Innholdsfortegnelse for Fall 2021 i Horse & Rider

Do you find your mind wandering while you’re in the saddle, focusing less on what’s currently happening and more on what’s previously happened? We’ve all been there. But the more you find yourself distracted in the saddle, the more often your horse can take control of the ride and go in the direction he chooses to. To be the best rider you can be, you need to always be present in the saddle. To help get your attention back on your horse and the task at hand, I’ll show you an obstacle course you can easily set up at home in your arena or pasture. Use Obstacles for Practice A great way to bring your attention back to your horse is by setting up some obstacles in your arena to…

Working the flag is an essential training tool when you ride cow horses or cutting horses, but did you know it can also help your horse develop basic skills he needs for other aspects of riding? Flag work has everything to do with cow work, and nothing to do with cow work. It teaches your horse how to better read a cow, but it also teaches him control, how to move his body around, and how to listen for your leg, hand, and seat cues independently. I’m going to cover the different ways flag work can help your horse, even if you never have plans to work a cow. Then I’ll talk about some of the most common problems I see during flag work and the different drills you can…

STEVE FRISKUP, of Muleshoe, Texas, has been involved in the Clovis Horse Sales for more than 30 years, now as an ownership partner, and he’s the country’s leading Western performance horse auctioneer. Friskup has sold some of the highest-selling horses in the business, but he also prides himself on ensuring quality in the market for the everyday horsemen and horsewomen, too. More info: clovishorsesales.com. JANN PARKER, of Billings, Montana, is one of the horse industry’s leading ladies. With her late husband, Bill, Parker built Billings Livestock Commission’s Horse Sales into one of the top volume consignment horse sales in the nation. BLS offers monthly horse sales featuring everything from cutters and reiners to trail horses, guest ranch horses, and rope horses. More info: billingslivestock.com. SARAH BOWMAN, of Grapeland, Texas, along…

Leg Up Farm doesn’t feel like a medical facility. And that’s the whole point. You won’t find any outdated waiting areas, antiseptic offices, or endless hospital corridors here. Instead, with its barrier-free playground, colorful classrooms, giant koi pond, rolling horse pastures, and on-site barn, the cutting-edge pediatric therapy center located in Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania, is a dream-come-true for children with special needs. “Kids don’t think they’re coming here for therapy,” explains Jennifer Hitz, Leg Up Farm’s chief development officer. “This is where they come to play.” In 1997, Leg Up Farm founders Louie and Laurie Castriota dreamed of creating a therapeutic riding center. Ironically, not long after, they learned their daughter Brooke had mitochondrial disease, a genetic disorder that causes cognitive and physical impairments. Thrown into the world of being…

An Equestrian’s Dream Destination Enjoy a mix of exciting competition ranging from ranch riding, reining, cutting, barrel racing, and Western pleasure throughout the month of October at The Championship Show, a first-of-its-kind competition located at the World Equestrian Center, a state-of-the-art facility that’s nestled in the middle of the Horse Capital of the World (worldequestriancenter.com). Offering huge payouts, varying from $1,000 to $100,000, The Championship Show has an assortment of classes for riders of all levels—giving everyone a reason to head south this fall. With 17 outdoor arenas, and five climate-controlled indoor arenas, there’s always a place to ride, so you’re not stuck getting up in the middle of the night to get your horse exercised. And with eight different dining options, you’ll get to enjoy quality meals in between…

Do you have a slim horse that just can’t seem to muscle up no matter how hard you ride, a gelding that’s been mistaken for a full-term mare, or an oldie that has traded his former fit physique for a potbelly and sagging back? While it may seem that this hay-belly look is just result of overeating and lack of exercise, it’s likelier to be a sign that your horse isn’t getting the nutrients he needs. The Culprit Feeding low-quality hay that lacks adequate protein and fiber is the cause of hay belly. For your horse to get the nutrients he needs from poor feed, he must eat more volume. Due to the volume and the amount of time it takes for his stomach enzymes to break down the nutrients…

We love and appreciate our senior horses; they’re reliable mounts in and outside of the show pen, and they can also be great teachers for riders with less experience in the saddle because they know their jobs. But the way you ride and take care of your older horse day to day is probably going to differ from riding a younger horse. Take time to evaluate your current training and riding routine, and see if these slight riding and horse-care adjustments can help your horse stay happier well into his golden years. Avoid Mental Fatigue Has your horse been doing the same job for several years now? If so, he’s probably experienced mental fatigue at some point in his career. It’s something that happens to all of us, both in…

Throughout our years of traveling with our horses, we have explored a lot of Wyoming—from Yellowstone to the Outlaw Trail country near Kaycee. Now, we wanted to take Kent’s Tennessee Walking Horse, and Charlene’s Spotted Saddle Horse, Jake, on an adventure to check out the trails and dude ranches near Brooks Lake, along the Continental Divide, east of Grand Teton National Park. BROOKS LAKE Right against the Continental Divide is Brooks Lake, the sparkling crown of the forest, which is where we set up camp during our excursions. To find Brooks Lake, travel west from Dubois on U.S. Highway 26 for 22 miles. Look for a brown sign on the left side that reads National Forest—Brooks Lake. Just as you pass that sign, you’ll see Brooks Lake Road on the…

You ride regularly in the arena but riding on a trail feels a bit scary. While your horse is well-trained and ready to perform maneuvers, you’re not sure of his on-the-trail experiences. Without a confined area, it all feels open and new. You want to enjoy the outdoors without fearing a spook or a bolt. How can you make sure that you and your horse enjoy your time on the trail? Here, I’m going to guide you through exercises to make sure your horse is tuned into your cues, and provide you with tips to help you relax and be your horse’s leader as you ride through new territory. With these tools, you’ll gain confidence when you have a plan for riding in the great wide open. Breathing First My…

‘We are excited to be part of The Run For A Million, which started off with such success, and having the opportunity for the money earned here to count toward NRCHA lifetime earnings only increases the value of our great bridle horses and has a positive impact on us as riders.’ …Corey Cushing, NRCHA president and Run For A Million Fence Work Challenge competitor. Celebration of the Horse What: Equitana USA. When: October 1–3, 2021. Where: Kentucky Horse Park. Details: After being canceled last year due to COVID-19, Equitana is back in action! Celebrate your love of horses through education, entertainment, and shopping both in person and online. More Info: equitanausa.com. It’s Show Time Teton Ridge, a newly formed Western lifestyle brand announced its partnership with Taylor Sheridan as a…

1. As we head into championship season this fall, find a show shirt that stands out from the rest but is still something you can wear all day. This brightly colored, Pendleton-print-inspired button-down is lightweight and has a little stretch to it so you aren’t restricted in your upper body when you’re trying to compete. $59.95; ariat.com. 2. Keeping it Classic Black never goes out of style, making this classic black button-down shirt the perfect addition to your closet. Embellished with a Western yoke and subtle white piping, this shirt gives you that timeless Western look that’s always a must-have for the show pen. $98.99; eroper.com.com. 3. Denim Kind of Day In a ranch class, you can wear chaps, chinks, or choose to just wear jeans. Regardless of your choice,…

I’LL BE JUDGING THESE Paint Horse geldings on their overall conformation and usefulness as all-around prospects. I evaluate conformation using the four categories of balance, structure, breed and sex characteristics, and muscling as laid out in the rulebooks of stock breed associations, including APHA. I follow their rules as closely as I can. Once a judge understands the rulebook’s criteria for an “ideal horse,” it’s important to develop an eye to be able to evaluate horses relative to those criteria. When judging, I first look for a horse’s positive traits in the four categories. I evaluate and compare each horse in a class to the rulebook’s ideal, and the one with the most positive characteristics places first, whether there are three in the class, as here, or 30 and more.…

Some people make extravagant plans on Valentine’s Day. Some people get surprises. On February 14, 2019, I headed to pick up what would ultimately be the best Valentine’s Day surprise I have ever received. I answered a call from local law enforcement about an emaciated horse that needed help. They weren’t sure if he was going to make it. Those eyes. I remember the second I saw him. The only white in a sea of mud. Sweet little sparkling eyes that hadn’t given up even though you could tell the rest of his body was trying to. I was honestly worried that the stress of the trailer trip might do him in, so I drove half speed all the way home. When I opened the trailer door he was shaking…