Ready to Ride? Dorothy Crosby- A horseperson in progress 24 Rare Breeds of the Twin States, Karyn Swett

Ready to Ride?

HORSEPERSON IN PROGRESS….

Dorothy Crosby - Stoddard, NHAs a warmer season approaches, both new and seasoned horse people are anxious to get in the saddle. Some folks have their own horse or access to one on a regular basis. Others want to find some riding opportunities but don’t know where to start. All may wish to obtain skills, perhaps with some lessons. Finding the right place to ride can be overwhelming whether you are looking for the first time or seeking someplace new. Here are some guidelines to help in that search for the right barn or equine situation for you. Some of the things you will look for are not about riding itself; much more goes into a quality equestrian experience than just getting on a horse.

The barn does not have to be pristine, but should be in good repair. Safety should be prioritized for both horse and rider whether mounted or unmounted. A messy tack room could simply mean lots of people pass through; broken things or cluttered aisles could be safety issues for humans and equines. Cleanliness counts, too; it is, after all, a farm, but lack of good hygiene and care of things also portrays an attitude about the horses, riders, and their care that you’ll want to pay attention to. You can observe if stalls are kept clean, clean water is available, and horses have ribs showing or caked on dirty legs. These living creatures work and serve the people who ride them, and should have adequate care to do their job and be comfortable.

Is the barn open to visitors? By appointment only or can you show up anytime? Farm managers may want staff available to answer questions and ensure safety for visitors and horses, but there should be an opportunity to check things out before your first ride if you want it.

Are you welcome to watch a lesson? It’s of concern if not allowed; it is reasonable to request the student’s permission. Will you be required to sign liability waivers? Are attendance and cancellation policies enforced? Do they offer group or private lessons of varying lengths? Are lessons geared around individual needs, goals, and learning styles or is there a set curriculum that all students follow? Are their horses suited for particular riding styles or rider abilities? Do they offer or specialize in educational programs, showing opportunities, or different styles of riding (English, western, dressage)? Does barn staff groom and tack up the horse or is the student expected to do it? Will there be instruction in this process or any horse care practices included in lessons? The “correct” answer is dependent on the type of experience you are seeking, but it is a good idea to enter into this new adventure with realistic expectations and responsibilities in mind. What types of credentials do the instructors have? Will you always have the same instructor? In some barns teenage students teach less experienced kids or assist an adult instructor with groups. Will this affect the cost? You should be aware of what to expect and realize this will impact the lesson in some way. Know what attire you are expected to have. Are helmets required (they should be!); will you need your own or do they loan them? You should need long pants, non-baggy clothing and an enclosed shoe with a small (1/4-1/2”) heel to be safe; do they expect “proper” riding attire or is safe and casual ok?

With answers that help satisfy your personal riding goals, you are well-prepared for that new horse adventure…. have a wonderful ride!

As both a Centered Riding® and CHA certified instructor, Dorothy Crosby manages a farm and lesson program for adults and children based in Stoddard NH. She teaches a number of disciplines, emphasizing safety and fun while learning. Dorothy loves teaching workshops and programs both on and off the farm for riders and horses of all ages.

Oliver is a 16 hand registered Clydesdale who thinks he is a giant Teddy Bear. Enjoyed for his smooth and rocking-chair gaits, his solid way of moving is great for learning rhythm and the feel of something big in a small package Spring 2015 www.4LegsAndATail.com 23

Rare Breeds of the Twin States

A Man And His Otterhounds

Karyn Swet - Plainfield, NH

Last spring at Strolling of the Heifers, 4 Legs & a Tail had a booth set up. Part way through the day, a man approached with two large, coarse-coated, handsome dogs that I had never seen before. When I asked about his dogs named Sassy Sue and Blaze, Russell told me about the rare status assigned to this breed of dog, known as the Otterhound. After giving me the historical background of the Otterhound, he suggested that our magazine could create a new column dedicated to the rare breeds of the Monadnock Region - so here it is!

First, a little history about the Otterhound. The breed origins date back to the 11th century, therefore the Otterhound is recognized as an old British breed, developed to hunt otters. Essentially, the modern day Otterhound found its origin and image within its 19th century cousin, so that is the Otterhound seen today in the 21st century. There are only about 600 - 800 of this vulnerable breed worldwide. This is a serious situation, which the Otterhound Club of America and the Otterhound Club of Britain are striving to avoid, the reality that the Otterhound could cease to exist. In talking with Russell in his cozy cabin located in New Hampshire, he informed me of some local history involving the Otterhound.

Originally, the Otterhound found its way from Scotland to America via steam ship in 1903 as arranged by Henry Steele Wardner, who had visited Scotland in the early 1900’s and first brought this breed to North America. H.S. Wardner, was a Harvard alumnus and a lawyer for both a NYC based company and his family’s business, which happened to be based in Windsor, VT, where the Wardner’s had a summer home. His Otterhound kennel was created circa 1903, and existed till circa 1914 in Hartland, VT. He was one of the first Otterhound breeders, and had the first two AKC registered Otterhounds in the US. Those Otterhounds acquired the town name, to become known as The Hartland Otterhounds! 75 years later, in February of 1988, while Russell was viewing the Hound Group of the Westminster Dog Show, he saw Amanda in the show ring representing the Otterhound breed. Immediately, Russell knew this was the breed for him and couldn’t imagine his life without this rare breed in it!

Shortly after Westminster Russell contacted the AKC (via phone), about Otterhound breeders that currently had Otterhound puppies. The Greyfield Kennel of Mt. Gretna, PA. had two pups remaining from the March litter of 1988, and Russsell became the proud owner of Shane. Eventually, one Otterhound was not enough for this man! 10 years later, the rescue aspect of the Otterhound Club became aware of seven Otterhounds that were in dire need of rescue and adopting to new homes, due to neglect. Two Otterhound Club members had a large role in this Otterhound rescue. All seven Otterhounds were driven to New Jersey. Russell drove to New Jersey in February of 1998 to adopt Ramona. He loved the sound of her name as it rolled off his tongue. A spot in Russell’s heart was filled with warmth and affection for Ramona - a sweet Otterhound gal that he came to cherish for the next 7 years.

Since Shane and Ramona, Russell’s Otterhound family had grown to include a comical big boy named Duncan, and currently, his two loves, Sassy Sue and Blaze.

Otterhounds are even tempered and amiable and have a boisterous Johnny Depp howling bark. With their rough, oily double coat and webbed feet, they love the water. It’s not uncommon to find an Otterhound with its head submerged in a bucket of water. Russell points out that this is not a breed for clean, neat people. Messy faces and flying saliva is something only a true Otterhound fan will love! Otterhounds are loving and comedic, sure to bring joy and humor to your daily life!

If you have a pet or animal that is a rare breed, we’d love to share it. Email us at KarynS.4LT@gmail.com

Pet Stress!

(Autumn Likes to Pee on the Couch)

Cathrine MacLean, DVM Grantham, NH

Have you ever felt stressed? Did you ever pig out on your favorite treat to help “cope” with the stress? What does your pet do when he or she is stressed? For a lot of pets their coping mechanism for stress is acting out. For dogs this may mean destructive behavior, and for cats it often means inappropriate urination.

Pets can become stressed for many different reasons. For example, there are many dogs that become stressed from thunderstorms or fireworks because of the loud noise that they make. These dogs are often very anxious, will shake, and sometimes have destructive behavior.

Cats tend to handle stressful situations by either hiding or urinating inappropriately. Cats also tend to be much more sensitive to subtle changes in their environment than dogs. Something as simple as having a guest stay at your house, can really upset some cats.

So what do you do for your stressed pet? First, call your veterinarian. We are here to help. The course of action will depend on your specific situation. For example, if you have a dog with a thunderstorm phobia, I would discuss the Thunder Shirt with you (works for some pets and not for others), pheromones, herbal/nutraceutical remedies, and then if all else fails, we would discuss drug therapy.

In the case of inappropriate urination in cats, it’s a bit more complex. First, your veterinarian will probably check a urine sample to make sure it’s not a urinary tract infection. Assuming everything checks out okay, there will probably be a discussion about possible changes in your environment. In most cases the stressor, such as a new pet, can’t be removed from the situation. Next, a long discussion will probably occur about litter boxes. Cats Continued Next Page Spring 2015

can be very particular about what type of litter box they have, the location of them, the type of litter used, etc. Most cats tolerate their litter boxes despite what their human chooses; however, all it takes is one stressful event to send them over the edge. If everything checks out and/or environmental changes don’t improve things, then the next step may be a pheromone. I personally like to use Feliway diffusors which need to be refilled once a month. The cat pheromone is calming to many cats and helps relax them. A lot of my inappropriate urination patients respond to this step. For those particularly tough cases, drug therapy may need to be used.

Take Autumn, our clinic cat for example. She came to us because she was stressed. I don’t know what exactly stressed her out in her previous home, but her coping mechanism was to urinate on her previous owner’s new couch and bed. Her previous owner couldn’t handle this anymore so we took Autumn in. In this case the previous owner just didn’t want to deal with Autumn urinating all over her furniture, which is understandable since cat pee stinks.

We had never met Autumn prior to her being surrendered to us. The first thing we did was get a urine and blood sample from her to make sure everything was okay. When that checked out normal, I decided to just wait and see what would happen. We have a futon and a couch at the clinic which she has access to. If she started urinating on one of those items, we would try Feliway.

Autumn has lived with us for over six months. Since the day she moved into the clinic she has never urinated anywhere but her litter box (except the one night we accidently locked her in reception and she used the potted plant—oops!). Autum’s case is extreme in the sense that she was taken out of the environment that caused her stress, and the symptoms resolved. Most people are willing to try other steps before giving their pet away. If Autumn was urinating all over the clinic we would have tried the other things mentioned above.

For Autumn a new home worked out just fine. Our original plan was to adopt her out, but after a couple of months of her living at the clinic and making sure her issues didn’t show up again we all became attached. So now Autumn spends her days greeting clients, lounging in her bed on the reception counter, trying to help everyone type, and most importantly, using the litter box like a good girl.

Dr.Cathrine MacLean is originally from upstate NY and knew she wanted to be a veterinarian at an early age. She attended Penn State and loves college football. She currently lives in Lebanon with her husband Matt, daughter Katrina and their fur children. www.SugarRiverAnimalHospital.com