In every issue of Horse & Rider you'll find articles on training by the country's leading experts, the latest on equine health care from top veterinarians, trail riding tips from savvy back country riders, and much more!
4 Mindset Keys to Achieve Your Goals ON THE NIGHT OF DECEMBER 5, 2020, Sebastian Petroll saw 18 months’ worth of work with 3-year-old mare Dunit The Walla Way, owned by Ellen Lloyd Cummins, come to fruition. The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Professional and his gritty mare won the NRHA Futurity Level 3 and Level 2 open titles and pocketed nearly $60,000 for their efforts. Looking back on that night, Petroll said four key factors played a role in his pathway to success and steadied his mental game. Read on, and decide how you can apply his advice to sharpen your mental edge as you work toward your riding goals. MINDSET KEY #1: Set a Big Goal, But Be Adaptable It all begins with putting yourself out there and…
Critical Temperatures “Critical temperature” is the temp below which your horse must produce additional heat to maintain his normal body temperature. Seniors have a higher cut-off than mature horses do, so it’s even more important for them to have plenty of heat-generating feed when temperatures drop. Source: Purina Animal Nutrition Your senior horse needs extra TLC in cold weather. Give him plenty of forage—such as hay—because it creates inner warmth as it’s metabolized. A good senior feed may be helpful, too, as a little extra weight can also help your oldster stay warm. Make sure he has adequate shelter, and if he’s wearing a blanket, check it often for rubs. Seniors often have weaker immune systems, so make sure yours is properly vaccinated, especially against flu. Exercise—such as gentle riding…
Winter trail riding can be fun if you’re prepare with these tips. Of course, you try to avoid the trail riding hazards that might get you and your horse into real trouble, such as blizzards and ice storms. But Mother Nature has a wicked sense of humor. A nice winter day can turn nasty in minutes. You might find yourself riding in snow far deeper than you’d anticipated or suddenly sliding downhill on an icy trail. Here, we give you tips on how to negotiate seven winter riding hazards: HAZARD #1: Deep snow Why it’s hazardous: Your horse may panic in a deep snow bank and flounder about, possibly pulling a muscle, or straining tendons and ligaments. Deep snow can also cover underlying trail hazards, such as holes and sharp…
The horse, an accident victim, was barely able to stand in his paddock, and when we asked him to move, he’d bear no weight on the leg at all. He was sweating, with a heart rate of 100, meaning his pain was severe and unrelenting. Even worse, the accident had happened seven days ago, and instead of calling a veterinarian, the ownershad opted to call a local “chiropractor” who’d performed an adjustment and recommended four grams of bute a day for the following week until the horse could be seen again. The adjuster owned a gas station in town, and had learned to “crack backs” from his nextdoor neighbor. Sadly, the adjustment did nothing for the fractured tibia seen on radiographs, and even if it could’ve been repaired, it was…
