www.horsedigests.com
2
November 2009
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
November 2009
3
www.horsedigests.com Happy Thanksgiving to all, October was filled with lots of horse related activities. Rahn, the publisher of Midwest Horse Digest, spent a week down in Texas at the 2009 IALHA National Championships and came back with all kinds of ribbons and trophies. See the special note and pictures on page 27. We spent a weekend at Equifest in St. Paul, MN. It was a fun event and we would like to congratulate Tracy Porter on winning the Extreme Trail Challenge. It was exciting to watch and it appeared that the contestants were having a lot of fun also. Remembering the little tricks of the course and the pattern seem to be the toughest part of the challenge, but it looked like the riders and the crowd all enjoyed the event. Hats off to Dennis Auslam on winning the Colt Starting Challenge, which was also part of the Equifest. The contestants were 4 very talented trainers - Dennis, TJ Clibborn, Dave Robart and Steve Smith. It was really interesting to watch the different methods each trainer used. No two were alike and each of the horses had a completely different temperament also. They all did a fine job. One of the most interesting parts of the challenge was Saturday evening when all four trainers came up and joined the crowd for a Q&A session. It appeared that the audience liked it also. The holidays and the cold weather are quickly moving in. We are still hoping for a warmer than usual fall and winter though, so we all can get a little more riding in without having to bundle up so much that it is hard to move around let alone get in the saddle. No laws against hoping, ya know! It is our sincere wish during this upcoming holiday season you are overcome with blessings and we send each and everyone of you a ton of good wishes.
Colt Starting Challenge Participants at Equifest - from left to right: Dennis Auslam, Dave Robart, Steve Smith and TJ Clibborn
From all of us here at Midwest Horse Digest ~ Take care and God Bless!
Midwest Horse Rahn Greimann, Publisher, Owner and Editor Š 2008 Greimann Industries 35418 90th Street Blue Earth, MN 56013 507-526-5943 Fax 507-526-2629
Advertising Contacts Mark Bahls Peg Bahls 507-943-3355 /Fax 507-943-3352 mark@horsedigests.com peg@horsedigests.com
Julie and Rick Vinsand 877-205-7261 julie@horsedigests.com rick@horsedigests.com Andrea Jo Kroening 952-237-5311 andrea@horsedigests.com Midwest Horse Digest is distributed FREE at equinerelated businesses in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Northern Illinois and North and South Dakota. No material from this publication may be copied or in any way reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Neither the advertisers nor Greimann Industries are responsible for any errors in the editorial copy.. Greimann Industries reserves the right to refuse any advertising which we deem unsuitable for our publication. No liability is assumed for errors in or omissions of advertisers in this publication. Opinions and views expressed in articles and advertisements are not necessarily those of the publisher, editors or employees, nor does publication of any opinion or statement in Midwest Horse Digest constitute an endorsement of the views, opinions, goods or services mentioned. While every possible effort is made to make our publication accurate and timely, Midwest Horse Digest does not warrant the accuracy of material contained in any article or the quality of goods or services contained in any advertisement.
TO ALL OF OUR ADVERTISERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND READERS WE THANK YOU! Pick up Midwest Horse Digest every month at over 850 feed stores, tack shops, veterinarians, farriers and equestrian centers across the Upper Midwest. If your location does not get Midwest Horse Digest call us at 507-526-5943 or email rahn@horsedigests.com Please direct all editorial and correspondence, as well as change of address to: rahn@horsedigests.com or call 507-526-5943
4
November 2009
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
NOVEMBER 2009 - Happy Holidays!
midwest
Horse Digest
Contents Train in g wi t h t o d ay’s To p Trainer s 6 Competitive Trail Obstacles by Ken McNabb with Katherine Lindsey Meehan
8 Meeting the Horse’s Need for Relief: A Key to Successful Training by Chris Cox with Cynthia McFarland
10 Improving Your Seat and Balance in the Saddle by Craig Cameron
12 Keeping Your Horse Soft and Supple, Disengagement of the Shoulders..., part 2 by Dennis Auslam
Of Interest 13 Three Technicians at Wisconsin’s School of Veterinary Medicine Gain Specialty Certification
NEWS 23 AHC Supports Bill to Complete America’s National Scenic Trails 23 Report Equestrian Trails Closures Access Issues on Federal Land
HEALTH
We s t er n P le a su r e 14 Loping Perfect Circles, Fast and Slow by Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard
16 Backing Up Your Horse by Tommy Garland 17 Five Biggest Western Pleasure Mistakes by Jennifer Lindgren
26 Equine Colic: The #1 Cause of Premature Death
LAW 30 Legal Aspects of Selling a Horse by Katherine Bloomquist 31 Sport Horse Nationals HOLIDAY SHOPPING - page 28 & 29
D r e s sage - E n glis h 18 Be the Rider Your Horse Deserves - Beginning Ground Training, part 2 by Lynn Palm
19 Ask Mary: What is the best method to mount and dismount your horse? by Mary Hamilton
Per f o r m anc e Ho r se 20 Reined Cow Horse Events Consist of Cutting, Reining and Fence Work
Special Sections 15 31 32 32 33 34
Equine Central Upcoming Events Advertisers Index Traders Corner Photo Classifieds Classifieds
by Monty Bruce
Trai l Ho r se 22 EEK! Something is coming up behind me! by Tracy Porter
Eq uine VIP 24 Rex Peterson talks with Equine VIP by Susan Ashbrooke
Cover photo by Shelley Giacomini, shelley.giacomini@gmail.com, www.baroquefarmsusa.com
We hope you enjoy this issue of
Midwest Horse Digest! We are proud to be able to publish it for you, our readers, and ask that you support the advertisers that support this magazine. Thank you! VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW .HORSEDIGESTS.COM
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
November 2009
5
www.horsedigests.com
Today’s Top Trainers
Competitive Trail Obstacles By Ken
Whether you compete in trail classes or not, trail obstacle courses are a great way to get your horse used to a lot of things and have fun. In this month’s article, we’re going to review nine common trail obstacles and how I like to see them approached when I am judging a trail class. These are my personal opinions on how I like to see things done. Keep in mind that each judge will have a slightly different view on things. The first trail obstacle we’ll cover is logs. This usually consists of multiple logs one after
6
November 2009
McNabb with Katherine Lindsey Meehan
the other. Your horse is supposed to step over the logs calmly and quietly. I like to see a horse hesitate slightly before each log to show he is paying attention and is aware that there is something in front of him. He should step over each log willingly and carefully, staying flexed in the poll the entire time. I don’t like to see a horse rushing over the logs or jumping them I also don’t like to see a horse walking over the logs with his nose stuck out and braced against the bridle. Next, we’ll cover the back up box. This obstacle is a rectangular box that is open on one of the narrow ends. Your goal is to walk your horse in to the box, stop, and back him out, all without stepping out of the box or hitting the sides. I like to see a horse stay soft and flexed in the poll throughout the exercise, and a rider who sits up straight and tall, looking ahead. I don’t like to see a rider who looks down and back as their horse is backing up. This throws your horse off balance and makes him more likely to step out of the box, and makes the rider seem less confident in their horse. I also don’t like to see a horse step out of the far end of the box before halting and backing up. The horse should back up smoothly, without the rider pulling or jerking on the reins. Our third obstacle is the bridge. This can be over water but is frequently over dry ground. Your horse should step calmly on to the bridge, take his time walking over, and step off calmly and quietly. I don’t like to see a horse stepping off the side of the bridge or
rushing to get on and off the bridge. Be sure not to look off your horse’s side to see where the bridge is under you as that will throw your horse off balance and can cause him to step off the side. I also don’t like to see a rider kick their horse at the last minute when they are just stepping on to the bridge. That tells me that they are not sure if their horse is going to quit, and tends to make the horse rush on to the bridge. Our fourth obstacle is a large tire full of fine gravel. This duplicates a spot in the trail where your horse needs to step up on to something. As with the logs, I like to see a horse hesitate slightly before stepping up on to the tire. That lets me know he is aware of what he is doing. You should halt your horse with all four feet on top of the tire, then ask him to step down. He should do all this calmly and quietly. I don’t like to see a horse charge up to the tire, rush over the top, and step down without halting. The halt on top of the tire shows me, as a judge, that the rider has complete control of their horse. Our fifth obstacle is the side pass poles. This is just a pole on the ground, and your horse needs to side pass the length of it down and back. I want to see a horse side pass calmly and correctly, with his body even and square. He should be flexed in the poll, and his legs should be crossing over as he moves sideways, not just moving over to meet each other. The rider should be sitting straight and confidently in the saddle. Our sixth obstacle is the compass. This is a pole or a two by four, about 12 feet long, with a loop of rope through one end that can be used as a handle. Both ends of the pole should be sitting on barrels. Your job is to ride up to one end of the pole, pick it up by the handle, and ride your horse in an even circle so that the other end of the pole stays on the second barrel. You ride a complete circle, and set the pole back on the barrel where you picked it up in the first place. I like to see the horse maintain a nice even arc throughout the entire circle, and maintain an even speed. The other end of the pole should not move on the barrel. The rider should sit straight, without leaning in, and should not drop their end of the pole or pull the opposite end of the pole off the barrel. Our seventh obstacle is the tire drag. You take a rope with a tire attached, dally (wrap) the rope around your saddle horn, and drag the tire to a set location. I look for a rider to dally the rope correctly, with their thumb up, and to hold their hand correctly near their belt buckle. In my opinion, the rider should keep an eye on the object they are dragging. When you go to leave the drag at the drop location, coil the rope neatly and hang it on the designated hook. Before leaving the drag, I like the rider to
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
stop their horse, face the tire, and back up a few steps. This shows me that the horse is aware of the object they are dragging. You will lose points if your horse is afraid of the dragging object, or if the rider drops the rope. Our eighth obstacle is the rain coat. I like to see the rider brush the coat over the horse’s neck and hind end. The horse should not be afraid of the rain coat. It is very important to me that the rider NOT drop both reins and swing the rain coat over their head to put it on. Doing it this way is a huge safety hazard. If your horse spooked, bolted, or bucked when both your arms were halfway in to the coat above your head, you would have no way of stopping him. The rider should take the reins on one hand, put the other arm though the coat, then switch the reins to the other hand and put that arm in to the coat. Repeat this process when taking the coat off. Our ninth obstacle is the gate. It is very important that you keep a hand on the gate from the time you open it to the time you close it. There are two ways of opening the gate. You can either push the gate away from you, ride through it, and back your horse up to shut it, or you can pull the gate towards you, ride through, and side pass to close it. Either way is acceptable. I suggest you pick the way that your horse seems more comfortable and stick with that. Your horse should be quiet through this entire process, and should not be afraid of the gate. Generally you will get points added if you can complete all these exercises riding with only one hand on the reins. To sum it up, here are the key points that I look for in a competitive trail horse and rider: The horse should be calm, and thinking about what he is doing. The rider should be focused, sitting straight and upright and looking ahead. I like to see control both in the rider’s body position and in their communication with their horse. The rider should demonstrate a conscious effort to maintain the highest level of safety for themselves and their horse at all times. Make up your own trail courses at home, practice, and have a good time. Until next time, may God bless the trails you ride. For more information on Ken McNabb’s programs call us at 307-645-3149 or go to www.kenmcnabb.com.
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
November 2009
7
www.horsedigests.com
Meeting the Horse’s Need for Relief: A Key to Successful Training by Chris
Cox
with Cynthia McFarland
Ask a dozen h o r s e owners what their horses most appreciate and you’ll likely get a dozen different answers. Some would say treats or food, others might think a good rubdown or scratch session would be the best reward. Then you’ll have owners who think praises and petting are what horses want, or maybe a lazy trail ride down to the creek to play in the water. While all of these scenarios might be pleasant, none of them represent what the horse himself values most. “The gift of relief is the greatest gift you can give your horse,” says horseman and clinician
8
November 2009
Chris Cox. “Once you understand this and appreciate how important relief is to the horse, you can begin to make great strides in your training.” Hunt for Relief Pressure plays a key role in training horses. This pressure can come from your leg, seat, hand, rein or spur. It can also be pressure from your physical presence that the horse reads through your body language and expression, even when you aren’t touching him. Because horses learn through relief of pressure, the timing of relief is critical to successful training. A wise horseman knows when to give that relief so the horse learns in a positive way. Once the horse sees that relief comes from you, he will always look to you for relief. “All a horse really wants is relief,” Cox explains. “To him, relief is better than praise, petting or treats. This is why you always want to make sure you are giving the horse a clear pathway in right direction by giving him relief at the right moment.” When you put pressure on the horse – whether that is your presence as you approach on the ground, or your seat, leg or hand when you are riding – the horse responds to that pressure. The key is releasing the pressure IMMEDIATELY when the horse responds correctly. This tells him he’s done something right. The horse quickly learns to seek that relief of pressure and this becomes a major building block in his education. Keep in mind that relief of pressure can also work in a negative way. Consider a horse that has the bad habit of rearing up. No matter why he started rearing, the end result is usually the same: the rider gets frightened and loosens his grip on the reins so he can grab the saddle to try and stay on. All the horse learns is that the pressure on his mouth goes away when he rears. If he realizes that the relief he’s craving comes when he rears, he’s going to keep rearing until someone is able to show him how to find relief of pressure another way. Finding Answers “I believe it’s very important to set up training situations so the horse finds his own answers,” says Cox. “I am always setting boundaries for the horse to help him find relief but I want him to find the answers himself. I don’t want to tell him what to do every minute.” For example, if Cox is teaching lateral flex-
ion, he never pulls the horse’s head to the side or uses mechanical devices to hold the horse’s head in a certain position. “Pulling creates resistance, so I just hold my hand still where I want the horse to ‘give’ to that pressure,” Cox notes. “As soon as the horse gives, I immediately release my hand so he has relief of pressure because this is how horses learn. I make it easy for him to find the position I want because I give him relief as soon as he gets to that position.” When you handle relief of pressure in the right way, you will create softness and willingness in your horse. It becomes the horse’s idea to respond correctly because you have set up boundaries that lead him to the right answers. This is so important because you want the horse to be willing mentally, not just physically. Anytime you’re working with a horse, whether it is a young, inexperienced horse, or an older horse you are reschooling, you can expect him to use what he has already learned about seeking relief. Make sure to give relief quickly and at the right time, and you will end up with a horse that is a willing, happy partner who wants to please. Up Close with Chris Cox Ranch-raised in Australia, Chris came to the United States in 1986 to make a career of working with horses. Years of working horseback on the ranch near Queensland gave Chris a healthy respect for the horse's ability and intelligence, and helped him develop his own methods of individualized training. Active in the cutting horse world as both a trainer and competitor, Chris has trained a variety of breeds for different disciplines. He travels the United States, Canada, South America and Australia appearing at expos, conducting clinics and horsemanship demonstrations. His “Come Ride the Journey’ tour takes him to cities across the U.S. each year. Chris offers week-long intensive horsemanship clinics at his Outback Ranch in Mineral Wells, Texas. Western Horseman recently released Ride the Journey, by Chris Cox with Cynthia McFarland, a 225-page, full color book that details Chris’ practical methods and training techniques. Packed with step-by-step exercises and color photos, the book will help you improve your horsemanship skills, no matter what discipline or breed you ride. Visit www.chris-cox.com or call Chris Cox Horsemanship Company at 1-888-81-HORSE for information about the Ride the Journey book, upcoming course dates and appearances, equipment and training DVDs.
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
November 2009
9
www.horsedigests.com arms until be can accept them out to the sides. Most people balance EQUITATION, DEVELOPING A GOOD SEAT themselves on the reins, which in reality is balancing on the horse’s head and mouth. That destroys a horse’s rein responses, and you’ll lose the soft feel you tried so hard to develop in your horse’s mouth. In all these no-rein exercises, by Craig Cameron you’ll have to balance with your body, seat and legs. Often in this exercise, “Sitting relaxed and in rhythm with your horse are saddle’s cantle and your right hand on the saddle people lean forward. Don’t get your upper body horn. Literally pull yourself down to where you over your horse’s withers, unless you’re riding the hallmarks of a good seat” Seat Exercises - Here’s a series of exercises have a very secure feeling that oneness where uphill, jumping, racing or roping. When you tip you feel really connected to your you can do to improve your seat and balance in forward, you encourage your horse to horse. the saddle. You assume differspeed up. Don’t sit back When your horse trots or ent positions that either. Simply canters, you shouldn’t bounce help you develop sit up straight in the saddle. To do this exera oneness with in a natural cise, learn to use your legs your horse and position. and your back, the last 6 acquire what’s T w i s t inches of your spine. Move known as a “good Exercise - Once with your horse’s moveseat.” the arms-out ment; feel it. When you’re sitposition is comWhen traveling to ting correctly on a fortable, add a litthe left, you might have horse, there should tle twist to it. Twist a tendency to lean to be a straight line from your spine right the inside or drop your ear, to the middle and then left. Look your left shoulder. of your shoulder, to the over your right and Instead, sit up hip arid down to your left shoulders. You Cross ut heel. Your legs shouldalso can cross your you sides, b straight. Pretend to your Some t there’s a carpenfeel th r arms on u n’t be too far forward or o s arms on your chest . rm o y a d e o r u u r u o h rc y back, but in alignment Place ycoareful when ye sudden moveto ter’s level on your and perform this exerndermthm of the hhest and ly e th w b t e o a lo a r s s th you back. The bubble t e with your body. They ook cise. It really loosens . arms ou ight. rses sp should stay right in the midshould hang comfortably hmoent. Bring youurr horse to the s your torso and helps with o my dle. When you lean, your horse around your horse, not stiff any stiffness in your accusto tends to lean in the same direction and drops his and stuck out away from body. shoulder. He travels crooked and is unbalanced. his body. Your knees should No-Stirrups Exercise - If you find yourself still If you find yourself with a strong tendency to bouncing too much, kick your feet out of your stirrest against your horse. Let your legs fall in a natural position, often described as “sitting in a lean to the inside, try looking to the outside. That rups. You’ll really have to use your seat and legs chair.” Only then are you able to use your legs, actually picks up your shoulder. to sit down on your horse. You’ll have no choice. Any time you feel out of control during the Do this exercise even if you aren’t bouncing one of the best aids you have and one of the following seat exercises, immediately return to around in the saddle a lot. It’s a great balancing least used, I think. These exercises can be done at a walk, trot the seat-correction position. That way you can act and leg-strengthener. and canter and either inside or outside an arena, right yourself and regain control. Safety is a key ingredient when riding and is Crossed-Arms Exercise - In the crossed- always first, so make sure you’re safe and won’t but I think they’re best learned in a 50- or 60-foot round corral. In the beginning, as you’re learning, arms exercise, you don’t use your hands for bal- fall off when you take your feet out of the stirrups. use your saddle; later you can do them riding ance or support in the saddle. With your legs Riding without stirrups teaches you to use your bareback, as well. Bareback riding really helps straight down underneath you, wrapped around legs as much or more than anything else. your horse with a “soft hug” so you’re one with Maintain quiet contact with your legs and use a develop your strength, confidence and balance. Start with a helper in the middle of the pen your horse, cross your arms on your chest. Sink soft touch; that’s why I call it a “hug.” Your thighs, who makes sure your horse moves forward and your weight into your stirrups to help you sit deep knees and calves should be against your horse. along the rail. It’s as if he or she were longing the on your horse. When I say leg, I don’t mean feet. Use your Walk, trot and eventually canter using just feet as aids in turning or increasing speed only horse on an imaginary longe line. In time, you should be able to perform these exercises with- your seat bones and legs to keep you secure in as needed. out help, but in the beginning it’s beneficial to your saddle. Don’t sit stiffly. You’ll need to use Close-Your-Eyes Exercise - The ultimate is your back and spine in rhythm to move with your to perform any of these exercises with your eyes have an assistant. Seat-Correction Exercise - You won’t use horse. closed. When you close your eyes, you really In a left-lead canter, you’ll feel your left leg have to feel your horse physically, mentally and your reins for the seat correction exercise. Tie them in a knot (say, around the saddle horn or in slightly forward and your right leg slightly back. In emotionally. You won’t have your sight to depend a keeper) so they won’t fall to the ground, but a right lead, you’ll feel your right leg slightly for- on, and you’ll have to learn to feel your horse. have them handy if you feel your horse getting ward and your left leg slightly back. Your body is This is a terrific confidence-builder. out of control. However, don’t tie the reins so moving in rhythm and in time with the horse’s All these exercises help you to become more short that they contact your horse. They should corresponding lead. loose, limber, balanced and relaxed on your Arms-Out Exercise - Next, stick your arms horse. be loose, even floating. If your horse extends himself, you don’t want him to bump into the bit. straight out to your sides. Find yourself flowing Excerpt with permission out of Craig’s book, Ride around the pen to the left. Walk at first with your horse’s movement. This excellent exer- Ride Smart, by Craig Cameron with Kathy Swan. and work up to a trot and canter. Be comfortable cise helps you find your balance on a horse. A Photos by John Brasseaux. with this exercise before continuing with the oth- word of caution: Some horses might spook at the You can order Craig’s book and DVD’s at ers. Put your left hand behind you and hold the sudden thrusting of arms into their line of sight. If www.CraigCameron.com it spooks your horse, stop and slowly extend your “Smart riding is making sure you can ride again tomorrow.”
Impoving Your Seat & Balance in the Saddle
10 November 2009
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
November 2009 11
www.horsedigests.com Keeping Your Horse Soft and Supple
is to get his left rear leg to hit approximately the position that his right front leg just left. We want a horse that is capable of moving fluidly forward, as well as laterally, at the same time and with little effort. This takes time, practice and patience, as the horse learns and builds the necessary muscle to do these exercises efficiently and smoothly. Again, remember, we are not asking for anything more, in the beginning, than one step, release pressure and praise, then two, then three and so on.... When you have all these exercises accomplished and your horse is doing them well you are on your way to building a very maneuverable, athletic, willing and trusting relationship with your horse and you will have a horse that is paying attention to your body movements. Since we should be riding with our bodies and only assisting with our hands, the more you practice these exercises, the more your horse understands what you are asking for just by watching you or by feeling your body cue. If at any point you have questions concerning these exercises or the maneuver I am trying to explain, please feel free to call me. It is important to teach these exercises to your horse and to learn how to do it correctly, so if there is a question I want to clarify it for you. Some of you heard I had a bad accident about a month ago and was helicoptered to the trauma center in the Cities. God was watching over me and I feel very blessed. I would like to thank everyone for their prayers and their cards. I would also like to encourage you to not take life so seriously and spend more time enjoying it. I would also like to state that it doesn’t matter how long you have been working with horses, professional or amateur, be careful, accidents happen, but many can be avoided when we place our priorities on safety first. October 24 and 25 I was able to compete at the Colt Starting Challenge at Equifest in St. Paul, MN and won the Challenge. It was a good competition and I had the honor of competing against some very talented trainers, Dave Robart, Steve Smith, TJ Clibborn and myself. It was interesting to see the different techniques that where used and if you watched you could see that each colt was different, even though they were the same age and out of similar bloodlines. I always learn something participating in these kind of events and it is always encouraging to win against such strong competitors. I would also like to welcome Blairview Saddle Shop as a new sponsor and thank them for coming aboard. Blairview Saddle Shop is located in Alexandria, MN and you can find them online at www.blairviewsaddle.com. Dennis Auslam of Redwood Stables in Morton, MN, trains both the horse and the rider through lessons and clinics. He runs a regular schedule of clinics for Confidence Building, Horsemanship and Cattle Work, including Roping Clinics and has recently added a Challenge Trail Course to his facility. Call 507-430-0342 or email him at redwoodstables@mvtvwireless.com You can visit his website at www.redwoodstables.com for more information.
Disengagement of the Shoulders and the Ribcage Part 2 - by Dennis Auslam
In our last article I explained how to go about suppling the horse at the jaw or face, the poll, the neck and the hip. Now let’s move on and work at unlocking or disengaging the shoulders. All the individual maneuvers that I have written about will be tied together to create that soft, supple horse. The proper education of the horse equals relaxation and a willing horse. You will want to halter your horse, I prefer a rope halter and my lead ropes are approximately 12 foot in length. If your horse has some pent up energy when you are starting you may want to lunge them to get rid of some of that energy and get them focused on you. We will start on the left side of the horse, lead rope in the left hand. Facing the horses shoulder, tip the nose slightly in to the left, my goal is to get him to step over, away from me, with the left leg crossing in front of the right leg. To achieve that I will put pressure on his shoulder with the tip of my thumb. If those legs are banging into each other you are going to need to keep trying, he will get better with practice. You also want to make sure you are not completely taking the forward away from him. You may have to move with him
12 November 2009
to allow him the space to cross the left over the right. It is all a matter of timing and you will have to practice this. You may also find that he will want to move his hip. That is okay for now. Horses are basically lazy and if given the opportunity they will find the easiest way to achieve what you are asking them to do with the least amount of energy. At this point we are not asking him for more than one step. Remember, it is one step, release and praise. Then it is two steps, release and praise, then 3 and so on.... Our long range goal, after lots of practice, is to be able to turn the horse 360 degrees with minimal movement of the hip and minimal resistance. Eventually you should be able to move the horses shoulder with just your body communication, not even touching his shoulder. When we have the horse soft and supple at the hip, the poll, jaw and the neck , and now adding the accomplishment of softening the shoulder, we can move on to the ribcage. Again, lets start by standing on the left side of the horse. this time positioning your shoulder just a little behind the shoulder of the horse. We are going to encourage the horse to walk forward, maintaining your position next to the horse. We want a slow walk, not a crawl, but just a slow walk. With the lead rope in the left hand, as we are walking forward, apply a little bit of pressure with our right hand, palm or fist, at about the point where our calf would lay if we were on the horse. Be patient and keep applying pressure. We are asking the horse to move laterally, or to the right, as we also move forward and our goal
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
Three Technicians at Wisconsin’s School of Veterinary Medicine Gain Specialty Certification
MADISON – Three certified veterinary technicians (CVTs) at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine recently attained specialty certification in anesthesia. In addition to an examination, Kate Lafferty (Basco, Wis.), Jessica Wendt (Lodi, Wis.), and Denise Young (Madison, Wis.) had to complete a minimum of 4,500 hours of anesthesia care for patients. They also had to submit 50 case logs and four in-depth case reports to demonstrate superior mastery of patient care and handling skills. The reports must include high-risk and life-threatening cases as well as routine anesthetic procedures. To date, about 125 individuals worldwide have attained Veterinary Technician Specialist (Anesthesia) certification. Nine are in Wisconsin. “Becoming a Veterinary Technician Specialist is a great accomplishment for these technicians,” says Dr. Lesley Smith, a board certified veterinary anesthesiologist at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and Section Head for Anesthesiology. “These technicians are trained by working closely with three board-certified veterinary anesthesiologists to provide the most exceptional and progressive anesthetic care possible. By virtue of this training and the advanced skills of these anesthesia technicians, we are able to offer clients and patients a unique service in the School of Veterinary Medicine’s Anesthesia Section.” Vet Techs Earn Specialty Certification At the School of Veterinary Medicine, anesthesia technicians handle and anesthetize all animal species, including dogs, cats, horses, cows, and exotic animals. “There are inherent risks to anesthesia and these risks increase with patient disease, age, or complicated surgical procedures as well,” Dr.
Smith says. “At the UW we can offer specialized anesthetic management for a wide variety of patients that present with advanced medical conditions, as well as the healthy patients that come in for elective procedures, such as dentistry, spays, etc. We need the most highlytrained professionals possible. Thus, we are able
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
to offer clients a service many other practices are unable to offer.” The qualifying examination is given once annually.This year’s exam was held in Chicago in September in conjunction with the International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium.
November 2009 13
Western Pleasure
www.horsedigests.com
Versatility Training Part 3:
Loping Perfect Circles Fast and Slow By Bob Jeffreys & Suzanne Sheppard
As we continue our series on the Wind Rider Competition challenges, one in particular really shows off your partnership with your horse. We’re talking about loping large, fast and small, slow circles taken from the world of reining. There’s almost nothing sweeter than watching a really large, fast circle dialed down to a nice, easy, slow canter within a defined area, without a strong pull on the reins or an abrupt jolting of the rider. So how do we get there? First, we’ll assume that your horse can lope on cue in the correct lead, and that you are riding correctly, in good balance, without leaning in or sending unclear signals. Be sure to look out on your circle about 20-25 feet, i.e. focus on the next quarter of the circle you’re riding, not the quarter that you are on. This will send your focus clearly out, helping your horse to succeed. Then we will need to teach him to “guide” willingly. What we mean here is that when you put him on a circle, he will stay on it with little or no help from you. When you first start to teach this lesson what will normally happen is that your horse will either drift out of your circle, effectively making it larger, or
“fall in” toward the middle of your circle, making it smaller. We don’t want to constantly be correcting either or both of these faults. So let’s say we want to ride a 75’ circle, and our horse starts to drift outside that diameter (toward the gate, or one of his buddies, or for whatever other reason), we need to turn him toward the inside of the circle fairly abruptly, and ride a straight line right across the center to the opposite side of our intended circle, and then reenter the circle gently. Every time he drifts out. We turn him inside, ride a straight line across the center to the other side, and resume the circle. We do not change directions or leads .This works because it makes your horse work harder when he drifts than he would have to if he stayed on the circle. Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult…hmmm, sounds familiar, doesn’t it? To handle the horse “falling in” to the middle,
we use a similar but slightly different approach. As he falls in we immediately straighten him out by turning him outside, and then ride a straight line to the nearest point where we can re-enter our circle. We don’t cross the center this time because that would be taking him where he wanted to go in the first place. Rather, as he falls in, we turn him outside, and then ride a straight line back to our circle. When we want to change the size of our circle from large to small, or vice versa, we can simply use our reins and legs accordingly. When he is on the new circle that we want to ride we can leave him alone. Staying on the circle becomes his reward and we won’t constantly have to baby sit him by making continuous adjustments. To speed up, push your hand(s) just a bit forward, bring your shoulders a little forward, speed up your driving seat, and generally “up” your entire body energy. To
slow down gently sit back, just to the point where your body is now straight; do not lean backward. This should also bring your hand(s) back to a normal riding position. Reduce your driving seat and lower your body energy. Loping circles is great fun in and of itself, but when you add in large, fast, small, slow, all guiding effortlessly, it becomes a thrill to ride. Until next month, when we will introduce yet another challenge, ride safe! © Two as One, LLC 9/09. Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard travel nationwide teaching people how to bring out the best in their horses. Their homebase is Bob’s Two as One Ranch in Middletown, NY. For info about Bob & Suzanne’s Wind Rider Challenge, private horse training lessons, riding lessons, clinics, DVDs, books, Horsemanship Ed Courses and ProTrack™ Trainer Certification Programs please visit TwoasOneHorsemanship.com or call 845-6927478.
14 November 2009
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
EquineCentral
The perfect place to advertise your Stable, Training Facility, Events, Stallions and more... Great Value, Great Exposure...both in print and online! Call Mark or Peg at 507-943-3355 mark@horsdigests.com peg@horsedigests.com
Horse Quotes There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. ~Winston Churchill Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. ~W.C. Fields Riding: The art of keeping a horse between you and the ground. ~Author Unknown It is not enough for a man to know how to ride; he must know how to fall. ~Mexican Proverb The wagon rests in winter, the sleigh in summer, the horse never. ~Yiddish Proverb Many people have sighed for the 'good old days' and regretted the 'passing of the horse,' but today, when only those who like horses own them, it is a far better time for horses. ~C.W. Anderson MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
November 2009 15
www.horsedigests.com
Backing Up Your Horse By Tommy Garland
Backing up is an unnatural gait for horses because they naturally want to move forward. The process of teaching a horse to back up will take Confidence, Patience and Respect (CPR) as some horses will undoubtedly learn faster than others. Horses that are particularly heavy and/or not soft in the bridle or horses that have very little lateral or vertical flexion can be more of a challenge to teach. These important steps will help you and your horse successfully accomplish backing up.
16 November 2009
Step One:The first step in teaching your horse to back up begins with good ground work. Put a halter on your horse and gently pull back while simultaneously clucking. If your horse doesn’t take a step back, get a bat or crop and tap on his chest with constant pressure. As soon as he takes one step back, immediately release the pressure and praise him Keep repeating this step until he easily takes five or six steps backwards. Eventually when he feels your hand apply pressure and begin to pull his halter backwards, he will anticipate what you want and start to back up. If you have a difficult horse to work with, you may consider using a chain in conjunction with your halter. As you pull the halter backwards, you will also be applying constant pressure with chain. Please remember that constant pressure does not mean harder. You need to keep the pressure soft and gentle as well as steady. Again, some horses learn easier than others and different horses will react differently to this process. A chain is simply a tool that may be beneficial in working with a more difficult horse. Step Two: Once your horse is backing up consistently on the ground, it is time to move into the saddle. To begin this step, sit in the saddle, have your hands offset (hold one hand back farther than the other one and apply pressure with the other hand) and ask your horse to back up by clucking. If you pull back equally with both reins you give your horse the opportunity to take the bit and push against it. Offsetting your hands also offsets the bit in his mouth and eliminates the possibility of him bracing against it. Remember that each time he takes a step back, release the pressure and offer him praise. Note: Some horses might fight for their head or try to rear up in response to backward pressure in their mouth from the bit. If this happens, don’t just pull back harder, give and take with the pressure and you will get a better
response and possibly avoid a mishap. Step Three: Once your horse understands the first two steps in the process of backing up, you are ready to add leg pressure. This step will allow your horse to round his back and use his hind end better when he’s backing up. Tip: Taking your horse into a corner can also aid in teaching him to back up. Horses will naturally back out of a corner, but may try to escape to the right or left so it’s important to find a quiet corner in your barn or arena to work in. For your safety and the safety of your horse, keep his focus on you and be patient and confident in your and your horse will respond in a positive manner. And finally: Verbally asking your horse to back is another simple but important step in teaching your horse to back. Horses respond to many things and voice commands are no exception. Saying “Back” in conjunction with the steps outlined above will reinforce what you’re asking your horse to do. If after following these steps, your horse is still having difficulty learning to back, considering going back to Step One and repeating and reinforcing the groundwork. In addition, horses that are used to long lines can be driven forward or taught to back up using the long lines and we will explore that process in an upcoming article Communicating with your horse in a confident and patient manner will garner positive results and your horse will react in a more respectful and responsive manner. Remember, “CPR Horsemanship” when working with your horse…. Confidence, Patience and Respect. About Tommy Garland: Tommy Garland has ridden horses all his life and credits his trainer father, also named Tommy with teaching him much of what he learned early on about horsemanship. Tommy has spent the past 30 years training not only Arabians and Half-Arabians but Quarter Horses, Tennessee Walking Horses, Paints and Mules as well. His techniques have been universally accepted, respected and utilized by horse owners of all breeds & disciplines. In addition to his popular TV show, “CPR For The Horse & Rider” on RFD TV, Tommy regularly participates at clinics, expos and other equestrian events throughout the United States, Canada and Brazil. Tommy is a regular contributor to several popular equine publications and his online clinics and training DVD’s are valuable resources for any who loves horses! Tommy resides in Virginia with his wife Dawn and children, Samantha, Katie and TBird (Tommy Jr.). For additional information Tommy’s products, training aids and DVDs and clinic and expo schedule, please visit www.tommygarland.com or email us at info@tommygarland.com
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
Want to Win Western Pleasure?
Five Biggest Western Pleasure Mistakes by Jennifer Lindgren At the All-Breed or Open Show level, comfortable for him. Don't intimidate him into Western pleasure classes are offered in two performing a gait in a manner that makes him different formats. Classes are either divided uncomfortable because his stride will become according to breed (Quarter Horse, Arabian, inconsistent, choppy, or hesitant. At home, Color Horse, Gaited, school him in his comfort zone, etc.) or “Open” to all rewarding him each time he breeds. Many Judges slows down and relaxes. Going at this level will slow will soon become more measure a horse's enjoyable to him. It will take a abilities against a while, but your horse will even“stock horse” stantually ease into a 'western dard, meaning that pleasure zone'. the Judge usually has 3. Length of Reins. Your rein a background in the length should remain consistent Quarter Horse or throughout the class. I watch the Color Breed (Paint, drape in the reins and if the walk Palomino, Buckskin, drape doesn't match the lope etc.) industry. While it drape, you get a deduction. Don't can be difficult for an adjust your reins so much that it is Arabian, Saddlebred obvious to a Judge watching 30 or Gaited horse to win horses. Carry them so that you western pleasure in maintain light contact with the an Open class against A great Example of a Quarter Horse in horse's mouth and can still mainstock horses, a good proper frame. Note the natural looking tain control. I see riders lengthen horse and rider team head carriage with the neck coming their reins in the line- up and then can make it happen. stright out from the shoulder. The horse bring their hand way up to their All good western appears alert, relaxed and happy. Both chest to back the horse, another pleasure horses are horse and ridre look polished and pro- big deduction. quiet, well mannered, fessional. Photo courtesy American 4.Obvious Cues. I know you Quarter Horse Journal. obedient, and perform need to cue and discipline your their tasks willingly on horse, I just don't want to see it. a loose rein. They should be balanced, quality Not Ever. Be gentle and be discreet. I might not movers, who are consistent in the execution of see you 'pop' your horse with the spurs, but I will their gaits. Head carriage should be natural and see his reaction to it! My biggest pet peeve is relaxed, never falling behind the vertical. Transitions should be smooth and prompt. The horse should stand quietly and back readily. A Western horse should be a true pleasure to ride. Five Biggest Western Pleasure Mistakes 1. Improper Headset. This is the first mistake I see when you enter the ring and it often tells me what to expect from the horse and rider. A horse can't move properly if his head is too high or too low for his conformation, it actually pulls them off balance. Make sure your horse follows the standard for their Breed type. You will still see many horses in the ring with their heads too low. Fortunately, the trend is toward carrying them higher than we have seen in the past. A stock type horse's poll should be carried even with the withers or slightly above, but not below. His face should not draw behind the vertical. (Quarter Horse Rules allow for disqualification if the tips of the horse's ears fall below the withers consistently.) An Arabian's neck will have a pronounced arch with the head perpendicular to the ground and the poll at the withers. The Saddlebred's head is held much higher on a slightly arched neck with the head carried vertical to the ground. 2. Poor Movement. Many riders are so focused on getting their western horses to slow down that they actually destroy the quality of their movement and pull them out of “frame'. Judges like to see a relaxed, easy going horse. Allow your horse to move at the speed that is most
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
watching a rider yank and spur his horse in the line-up, believing the class is over. If both the horse and rider are so impatient that they can't stand quietly and wait for the placings, neither deserves a ribbon in Western pleasure. 5. Poor Presentation. The Judge wants to notice you for all the right reasons. Enter the ring like you expect to win. Get on the card early and stay there. Make sure your tack is clean and polished and that your outfit complements your figure and your horse's color. Watch your entrance, use the rail, and don't cut across the ring. Line-up promptly when asked. Be courteous to other riders and don't cut anybody off. Be aware of those around you before you decide to “school” or reprimand your horse. If you disrupt the performance of other horses, the Judge may excuse you. Jennifer Lindgren has been an All-Breed Judge since 1985. She is an experienced competitor who has earned Regional and National awards in Halter, Western Equitation and Hunter. She loves all breeds of horses and keeps her private collection in Grant Park, IL. contact: jenlind22msn.com
November 2009 17
Dressage - English
www.horsedigests.com warm up his joints. This is especially important if the weather is cold. A warm up can help avoid injuries and get your horse’s body prepared to participate to the fullest. Give your horse a “mental” warm-up before the real lesson to get him in the mood to learn by reviewing different figures, transitions, or maneuvers that he does well. This reinforces past training and gets him thinking. Always introduce new lessons in small, easy steps that your horse can understand. Always give a kind word or pat when he gets a lesson right. If your horse refuses or resists, he is showing you that he doesn’t understand the lesson you are introducing. Be patient with your horse so he can learn to trust you. If you do this, he will respond positively and show you the same respect you show him. Just before you end the lesson, have your horse do something that he knows well. This gives him confidence and reinforces your partnership. End the session with a cool down period so the horse can stretch his muscles and have “quality time” with you, without having to concentrate on learning. Finish with a relaxing grooming session to show your appreciation to your horse.
Be the Rider Your Horse Deserves
Beginning Ground Training - part 2 By Lynn Palm
In the last article, I started our discussion of ground training with proper equipment and how to secure the longe line to the halter in two ways depending on the amount of control needed. If I find I still need even more control, I will change from a simple longe line to the type ending in a length of chain. Make sure the chain portion is long enough so that when fitted on the horse, at least five inches of chain extends from the halter. This gives enough leverage and allows use of the chain without abrupt or delayed reactions. If the length of chain is shorter than five inches, it can lock against the chin or nose, preventing the lightness that I want the chain to create for me. Start with the chain fastened under the chin, as described above, progressing to the “longe-lineover-the-nose” step if more control is needed. Use a three- to four-foot dressage whip to reinforce your voice commands. An “in-hand” whip is a valuable tool to encourage your horse to move forward without pulling on the longe line. Whether you are working on his near (left) or off (right) side, your whip is held in the same hand that is holding the excess longe line. Practice using an in-hand whip properly before beginning any ground training. Extend your outside arm straight back behind your body to use an in-hand whip as a tool for forward motion. This must be done with relaxation and slowness through your shoulder. Then, through a slight twisting of your wrist, bring the whip toward the horse’s hip and touch him at the hip or the top of the hind leg (gaskin). There should be enough slack, between your “lead” hand (nearest the horse) and the “outside” hand holding the loosely coiled excess longe line, to allow you do this movement slowly and smoothly. When the whip is pointing downward, it is not an active tool. When using the whip you want to touch your horse in the very precise area I just explained, not hit him in the flank. Ask a friend to “stand in” for your horse and practice proper whip application, before trying it with your horse. Two common errors to avoid include bringing the whip
18 November 2009
down too low and using your entire arm to move it. This will cause it to touch his flank instead of his rump. The other error is bringing the whip up too high and not even touching the horse. This happens when your arm is not brought far enough behind you. Don’t put your horse through confusion while you are learning how to properly use an in-hand whip—practice first! Create a Plan - Get a training notebook and start the habit of creating a lesson plan for each training session. Write down the date of each lesson, objectives for the training session, specific steps you will take to teach the lesson, the training location you will use, and how you will evaluate your progress. Training sessions should be divided into three segments. Start by repeating the maneuver worked on in your previous lesson. Review it in the same location(s) where you taught it to your horse to reinforce his learning. The middle of the session is the time to introduce something new that you want to teach the horse or to work on improving a maneuver that he is not consistent with. In the third part of your session, review something that your horse does well to end on a positive note. After each session evaluate what went really well, what was average (responsive, but not perfect), and what was poor. This will help you build the next lesson plan. It will help you think through the steps and give you a record of your accomplishments. Tips to Remember Schedule training sessions around a lesson plan. Structure will help both you and your horse to focus and learn better. Include a warm up period to allow your horse to stretch his muscles and
Whether you are starting a young horse, reschooling an older mount, or need to improve your eye for understanding your horse, ground training will improve a horse’s responsiveness to commands and build your skills as a handler and rider. Visit www.lynnpalm.com where you can order my Longevity Visual Series and/or my Longevity Training Book.
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
y r a M a r y H a m i l t o n M k s A
answers your training questions!
Ask Mary: What is the best method to mount and dismount your horse? Mounting and dismounting can be difficult especially if your horse won’t stand still. One of the first problems I correct in a new horse is teaching them to stand while being mounted. This can be a good winter project for you (next month’s article). Getting on and off your horse comfortably and safely is your goal. Here’s the technique I like to use. Before you Ride Before you ride consider your horse. Visually inspect your horse for injuries and lameness. Assess his attitude or inner horse. Is he attentive and ready to work? Or does he have excess energy and is unfocused? Release this excess energy on a lunge line or in a round pen and you will have a more relaxed and focused partner. Mounting and Dismounting – Vulnerable Moments Check your girth or cinch prior to mounting and then again after walking your horse in a warm-up. Select an area free of debris and objects to mount up. This will lessen the chance of injury to you or your horse. I am an advocate of using a sturdy mounting block to mount smoothly and efficiently. I have seen too many people heave and pull themselves into the saddle from the ground for ego sake. This one sided pulling of the saddle against your horses back and spine can injure your horse. Plus it leaves you in a vulnerable position
should your horse have to step away to keep his balance. Insist your horse stand quietly until you are securely seated in the saddle. To mount I recommend standing at your horses shoulder facing the rear. The left hand holds the reins and a bit of mane. With your right hand turn the stirrup toward you. Place your left foot securely in the stirrup. Step into the left stirrup grasping the cantle of the saddle with your right hand. Swing your right leg high over your horse’s croup. Pay particular attention if your wear spurs or have a cantle bag. Banging your horse with a spur or getting hung up on the cantle bag could cause problems. Use a smooth motion to mount and sit lightly on the saddle. This procedure gives you maximum control while maintaining your balance. Dismounting Stepping down from the saddle with the left foot in the stirrup as the right foot touches the ground is extremely dangerous. A foot could very
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
easily become hung up in the stirrup in this awkward position. Instead, swing your right foot over your horses back while standing with your left leg in the stirrup. Use your arms to support your body as you remove your left foot from the stirrup. Push yourself away from your horse and land with slightly bent knees to absorb the shock of your landing. Mary is a Mounted Police instructor and a fully insured ARICP riding instructor. She devotes her creative energy to developing customized training programs to improve show ring performance, mount obedience and despooking trail horses utilizing training methods used in training police horses. Visit her website at www.riderselite.com or email your questions to Mary at: mary@riderselite.com
November 2009 19
www.horsedigests.com
Performance Horses
Reined Cow Horse Events Consist of Cutting, Reining and Fence Work By Monty Bruce
Do you like excitement, unpredictability, speed, a challenge with something different each time you enter the ring to compete? Then you are going to love the reined cow horse event. Reined cow or working cow horse is one of the fastest growing and most exhilarating equine events in the nation at this time. Steeped in tradition from the vaqueros and working cowboys of the west coast; the reined cow horse is designed to show the horsemanship and cattle working skills of horse and rider. The event is quickly moving east and gaining popularity; with new associations, programs, and shows popping up around the country. To me the reined cow horse is the ultimate horse. The equine must possess the agility and cow savvy of a well-trained cutting horse, the finesse and handle of an artistic reiner, and put it all together with power, speed, and control to get the cow down the fence. These three separate horses events are combined into one to perform the three events; cutting (or herd work), dry work (a reining pattern), and fence work. The cutting consists of riding into a herd of cattle and sorting one cow. The rider must hold that cow from the herd for the prescribed amount of time. Next is the reining, where a standardized pattern including lead changes, controlled circles, sliding stops and head turning spins. Lastly, horse and rider run down the fence. Fence
work is where one cow is let out into the arena, the competitor steps up and holds (boxes) the cow on the end of the arena, much like in cutting. The difference is that when the rider feels the cow and horse are ready they will drive the cow up the long side of the arena and turn the cow once each way. Then “pop” the cow off the fence and circle it in the middle of the arena both directions with the horse showing complete control of the cow without over-aggressiveness. In a futurity and derby setting these classes: herd work, dry work, and cow work are held as three separate classes. You enter the arena three times on the same horse, which means you may not have to win each class to win overall, if you are solid in each one you will be among the top competitors. Working cow horse classes are where the contestant runs the reining pattern, calls for the cow, boxes the cow, and smoothly finishes with the fence work all at once. For a horse to excel in the cow horse event, they must be athletic, quick, and have or develop cow sense. It takes a great deal of training and time to make a finished reined cow horse, it is like training for three separate events all in one, but the end results are well worth the effort. From the fast paced, adrenaline filled run at a show or the excitement and unpredictability of watching a run, it is no wonder the sport is growing at such a fast pace. ~ Happy Riding, Monty Bruce If your have questions or would like more information log onto Monty’s website at www.montybruce.com The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the reined cow horse. Formed in 1949, the organization was originally called the California Reined Cow Horse Association. Despite the name change, the association has continued to celebrate the early California traditions of highlytrained working cow horses and today, 58 years
after its creation, continues to work to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com. NRCHA Affiliate Information - NRCHA Affiliates are in important part of the National Reined Cow Horse Association - providing local competition opportunities for members all over the world. Promotional and administrative materials are provided to affiliates and all NRCHA approved shows are listed in the Stock Horse News as well as on the NRCHA website. NRCHA provides two important programs that are only available for affiliates. The first is an Affiliate Sponsorship which gives NRCHA Affiliates a $500 sponsorship at the end of each year, for the affiliate to use any way it chooses. The second is an Affiliate Youth Scholarship which gives a scholarship to the Affiliate Youth Bridle and Youth Limited Champions the scholarships are $500 and $250 respectively. NRCHA Affiliates also receive a 20% discount on advertising in the Sock Horse News magazine the official publication on the NRCHA. And, all Affiliates are eligible for the NRCHA Affiliate of the Year awards. Those are cash awards of $1,500 to the winner and $1,000 to the runner-up each year! To start an affiliate you will need at least 20 people who are current NRCHA members in good standing, they can all be new members or existing members.With those members in place, there is an annual Affiliate Membership Fee of $100. North Central Reined Cow Horse Association Contact Name:Steve Mattson, 24155 Wood Lane, Rogers, MN 55374 - Phone: 612-6855190 - Website: www.ncrcha.com EMail: mattson713@yahoo.com Midwest Cow Horse & Reining Association Contact Name:Christine Mason , W2256 Piper Road, Whitewater, WI 53190 - Phone: 262-4954811 - Website: www.mwcra.com EMail: masonacr@idcnet.com Sandhills Reined Cow Horse Association Contact Name:Scott Blomker, 20000 SW 114th Street, Crete, NE 68333 - Phone: 402-8264122 - Website: www.sandhillsrcha.com South Dakota Reined Cow Horse Association Contact Name:Clara Wilson, 19946 US Hwy 85, Newcastle, WY 82701 - Phone: 307-6637655 - Website: www.sdrcha.org EMail: fcwilson@hughes.net Great Lakes Reined Cow Horse Association Contact Name:Chris Tschirhart, P.O. Box 103, Yale, MI 48097 - Phone: 810-721-0098 Website: www.glrcha.com EMail: glrcha@hotmail.com Hoosier Daddy Cow Horse Association Contact Name:Karen Phillips, 10154 W. McCullough Rd., Campbellsburg, IN 47108 Phone: 812-755-5031 Website: www.hoosierdaddycowhorse.com EMail: knicholson@abilenetxfoods.com
20 November 2009
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
November 2009 21
www.horsedigests.com
Trail Horses
GET READY TO RUMBLE! EEK! Something is coming up behind me!
First have the car slowly approach the horse head on. For photo’s sake. We have Socks close to the car, but you can be farther away…you don’t have to be riding, you can be on the ground between the car and your horse!
ate bit to use to teach and train this lesson. Another good prerequisite is By Tracy Porter impeccable ground work. I can’t think of any lesson that I ever write about that Gee, doesn’t that title does not contain a mention to ground sound like a bad B- work and understanding and controlmovie? Well for some rid- ling the hips. We have clinics that we offer as well as lessons or training on ers, it can feel like their horse is the star and their the co-star in a horror flick! the subject, so if you are having issues here, maybe it is time to give us a You don’t have a victim, but it’s going to take some work to become victori- call. But if your ducks are in a row, you can move on to the lesson. ous! Let’s begin with using a car. The You might wondering “why do I have to actually learn about this stuff, won’t my horse figure it out on his own?” Well, I suppose…but why take reason I like this is we can control the chance of letting fear take control of your horse? Often, the way we everything in the situation. You can first approach our horse’s problem comes from our own ignorance in under- introduce this in your own driveway or standing how our horse thinks. I’m not a person that preaches and spouts field. Someplace that allows you to be a the predator/prey lingo. But I will tell you, that yes, the horse is a flight ani- great distance from the car and the car mal, and his natural response to flee is very real. In the animal kingdom, can be driven slowly or even stopped. Your goal in the beginning will be to he is the one that disappears to safety and asks questions later! As the car gets closer I am At home, in his quiet little herd, your horse, will flee when another horse have the car always in front of your horse, this keeps the horse from keeping Socks head facing the is coming from behind, because he knows car. You can either do this by feeling he is being chased. that the other horse is the big, bad wolf in I used this same method to pivoting the front as I am doing his horse kingdom and will light his fire if get my mustang mare, Holy or pivoting the hind end, also he doesn’t get moving. If your horses own known as yielding the hips. Socks!, comfortable with traffic, pasture buddy can put the fear of moveso on the first pleasant day we ment into him, then how about something had in January, when she was 30 days into her training from being a that startles him like another horse, a car, wild untouchable mustang, I was able to ride her a few miles down dog or turkey? Bet they can make him the road, thru town and tie up move or want to move…FASTER! Moving and eat at a local restaurant and and asking questions later is just the way then ride her back home. he was hardwired to think. So, as I said If you think your horse is before…you can take the chance that he going to be unsafe or you are figures it out on his own, but you may find afraid to ride, it is best to start on you are in for a lot of scary rides until he the ground. Remember to always does if he ever does. keep yourself between the scary This doesn’t even take into consideraobject and your horse. tion that in your attempts to comfort your Have the car approach you Again, keep the horse head facmount, you might be inadvertently praising from the front, as the car begins ing as the car is going past you, and rewarding him for being a basket it might help you to keep your case. For example: your horse hears the Holy Socks! my mustang mare was to reach you, simply turn your horses head centered between pounding of hooves coming up behind on her 30th training day in this photo horse so that he pivots with the the reins. him, he gets tense, his head flies up, his when we took our very first ride, and car keeping his head facing the car. After the car has passed solo at that, into town! legs are rumbling and you in your bravest, you, follow behind it! Horses will not run after things that scare them. most reassuring voice tells him “it’s okay, By asking them to follow, you will actually be building your horses your fine” while you stroke his rock hard neck and withers. What you have just done is praised his raising level of confidence. In your training session, when you fear! OOPS! This means that not only do you have to think about how to approach the situation, but what behavior we should be looking to give are ready to have the car approach you from behind, the first few times as the praise for and when to do it! When a horse is coming up from behind it is a lot like training your horse car comes closer, turn and face the car to get comfortable with a car, bike, motorcycle or tractor. You might find it as I did in photos 1-4 and finish by foleasier to work on the problem using a car first and apply these same prin- lowing along as in photo 5. When your ciples when you begin to work on your horse in other situations, like a horse horse is comfortable with this then have the car approach you from behind running up behind him on the trail. Before you begin this lesson it would be a really good idea to see how as you are walking and as it passes As the car passes, I will tip the well your horse turns, both by following his nose and also by moving his your horse will continue plodding along! horse’s nose slightly toward the Now it is time for your horse’s first car. Look for signs that indicate hip. Remember, this is also how you will be stopping your horse, so if his your horse’s comfort level. turns are bad, you canl kiss your stop goodbye as well. When I see some- pop quiz! It will be the first car that one turn their horse and the horse slings it’s head, plants it’s feet and I see comes up when you are on one of your Though Sock’s is looking at the in the car she is relaxed as the rear engage, I would not suggest this lesson…yet. Clearly, they are not first real road rides, regardless of which dogs her left hind leg is cocked in a yet prepared for it and by doing so, could cause them to put a nice rear on direction the car is coming from, relaxed position versus standing remember to turn and face it as you did splayed footed with her nostrils their horse. That being said, I will also mention that a shank bit is NOT an appropri- in the beginning. flaring.
22 November 2009
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
After the car has passed follow behind it! Horses never chase something they are afraid of! If you can trot your horse after it, GREAT!
You might find that as in photo 8, your horse will become relaxed and let the car go past his hind end, and you won’t have to ask him to finish turning
and following the car! So, how does this relate to the horse running up from behind you on the trail? Well, once you have mastered the car, you can use the same approach whether it is another horse, a bike a motorcycle, a 4 wheeler, a baby stroller or even a shopping cart! Why not prepare your horse properly for his first road
Later practice with the car passing from behind!
and trail ride by taking the time to systematically train him? Although it isn’t impossible to retrain a horse, it certainly is a lot easier to do it right the first time.
AHC Supports Bill to Complete America’s National Scenic Trails The American Horse Council is pleased to announce its support of the Complete America's Great Trails Act (H.R.1912). This bill was introduced by Representative Gerry E. Connolly (D-VA) and Reprehensive Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) On April 9, 2009. Hundreds of thousands of Americas enjoy recreational riding. Whether these recreational riders participate in short trail rides or much longer pack trips they often rely on public trails. It is important for the horse community to look for opportunities to increase the number of trail miles available to equestrians. In 1968 the National Trail System Act was signed into law. This law allows Congress to designate a trail of particular natural beauty as a National Scenic Trail (NST). To date Congress has created eight NSTs, several of which are open to equestrians along all or part of their length. Most sections of the eight NSTs are managed by the various federal land agencies and are open to the public. However, some sections cross private land to which access is limited or prohibited. Though the combined lengths of the NSTs are 14,600 miles, 3520 miles of these trails remain closed to the public. This bill would create a new tax credit for private landowners who grant a conservation easement to a NST which crosses their property. It is hoped that this tax credit will encourage land owners to establish easements and complete the NSTs. Such conservation easements will ensure that many more miles of NSTs will be open to the public and users of NSTs will always have access to those portions of NSTs. “More equestrians each year are riding NSTs
like the Pacific Crest trail and the Continental Divide trail. NST are national treasures and they provide equestrians with a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of America just as early explorers and settlers did,” said AHC President Jay Hickey. “We are happy to support a bill to that will help complete existing NSTs and make establishing future trails much easer.” “I encourage recreational riders who are interested in promoting this bill or in other efforts to expand recreation opportunities for equestrians to sign up for the AHC’s grassroots program, the Congressional Cavalry. The Congressional Cavalry is composed of individuals who will contact their federal elected officials when national issues that impact the horse community arise. It costs nothing and requires little time, but such impute from constituents is very important your Representatives, Senators and the legislative process,” said AHC Legislative Director Ben Pendergrass. To sign up for the Congressional Cavalry program, please email Ben Pendergrass at Bpendergrass@horsecouncil.org . As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities. Organized in 1969, the AHC promotes and protects the industry by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media and the industry on behalf of all horse related interests each and every day. The AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world from owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen's associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse councils.
Report Equestrian Trail Closures or Access Issues on Equestrians are closed to Federal Land seeing an increasing equestrians on When you start training with the unknown driver, make sure that you START at the beginning again, don’t assume that just because your horse was great in your training session that he will be great the next day, a month or a year later! Also if you have a paddock next to the road…use it and let your horse train himself while he lives there, if you look closely, you can see Caz in the background in his pasture next to the road. He is The Farm’s meet and great committee!
If you have any questions on training you and your horse, you would like to be a part of a clinic or perhaps you would like to board your horse and become involved with ongoing lessons and training opportunities, please visit our websites and give us a call! 608-868-5432. www.TracyPorter.net or www.TJClibborn.com We would love to help you and your horse be the best of friends and have and enjoy the same relationship that we do with our horses!
loss of access through trail restrictions, trail closures, and use restrictions. Riders and stock users are being excluded from areas that they have historically traveled through and indeed first opened up. It is a loss of opportunities for riders, families, persons with disabilities, school groups and others. There seems to be a management environment less open to these traditional forms of use. Sometimes restrictions on equestrian use are done intentionally through management plans that reduce, restrict or eliminate horses, horse facilities, camping or grazing restrictions, crosscountry travel restrictions or closures. Sometimes the restrictions are indirect though a lack of trail maintenance, or over regulation, or lack of services to the public like facilities that provide saddle and pack animals or parking for horse trailers. In order to better combat this disturbing trend the AHC is asking equestrians to document examples of trails or entire areas that have been
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
federal land (National Forest Service, National Parks Service, and Bureau of Land Management, etc). The AHC is seeking all relevant information concerning these closures such as the reason for the loss of access, details concerning any public process that was involved and the history of equestrian use on the closed trail or area. The AHC is committed to preserving equine access to public lands. It is very important for these efforts that we have evidence that demonstrates the extent of the problem and the need for action on the part of Congress or the federal land agencies. The AHC is also interested in examples of attempts to bar equestrian access that have been defeated. Please take a few moments and use the electronic form to report any access issue you have experienced. You will find the link at this website: http://horsecouncil.org/survey.php
November 2009 23
www.horsedigests.com
Equine VIP
Rex Peterson talks to Equine VIP by Susan Ashbrook, owner Equine VIP
QUESTIONS FOR REX PETERSON Hollywood’s premiere horse wrangler Rex Peterson spoke with Equine VIP from the set of Disney’s Secretariat currently being filmed at Keeneland , Kentucky and Churchill Downs. Rex has owned and trained some famous horses from movies such as Black Stallion, Dreamer, The Horse Whisperer, Hidalgo, Appaloosa and Hanna Montana-The Movie just to name a few. Viggo Mortensen, the actor who worked with Rex on two films Hildago and Appaloosa said about Rex, “One of the most helpful bits of advice he passed on to me – which can be applied to working with horses and to life in general – is “go slow to go fast”. He would never, unlike others not as gifted or patient in his line of work, rush things unnecessarily or ever ask anyone to do something he was unwilling to first try himself. He invariably has the safety and wellbeing of his horses as his topmost priority.” When did you realize you had a special gift with horses? When working on the movie Black Stallion I realized that I had more ability than others in my profession. What was the first movie you worked on – and have any of your training methods changed
24 November 2009
(along with the demands of filming) My first film was Electric Horseman which starred Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. I continue to learn and hone my skills learning from each horse in each situation, each horse is an individual and teaches me something new. What part of training a horse for TV/Movies would you say is something every horse owner should know? The meaning of the word Whoa! What was the most difficult scene with a horse you had to especially train for? I would have to say burying a horse alive for a Procol Harem music video still is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. How hard is it to find the “right” horse for TV and movies? Sometimes it is extremely difficult, sometimes they just show up when you need them. Have there been any truly special horse(s) in your life? Justin, RJ and Hightower. Although Hightower is no longer alive, he is still considered one of the most famous trick horses. Hightower appeared in many films during his career, most notably as Pilgrim in The Horse Whisperer and
Black Beauty. He was the horse of choice for actress Julia Roberts, who bonded with him during the filming of The Runaway Bride and insisted that the horse be shipped back from his California corral to an East Coast location for post-production reshoots. Who was your mentor and why? Glenn Randall, Sr. because he trained horses to do what is impossible, and taught me to do the same. Where can we find information about your clinics and the training videos you make? www.swansonpetersonproductions.com Is it harder to work with horses or actors riding them? Without question the actors, because they do not always listen or do their homework. The horse can read their energy. I can control the horse at all times, but not the actor. What is the next TV project or movie you are working on and we can watch for? A Horse Training TV series showcasing extreme horse training along with teaching people how to achieve immediate success in communicating more effectively and clearly with their horse to solve simple problems such as loading a horse, leading a horse, handling a horse, breaking and training a horse. Equine VIP is written by Producer/Host Susan Ashbrook who is also developing a TV series based on numerous interviews with celebrities and top equestrians. For more information go to www.equineVIP.com Susan Ashbrook was born in the mid west but longed at an early age to be like her grandmother Pearl. Pearl rode horses and built many successful businesses, and she was an independent woman when it wasn’t a popular pursuit. Susan used her creativity and business acumen to found Film Fashion www.filmfashion.com a premier agency matching A list celebrities with exclusive fashion designers such as Chopard, Escada, Ralph Lauren, Lanvin, Harry Winston and Swarovski. Film Fashion is a product placement firm built on Susan’s relationship with over 5000 celebrities and was acquired by PR Powerhouse Rogers & Cowan. Susan’s passion for horses launched her second career producing equine content for the internet and broadcast channel. Ashbrook feels the equestrian world has stories to tell about riders, events, products, special horses and all things equestrian. The best way to reach us is at susan@equineVIP.com We'd love to hear from you!
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
November 2009 25
www.horsedigests.com Processed feeds enhance digestion in the stomach and small intestine, contributing to a higher level of nutrient absorption while simultaneously decreasing the threat of starch contamination in the cecum and colon. Feed by weight, not volume according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and by using your horse’s weight and body condition as guides. Because feeds vary according their densities, be sure to weigh the feed container first and then subtract its weight from the total to determine the correct portion of feed. When making a dietary change, take seven to ten days to complete the transfer. This will allow sufficient time for the residing microbial flora to become accustomed to the new feed or hay source. Parasite/Disease Control ~ Deworming is an important aspect of colic prevention. Have your veterinarian take a fecal sample to establish a baseline assessment of the parasite level in your horse or herd in order to determine an appropriate deworming schedule. In addition to the danger of parasite infestation, regular treatment is necessary for maintaining optimum utilization and absorption of nutrients. Pasturing ~ Research has shown that horses colic less on pasture then when in a restricted environment. Through pasturing horses are more likely to meet their daily exercise and nutritional requirements, while also reducing many problems associated with confinement. When introducing horses to pasture, it is essential to do so gradually, especially lush, high moisture pasture to avoid digestive problems. Dental Care ~ A horse’s teeth need to be floated at least once a year for feeds to be processed completely. Horses with dental pain often shortcut chewing, which inhibits particle size reduction and salivation, two vital aids to proper digestion. Improper feed consumption can increase the risk of abdominal disturbance while decreasing the nutritional benefits of the ration. Water/Salt ~ As with all animals, water is a life source for horses. Fresh, clean water should always be available in order to avoid the risk of dehydration, which can cause impaction colic in the colon and cecum. Salt should also be provided free choice. After exercise, cool down a horse by walking before allowing it to drink unrestricted, but some water is necessary. Follow the rule, “six sips and walk”. Exercise ~ Feed should be administered at least two hours prior to or after exercise. Grain feeding should be withheld eight hours prior to strenuous exercise; hay should be given in many small portions throughout the day of an event with water available at all times. Stress ~ Minimize stress whenever possible; it is important to ensure your horse feels comfortable in its environment. When introducing a horse to an established herd be aware that a shift in positioning will occur which may create anxiety. Additionally, horses often form close bonds with one another and may become stressed if sperated. Presented by Nutrena, makers of SafeChoice™. SafeChoice? Is a nutritionally balanced safe-energy feed designed for horses in all stages of growth and proven effective in reducing the risks of colic, developmental orthopedic disease (DOD), laminitis, and tying up.
Equine Colic: The #1 Cause of Premature Death For animals of such size and strength, horses possess notoriously delicate digestive systems. With stomachs that barely comprise 7% of their digestive tract, horses need to graze almost continuously in order for them to take in the necessary nutrients. Horses are foragers by nature and when in the wild often journey up to 20 miles per day in order to find suitable nourishment. Domesticated horses, however, are most times not able to roam and forage at will. Often confined to small areas and fed according to our schedule, horses have now become susceptible to a variety of abdominal disturbances. Understanding a Horse’s Digestive Tract ~ Understanding the digestive process is the first step in recognizing equine colic. Next to water, it is energy that comprises the majority of a horse’s nutritional needs. Almost 90% of nutrient intake in the form of fiber, fat, and starch is required to fulfill daily energy demands. To remain healthy, a horse needs to eat a high fiber diet, the carbohydrates (starches and sugars) of which are digested in the stomach and small intestine. It takes only about 30 - 90 minutes for this to be accomplished before the fiber, proteins, and other nutrients are passed through to the cecum (hind gut) and colon where they are broken down further. Digestive problems start when the carbohydrates are not properly broken down in the stomach and small intestine and enter the cecum where specialized enzymes are not able to process excess starch. Gastrointestinal distress begins when these carbohydrates are left to ferment. John Reagor PhD, Chief of Toxicology, Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory is quoted as saying, “The number one cause of death from colic is from feeding mismanagement due to starch overload.” The Effects of Starch ~ Horses only can eat 1.5% - 3% of their body weight per day, yet they must have enough energy density (calories per pound) for growth, reproduction, maintenance, and performance. That is why feeding roughage or quality hay is an essential part of the equine diet - it is THE fundamental resource for nutrients. While hay is important, it is relatively low in energy and can fill up a horse without its meeting necessary calorie requirements. That is why grains or concentrated feeds are often used as an additional energy resource to accommodate the strenuous demands made on today’s horses. Starches and sugars are key components to energy. They are necessary to replenish muscle glycogen stores and are vital to anaerobic metabolism that enables horses to compete in speed or endurance related events. It is the starch sources, processing, and intake, coupled with the quality and timing of forage feedings and individual differences between horses that can affect digestibility. What are the signs of colic? According to Dr. Ward, “Colic is not a disease. Rather it is a combination of signs that alert us to abdominal pain in the horse.” Listed under the general heading of colic, there are three types of conditions and degrees of severity to which the term applies: Parasitic/Disease Colic, Gas Colic, and Impaction Colic, ranging from mild to lethal. While there are many causes, colic signals its appearance in a pattern of distinct behaviors which may vary from
26
November 2009
horse to horse but will often include any or a combination of the following: Turning the head toward the flank • Lack of appetite (anorexia) • Pawing • Putting head down to water without drinking • Kicking or biting the abdomen •Lack of bowel movements •Stretching out to urinate without doing so •Absence of, or reduced digestive sounds •Repeatedly lying down and getting up •Sweating • Rolling, especially violent rolling •Rapid respirations and/or flared nostrils •Sitting in a dog-like position, or lying on the back. Take Immediate Action ~ Dr. Ward states that time is perhaps the most critical factor if colic is to be successfully treated. While a number of cases resolve without medical intervention, a significant percentage require prompt medical care. If you suspect your horse is suffering from colic, the following action plan is suggested: Remove all food and water •Notify your veterinarian immediately. Be prepared to provide the following specific information: Pulse rate •Respiratory rate (breathing) •Rectal temperature •Color of mucous membranes •Capillary refill time (tested by pressing on the gums adjacent to the teeth, releasing, then counting the seconds it takes for the color to return) •Behavioral signs (listed above) •Digestive noises, or lack of them •Bowel movements, including color, consistency, and frequency •Any recent changes in management, feeding, or exercise •Medical history, including deworming and any past episodes of abdominal pain •Breeding history and pregnancy status if the patient is a mare, and recent breeding history if the patient is a stallion. Insurance status and value of the horse (NOTE: The insurance carrier should be notified if surgery or euthanasia is being considered) •Keep your horse as calm and comfortable as possible. Allow the animal to lie down if it appears to be resting and is not at risk of injury.•If the horse is rolling or behaving violently, attempt to walk it slowly.•Do not administer drugs unless specifically directed to do so by your equine practitioner. Drugs may camouflage problems and interfere with an accurate diagnosis. •Follow your veterinarian’s advice exactly and await his or her arrival. Colic Prevention Program ~ Forage (Hay or Pasture) Provide quality forage (a minimum of 1% of bodyweight) daily. If feeding hay, the best way to determine its quality is to have a laboratory analyze the nutritional content. If analysis is not an option, use the followin guidelines. Choose fresh, clean, sweet smelling hay. Beware of mold or weed contaminated hay and hay infested with bugs such as blister beetles as these factors can cause colic. Look for green, fine textured hay with small stems (the majority of essential nutrients are contained in the grass or leaf portion). Grain or Concentrate ~ Feed a grain or concentrate that minimizes starch content and includes other energy sources such as fat and digestible fiber. Always feed grains/concentrates at least twice a day and never feed more than 0.5% of body weight at any one feeding. Meals should be evenly spaced and if a meal is late, never feed more to make up for it. It is better to feed extra hay and reduce the amount of concentrates before going back to a normal feeding schedule.
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
Selwood Park Stable 2009 IALHA National Championships Gareth A Selwood traveled this year to Fort Worth, Texas with twenty-one purebred and part bred Andalusian and Lusitano horses under his care, to compete for National honors. Amateurs, Youth, Working Students and Gareth rode and led the impressive show string to a record breaking Twenty One US National Championships, Twenty One Reserve US National Championships and close to One Hundred Top Five Awards. Selwood Park clients came to cheer on their horses to victory from Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and Mexico. Bricco Andalusians owned by Paul and Gail Bricco achieved seven High Point Awards with their young stallion Zafiro BA . The partnership of R a h n Greimann and Gareth A. Selwood also won several High Points with Orlando SG and Selwood Park Tosca. Barbie Do Passargada the great imported Perlino Lusitano mare received the highest score for Lusitano mares and was the
Louis, Missouri with a show string of 14 beautiful purebred and partbred Friesians. Upon returning from Missouri plans are underway for their annual Open House on December 6, 2009. For more information go to www.selwoodpark.com
US National Champion in her division. Pedro Segura of Mexico and Illinois won the largest class at the show (Best Movement) unanimously out of sixteen horses with Gareth at the lead. With so many wins it would be impossible to name them all, however a full set of results is available at www.ialha.org. The year is not over for Selwood Park as they immediately left for the IFSHA World and Grand National Championships in Lake St Special Note: I was a part of this trip to the IALHA Nationals. What an adventure! I traveled to Elkhorn. WI from Blue Earth, Minnesota, picked up a load of our horses and joined in the caravan of 5 rigs and 21 horses. We laid over just south of Kansa City, to rest the horses on our way down and then headed to Fort Worth, Texas, for a week of showing horses. I slept in the very nice trailer loaned to us; not a living quarters though, and showered in the swine building on the show grounds. The bed was comfortable and the water was hot. That was all that mattered because we never were in bed before midnight and never up later than 5:30 AM. If you think showing 21 horses and managing the amount of people that it takes to do this is an easy thing to do, think again. My hat is off to Gareth and his team, the Bricco’s, the Stiller’s group of fine people, as well as Pedro Segura’s people. We all worked hard, showed hard and had fun doing it. It was a 3600 mile adventure that I will cherish and remember for the remainder of my days. The trophies and ribbons that we won are nice, but the experience and friendships made and strengthened are what it is all about. Thank you, Rahn Greimann
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
November 2009 27
www.horsedigests.com
Yes, it’s time to think about the holiday shopping season again, as it is right around the corner! You can find just about anything equine related that you can imagine when you shop with one of the many fine advertisers in Midwest Horse Digests! We have rounded up a few ideas and specials here in this holiday section of advertisers, and others throughout the magazine, whether it is for the horse enthusiast in your family or the horse, a gift or a holiday vacation, these advertisers have wonderful products to help you with those gift needs. And don’t forget - a GIFT SUBSCRIPTION to MIDWEST HORSE DIGESt is the perfect gift for the horse lover in your family. Our subscription form is on the next page or just call us!
We hope you have a very blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas Season!
28 November 2009
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
November 2009 29
www.horsedigests.com
Legal Aspects of Selling a Horse by Katherine Bloomquist With the escalation of litigation in today’s society, we have seen an increased number of lawsuits over misrepresentations and breaches of contract with the sale of horses. The litigation primarily arises from failed communication between buyers, sellers, agents, trainers, and veterinarians. This is true even in the current economic crisis, and it may be more important to have effective communication to avoid caring for a horse you can’t use or paying attorney’s fees if litigation does commence. Your Priorities - The first thing to do is understand what you are looking for in a new horse. What are your goals? What can you afford, both in terms of purchase price and in terms of maintenance? It is also important to prioritize your needs and wants. Where are you willing to compromise? Where are you not willing to compromise? For example, consider purpose, size, age, price, experience, and location. If you have not determined your goals and priorities, you will be unable to communicate these to a seller or trainer and you are setting yourself up for a conflict. Even if you choose not to use a trainer or agent to help you, it is still necessary to define your goals and needs. Communicating with Your Trainer or Agent - If you are using a trainer, be sure to talk to your trainer about your goals. Be sure to ask for your trainer’s advice and guidance when setting the goals. If your trainer or agent is regularly and actively involved with the sale of horses, he or she should be able to tell you how realistic your goals are. Second, what will your trainer’s involvement be? Will your trainer look for horses? Try out horses? Locate horses? View videotapes of horses? Is your trainer representing just you or both you and the seller? How and where does your trainer look for the horses? Third, discuss compensation with your trainer. How and when will your trainer be paid: commission, hourly, or flat fee? Who pays the trainer: you, the seller, or both? Who pays for the expenses, such as travel? Again, it is helpful to write down these understandings. These written understandings can be made into a formal contract drafted by an attorney or in the form of a letter agreement written by you and your trainer. It is cost effective to
consult an attorney when you are facing spending thousands of dollars to purchase the horse and for its subsequent care. If the horse you purchase doesn’t fit your needs for whatever reason, are you able to return it or do you bear the additional cost of caring for it until it can be sold? Dealing with the Seller - If the agent or trainer has acted as a middleman, your contact with the seller may be limited. With or without a trainer’s involvement, additional expert opinions can be valuable. Consider obtaining an independent appraisal of the horse’s value, particularly for “high dollar” horses. Equine appraisals are becoming more common and are especially helpful if you are not working with a trainer. The appraisal is helpful for securing insurance as well. Secure the horse’s medical history as well as a pre-purchase exam from an independent veterinarian. Again, depending upon the investment you are making, you will need to consider whether what type of pre-purchase exam is most cost-effective for you. Is a medical history and quick exam enough, or do you need x-rays, blood tests, etc.? Your decision will be based upon the purchase price of the horse and your intended use. Obtain the advice of your trainer, other horse persons, and of course, your veterinarian. Internet Purchases - Purchasing over the internet is quite common, as is the “sight unseen” purchase. The advantages are obvious: many more horses to look at, often with pictures and videos. One way of approaching internet sales is to have the purchase price in an escrow account during a trial period. Although trial periods are great vehicles for allowing the buyer to determine if the horse is right for them, trial periods have their risks. It is extremely critical to arrange for all the potential matters that could go wrong: illness, injury, lameness, or death. It is difficult to foresee every potential and to plan for it. I highly recommend insurance coverage. For an effective trial period, all of these items should be thought of in advance, discussed, and put into writing. Purchase and Sale Agreement - A purchase and sale agreement is the best way to ensure that the representations made by the seller and buyer are included in the agreement. For example, a
warranty can be included that states: “seller represents that the horse is 4 years old” or that the horse is healthy and free from infectious diseases. The agreement should also state the details of the purchase, such as payment price and terms. Purchase and sale agreements can be as simple as a one page document that includes these basic terms or many pages long – again, it depends on the investment you are making in the horse. When considering your potential investment, it is important to factor in the cost of caring for the horse if it turns out the horse can’t be used for your intended purpose and you have to sell or give him away depending on the circumstances. Caring for a sick or injured horse can be very expensive, and this potential risk should be considered at the time of purchase. At the very least, be sure to obtain a bill of sale from the seller which transfers ownership to you free of any liens or encumbrances. For example, if the seller obtained a loan to purchase the horse and secured the horse against the loan, you will want to be certain that you do not assume that obligation. Also, if the horse is registered, make sure the owner transfers any registration papers to you. I hope this information helps you to think about some of the issues you should consider when purchasing a horse. To ensure that your situation is handled appropriately, it’s best if you contact a local equine attorney. Remember that laws also differ from state to state and country to country. In the next issue, I will discuss issues to consider from a seller’s prospective. NOT LEGAL ADVICE: This article has been prepared for general information purposes only. The information in the article is not legal advice. Legal advice is dependent upon the specific circumstances of each situation. Also, the law may vary from State to State, so that some information in this article may not be correct for your jurisdiction. The information in this article cannot replace the advice of competent legal counsel licensed in your state. 2009 Copyright, All rights reserved. Katherine Bloomquist. Katherine Bloomquist operates Bloomquist Law Firm, LLC, a small law firm in Chaska, Minnesota, and has practiced in equine law, employment law, corporate law, commercial law, and litigation for twenty years. kbloomquist@bloomquistlaw.com; www.bloomquistlaw.com.
Armstrong Equine Services of LaMesa, New Mexico Annual Performance Horse Sale Results Topping the weanling market bringing $1850 was a palomino colt sired by RX Sugar out of NMSU Gleaning Lassing. The second highest was a buckskin filly sired by Command N Chex out of Pictured: Josh Armstrong, Dr. Joe Armstrong, Rusty Armstrong, Denny Lauing, Doris Lauing Peeps, a CJ Sugar mare bringing $1,000. Both owners of Comos Watch Playboy, Buyer JT weanlings were from the Armstrong's program. Prichard of Las Cruces, New Mexico The total weanlings sold averaged $670 each. Top selling yearling was sold by Hashknife Armstrong Equine Services of LaMesa New Mexico owned and operated by Dr. and Mrs. Joe Quarter Horses bringing $1350. sired by A Dandy Armstrong and family hosted their annual Rawhide out of Smoking Fashion. Eight outstanding bred mares from these operaPerformance Horse Sale on September 12, 2009 at tions were offered for sale averaging $1056. A their facility and ranch. Guest consigners participating were Hashknife Quarter Horse owned by Dogie seven year old sorrel mare, Comos Playboys Lydia and Joyce Jones of Watrous New Mexico and (Sired by Comos Cottoneye X Playboys Lydia) Lauing Mill Iron L Ranch owned by Denny and Doris offered by Denny and Doris Lauing captured top Lauing of Blunt South Dakota. A great selection of honors bringing $1700. She was in foal to Lil Easy Quarter Horses of all ages and disciplines were Feature for a 2010 colt. Second high seller was offered to buyers from surrounding states and offered by Armstrong Equine Services, Dollface Gloworm (sired by Suerte Fuerte X Glo Nowata Mexico.
30 November 2009
Doll) in foal to Command N Chex for a 2010 foal. Lauing Mill Iron L Ranch captured the high selling broke gelding; 2005 Comos Watch Playboy (Comos Cottoneye X Watch Playboy Girl). The horse was purchased by Dr. JT Prichard of Las Cruces New Mexico. Also sold by Denny and Doris Lauing from their program was a two year old gray gelding, Frenchmans Playboy (Frenchmans Hickory X Playboys Lydia) bringing $2200. Everyone associated with the sale wishes to extend their gratitude to all of the attendees and buyers. For more information on these outstanding Quarter Horse programs please check out their websites. Armstrong Equine Services www.armstrongequine.com, 575-233-2208. Hashknife Ranch, www.hashkniferanch.net 505-425-6021. Lauing Mill Iron L Ranch www.lauingmillironlranch.com, 605-962-6344.
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
HIGH POINT HUNTER/JUMPER AWARD SPORT HORSE NATIONALS
www.ABHJA.com
ANGLO-ARABIAN AWARDS AT SPORT HORSE NATIONALS
Top Ten in Third Level ATR, ridden by owner Kathryn Henneman of Orlando, FL. Earning Top Five Anglo-Arabian Sport Horse Awards were the two homebreds belonging to Laura Wood of Brooksville, FL. Her second generation Palomino Anglo gelding GLITTER BEY (RFF El Dorado x Almost Crimson+/) was Champion SHUS Junior Horse and Top Ten Green Working Hunter and SHUS Open. The dark bay stallion SIGNAL BEY (Bey Oro x Run Really Run) earned Champion Sport Horse In Hand Stallions, in addition to winning a Top Ten in Green Working Hunter. Rounding out the Top Five were Miranda Kuchera of Johnstown, PA, and her gelding DIAMOND JIM KELLY+ (Wildcat Kelly x Jamies Intent) bred by Terry Aldred Kerr . This pair won three Top Tens, in Green Working Hunter, and Hunter Hack AAOTR & ATR. The winners all received beautiful neck sashes and embroidered dress sheets, with Champion receiving a silver trophy plate as well. Prizes were donated by owners and breeders of Anglo-Arabians to recognize these athletes’ accomplishments. All in all, Anglo-Arabians accounted for 6 National Championships, 5 Reserve Championships and 24 Top Tens!
The Arabian-Bred Hunter Jumper Association awarded it’s third annual High Point Championship at the recent Sport Horse National Championships in Lexington, KY. The Half-Arabian gelding BHF WHILE U WERE OUT+//, owned by Mallory Creter of Chester, New Jersey, was this year’s recipient. This bay gelding, sired by the Hanoverian/Thoroughbred stallion Special Event and out of the Arabian mare Expressional (by Express It) is trained by Ricci and Stephanie Desiderio and was ridden by Mallory. This pair won National Championships in Working Hunter AAOTR, Hunter Hack ATR & AAOTR; Reserve National Championships in Working Hunter Open and ATR and a Top Ten in Open Hunter Hack. The ABHJA is an organization founded to promote the Arabian-Bred horse competing in the Hunter and/or Jumper disciplines at both Open and Breed competitions. You can learn more by visiting their website at
The North American Anglo-Arabian Horse Association (NAAAHA) sponsored their third annual High Pont Championship Awards this year, at the Sport Horse National Championship Show. Eighteen Anglos competed all week at the Kentucky Horse Park. The five-year-old gelding ONE MORE ROUND++// (Al Jassur Laddin x Winifred) earned Supreme Champion Anglo-Arabian Sport Horse honors thanks to winning the Champion in SHUS ATR, Reserve Champion in Hunter Hack ATR and AAOTR, and Top Tens in Green Working Hunter, Working Hunter AAOTR and ATR, Hunter Hack Open, SHUS Open , SHUS Junior Horse and SHIH Geldings Open. He was ridden by Alexis Starer-Doughty and is owned and bred by Bill Doughty of Cape Charles, VA. MASTER REPORTER+/ (Ebony Masterpiece x Girl Reporter) was Reserve Supreme Champion Anglo-Arabian Sport Horse. This Anglo gelding won the Championships in Second Level Dressage ATR and AAOTR and
Upcoming Events
11/14/2009 - TX, Bastrop - Horse Sale & Auction Horse Sale Hills Prairie livestock. Don’t miss out on this great sale Hills Prairie is dedicated to bring the best horses and making available demonstrations to show each horse to their ability Ranch, roping, barrels, sorting, cutting and trail horses. - (512) 6293131 - blake@hillsprairielivestock.com
847-244-4121 or www.FieldsandFences.com
11/14 MN –Howard Lake, MN - Fall Regional Horse Owner Program, 1 to 4 p.m., Howard Lake Middle School, Howard Lake. Register at www.extension.umn.edu/horse
11/27-11/29 - MO, Columbia - Barrel - Double BProductions ~ Cowgirl Tuff Barrel Bash $5000added (deadline 2 weeks prior to event) (BBR)FMI DOUBLE B PRODUCTION - (641) 7455845- bolling@iowatelecom.net
11/6-11/8 - MN, Verndale - Barrel, Futurity Northern Region Futurities, UBRA ~ 2009 Northern Region Futurity Tour Finals ADDED $$$, TROPHY BUCKLES, JACKETS & MORE! - (715) 857-6343 info@ubra.org November 6-9, 2009 – Last Chance to Dance Cutting, Red Horse Ranch Arena, Fergus Falls, MN, 218-736-3000, rhra@prtel.com, www.RedHorseRanchArena.com November 7, 2009 -- Natural Hoof Care Workshop at Friendly Faces Farm, Taylor WI. Contact Mike Bronson for more information: (715)662-2404. 11/6-11/8 - MN, Cannon Falls - Barrel - NBHA NBHA All District Show - no non-member fees! $500 Added! - (651) 335-4418 11/07 - IL, Caseyville - Grand Paradise Ranch open house and tack sale. Food and refreshments for our guests9 a.m to 6 p.m Nov.7th - 901 Grand Paradise Ranch Ln.- Caseyville, IL - (618) 345-3015 www.GrandParadiseRanch.com 11/7-11/8 - NE, FREMONT - Barrel - PURINA MILLS SADDLE SERIES - (402) 419-0191 11/7/2009 - MN, Verndale - Barrel - Northern Region Futurities, UBRA ~ Hiro Energy Challenge $4,750 PURSE 100% PAYBACK Slot Race - (715) 8576343 - jessica@ubra.org 11/10/2009 - IA, Greenfield - Barrel - Double BProductions - BB Arena – Greenfield IA Tues Jackpot Series (arena open 6 pm) Exhib 7:30 pm Jackpot 8 pm - (641) 745-5845 bolling@iowatelecom.net 11/14/2009 - WI, Lake Geneva -Southern Ketter Moraine Trail Association Holiday Gala, The Red Geranium, Contact Annette Mayfield 262/495-8898.
11/14-11/15 - NE, FREMONT - Barrel - PURINA MILLS SADDLE SERIES - (402) 419-0191 11/17/2009 - IA, Greenfield - Barrel - Double B Productions - BB Arena – Greenfield IA Tue Jackpot Series (arena open 6 pm) Exhib 7:30 pm Jackpot 8 pm - (641) 745-5845 - bolling@iowatelecom.net 11/17/2009 - IA, Greenfield - Barrel - Double B Productions ~ BB Arena – Tues Jackpot Series (arena open 6 pm) Exhib 7:30 pm Jackpot 8 pm (641) 745-5845 - bolling@iowatelecom.net 11/21/2009 - MN, Monticello - Team Roping - ~ Arrowhead Arena Team Roping - (763) 878-1554 arrowheadarena@tds.net November 21-22, 2009 – Central Minnesota AQHA Team Penning and Ranch Sort, Red Horse Ranch Arena, Fergus Falls, MN, 218-736-3000, rhra@prtel.com, www.RedHorseRanchArena.com 11/21-22, 2009 - IL, Grayslake - Chicagoland Equestrian Lifestyle Expo & Holiday Market - Lake County Fairgrounds' Expo Center (indoors) - Allthings-equestrian shopping, plus 40 educational presentations - Tickets: 1-day $8, weekend $14; Free Parking - Produced by Horsemen's Council of Illinois - www.HorsemensCouncil.org 11/ 21-22, 2009 - Gurnee, IL - USEF/USDF Dressage Show No. 327908 - Indoors @ Fields & Fences Equestrian Center - contact Anita Schadeck
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
11/24/2009 - IA, Greenfield - Barrel - Double BProductions - BB Arena – Greenfield IA TuesJackpot Series (arena open 6 pm) Exhib 7:30 pm - Jackpot 8 pm - (641) 745-5845 bolling@iowatelecom.net
December 5-6, 2009 -- Perfect Balance Natural Hoof Care Introductory class, $115; Fountain City, WI; www.perfectbalancehoofcare.com for more info or call 608-687-9534. 12/06/2009 - IL, Gurnee - Open Hunter/Jumper Show Indoors - 100' x 300' arena with heated viewing areas - Fields & Fences, Gurnee, IL - Contact: Anita Schadeck 847-244-4121or email Anita@FieldsandFences.com 12/19/2009 - MN, Monticello - Team Roping Arrowhead Arena Team Roping - (763) 878-1554 arrowheadarena@tds.net December 19-20, 2009 – Central Minnesota AQHA Team Penning and Ranch Sort, Red Horse Ranch Arena, Fergus Falls, MN, 218-736-3000, rhra@prtel.com, www.RedHorseRanchArena.com 1/1/2010 - MN, Monticello - Team Roping Arrowhead Arena Team Roping - (763) 878-1554 - arrowheadarena@tds.net FEBRUARY 6, 2010 –University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Horseman’s Clinic, Urbana, IL. Contact 217/333-2907 or vetmed.illinois.edu/ope/horseclinic/ Please email your event lisitings to PEG@HORSEDIGESTS.COM
November 2009 31
www.horsedigests.com Advertiser Index
Equine Health
Equine Lawyers
Website and Ad Design
Saddles , Tack & Gear
Advertise in Traders Corner for as little as $20 per month. A Great Place to advertise! Your ad is also in the online version of Midwest Horse Digest! Call today for information on advertising with us 507-943-3355
32 November 2009
Ace Tack & Outfitters page 7 American Wood Fibers page 9 Arena Fenceline page 13 Arena Trailers page 39 Bakko Industries page 17 Bale Buddy page 17 Blairview page 12 Bloomquist Law Firm page 32 Brinkmans Trailer Super Store page 24 Cannon Falls Trailer Sales page 2 Classified Form page 30 Conway Arabians page 15 Custom Panel Doors page 28 Donn’s Leather Works page 32 DunHaven Horsey Headwear page 32 Dennis Auslam page 10 Farm Boy page 29 Federated Coop page 13 I90 Expo Center page 15 J&B Western Store page 28 KCB Equine Center page 32 Ken McNabb page 6 Krebsbach Performance Horses page 15 Lynn Palm page 18 Mel’s Marvelous Jump Cups page 29 Midwest Cremation page 19 Mimbach Fleet Supply page 32 Minnesota Horse Council page 7, 15 MN School Of HorseShoeing page 16 Montana Horse Ranch page 13 More Custom Leather page 32 Natural Plan Stomach Soother page 19 Northland Buildings page 16 Nutrena page 3 Orion West Lighting page 4 Photo Classifieds page 33 Pleasant Hills Saddle Shop page 20, 32 Plum Lake Resort page 29 R.T. Duggan page 32 Selwood Park page36 Tak Shak page 29, 32 Tail Tamer page 28 The Model Horse Store page 29 The Natural Gait page 28 Triple Cross Design page 32 Twin Cities Featherlite page 35 Two as One Horsemanship page 14 UBRA page 21
Our Wish for you is to have a Happy Thanksgiving and A Very Blessed Christmas! MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
Place your photo classified here for $20.00 per
Thumbnail Photo Classifieds month just call 507-943-3355 for more info Plus you can also place your ad online at
www.HorseDigests.com For Sale AA PRITI PRITI, 2005 BAY ANDALUSIAN FILLY, (Piri Piri x AA Despierta) $12,000.00 US National Top Five Futurity Filly in hand 2008 Just started under saddle 262-249-8870 selwoodp@idcnet.com AA DESPIERTA, Elite Winner of the GANADOR Trophy, (Despierto x Ardorosa del Greco) $15,000 Andalusian In foal to US National Champion 3rd level dressage horse "Legado".She is carrying a "sexed" male foal.Available in utero for $10,000 262-249-8870 selwoodp@idcnet.com
8 YR. MARE, Gorgeous, Beginners Dream Horse! Barrel racing and trail. $4,000 Pinto-Beginners, young or old, this is the horse for you. Gentle, smooth, and a nice barrel horse, great on trails too. Call 605-670-9098 harttraining@hcinet.net BEAUTIFUL HALF-ANDALUSIAN, EXCELLENT DRESSAGE, EVENTING PROSPECT-$6,000- gorgeous half-Andalusian filly, nicely started under saddle, ready for show, trail, or putting fabulous sport babies on the ground. 715-822-392 SADIEMAEJONES@yahoo.com
Fiero LFA,PRE Black Andalusian Stallion. International Champion of Champions international bloodlines, Proven producer, Proven Junior Champion Stallion and USDF Dressage Competitor. 817205-9268
maryclaeys@cdibb.com
Equipment Trailers with or without living quarters, gooseneck and bumper pull, Keifer Built and Universal Trailers 320-363-4650 joejohnson@clearwire.net
Stallions and Stallion Auctions
ZINNIA BA ANDALUSIAN MARE (Despierto x Zinnia) US Reserve National Champion Andalusian Mare $15,000. Well started under saddle, Great Broodmare, Proven Show Horse 262-249-887 selwoodp@idcnet.com
Imported Black PRE Revised Stallion for Stallion Service From Maipe Stud: Costalero XV . Huge movement with substance, teddy bear personality, will add depth, bone and movement to your next foal! 972-746-1457 vintageandalsuians@hotmail.com
The Elite Fleet by 3BarL Transport 1*800*982*2208 Horse Transportation Short Description: Affordable - Experienced - Reliable -Specialized dispatch462003@yahoo.com
Amazing Buckskin 1/2 Andalusian Filly (Azteca) First foal from Flamenco D! Stunning and RARE SOLID BUCKSKIN 2008 Andalusian Filly (Azteca)
URGEL III. PROVEN PRODUCER OF MOVEMENT! ANCCE Revised, 16.1 hands (Danes III by Maja VII). His foals are of consistent quality and have his conformation, power, movement, kindness, and love for people. 940-6860910 ranchoandalucia@earthlink.net
Discount prices on the full lines of ThinLine, Skito, and SnugPax products. Also highestquality rhythm beads and horsehair items. 207-951-0526
972-746-1457 vintageandalusians@hotmail.com Very Tall, Huge Moving Son of Heroe Mac! Extra tall yearling Andalusian Colt. (Azteca) Lovely forward movement and a quiet mind. 972-746-1457 or vintageandalusians@hotmail.com 6 YR. AQHA BARREL RACING Mare, what a beauty! $8,000 Great little barrel mare, perfect turns, gentle and well mannered. Makes barrel racing super fun. 605-670-9098 harttraining@hcinet.net
3X NATIONAL CHAMPION PRE (ANCCE) REVISED STALLION SPOKANE! Royally bred with Rockstar Movement recognized by American & Spanish judges, add size, substance & movement to your breeding program. 972-746-1457 vintageandalusians@hotmail.com Famous Echo Homozygous! World Champ. Halter stallion! direct son of The Color of Fame.2004 Pinto Horse of the Year and the 2004 Pinto World Champion Halter Stallion 715-210-5371 Cleekarabians@yahoo.com
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
Services and Products
orders@zegifts.com www.zegifts.com 6 ACRES 30 MILES WEST OF DEKALB, IL.House/6 acres 30 miles west of Dekalb, IL next to Franklin Creek State Park/miles of trails. Call Mike at 8478673836 legume@charter.net Call us Today at
Midwest Horse Digest for more information on in-print and online photo classifieds! 507-943-3355
November 2009 33
www.horsedigests.com
Classifieds ASSOCIATIONS International Spotted Horse Registry for all horses of color. Any Pattern. Grade to Pureblood,Miniatures to Drafts. 866-201-3098 orishrppa@aol.com BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Horse Lovers! Would you like to own your ownbusiness helping horses, working your own hours and make about $75 an hour plus excellent sales commissions? 7 Year old company needs reps for US, Europe, Australia, etc. Our success rate is amazing, and we can show you what to do and how to do it. No pushy sales people, please. Ifyou love horses, PLEASE visit the THERAPY page at www.sumereltraining.com to learn more. In 2 weeks you could be in a new career. Part or full time. $5,000 covers all equipment. Exclusive territories and excellent company support. If you already work with horses, this could help you as well. 540-384-6220 EQUIPMENT & PRODUCTS Carts, Buggies, Carriages & Sleighs for sale. Horse, pony & mini sizes. All prices, all in good condition. Also driving horses, ponies & harness. 847/360-9313. 17-1/2” Close Contact Jumping Saddle. Made in England. Smooth chestnut bridle leather with pigskin seat. Very good condition, well cared for. Fittings, white fleece pad & 52” leather girth included. $350 OBO. Photos available, email peppermintkid58@yahoo.com or call 708/2842230. 16 Inch Brown Leather English Saddle, like new purple pad included. $250. 630/564-2884. 10 box stalls,- 1-x1- - Brand new, no wood.$13,000. Choose your color. Contact 507-527-2914. Will sell individually. 1109 New leather harness, 3rd generation business. Team, work, complete with hames, collars extra. Draft $802.00. Qtr. horse $757.00. Show 3 hip-Draft $882.00. Qtr. horse $812.00. Buggy breastQtr $220.00 Pony $140.00. Catalogue - St PaulSaddlery, 953 W 7th St., St Paul, MN 551021209 Master Saddler offers complete saddlery repairs.Trees replaced, complete reflocks, new seats,billets, tree alterations on Kieffer and Prestigesaddles. Appointments booked for quick turnaround. Skilled repair of driving harness andsidesaddles. Custom accessories for side saddle competition. Bridles sewn in. Contact Michael 847-776-6700 or email master_saddler@saddlersrow.com Website www.saddlersrow.com 1209 HORSES FOR SALE Here is your chance to have a horse owned and trained by Ken McNabb! You may have seen Flash on TV! He is a STUNNING 16.1 hand, sorrel overo 7 y old gelding. Sonny Dee Bar and the Intimidator on his papers. He is a rock solid trail horse and very gentle. Purchased at Ken's gelding sale last summer..so was recently with Ken. You will be the talk of the trails! $4800. Pony, brown and white, 7 year old gelding. Gentle for anyone to ride. Also, Pony or horse cart. Phone- 952-467-9603 1109
34 November 2009
Athletic, Flashy 8 YO TB Gelding, 16.1H beautiful gaits, upper level eventing potential. $12,000. SE Wisc. - 847/924-9089.
100 yr. Old coal wagon. Priced reasonably. 815/528-0259. REAL ESTATE Bristol, WI - 8/10 of a mile from Illinois state line. 5 acre homesite. 60 x 120 pole barn, 11 stalls, new fencing, mature trees, pond. $375,000. 847/951-0670.
2008 Drum Horse Filly – English or Dressage prospect. Beautiful thick body and loves people. 269/944-3459. Foundation AQHA horses, mares, geldings and yearlings. King, Driftwood and Gunsmoke breeding. Bays, Grays and Duns. 608-526-3970 or(cell) 608-792-3519 11/09
Southern WI Horse Property. 6.38 Acre Country Home, Horse/Hobby Newer 6 stall pole barn, auto waterers, heated tack room, 80 X 150 outdoor sand arena, and three fenced pastures allwith Centaur Fencing! Blooming tree arbor leads to private stream and woods with paths! Beautiful 2105 sq. ft., 2/3 bedroom, 3 bath home, gleaming hardwood, vaulted living room with brick fireplace and 1st floor laundry. $369,900. See: www.WIHomes.com, MLS 1546170 for pictures. Call/email for more info.: AsiaVoight@aol.com, 608-225-1925.
Andalusion/Quarter Horse - 4 year old, Black Bay Gelding, 30 days training, pleasure & trail ridingso far, very athletic, excellent disposition. IALHA registered 605-272-5623 or rlr@itctel.com 11/09 Andalusian/Quarter Horse - 2 yr. old bay filly & yearling black bay colt, very athletic, excellent disposition, lead, trailer, load, stand for farrier, eligible for IAHLA registry. 605-272-5623 rlr@itctel.com 11/09
Hartford, WI – 7.25 AC, 4 BR Renovated Farmhouse, 40x70 barn w/4 box stalls, 72x180 indoor riding arena, grass & dry paddocks, 3 outdoor shelters, meticulously maintained home & facility. $379,000. 262/673-2661.
2007 Bay Overo English Prospect, started under saddle and still in training. Good looking, big bodied, nice stride, good minded and great manners.15.2 and still growing. Asking $9500. 815/238-8462. For Sale: 16 Yr. Buckskin Paint Gelding. Needs experienced rider. 815/943-7031 evenings. Appaloosa Reg. Mares. 3 Yr+ Gentle, pretty, friendly. Will be great under saddle. Reasonably priced. 815/814-1803.
STALLIONS Dakota Gambler Rare Black and White Pintabian At Stud: Proven 99.6% Purebred Arabian. Athletic, Correct, Beauty, Elegance, Kind disposition with awesome movement. Registration Numbers: 320-283-5933, spruchlo@gctel.com
Looking for Good Home for Loveable Chestnut gelding. No fee for right person. 312/307-9411. Black Stallion TB & Paint 16 Hds, 3 Yrs. TB Mare,12 yrs, 16.3 Grdaughter Mr. Prospector.
Pure Friesian "ROEK" 2nd Premie Stallion. ROEK has a great pedigree, to match his great intelligence, temperament, and CHARISMA. 218-780-7064, dr.horseslave@yahoo.com.
CLASSIFIEDS WORK! $10.00 per month for 20 words, $.15 for each word over 20. Send your classified in with your check or credit card to: Midwest Horse Digest, Attention: Peg (classified) 40694 30th Street, Elmore, MN 56027 or call 507-943-3355 Name:______________________________________ 20 Words = $10.00 Address:____________________________________ # Extra Words ___x $.15 = ______ City:________________________St:_____Zip:_________ Sub-Total: ______ Credit Card#____________________________________ # of months to Run x: ______ Type:________Exp. Date:_________3 Digit Code:______ Total: ______ Phone:_______________Email:______________________ Number of Months to Run:______
AD Category:_________________ Classfied:_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
MIDWEST HORSE DIGEST
November 2009 35