Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2015 i Horse & Rider

Q I worry about enteroliths. The stable where my horse is boarded feeds alfalfa or alfalfa-mix hay, and I’ve heard alfalfa can be a factor in stone formation. What are the warning signs, and how can I keep an enterolith from forming in my gelding? JENNIFER VAUGHN, California A Enteroliths are formed from plant and mineral concretions within a horse’s digestive tract. Typically located in the large or small colon, they’re similar to gallstones in people and can lead to obstruction, resulting in signs of colic. Equine enterolithiasis is strongly associated with specific regions of the country; your state, California, has the highest incidence by far (Texas and Florida are distant seconds). According to a 1999 study, approximately 27.5 percent of horses undergoing abdominal surgery for colic at U.C. Davis…

Decade of Service The cause: Tough Enough to Wear Pink is a nationally recognized campaign that provides a framework for Western events to promote breast cancer awareness and fundraise locally. TETWP’s efforts have raised over $12 million to date. The item: The 10th-anniversary sweatshirt from Tough Enough to Wear Pink pays tribute to the campaign’s decade of service in style with a feminine, wide-neck design and bottom drawstring. Bonus: Find more products in the Tough Enough to Wear Pink line at toughenoughstore.com. More info: $40; (866) 910-7465. Rein in Cancer The non-profit began as a way to fund the Shirley Bowman Nutrition Center, which is a facility that provides nutritional education and support to cancer patients. In 2012, the initiative redirected its spending to focus on supporting cancer patients/competitors in…

Sandy Curl Curl started judging in 4-H. After her success as a youth at state- and national-level events, she was hired to judge local shows. She’s made a career of it, holding cards with APHA, NSBA, PtHA, ApHC, and PHBA, among others. Curl has judged at national and international world shows, and other premier events. She and her sister own a boarding facility where she teaches multi-discipline riding lessons. Curl is a 4-H team coach; her husband is a horse shoer; and her daughter, Shannon, trains horses. Curl says she “has the perfect life.” She enjoys judging great horses, meeting new people, and traveling. In any halter class, I assess balance and quality first, but I also look at the flow of the entire picture; a horse should look complete.…

One of the most stressful parts of dealing with a surgical colic case is the financial side. Of course you want to do what’s best for your horse, but who has the cash to pay for surgery? Most surgical facilities require at least a partial payment up front, with full payment required before your horse goes home. And most colic surgeries will result in a bill that’s at least $5,000, if not more. Unless you’re rolling in the dough, you should have a plan in place to cover those expenses before emergency strikes—so that your decision whether to take your horse to surgery when he needs it isn’t controlled by finances. Consider one of these three strategies. Savings Plan: Establish an emergency fund in a separate bank account, with money…

Have you ever asked yourself why you have your horse shod? Is it because you always have? Or because all your friends’, competitors’, or peers’ horses are shod? Or maybe because you believe (or somebody has told you) that your horse has bad feet and must wear shoes? Under the right circumstances, many horses can go barefoot, as long as their owners are armed with knowledge to make the right decision. Here we’ll examine the benefits of going without metal shoes, give insight into how to transition your horse away from shoes (if it’s right for him), and review three cases of owners who transitioned to barefoot or decided to stay with shoes. We’ll also detail some hoofwear products available to protect the feet of horses without metal shoes. Advantages…

The attention you pay to your horse’s care and training shouldn’t stop when he’s out of the arena and put up in his stall. A stalled horse needs special consideration of his surroundings to ensure that he’s kept safe and out of trouble in his home. Here are four safety factors to consider that’ll help you provide a safe living situation for your horse. Buy quality. Purchasing a lower-cost latch will save money initially, but if it’s easily bent or broken, or corrodes over time, you’ll have to replace it more frequently. Instead buy a quality steel latch that’ll last and give you peace of mind that your horse is secure in his stall. Minimize protrusions. A lock that extends out beyond the door’s surface can easily catch on your…

Seeing the Future “VISIONARY” IS A PRETTY BIG WORD. USED COR-rectly, the title comes with a lot of clout and responsibility. It’s not just about creatively working with what’s going on now; it includes seeing what’s coming in the distance, in a way predicting the future, and working toward that. During her 40 years in equine publishing, Juli Torson has made a name for herself doing just that across breeds, disciplines, and all things “horse.” She’s lived it, breathed it, predicted trends about it, and written it—all for the devoted readership of the magazines she’s served. So when a colleague suggested she be nominated for the American Horse Publications’ Equine Industry Vision Award, we found ourselves on a mission to recognize Juli for her vision that’s built H&R. A Speechless…

Details: 2006 AQHA mare by Investing Wisely and out of Zips Last Investment, by The Impressive Zippo. Barn name: Annie. Owned and shown by: Steve Wardlow of Lufkin, Texas. Trained and shown by: Nancy Cahill of Madisonville, Texas. Dependable dame: Wardlow explains, “In Texas, summer’s really hot. If you want to ride, you have to get it done early in the day. She’s one that you can take out first, when it’s still completely dark, and know she won’t spook.” Game-face routine: “She’s a pleasure to show because it doesn’t take her long to get warmed up for a class,” Wardlow shares. “When she travels, she has a lot of energy right out of the trailer. We longe her so she can play and buck around, and then she’ll be…

Sitting centered in the saddle while riding straight lines or around corners makes or breaks your horse’s response—no matter your discipline. Your brain might tell you that you’re sitting squarely in the middle, but you probably have more weight to the right or left . This confuses your horse, because he’s getting one signal from your hands and legs and another from your seat. If you lean in one direction, you’ll find that your horse drift s off a straight path, resists as you go around a corner, or pushes when you travel a circle. This exercise will help you determine if you’re a “right rider” (lean to the right) or a “left rider” (lean to the left ) so that you can squareup your position. Grab 10 markers to…

IT’S FEEDING TIME. Problem is, your horse isn’t interested in dinner. “Uh-oh,” you think. “Trigger usually beats down the door when food arrives. Something isn’t right.” On close inspection you notice that he’s made a mess of the bedding in his stall, and there’s almost no manure in his paddock. Not only that, his eye is swollen and he has a scrape on his head. Before you even have time for a closer look, Trigger has thrown himself on the ground and started rolling violently. Your horse is colicking—and badly. You might’ve experienced colic episodes in the past when your horse refused to eat, started pawing and looking back at his side, or even tried to go down and roll. Your vet might’ve come to the farm, and might even…

Easyboot Glove: A slim, form-fitting boot ideal for the well-maintained barefoot hoof. It’s best fitted on a fresh trim. Power Straps (sold separately) are recommended for aggressive riding, hilly terrain, and muddy conditions. Light and compact, the boot can be heat-fit to customize to individual hoofs, and is a favorite among endurance competitors. Easyboot Trail: Simple to apply and remove, this boot can be used through an entire trim cycle. (The hoof doesn’t have to be freshly trimmed for use.) This makes the boot great for less-experienced boot users. The boot opens wide to easily slip on and off most hoof shapes and sizes. The rear double hook-and-loop attachment protects the entire hoof wall and keeps the boot firmly in place. A tough, polyurethane sole offers durability and grip on…

WHAT’S IN A NAME? PLENTY, when you’re a horse called Survivor. Before he was rescued by Victor McMullen of Southern Winds Equine Rescue and Recovery Center in Udall, Kansas, Survivor was an underweight 3-year-old colt who was afraid of people. Dumped in a field with three other horses, he tried to take over in true stallion fashion, only to get badly beaten up by the two geldings and the mare with whom he shared the pasture. “But he still thought he was the boss,” McMullen recalled. “I had to get him gelded right away.” After a veterinary examination to make sure everything was in working order, Survivor was started on Purina Strategy Professional Formula GX horse feed. McMullen is a big believer in the Purina feeds provided through the “A…

Give Drafts a Chance I wanted to let_H&R_readers know that Clyde and I (Your Stories, “Clyde Gets a Second Chance,” September 2015) worked the mounted patrol in Huntington Beach, California, on the_Fourth of July. It was crazy! I was in the saddle for 10 hours, among throngs of drunk, unruly people, with _ reworks and M-80 firecrackers everywhere. Clyde was magnificent. He’s such a great horse. My wife, Debbie, and I also trail ride on our rescued drafts. I only hope more folks can see how rewarding it can be to give these big guys a chance to be a horse— instead of just a piece of machinery. DOUG WILLIAMS, Norco, California E-mail your letters to HorseandRider@aimmedia.com. Or, send them to Horse&Rider, 2520 55th St., #210, Boulder, CO 80301. To…

School-Age Riders Excel Serious horsemanship was on display at the Interscholastic Equestrian Association’s 2015 Western National Finals at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in June. Held in conjunction with the National Reining Horse Association Derby, the IEA championship features riders aged 11 through 19 competing in reining and horsemanship classes on unfamiliar mounts. (For final standings of riders and teams, go to rideiea.org.) In related news, the best high-school equestrians will continue to have the opportunity to move on to National Collegiate Athletic Association competition in college, now that the NCAA has approved ongoing support for the sport of Division 1 Collegiate Equestrian. Collegiate Equestrian is currently on the NCAA’s list of Emerging Sports for Women (collegiateequestrian.com). PROSPECTS, MADE HORSES, BREEDING STOCK 27-29 Dates, in October, of the Appaloosa Horse…

If your horse is a Nervous Nellie, there are management strategies you can follow that’ll help him feel calmer and more even-tempered. No one thing you do can be a magic fix, but following a well-thought-out overall plan will give your horse his best chance to be the quiet, responsive mount you want and need him to be. We asked pro Carol Dal Porto (caroldalporto.com) to share some of the horsekeeping insights she’s gained over years of training and caring for world champion performance horses. Here’s what she told us. Maximize turnout. Figure out how much turnout your horse needs to feel his best, mentally and physically. In general, the more turnout, the better, where possible. If you can arrange 24/7 turnout in a large pasture with a run-in shed,…

Whether you buy or raise your next performance prospect, you’ll have made a significant investment by the time you actually get to ride and show him. Once you get past the purchase price or breeding fee, it costs as much money and time to train an average or mediocre prospect as it does one with true talent and trainability, but you end up with less in the end. That’s why it’s just smart to begin with the very best prospect you can find. I’ve evaluated thousands of young horses, including ones for sale and others owned by customers who want to place them in training. I’ve learned to look for certain desirable qualities, including clues to talent and trainability. I’ve also learned clues that tell me to keep looking. I’ll…

Trigger’s colic surgery was a success— but that’s not always the case. The following are some of the most common complications following colic surgery. Jugular thrombosis: Your horse develops a blockage of his jugular vein, secondary to the catheter used to administer IV fluids and medications during his care. In many cases, this blockage will resolve with time and treatment. If it doesn’t, your horse may be left with a non-functioning jugular vein on one side of his neck. Ileus: Your horse’s intestines shut down and don’t start moving again after surgery. This can lead to ongoing colic symptoms and a prolonged hospital stay. Incisional infection: As with any wound, it’s possible that your horse’s surgical incision can become infected—requiring additional care and antibiotics to resolve. Incisional herniation: Your horse’s…

Basic rules for a safe and pleasant ride with friends include the following. • Keep at least a one-horse space between riders going single file, and more space at faster gaits. • If your route goes through a gate, the lead rider generally opens it unless he’s on an inexperienced horse, and shuts it again as the other riders wait after going through it. If it’s a long line of riders and the group doesn’t want to ball up at the gate, the last rider gets off and shuts it. • Regardless of who shuts the gate, other riders should wait while the gate is shut and the rider remounts—so his horse won’t panic at being left. • If the trail goes through brush or overhanging branches, be careful to…

LEFT OR RIGHT Model: Dutch-door gate latch. Maker: Barn Pros. Why buy: The reversible latch can be installed for right- or left-handed use and features a safety release for quick, one-handed operation. Cool feature: The durable hardware holds up against even a MacGyvertype horse. More info: (866) 844-2276; barnpros.com. Price: $12.50 SLIDE OR SWING Model: Flush-mount lock latch. Maker: RAMM Stalls & Horse Fencing. Why buy: The combination lockand-latch can be operated from either side of the door and includes all hardware with purchase. Cool feature: It can be used for both swinging- and slidingstyle doors. More info: (800) 434-8456; rammfence.com. Price: $147.00 IN OR OUT Model: Finger latch. Maker: Innovative Equine Systems. Why buy: The design allows you to open the door from the inside without reaching through the…

ABSOLUTELY NOT. In 2000 I saw Quincy through his foot surgery, and in 2010 and 2011 he saw me through treatments for breast and colon cancers. He gave me a reason to get up and fight. Maryanne Orloff, Florida NOPE. My big, gray 13-year-old gelding will take me into my old age. I always admired Dick Sonoita, a gray Quarter Horse stallion of the 1970s. Now his grandson is everything I ever wanted in a saddle horse…handsome, smooth, respectful, gentle. Pat Canter, Nevada NO. My 20-year-old gelding, an awesome barrel racer, is a hard keeper. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to care for him. Sadie Gaskins, Florida NO. Brisco has taught me to work hard and become a strong person. We’ve won 4-H ribbons and created great memories. I wouldn’t…