Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2021 i Horse & Rider

In college, I had a professor named Bill Reader who guided me to follow my passion with horses into journalism. I had already done my journalism internships in South Africa and Washington, D.C., and I was dead set on working on traditional newspapers covering foreign conflict and human rights. But the economy was crashing (in 2008), and newspaper jobs were hard to come by. The horse market, though, was hanging in there, and magazine jobs writing about horsemanship were still available, though scarce. That was OK with me—I’d dreamed of moving West since I was a kid, but I’d tabled those dreams for most of my college education at Ohio University because I was so focused on the developing world. I remember applying from Texas to North Dakota and everywhere…

TRAVEL Arizona WHERE Tucson WHAT Tanque Verde Ranch WHEN Year-Round Desert Destination Take in the beauty of the Sonoran Desert sunrise on horseback and then enjoy a fireside homestyle breakfast or try your hand at maneuvering cattle through a series of obstacles and into a pen. Whether you’re a beginner or have been on the back of a horse your entire life, there’s a horse-riding activity for everyone at Tanque Verde Ranch (tanqueverderanch.com). When you’re not taking in the breathtaking Arizona views on the back of a horse, wind down with a trip to the spa and treat yourself to ultimate relaxation. Afterward, indulge in fine cuisine—there’s even the option to partake in a cowboy cookout where you’ll enjoy grilled meats by a campfire and listen to live music. Your…

Everyone wants to have that special connection with their horse, but many riders struggle with the concept of feel or how to develop it in their riding. How to develop feel is a question I’m commonly asked when I work with students, but the truth is, there’s no shortcut to finding it. It requires you to spend hours in the saddle improving your skill set as a rider and spending more time with your horse on the ground so you can better understand his personality. Here I’m going to talk about a few things you need to develop feel with your horse. The first involves improving the ability to physically feel what your horse is doing through your seat, hands, and body, while the second part involves thinking about your…

Winter is over, and let’s face it: Some of us are itching to saddle up and head for the horizon. Whether you crave room to breathe, like so many pandemic-weary Americans, or want to settle someplace where horses are more than just livestock, consider staking your claim in one of these amazing spots. From the best horse show spots or trails to thriving youth organizations or an equine-friendly business environment, each location offers unique ways to live your best Western horse life and celebrate your love for all things horses. CENTRAL COAST OF CALIFORNIA Claims to Fame: Riding clubs are a California tradition. And though some might contend that the Southern Coast, Central Valley, or even Norco (the self-styled “Horsetown USA” southeast of Los Angeles) attract more horse folk, the…

PROVIDED BY HOPE IN THE SADDLE, AN EQUINE NETWORK PROJECT Reading is an almost magical process in which deciphering lines and squiggles reveals a rich world of narrative and meaning. For children who have difficulty with reading, however, the doors to that world are largely closed. Addressing struggles with literacy typically conjures images of tutors and flashcards, but at Rise Canyon Ranch—an equine-assisted therapy facility in Southern California—it looks a little different. Here, in the middle of an arena dappled dusty gold by the California sun, a child quietly ponders a book. A horse wanders over and inquisitively noses the pages. The girl reads to her captive audience. Even when she stumbles over a difficult word, the horse listens without judgement. There’s no pressure, just the horse’s soft gaze and…

Is your horse overweight? Does he have some fatty spots that don’t look quite right? Maybe you’ve tried to cut his feed back but it just doesn’t seem to make a difference. It could be that your horse is struggling with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is similar to diabetes in people and can bring with it some not-so-pleasant consequences. A diagnosis doesn’t spell the end for you and your horse’s partnership; you just might need to do a little more maintenance. Insulin-Resistance Explained Insulin resistance occurs when a horse loses sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that regulates sugar metabolism. Normally, when a healthy horse eats, glucose from the food enters the bloodstream. Insulin is released and is the body’s messenger, alerting it that there’s glucose, ready to be stored and…

Having a horse that backs freely is a must-have for competition, where you’re judged on how responsive your horse is to your cue. But it’s also important for riders who spend their time on the ranch or trails, because a horse that willingly responds to your cues is going to maneuver more easily than one that locks his feet in the ground and pushes against the bit. If your horse is dull to your cue and refusing to back, I’ll show you a few things you can do in your arena to eliminate a sticky backup and get some life into your horse’s feet. On the Ground Instead of getting into a tug-of-war battle when you’re in the saddle, take your training to the ground to help your horse be…

When you’re working with a young horse, chances are you spend some time on the ground developing fundamentals before ever swinging your leg over the saddle. Groundwork builds your horse’s strength, balance, and ability to follow direction, which are all important skills to have. But it’s also a great way to help build his confidence. Groundwork doesn’t have to stop with your horse, though. You can also apply a form of groundwork to your own routine to build fundamentals that’ll help you in the saddle by practicing meditation and yoga to prepare you mentally, and physically, for your ride. Why It Works Meditation and yoga can be a great way to become more in-tune with your horse. They allow you to collect your thoughts and be more aware of your…

Above the heat of the desert and below the chilly temperatures from Arizona’s high country sits Cottonwood, a beautiful destination that’s perfect for spring-weather riding. Ranked as one of the top 10 destinations in the United States, Cottonwood is home to several guest ranches offering exciting adventures both in and out of the saddle, and is filled with stunning trails to explore with your own horse. We’ll share some of our favorite places to visit in Cottonwood and give you a list of things to see and do in between rides. BUMBLE BEE RANCH A working guest ranch that was started in 1998, Bumble Bee Ranch (bumblebeeranch.com) is a full-service facility on 190 acres, surrounded by 74,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management public land in the foothills of the…

You spend a lot of time, effort, and money into feeding your horse and keeping him healthy, but for some reason he keeps trying to eat things he not supposed to, and you’re not sure why he’s doing it. From prickly plants to materials that make up your barn, and an array of other oddities, some horses will make a meal out of anything. However, there are some serious issues that can come with this odd habit, that could lead to colic or cause long-term health complications. Depending on what your horse eats and how much of it he eats, he may experience no issues and be completely fine. On the other hand, he could experience serious side effects that require veterinary attention and potentially run into issues for the…

Educational Webinars The Certified Horsemanship Association offers a variety of resources for horse professionals and enthusiasts alike to learn more about horsemanship. One of CHA’s most popular educational resources are the professional webinars, which are offered live and also in recorded format. Learn more at cha.horse. We Want to Know! What: Equine industry survey. When: Available until March 30, 2021. Details: The American Horse Publications wants to gauge participation trends and management practices in the U.S. equine industry. In addition, it seeks to gather information regarding the most important issues facing the industry. Info: ahpequineindustrysurvey.com. Girl Power Million-Dollar Mare After a successful career in the show pen, Wimpys Little Chic is now making history as a producer and is the fourth mare in National Reining Horse Association history to pass…

The hindgut is your horse’s intestinal tract past the ileum, the end of the small intestine—a 30- to 35-foot-long section of gut comprised of the cecum, the modified ascending colon, dorsal and ventral colon, transverse colon, small colon, and rectum. Horses are hindgut fermenters, meaning they have bacteria and protozoa in their hindgut turning poorly digestible fiber—like grass and hay—into energy. Approximately 75% of your horse’s energy requirements is generated in the cecum and large colon of his hindgut, so keeping these organs, and the bacteria (microbiome) inside them, in working order is critical to the health of your horse. Worst-Case Scenarios Grain overload—i.e., when your horse somehow eats an entire bag of sweet feed or something similar—quickly puts his hindgut into crisis mode. Some of the sugar from the…

You halter your horse, snap on the lead rope, and head out of the barn. As you lead him, he becomes pushy and tries to drag you around the barn. The more often this scenario happens, the more you’re going to struggle with gaining control on the ground. If your horse likes to pull you all over the place—or even worse, tries to climb on top of you—there’s a chance he’s reading your energy and senses a lack of security in you. Here I’ll go over why your horse is becoming anxious in the first place. Then I’ll show you three simple steps that’ll help you regain communication with your horse, allow you to connect his thoughts to the end of your lead rope, and give him a sense of…

FOR A CUTTING HORSE, conformation is a bit like pedigree—a starting point. Good conformation should lead to better longevity, but it doesn’t always make that horse the best performer. I’ve trained cutting horses with gorgeous conformation, but without the necessary athleticism, intelligence, or heart to excel. I’ve also trained horses with what are considered conformation flaws to championships. Ideally, a horse should have a level topline so he can lift his front end and bring his hind end underneath himself to drive from behind. A good hock angle goes with that, so he can reach underneath himself with his hind legs. I like to see overall balance, a neck that carries forward smoothly from the withers, a relatively short back, a big hip for a power source, and a front…

Several years ago, my husband and I decided to get back into horses. We purchased a wonderful mare named Kiowa who was perfect for our needs. She’s been a blessing in our lives and is a true member of the family. Though we’re lucky to board her only about a mile from our home, I always dreamed of raising our children on horse property. I value the life lessons that animals naturally provide, and I wanted my children to learn about taking care of a creature who’s dependent on them. Most of all, I wanted to allow my children the opportunity to develop the same type of special bond with animals that my heart has treasured from a young age. After a few years of owning Kiowa, we finally decided…