Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2018 i Horse & Rider

“DON’T EVER SELL your saddle.” It’s a cowboy adage, a line of a poem, and a verse in a country song. And it’s true for many of us who live a Western horse life. If you’re like me, it also applies to bridles, bits, reins, spurs…almost any piece of tack or gear. If it doesn’t wear out, break, or somehow get lost, it’s probably still in my tack room. Riders are tack collectors for a variety of reasons. Over the last 10 issues, we’ve highlighted a handful of gear assortments in our My Collection page at the back of the magazine. From chinks to show pads to bits to spurs, there are reasons we hold on to tack and gear. In this issue, we highlight a variety of tack-related subjects,…

Renew Your Cowgirl Spirit Authentic cattle drives and scenic trail rides with four National Cowgirl Museum Hall of Famers, who embody the cowgirl way of life, are just some of the things you’ll experience during your time at The Resort at Paws Up (pawsup.com). “Our Cowgirl Spring Roundup is for any woman who wants to be refreshed and renew her cowgirl spirit,” owner Nadine Lipson explains. TRAVEL Mont. WHERE Greenough, Montana WHAT Cowgirl Spring Roundup WHEN April 26–29…

➞ If you approach a lead change with your horse’s head looking in the direction of the lead he’s on, he must move his head, neck, and shoulders when you cue for the lead change. It’s almost as if he must uncurl his entire body to change his arc before he can change leads. For a more polished lead change, manage your horse’s shoulders and ribcage during your approach with this counter-bend exercise. Ride with two hands to start. Work in an arena with plenty of room for long, straight lines and circling off the line when necessary. The instructions work from a left lead to a right lead. Swap to work on your right-to-left change. One First, try the counter-bend from a stop. This way you can get the…

Looking for an accessible wilderness adventure? Hitch up and head to Pecos Wilderness, a 223,667-acre designated wilderness area located within the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests in northern New Mexico’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains at the southern end of the vast Rocky Mountains. Designated wilderness is the highest level of conservation protection for federal lands; these areas allow us to experience nature in its original essence. The Pecos rambles over high country: Elevation ranges from 7,000 to 13,000 feet. This is also a remote, rugged area—a land of high valleys, mountain peaks, sapphire mountain lakes, rushing streams, quaking aspen, pine forests, and glorious panoramic views. Nestled in this wilderness paradise, awaiting your and your horse’s arrival, is Jack’s Creek Horse Camp; from here, you can ride from your horse…

IN APRIL of last year, I’d just flown home from a speaking engagement. I drove from the airport to rodeo practice where I coached a few high school girls. My little sister was a part of this group and had my young horse saddled for me. I had ridden this filly for a few weeks, and she was ready to come out of the round pen and have new experiences. This was day three in the arena with all the rodeo girls. Buck, Snort…Ouch We finished barrel practice and were ready to move on to breakaway roping. As I waited for my girls to switch horses and be ready, one girl dropped her rope near me. My filly jumped and snorted at the rope. I knew she was rather spooky,…

➞ THIS IS a well-suited class of aged Paint mares, though at a horse show, they’d all be presented standing square, which is the best reference point to compare and accurately analyze their angles. At a show, I’d also be able to walk around and see them from every viewpoint, but I’ll give my best assessment based on what I can see in these photos. As a judge, I follow guidelines in breed-specific rulebooks. My experiences as a trainer, coach, buyer, and exhibitor also give me a sense of how structure and soundness relate to each other and what works in a performance program. My eye is slanted toward performance ability. I strongly believe the mare is integral to a breed’s positive proliferation. In judging mares, it’s critical to look…

If you’d rather leave your horse at home and be pampered, book a room at Los Pinos Guest Ranch (lospinosranch.com), located in Terrero, just a short distance from Jack’s Creek Horse Camp. This is a place for reflection, the simple life, and immersing in nature. Riding trails wander through pine and aspen forests and across high mountain meadows. Built as a private residence in the early 1900s, the ranch began accepting guests in 1923. We spoke with the current owners, the brother-sister team of Bill and Alice McSweeney. Their parents bought the place in 1965. Bill and Alice grew up here, helping their parents run the ranch. With room for just 12 guests, you’ll feel as though you’re staying at the original private country house. Gather on the ranch’s front…

The Collector: Smith Fork Ranch Crawford, Colorado The Collection: Tucked between a few trees, next to the warm-up pen at Smith Fork Ranch, sits a small wooden shed filled with rows of colorful cowboy boots that are ready for guests to use during their visit. What started out as a small collection of gently used boots for the ranch’s first-time riders to wear during their trail rides has turned into three walls filled with boots ranging in size and style for riders of all ages. Smith Fork Ranch has continued to build its collection from visitors who’ve stayed with them over the years. Once their trip comes to an end and they no longer need their cowboy boots, they leave them with the ranch to help other guests without protective footwear stay safe…

If you think your horse has been exposed to disease, isolate him from other equines. “Normally, within 24 to 48 hours of exposure, infected horses begin to demonstrate coughing, fever, depression, and decreased feed intake,” says Dr. Kevin Hankins, senior technical services veterinarian with Zoetis. He recommends you touch base with your vet; then if signs of sickness do appear, your vet can move quickly to diagnose the illness and begin treatment. Keep germs from spreading by following biosecurity practices (review the steps at HorseandRider.com). Monitor Your Horse temperature Take your horse’s temperature twice daily and report readings over 101.5˚F to your vet. food, water Check regularly to make sure your horse is eating and drinking as he normally does. demeanor Watch your horse’s behavior and attitude, as depression is…

An irritated horse is not a happy horse. Poor tack fit can lead to a host of physical and behavioral issues, so be sure your horse’s gear fits and is well adjusted. Saddle, Pad, Cinch Signs of poor saddle fit include tender areas you can identify when grooming; unexplained dry spots under the pad at unsaddling; resistance during saddling or riding; or actual rubs, sores, or white hairs at pressure points. A too-narrow saddle tree will pinch your horse’s back; a too-wide tree will allow pressure on his vertebrae. Assessing saddle fit requires experience; if need be, seek guidance from an expert (saddle retailers may offer fitting services). Good saddle pads and blankets can increase your horse’s comfort during riding, but they can’t compensate for a poorly fitting saddle. Your…

➞ Your trail saddle must fit your horse well and allow him to do his job. It also needs to complement your trail-riding needs. Here I’ll help you select (or make sure you already own) the right trail saddle for your horse and for the particular type of trail riding you do. First I’ll give you saddle-fit tips. Then I’ll explain how the saddle’s tree can help or hinder your horse’s performance—and how each tree type suits a specific purpose. Finally I’ll give you a rundown of add-ons designed to help secure your saddle over challenging terrain. Find a Fit Evaluating saddle fit is both an art and a science, but you can look for clues of poor fit yourself. Pressure-point indicators include uneven sweat patterns, white hairs, and back…

Conditioning your horse for the trail means strengthening both his body and his mind. A strong, balanced horse will climb steep hills with confidence, step down to water crossings with agility, and be well-equipped to tackle other challenging trail obstacles. An unconditioned, ill-prepared, worried horse will tend to falter on the trail and question your leadership abilities. Ready to plan your horse’s spring conditioning program—for mental and physical preparedness? Here we’ll give you conditioning plans for a young (green) horse and for well-trained, mature horse. Young-Horse Conditioning Young horses don’t have the skills and experience to balance well when traveling on steep or slippery footing. They also haven’t been exposed to on-trail sights, sounds, and smells. As you condition your young horse, choose terrain that won’t cause him to lose…

When competing in events like horsemanship, you must sit quietly while guiding your horse. There’s no room for wildly flapping legs, heavy-handed reining, or exaggerated cues. That said, no matter how sensitive your horse is to your cues, you can’t be a mannequin propped up on top of your mount. You must have a connection with your horse in any riding event you choose, whether competitive or recreational. When you can cue your horse quietly and invisibly, there’s no doubt that you’re a more effective rider. To achieve subtle communication with your horse, there are three principles to keep in mind. I’ll detail these first, and then tell you how to implement them in four drills—two for speed control and two for steering—that’ll help perfect your cues. Three Principles START…