Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2015 i Horse & Rider

Buck No More Bucking (page 58 ) is only fun for bronc riders. For more on this largely unwanted equine behavior, see “The Buck Stops Here” at the Web site. On Our Blogs For her first post-college job, Editor-at-Large Juli Thorson “got to talk about horses all day and get paid for it.” She recounts her lucky break. Snakebite! Do you live in an area with poisonous snakes that could strike your horses? Be prepared, by reviewing “How to Treat Snakebite.” Digest This For details on the raw ingredients that go into modern commercial feeds, go to the Web site for “Horse Feed: What’s in It?” Join the Herd! We love hearing from you! Send all high-resolution images for Conformation Clinic; Problem Solvers questions; and any feedback, ideas, photos, and…

All Ears I really enjoyed the way you likened people to horses in “Ears…Up?” (This Horse Life, March 2015). It’s pretty amazing how we’re so much alike. I’d like to think that I am an ears-up type: helpful, kind, friendly, and making life better for others. JOANNA KINGERY, Wisconsin Call the Dentist I am writing to express disappointment in your response to the question posed by a reader asking what to do about her older gelding that’s dropping wads of grass in the field. (Your Horse, Your Life, “Health”, January 2015.) Your response was that her horse isn’t getting enough nutrition and to increase his senior feed to 10 to 12 pounds a day. When a horse drops wads of grass, that means he can’t chew it! Why didn’t you…

Details: 2010 POA gelding by Docs Good N Tuff and out of Docs Honky Tonk Lil, by CHR Tigers Tough Eagle. Barn name: Toby. Owned and shown by: Kaitlyn Dickmann of George, Iowa. Looks to love: We chose Toby for his friendly look. Dickmann describes him as the leading man in her life. She laughs, “He’s a lover. He loves attention and is really photogenic.” Class clown: “He’s a clown,” Dickmann says. “Once, I let him out of his stall to play in the trainer’s arena and he grabbed their dog’s bed. He ran around with it, threw it in the air, and kneeled on it.” He’s not afraid of anything. “If I let him, he’ll play with plastic bags and tarps; he destroys them.” Game face: “He can be…

Your horse misses markers. He swings his hips when he stops. The worst: His hoof clips your foot, causing you to stumble and fall. You’ve decided that showmanship at halter just might not be your horse’s event. Before you jump to that conclusion, closely examine each of those statements. Each of them blames your horse for your showmanship woes. But here’s the thing: Each of these problems is more likely to be caused by your position alongside your horse than by his unwillingness to cooperate. Here I’ll give you showmanship-position pointers to solve your pattern woes. 1 Let’s start with the view from the front. You can see that the handler is pulling her horse’s head down and toward her. This causes numerous problems. First, it puts an arc in…

DePaolo Equine Concepts Have you missed a competition, clinic, or trail ride due to your horse suffering from health issues? This is frustrating and costly. Horse owners often battle such equine difficulties as body soreness, nervousness, and unhealthy hooves because they are unable to find the root of the problem. Horse Hair Analysis™ can help explain the actual cause of these challenges. Today’s equine health setbacks are commonly nutritionally related. Mineral deficiencies or the presence of heavy metals can cause chronic discomfort and attitude problems. Horse Hair Analysis™ provides an extremely accurate profile of a horse’s biochemistry and is more accurate than blood testing for nutrition-related concerns. The HHA report explains how each mineral/metal affects the body and identifies common symptoms and levels outside the normal range. A proper feed…

BLESS MOMS AT HORSE SHOWS, GYMKHANAS, trail rides—heck, even just days spent at the barn—for their assigned name is taken in vain far too many times by their young riders. Now that I have kids of my own, I’m oft en reminded of the many intonations of “Mom” heard around arenas and horse trailers. I have to say, I don’t look forward to the paybacks, because I know I doled out more than my fair share of the following types of hollering, sniping, or weeping, “Mom.” Tone Defines the Meaning Here are just a few examples of the many forms saying the word “mom” takes, as defined by the speaker’s tone of voice. Demanding. It’s unfortunate, but the stress of a horse event can bring out the worst in a…

No Biting! I’m a lifelong horseman, writing in reference to “Then…He Bit Me!” (You Said It!, March 2015). Outside of being mean, a horse bites for one reason: to show dominance. Spend a week or so in a pasture watching horses interact with each other, and you’ll see that a bite usually comes from a more dominant horse telling other horses to move or “leave me alone.” Any trainer will tell you to never let a horse get away with biting you. John Lyons says you have to scare that horse into thinking he’s going to die if he ever does it again. Lessons to be learned to avoid bites: Never get between two squabbling horses; always pay attention for warning signs (a tail twitching sharply, the ears going back,…

They’re out there, and they may think hanging around your horse set-up is a good idea. We’re talking wild creatures, and what you can safely do about them. Here, we’ll give you some general tips for making your place less critter-attractive, then offer some specific advice regarding certain species. First, to discourage wildlife visitations, think “clean, clear.” To the extent possible, keep your barn and surrounding area free of anything that might serve as food or shelter for a wild animal. Sweep up spilt grain and stray hay bits; remove stashed-in-a-corner clutter that might be shredded and turned into bedding; clear brush and piles of lumber from around your barn. Limit water sources to those needed for your horses. Then, as an active deterrent, keep barn cats. They’ll help limit…

Here’s a piece of trail-riding advice you can count on: The best way to find your next favorite place to ride is to ask another rider for his or hers. We did that very thing, asking readers to tell us about their ultimate-faveriding areas. And wow—what a riding trip we got to take, just by reading the glowing reports! The 15 finalists are spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from north to south. The riding ranges from easy to challenging, with enough variety in terrain and scenery to satisfy just about anyone. What’s more, all these areas are open to the public, and have the welcome mat out for horse use. To learn more about any area, including rules of use, fees, reservations (if required), and directions, simply…

HIS & HERS Model: Crowley jacket. Maker: Carhartt. Why buy: It’s water-repellent, wind-resistant, and made of four-way-stretchable fabric to keep you protected in springtime’s wet, cold weather. Cool features: Available in his-and-hers variations with custom adjustment at the hood (available with or without), bottom hem, and cuffs. More info: (800) 833-3118; carhartt.com. Price: Price varies by gender and size, starting from $119.99. CLASSY RIDER Model: Split-tail rain jacket. Maker: Kerrits. Why buy: Lightweight, waterproof, and breathable, the jacket also has long tails that provide additional protection and are easily tied up by the attached magnets. Cool feature: The feminine-fit shell is available in three colors: sunset, peacock, and black. More info: (800) 274-7946; kerrits.com. Price: $109 KEEPIN’ IT LIGHT Model: Under Armour girls’ popover rain shell. Maker: SmartPak. Why buy:…

I’LL ADMIT IT: WHEN IT COMES TO COMPETItion, I’m a ritual freak. That’s because on some level, I believe (or would like to think) my rituals bring me luck. Or, that if I break a ritual, it’ll bring bad luck. Is that superstition? Some psychologists call my behavior “magical thinking.” One thing’s for sure: My rituals, superstitions, and/or magical thinking have their roots in Grade A anxiety. Yup, I get nervous when I show, or when I watch my horse or Gus, our dog, being shown by a pro. And that’s resulted in borderline obsessive pre-show, um, routines. Pocket Angels For example, I put my left boot on first. Always. Ditto with my left spur (and my horse’s left bell boot). I’m not alone. My trainer, world champion hunter rider…

Q I have a laminitis-prone Morgan mare. I keep her trim but not underweight. She’s in a stall with a paddock; I ride her 12 to 25 miles per week. I feed her one scoop of a low-carb complete feed daily, plus unlimited grass hay. She lost weight over the winter, though I blanketed her for warmth. How can I put a little weight on her this summer, and what about next winter? PAM COUNTERMAN BIRDSELL, California A While weight loss is typically due to lack of calories or sometimes quality protein, it’s important to eliminate other possibilities such as dental issues, internal parasites, or low-grade pain. Have your veterinarian examine your mare. If she gets a clean bill of health, look for ways to increase her calorie intake. I…

An attractive wild rag from Cowboy Images is functional both in and out of the show pen. Choose your favorite pattern and fabric to keep warm or to spice up a Western or ranch-riding class outfit. More info: $62; (208) 731-3621; cowboywildrags.com. Scarf-Style Tip The minimalist rules for ranch riding attire might have you wondering how to spice it up. A patterned scarf is a simple fix. Here’s a quick guide to aid with your fabric selection. Cotton is easy to clean and care for, breathable, and often less expensive than other options, but it doesn’t wick moisture well. Polyester is more durable than cotton so will last longer, at the expense of some comfort due to lack of breathability. Silk is lightweight, supple, and absorbent. Because it insulates well,…

Karen Banister Banister has been a carded judge for APHA since 1994. She’s also carded with ApHC, AQHA, NSBA, and PtHA. She’s judged the APHA Youth World Championships and the European APHA Championships, as well as the German and Italian Quarter Horse Championships. Banister and her husband, Marc, started White Harvest Farms in Brighton, Colorado, in 1986. It operates as a breeding, training, boarding, and lesson facility. They coach riders, and breed and train Paints and Quarter Horses for nationallevel competition. They enjoy training national and regional champion hunters and team roping horses. In a class of mares, I look for feminine characteristics, but more importantly, I look for a horse that’s most balanced and structurally correct. A mare should have symmetry that makes her appealing to the eye. She…

WHIZARDS BABYDOLL (Whizard Jac x Boot Scootin Dolly), aka “Roxy,” Stacy Westfall’s mare. She seemed truly to love reining and being Stacy’s partner. The bareback/bridleless performance that brought her to fame was stunning—and heartwarming. Megan D’Andrea, Ohio WINNING SCOTCH (“Jax”), my own 11-year-old gelding. He’s patient, forgiving, and gentle, and he takes care of me, his 60-plus-yearold rider. (Also he’s “famous” at open shows for his excellent all-around performance.) Beth Morgan, Wisconsin DOC BAR (Lightning Bar x Dandy Doll). Racehorse-bred and a champion at halter, he went on to revolutionize the world of performance horses as a sire. Nell Russell, California FILLINIC (Arizona Junie x Alouette). What a mare! That little spitfire was the founding dam of the Ward Ranch legacy of cow horses. Sheila Johnson, California HARLEY, my…