Equine Enthusiast by Weeklys

Luv Me Tender

miniature donkeys

Marlies & Frank Luetz are

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From the cover DANCING HORSES............................................................................... 12 Features The Drive To Win................................................................................ 6 Luv Me Tender Miniature Donkey Farm...................................... 8 Templeton’s Own Silver Star Ranch Saddlery...................... 10 Learn To Drive - Horses That Is................................................... 14 SECOND WIND..................................................................................... 16 4-H MEMBERS LEND A HAND.............................................................. 18 Quarterhorse Mother’s Day circuit......................................... 20 MVCS Equine Teams.......................................................................... 22 columns

The Equine Center: Navicular Syndrome............................... 24 Eden Memorial Pet Care: Memorialization....................................... 26 Barbi Breen-Gurley: Spring Preparedness......................................... 27 Lee Pitts: It Could Have Been Worse............................................. 28 Jack Varian: A Cowboy’s Dilemma.................................................... 29

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Frank Luetz tips his hat while accepting his blue ribbon for a Marlies Luetz drives a single horse in a buggy at her Templeton property. recent competition where he took his four-horse team through various obstacles.

The Drive To Win

Frank and Marlies Luetz Train and rehabilitate Horses For Driving Competitions Paula McCambridge Of Equine Enthusiast

n their native Germany, Marlies Luetz was raised with horses; Frank Luetz was raised with a love of motor racing — the pair came together and now both share a love of racing and rehabilitating their 1,700-pound behemoth equines. “When we married, that was a little of a fight,” Marlies said in her German accent. “I wanted to ride, and he wanted a motorcycle. I brought him to horses.” Frank admitted that once

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he got to know what life could be like with horses in it, he was forever changed. “We cannot live without them,” he said. “We would got without food before they would — they’re part of the family.” It all started back in Germany, where the Luetzes, who have now been married 38 years, ran a German driving magazine together — she as publisher and he as the chief editor. They also trained clients in carriage riding. When they followed their growing sport to the United States, they packed heavy bringing five

horses and a dog — an Australian Shepherd named Murphy — with them on their international journey that resulted in their Templeton business, Central Coast Training Center. They expected to settle in a more populated area than Templeton where they now live, but they weren’t happy with what they found in those areas. “I saw L.A. and I wasn’t really impressed,” Frank said. “Then I was asked to come out and give clinics to drivers in Carmel Valley Trail and Saddle Club, and I thought, ‘This is unbelievable here.’”

Frank said the sport is outdoor, and where he comes from in Cologne, Germany, there is a five-month winter, putting the sport on hold for a lengthy season each year. “It’s cold; you’re freezing; you’re wet,” Frank said. “I started thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to have 365 days to hitch and drive?’” During one drive down California’s Highway 101, Frank said, “I looked left and right — and this is Paso at that time — I’m thinking, ‘This is the place for me. It’s not a city; it’s just lovely.’” And nearby Templeton is where

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the couple, their five horses and dog set up their California home and business. Luetz is a top driving competitor in the United States, driving his fourhorse team through a variety of obstacles. The three-day competitions test horses’ and drivers’ abilities in a number of ways, including racing through an eight-obstacle course at top speeds. “It’s part my job; it’s part the horses’ job — we work together,” Frank said. “Driving four horses, it’s very addictive. It’s high adrenaline.” The fast-paced competitions are balanced with the more spiritual side of their enterprise. Among the Luetz’s many duties on their 12-acre property, they find special satisfaction in working with fearful horses that some have deemed ‘untrainable.’ “They need to have trust and confidence,” Frank said. “You need to know what you’re doing and to be patient.” The Luetzes have found they have a gift with horses that have behavioral problems. Where others fail, they often succeed in making the troubled animals well. Frank said

their success comes in understanding horse nature. “Because horses are from Mother Nature, their state of mind is that they’re running from enemies,” Frank said. “I have to get the horse’s trust in me to be bigger than his instinct to run away.” The peace the Luetzes bring to their horses is a shared experience with the horses also bringing peace to their people. Because their animals demand daily care, there is no time for vacations, but that doesn’t trouble Marlies and Frank Luetz drives his four-horse team in a driving competition. Luetz is a top competitor in the sport. Frank. “When we are vacation to us. It’s so peaceful.” “That’s for sure,” he said. “I like sitting in the stall — I will have a When asked if leaving motorcy- that my life has taken this turn.” glass of wine, and he has a beer — cles behind for horses was worth it, For more information on the art we sit in the barn and just listen to Frank smiled and answered without of driving horses, go to www.art-ofthe horses,” Marlies said. “That’s like hesitation. driving.com or call 805-434-9443.

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Luv Me Tender Miniature Donkey Farm Small Ranch With A Lot of Great, Big Personalities

Luke Phillips Of Equine Enthusiast

ust east of Paso Robles lays a small ranch with a lot of great, big personalities. Lynn and Gloria Walter have been breeding miniature donkeys at Luv Me Tender Miniature Donkey Farm for more than 20 years, raising animals whose personalities range from mildly rowdy to positively larger than life, but they all have one thing in common, and that’s a love of people. “They’re just loving, sweet animals from the day they’re born,” Gloria Walter said. “The minute the babies are born, as soon as it’s standing, we go over and blow in it’s nostrils and touch it so it can kind of get to know us. The next morning, the baby will come right up to us like, ‘hey, I saw you last night!’ From day one, if you ignore them and push them away, they’ll withdraw and say, ‘oh, I didn’t expect this,’ but if you give them the love that’s it for life.” Lynn says the donkeys quickly become attached to people and can even read moods and will try to cheer him up when he’s feeling down.

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“Imprinting a horse takes months, imprinting a donkey takes about 10 minutes,” he said. “Once they learn to trust you, they’ll do anything for you.” Gloria says her life-long love of horses led to her interest in miniature donkeys. As they grew older, the Walters became less able to care for horses and turned to mini donkeys as a more manageable way to keep equine in their lives. It all started with a jack (a male donkey) named Elvis. Gloria says the Walters first encountered Elvis on a ranch in Half Moon Bay while on a scouting trip looking for suitable breeding donkeys for a friend. “As we went and saw the donkeys, we thought, ‘that’s pretty cute’ and it kind of got to us a little bit, you know? Then we saw Elvis. He was chocolate brown and he had this big pompadour,” she said. “He just kept hanging around us and we thought, ‘we’re not riding much any more, maybe we should switch from horses to donkeys.’” The Walters took Elvis home and used him to start a breeding program, raising dozens of miniature donkeys throughout the years, which were sold to responsible buyers for a

variety of different uses including as breeding animals, as show animals, for pulling carts or just to keep as pets. “People take them to nursing homes, they’re great around kids, they’re great in petting zoos,” Gloria said. “You don’t have to show them, you can just enjoy them at home.” For those who do choose to show their donkeys, training them to perform tasks is generally much easier than training a horse, Lynn said, adding that they can be trained to pull a cart in as little as two weeks and never forget something once they’ve been taught. “They just absorb it all,” he said. “They’re always thinking; that’s the amazing thing about them.” The biggest show in the state takes place in Red Bluff each year, and mini donkeys perform in many different classes including barrel racing (with the use of a cart), pole bending, pleasure driving and jumping events. The donkeys do have some quirky traits in common, such as their affinity for wearing sun visors, their dexterous, prehensile upper lip, which they use to “pick locks and open gates,” and their intelligent, doglike nature. But they also have very

strong individual personalities. “They’re just characters,” Lynn said. “They’re always thinking — half of their brain is on the right side and half is thinking, ‘what kind of mischief can I get into?’ A donkey will teach you two things: A sense of humor and a sense of humility, and sometimes they take that second one pretty seriously.” A few of the personalities currently residing at Luv Me Tender include: ELVIS — THE CHAMPION “Everybody knows Elvis,” Gloria says of the Walter’s pride and joy: A 33.5-inch-tall miniature donkey that was once one of the top show donkeys in the entire nation. At 21-years-old, Elvis is now past his prime and was gelded three years ago, but in his heyday, he won numerous medals and awards, which now adorn an entire wall in the Walters’ home, and has sire 30 or 40 “very nice, high-quality animals,” Gloria says. Lynn says that when they bought Elvis, one of the conditions of the purchase was that they promote him and show him. The Walters trained Elvis and his former owner showed him for the

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first time at a national show in Santa Rosa. “He just won and won and won and won,” Gloria said, adding that Elvis took home the high-point award and halter champion award at that first show. “He just couldn’t do anything wrong and we thought, ‘oh, OK,’ so we just continued with that.” Before his retirement, Elvis won at shows all over the region in a variety of different classes and gained a legendary reputation. “You could call breeders up north in Oregon and ask them if they’ve ever heard of Elvis and they’ll say, ‘oh, yeah,’” Gloria said. “Everybody knows Elvis. He made a name for himself and it was never forgotten.” SALLY – THE MATRIARCH Sally the janet (a female donkey) was the first female the Walters bought and she was the “matriarch of the ranch” until she was recently relocated to a nearby friend’s ranch. Lynn says Sally was also Elvis’ first mate, and although donkey mating is usually a rough affair to say the least, Elvis was very gentle with Sally and even kissed and nuzzled her neck, he said. When the Walters’ friend had an emergency recently, Sally returned to Luv Me Tender and Elvis reacted immediately, pacing in his corral and braying even though he’s been gelded and Sally is past mating age. “They never forgot each other,” Gloria said. “It was just a real relationship. He got jazzed up something fierce when she came back.” Despite being surrounded by many younger and more virile females, Sally still has the rule of the roost when she’s around. “She commands respect,” Lynn said. “She’ll be grazing and somebody will be encroaching on her and she’ll flick an ear and scatter them in a second.” BRITCHES – THE ORPHAN Britches, a 6-month-old miniature donkey who was rejected by his mother, had to be hand fed at first and came to associate the blue jeans worn by his feeder with being fed. When the feeding became too much to handle, Gloria came up with the idea of storing formula in an igloo

cooler fitted with a short piece of pipe and a nipple so Britches could feed at his leisure. The donkey refused to use the device until they placed the nipple between the legs of an old pair of pants. Since then, Britches has become very attached to the pair of pants and takes them everywhere he goes, which is how he got his name. “He’s attached to those britches and has been since that day,” Gloria said. “He runs with them, he throws them in the air, he has all kinds of fun with them including washing them once a day in the water trough. And sometimes he leaves them in his dad’s pen so he can play with them for a while.” Britches is one of two juvenile donkeys on the farm along with his companion Nooner, named so because he was born at high noon. HARD CASE EDDIE – THE LONER The Walters adopted Hard Case Eddie six months ago, and so far he won’t let them near him. Lynn says he’ll come up and take a carrot out of her hand, but that’s the extent of his desire for human contact. “He’s a sweet little donkey,” he said. “He’s got the kindest eyes and he wants to like people. He had a rough childhood — he was abused, he was roped and he doesn’t trust people. He’ll come up and take a treat, but as soon as you move your hand he’s gone. I’ve been working with him for a long time and eventually he’ll come around, but we just call him hard case.” The Walters say they’re taking their time with Eddie and for now they give him the space he needs. “We’re just letting him be,” Gloria said. “We’re not worried about him.” SAMSON – THE BIG GUY Towering over the little guys is a standard donkey named Samson, or Sammy for short. The Walters rescued Sammy about a year ago, working through the Bureau of Land Management’s adoption program. Like Hard Case Eddie, Sammy eschews human contact and prefers

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Lynn and Gloria Walter have been breeding miniature donkeys at Luv Me Tender Miniature Donkey Farm for more than 20 years, raising animals whose personalities range from mildly rowdy to positively larger than life, but they all have one thing in common, and that’s a love of people. Photos by Luke Phillips/Equine Enthusiast to keep to himself, although the Walters often keep him with a mellow gelding in the hopes that he’ll learn something. “When we bought him he was pretty wild and we have no intentions of breeding him or showing him or doing anything with him other than just giving him a home for life,” Gloria said. Gloria says they adopted Sammy nearly a year ago, but still aren’t able to touch him much. “Once in a while we can just kind of reach over there and touch his neck for just a second, then he runs away like, ‘oh, God, they touched me,’” she said. “He’s a very handsome donkey.” Lynn says miniature donkeys are considered an exotic animal and their popularity rises and wanes along with the economy, leading to a drop in prices after the most recent recession, but he says they were never in it for the money anyway. “We have never honestly been in it for the money,” he said. “It’s a breakeven business at best. We’re in it for the love of the animals.” Luv Me Tender Miniature Donkey Farm is located at 6268 Hog Canyon Road in San Miguel. You can reach them by email at elvis1@wildblue. net, by phone at 805-467-9204 or visit them online at www.luvmetenderfarm.com.

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Tooling is a big part of the job for Brian Harms, owner and operator of Silver Star Ranch and Saddlery.

Keeping Riders Tall in the Saddle Templeton’s Own Silver Star Ranch Saddlery Allyson Oken Of Equine Enthusiast

redging hide, tooling, stitching, shaping, stretching and adhering the everyday life of a saddle maker. Something of a lost art, true saddleries are few and far between. Here in Templeton at the heart of the Central Coast, a thriving society of horsemen and women are

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keeping these traditions alive even today. Brian Harms, who owns Silver Star Ranch Saddlery, is one of the few that maintains this tradition, explaining that he has been in the trade since he was a teen. “I have been doing saddle work for over 20 years,” said Harms. “I started when I was in my early teens and this is what I do now. I took an interest in it when I got back into horses and

rodeo, when my little brother started to get back into it. When you are on the road touring the rodeo circuit, you learn to pick things up and for me leather craft is a bug that bites you. And when you have it, you get into it; you don’t quit. So what was a necessity became a hobby then moved on to a part-time job and fulltime and now this is all that I do.” Harms described it as a fast-paced life here at the show, and it’s the

same thing at home. He said the secret to his success at the shows is that they offer their products for sale, but they are also full service. “We offer everything from saddle cleaning to repairs. As you can see, I have taken on three more saddles in the last hour here today,” Harms said. “As we have grown over the years there are people that seek me out to meet their saddle needs. We

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even make awards for local events. We are that hidden gem here on the North Coast making everything from handbags to custom saddles.” Harms works with all types of materials from steer hide to bison, deer, elk, lamb and goat. Explaining that the exotics are really taking hold with alligator, stingray, fish and snake, there is no limit. They even use synthetic material as well. Tooling is definitely a big part of the work he does. Harms says you cannot get into the world without tooling. “Tooling is what makes a person in this trade; you can’t get into this world without being able to tool,” Harms said, as he described his favorite part of the job. “That is the best part of it because that is where we get to have the most artistic license to go out and put our own mark on the market place — through the art of tooling. I also do air brush painting to add color to the tooling and depth to the shapes. It takes a lot of time to do that type of work from an hour all the way up to 80 plus hours. For a fulltooled saddle, you will definitely have well over 100 hours of work on that.” The intricacy of the work that Harms does is astounding. Taking the time to make whatever the customer would like. He really knows his stuff as he describes the work that goes into making a saddle. It’s obvious that his 20 years of experience has paid off. Harms explained that when making a saddle, you begin with the tree and he doesn’t mean that thing with roots. “With every saddle you start with the tree that is the basic wood skeleton of the saddle,” Harms said. It’s more or less covering that from there. The importance of the tree is that it is fitted to

the horse and the dispersal of the weight of the rider is evenly dispersed to keep the horse comfortable. With all trees there is a gap in the middle that we fit the seat strainer that becomes the base and it covers the channel from front to back. This does two things, it spans the length of the tree to create a firm base over the channel and also allows us to set the amount of rise that you have in the front of the seat. That creates the pocket the rider sits in. It is just the base then we have layers of leather called the ground seat. This is where the maker can kind of whittle into the saddle how and where the rider wants to stay positioned.” Harms explained that there is a science of balance between rider, saddle and horse. The sweet spot for the Western saddle is typically set just behind dead center, just behind the withers of a horse. English saddles put the rider just at the base of the withers. This is more ergonomic and the design is engineered to the extreme with the focus on the horse’s comfort, though the Western saddle can handle a heaver rider because it more evenly disperses the rider’s weight. The English saddle can be better for the horse depending on the size of the rider and the padding that goes into it. To find leather goods featuring traditional western tooling, original and styled designs, check out Silver Star Ranch Saddlery. Harms’ ranch is based in Templeton to meet the needs of riders from all over the United States. To learn more about the work he does and to see pictures of his craft, visit www.facebook.com/pages/Silver-StarRanch-Saddlery or call 805-610-7333.

Tooling style swatches are available for those looking for just the right pattern for their gear.

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Wild horses could not tear a women’s hands away from this amazing hand bag.

The work stacks up fast according to Harms when on location at a show receiving a new saddle to repair or clean every 10 minutes or so.

Tooling a gun belt is part of a day’s work for Harms.

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Douglas and Deborah Walters perform a dance with fabric and horses during a recent rehearsal in Templeton. Photos by Ann Bedell Photography

Their Dance Is A Love Story Deborah and Douglas Walters Perform An Elegant Routine Paula McCambridge Of Equine Enthusiast

eborah Walters climbs a flowing purple scarf, blowing nearly sideways into the brisk evening’s breeze. Her husband, Douglas, sits atop his Frisian horse, Silver Legacy, poised for action.

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A young helper at the dancers’ recent rehearsal in Templeton, Chloe, flips on the music, and that triggers Deborah to begin her dance with and within the rich purple scarf. She dances down the scarf impossibly slowly while Douglas moves across the landscape on his 1,200pound horse, whose hooves beat strongly and gracefully across the

ground. Douglas and Silver Legacy move through the scarf. “This dance, it’s a way of pouring out your heart,” Douglas said. “When we do the fabric dance, and I connect with her — it’s a love story.” Donna Chesebrough, of Chesebrough Farm, lent her land to the Walters for their evening practice

and sat mesmerized as the couple performed. “I think it’s magnificent,” Chesebrough said. “The horses are so well trained. To walk through the fabric like that, it shows what seasoned professionals they are and how much they work with their horses.” Besides the Frisian, the Walters are training two young Gypsy Vanners,

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known for their gentle demeanors. They took one out during their practice to walk through the fabric for the first time. “This is typical of the gypsies,” Douglas said. “This is his first time walking through the fabric, and he’s fine. He doesn’t care.” The Walters had previously worked with a Paint, but that breed’s demeanor isn’t as predictably calm as that of the gypsies, which resulted in injuries for Deborah. “Deborah got hurt on a Paint,” Douglas said. “She broke ribs one time and her collar bone another time.” That’s what motivated Douglas to find a gentler horse for his wife. Searching for the right horse was a challenge, but falling into the world of the world’s leading dancing-horse trainer, Dianne Olds Rossi, was a blessing, the Walters say. Rossi runs The Magical World of Dancing Horses. It’s Rossi’s influence that has brought another level of beauty to their dance. “What you see — it’s like a quilt, there are so many people who are a part of that quilt, and this is the end result.” Douglas is a seventh generation Central Coast resident while Deborah grew up in Los Angeles. Deborah was not the typical LA kid, though. Her favorite times were the summers when her family would go to the Greenhorn Mountains near Bakersfield and stay in a cabin that had no electricity. It simplified life, and Deborah could not have been happier spending her

time there, riding her horses day after day. “I really enjoyed horseback riding in the mountains,” she said. “My friends in Los Angeles had a hard time understanding that sometimes.” Dancing in scarves came much later when the Walters were already in their 40s. “I was in a church dance group when a girl said, ‘We’re going to go dance in the trees,’ and asked if I wanted to go,” Deborah said. “Whenever someone young invites me to do something, I’m not going to miss the chance. We went to hang in the trees from aerial fabric, and I loved it.” There was a time that Deborah was told by medical professionals that previous injuries meant she would never ride again. The news was devastating, but she didn’t settle for that grim diagnosis and now rides and performs regularly. The message the Walters like to send is that everything is possible. “It’s never too late for people to dream dreams and find what they have a passion for,” Deborah said. “Sometimes life gives you a U-turn and gives you an opportunity to learn new things.” Deborah said she looked for the right people with whom to surround herself, people who saw the world in possibilities rather than limitations. It made all the difference. “God brought me different doctors, different people who did believe in me,” she said. “For me, being in that fabric, it’s like a prisoner being set free.”

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Debra Hilberg driving Sand Hill Chablis, Sect B Welsh Pony Mare at a Combined Driving Event in 2013. Photos contributed by Deb Hilberg

Learn To Drive - Horses That Is Join Brass Oaks Driving Society Allyson Oken Of Equine Enthusiast

itting atop the box, the Whip takes their cart to track, wheels digging deep into the muck at a turn and pulling out just as fast, going into a straightaway the Whip has won it! Just another day for a driver (Whip) that belongs to the Brass Oaks Driving Society, the Central Coast’s answer to the call of the carriage driver. Past president of the BODS, Judith Baron explains that the club was founded 27 years ago and has grown by leaps and bounds since. “Linda Fairbanks — our

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current president — and her husband Ron founded the group 27 years ago and it has grown greatly since then,” Baron says. “Linda and her husband have a wonderful driving ranch. This means that they have designed the ranch for carriage driving. Our club is very blessed to have this in our own backyard to utilize. Another member, Ann McClure from Arroyo Grande also has a driving ranch, so we are doubly blessed.” This amazing group of about 35 members, known for being equine friends, trainers, drivers and collectors of horse-drawn vehicles has been racing, hosting picnics and other events since 1987, when the founders Linda and Ron Fairbanks made

it their mission to bring the sport of carriage driving to the Central Coast. They are also proud owners of the Overlook Driving Center, a large property off Cripple Creek Road in Paso Robles, which is now the premier training ground for drivers in the North San Luis Obispo County. Both driving centers host events that range from confidence building to de-spooking your horse. Baron says there is a lot of activity at all of their events, but the most important thing is safety, as this is a dangerous sport. “We look to teach new people and experienced drivers not only how to get their horse ready to drive, but the basics like the importance of wearing

helmets,” says Baron, as she described the BODS team as not being really into speed. “We are not really racing, we are really only timed in certain events. Others are for accuracy and pleasure driving. We are also judged on our turnout, which means that we are being assessed for the look of the vehicle. Is it coordinated with our manner of dress? And how does the horse look?” Baron explains that these rules are not made by the BODS, but by the American Driving Society, which lays out the rules for all clubs in the nation. “They are located in Wisconsin. They are the rule-making body for the sport,” Baron says. “We actu-

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Linda Fairbanks is being pulled by a bay miniature horse named Jonathan. ally compete nationally and internationally occasionally. The most exciting horse park in the world has to be the Kentucky Horse Park, and on their grounds is the Carriage Association of America, another group that I belong to. What we do there is collect and restore different carriages. They also take part in the national driving event hosted there.” BODS would like to invite the public out to the Continuous Drive Event on May 24 and 25 at Twin Rivers Ranch, 8715 North River Road, Paso Robles. It is open to the public for viewing and is similar to a Combined Driving Event or CDE. This will be

the group’s second year hosting the event, and those in attendance will see drivers and horses go through a driving test, a cones course and a cross country driving experience. Baron recommends that people bring a picnic and chairs and enjoy hill topping to see the show. Baron and the rest of the BODS drivers welcome any and all ages, as well as experienced and novice drivers, to join in the fun. They are willing to teach anyone that would like to learn how to drive like a real Whip. To learn more about the BODS and to find a membership package, visit www.brassoakdriving.com.

Debra Hilberg Driving Larken Aldrydd, Sect D Welsh Cob Gelding at a Welsh Pony and Cob Show in 2013

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Cooper Equestrian Located at Templeton Farms Equestrian 1799 Templeton Road | Templeton, CA 93465 | (805) 434-1485

Non-profit gives rescued horses a ‘second wind’ Luke Phillips Of Equine Enthusiast

tascadero resident Vanessa Gilliam says she started rescuing animals as a way of lifting her spirits when life was getting her down. “It used to be kind of a coping mechanism of mine,” she said. “If I was having a bad day, I’d go to the pound and rescue something. I have a soft spot for rescues.” In 2008, Gilliam started horse rescue organization Second Wind Rescue, Inc. and since then she’s rescued 54 horses — representing 18 different breeds — from a variety of different circumstances. Some came from feedlots, some came from other rescue organizations and some came from owners who weren’t a good fit or could no longer afford to keep their horses. According to their brochure, the mission of Second Wind is to “raise public awareness about related issues such as neglect and overpopulation of animals in order to promote and encourage proper care of horses and other domestic animals.” Gilliam keeps the horses in a pasture behind her home on Traffic Way and on eight acres of donated pastureland in Paso Robles. Each animal is given thorough medical and dental check-ups, de-

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In 2008, Vanessa Gilliam started horse rescue organization Second Wind Rescue, Inc.

wormed, and put on a weight-management plan. Gilliam then works individually with each horse to test its skill level. “I figure out where they’re at in their training stage and I fix the holes in their training,” she said. After the horses are fully rehabilitated and trained, Gilliam posts photos of each one on websites such as www.equinenow.com, where they can be seen by potential adopters. Gilliam says the work is a “big challenge” with a steep learning curve, but she also finds it to be very rewarding. “I didn’t grow up with horses — I got my first one when I was 23, so I’m making up for lost time,” she said. “But it’s really rewarding just seeing them progress and getting to follow their stories and getting to sort of be that middle spot where they can go on to live up to their fullest potential.” Gilliam is a native of Fairfield and moved to the area to attend Cal Poly, where she played volleyball. After graduating with a business degree in 2006, she moved to Greece to play professional volleyball, but quit to realize her dream of working with horses. “After 12 years (of playing volleyball) I decided I was burnt out and wanted to try horses,” she said. Gilliam says a horse was at the top

of her Christmas list every year, but her parents instead encouraged her to stick with sports. “They knew that horses wouldn’t pay for college and sports would,” she said. “But sometimes I come out here and I look around and see all the happy animals and I know I’ve made up for lost time.” Along with her horses, Gilliam has also rescued a number of other animals including chickens, ducks, pot-bellied pigs, cats and dogs, and even a giant pig named ‘Oprah.’ Gilliam has funded the whole operation and done most of the work all by herself and has adopted animals for fees as low as $500, depending on the animal’s age, training and other factors. “My goal is to break even,” she said. “It’s not a get-rich-quick kind of business at all. At first, it was buy them cheap and sell them for more, but now it’s so much more than that.” Gilliam says that although most of her horses go for less than market value, they aren’t any less valuable than any other horse. “I call them hoof kickers,” she said. “They come out here and look at the horses and say, ‘what’s wrong with them?’ There’s a lot of misconceptions that if they’re rescues they’re less valuable, which isn’t true.” Gilliam says that financing the op-

eration on her own is a challenge and she works three other jobs to make ends meet. “I really have had very limited resources with land and with cash flow and everything,” she said. “Sometimes it’s Top Ramen for dinner because I have to buy a load of hay. I’m very on top of regular care and maintenance and it’s expensive.” Gilliam has received some help from community service groups who come out to help care for horses and maintain the property, but for the most part she does everything on her own without donations from the public or grants. “I’m not really one to run around with my hand out,” she said. “If people want to support us, I’m not going to turn it down, but I’m not going to go around begging and pleading for it.” More than anything, Gilliam says she could use donations of oil pipe, wood or other fencing materials to help build new corrals. Anyone interested in helping can contact Second Wind Rescue, Inc. at 805-801-4060 or visit their website at www.secondwindrescue.com. “It’s kind of astounding to look back and see what I’ve done with very limited resources — not to pat myself on the back or anything,” Gilliam said.

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Cerro Alto 4-H Horse Project team member Amber Quick walks a horse at Second Wind Equine Rescue recently. Photo by Luke Phillips/Equine Enthusiast

Second Wind

4-H Members Lend a Hand at Horse Rescue Organization Luke Phillips Of Equine Enthusiast

ach year, members of the Cerro Alto 4-H Club Horse Project team in Atascadero set a list of goals for themselves, and late last month, 14-year-old club member Amber Quick was able to accomplish one of her goals. “One of my goals was to get work crews out to an actual horse rescue place and do an actual horse-related community service,” Quick said. Quick was able to meet her goal after finding local non-profit horse rescue organization Second Wind Equine Rescue on the website www. equinenow.com and offering her club’s help. Quick met with Vanessa Gilliam, who runs Second Wind Equine Rescue from her

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home on Traffic Way, and arranged for club members to visit and lend a hand caring for the 14 horses and several other animals Gilliam has rescued. Ten members of the club spent several hours grooming horses, feeding animals, cleaning tack, raking, cleaning water bins and even doing some basic horse training. “It’s like a little apprenticeship,” said Horse Team leader Tracy Johnston. “You learn at home and then you get to go out and actually do it.” Amber’s mother, Kandi Quick says she and her daughter looked into many of the 4-H clubs in the area before settling on Cerro Alto because they seemed to have a much more active horse program than the others and was very active in the community. “With 4-H, there’s always learn-

ing in general, but there’s also community service, which is why this matched up so well,” Quick said. Johnston says that besides participating in local horse competitions, the club also does at least one community service project per month on a volunteer basis, usually providing items of need for the El Camino Homeless Organization or the Loaves and Fishes food bank. “I try to do stuff locally for our local people rather than putting something in a box and sending it to Iraq,” Johnston said. Club members get credit in their record book for each community service project they participate in, Johnston said. Quick said that she’s happy that the club is also helping out with horse-related causes now and plans to keep volunteering her own time to

help out at Second Wind. “For four years I’ve been trying to do this,” she said. “It was really fun.” Gibbons says she’s also worked with service groups from Cal Poly and Cuesta College and would be open to having more volunteers help out in the future. Second Wind Equine Rescue started in March 2008 with the mission to “eliminate suffering by promoting the welfare of animals and providing an adoption program for unwanted or poorly maintained horses (and sometimes other domestic animals),” according to their brochure. You can contact Second Wind Equine Rescue by phone at 805-8014060 or visit them online at www. secondwindrescue.blogspot.com.

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Top Riders and Horses Compete in Quarterhorse Mother’s Day circuit Paula McCambridge Of Equine Enthusiast

uarterhorse competitors from across the state of California will gather at the Paso Robles Event Center for the Mother’s Day Circuit May 7-11. Last year’s big-draw event attracted 400 competitors. “It really showcases the athleticism of the American Quarterhorse,” said, PCQHA Director Cece Campbell. “It’s a wonderful show and a very strong club that’s been doing this for 50 years.” The Pacific Coast Quarterhorse Association is making changes to its program this year, shifting classes to give competitors a breather between events.Cutting classes will be moved to Wednesday in the main arena. The Wednesday Trail Special Event will be in the adjacent arena, but regular Trail classes are moved to Thursday and Saturday. This means that Western/English rail classes will move to Friday/Sunday. That’s good news for those rail horses with

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cattle phobias as the cattle classes will not be going on in the adjacent arena. Speed Events are moved to Friday/ Sunday in the Main Arena after reining. New for 2014 are jumping classes, including Hunter Hack, Working Hunter, Equitation Over Fences and Jumping. “We have shows throughout the state we go to, and this is one of the largest shows with the cow horse community,” Campbell said. “There are lots of people, all over SLO county, northern and southern California and some from Arizona.” Campbell said there is a desire to win by competitors, but many are there to earn points that will ultimately qualify them for the world championship shows. Besides horse events, there will be 15-20 vendors selling everything from tack to clothes to jewelry to accessories and furniture.

There is no cost to the public.

The SLOCQHA welcome party is set for Thursday afternoon where there will be appetizers and wine at the event center.

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Team captain Sean Woock will represent the middle school team

MVCS Equine Teams Headed For Nationals TONY NUNEZ Of Equine Enthusiast

The Monte Vista Christian middle school team and two members of their high school squad qualified for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association’s 2014 Hunt Seat National Finals in Springfield, Mass. Vianne Storrs, Francesca Goyette, Sydney Shelby, Skye Bolen and team captain Sean Woock will represent the middle school team, while Katie Beasley and Jessica Ellison will hope to come back home with national championships to share with their high school teammates. Beasley and Ellison were the only members on their team that qualified for the nationals despite winning the High Point championship for finishing the season with

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the most combined points from the shows this season. Monte Vista Christian was so dominant, both teams had almost twice as many points as the second-place school. They were unable to qualify because of their low score at the Zone 10 — which spans California and Arizona — finals. “It was just a weird meet,” said Monte Vista Christian trainer Cassie Belmont. “At those shows, it really comes down to the luck of the draw.” The IEA is modeled after the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, which means that at every show the riders are asked to compete on an unfamiliar horse, which is called “catch a ride.” Ellison, a freshman at Monte Vista Christian, is making her first trip to

the national stage and will compete in flat, which judges the rider’s control of the horse, their posture and correct form from their hands to their legs. “It was a bittersweet moment at zones,” Ellison said. “I really wanted to go with my team, but our team didn’t make. It’s really hard to go there without them, because they went last year.” Last year, the high school team won the High Point championship for the third time in a row, qualified for the national competition and finished third. “It was the heartbreaker,” Ellison said, “but I’m excited to compete over there.” Beasley, a senior on the high school team, will also compete in flat. Woock will lead the middle school

team when they set hoof at nationals. The eighth grader is the team captain and is looking to close her final year on the middle school team strongly. “It’s super exciting,” Woock said. “Ending my middle school year as captain and qualifying for Massachusetts.” Along with qualifying for nationals, she won the state championship in flat class while riding her horse Cody, which is a Welsh Pony cross. Now, the goal is to go across the country and hopefully win it. “We have a pretty good team,” Woock said. “They all qualified so that means they have good skill. I’m ready. I’m pretty excited.” The competition will take place from May 16-18.

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Equine Enthusiast

Navicular Syndrome in Horses

Guest Columnist

Anatomy, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

Stefano Schiavo, DVM Of The Equine Center – San Luis Obispo

FIGURE 3. Typical “Navicular” foot. Lateral view. Foot with underrun heel and irregular dorsal hoof wall angle.

avicular syndrome (Navicular disease, or caudal heel pain syndrome) is a chronic, degenerative, and often progressive disease affecting the heel area of the horse which consists of the Navicular bone and bursa, deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), and associated soft tissue structures such as the distal sesamoidean Impar ligament and two collateral (one for each side) sesamoidean ligaments (FIGURE 1).

FIGURE 1.

Navicular apparatus

Coffin Joint

DDFT Navicular Bone

Collateral Ligament Pedal Bone

Navicular Bursa

Hoof Wall

Impar Ligament

The Navicular bone (FIGURE 2), also known as the distal sesamoid bone, is a small bone located within the hoof capsule between the second and third phalanx (Pastern and Coffin bone) and its primary function is to provide a constant angle of insertion for the DDFT on the Coffin Bone. FIGURE 2. The Navicular bone with its typical shape of a small canoe. In fact the prefix “navicu” means “small boat” in Latin. Although an exact genetic cause has never been identified, Navicular syndrome has been proven to have a higher incidence in some breeds such as Quarter Horses, Paints, Appaloosas, and Thoroughbreds, as well as some Warmblood breeds. Arabians, inversely, are rarely affected. Body size and conformation seems to be correlated, with more cases of Navicular syndrome occurring in horses with heavy bodies, upright pasterns, small hooves, and contracted heels (FIGURE 3). Age seems to be another important causal factor as the lameness caused by

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Foot with contracted heels. The blue lines indicate where the walls of the hoof should be.

Navicular syndrome is most often diagnosed in horses between the age of 7 and 14. At the present time, Navicular syndrome is considered to be caused by a combination of elements where breed, age, work intensity and kind of activity are the fundamental predisposing factors. Lameness is the classic sign of Navicular syndrome and the onset, severity and clinical signs vary considerably from horse to horse. The lameness can appear suddenly, but a more common scenario is mild lameness that becomes gradually worse over time. A horse with Navicular syndrome feels pain in the heels of the front feet, and its movements are coordinated to keep pressure off this area. At rest, the affected or the most painful foot is often “pointed,” or held slightly in front of the other forefoot. While moving, the horse tries to impact the ground flat-footed or toe-first instead of the more normal heel-first impact and movement results in short-strides and stiffness. A horse with Navicular syndrome may stumble frequently and will also have difficulty turning abruptly, going downhill, lunging and moving on rocky or hard surfaces. It is also common that during farrier visits, the horse will show reluctance in picking up one front foot for trimming or shoeing as the weight is concentrated on the other painful foreleg. The diagnosis of Navicular syndrome is based on history, physical examination, peripheral and/ or intra-articular nerve blocks, and diagnostic imaging techniques X-rays (FIGURE 4), Ultrasonography, Nuclear Scintigraphy (FIGURE 5), Thermography (FIGURE 6) and MRI (FIGURE 7). The treatment options for Navicular syndrome are varied and the best treatment plan is established depending on the severity of clinical signs, horse’s intended use, and the therapeutic options available. Generally the treatment options can be divided in two groups: medical and surgical. Nonsurgical treatment of Navicular syndrome

FIGURE 4. “Skyline” radiographic views of a Navicular bone of both front feet of the same horse. Notice the difference in bone density and uniformity: in the right front the abnormal Navicular bone shows increase density and irregular bone structure.

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orses

consists of rest, hoof balance and corrective trimming/ shoeing, and medical therapy, including administration of systemic anti-inflammatory medication, medications to improve blood flow to the foot, and Coffin joint and Navicular bursa injections. There are several kind of “navicular shoes” available. Generally a short toe (either through trimming or shoe design) with heel support is the goal. That can be achieved with egg bar, wide-web shoes, or through a shock-absorbing polyurethane plastic shoe (Epona shoes), that has being tested as a successful therapeutic aid. Recently, new therapies, such as acupuncture, extracorporeal shock wave therapy and Tiludronate (Tildren) infusion, have also been used to treat horses with Navicular syndrome. Several studies have been performed in order to evaluate the efficacy of these new treatments. Tildren, in particular, has been proven to be efficacious in terms of decreasing the degenerative process that affects the Navicular bone. In fact, this medication belongs to the bisphosphonate family of drugs that help normalize the metabolism of bone by preventing further resorption. It is important to clarify that, like other treatments, Tildren should be used in conjunction with corrective hoof care and a controlled exercise program, along with a regular and frequent reassessment by a veterinarian. Surgical therapy is usually a last resort to manage the pain caused be degenerative effects of Navicular syndrome. The procedure is a Palmar Digital Neurectomy and consists of cutting the Palmar Digital nerve, the nerve responsible to propagate pain sensation to the foot. Commonly, such a surgical procedure is performed when medical therapy is unsuccessful because it only alleviates the pain and does not prevent or retard progression of the damaging processes. For the best management of a horse diagnosed with Navicular syndrome, a team approach involving the farrier, horse’s owner, trainer and veterinarian should be taken. By employing good shoeing, in combination with appropriate medical care and exercise, most horse’s heel pain can be effectively managed in such a way as to maintain both athletic performance and quality of life.

FIGURE 5. Nuclear Scintigraphy (Bone Scan). Notice diffuse bone inflammation (hot spots indicated by arrows) in the area of both front feet (region of the Navicular bone, coronary band and hoof capsule).

FIGURE 6. Thermography Solar view of the foot. There is evidence of increased heat emission (red area), particularly in the region of the heels and bars of the frog.

For further information, contact the veterinarians and staff of The Equine Center or visit www.TheEquineCenter.com.

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FIGURE 7. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the distal limb of a horse with Navicular syndrome. There is, in both views, evidence of severe Navicular bone defect (see arrows). Photo courtesy: Dr. Carter E. Judy, DVM, Dipl. ACVS; Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center

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Equine Enthusiast

Memorialization

Guest Columnist

How Do I Honor and Remember My Pet?

By Christine Ogorsolka Johnson Of Eden Memorial Pet Care

ow that my friend is gone — how do I move forward and honor their memory? Many people don’t realize that there are many options on how to memorialize the ones they love and have lost in death. Going through the stages of grief will come right away and will be different for each individual. What people don’t talk about is what happens once they reach the acceptance of their companion’s death. Should I just forget and move on? Or should I memorialize them in a special way? At some time, you have probably seen or read the information on the 5 Steps of Grief: Shock (Denial), Anger, Spiritual Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. When talking about grief and loss, you will hear this a lot. Knowing and understanding the stages may help you understand what you are going through; but the actual act of going through it can be crippling. Let’s be honest, it can feel like your heart has been torn from your chest. No one talks about that or how the feeling of numbness can take over your body for days or weeks. Grief is strictly individual and the number one thing to remind yourself when you are going through it is that it’s fine to feel and grieve. A popular concern among our clients is that they feel guilty for grieving so hard for a pet. Maybe they even felt loss more than for a human family member or friend that passed away. Pets are our family and the fact that they provide us with such unconditional love brings us that much closer to them. Find people, who have been through grief, to support you. Help yourself by working through each stage and finding posi-

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tive ways to remember your beloved. One extremely helpful process is that of memorialization. To memorialize is to commemorate or to present a memorial/honor to something. I have seen this to be one of the most effective and helpful processes when someone has lost a pet. “Time will heal”—cliché or not, it is so true. But now what? You are getting through the “stages of grief” and whether you are doing well or having a difficult time an important question to ask yourself is, how do I want to remember my horse? What momento would I like to have or did I save before their death? What are my options in memorializing him/ her? Many people don’t realize that they do have choices with many beautiful and tasteful options to remember their horse: Hoof prints, saving horseshoes, photo boxes or urns, and most popular — jewelry, key chains, display tassels made of a section of your horses mane or tail. Maybe keeping their horse shoes or a section of their mane or tail was too

hard to bare at the time of loss; but now this would be a wonderful item to remember them by. Everyone is an individual and wants to remember in different ways. Here are some ways we at Eden Memorial Pet Care have either helped or seen our clients do in memorializing their horse: Most Popular — Having a section of mane or tail braided and kept for display or made into a piece of jewelry, key chain or display tassel. Saving horseshoes for display in a barn or on an urn or frame. Photo boxes with a few of the horse’s personal items: halter, stable nameplate, hair clipping, show ribbons, etc. Urns — Equine Urns can be of all sizes. An urn for a horse of 1,200 pounds is quite large, but a nice size to attach a large photo tile, engraving, and horseshoes. People usually display an urn of this size in their home or tack room. Smaller urns with just a portion of the horse’s cremains can also be an option. These are nice for a more understated and complimentary piece.

Memorial stones/engravings. This can be invaluable information now even if you haven’t been through the loss of your companion. I can’t tell you how many times a client has said to me, “I didn’t even think to save my horse’s shoes or save a braided section of mane or tail.” At the time you may think this is strange or may have been so griefstricken you were not thinking clearly of how you would want to remember them. You were focused on their care or difficult decisions you might have had to make in a time of haste. Memorializing your best friend is not only a great way to hold memories of them close to your heart; but it is also a beneficial healing process. I have personally seen clients, who have been beyond heartache, but then decided to put together photo boxes (as an example) of their horse’s mementos. Just this process of putting together the special piece helped them heal. It’s now not something that makes them upset; but something they have in a particular place in their home. This memorial brings joy and happiness remembering their special friend, who they were lucky to have in their life. References to above Memorialization Ideas: Tail Spin - www.tailspinbracelets.com; EQ Memories - www. eqmemories.com; Kay Berry Memorial Stones and Benches - www.kayberry.com; Eden Memorial Pet Care – www.edenmemorialpetcare.com

This is Part II of the “How Do I Say Goodbye Series” — If you would like to read Part I. Please refer to Equine Enthusiast’s January edition, or visit Eden Memorial Petcare on Facebook: www.facebook.com/EdenMemorialPetCare.

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Spring Preparedness For Your Equine Partner Barbi Breen-Gurley Of Sea Horse Ranch

pringtime is upon us and with it comes a renewed commitment to the coming year’s activities with our horse. Some riders have continued to ride throughout the winter, keeping their horses in top condition. Others may have given their horses the season off, possibly putting them out in the field and letting their coats grow. In this case, as the weather warms up, so does the messy reality of dutiful grooming to help them shed out their thick winter coat! Springtime is often the time of the year for your spring vaccines, or if you board at a boarding stable, a vaccine clinic may be offered. At Sea Horse Ranch, the usual vaccines we give are E/W, Strangles,

Tetanus, Rabies, Rhino/Flu, and West Nile. For reactive horses, we may split the shots up and give them over a couple of days, or follow up with a Butazolidine to minimize a reaction. For parasite prevention, some people give daily, bi-annually or another schedule of wormer. Some may alternate products to avoid a build-up of worm resistance. Still others will have regular fecal samples done to check if their horse currently has worms. Consult your veterinarian as to which program is best for your horse. This time of year is also a good time to have your horse’s teeth checked by your veterinarian. Regular floating may be sufficient. Or it may be important to have equine dentistry performed, which does a more thorough, overall correction of irregu-

larities in the occlusion. If you have your dental check-up at a specific time each year, you are less inclined to forget it, thereby preventing unnecessary loss of weight or condition for your horse. Some folks pull their horse’s shoes if they are going to give their horses a rest during the winter. Consult with your farrrier about when and what type of shoeing will be best for your intended upcoming use. Hopefully you have kept up with his trims during the lay-off. If your horse has been out to pasture or left in a corral for several months, you must begin your exercise program slowly, gradually building the muscles up. The feeding program may also need adjusting. Remember, all changes with horses must be made slowly so as to not cause stress or colic.

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Guest Columnist Springtime is also a good time to inspect your tack, not only for weak leather points or broken buckles, but also for the correct fit of his saddle. If your horse has gained a lot of weight, you may need to get your saddle adjusted so it doesn’t cause a sore back as you begin getting them back into good physical shape. And finally, if you plan to compete this year, it is helpful to set your goals for your upcoming competition season. Planning ahead with this in mind will help you set up a program that works smoothly for you and your partner. Happy trails ahead!

Barbi Breen-Gurley operates Sea Horse Ranch out of 2566 Sea Horse Lane, Los Osos. She can be reached by email at barbi@ seahorseranch.com or call 805528-0222.

Equine Enthusiast

Guest Columnist

Lee Pitts www.LeePittsbooks.com

anging around renegade livestock all my life has taught me that no matter how bad things get, they can always

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It Could Have Been Worse get worse. For instance, there was the wild bucking bull in Reno decades ago who celebrated Independence Day by jumping over the rodeo arena fence, frightening several hundred onlookers and doing extensive damage before knocking over a portable toilet in the parking lot. The bull of nondescript origin did not just politely tap the modern day outhouse over, he sent it sailing through the air before landing on its roof. When I mentioned the incident to the rodeo contractor who owned the

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renegade bull he replied, “It could of been worse.” “How,” I asked thinking of all the potential lawsuits. “Hey, I could have been the guy inside the toilet at the time.” A similar incident occurred in Billings when a crazy bovine bull dozed his way out of the arena and hid out in the City Park. I am told the entire city went on “full bull alert.” When they finally did catch the bull five weeks later he was renamed, LongTimeNoSee. It could have been worse. It could have been Central Park in New York City instead of Billings and the bull never would have made it out alive. Then there was the Longhorn sale we had at the County Fairgrounds in Elko 25 years, or so, ago. The cattle were docile and so the organizers of the sale saw no need for a very substantial sale ring. For some unknown reason a bull got on the prod and decided to sharpen his horns on the pipe sale ring. He lifted the whole thing up with his horns and ran underneath into a packed set of bleachers. After the bleachers tipped over backwards someone had the presence of mind to open the door of the sale pavilion. The bull saw his opening and ran through the door and on to Interstate 80. After the incident the sale manager told me, “it could’ve been a lot worse. Luckily this is the cow town of Elko and people around here are used to having the freeway blocked by cattle. It could have been a more booming metropolis, like Winnemucca, for instance.” By far the worst renegade I’ve ever seen was a big bad bull at the Arizona National in Phoenix one

year. This bull had been meaner than a biting boar all his life and really should not have been brought to town. Especially a town with so many freeways! A bee got in the bull’s bonnet and the show bull went berserk, clearing several fences before proceeding the wrong way down Interstate 17 headed for Flagstaff. Alex, who is a friend of mine with no shortage of sand in his craw, took off like a cut cat, jumping into the back of the pickup, and yelling for another friend to get in and drive. They sped after the riled and ringy bull and caught up with him about Prescott. But not before driving over median strips, big boulders, and generally creating fifty miles of highway in the desert that did not exist prior. The skillful driver was able to wheel the truck next to the bull who then rammed the side of the new pickup with his hard head. Several times in fact. With one swing of his loop Alex ably got a rope on the bull and dallied to the broken bumper. The new truck now looked like it had just been in a demolition derby... and lost! Later when Alex returned to Phoenix as the conquering cowboy hero I referred to the terrifying incident. “It could have been worse,” said Alex. “You mean it could have been your bull,” I joked. “No,” said Alex. “It could have been my truck.”

For more of Pitts’ writing, visit www.LeePittsbooks.com.

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A Cowboy’s Dilemma

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nd ardate ho Jack Varian rtOf V6 Ranch in Parkfield ke of Your cowboy talk show host has herdecided to not invite the two sides edrepresenting the issue I’m going to ndput before you all. It’s so fraught ott.with rancor and animosity that to bring them here face-to-face might an cause a reenactment of the shootout llyat the O.K. Corral. The dilemma is to hefind a reasonable solution to the wild horse problem that is fast becoming toone of colossal and out of control prohoportions and can no longer be swept ewunder a rug, for there’s no rug big ralenough. his For me this whole wild horse program is so absolutely absurd that ull I’m going to do what a moderator of er.a debate is not supposed to do, that is adtake sides. I’m going to take the side ndof common sense, logic, and one that creates a sustainable plan that treats tothe mustang and the environment oyfairly. To you animal rights people ci-that support the cruel treatment of the wild horse through confinement and starvation on our federal lands, idyou strident, narrow-minded individuals who can’t understand that when uryou create a mono culture everything you are trying to accomplish Mother veNature will defeat. Mother Nature wants complexity, meaning many different biological groups living in symsitbiotic relationships. That’s not what’s happening on our western rangeland today because of your devilish efforts. It all started back in the 1970s, a

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Guest Columnist lady called Wild Horse Annie convinced our United States Congress that if they didn’t act immediately the wild horse, this icon of our western heritage, would pass from the scene. Well, what politician worth his salt could vote against this symbol of the freedom that we all cherish so dearly. A bill was introduced to the U.S. Congress and passed with enough rules to protect the horse so that they might live forever on their home on the range. But reality raised its ugly head and we now find that we have more than 49,000 mustangs in long- and short-term (feedlots). I thought these folks abhor feedlots. I guess it’s OK if it’s mustangs. In addition, the openrange population doubles every four years and is expected to be more than 60,000 by 2015. Last fiscal year holding cost just for the horses that are in short- and long-term care cost $46 million of a $70 million budget and Obama’s budget for fiscal year 2015 is $80 million. There seems to be no end to the lunacy of these activists as the lawsuits they file in our courts seem to prevail thwarting any attempts by the Bureau of Land Management or the Forest Service to start the process of bring a modicum of reasonableness to this ongoing calamity. I have a few ideas that to me seem reasonable. Why not grant the same privileges to the mustang and burro that all our domestic horses have. Like they can be bought and sold and there worth will be decided between willing buyers and sellers. People that would abuse these horses and burros will have the same penalties handed to them as to the domestic horse and the wild horse won’t be arbitrarily branded with some code known to an eclectic few. So who will represent We the People? How about the Department of the Interior that presently manages all of the land that We the

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People own? Let’s make this department live by its policy of multiple uses. This rule, which allows hunters to hunt, campers to camp, fisherman to fish, cattle, horses and sheep to graze, timber to be harvested, hikers to hike, etc, etc. on our very big ranches. The hired hands would manage by giving full consideration to the whole ecosystem when decisions are made and no more laws will be made using only feel good emotional knowledge that serves but a selfish few. There is some hope on the horizon. Last December the Nevada Association of Counties and the Nevada Farm Bureau filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in Reno, Nevada,

claiming that the mustang and burro population have grossly exceeded appropriate management levels at the expense of the rangeland and the horses and burros themselves. So with much trepidation as to what the courts might do to stop this madness, I hope that common sense will be their guiding light when they decide the fate of the ecosystems on public lands. I hope our country isn’t spawning nitwits faster than witty ones. See Ya.

Jack Varian is the owner of the V6 Ranch in Parkfield. His blog can be found at http://blog. v6ranch.com/.

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