Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2021 i Horse & Rider

Navicular is one of those words that can make even the toughest horse owner’s heart leap. For years it has also spelled the end for a horse’s career. Fortunately, while navicular disease can certainly complicate your riding goals, these days the diagnosis isn’t nearly as dismal. In recent years, vets have moved away from the term navicular syndrome, as it’s not specific enough to describe what’s often going on in a case of lower-limb lameness. Now, you’re more likely to hear heel pain or caudal heel syndrome until the root cause can be narrowed down. Navicular syndrome is classified by its degenerative impact to the navicular bone itself. Again, too specific to describe the many number of reasons for lameness in the navicular area. There can be pathology in the…

Using a flag is an important part of any training program and allows you to work on your horse’s movement and form without having to put him on a live cow every time. With the help of a flag, you can work on developing a consistent, repetitious pattern for your horse while controlling the speed at which he travels. A flag can also help address any weak spots he might have prior to doing any cow work. Flag work can be a useful tool even if you don’t necessarily work cattle with your horse, as it teaches him to listen for your cues. However, it’s important to properly introduce him to it so he doesn’t become afraid of the flag. Give Yourself Distance When you approach the flag for the…

I’M JUDGING THESE three geldings based on how I feel they’d perform as recreational trail horses (as opposed to horses that perform in trail classes at horse shows). However, it’s important to note that the most essential attributes to me for a good trail horse are not visible in photos. I believe a suitable trail horse should be quiet-minded yet intuitive and aware of his surroundings as a matter of safety. He should be forward, willing, and brave, with more courage than flight response. I also like to see a horse that’s curious about leaving his surrounding herd, as opposed to being attached and dependent. Here, though, I can assess the geldings only on their conformation. I’m looking for overall balance, good angles in shoulders and hips, and clean legs…

Last summer, we were driving to Johnson City, Kansas, to pick up a new horse trailer. The small town is about 50 miles east of Blue Rose Ranch, our horse rescue and adoption facility in southeastern Colorado. A few miles outside of Johnson City, we passed three horses wandering loose on the side of the road. They were in poor shape and one was clearly emaciated. We drove directly to the sheriff’s office to report the lost horses and let the officers know we could pick them up and take care of them until the owner was found. Ten minutes later, while we were getting our trailer, a sheriff’s deputy called and requested we do just that. With minimal difficulty, we loaded the three horses and headed back to Blue…

‘We choose to live a competitive life. We choose to enjoy the thrill of victory, but suffer from the agony of defeat. We choose to be observed, judged, and evaluated on our riding abilities. And in my point of view, that means a lot about a person who chooses this as their way of life. So we’ve made this big decision, to walk into the show pen, and that's something that nobody forced us to do.’—Gil Friedman, owner of Mental Athletics, on The Ride, a podcast by Horse&Rider, available to stream or download wherever you listen to podcasts.…

FOR NEARLY 15 YEARS I competed in the AQHA all-around events, but when I sold my last horse and walked away from the show pen in 2011, I wasn’t sure when I’d be back. I thought that when it came time to buy my next horse, I would be finding another all-around prospect and going back to the only industry I knew, but as I ventured into the equine media world where I got to work with some of the industry’s top professionals, I realized there were so many other disciplines I wanted to try. I was excited to get out of my comfort zone and try something completely different from events like the showmanship and horsemanship, but I wasn’t sure how to get started. I eventually started producing the…

What Are Amino Acids? Amino acids are biological building blocks that link together inside your horse’s body to create proteins. Those proteins form everything from muscle and organ tissue to enzymes, hormones, and antibodies. Amino acids are particularly helpful in cellular regeneration of muscle in performance horses. Where Do Amino Acids Come From? Horses’ bodies manufacture 12 of the 22 essential amino acids they need. The other 10 amino acids come from the grass, grain, supplements, and hay they eat. Their digestive tracks break down the food into amino acids and use them to build whatever elements the body needs. What Happens If Horses Don’t Get Enough? Lactating mares, growing colts, and horses in intense training have the highest protein requirements, and thus need the most amino acids. If horses…

Little Tike Mocs 1. For several years driving mocs have been the go-to shoe for daily non-riding activities that leave you on your feet all day. And now your little one can enjoy the comfort (and fashion) of driving mocs thanks to Twisted X’s infant line. ($44.95; twistedx.com.) Made with the same handcrafted materials that are used in the regular driving mocs, these shoes will keep your young one on her feet as she navigates the barn aisles with stability and support thanks to the slip-resistant rubber outsole. Plus the teal stitching and laces on this pair of leather shoes is the perfect color for summer. 2. Stylish Safety Keep the traditional Western look with the safety of a helmet. Designed to absorb the shock of impact, this straw ASTM…

At one point, 30 days used to be the most common length of time for a young horse to go into training with a professional. But these days I see more horses staying between 90 to 180 days of training. The shift in time spent with a colt starter is an effort to provide the owner with a horse that they can confidently go home and ride, or help prepare the horse for the next step in his professional training and show career. Each horse advances at his own pace, whether you put him on a 30-, 60-, or 90-day timeline. This means that one horse may be further along at the end of 30 days than another. It also means that by the 60-day mark that second horse could…

Horse-crazy kids and parents alike know the challenges, rewards, and opportunities that a youth rider can experience in the show pen. Showing horses teaches young people how to work hard, develop discipline and sportsmanship, perform under pressure, and a host of other important life skills. But riding and showing horses isn’t everything. In fact, there’s a wealth of educational experiences, skill-building opportunities, and other benefits available in the horse industry for youth who venture beyond competitions. Many of these opportunities can open doors for youth to gain scholarships and internships, and may even lead them into lifelong careers in the horse industry—all because they took the time to invest in more than winning ribbons. For Christine Gillett of Richland Hills, Texas, who enjoyed showing horses as a youth, investing in…

When you’re out on the trail you don’t want your phone attached to your horse. If he spooks and you become separated, your horse has your phone, and you won’t be able to call for help if you’re lost or injured. Keep your phone attached to your body with a cellphone pouch that secures around your waist with an adjustable waist strap. With touchscreen compatibility, if you need to check your phone, you can do so without taking it out of its case. $26.99; classicequine.com. Must-Have Trail Gear Stay safe and comfortable on the trail. 1. On-Trail ID 2. Snack Central 3. Comfortable Ride…

Cow work—whether it’s on the ranch, in the cutting pen, or in the rodeo arena—can keep your kids loving the time they’re spending in the saddle. Your horses will enjoy it, too. Here’s how to make it safe and fun from the start. In-Saddle Comfort Kids (or anyone, really) need to be comfortable on a horse. There’s nothing that duplicates that. They need confidence in their body, their balance, and their use of their feet and the bridle reins. Essentially, if a kid is confident enough to lope down the arena behind a cow, then he or she is likely ready to work a cow in a cutting pen. Horse Choice You want to start with a quiet—maybe even dull—horse that doesn’t move too quickly. You don’t want to scare…

Northwest Montana is a land of magical landscapes filled with beautiful green valleys, lush forests, and majestic mountains. But one of the best parts of this region might be Flathead Country, which surrounds Flathead Lake—the largest natural, freshwater lake in the lower 48 states west of the Mississippi River. We stayed at three incredible dude ranches where we were able to explore the area’s pristine scenery. Cheff Guest Ranch Located near the Mission Mountains at the mouth of Bartlett Creek on the South Fork of the Flathead River sits Cheff Guest Ranch (cheffranch.com), a guest ranch and outfitting business that has been in the family for four generations; the ranch is currently run by brothers Micky and Toby Cheff. The Cheff family has been ranching and outfitting in the Bob…

The first time Rebecca Kennedy saw a mustang compete in the Extreme Mustang Makeover she had been searching the internet for horse-training content and stumbled across videos of the competition that immediately caught her attention. Like many tech-savvy teens, she began to scour the internet to learn more about the event and watch any kind of mustang-related video she could find. From there, she quickly learned that the Extreme Mustang Makeover offered a youth division at their competition in Fort Worth, Texas, and immediately knew she had to get involved somehow. Last-Minute Entry Through her research, Rebecca found the entry form to the youth division and immediately ran down to her parents to ask if she could enter the event, but there was one problem: they only had a couple…

Standing in line at the grocery store one day, Army veteran Adam Halloran was so filled with futile rage that he bit down on his lip hard enough to draw blood. Transitioning back to civilian life was difficult, and Halloran often found that everyday situations filled him with adrenaline and anger. “I didn’t like how a customer was speaking to the cashier,” he explains. “But you can’t just fight someone in the grocery line. I swore an oath to protect people, but I couldn’t do anything about it. I was just angry, all the time. And I found poor ways to cope.” That was years ago. These days, the man who once relentlessly pursued risky and harmful situations now enjoys healthier pastimes: gardening, playing with his cat, doing pottery with…