Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2018 i Horse & Rider

THE PAST YEAR has been full of change for the Horse&Rider team. Twelve issues ago, we were about to launch a major redesign of the magazine, incorporating new ideas, a refreshed look, and a more modern take on what “horse life” means. I can tell you it was scary. But our team came together and marched confidently forward into H&R’s new future. Looking back, I’m not so sure what we were worried about. (Easy to say when you’re almost a year past it.) With that evolution, our brand has continued to move forward and explore new things. LIVE, FROM H&R HQ We’ve all heard about Facebook’s algorithm changes (that strike fear into publishers’ hearts), the allegations of misuse of data, and other concerns about the social media platform that we…

WE HEAR YOU No Cotton Base Layers I’ve subscribed to Horse&Rider for many years. I’ve valued the information in each issue and considered it to be true and the based on the latest research. In the March issue, however, “Handle Trail Emergencies” suggested using a cotton base layer. No; this is wrong. In cold conditions, if you wear a cotton base layer, you run the risk of hypothermia. Anne Hunter Editor’s note: Thanks for pointing out this mistake. We asked Eli Bernstein, Gear Editor for our sister publication Backpacker magazine, for his advice. “Synthetic and merino wool base layers are the go-tos for active pursuits,” he shares. “Synthetics will dry faster than wool and run a bit cooler (there are synthetic base layers that are very warm, though). They’re more…

Don’t Miss This explore. Drive 40 minutes to the coast to tour 1. Hearst Castle; you might even catch a glimpse of some zebras in the pasture. On your way back to the fairgrounds, stop by 2. San Simeon and observe the elephant seals that are known to frequent the area. eat. A crowd favorite for exhibitors after a long day is the 3. Firestone Walker Taproom where you can grab a craft beer with a nice dinner. Or enjoy some fresh fish at 4. The Naked Fish. For dessert, walk across the street from the fairgrounds to 5. Margie’s Diner and order an old-fashioned malted milkshake. do. Saddle up with 6. Hanging Heart Ranch to experience Paso Robles wine country from the back of a horse at 7. Pomar Junction…

Struggling to find a saddle pad that fits your horse just right? Look for a pad that offers customizable features like this pad from Total Saddle Fit ($269.95; totalsaddlefit.com). This wool saddle pad has a cutback design over the withers to remove any downward pressure, and is paired with a 1½-inch open-channel, vented topline to eliminate any pressure on your horse’s spine. It also features a cutaway at the base of the pad so you can comfortably keep your leg at your horse’s side. TIP The pockets on each side of the pad, under the saddle, allow for a vast arrangement of shim options to customize your saddle’s fit.…

Equine Laminitis, a comprehensive reference book dedicated to the complex disease of its title, recommends the use of cryotherapy (cold therapy) as a preventive and treatment for laminitis. Ice boots that provide cushioning and support to the entire sole surface are an ideal option for decreasing the delivery of blood-borne toxins that trigger the enzymatic destruction of the laminae inside the hoof.…

In my many years of coaching amateurs and youths, I’ve found feel to be the hardest thing to teach a rider. To communicate effectively through the reins, you must ride with soft hands that have a lot of feel. No one can describe that feel to you, however—you must experience it for yourself. Yet riders can go for years without realizing what their hands must do make that sense of feel possible. The simple exercises I’ll describe to you here will help. They’ll set you up to follow the movement of your horse’s head and neck with your hands and arms, a basic building block of feel. Riders are often told to keep their hands “quiet,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean still. It all depends on your horse’s movement. These…

To prepare for your busy riding schedule, you’ve committed to getting into better shape. You start a new diet, ramp up your workout routine, and get more disciplined about riding. After a few weeks, you’re exhausted, your motivation wanes, and you find yourself back where you started—feeling defeated. With your horse, you know that if you try to fix everything at once, nitpicking at every small mistake, he’ll get overwhelmed and not progress. Is that the approach you take when you make changes to your own lifestyle? You try to overhaul your nutrition, exercise routine, and activity level all at once and wonder why you struggle—just like your horse would. Instead, focus on one change at a time. Here I’ll share 30 manageable adjustments you can make to your nutrition,…

The Collector: Debbie Cooper Scottsdale, Arizona The Collection: A horse trainer’s tack collection says a lot about how a professional’s career developed. Cooper’s tack collection, part of which is shown here, is a perfect example of her West Coast upbringing. “None of these pieces [headstall, bit, and romal reins] are particularly old,” Cooper shares. “But they’re authentic and handmade by craftsmen in the true vaquero style. It’s the same equipment I showed with when I was growing up and use to this day.” The headstall with silver ferrules and the silver, half-breed bit with Santa Barbara shanks were gifts from an appreciative client. Her custom-made, multi-colored romal reins were braided by Steve Guitron. Cooper notes, “The romals are very unique and have a great feel.” SHARE YOUR COLLECTION! Send a high-resolution photo…

CROSSFIRING—WHEN YOUR HORSE is on the wrong lead behind—will get you a penalty in many events. But in working cow horse, the penalty costs more than points; it can cost your safety and that of your horse. Falling out of lead behind while working a cow, especially when circling up, puts your horse off balance during a high-speed task. Here I’ll share a two-part exercise to improve your body control to keep your horse in lead behind and safely positioned on the cow. When your horse falls out of lead behind, you might be tempted to focus on maneuvering his hind end, which makes sense. But you might not think about the importance of controlling your horse’s shoulders to prevent crossfiring. Without shoulder control, your horse starts to lean toward…

In a perfect world, we’d have a gourmet chef to cook us delicious and nutritious meals, a personal trainer to keep us motivated, and all the time we need to exercise and ride to our heart’s content. Life doesn’t work like that for most of us, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on balancing fitness, life, and horses. We talked to six active, successful riders who also happen to prioritize their own health with that of their horse. Here’s how they do it—and how you can too. Lauren Wolfe Bryan, Texas Lauren is a project manager, mother to a 19-month-old child, riding instructor, and former all-around competitor. She rides for pleasure and to prepare her horses for her young charges. She’s also completing training to be a Fit…

Riding Makes Kids Smarter? We know horses boost a child’s confidence and sense of responsibility. Now a 2017 study out of Japan says horseback riding improves youngsters’ learning ability, too. Researchers say the horses’ movements help activate the children’s sympathetic nervous systems, which can lead to better memory, learning, and problem solving. The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, asked children to complete simple response tests before and after taking part in horseback riding. LARGE RIDER? CHOOSE A LARGE HORSE Are you as fit as you could be—especially considering the size of your horse? A pilot study out of the U.K. indicates that high rider-to-horse body-weight ratios can cause a horse discomfort and even temporary lameness (nationalequineforum.com). Looking for ways to better your fitness? Find reader fitness tips on…

WHERE Paso Robles, California WHAT NRCHA Paso Robles Derby WHEN June 10-17 Surrounded by more than 200 wineries and situated in the heart of reined cow horse country, families attend the Paso Robles Derby to watch 4- and 5-year-old horses compete at the top of their game for juicy paychecks. “Most of these horses have competed at the Snaffle Bit Futurity; they’re fresh, yet know their jobs and have so many great years ahead of them,” shares National Reined Cow Horse Association communications manager Stephanie Duquette. The derby offers nine divisions, giving riders of all levels the chance to compete, and the venue sits a half hour away from the ocean. The added money and beautiful scenery aren’t the only things that draw riders from all over the country to…

When you train a maneuver correctly from the beginning, you have a much better chance of that horse performing it correctly throughout a lengthy career. A solid foundation gives you a basis to grow from and reduces the likelihood of your horse developing bad habits. This holds especially true for rollbacks. In these photos, I’ll demonstrate my process for training rollbacks in young horses on my 3-year-old mare. I’m riding two-handed in a snaffle bit at this phase and will progress to one-handed riding, whether in split reins or romals. Note that you can’t rush rollback training. A great rollback isn’t hurried! One I teach rollbacks near a fence. By staying a horse length away from the arena’s fence, I’m close enough to use it as a guide without confining…

Before you use draw reins, or any of the other similar setups shown here, check these points. • Check your snaps. If the connections to the reins or anywhere else on the piece are rusty or don’t look reliable, replace them before using the piece of tack. • Pay attention to your horse. If he’s never been confined in this manner, be careful with your hands and ready for his response. I always back my horses up a few steps from the ground to test their response before getting on to ride. • Be prepared if he raises his head quickly, in an attempt to resist. Give him his head and take it back slowly. • If you’re at all worried about using draw reins, seek help from a professional…