Innholdsfortegnelse for Fall 2023 i Horse & Rider

The futurity is open to 3-year-old horses of all breeds, to be shown in three rounds of futurity competition: herd work, rein work, and cow work. From its inception in 2017, the event has aimed at preserving the tradition of Western reined cow horses in the West after the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity moved to its new home in Fort Worth, Texas. Alongside the Futurity, spectators can enjoy a horse sale that features select weanlings, yearlings, and broodmares, select 2-year-olds, and performance and ranch horses. Plus, the show includes a booming Western trade show where you can get a head start on your Christmas shopping.…

In the short time it’s been around, ranch trail has exploded in popularity, becoming one of the most popular classes at shows. And it’s no surprise why. Ranch trail is a thrilling showcase of horsemanship, versatility, and teamwork between horse and rider that tests a horse’s ability to navigate a pattern of obstacles that you’ll typically find during everyday ranch work, while being judged on their correctness, efficiency, and pattern accuracy. However, if you plan on competing in ranch trail at your next horse show, knowing what might await you can help you prepare ahead of time. In this article we’re going to cover the ins and outs of ranch trail and then go over some of the obstacles you might face while showing in a ranch trail class. MASTERING…

Regular inspection of your horse’s water buckets, troughs, and automatic waterers is an important barn management task. But so is examination of your barn’s electrical system. These horse owners learned the importance of electrical safety the hard way. Thankfully, no horses were seriously injured, but from these experiences we can learn ways to keep our barn environments safer. JUMPING AND JITTERING Sharon Wellmann is an APHA and AQHA Professional Horseman with a training barn in Conroe, Texas. Eight years ago, she noticed that her horses were behaving strangely when her assistant was walking them out of the facility’s main barn into the arena. “The horses were jumping out of the door,” Wellmann says. “They would get to the door, then leap into the air.” Wellmann had been out of town,…

you should know Genetic Breakthrough in Splash White Phenotype There’s been an exciting breakthrough in equine genetics from Etalon Equine Genetics, a leading provider of equine DNA testing services. A research team, led by Aiden McFadden and Katie Martin, identified two novel variants in the genetic regions that are strongly associated with blue eyes and the “Splashed White” phenotypes in horses. The new findings will help further understanding of coat color and health variants, and research continues to understand the implication of these mutations. Learn more about this genetic breakthrough by visiting The Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. ASKED AND ANSWERED: AQHA INCREASES PAYOUTS 600K The increase in payouts, prizes, and exhibitor appreciation that competitors can expect at the 2023 AQHA World Show, as determined by the committee after a…

Treatment Several FDA-approved treatments exist including Marquis, Protazil, and ReBalance. Horses treated for EPM may also be supplemented with vitamin E, folic acid, and thiamine to support muscle and nervous tissue. With optimal diagnosis and treatment, up to 25% of horses recover completely, and up to 80% show significant improvement. Relapses occur in 10% to 20% of horses that have shown symptoms. If untreated, EPM can lead to permanent physical damage and death. Tips for EPM prevention: ⋆ Limit grazing⋆ Keep feed rooms closed⋆ Keep feed in sealed containers⋆ Quickly clean up any spilled feed⋆ Utilize safe rodent/vermin control methods around stable and pastures⋆ Promptly remove animal carcasses⋆ Keep horses’ drinking water fresh and clean…

Focus plays a core role in riding of any kind, whether your child competes or simply rides for fun. Maintaining concentration is critical to ensure safety, and it takes a different form if your young rider shows or rodeos. However, focus isn’t something children innately possess. It must be developed, sharpened, and tailored as a child matures. This also means you can’t expect your child to have the same focus level of other youngsters in the barn—it depends on maturity as opposed to an age number. When coaching young riders of all levels, I’ve developed some key points to keep in mind when considering focus. Use them to help your child along in their journey with horses. Keep in mind that there’s not a right or wrong way, and every…

It’s not often when a new horse camp lopes into existence. And, even more rare, is to find one totally off the grid—not hooked up to conventional sources of electricity and water. But this off-the-beaten-path camp offers some of the best views of the desert you can enjoy from the back of a horse. Some of our riding friends had spoken enthusiastically about Ride Out Ranch (rideoutranch.com). After hearing about their adventures, we wanted to see what it was like in person and hear the story behind it. So, we loaded up our horses, Cody and Jake, and headed to Florence, Arizona. For being in such an isolated location, it was relatively easy to get to from the highway. No one wants to beat up their living-quarters trailer on a…

TRAVEL Reno, Nevada WHAT Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity WHEN September 13–17, 2023 Cow Horse Fans Run to Reno For nonstop action, a fantastic horse sale, and a Western trade show filled with all the goods, head to Nevada for the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity. Held at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Event Center, reined cow horse fans and competitors come from all over to showcase their skills and appreciate the demonstration of athleticism. 3 The Facts The number of times Nick Dowers has taken home the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Championship since its start in 2017. Don’t Miss This explore. You don’t have to go far from all of the cow horse action to get your shopping fix. Visit the 1. Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity Western Trade Show, an attraction for all…

Widespread throughout the United States, the degenerative disease Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) affects a horse’s central nervous system. Caused by unicellular protozoa Sarcocystis neurona, EPM causes inflammation in the nerve tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Another protozoan species, Neospora hughesi, can also cause EPM in horses but with less incidence. Sarcocystis neurona has a two-host life cycle, with opossum as the definitive host and other animals including raccoons, skunks, cats, and birds as intermediate hosts. Horses are a dead end for the parasite, as they can be infected by it but don’t spread it. Clinical signs include: • Incoordination of movement• Stilted movement• Lameness• Muscular atrophy• Muscular paralysis of mouth, eyes, eyelids, and ears• Difficulty swallowing• Abnormal sweating• Head tilt• Seizures• Collapsing Early diagnosis and prompt treatment increase…

As horse owners, you know that winter can be challenging for your horses, your equipment, and your patience. Whether you have a senior horse, live in a location that gets intense winter weather, or if you just want to keep everything in its place during a few months off, you can use a pre-winter checklist to ensure that you have every aspect covered before the cold sets in. Winterize Gear Before the winter season starts, thoroughly clean and condition your tack to prevent damage and maintain its longevity. • Clean thoroughly: Use a leather cleaner to thoroughly clean tack, including bridles, saddles, and reins. This removes any dirt or sweat buildup that’s accumulated during the riding season. • Condition leather: After cleaning, use a leather conditioner to keep the leather…

Horses are creatures of habit. So, when something about their environment changes, it can disrupt their security and sense of safety. I hear all the time about a neighbor getting cattle that are penned near or next to the arena, and it makes the horse nervous. He spooks or gets upset every time his rider tries to make him go near that end of the arena. This can be at home or it could be cattle in a pen next to a show arena. Maybe you’re at a show and run down to a stop, and your horse veers to the left because the cows spook him. Or in a rail class, perhaps he sees the cattle and bolts toward the middle of the arena to escape. The steps to…

I’M JUDGING THESE 2-YEAR-OLD MARES based on their suitability for reining careers. Many qualities are required of performance horses, including a good mind, but good conformation and adequate muscling will make any performance horse’s job easier on mind and body, and help preserve soundness. I’m first looking for overall balance, from front to back and top to bottom. A well-balanced horse will have front and hind ends that match with good angles, substance and muscling, as well as good depth to the body. I want to see a topline that’s shorter in relation to the underline, well sloped shoulders and hips, and clean legs with appropriate angles. In young horses such as these, I am forgiving of hip-high toplines, taking into account natural growth patterns. I do like to see…

Hold your horses! It’s interesting how that idiom that originated in a time where horses were the sole form of travel, and therefore posed a hazard in busy streets, can be applied to so much of modern life. In a world where faster is better, deadlines are looming, and the race is never finished, holding our horses becomes a more difficult task every day. Amidst the beckoning of instant gratification, we must understand that true mastery comes in its own time. And find peace in embracing the rhythm of growth like so many pounding hoofbeats, as we learn the art of patience. There is a case to be made for mastering patience in the horse industry. In our training, our growth, and even our dreams. A case to be made…