January 2017 Horses Magazine

INSIDE

Boots & Saddle 4H Horse Show Ingham County Fairgrounds Michigan

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Publisher Jim Hargrove Editor John Hawfield Advertising Sales Kristina Goulet and Colt Williams

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• Horses Magazine has no liability for content, representations in advertisements, and articles may not express the opinion of the editors/publishers/owners. It is the buyer’s sole responsibility to clarify any and all advertising representations.

We cannot be held responsible for any representations concerning a horse’s health, eye status, disposition, gait or any other aspect of the horse. Any burden of proof rests solely on the advertisers.

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• Horses Magazine is published twelve times a year by Jim Hargrove Creative, Inc., 2730 Lansing Rd., Bancroft, MI 48414

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Horses Calendar

Would you like your event included in the next Horses Magazine and on our web site for no charge? Just send your information to jim@ horsesmagazine.com

Saturday, February 11, 2017 7:00pm Alltech Arena Bulls, Bands, & Barrels Saturday, January 14, 2017 - 8:00am to 6:00pm SNOWBIRD DRESSAGE Kentucky Horse Park Covered Arena Snowbird Dressage is a Kentucky Dressage Association sanctioned Dressage show. For more information on Snowbird Dressage, please visit http://www.snowbirddressage. com. It is still possible to sign up for the Snowbird Team Challenge this season. Teams of at least 3 participants, from barns or colleges, can earn points in 2 of the 5 shows this season to win. Contact Julie Congleton at julie@ heronwoodfarmky.com to register.

The BBB will be in Lexington, KY for one night only on February, 11 2017 at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. The BBB has taken the rodeo world and turned it upside down with its new entertainment concept. There will be some of the rankest bulls and bull riders in the southeast, as well as some of the fastest equine to ever go around a three barrel pattern. To top it off, Sundy Best and Carter Winter will finish the night off with a bang with some great country music. This will be the one you don’t want to miss!!

Bull riding is considered a standard rodeo event for a variety of organizations. The event developed strictly as a contest, as opposed to other standard rodeo events which evolved out of the necessary skills of a working cowboy. Bull riding makes up part of the rodeo’s rough stock events.

Barrel racing is one of the most unique events in the rodeo world. While cowboys are riding

Since shedules can change, be sure to confirm the event’s date, time and location before you travel!

spinning bulls, cowgirls are charging through the gate in a race against the clock. Barrel racing truly is one of the fastest events in rodeo.

Tickets for adults are $20/adult, and tickets for kids are $12/kid. General seating.

March 23-26, 2017 Road to the Horse 2017 The World Championship of Colt Starting Sponsored by Horses Magazine Kentucky Horse Park Alltech Arena. Don’t miss the thrill and excitement of Road To The Horse in 2017. Sarah Dawson, Barbara Cox and Rachelle Valentine have been named as the first three competitors in the 2017 World Championship of Colt Starting.

2017 Tickets NOW Available Call 1-877-772-5425 or order on their web site www.roadtothehorse.com

To add your event to the Horses Magazine Calendar for FREE just email jim@horsesmagazine.com with your details

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Equine Heath & Wellness

Adjusting for Winter Nutrition For some of us, winter has already arrived.

For others, it’s just beginning in earnest. For all of us, the horse is facing some challenges.

Horses actually tolerate and enjoy the cold a lot more than most of us do. Their neutral temperature, with no energy expended to either keep warm or cool off, is in the 40s Fahrenheit – the same as your refrigerator.

However, a number of health conditions made worse by the winter environment may dictate the need for supplementation not required in summer months. A few nutritional tweaks can pay off in weight maintenance, reduced colic risk, better hydration and hoof health.

Everyone’s chief concern is how much more food they need in winter. A common rule of thumb is increase amount fed by 1% for every 1 degree below 18° F. However, this assumes a good winter coat, no wind, horse doesn’t get wet, horse has a reasonable

amount of body fat and normal temperature regulation (older horses often fail the last two). Hay is preferred because it is fermented in the hind gut which generates heat.

Unless the horse is insulin resistant and will overeat, an excellent solution is to just provide free choice hay. If the horse has a safe place to eat protected from the elements and competition from other horses he will eat what he needs. If additional calories are still required you have to go to more concentrated sources. My preference is for a 75:25 mix (by weight) of beet pulp and wheat bran as a mash. This is primarily fermented so you still get the benefit of the heat of fermentation. An added plus is the extra water you can get into them this way.

In winter, some horses tend to have difficulty holding a good body weight. Healthy fats can help hold weight and condition, as

well as help maintain a glossy coat and strong solid hooves. In winter, they are perfect for providing cool calories in a palatable energy source. If you are already feeding a concentrate with free choice hay and don’t want to add a lot more volume, 5 oz of a healthy fatty acid will be equivalent to a pound of oats.

Speaking of water, the horse may have a higher requirement in the winter even if not sweating because the moisture content of the diet is extremely low compared to grass. The combination of less exercise and not enough water intake is a high risk scenario for impaction. Horses prefer warm water and intake will drop if it’s cold. Use heated or insulated water buckets or troughs. An inexpensive electric heating coil that can boil water can be used to serve comfortably warm water in buckets or add hot water to troughs.

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adequate water consumption. Even in winter the average horse needs at least 1 oz/day. If the horse takes more than 8 to 9 weeks to go through a 4 pound salt block you need to be adding it to meals.

Supplements to suit winter needs Your horse needs a vitamin and mineral supplement matched to your hay. This isn’t something you want to skimp on just because the horse is not working as much. These are the nuts and bolts that keep the immune system healthy and literally every cell functioning.

Make sure your horse is hydrated Electrolytes aren’t just for sweating horses.

They are for every day, all year. There are baseline requirements present all year for Sodium, Potassium and Chloride. Failure to meet them easily leads to inadequate water consumption and a chronic tissue dehydration which can result in the most common type of cold weather colic – impaction. Electrolytes keep the horse drinking well and support normal intestinal function.

When cabin fever sets in If your horse spends considerable time in the barn or faces long periods of confinement 2017.pdf 9 1/4/17 12:26 PM due to weather, you have some special considerations. Being stall bound is difficult for

some horses leading to nervousness and undesirable behaviors like weaving, stall walking and wood chewing. This is a perfect time for herbal and nutritional calming alternatives.

Support the respiratory system A barn that is closed up tightly to keep out the cold and wind can be warm and cozy but very hard on the respiratory tract. Ammonia from bacterial break down as well as mold spores and small particles from hay and straw combine to irritate the tissues and set the stage for chronic lung conditions. Stale air in close quarters also concentrates viruses, which have a much easier time setting up house in irritated lungs. Targeted vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients like Spirulina, Jiaogolan, Gynostemma that support balanced immune responses will help.

Protect Hoofs Frozen, uneven ground or wet, muddy conditions may mean your horse’s feet need more attention. The hoof wall contains a specialized form of the same protein found in skin, which is keratin. Key nutrients for the hoof are also the same as those for skin. These include the B Vitamin Biotin and Pyridoxine and the essential amino acids L-Lysine and L-Methionine. Fat plays a pivotal role in the protective barriers in skin and hoof and especially Cop-

per and Zinc, are key to structural integrity and resistance to infections.

Taking care of horses in the winter does not have to be overly complicated. Understanding how cold weather affects dietary needs combined with daily observation and good management practices can ensure that your horse is adequately prepared to get through the winter months with ease.

About Dr. Kellon Dr. Eleanor Kellon, staff veterinary specialist for Uckele Health & Nutrition, is an established authority in the field of equine nutrition for over 30 years, and a founding member and leader of the Equine Cushings and Insulin Resistance (ECIR) group, whose mission is to improve the welfare of horses with metabolic disorders via integration of research and reallife clinical experience. Prevention of laminitis is the ultimate goal. www.ecirhorse.org Uckele Health & Nutrition is an innovationdriven health company committed to being on the leading edge of nutritional science and technology for over 50 years. Uckele takes pride in formulating and manufacturing a full spectrum of quality nutritional supplements incorporating the latest nutritional advances for equine athletes and companion animals to help achieve optimal health. www.uckele.com

STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-12: TAKE THE REINS AND JOIN THE IEA

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“Team spirit and confidence! This has been a wonderful experience for all of us. Highly Recommended!”

-Parent, Westborough, MA

“As a coach I feel incredibly lucky to work with an organization that offers young equestrians so many opportunities! Our riders have developed such a strong sense of sportsmanship and horsemanship because of the ideologies and practices of the IEA! -Coach, Chatham, VA

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Riders in grades 6-12 can compete with teams in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA). School-age equestrians, with various levels of experience, compete in Hunt Seat and Western disciplines throughout the school year. Riders not only compete for individual points, but for their team as well.

Founded in 2002, the IEA has more than 13,500 riders on over 1,500 teams competing in hundreds of shows across the United States each year.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Eaton, IEA Membership Coordinator, at 877-RIDE-IEA (877-743-3432) or Jenn@rideiea.org.

It’s fun and challenging – and there is no need for any rider to own a horse! The IEA is available to public or private schools and barn teams.

Horses are provided to each rider at every event. All mounts are selected by a draw.

Parents like that the IEA provides an affordable format for their child as he/she builds riding skills.

Many of our riders receive scholarships based on their performance throughout their IEA years.

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EACH SWIFT, SURE STRIDE BEGINS WITH A SOUND FOUNDATION.

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To find out more, visit fairmountsantrol.com/sports-recreation.

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Kristina Goulet

Riding with a Tra An Amateurs Guide to Get the Most Out of Your Sessions

By Kristina Goulet Last month we talked about setting Riding Goals in the form of a New Year’s Resolution. The theory being that because it has to do with riding, we may all just stick to this one! I’d like to expand on that for this month keeping on the theme of Riding Goals.

One of the biggest keys for me in this endeavor is the help and support of my trainer and coach. I started last season doing a “new to me” discipline, reining, on a “new to me” horse that herself, had limited show experience. When I look back at the progress my horse and I made over the course of the season (#6 from last month’s steps, “Reflect On How Far You Have Come”), I think about the fact that I could not have improved as much as I did without the guidance of my coach.

Now, I fancy myself as a decent rider. I’ve always done fairly well showing through the years and have improved with limited or parttime coaching in my past events, but I have never progressed as rapidly as I did this year with consistent and steady weekly coaching. While I know that simple time in the saddle is priceless really when it comes to honing our craft, and lessons from any trainer can be valuable, I feel that what truly made the difference for me this year is that my coach and I are on the same page in terms of what our goals are. Noticed I said OUR goals.

I talked about goals in last month’s article and how important they are while striding for success, but I didn’t go into detail on how I came about them. My trainer and I click really well. He knows me, he knows my short-comings and he knows my strengths. He knows when I’m too frustrated to be pushed and he knows when I’m being lazy. These are all wonderful in themselves, but what makes our partnership feel so good, is that we share the same #1 goal; Make Kristina a better rider.

Sounds simple doesn’t it. While it is simple, it’s really important that we both understand the deal and can structure our goal path accordingly. It may be a slow and steady race, but with the same goals in mind, I know we will get there. I know that every lesson, every exercise, every mistake, every achievement is working towards OUR goal.

On the contrary, if my trainer and I didn’t talk about goals and didn’t make a strategic plan, things may have gone quite a bit different. If my goal was to be a better rider, but my trainer thought I was just focused on the ribbons, I probably would have had to find a different horse, because while talented she’s just not quite there yet. Or vice versa, if my trainer thought I needed to improve my skills, but I was focused on winning, I would be really frustrated at the slow progress in the show pen and would probably be looking for a different coach, unnecessarily, just because the communication was poor or even non-existent.

The fact that we have talked about the goals and are on the same page means that although there will be frustration, we are riding horses after all, at least the frustration is not tension between each other. Now we can focus on the task at hand and set the #1 main goal into motion by breaking it down into meaningful, achievable and timely steps.

The best part about all of this is that in the end, success in the show pen will come. Almost as a secondary beneficial side effect from all of the hard work put in, “Making Kristina a better rider”. The coolest thing happened today, at the start of my lesson this morning my trainer said to me, “Hey I was looking at our goals before coming to the barn and it looks like we are right on track for where we are time wise coming into the season”. That simple statement made me feel great, got our lesson off to a good start and reassured me that I was in the right place with the right coach and most importantly, we were on the same page!

Every rider can benefit from goals, not just riders who show. I urge every one of you who ride with someone, even if it’s a riding buddy, a family member, anyone; share your goals with them. Talk about how to break them down, set those milestones. You will be surprised at how much of a difference it makes over time and how fast you can achieve those goals with a little encouragement.

See you next month for more of the Amateur’s Guide!

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Lynn Palm

How to Put Your Horse in Balance Through Proper Bending Part 2

In our last Palm Partnership Training Tips, “How to Put Your Horse in Balance Through Proper Bending – Part 1”, I described what a correct bend of your horse’s body is, and the aids sequence used to ask your horse to bend correctly. Hopefully this has helped explain how essential accurate bending is to your horse’s balance, and you have been able to ride with more control and enjoyment!

In this article, I will review the key points, continued by an exercise to help train your horse to bend correctly! You will find that I am reviewing a lot from Part 1; however, controlling your horse’s balance is a very important step in your riding skills. With your horse’s performance, it is crucial that he is balanced in self-carriage while riding on a curve at any gait. This training will help improve problems you may encounter controlling your horse on any curve or turn.

Review of Bending When a horse has a proper bend in his body, his entire body is bent from the poll to the dock, not just the head and neck. When a horse is balanced, he will have this proper bend and will be relaxed, easier to steer, and will maintain the same speed. Therefore, the relationship

between bending and balance is: No bend = No balance Bend=Balance Bending Aids Sequence First, the active aids are used to achieve the correct bend and balance. The inside leg is used to bend the horse’s body; while an inside open or INDIRECT (neck rein) is used to flex the horse’s head in the direction of travel.

Secondly, the supporting aids are applied. The outside leg keeps the horse’s hips from swinging out, and the outside rein against the neck (INDIRECT OR NECK REIN) keeps the shoulder from going out. This indirect rein prevents the head from flexing too far inward and also keeps the neck from bending.

Remember, as you are bending your horse, you have to ask him to turn! Your outside, supporting aids are always your TURNING aids as your horse moves away from the pressure of your outside leg and rein

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aid. Don’t forget to support your horse’s bend with your inside leg and rein as you turn with your outside aids. This is how you will achieve correct riding on a curve. Your horse will respond with lightness and smoothness while turning and he will be more willing to turn because he is balanced.

Exercise #1

sure your horse stays forward at this gait. I suggest working at an extended walk, which always helps controlling your horse’s body position.

Also, let the cones be a great guideline to keep your eyes looking ahead to the next quarter of the circle. You will learn to feel more clearly how you are executing your aids and how your horse is responding to them.

Using Your Aids

This first exercise is an excellent one to practice on your own at home. You will need eight pairs of cones to use as a visual for a circle.

The cones in each pair should be set 6’ apart, with one cone placed in the middle of the circle. The diameter of the circle should be 70’ maximum. Here’s any easy tip to measure the circle without a tape measure: Start at the middle cone and walk large steps. Go 12 large steps and place a cone (approximately 36’) then walk two large steps and place a second cone (approximately 6’). This is your first quarter of the circle. Continue with the other three quarters of the circle. Finally, make sure your quarter lines up with the quarter on the opposing side of the circle.

The goal of this exercise is to ride the curve of the circle consistently while maintaining the proper bend as described above. Keep your horse on the track of the circle. You must keep looking ahead and staying directly in the middle of each pair of cones. Let’s begin to the right at the walk to first get the feel of what you are asking for from your horse. At the walk, you have time to feel what you are doing, but make

Use your active, inside aids to bend the body. The right leg behind the girth will curve the body slightly in a right bend, while the open rein will flex the head inward. If your horse wants to move or turn inward with the open rein, then use an indirect or neck rein to ask the horse to flex the head inward, just enough so you see the right eye. The indirect rein against the neck of your horse will naturally encourage your horse to yield to the pressure and move outward with the assistance of your right leg aid. If you pull back with your rein instead of the rein action moving sideways, you will feel tension in your inside rein. Because of this, there will not be a bend of the neck; thus, your horse will resist and not stay on the center track.

Using your active aids will be followed by using your outside aids to support the bend. Your left leg will be slightly further back than your right, to keep the hips slightly inward and create a bend from the withers to the tail, and your left rein will prevent the shoulders from going out or the head from turning too much to the inside.

Once the correct bend and balance is achieved at the walk, move to the trot. If your horse is wiggly on the circle, go to the trot and then back to the walk. Control the bend through the upward or downward transitions. If you can stay on the middle track of this exercise, you are controlling the correct bend at all times! Your horse will be easy to steer, will be relaxed, and will be able to maintain a consistent speed through this exercise. When you are ready to change directions to the left, the same aids sequence will apply to the left. The inside (left) leg and rein aid are the bending aids, and the outside (right) leg and rein aids support the bend.

To change directions, change through the middle of any quarter of the circle, and change to the opposite side of the circle. If you make sure you have time to get your horse straight and stay close to the center cone of the circle, your change of direction will be balanced!

Continue this exercise to the left.

Helpful Hint Remember not to do more than three circles in each direction because your horse can become bored with drilling circle work. After you complete two sets of circles in each direction, go practice something else and then return to the exercise, or leave it alone for the day’s training if you were pleased with the performance. This particular exercise is very good to do three or four times a week until you condition your horse to be strong with his bending and balance in each direction.

Don’t forget that all horses have an easy side and a hard side. Work more on the hard side to get them as equal as possible. By suppling and strengthening muscle, you will achieve evenness and a strong balance for your horse!

Key Point from these Exercises Remember that to achieve a proper bend and balance from your horse in figures like these on a curve, both legs and both hands must be active every stride! Your horse will truly love these consistent guidelines to stay balanced! Have fun!

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Boots & Saddle 4H Horse Show Ingham County Fairgrounds Michigan

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Boots & Saddle 4H Horse Show Ingham County Fairgrounds Michigan

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Test Your Horsemanship at Equine Affaire’s Versatile Horse & Rider Competition this April Applications are now being accepted for Equine Affaire’s popular Versatile Horse & Rider Competition that will take place in the afternoon on Friday, April 7th, in the coliseum at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. A select group of horse and rider teams will tackle a challenging obstacle/ trail course in this timed and judged race in pursuit of $5500 in cash and the coveted title of Champion at the 2017 Versatile Horse & Rider Competition.

based on the rider’s horsemanship, the horse’s attitude, and the team’s overall performance.

Horses and riders will be required to complete the course within a given time. Any contestant who fails to meet this time limit will be disqualified. Ride times will be translated into

Win $5500 in cash and more! Cash prizes will be awarded to the top four contestants with the first place team receiving $2,500 and the title of Versatile Horse & Rider Competition Champion and the second, third, and fourth place teams receiving $1,750, $1,000, and $250 respectively. Ribbons will be presented to the top 10 teams, and additional awards will be announced prior to the event.

All awards will be presented at the conclusion of the race on Friday afternoon.

Who can compete. The Versatile Horse & Rider Competition—aka “VHRC”—is open to all riders age 18 years and older and horses of all breeds and disciplines. All horse and rider teams will compete against each other; there will be no “divisions” based on gender or age.

A maximum of only 25 horse/rider teams will be pre-selected based on application materials submitted.

The competition course. The VHRC course will feature a combination of traditional and very unique riding obstacles and patterns set in the 90’ x 212’ arena of the Ohio Expo Center coliseum. The obstacles may include jumping over or through structures, backing through a pattern, pole bending and/or roll backs, gait changes, various gymkhana games, ground tying, working gates, and riding over or through difficult or spooky objects.

How the competition will be judged. The horsemanship performance of each contestant will be judged on each obstacle. Performance points will be awarded on a scale of 1 to 5

points, and the team with the highest overall point score will be the winner.

“The Versatile Horse & Rider Competition is a challenging test of horsemanship for those who choose to put their skills to the test,“ explained Eugenia Snyder, the President of Equine Affaire. “The competition has been around for many years, and it attracts some pretty amazing contestants. Before the horses and riders can demonstrate their horsemanship, our production team has the increasingly difficult job of creating new obstacles and developing a course that is both difficult

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and doable---as well as suitable for different breeds and sizes of horses and riders of all disciplines,” Snyder explained.

Over the years the VHRC has become really popular for attendees because it’s fast-paced and unpredictable. You can’t be sure how any horse and rider team will perform until they’re on the course---and a lot of unexpected things happen. Riders in the audience empathize with the contestants as their horses succeed at some obstacles and fall short at others. They also learn a lot by watching the different approaches that outstanding horses and riders take in tackling the same obstacles. Admission to the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition is included in general admission to Equine Affaire—providing just one more reason to travel to the 2017 Equine Affaire in Columbus, OH. Are you and your horse ready to compete? To obtain all of the details on the VHRC and an entry form, visit equineaffaire. com, click on the Ohio event and “Participate” link to access the VHRC page. You may also contact Alison Scott at ascott@equineaffaire. com or by calling (740) 845-0085 ext. 105. The entry fee for each horse/ rider team is $350 and includes stabling on Thursday to Saturday and three single-day tickets to Equine Affaire. Applications and support materials will be accepted by Equine Affaire through February 15th. They will be reviewed by the management of Equine Affaire, which will select the final contestants for the competition and notify contestants by March 3rd.

Be sure to visit equineaffaire.com for everything you need to know to attend the 2017 Equine Affaire—North America’s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gathering-on April 6-9 including the clinic, seminar, and demo schedule; ticket information; and details on discounted rates at our host hotels.

SOME ARE LEADERS

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Visit TRIPLECROWNFEED.COM/COMPARE and discover the countless advantages of Triple Crown feeds today.

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Download and View FREE on-line at www.horsesmagazine.com • January 2017 • HORSES MAGAZINE • 21

Clinton Anderson

It’s Not a Race!

How to Slow a Speed Demon Down

Dealing with a horse that tries to race ahead of others is not only frustrating, but tiring. The first step to fixing your horse’s speed demon tendencies is to understand why he feels the need to get ahead of the other horses.

Horses, just like all prey animals, feel the safest in a herd. Prey animals rely on the safety in numbers concept – the more bodies there are the greater chance they have of surviving. And your horse knows that he can double his chances of survival if he’s at the front of the herd. When predators attack, they go after the slowest horses. No one wants to be the last horse trailing the group because he’s the lions’ first meal.

While no amount of training can completely wipe away your horse’s prey animal tendencies, you can teach him to use the thinking side of his brain, relax and trust you when he feels threatened.

What Not To Do The biggest mistake you can make with a horse that’s using the reactive side of his brain and trying to race ahead is to pull back on the reins and say, “Don’t race!” It’d be like pulling back on a race horse; the more you say, “Don’t go! Don’t go!” the more he’s going to want to go and the faster and faster he’ll get. Instead, whenever you run into trouble with your horse and he overreacts, always use one rein to regain control. That could mean doing a One Rein Stop or using one rein at a time to move the horse’s feet by bending him in circles or serpentines, doing rollbacks, etc. When you pull on two reins, it’s easy for the horse to get leverage by lifting his head and neck up and pushing against the rein pressure. With just one rein, you can make the horse bend his head and neck laterally, causing him to yield his hindquarters. By disengaging his hindquarters, you can stop his forward motion or redirect his energy in circles or in a series of serpentines.

Fix the Problem at Home If you know your horse has a tendency to turn a leisurely trail ride into an all-out race, then set the situation up at home so you can safely correct him before

taking him out on the trail. Horses that grab the bit and charge ahead of the group are not only dangerous to themselves, but everyone else on the trail.

A Test of Control Find a controlled environment like an arena or a large pasture and enlist the help of a friend on horseback. Start at the walk and ride side by side, about 15 feet apart. Keep both horses on a loose rein and dare them to race ahead. If at any time either horse speeds up, immediately pick up on one rein and turn the horses toward one another and head back the other way.

When you turn your horse, do so with urgency so that he has to hustle his feet. If you just let him turn lazily, he’s not going to connect racing ahead with stopping his forward motion and having to redirect his energy.

When you’re headed in the new direction, be sure to put the horse back on a loose rein and dare him to make a mistake again. In order for the horse to learn, he has to commit to the mistake. If you try to babysit him and keep him from speeding up, he’ll never get any better and you’ll always have to watch over him.

With repetition, the horse will realize that when another horse comes up beside him, it’s not a race, and he better keep his attention on you because at any second you might change directions and go back the other way. And if he does speed up, he’ll quickly realize that it doesn’t matter because you’ll make him turn and go the other way. The hotter and more nervous your horse is, the shorter the distance will be between turns initially. Eventually, he’ll be able to walk next to the other horse on a loose rein without ever speeding up.

Practice the same steps at the trot and then the canter. It shouldn’t matter what gait the horse is in, he should remain at the speed you set him at and not race ahead.

Take it a Step Further Walk your horse forward on a loose rein and have your friend approach from behind on their horse and pass you at the trot. If your horse tries to race and catch up, pick up on one rein and bend him in a circle in one

22 • HORSES MAGAZINE • January 2017 • Download and View FREE on-line at www.horsesmagazine.com

direction and then the other to get control of his feet. When he’s calm and has his attention on you, then walk him ahead on a loose rein and dare him to make a mistake as your friend approaches again.

Once your horse will walk calmly while the other horse passes at a trot, do the same exercise while the other horse canters past.

Don’t be surprised if your horse was fine with the other horse trotting but gets excitable and tries to speed up when the other horse canters past. Anytime he speeds up, bend him around to redirect his energy. Soon, your horse won’t care if another horse passes him because he knows that if he speeds up, it just means more work.

Riding in a Group When your horse remains calm riding with one other horse, test him with a group of horses.

Keep in mind that while your horse may have been calm riding with just one other horse, oftentimes the more horses you get together, the more the tendency to speed up occurs. Get a group of four or five other riders together and ride out in an open area in a single file with plenty of space between each horse. Keep your horse at the back of the group on a loose rein and dare him to race ahead. As soon as he starts to speed up, trot or canter him to the front of the group, weaving in and out of the other horses.

When you reach the front, circle him around the first horse a few times, really hustling his feet.

Then weave in and out of the other horses all the way to the back of the group. Once you’re back in position, relax to a walk and put your horse on a loose rein and dare him to speed up again.

With repetition he’ll start to figure out that being in the back is far less work because every time he wants to go faster to pass the other horses, you put his feet to work.

You’re also using a little bit of reverse psychology. When your horse decides he wants to race ahead, instead of pulling back on the reins and saying, “Don’t speed up,” you’re saying, “You want to speed up? That’s great. Let’s go to the front of the group, but you’re really going to have to hustle your feet to get there, and once we get there, you’re going to have to work even harder.”

Remember, horses are basically lazy creatures and the worst punishment you can give them is putting their feet to work.

and practice the exercises with your horse, you’ll have him calmly moving down the trail on a loose rein.

Author note: Clinton Anderson is a clinician, horse trainer and competitor. He’s dedicated his life to helping others realize their horsemanship dreams and keeping them inspired to achieve their goals. The Downunder Horsemanship Method gives horse owners the knowledge needed to become skilled horsemen and train their horses to be consistent and willing partners. Discover for yourself how Clinton and the Method can help you achieve your horsemanship dreams at www.downunderhorsemanship.com.

Be thorough and consistent in your training.

Bait the horse and dare him to make a mistake.

When he does, let him commit to it – and then take steps to fix it. If you follow these guidelines

Download and View FREE on-line at www.horsesmagazine.com • January 2017 • HORSES MAGAZINE • 23

24 • HORSES MAGAZINE • January 2017 • Download and View FREE on-line at www.horsesmagazine.com

Road to the Horse 2017 Competitor Vicki Wilson: Riding to the Beat of a Different Drumer Call her a dreamer, but for the last decade Road to the Horse Owner/Producer Tootie Bland has working to bring about two completely different worlds together. From the outside their differences are diverse, yet one thing remains true, whether you’re starting a quarter horse for the reining futurity, or a warmblood for the jumping pen, starting a young horse is all about creating a solid and trusting foundation. It’s not about being English or Western, it’s about starting a young horse with love and kindness. It’s about setting each horse up for success, regardless of their projected path. In a long enduring search, Bland’s ‘never give up or give in’ attitude landed her a rock star, an international showjumper, clinician, TV celebrity, author, cowgirl and New Zealand native by the name of Ms. Vicki Wilson.

“It took a little longer and was a bit tougher than planned but the dream of English joins Western on one common ground, in one arena for the betterment of all horses is finally here” states Road to the Horse Owner/ Producer Tootie Bland.

“Dynamite does come in small packages and Vicki Wilson is one firecracker of a horsewoman that who light up Road to the Horse this year with her own style of colt starting and a world class trust between her and her horses, who leap bareback over 7 foot walls of terror! Even Road to the Horse has outdone itself in the Celebration of the Cowgirl this year!”

In the greatest gathering of crème de la crème of cowgirls to ever share the dirt at Road to the Horse, we welcome not only our very first New Zealand competitor but our first English equestrian, who will gather her jodhpurs and helmet, and embark on an international trek to Lexington, KY, to chase a World Championship of Colt Starting title.

Vicki Wilson will join fellow competitors Kate Neubert, Sarah Winters Dawson and Rachelle Valentine in the race for the 2017 World Championship of Colt Starting.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to be invited to compete at Road to the Horse

in 2017! It’s such a unique and prestigious event, I’m humbled to be involved” states New Zealand native Vicki Wilson. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to share my methods of starting horses under saddle, on the other side of the world!”

Vicki Wilson has always had a passion for riding and started her career in an unorthodox fashion at 3 years old, riding and training the family sheep. A few decades on, Vicki is one of New Zealand’s most successful and well-respected show jump riders, being known for her

competitive edge and her ability to produce happy horses. She has won countless classes at the highest levels, right through to World Cup, and has consistently been in the winner’s circle since she won her first national title in 2004. At Horse of the Year, Vicki has won the Lowry Medallion five times and the Nationwide Cup nine times - more than any other rider in history. She has represented New Zealand in the winning Trans-Tasman Young Rider team three times and has ridden under the New Zealand flag in Europe, with many wins and placings.

Well regarded for her versatility, Vicki has won many national titles across the Show Jumping, Show Hunter and Showing disciplines, while creating a name for herself in the Southern Hemisphere through bareback and bridle-less demonstrations and jumping displays. Vicki amazed crowds in 2011 jumping a 6ft puissance wall bareback, in 2012 she

jumped a car and in 2013 another horse.

Outside of the competition arena, Vicki is one of the country’s top horse trainers. Her specialties lie with fixing problem horses, the domestication of wild horses and colt starting, having started hundreds of horses over the last twenty years. She has a strong philosophy based on producing happy horses who love their work, and takes a holistic approach to horse welfare.

Over the years, she has developed a reputation for successfully rehabilitating sore and difficult horses, having learnt that horses generally only show negative behavior as a reaction to pain or fear, and aims to foster confidence; working to find solutions rather than punishing symptoms.

Since 2012, alongside her sisters Kelly and Amanda, Vicki has become widely known for her work with wild horses, having tamed and advocated for the plight of New Zealand’s wild Kaimanawas, the American Mustangs and more recently the legendary Australian Brumbies. The Wilson Sisters made their reality television debut with their top-rated series Keeping up with the Kaimanawas, which has been followed by two documentaries and four best-selling books sharing their experiences working with horses around the globe. Learn more about Vicki Wilson at www.WilsonSisters.nz.

Road to the Horse 2017 tickets on sale now.

Sarah Winters Dawson, Kate Neubert and Rachelle Valentine have been announced as competitors at Road to the Horse 2017. Road to the Horse 2017 will return to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, on March 23-26, 2017. Road to the Horse 2017 tickets are available online at www.RoadtotheHorse.com or by calling 877-772-5425. Follow Road to the Horse on Facebook for the latest information.

Download and View FREE on-line at www.horsesmagazine.com • January 2017 • HORSES MAGAZINE • 25

Richard Winters

A Little More Leg worst you might

With Richard

get bucked off!

Winters

With an older

When I teach

horse that is

advancing clinics,

extremely

it’s centered on

bracy I can be

refinement, soft-

firmer with my

ness, collection and

cues and get

performance. To

his attention.

obtain these goals, I

The principle

encourage par-

of being firm

ticipants to begin

as necessary

using their legs in

yet gentle as

conjunction with

possible always

their hands to create

holds true.

added softness and

When incor-

responsiveness in their horse’s body.

porating your

If you are only using

legs, you are

your hands, there

also encourag-

is a tendency for

ing your horse’s

horses to get stiff

back or top-line

and bracy. Eventually you can run

to come up. A

Your spur should press and release, poke.

hollow backed horse is not

out of brakes! It’s then we resort to a

legs will start to have some meaning as they work

harsher or severe bit in hopes of regaining the

in conjunction with your hands.

suppleness that we once had with our horse.

Your legs might be an untapped resource that can help create the feel that you are looking for with your equine partner.

Here’s a simple way to get started. Pick up on

By incorporating your legs, it will lessen the need to pull harder on the reins to develop the desired response. Using this method can lighten a horse that moves backwards with sluggishness and resistance. The movement that should be

the reins as if you were going to begin to back

used with your spurs is not poking or jabbing.

up. Now press with your heel, or spur, until your

Rather, it is a press and release technique. Pok-

horse takes some type of backward step. Don’t

ing and jabbing at your horse’s belly will likely

pull harder on the reins. Simply block forward

cause negative reactions and crankiness rather

movement. It is possible your horse will be con-

than the response that you are hoping to obtain.

fused at first. Set it up and wait. When you get some kind of movement in the reverse direction, release. As one horseman put it, “Put them in a bind and then show them a way out.” Now your

With a young or green horse, I will be very smooth and gentle with these cues. If you begin with extreme intensity with your spurs, at best you’re going to scare and confuse your horse. At

26 • HORSES MAGAZINE • January 2017 • Download and View FREE on-line at www.horsesmagazine.com

in an athletic frame and is not prepared for any kind of performance. A horse’s back must come up to attain good posture and be in a position to perform higher-level maneuvers. You are also likely to experience the added benefit of a horse getting softer in his face. As the back comes up and his feet free up with impulsion, your horse will have a tendency to break at the pole and be in a more collected frame.

If we communicate clearly and consistently, our horses have the ability to separate and distinguish between even the most similar subtle cues. Just like learning to speak English, some words sound a lot like other words. However, as we get more understanding about the language,

g Incorporating your legs along with your hands in the back-up creates asofter and energetic response.

we begin to separate their meaning in the context in which they are used. We all use our legs to ask our horse to go forward. Yet, we can also use our legs to ask them to back up. Much of the differentiation comes from the shift in your body weight. When going forward the life comes up and forward in your body. When you’re thinking about backing up, shift your weight back, rotating your pelvis down into your saddle.

More life, greater impulsion, vertical flexion and a soft feel in your horse’s face.

These are just a few of the benefits to be gained as you begin to incorporate your legs in these various maneuvers.

Using your leg will help your horse pick up their back and soften in the pole.

Download and View FREE on-line at www.horsesmagazine.com • January 2017 • HORSES MAGAZINE • 27

28 • HORSES MAGAZINE • January 2017 • Download and View FREE on-line at www.horsesmagazine.com

Do You Have A Question?

Equine Law Topics Setbacks” And Equine Fencing “Jane,” a horse owner found her dream property. The house was just her size. Never before was a horse stabled on the property, but there was a storage barn that, Jane thought, could easily be converted into a horse barn, and the surrounding land could be fenced for pasture. Jane bought the property. Soon after, she built a stall in the barn, set up fencing, and moved in her horse.

Within a few weeks, however, a serious problem occurred. Jane received a notice from the city ordering her to remove her pasture fencing because it violated the local zoning ordinance. That ordinance required fences to be set back a specific distance from the property line. Adding to the problem, once Jane read the ordinance, she discovered that compliance with it would reduce her pasture to the size of a dog run. Her plans for a stable on her property were doomed.

SETBACK AND FENCING ORDINANCES Local government ordinances and building codes often create requirements that prevent property owners from placing structures or fences from being located within a certain distance from a property line or another structure. These restrictions are commonly referred to as “setback ordinances.” Some municipal ordinances also limit types of fencing and fencing heights.

SUGGESTIONS TO AVOID PROBLEMS Anyone purchasing property with plans to build a horse facility would be wise to review the applicable zoning ordinances and restrictions BEFORE agreeing to make the purchase. In this example, Jane never checked any of them before purchasing the property.

People in Jane’s situation can apply for a variance seeking to allow the fencing, despite the law. There are no guarantees, however, that the municipality would approve. And although those who disagree with a municipality’s decision on a variance can file a lawsuit, the outcome is rarely certain. Careful, advance planning can make a difference.

What Stables and Owners Should Know About Resolving Past-Due Board Disputes If you’re a horse boarding stable, it’s a matter of time until you encounter a customer who falls behind on board payments. Here are some ideas for owners and stables.

BOARDER OPTIONS If you have fallen behind on your board payments, it may be time to take a serious look at whether you truly can afford horse ownership. Regardless of how you try to budget expenses, horse ownership brings unplanned expenses such as a sudden injury requiring emergency veterinary care. For those who believe they can still afford to own horses, here are a few ideas: Try to negotiate a payment schedule with the stable. Maybe the stable owner will give you extra time to pay off the past-due balance. When a stable allows these arrangements, particularly if the stable agrees to waive interest and late payment fees that the boarding contract might allow, all parties benefit from a written agreement. Caution: Boarders should insist on proof of every payment they make, such as cancelled checks or receipts.

Show good faith. Boarders who make no payments are almost certain to

prompt the stable to seek drastic legal action. Boarders who try to make a stream of payments, by comparison, might encourage the stable owner to be patient.

Working off the debt. Some boarders arrange to work off some or all of their board fees by doing barn chores, such as cleaning stalls. Caution: Stables should consider very carefully whether these arrangements generate extra liability risks. Consult first with an attorney and insurer to determine whether you are properly protected.

Use the horse in lessons. Other stables, with the boarder’s consent, use the boarder’s horse in their riding lesson program to offset board fees.

Caution: Everyone should make sure they are properly protected against possible liability risks.

STABLE OPTIONS When dealing with non-paying boarders, stables have several options.

The more drastic options allowed by law include the following: Sue the boarder. The stable can sue the boarder to collect unpaid boarding fees. Depending on the terms of the boarding contract and the applicable state law, the stable might also be entitled to recover interest, attorney fees, and court costs. If the stable wins a judgment, the law might allow it to enforce the judgment by eventually selling off the boarded horse.

Since judgment creditor laws can be complicated, stables should consult with counsel.

Stablemen’s lien proceedings. As this blog has explained in previous posts here, and here, most states have laws designed to allow stables certain lien rights when boarders fall behind on payments. Caution: All of these laws differ. Before attempting to sell off a boarded horse, stables are cautioned to follow the applicable law to the letter.

Parting ways. Some stables would rather ask non-paying boarders to leave soon rather than allow the unpaid board debt to grow. Afterwards, stables can consider whether to sue to collect the unpaid balance. Caution: Stables that allow the horse to leave the property could lose their stablemen’s lien rights, depending on the state law.

Julie Fershtman is one of the nation’s most experienced Equine Law practitioners. A Shareholder with the firm Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC, based in Michigan, she has successfully tried equine cases before juries in 4 states. She has also drafted hundreds of equine industry contracts. She is a Fellow and officer of the American College of Equine Attorneys. Her speaking engagements on Equine Law span 28 states, and she is the author of three books on equine law issues. For more information, please visit www.fershtmanlaw. com, www.equinelawblog.com, and www.equinelaw.net.

Download and View FREE on-line at www.horsesmagazine.com • January 2017 • HORSES MAGAZINE • 29

You Can

Ride With The Best in a Clinic at Equine Affaire Extraordinary shopping opportunities, dozens

sessions in the western disciplines will include

Clinic fees and how to apply. The modest

of breeds of horses from around the world, the

Dick Pieper (reining), Chad Crider (barrel rac-

clinic fees for Equine Affaire’s “Ride With The

best in equine entertainment, and an unparal-

ing), Lynn Palm (western dressage), and Tony

Best” program range from $75 for a single clinic

leled program of clinics, seminars, and dem-

Kennedy (cutting). Those confirmed to conduct

to $350 for the multi-session “Foundation First”

onstrations on a wide range of disciplines and

clinics on English disciplines will include John

clinics and include clinic participation, stabling,

equine-related topics. Where else but Equine

Pearce (jumping), Matt McLauglin (dressage),

and admission to Equine Affaire. Clinicians will

Affaire, North America’s premiere equine exposi-

and Casi Gilliam (hunter under saddle). Anita

select the participants for their sessions from

tion and equestrian gathering?

Howe will also be on hand to present sessions

written applications and videos submitted by applicants to Equine Affaire.

The cornerstone of every

Full clinic details and a “Ride

Equine Affaire is education—and for avid horse people than can

With The Best” application are

mean the opportunity to soak

available at equineaffaire.com. Click

up a wealth of information from

on the Ohio event and follow the

top equestrians and industry

“Participate” link to the “Ride in

professionals by attending more

Clinics” link. You may also request

than 200 different sessions over

an information packet and clinic ap-

the four days of Equine Affaire.

plication by contacting Alison Scott

But, for those who want to garner

at ascott@equineaffaire.com or by

even more from their Equine Af-

calling (740) 845-0085 ext. 105. Be

faire experience, the event offers

sure to consult equineaffaire.com for

the opportunity to participate in

continuously-updated information

dozens of clinics on a wide range

on clinicians and sessions added in

of equestrian disciplines.

the “Ride With The Best” program.

The application deadline is February

The 2017 Equine Affaire will take place at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus on April 6th through the 9th.

Whether your equestrian interest leans toward a particular western or English discipline or you spend most of your time in the show arena or on the trail, Equine Affaire’s unique “Ride With The Best” program offers you opportunities to receive individual instruction or have your horse trained in clinics conducted by many of the nation’s foremost coaches, competitors, judges, and horse trainers—for clinic fees designed to fit your budget.

The Clinics and Clinicians. Among the presenters who have been confirmed as of press time to participate in the “Ride With The Best” program this April are general horse and horsemanship trainers Guy McLean, Dan James, Julie Goodnight, Lynn Palm, Brandi Lyons, Steve Lantvit, and Sandi Simons. Clinicians offering

on training and riding easy gaited horses, Dana Bright will conduct driving clinics, Wendy Murdoch will offer clinics on equine and human biomechanics, Sean Patrick will teach trail and trail class riding skills, and Steve Edwards will provide insight into the training of mules and donkeys. Additional presenters are being finalized for clinics on eventing, dressage, western pleasure, and English pleasure and will be announced soon.

If you have one or more horses that are halter broke and ready to be started under saddle, you may want to consider applying to have your horse trained by Guy McLean in Equine Affaire’s “Foundation First” clinics. Mr. McLean will train two unbroke horses to be ridden—one horse on Thursday and Friday and a second horse on Saturday and Sunday at the event.

30 • HORSES MAGAZINE • January 2017 • Download and View FREE on-line at www.horsesmagazine.com

15th. Don’t miss the unique and affordable clinic opportunities offered at Equine Affaire.

In addition to Equine Affaire’s legendary educational program, the 2017 show will feature the largest horse-related trade show in North America with more than 450 retailers and manufacturers filling four buildings at the Ohio Expo Center. Other highlights will include Equine Affaire’s signature musical celebration of the horse--the Fantasia sponsored by Absorbine®-on Thursday-Saturday nights; an extensive Breed Pavilion and Horse & Farm Exhibits area; the Equine Fundamentals Forum; the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition on Friday; and the Marketplace at Equine Affaire—a consignment store featuring quality tack, apparel, and equine equipment for horse & rider. For everything you need to know to go, visit equineaffaire.com.

The Way of the Horses

Ichthammol The Wonder Ointment

By Eleanor Blazer Several million years ago horses grazed on plants that would be the basis of an amazing ointment. Known as icthammol, black ointment

Human Services, National Toxicity Program, states ammonium sulfobituminate (icthammol) as having no toxicity levels.

When compared to wound medications

to the ointment, and gloves should be worn.

When purchasing icthammol beware of lookalike products. If the ointment lacks the strong bituminous tar-like smell it is not icthammol.

or drawing salve, it is used to

The ingredients will

treat wounds, skin condi-

probably be vegetable

tions and abscesses affecting

based.

descendants of these early

Also avoid prod-

horses.

ucts called “black

Icthammol ointment is

salve” (Cansema)

derived from sulfur-rich oil

. These products

shale, a type of rock which is

may contain blood-

made up of organic material.

root, crushed ash,

After being mined and dis-

chaparral, DMSO

tilled, the resulting substance

(dimethyl sulfoxide –

is dark reddish- brown to

an industrial solvent)

black color with a tar-like

and other ingredients.

odor.

Often advertised as “treating cancer”, the

The anti-inflammatory,

FDA has banned the

anti-bacterial and anti-fungal

sale of black salve for

properties of icthammol offset

that purpose. These

its appearance and smell.

products can be caus-

Icthammol can be used to

tic, resulting in bad

treat minor cuts or abrasions,

burns and scarring.

rainrot, insect bites, scratches (mud fever, greasy heel), and

Despite the name

sunburn. Applied down the

confusion - black oint-

midline of the underbelly it

ment, drawing salve

can help protect the sensi-

or icthammol – every

tive area from insects, while

equine medicine chest

soothing the itching and treating the bites.

Water soluble, it can be washed off easily, though the smell can linger.

containing nitrofurazone, icthammol is safer for both the horse and care taker. Nitrofurazone has been shown to create carcinogenic activity

should have a jar. In time, you and your horse will learn to love the smell! * Take the online course “Horse Health and

in mice, resulting in the United States Food and

Disease” taught by Dr. Jack Sales. Earn certifica-

Icthammol helps soften the tissue, reduces swell-

Drug Administration (FDA), and the Bureau of

tion or work toward a Bachelor of Science degree

ing and increases blood circulation, which may

Veterinary Drugs in Canada to require labeling

in Equine Studies. Go to www.horsecourseson-

aid in the “drawing” of the infection or splinter.

stating nitrofurazone must not be used on ani-

line.com for more information.

It is often used to help draw an abscess out of a

mals intended for food. Nitrofurazone products

hoof.

also have cautionary statements on the labels

The most recognized use is as a drawing salve.

The United States Department of Health and

stating some people may have adverse reactions

Download and View FREE on-line at www.horsesmagazine.com • January 2017 • HORSES MAGAZINE • 31

SafeChoice® products help support your horse’s topline health. To learn to evaluate your horse’s topline and get a customized feeding recommendation with products like SafeChoice®, go to www.toplinebalance.com. *Only at participating retailers. Free product must be of equal or lesser value.

32 • HORSES MAGAZINE • January 2017 • Download and View FREE on-line at www.horsesmagazine.com

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