epps, 360 Worldwide “CHA’s mission aligns perfectly Security, Karbach Brewing Co., Rudy’s BBQ, Stan Marek, and Meredith FlaHorsebites- Con’t. on pg.16
Scott Rothwell and Melanie French Rothwell, the Top Shot Individual Honors winners Photo by: Meredith Flaherty www.horsebackmagazine.com
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Pet Care...
Keeping Fido Safe in the Summer Heat
W
hen participating in outdoor activities like walking or running during summer high temperatures, extra precautions need to be taken to ensure your pet’s safety. Dr. Mark Stickney, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, says that humans are not the only ones who need to be cautious when exercising during higher than average temperatures. “Animals do things they normally wouldn’t do to stay cool, which is an important thing to remember when outside,” Stickney said. “If they are all riled up and having a good time, they may forget how hot it is, so it is important to always monitor them.” Anytime you are outdoors or doing something active during the summer, it is important for you and your pets to take plenty of breaks. Although you may be used to handling the heat and are aware when you need to stop and rest, your pet, especially if they have a thick coat, may not fare as well in the summer months.
temperatures don’t mean you shouldn’t participate in outdoor activities with your pets. If you and Fido enjoy long walks to the neighborhood park, for example, just be sure that he has access to plenty of water throughout your trip. Bringing along a water bottle and bowl for him to drink from is always a good idea. “Also keep in mind that pavement can get very hot in the summer,” Stickney said. “If your dogs don’t have thick foot pads, they could develop burns on their feet. Letting them walk on the grass instead of the concrete can help keep their foot pads from blistering.”
Swimming for a long time can be draining on a dog not used to that type of physical exertion. “If your pet does accidentally overdo it in the sun, there are signs you can watch out for,” Stickney said. “Panting, unresponsiveness, red whites of their eyes, and bright reddish gums can mean that your dog is overheated and needs a break.” If you notice that your dog is beginning to exhibit any of these symptoms, stop activity immediately and allow them to get a drink and cool off indoors or in the shade.
Any summertime activity that involves the water is good to partake in with your pet. Getting adequate exercise, while also being able to cool off in the water, is a perfect outdoor activity for Fido.
Overall, be smart and safe when going on outings with your pets during the warm summer months. Monitor your pets closely, and be prepared to step in at the first sign of heat stress. They may be enjoying your time together so much that they don’t realize how hot and tired they really are!
However, keep in mind that they will still need to have clean drinking water available, as well as a shady place to rest once out of the water.
Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at vetmed.tamu.edu/ pettalk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu.
“Keep in mind that if you’re thirsty, your pet is most likely thirsty,” Stickney said. “Animals need plenty of access to fresh water. You can even try putting ice cubes in it to make it colder and more refreshing.” However, the warm summer
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Special Feature..
Lessons We Want to Learn [Part 2 of 3]
I
By Jonna Johnson, Photos by: Bonnie Marquette
t appears that Ontario continues to have its share of equine deaths due to fires. The “Firefighting in Canada” web page recently had an article stating that firefighters were going to burn a barn for research. This is a giant step forward for the horse community as there are few studies conducted regarding barn fire disasters. A reader left a comment stating that it was good to see more research was being conducted as a result of so many equine deaths. Once again, the common denominator of death reaches out and finally manages to get some support as the horse world is busy concentrating on the symptoms to see the causes of the problem. Will death and destruction help bring education, and perhaps even some motivation for us to get serious about all disaster plans that will include our horses? We can only hope and believe so. When it does, we must first identify, analyze and correct hazards to successfully create proactive plans; because for various reasons threats to our horses are
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survive - or we can start having conversations with effort and reaching out to each other to become better prepared for what tomorrow may bring when disaster swiftly terrorizes our equine community.
now more complex, and there is much to consider. Google Horse Disaster Planning, or related topics, and pages upon pages of articles will appear. They are far from one plan fits all, and likely to leave some people that had good intentions overwhelmed. Disasters are not something most people want to think about, yet they are probable and a very real threat. From locally to globally, it is safe to say that disasters are only going to become more frequent. They will strike quickly and in many forms. From Geo-politics to simple climate science - it is certain things are only going to get worse, and that’s not good news for us or our horses. The equine industry has two choices. The first is to keep the status quo and continue to scramble through events with hopes that we and our horses will find a way to
LET US SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF PREPAREDNESS So let’s think about a preparedness plan that will include our horses. Where do we start, and how do we begin to see the big picture of what all this “planning stuff” is about? First of all there are some questions we need to qualify the plan with. By fully understanding and answering the following basic questions, your plan is probable to have a foundation that is realistic and useable, because it will be tailored to you and your horse’s needs. In other words, what works for your horse or barn, may not work for your neighbor, so customized details are important. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO CREATE AN EMERGENCY PLAN? By having a plan, you give not only your horse, but yourself and others the best chance possible to survive a disaster. It is plain and simple, and it is our responsibility as owners and those involved in the Equine industry to promote www.horsebackmagazine.com www.horsebackmagazine.com
ers are not legally required to come when a call for horse help is made to 911 or any other disaster assistance line in your community. Sometimes responders do show up, and if they help with our horses, we must honestly ask ourselves where did those resources come from? MOST GUIDANCE DURING TIMES OF DISASTER WILL COME FROM A WELLDOCUMENTED, THOUGHT OUT, AND PRACTICED PLAN THAT YOU CREATE.
and practice due diligence. There is no state or federal funding for the “horse rescue” people to show up and save the day before, during or after a disaster. Therefore, we must all plan on being on our own, or with a team or network that “WE” create. That “WE” is “US.” It is not the fire department, the police department, the county, the state, or any other responding group. Regardless if it is agreed upon or not, the fact is in times of need, people come first. Although domestic pets have been written into most community and government response plans, people are still first, and pets follow. Horses are considered livestock, and are not legally pets. There is no government funding to pay for a horse’s physical rescue, sheltering, feeding, daily care, or veterinarian care before, during, or after a disaster. No one at any level of government owes anything to the horse community, nor do they have any legal responsibility to help with horses in times of declared disasters, or actually any other time. That means respondwww.horsebackmagazine.com www.horsebackmagazine.com
Besides the major benefit of providing guidance during a disaster, developing a plan has other advantages. It can allow unrecognized hazardous conditions to be discovered. Thus we can work to eliminate such ahead of time, or learn to become more successful in dealing with the unpleasantries disasters deliver. The planning process may bring to light deficiencies, such as the lack of resources (equipment, training, supplies), or items that can be rectified before the situation occurs. For barn managers or equine handlers, an emergency plan promotes caring and safety awareness among their group of horses and humans. It shows a commitment to the safety of all involved. It is a fact that an urgent need for rapid decisions, shortage of time, and lack of resources and trained personnel can lead to chaos during disasters. The stress of the situation can often lead to poor judgment resulting in tragic consequences. As history proves that no place or person is immune from disaster, preplanning is a necessity to increase the best possible of outcomes, as horses and their
For more information on Equine Disaster Preparedness: Educate your children with Ralph’s Responders coloring book (Ready and Living Prepared) - LSART.ORG, see Animal Owners, for Large AnimalsLivestock, or the Ralph’s Responders Tag To help prepare your horses Go Bag: LSART.ORG, Training, see bottom, Technical Large Animal Ralph’s Responder Go Bag. To find out more information in your state: see Sartusa.org, Sart state links Be sure to watch for information regarding a new Water Rescue Class from Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue and Emergency Equine Response Unit/ASAR. Details and registration will be posted on June 6th at BVEH.com
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owners have been injured or killed trying to find their way through them. WHAT IS THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE PLAN? An evacuation plan specifies procedures for handling sudden or unexpected situations where we have to shelter our horses in place, or get our horses out of harm’s way. The objective is to be prepared to prevent fatalities and injuries to our horses and ourselves. From that objective customized instructions and lists can be made. Development of such a plan begins with a vulnerability assessment. Those results will show us how likely a situation is to occur and where it should be placed in the plan. From this analysis, appropriate procedures can be established. A solid plan will be written so that if the owner/manager were indisposed, someone else could pick it up and move forward. Putting the plan in writing, communication and training will then help ensure adequate performance if the plan must be attempted or carried out. WHAT IS A VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT?
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A vulnerability assessment is a process of identifying and qualifying the vulnerabilities. The first step to determine this is to find which hazards pose a threat to your horses. When a list of hazards that apply to your horse is made, the study of records of past incidents can greatly help you determine how to best deal with them. Remember, just because certain threats may not be likely to occur in your local area, consider them anyway, especially if you travel with your horse.
from wildfire, only to end up being moved two more times as the same fire rapidly grew out of control and spread. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ELEMENTS OF YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN?
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HAZARDS THAT WILL ACTIVATE YOUR PLAN?
BE SURE TO DISCUSS ALL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN DETAIL PRE EVENT. PREPLANNED COORDINATION IS NECESSARY TO AVOID CONFLICTING RESPONSIBILITIES AND MISCOMMUNICATION.
It is pretty safe to say that a majority of us need to consider the hazards of fire, wild fires, floods, release of toxic substances or hazardous biological agents (accidental and deliberate), severe wind storms, extremes in temperatures (cold or hot), disease outbreaks, and tornados. Hurricanes and earthquakes should also be considered for those residing in the areas that experience them. Keep in mind that there is always the possibility of one event triggering another. An example of this is when Hurricane Ike approached the Gulf Coast, horses were moved up to Kentucky. Rain and wind arrived in Kentucky from Ike, creating hazardous conditions for those same horses that were evacuated from the south. Another example is apparent in the state of California - when horses were evacuated
Your emergency plan should include all possible emergencies, consequences, required actions, written procedures, and the resources available. You will want to include detailed lists of those included in your plan - such as barn managers, horse handlers, veterinarians, fire service, local livestock officers, horse owners, and out of state contacts (as well as their contact numbers and duties/responsibilities).
Stock Photo: Dreamstime
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Other things to consider are identifying evacuation routes and alternate means of escape; making these known to all involved. As you discuss and look at others plans, you will discover how to ID your animals, various equipment, and other lists you will want to create. TESTING YOUR PLAN AND CONTINUOUS TRAINING It is difficult to predict all of the problems that may happen - unless the plan is tested. Exercises and drills may be conducted to practice all or critical portions of the plan. A thorough and immediate review after each drill, or after an actual emergency, will point out areas that require improvement. The plan should be revised when shortcomings have become known, and should be reviewed at
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least annually. It should be stressed that provision must be made for the training of both individuals and teams, if they are expected to perform adequately during times of stress. An annual full-scale exercise will help in maintaining a high level of proficiency for any owner or facility. AFTER THE PLAN Now that you are on your way to understanding the basics of why it is important to have a disaster plan that includes getting our horses out of harm’s way, spread the word. Tell your barn, your family, your horse clubs,
your neighbors, and those in the industry why they need a plan. Consider getting involved in your community to help educate others about plans, and share how with just a little effort, we can all make a difference to save lives, both horse and human.
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Horsebites...
Horsebites- Con’t. from pg. 6
with our Markel/APHA Professional Horsemen program, as well as several other APHA initiatives. We enjoyed hosting CHA’s Christy Landwehr at our annual APHA Convention in February, and I look forward to sharing APHA’s “The Game Plan” seminar with CHA International Conference attendees in October,” David said. Likewise, CHA is excited about the partnership. “The equine professional members of the Certified Horsemanship Association are thrilled to partner with the American Paint Horse Association,” CHA Chief Executive Officer Christy Landwehr said. “Many of our certified riding instructors have registered APHA horses as lesson horses and as their own personal mounts, so this is such a natural fit. We are excited to work together.” One unique aspect of the new partnership includes an annual award for CHA’s Most Valuable Paint Horse, which will recognize the organization’s top Paint Horse. Additionally, CHA will provide monthly safety tips to APHA members and Facebook fans. For more information about CHA, please visit cha-ahse.org or call 859-259-3399. To find a certified horseback riding instructor or accredited equine facility near you, visit chainstructors.com. Courtesy Paint Horse Journal, apha.com
IMAGINE-A-HORSE TRICK HORSE TRAINING CAMP PUTS TRAINING AND TRUST ON A PEDESTAL Imagine A Horse put trust on a pedestal and taught owners from across America how to do the same at Trick Horse Camp in May with Imagine A Horse co-founders, master trick trainers, and authors of the new The Trick Horse Companion, Sue De Laurentis and Allen Pogue of Red Horse Ranch in Dripping Springs, outside Austin, Texas. Famous Imagine A Horse success stories include ‘equine graduate’ Lady C, the mare ridden by country recording artist Sheryl Crow into the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo before her concert. “Lady C’s foundational trick training gave her the
16 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
June 2016
courage to face 55,000 screaming fans, spotlights and a pyrotechnics show,” said De Laurentis and Pogue, who have dedicated their lives to helping people and horses more fully trust one another. “It was so fun working with fellow equestrians from all over the US and from a variety of backgrounds,” said Johnny Robb, a grand prix dressage rider from Florida who attended the camp, “ I expected it to be fun, but it was so much more meaningful than I expected. Developing the relationship with the horses and watching the horses that were new to trick training become confident and engaged in the activities was awesome.” Husband and wife camp attendees, Ron and Sandra Hahn were home only a few days when Ron built a pedestal using the guidelines provided at camp and within days they were successfully training their horses at their farm in Oregon. Vicki Yeomans and her friend Terri Davis from Texas brought their horses to camp with them and got to start their training with hands-on help from Sue and Allen. “The different disciplines and perspectives brought additional depth to the material. Everyone was so supportive, helpful and kind. This was without a doubt the best clinic I have attended,” Yeomans exclaimed. And Ginger Sampson from Tennessee wowed the entire class when she took to the liberty trainings ring for the first time and looked like a pro. “We love horses, they’re our
life. We’ve witnessed how Imagine A Horse methods improve the lives of horses and humans. We are aware that many horse owners want more than traditional training. They want a closer relationship with their horses, based on activities that are interesting to their horse. We help make that happen. So much training is based on tradition and popularity - neither of which necessarily lend themselves to modern psychology or behavior modification. Our Trick Horse Camps are calibrated toward each horse individually and an owner can go home with new appreciation for what is possible, having walked through all the steps towards what we call The Ultimate Companion Horse”, De Laurentis explained. Trick Horse Camp offers such unexpected benefits as Pedestal Training: “All species are trained using a ‘place’ or ‘mark’ except, traditionally, the horse. In ground training, a pedestal gives a horse somewhere to go, rather than act on flight instinct and run. “Quiet feet equal a focused mind. Pedestal work also helps develop physical dexterity while increasing self-confidence and boldness. Horses love to stand on pedestals because it makes them taller than other horses, which increases confidence. Standing with the front feet on a pedestal gets weight off the front end and helps a horse to stretch and relax his back, which makes him feel good. A relaxed and confident horse is in a mindset to learn.
Ginger Simpson performs at the recent Imagine a Horse Trick Training Camp
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“Pedestal variations can strengthen and shape a horse’s body in beneficial, yoga-like stances. If a horse has all four feet closely together on a square pedestal he is using his body in a new way by stretching his topline and tightening his abdominals. Pedestal training affects horses positively physically, mentally and emotionally.” Positive training leads to positive performance. Allen’s three-horse liberty performance has opened expositions, and their Red Horse Ranch Arabian stallion, Elk Hasan, is mascot for Austin’s arena football team. “Three of our horses performed at the Sound Horse Conference in Kentucky. We’ve trained many horses for performers but most have confidentiality agreements so we’re not at liberty to use their names.” One name they are happy to mention is sponsor Manna Pro, whose healthy treats incentive learning. “Treats have always been an important part of training at Imagine A Horse, and can be used effectively and responsibly while preserving a horse’s good manners.” Since 2014 Imagine A Horse has partnered with Manna Pro on a national campaign about treats as a training tool called, ‘Train With Trust.’ Free downloadable training videos are available at http://trainwithtrust.mannapro. com. “Horses can be highly motivated by treats and Manna Pro treats are economical and nutritionally developed to complement any diet.” Enrollment is open now for the next Imagine A Horse Trick Horse Camp planned for October, followed in November by the first-ever Miniature Horse Trick Horse Camp. Besides learning the secrets to trick training and developing strong relationships with their horses, campHorsebites- Con’t. on pg. 28 www.horsebackmagazine.com
June 2016 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
17
Control the Shoulders To Control Your Horse!
In
my opinion, a horse can’t buck, kick or rear up if they are relaxed and square in their shoulders. Most performance problems; loping too fast, lead issues, bad reining spins, knocking over barrels in barrel patterns are all symptoms of shoulder problems. Last month we talked about things the rider can change to help correct shoulder problems. In this article we will talk about how to get your horses’ shoulders relaxed, now that you know how to sit properly in the saddle. What we are going to talk about in this article should very easy. However, don’t be surprised if you have trouble applying these techniques. As I always say, your instincts can be your own worst enemy. A horse that is soft in the mouth is also soft in the shoulders. Number 1 rule—no jerking and yanking. If your hands are soft, your horse is more likely to be soft in the bridle. Conversely, if you pull on your horse, your horse will pull on you. When you jerk on your horse, it will stiffen and brace in the jaw, neck and shoulders.
Try this…pick up your inside rein and feel it, like you are holding hands with someone. If your horse resists and does not give, bump lightly without pulling or jerking. Your hand needs to be in front of the saddle. Absolutely NO jerking downward (ever)! When you jerk downward, you lean forward and make your horse forehand heavy. I have always been taught that in dressage there are three names for the inside rein; direct, leading and softening. If you look up those three words in the dictionary, you will never see the word “pull.” When you get to the point that you can pick up the inside rein and the horse will give to light pressure, tipping their nose to the inside, then it is time to apply inside leg pressure. At this point, the goal is to get the horse to bend in their ribcage and move their shoulder, taking a step outward. Pick up the inside rein and close it against the neck. Then in rhythm with the inside front leg, bump your inside leg at the girth. Your horse should give their nose, bend in their ribcage and take a step over with their inside front leg.
As soon as you start to feel your horse take a step, LET GO and reward your horse. Got it? Now do that 10,000 times. To get a horse to give to the inside rein and stand up in the inside shoulder enough to move and take that step over is not going to happen in a day. Slow repetition and lots of patience is the key. Now we can talk about the outside rein. Once you have your horse standing up in the shoulders to take that step over, you can apply the outside to rein which will help support the horse as they step over. If you think about it, the horse’s hind end is their motor. As we have talked about in past articles, the horse cannot get the drive from their motor if they are not square in the front end (i.e. SHOULDERS!). The outside rein comes into play because that creates balance. Remember that horses are bilateral, just as we are. When you add outside rein to the picture, it aligns the back end slightly to the inside creating balance. If you ever watch a horse canter in the pasture, you will notice that their outside hind leg will track up between
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June 2016
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their front feet. They are showing you that they are naturally bilateral. To get this type of balance when we are riding, it becomes important to use your outside rein which is your speed and headset rein. The rider body position I talked about in the last article along with the exercises described in this article is a beginning to getting your horse’s shoulder square and soft. But there is so much more in getting a horse and rider truly riding in sync, as a team. The only way to learn is to seek knowledge and then ride. Questions about this or any of our articles can be emailed to us at myers5000@aol.com. Terry Myers is a national clinician and champion horse trainer with a depth of knowledge developed from over 45 years in the horse industry. Myers has been a popular clinician at multiple expos in the U.S. and Canada. To learn more about Myers’ Ride-In-Sync methods as well as clinic and training product/services available, visit Myers at www.tmtrainingcenter.com and on Facebook. www.horsebackmagazine.com
June 2016 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
19
English...
How Do I Measure Success? with you.
It’s
interesting that there is no standard measure for success. A poor man may measure it by whether he can keep a roof over his head. Someone else may weigh the price he paid for his home. A wealthy man may define his success by the number of vacation homes he owns. Yet there are others who simply define their success by their happiness. As you began your riding career, I’m sure you had certain hopes and aspirations for your equestrian achievements. And I’d be willing to bet that as you accomplished each of your achievements, you went on to set loftier goals for yourself. I would also venture to guess that most great riders didn’t start out with the idea that if they did not make it to the Olympics, they will have failed. Meanwhile, it isn’t hard for the rest of us to view highly talented horsemen as a success simply because of their talents. But does that mean that we all have to be great riders to be a success? When I thought about this topic for my column, it seemed to me that most people would measure their success by the competitions they had done, the number of horses they had ridden, the expensive horse they had or some other materialistic measurement. I started asking riders how they measured their equestrian success and I was pleasantly surprised. While there were those who answered that it was through competitions, titles or possessions that they weighed their success, the vast majority had different ideas. I’ve heard that there is nothing as good for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse. Those sentiments are resonated through the responses I was given. Let me just share some of these
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June 2016
I know I have achieved success when I: • feel like my horse and I are a team that I can keep in control; • am capable of riding with my hands up off the neck without losing my balance; • have conquered my fears on the horse; • have tried my hardest and done my best to master a skill; • feel confident on and around horses; • feel like I have learned something and improved my skills; • am able to be consistent with a skill that was once difficult for me; • can safely and competently ride more advanced horses that require a higher level of skill; • don’t fall off; • communicate clearly so my horse understands me; • can improve my position and control; • improve some aspect of what I am doing, even if it isn’t what I started out to work on; • am capable of riding nearly any horse because I have developed my skills; • don’t get hurt; • am able to feel my horse, read his body language and communicate with him clearly; • figure out how to make my horse want to do what I am telling him to do; • am having fun with my horse. As I conducted my informal poll amongst riders who have competed for many years all the way down to those who are new to riding, it became obvious that there was an underlying common thread. Every rider I spoke with ultimately wanted to feel better about his or herself. Riding horses is so much more about life than it is about horse skills. Riders learn to cope with difficulties without giving up. They learn to form a plan and execute it but also to be flexible
with their plans when something isn’t working. All riders have to learn to read the nonverbal communication that transpires between man and horse. Watching their body positioning, eyes, ears and nostrils sends volumes of information to a horseman. When you learn to read a horse, you ultimately learn to read people better, too. Self-examination is another skill that is forced upon every rider whether they want it or not. We all make mistakes. If you aren’t honest with yourself when you make mistakes, horses will tell you. Riders learn to accept responsibility. If you keep blaming the horses for not performing well when you ride them, but other riders can accomplish what you failed to do, there is no one to blame but yourself. You can’t be a success at anything if you have blinders on. Horses are brutally honest about their desires and emotions. You can’t force a horse to do something it doesn’t want to do. You have to find a way to help the horse want to do what you need it to do. It’s the same with people. If you expect someone to behave in a certain way, you need to find a way to make them want to behave that way. If you lose your temper with a horse, the consequences will always be disastrous. They are sensitive animals. Perhaps these are some of the reasons horses are so good for people who have personality disorders. Maybe this twist on a quote sums it up best: It isn’t the number of breaths you take when you are near a horse, but the number of times your breath is taken away by a horse. These are such amazing animals. They help us in a myriad of ways to become better people and discover our own personal successes. Cathy Strobel has over 30 years of experience as a trainer, judge and clinician and can be reached at Southern Breeze Equestrian Center at (281) 431-4868 or www.sbreeze.com www.horsebackmagazine.com
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June 2016 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
21
Tack Care...
Life Changes
I
Horseback Magazine’s Saddle & Tack Editor
just got back from a trip to Tennessee to see my five month old grandson for the first time and celebrate my Granddaughter’s 10th birthday. The trip made me thankful to have child rearing days behind me. It’s hard to think of my daughter-in-law as being middle aged, but they decided they wanted another child before thy got too old, and they wanted a boy, so when the signs were right, according to Zen, the Chinese calendar, and the Farmer’s Almanac, they did the deed and now have a five month old baby boy, who, at 5 months, can pull himself up and stand, can hurt the hair on a moustache, and can make a young mother old from lack of sleep. He would let me hold him long enough to realize that I didn’t have the necessary equipment to give him solace in this hard, hard world, and then Momma would take him back and go to a discreet corner and give him comfort. My daughter-in law and my granddaughter both show in the Tennessee Saddle Club Association. Their points at the local
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June 2016
show qualify them for the state show every year. Hauling multiple horses to a show, getting them ready, trying to feed a nursing baby, and overseeing a ten year old, hell bent for leather daughter, with minimal help from a non-horse spouse (my son) would make the most devoted horse lover want to take up raising Chihuahuas, except for the kind folks, grandmothers mostly, who pitch in to help take care of the baby. My daughter-in-law’s father, who is 76, was the Tennessee senior men’s pole bending champion last year. He’s about 6’4”, skinny as a rail, and tougher than nails. He was riding a tough horse with two broken ribs, his, not the horse’s. He hauls five or six horses every Friday and Saturday night for him and the girls to compete. During the week, he loafs around, taking care of about 145 head of momma cows, and putting up hay off of about 500 acres. My daughter-in law, my granddaughter, my daughter-in law’s father, all ride in decent saddles that came from my old shop. My son had some saddles in the barn that had become mildewed and dried out, so we worked on cleaning them while I was there. I said all that to say this. In that part of middle Tennessee, there is not a single saddle shop within miles where someone can go to get good tack. I had so many people coming up to me Saturday night, asking questions, and wanting to know where they can get good tack that will fit. I saw many horses laying their ears back, wring their tails, and ducking off barrels and poles, it was like, “Hey,
hold up. Let’s do a saddle fitting clinic!” One single daddy with three girls he’s trying to raise right, would have taken up the entire night, asking questions and not understanding the answers. One of the girls wants to show AQHA, and was looking at a new show saddle for $499.00. I don’t know that they believed me that you can’t buy a good saddle for $400.00, especially one that is loaded with “Silver” and looks just like the ones that cost, OH my gosh,$2500.00. I tried explaining that a good tree costs about $250.00. Two sides of leather costs at least $400.00. Add in stirrups, hardware, and labor, and it is IMPOSSIBLE to build a good saddle for less than $800.00, just in material. Add in labor, 40 hours in the saddle, and another 40 hours in tooling, if you’re dealing with someone half competent, and you are looking at another $1600.00. Oh, wait. What about the silver for a show saddle? A cheap saddle silver set, from someone like Montana silver (Not made in the United States, not hand engraved, and just plate, for cripes sake) will run several hundred dollars. So, a quick tutorial on silver. Companies like Montana Silver are mostly silver plate over a machine engraved base metal. The base metal, usually German silver, which is a color designation, has no silver in it. It is silver colored because of the base metals. They stamp the leather with a design, then silver plate it, then spray a finish on it to keep the metal from oxidizing. Silver overlay is a sheet of bonded metal, 20 to 25% of the
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thickness of the metal is sterling, bonded to a German silver back. The engraving is done into the silver, so what you see is real silver, usually sterling. Sterling silver is solid sterling, which is actually not solid silver. Solid silver is too soft to hold up, so they mix other metal with it. Sterling silver is 92.65% silver. Sterling overlay is a sandwich of sterling boned to a base metal. Economically, sterling overlay is your best buy, because what you see is solid sterling. The engraving on sterling overlay is done directly into the sterling, so you still get the bright cuts that you have in solid sterling. In silver plate, the engraving is done on the base metal, then plated, so you don’t get the ‘bright’ cuts that refract the light on the sterling overlay and solid sterling. On the $499.00 saddle, the engraving will be sub-standard, and the plate may be silver plate, rather that sterling silver plate. Well, I kind of got off track, but what I was getting at, is there are areas in this great land where there are no knowledgeable people in our industry. People are clamoring www.horsebackmagazine.com
for help, and there isn’t any. Misinformation, from people trying to sell their no-goods at any cost, with no repercussions if it doesn’t work. I am not endorsing any political candidate, as none of them would give a second glance at the voter support they would get from our little industry, but, I would like to see America Great Again because people care about what they make, they want it to work, and they are not trying to cheat you by selling you something that looks like something better, hoping you won’t know the difference. That is one of the reasons I love older saddles. They were made in a time when companies and employees cared about what they made, and the value that they created. There is no value to much of the crap that is put out for you today. Be careful of what you buy today. We are traveling down an increasingly slippery slope into shoddiness. Aughh! Bandera’s Lew Pewterbaugh has been called the most knowledgeable saddle and tack authority in the Southwest. For private fitting consultation call (830) 328-0321 or (830) 522-6613 or email: saddlerlew@gmail.com. June 2016 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
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Summer Health..
Does Digestive Health or Nutritional Health Matter Most? By Lynsey Whitacre, M.S., Equine Specialist
A
healthy horse is the key to just about every goal its owner has for it and is impacted by both nutrition and digestion. Without a healthy digestive system, a horse’s nutritional health will be compromised no matter how hard we work at feeding them “right”. Without proper nutrition, a horse’s digestive health will ultimately be upset no matter how many digestive supplements we feed. In order to understand how important digestive health is to a horse’s
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June 2016
overall performance, you need to understand the basics of how the horse’s digestive system works and how many places there are for a problem to occur: • Step 1: Chewing of Feed chewing produces saliva, which further breaks down food and buffers the acids in the stomach. • Step 2: Breakdown of Feed in the Stomach - further physical breakdown of feed before it hits the small intestine happens in the stomach, this is where nutri-
ent absorption begins. • Step 3: Absorption of Feed in the Small Intestine - the partially digested food from the stomach passes into the small intestine, where enzymes act on it to produce materials that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. • Step 4: Fermentation & Energy Production in the Hindgut - microbial fermentation in the hindgut by billions of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and protozoa) break down the plants www.horsebackmagazine.com
horses eat to produce the volatile fatty acids that are absorbed into the bloodstream to provide energy for the horse.
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Because this digestive system is complicated and highly sensitive, managing the diet is extremely important. A horse must have a balanced diet, which includes all the essential nutrients in total and in the proper proportion. It is important to recognize that there are requirements for six basic nutrient categories: carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and water. These requirements differ from individual to individual and are influenced by the horse’s body mass, age, workload and metabolic efficiency. So, is digestive health or nutritional health more important? Much of the horse feed on the market today contains the proper balance of those basic nutrients needed by the horse, such that nutritional health is almost a given if you choose to feed one of those. Because of this, feeding a nutritional supplement is not always necessary; however, one should certainly make sure their horse’s diet is providing all the nutrients needed. If not, adding a nutritional supplement such as BioZyme® brand Vitalize® equine products (http://biozymeinc.com/vitalize/equine-products/) is a good game plan. Almost all horses could use a little help with digestive health no matter what they are being fed. Making sure that the horse absorbs all the nutrients they are eating, as opposed to not absorbing them due to a compromised digestive system, is a no brainer. Accomplishing this is possible by adding a digestive health supplement to your feeding regimen. If you want to examine your feeding program more closely, the most in-depth listing of requirements can be found in the Nutrient Requirements for Horses 6th Edition, 2006. This resource is based on scientific research and is updated periodically to stay current with recent findings. To access this database on-line, go to http://nrc88.nas.edu/nrh/.
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June 2016 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
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Summer Health..
A Horse, Of Course By Don Blazer
Summer Vacation
S
ummer may mean vacation for us, but it usually means work time for horses. With the kids out of school, and longer days, there’s more time to ride. And ride we do. In far too many cases, we ride too much. Horses which have not been conditioned to mild work are not “fit” for the onslaught of trail rides, horse shows and other equine events which accompany summer vacation. They are quickly overworked, and infrequently given the needed rest. Kids (and adults) get so busy having a good time they forget to provide sufficient rest periods. They become overly-tired, and then they get cranky and miserable.
26 26 HHORSEBACK ORSEBACKM MAGAZINE AGAZINE June June2016 2016
The same thing happens to horses. They become overly-tired, and they get cranky and miserable. (This is not usually a condition brought on by a lack of the horse’s common sense.) Activity of any kind produces chemical waste within a horse’s body. The chemical wastes are toxins produced by the burning of fuel, and used body tissue. When activity is moderate, the excretion of toxins and the supply of more fuel, oxygen and bodybuilding substances easily keep pace. But, when the work is beyond normal there is a buildup of toxins and eventual overloading. The horse accustomed to three or four short afternoon rides per week is going to suffer in
several ways if he suddenly finds himself working all-day, every day. Within a matter of days the horse is probably going to be muscle sore. Muscle soreness is brought on by long periods of continuous work, or short periods of work more strenuous than normal. Muscle soreness often leads to strained and sprained tendons and ligaments. These injuries are often caused by tissue fatigue. If the horse doesn’t become lame, he certainly becomes cranky and “barn-sour”. Muscle soreness, sprains and “barn-sour” horses are as common each summer as trips to the beach, sunburned and bored kids.
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“When activity is moderate, the excretion of toxins and the supply of more fuel, oxygen and body-building substances easily keep pace. “
The way to avoid the problem with horses is to plan a little conditioning program which includes plenty of rest. The horse should be given gradual increases in exercise. An hour a day for the first two weeks of summer, plus a day off each six days, is recommended. As the horse becomes adjusted to the new work program, it can be expanded. But, it must be expanded slowly. The average pleasure horse probably shouldn’t be given more than one and half to two and a half hours of work each day. And, that work should be interspersed with rest breaks of ten to 20 minutes. A trail ride can be fun for both horse and rider if the dis-
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tance and terrain are moderate. If the horse is allowed to walk most of the way, he’ll come back in two hours as healthy as he left. During all “rest stops” it’s advisable to loosen the cinch or girth, and give the horse a chance to relax. Upon returning to the stable, a nice cool-water bath and a walking period is an excellent end to a good ride. Groom the horse thoroughly, and then put him away. And once the horse is stalled or pastured, leave him alone. Leading the horse around, or grooming him excessively isn’t restful; it’s annoying. The horse should have plenty of good quality forage, only
be fed supplements if needed to meet nutrients lacking in the forage, and free choice salt. Fresh, clean water should be available at all times. A program of work with plenty of rest is a good way to enjoy a horse and still keep him healthy during the summer. How you get kids to rest during the summer, I have no idea! Get yourself fit and ready to ride – take the online course: Fit To Ride. Visit www.equinestudiesinstitute.com to earn certification as a horse trainer, riding instructor or stable manager.
June June 2016 2016 H HORSEBACK ORSEBACKM MAGAZINE AGAZINE
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Horsebites- Con’t. from pg. 17
ers can expect an experience filled with true Texas hospitality and scrumptious, healthy home-cooked southern meals (and take-home recipes). To learn more about Imagine A Horse Trick Horse Camps or to obtain the book The Trick Horse Companion, training DVDs, or training tools and props visit www.imagineahorse. com. Learn about Manna Pro at www. mannapro.com and the Train with Trust program at http://trainwithtrust.mannapro.com
FUN-FILLED HOUSTON DRESSAGE SOCIETY CDI2* WELCOME RESPITE FOR THE WATERLOGGED As the Texas floodwaters rose, the last thing young dressage professional Taylor Rowsey of Pattison, Texas, was concerned about was the upcoming dressage show in nearby Katy. She was moving horses out of the flooded barn and into an uninhabited equestrian facility that was for sale until 2 a.m. just days before the competition. The arena was underwater and the weekend’s Shoofly Farm CDI2* and Houston Dressage Spring Classic I and II were low on her priority list. When the horses were safe in a total of four friends’ barns, the water abated and the arena began to partially dry out three days before
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the start of the April show put on by the Houston Dressage Society (HDS), Rowsey thought that perhaps a chance to reconnect with friends in a change of venue at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy would be just the thing to lift her spirits. “I went there as a stress reliever and to be with my friends,” she said. “Everyone was super supportive. It was so great. I really feel like we are all comrades and I feel like you can’t find this camaraderie anywhere else. It was good to be around people who were so supportive. We went in thinking, ‘Let’s not worry about doing well. Let’s just go in and have fun.’” And they did. The Houston Dressage Society has a reputation for putting on a well-run show with a festive atmosphere in a top-notch venue and, in their first CDI2* show, they did not disappoint. “They always have a great time and great volunteers,” Rowsey said. “Everybody is involved.” Not only are the HDS shows known for their attention to detail, their supportive show staff and a cadre of helpful volunteers, they are renowned for their Friday night competitors’ party. This show featured a “Rode to Rio” theme with a nod toward the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August. Colorful competition included stall decorating
and hat contests. CDI title sponsor Shoofly Farm won the stall decorating contest by fashioning Olympic rings made from Houston Dressage Society ribbon rosettes. The Carmen Miranda-themed hat contest channeled the Portuguese/ Brazilian samba singer, dancer and actress known for her extravagant hats and the contest winner’s topper was true to the flamboyant namesake. Angel Gunn, the Vice-President of HDS and a Houston radiologist, won with a chapeau heaped with mounds of fruit and three strings of flashing lights. “It’s a creation, isn’t it?” she said of her hat, adding that it probably weighed between seven to 10 pounds. Created by her hairdresser, Michael Soliz of Houston, the hat was a repurposed Barbie Dream Car creation stripped of its car and doll and bedecked with produce. Soliz designs hats for some of Houston’s elite partygoers and he lent his long-time client the topper for the competitor’s party. HDS volunteer and special events chairperson Patty Sutton came up with the ideas for the annual spring show. “I wasn’t so sure how it was going to turn out after the severe flooding in the area but the show seemed to put everyone back in the feeling of ‘normalcy’ and we could all share our stories and commiserate,” Sutton said. www.horsebackmagazine.com
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“The theme ‘Rode to Rio’ was an easy one to come up with, considering the Olympics are right around the corner. In addition, I knew the theme would be a lot of fun to work with, with the beautiful and colorful visuals of Carnival and Brazil! I am pretty sure that some of the young riders had to Google Carmen Miranda, but that makes it all the better! They served Brazilian food along with the national cocktail of Brazil, the Caipirinha, which was purported to be a big hit, and they played Brazilian music, including some songs by Miranda herself. But beyond the fun and frivolity, there is a serious side to the show and the Houston Dressage Society strives to offer a quality show experience to competitors, their horses and the spectators. “The show is run really well,” www.horsebackmagazine.com
Rowsey said. “I think HDS puts on a fantastic CDI. It gives more attention to this region and that we are serious about this business of dressage. We have quality horses and riders here.” And, although Rowsey said she wasn’t concerned about doing well, she and her 19-year-old Royal Dutch Warmblood gelding Poulidon earned the top score in the FEI Intermediaire I Open class and claimed the blue ribbon with a 65.965 percent in their first ever CDI. Another first for the Houston area was the addition of the first FEI Children’s division classes offered in the United States, the CDICH classes. One rider, Emma Claire Stephens, had the honor of being the first CDICH rider in the U.S. The full complement of young CDI riders included one CDIP (Pony) rider, Esme Grimshaw, seven CDIJ (Ju-
nior) riders, Jessica Fan, Abigail Fleischli, Madison Lacy, Carlos Maldonado Lara (on two horses), Fiona Patterson and Madeleine Ramon, and two CDIY (Young Riders), Kalie Beckers and Allison Cyprus. The depth of classes offered to these young competitors is unparalleled in CDIs in this country and the classes help provide a pipeline and support for Region 9’s youngest competitors to help them defend their 2015 NAJYRC Junior Team Bronze Medal at the 2016 competition in Colorado this summer Another successful competitor, Anartz Chanca, named the show’s CDI Amateur Leading Athlete and a resident of Tomball, Texas, agreed that HDS shows are a boon to the area. “It’s so exciting to have an international level show here in Texas,” he said. Horsebites- Con’t. on pg. 30 June 2016 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
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Horsebites...
Horsebites- Con’t. from pg. 29
Chanca is a Spanish national married to dressage professional Marta Renilla, based out of nearby The Woodlands. After going off course the first day of competition aboard his own 12-year old Hanoverian gelding Campione in the FEI Prix St. Georges and enduring lots of good-natured teasing, Chanca got to work. “I rode the course in my head about 150 times,” he said. “Everybody was joking asking me if I knew the course and it was kind of funny. But I didn’t go off course the second day and when I heard the Spanish anthem being played, it was very exciting.” After the second place finish the first day of the show, Chanca and Campione came back to notch a blueribbon win in the FEI Intermediaire I with a 65.833 percent and then claimed first in the I-I Freestyle with a 67.208 percent. “It’s hard work,” he said, adding that after an eight-hour day at work, he comes home and spends time with his two children and then rides−often not finishing until 10 p.m. “It’s not so easy but we love it. We are crazy about it.” His plans for the future involve possibly moving up to the Grand Prix level as his horse has his tempis in place. Chanca knows that he can count on HDS to help him in his efforts to make it to the top. “We are so lucky to have the Houston Dressage Society,” he said. “They put tremendous effort into area dressage by having really great clinicians like Conrad Schumacher for us and the shows they organize.” Rowsey agreed. “This brought people together and it’s just not about competition and winning,” she said. “It was great to see everybody and to be around people who understand what you are going through and how hard it is. It was stress free and a good time. My goal was just to go and enjoy it and to have fun. It made me smile all weekend and cry happy tears. I’m so very thankful and I appreciate all of them. To learn more about the Houston Dressage Society, go to: houstondressagesociety.org
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Pat and Linda Parelli Give Olympian Bent Jensen Another Chance “He’s a completely different horse now,” said dressage Olympian Bent Jensen of his horse, Chance, after an encounter with Pat and Linda Parelli of Parelli Natural Horsemanship. It was an all-too-typical equestrian scenario. You point your horse toward the trailer, and all forward momentum ceases. Recently, Danish Olympian Bent Jensen, currently based out of Wellington, Florida, decided he would face that struggle for the very last time with his horse Chance. So Jensen decided to take a chance by calling in the experts— Parelli Natural Horsemanship. As it turned out, this was a chance worth taking. “He had gotten more and more difficult to load. The last time I took him somewhere, it took us an hour and a half to load him,” Jensen explained. “We had to sedate him to get him on the trailer, and going home it was the same. I didn’t think it was the right thing to do for the horse. He’s not a mean horse; he was just confused and scared. It turns out he was claustrophobic.” After a few short hours with Pat and Linda Parelli, the creators of Parelli Natural Horsemanship, that same horse was walking into the trailer with confidence and ease. Jensen wasn’t sure he could believe it at first, but he was definitely happy to see the result— and, perhaps more importantly, to understand what was happening. “It made a difference for me because now I understand it and can help my horse myself,” he said. To achieve the type of results that the
Horsebites- Con’t. from pg. 29
Parellis achieved with Chance, the Parellis focus on first understanding the horse, both physically and mentally. By carefully gaining insight into what they call the horse’s “horsenality,” they can diagnose a horse’s problem and teach the horse to develop trust with his rider and motivate the horse to learn new behaviors to overcome this problem. One of the most important elements of Parelli Natural Horsemanship is the program’s dedication to teaching riders like Jensen. It’s the program’s mission to raise the level of horsemanship worldwide to benefit the equestrian community at large and ensure riders and trainers are taking the necessary steps to truly understanding their equine partners. Everyone, from successful Olympians like Jensen to young beginner riders, can find clearer communication with their horses through Parelli Natural Horsemanship. Now that Jensen has been exposed to this methodology of training, he says, “I think it’s very important to know and understand horses in this way. Parelli worked for Chance and I, and I definitely encourage other riders to look into this.” Other riders looking for assistance with any kind of behavioral challenges with their horses can visit www.ParelliSavvyClub.com — where equestrians can find a one-stop shop for training resources, from articles to action plans to videos. Jensen also encourages riders to make an in-person visit with Pat and Linda Parelli. “You can learn a lot from reading,” he said, “but it was amazing what they could do when they were there and explaining things in person.”
From left to right: Dressage Olympian Bent Jensen, Linda and Pat Parelli of Parelli Natural Horsemanship (Photo courtesy of Jack Mancini)
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11,500 HORSES, DONKEYS, AND MULES TO RECEIVE HELP BROOKE USA LAUNCHES “BUY A DONKEY A DRINK” CAMPAIGN TO EASE SUFFERING In drought-prone developing countries, survival is difficult enough without the added burden of life-threatening heat stress and exhaustion. That’s true for humans and also for the equine animals who labor alongside them in poverty-ravaged areas to help them earn a livelihood. In Ethiopia, which is plagued by both drought and extreme poverty, working equines are a lifeline for their owners. They are crucial to carrying out backbreaking household chores, plowing fields, taking goods to market, earning extra money so families can pay school fees for their children, and to purchase food, clothing, and medicine. The animals haul construcwww.horsebackmagazine.com
tion materials, carry food and water to other livestock, transport relief supplies during natural disasters, and much, much more, all of which contribute to the health and financial stability of individuals, families, and communities. Unfortunately these equines are suffering from a myriad of problems that are exacerbated by chronic dehydration Brooke USA, the American fundraising arm of the Brooke, the world’s largest international equine welfare charity, is about to change the future for these animals, thereby helping the families who need them. “When an equine in the developing world can’t work due to injury, illness, or death, it can have a devastating impact on the families who rely on it,” observed David Jones, DVM, Chairman of Brooke USA. Dr. Jones has seen first-hand the wide-scale suffering of these working equines, and he has also seen the dramatic difference that can occur with regular access to water. He continued, “The single, most crucial step that we can take to alleviate the suffering of the animals in this part of
Ethiopia and to ensure a livelihood for their poor owners is to provide access to water.” Soon 11,500 of these very important animals will have lifetime access to the water they so desperately need, thanks to a new project being funded this summer by Brooke USA donors. Their “Buy a Donkey a Drink” campaign will raise support to construct five permanent water troughs in the Shala Woreda (district) of Ethiopia. These 50-foot-long concrete troughs will be located in very busy market areas where thousands of animals regularly gather. The troughs will allow as many as 340 horses, donkeys, and mules to quench their thirst with each filling, and will allow other livestock such as cattle and camels to receive life-saving water as well. This project also includes training and facilitating “water committees” among the animal owners in the target area who will be responsible for the day-to-day operation and management of the water supply service. They have an important role in ensuring that the Horsebites- Con’t. on pg. 37 June 2016 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
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Summer Hoof Health..
Managing Thrush with Protection and Sole Support by Tab Pigg
In
the spring, the wet climate, punctuated by ample rain, sets the stage for thrush to run rampant through the barn. Thrush is a bacterial infection that resides in the soft tissue of the frog. The moist environment, combined with manure and mud, create unsanitary conditions in the stall, and dirt, debris and other bacteria get trapped in the frog. If horses hooves are not picked out on a daily basis, thrush sets in and it can be difficult to conquer. And, when a horse has beginning stages of thrush, it probably won’t even show lameness symptoms unless the infection becomes more severe. The Anatomy of Thrush When looking at a horse’s foot from the bottom, the hoof wall circles from the outside heel around the point of the toe, and on to the inside heel. The frog is a dark-colored soft tissue that is triangular in shape, and stretches from the heel to midway toward the toe. Because the frog and hoof wall bear equal weight, the frog is always touching the ground when a horse is standing, thus, bacteria collects in the frog and remains trapped if not cleaned out on a regular basis.
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Thrush thrives under conditions where there is minimal oxygen. The preliminary sign of the condition is a strong odor coming from the hoof. Thrush is composed of many different types of anaerobic bacteria and usually resides in the soft tissue of the frog. If a horse is barefoot or unshod, the hooves are usually self-cleaned as a horse moves around and runs, because the debris can escape the hoof cavity more easily. With a shod horse, it is harder for bacteria to escape. And if a horse has a silicone pad product applied, bacteria can get trapped underneath the pad. Managing Thrush Traditional methods of managing thrush have changed over time. One evergreen approach for preventing and managing thrush is to clean the frog out on a daily basis, and sometimes more often than that. This is something that is often neglected, but very important for horse owners to pay attention to. Depending on the severity of the condition, there may have to be medical attention with a scrub or topical ointment. The use of pads (plastic and leather) with silicone or other
packing material underneath can lead to thrush problems as well. If the area underneath the pad is not completely sealed, moisture and debris can migrate to the sole creating thrush issues. Newer pour-in pad materials adhere to the bottom of the foot sealing out moisture and debris avoiding this problem. Vettec’s Equi-Pak CS will bond to the bottom of a horse’s foot, eliminating the possibility of bacteria being trapped and causing an infection. Equi- Pak CS is a fastsetting soft instant pad material, and is infused with copper sulfate to effectively manage mild and moderate cases of thrush. Equi-Pak CS provides extra protection and support during wet seasons, and also bonds to the sole eliminating the need to pick out the feet and apply daily medication. It is also an effective, preventative measure for thrush. Managing and preventing thrush helps to avoid lameness. Using a pour-in pad is a good way to limit the occurrences of thrush. Advantages of pour-in pad materials include: • it immediately bonds to the www.horsebackmagazine.com
“Thrush is composed of many different types of anaerobic bacteria and usually resides in the soft tissue of the frog.“
sole, sealing out moisture and debris • pour-in pad material can be filled to ground level for maximum support and effectively absorbs concussion, instead of sending it up the leg like silicone products • it supports the boney column by loading the entire solar surface with a pour-in pad, but also positions the weight-bearing load over the entire ground surface and not just the wall Conclusion Managing a horse’s thrush can be challenging and tedious, and it’s important to have a good care team to diagnose and oversee the condition to ensure recovery. When considering care options, choose options that help eliminate the chance of bacteria getting trapped in the frog, and one that will also provide support to the horse’s hoof. Using liquid pad technology, veterinarians and farriers now have the ability to use materials that will bond to the foot, withstand the weight of the horse and help protect against debris and bacteria from entering the hoof’s internal cavity. www.horsebackmagazine.com
Pads help protect the foot and aide in preventing Thrush.
June 2016 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
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Trail Riding...
S
ometimes I feel that Texas is a second home of the small restaurant where I had some of the best BBQ to me. Last night I previewed an upcoming I have ever tasted in my life. The restaurant was unassumepisode of Best of America by Horseback. It ing and the lines of people waiting speaks for its incredible featured our well known 3,000 miles, every foods. step of the way, trail ride from the Atlantic to the I do not know if it was the people, the incredible Pacific. It was that ride and the places we visited in scenery, the history, or the sunsets, but I feel very much at Texas that inspired the television show we have been home in Texas. Maybe it is that Texas and the folks there producing for eleven years. It shows the hospitality represent the very best of America in so many ways. I want we received in 81 cities and towns, but especially to come back home to you! those in Texas. It highlights the European Television I first heard Del Shields and his cowboy music in documentary that covered Texas. He has been riding with us on that journey of a me ever since. My niece Kristen lifetime. Later, we began Biscoe, who co-hosts the show our television series back represents the Western Lifestyle in Texas for RFD TV. and she, too, wants to return to I remember the Texas. Pat, my wife, says the most welcome at the Fort extraordinary footage of our AtWorth Stockyards. Relantic to Pacific ride, was in Texas gardless of where you are and she still enjoys seeing it to from, when you walk the this day. by Tom Seay, streets of Fort Worth, you I want to go back, so I am can feel the history of the planning on making Texas a critiold town cattle drives and Host of Best of America by Horseback cal part of the new season shows. the western lifestyle that With that in mind, I want to try continues to this day. to include as many locations as I loved riding in Bandera, the cowboy capi- possible, so I am asking you to help me locate ranches that tal of the world, but perhaps my fondest memory may wish for us to ride or produce a television show there. is San Antonio. Anyone visiting this country needs I want to find the local Chamber of Commerce or Tourism to visit the River Walk. The Mexican cuisine un- Board of towns, small or large that wish for us to showcase der the trees that are along the river as you listen their area. I want to find civic clubs that may wish to have to Mexican music and watch the people on barges us visit or speak when we are there. I want to visit as many drift by is unparalleled in its beauty and delights. schools as possible. I want to ride with as many riding clubs If you haven’t ridden down in the area of Lajitas that will escort us. along the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park, So, my hat is off to Texas and I ask that you conit needs to be on your bucket list. There is unparal- sider riding with me. Talk to your local riding club, Sheriff leled beauty of the dessert and as you ride along the Posse, or local government officials and see if we can come Rio Grande in the footsteps of Pancho Villa, again, visit. you can feel the history because you really are there Ride with me and help me salute Texas. You can and nothing has changed. contact me anytime at tseay10@aol.com The Texas region has its whole world of food from brisket to Tex-Mex. I can’t remember the name
Texas, Home Away from Home.
34 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
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刀椀搀攀 圀椀琀栀 䈀攀猀琀 漀昀 䄀洀攀爀椀挀愀 漀渀 䠀漀爀猀攀戀愀挀欀 吀嘀 匀栀漀眀
吀 伀䴀 匀 䔀䄀夀
䠀伀匀吀 伀䘀 䈀䔀匀吀 伀䘀 䄀䴀䔀刀䤀䌀䄀 伀一 䠀伀刀匀䔀䈀䄀䌀䬀
吀䠀唀刀匀䐀䄀夀匀 簀 ㈀倀䴀 䔀匀吀 簀 倀䴀 䌀匀吀 簀 吀栀愀渀欀 夀漀甀 琀漀 漀甀爀 匀栀漀眀 匀瀀漀渀猀漀爀猀㨀
䈀攀猀琀伀昀䄀洀攀爀椀挀愀䈀礀䠀漀爀猀攀戀愀挀欀⸀挀漀洀
嬀㔀㐀 崀 㠀㈀㤀ⴀ㤀㔀㔀㔀
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35
Business Bit..
New Vettec ULTRA Automatic Dispensing Gun Dispenses Pour-in Pad Adhesives Consistently and Easily Vettec, the leader in innovative sole support products for more than 20 years, has introduced the ULTRA Automatic Dispensing Gun, which applies Vettec pour-in pad products to horses. The ULTRA Gun helps farriers, veterinarians and hoof care professionals apply fast-setting adhesive accurately and quickly. The ULTRA Gun’s automatic operation produces effortless dispensing of adhesives at a consistent flow rate and minimizes hand and wrist fatigue. “Hoof care professionals who have tried the new ULTRA Gun are impressed with the quality and convenience of the product, as it helps them get jobs done faster,” says Frank Dugan, sales manager for Vettec. “The ergonomic design of the ULTRA Gun is more comfortable than standard manual dispens-
ing guns and allows professionals to apply products accurately in the hoof cavities with less effort.” The ULTRA Automatic Dispensing Gun allows its users to adjust how fast the product is applied with six variable speed settings. The dispensing gun comes with two rechargeable long-lasting Lithium ion batteries. Each battery can be recharged with the electric charging cord within one hour. In addition, the ULTRA Gun has a built-in light for hoof care professionals who work in low-light situations. The product is equipped with durable gears and comes with a rugged carrying case. The Vettec ULTRA Automatic Dispensing Gun is available for purchase at select dealer locations for the M.S.R.P. of $250.
About Vettec Vettec, based in Orange, Calif., has been developing and manufacturing products since 1952. For the last 20 years, Vettec has been developing innovative adhesive products for the veterinary industry. Vettec adhesives are high-tech and durable, yet easy to apply and fast to dry. For more information about Vettec and its products visit www. Vettec.com or call 800-483-8832. Please send dealer and wholesale inquiries to info@Vettec.com.
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36 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
June 2016
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Horsebites...
Horsebites- Con’t. from pg. 31
吀䠀䔀 䐀䤀䄀䴀伀一䐀 䐀 刀䄀一䌀䠀 䄀 瀀 䄀 瀀爀攀洀椀攀爀 爀愀挀攀 栀漀爀猀攀 琀爀愀椀渀椀渀最 昀愀挀椀氀椀 漀渀攀 栀漀甀爀 攀愀猀琀 漀昀 䐀愀氀氀愀猀 漀渀 㠀㐀 愀挀爀攀猀 渀攀愀爀 䰀漀渀攀 伀愀欀Ⰰ 吀堀⸀ ㌀ 猀甀瀀攀爀椀漀爀 挀漀渀挀爀攀琀攀 戀愀爀渀猀 琀漀琀愀氀椀渀最 㠀㐀 挀漀渀挀爀攀琀攀 猀琀愀氀氀猀Ⰰ 漀ϻ挀攀Ⰰ 愀甀琀漀ⴀ眀愀琀攀爀攀爀猀Ⰰ 琀愀挀欀 愀渀搀 昀攀攀搀 爀漀漀洀猀Ⰰ 眀愀猀栀 爀愀挀欀猀 愀渀搀 挀漀瘀攀爀攀搀 眀愀氀欀攀爀猀⸀ ㈀ 䄀甀猀琀椀渀 猀琀漀渀攀 栀漀洀攀猀Ⰰ 洀愀渀愀最攀爀ᤠ猀 栀漀洀攀 愀渀搀 眀漀爀欀攀爀ᤠ猀 搀漀爀洀 眀椀琀栀 愀瀀愀爀琀洀攀渀琀猀⸀ 匀琀愀琀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䄀爀琀 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀搀 㔀 愀瀀愀 昀甀爀氀漀渀最 爀愀挀攀 琀爀愀挀欀Ⰰ 㘀 瀀愀搀搀漀挀欀猀Ⰰ 搀漀甀戀氀攀 昀攀渀挀攀搀 愀渀搀 㜀 瀀愀猀琀甀爀攀猀⸀ 䠀愀礀⼀攀焀甀椀瀀洀攀渀琀 戀愀爀渀猀Ⰰ 漀甀琀搀漀漀爀 愀爀攀渀愀 愀渀搀 洀椀氀攀猀 漀昀 瀀椀瀀攀 昀攀渀挀椀渀最⸀ 匀愀渀搀礀 氀漀愀洀 猀漀椀氀⸀
␀㈀Ⰰ㤀㤀㤀Ⰰ㤀㤀㤀
䈀爀椀愀渀 匀洀椀琀栀 眀椀琀栀 䐀愀瘀攀 倀攀爀爀礀ⴀ䴀椀氀氀攀爀 刀攀愀氀 䔀猀琀愀琀攀 ⠀㤀㜀㈀⤀ 㔀㠀㠀ⴀ㠀㌀ 漀爀 瘀椀猀椀琀 眀眀眀⸀䌀漀甀渀琀爀礀䌀漀渀渀攀挀琀椀漀渀⸀挀漀洀
over the next three months, which will allow construction of the water troughs to begin at once and be completed in phases by the end of the year. For more information on this campaign, go to www.BuyaDonkeyaDrink.org or email Info@BrookeUSA. org. For more information on Brooke USA, go to www.BrookeUSA.org.
equines are properly benefitting from the water troughs. The project will also train the committee members on equine welfare so that they can disseminate information and educate other equine owners and users coming to the water troughs on equine welfare issues. “As much as the animals will benefit from regular access to water, it is their owners who will be the ultimate beneficiaries because their working partners will be healthier, happier, and better able to continue their important jobs,” concluded Dr. Jones. The fundraising goal is $98,000 www.horsebackmagazine.com
USEF EQUESTRIAN ATHLETE LETTERING PROGRAM KICKS OFF NEW PROGRAM YEAR June 1 marks the beginning of the new program year for the United State Equestrian Federation (USEF) Equestrian Athlete Lettering program. Available for students in grades five through 12, participants can earn their varsity letter in equestrian sport through the USEF. The USEF Junior High and High School Equestrian Athlete Lettering Programs require students to record 100 hours of riding time during the program year and verify participation in three competitions. Students who meet the requirements will receive a varsity letterman patch and pin to honor their achievement.
These are designed to be worn on existing school lettermen jackets, or any jacket of the athlete’s choosing, as a rite of passage and symbol of achievement. The USEF Junior High School Equestrian Athlete Lettering Program is available for students in grades five through eight. Students in grades nine through 12 are eligible to participate in the USEF High School Equestrian Athlete Lettering Program, and can also apply retroactively for the Junior High program, providing they have met the requirements for each year. Both programs are open to equestrian athletes participating in all breeds or disciplines who are currently USEF members or become USEF members. The upcoming 2016-2017 program year will kick off on June 1 and run through May 31, 2017. Students just now learning about the program can still sign up for previous years of high school or junior high provided they are still a current student in grades five through 12. For more information, please visit www. usef.org/lettering or email lettering@usef. org.
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General...
Stitch in Time Howdy!
Welcome to Cowboy Corner. Remember the ol’ sayin’ “a stitch in time saves nine”, translated to ranch talk to me, means “gitter done”. Like the hole in your shirt or jeans never gets better, the longer you wait to patch, the larger the hole gets. Seems this reality of life applies to other than my worn out cowboy apparel. Classic examples are in the pasture tack repairs, and rope seizing anywhere. Am no seamstress but have been known to sew some broken tack together until I could get to town and visit the local saddle shop. Not equal to the sewing machines of today for stitching leather, and am not trying to compete with my saddle repair friends, just trying to get through the day. Rope seizing is employed to prevent unravelling. All of us have seen rope wasted because the ends were not seized and as rope material changed so has the whipping or seizing. Growing up in the early part of the last half of the last century, manila rope was in common use. Manila was bad about unravelling, and the rope either had to have a knot at the end or be whipped or seized. End treatment of rope probably came from the marine industry which is a big user of rope. Nylon brought a whole new set of opportunities to rope users, and is much easier to prevent unravelling by burn-
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ing. Polyethalene and polypropalene are also non organic materials, and should be seized at ends by burning. Nylon is a great rope for the ranch, but the “poly” ropes have limited use away from the marine scene, based on my experience. To facilitate my stitch in time, have put together a cowboy seizing kit to keep in the truck or put in the wagon on trail rides. Start with the thread. Have found the thread used to sew feed sacks together to be good to use. Feed sacks now have a tab. pulled for quick opening. Pull the tab and save the string. The thread or string will be about three feet long, strong, easy to thread on the needle, sew, and the price is right. To store the string use a plastic container recycled from holding mayonnaise or peanut butter. Wrap the string around the outside of the jar, and tape the end to the jar. The wide mouth jar easily accommodates other additions to my sewing kit, such as needles. Use large needles used for stitching on heavy fabric or carpet. These needles have eyes large enough for our feed sack thread. Like to include large safety pins and a roll of electrical tape. To complete the kit add a small pair of scissors, measuring tape, gas ciga-
rette lighter, and a bottle with applicator of clear finger nail polish top coat. Other items can be added, as space permits, but the foregoing have worked out well for me. The tool needed, but that won’t fit in the peanut butter jar is a leather punch. A small punch would fit in the jar, but most of us prefer the rotary type with several punches. A punch that would fit in the kit would require a hammer, so take your choice. Tack repair and sewing is going to require holes, punching is best but a small nail can be used to make the hole in the leather for needle and thread. Sew the broken parts together as best you can, and as strong as you can, let the experts make it pretty. After sewing, tie the thread. Like to use square knots and then apply several coats of the finger nail polish top coat. (Sear the ends of the string with the gas lighter before using the clear polish). Seizing or whipping rope is a similar deal. Wrap the rope at the end with the string, tie off, sear the end, and coat with clear polish. Good luck.
Happy Trails...
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improved top line
prebiotics + probiotics working together
Nutri-Bloom Advantage ®
for increased fiber digestion
formulated to help horses prone to colic
He’ll never know he’s aging. Research backed. Proven results. nutrenaworld.com/happybelly
Senior Ask your vet or feed retailer about SafeChoice® Senior.
www.horsebackmagazine.com
June 2016 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
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NE W
BARN BARRIER NATURAL FLY REPELLENT
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PROVEN TO REPEL • Safe for horses of all ages • pH balanced, unlike other natural fly repellents • Will not irritate your horse’s skin • Natural scent Available in 32 ounce and 1 Gallon sizes
800-526-7469 • www.EQyss.com 40 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE
June 2016
Call for product information or for a store near you. Available at your local tack and feed store, your favorite catalog, or online store. Visit us on the web for other unique products. www.horsebackmagazine.com