Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2015 i Horse & Rider

Self-Help for Riding Fears Go to the Web site this month for a sports psychologist’s step-by-step plan for putting riding-related fear behind you. Learn more about the roots of this common problem in “Slay the Fear Dragon,” on page 66. On Good Footing This month’s Horsekeeping offers tips for better, safer arena footing. Brush up on construction basics in Riding Arenas 101. Muscle Diseases PSSM (see page 18) is a heritable muscle disease that can be managed but not cured. Read more online in “Muscle Maladies.” Trailer Checklist When you haul, your horses are only as safe as your trailer. Go online for a checklist in “Check Your Trailer’s Safety.” Tractor Factors Time to buy some horsepower to help with farm chores? Give yourself a smart head start with “A…

LETTER OF THE MONTH Your December 2014 article “Wrap Right,” by Dr. Barb Crabbe, provided a wealth of information on how to correctly wrap a horse’s legs, but one important fact was overlooked. I learned from my vet many years ago that equine legs should always be wrapped to the outside to properly support tendons and ligaments. ANN RYERSON, New Mexico From Dr. Crabbe: I’m really glad you brought up this point, because it’s a very common misconception among horse owners that wraps must be applied in a certain direction— particularly if you’ve had horses for many years. In reality, it doesn’t really matter which direction you wrap, as long as you apply even pressure and plenty of padding around the leg. For years we were taught to wrap “front…

Details: 2010 AQHA mare by Smart Like Juice and out of Cielo Seven, by Gallo Del Cielo. Barn name: Charlie. Owned, trained, and shown by: Craig Johnson of Gainesville, Texas. Mare of distinction: “She was trained as a reining horse for the NRHA Futurity and missed the fi nals by half a point,” Johnson confides. “She’s done well in NRHA derby and novice classes, won the 2014 AQHA junior ranch horse pleasure championship, and has won each time she’s competed in cowboy dressage. She’ll track cows; scale obstacles; and, for fun, we take her to weekend sorting events.” More than medals: “At home, she’s the horse that everyone wants to pet and ride because she likes people,” Johnson shares. “She’s really mature for her age and will adjust to her…

Protection for the Little Rider The problem: You can’t find a helmet to fit your toddler rider. The solution: The Deluxe Toddler Schooler Helmet from Ovation. Details: Whether your child or grandchild rides alone or in the saddle with an adult, a too-big, wobbly helmet can’t do its job in the case of an accident. Ovation now makes an ASTM certified helmet sized perfectly for small heads. It mirrors the specs of the regular-size Schooler helmet with a lightweight, low-profile design; rubberized finish; and removable, washable liner, just in a smaller size. Your child can choose from a black, purple, or blue helmet. More info: $49.49; ovationriding.com. YOUR SOLUTIONS We’ve installed infared security cameras around the barn. If we hear a noise, we can check the horses without going outside,…

Prascend® (pergolide mesylate) Tablets, 1 mg Dopamine receptor agonist for oral use in horses only Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. Description: Prascend Tablets are rectangular light red colored, half-scored tablets containing 1 mg pergolide, as pergolide mesylate. Pergolide mesylate is a synthetic ergot derivative and is a potent dopamine receptor agonist. The chemical name of pergolide mesylate is 8f-[(Methylthio) methylj]-6-propylergoline monomethanesulfonate. The chemical structure is: Indication: For the control of clinical signs associated with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (Equine Cushing’s Disease) in horses. Dosage and Administration: Administer orally at a starting dose of 2 mcg/kg once daily. Dosage may be adjusted to effect, not to exceed 4 mcg/kg daily. It has been reported that pergolide tablets may cause…

No matter the type of riding you do, a breast collar can be a staple piece of your equipment. This accessory attaches to both sides of your saddle skirt’s dee rings—either to the cinch dees or the smaller breast-collar dees—to keep your saddle from sliding backward and from side to side. In most cases, it also attaches to your front cinch between your horse’s front legs, for additional anti-slide support. Here you’ll learn how to choose, fit, and best care for your breast collar. Materials Most often made from leather, breast collars also come in mohair, fleece, nylon, neoprene, and other synthetics. Though most materials provide similar function, selection relies heavily upon personal preference and appropriateness to your riding needs. Leather is the most common material. Design and level of…

DR Power Grading your gravel or dirt driveway, trail, or road is the most effective way to keep it smooth, properly drained, and comfortable to drive on. The DR Power Grader is designed to be the easiest, most effective way to grade almost any surface. Carbide-tipped scarifying teeth loosen compacted material, while a rear leveling blade redistributes material evenly, filling in potholes and smoothing out washboard. The remote-controlled actuator even lets you adjust the depth of penetration to fit the conditions at hand — without leaving your towing vehicle! Shave down high spots, fill in potholes, and leave your surface looking like new. With the DR Power Grader, there’s no need to add new material to fill in holes, since hard-packed material is brought back to the surface, saving you…

HERE’S A LITTLE SECRET: WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT you. In fact, the H&R staff talks about you a lot. Here’s an example: When Editor-at-Large Juli Thorson sent me “Flu Fight” (beginning on page 54 ) aft er a review, she said, “This is quite technical information, but I’m sure our readers are up for it.” We feel like we know you, our reader, pretty well, both through our editorial interactions with you and because we’ve been you—the horse owner, hungry for information. We’ve always found you to be in your horse involvement for the long haul, committed to improving your riding, and dedicated to giving your horse stellar care. But sometimes it’s valuable to get scientific information about readers. So, late last year, we conducted a survey about our…

Q I run a small boarding business. A new boarder owns a 5-year-old Paint gelding with PSSM, and his diet has to be managed. What exactly is this condition, and can he be cured? KATIE MOORE, California A Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), a muscle disease in horses, has two types. Type 1 is found in more than 20 breeds and commonly affects Quarter Horses; Quarter Horse-related breeds, such as Paints and Appaloosas; Morgans; some draft breeds; and some warmbloods. Type 2 is found in Quarter Horses, Arabians, Th oroughbreds, and potentially other light breeds. PSSM is characterized by the abnormal accumulation in muscle tissue of a normal form of sugar (glycogen) and an abnormal form (polysaccharide). Both Type 1 and Type 2 are related to this accumulation of muscle glycogen,…

At the top levels of any judged event, the communication between horse and rider is almost invisible. Whether in my sport of reining or other classes, using as small a cue as possible to get the perfect maneuver increases the degree of difficulty, thereby potentially raising your score. Achieving those invisible cues begins at home. You must use the same cues when you practice as you will in the show pen, even if they adjust slightly to correct mistakes in training. Using the same cues in practice as in competition builds your horse’s confidence: He’ll always know how you’ll ask for something and how to respond. Here, I’ll discuss how I cue for different maneuvers at home and in the show pen. Keep in mind that it’s about building and…

Margo Ball Ball holds judge’s cards with the Paint, Quarter Horse, and Palomino breed associations and NSBA, as well as with the National Reining, National Reined Cow Horse, and World Conformation Horse Associations. From her Ball’s Quarter Horses in Fort Collins, Colorado, Ball breeds all-around horses; trains Quarter Horses for halter, Western pleasure, and ranch horse pleasure; and shows in NRHA and AQHA reining events. She’s trained and shown horses to multiple AQHA championships and superior event titles in halter and performance, as well as to PHBA and IBHA world championships. She also coaches a select group of amateur competitors. The first thing I look for in a horse is all-around balance; it’s what most affects performance. Balance deals with the correct proportions of a horse. His hip and shoulder…

Influenza is confusing, and vaccine marketing can easily bamboozle you. If you take a minute to understand how the influenza virus has evolved over time, you’ll be well equipped to choose the best vaccine for your horse. The beginning: Influenza has most likely been around for centuries, but the virus was fi rst identified in 1955. This particular virus was named the H7N7 type (based on the make-up of the HA and NA proteins on its surface), and is also referred to as Influenza Subtype 1. The most important fact about this virus subtype is that it hasn’t been recognized in over 20 years, so is considered to be extinct. Although it won’t hurt, inclusion of the H7N7 virus in vaccines is unnecessary. Big switch: In 1963, a very different…

RIDING IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN. But when you experience fear that you can’t seem to shake, frustration replaces that fun. Your fear may trace to a specific incident, such as being bucked off or injured. Yet you needn’t have had an accident for fear to develop, because other factors can be at work. Without tools to overcome fear, you may find that it simply gets the upper hand. I’m here to give you a hand. My expertise is in helping horse owners who have fear issues. I’ll explain the basis of fear, and what can influence it. I’ll provide examples of riders with fear issues you may recognize (“Beset By Fear,” page 68). I’ll also give you a checklist to use toward rebuilding your confidence. The Basis of Fear…

SADDLE SAVVY Model: Western stackable saddle rack. Maker: SmartPak. Why buy: Organize your saddles to save space in the tack room; the rack supports up to four saddles at once. Cool feature: The movable arms allow you to adjust height and space so you can remove each saddle easily. More info: (888) 339-9695; smartpakequine.com. Price: $159.95 BRIDLE BASICS Model: 11-hook utility rack. Maker: Equi-Racks. Why buy: The utility rack can be hung anywhere in your barn, from the tack room to the aisleway, to organize your bridles, halters, blankets, or leg protection. Cool feature: The closely spaced hooks make the rack a multi-purpose item that’ll organize tack or barn tools. More info: (605) 347-5073; equiracks.com. Price: $29.99 THE CONSOLIDATOR Model: Space-saver horse tack-room organizer. Maker: NRS World. Why buy: The…

ALL GIFTS ARE NICE. BUT SOME PACK A MAJOR emotional punch. A recent birthday present was one of them. It came from my bestie, Betsey Strohl. She and I grew up riding together. Betsey’s mom, Mrs. Bennitt, was a riding mentor to me; my family wasn’t “horse-y,” so she took me under her wing. Mrs. B was always there for me. She was the first to off er advice and support, a loaned saddle, or a horse to ride. She was the first to kick my butt when I needed that, too. She was like a second mom. Gone to the Dogs Mrs. B also had a love of dogs that extended to Betsey, who’s proven to be somewhat of a savant when it comes to picking canine champions. When…

Originally, we diagnosed PSSM by the excessive accumulation of the normal form of sugar stored in muscle (glycogen) and an abnormal form of sugar (polysaccharide) evident in muscle biopsy tissues. Thousands of horses have been identified with the tying-up associated with this abnormal accumulation of polysaccharide in muscle. Then different forms of PSSM were identifi ed based on pinpointing a mutation in a gene (GYSI) that codes for the enzyme responsible for making glycogen (glycogen synthase). This genetic form of PSSM, Type 1, is inherited as a dominant trait. We don’t know the cause of other forms of PSSM, and they’re grouped under the term Type 2 to distinguish them from the known gene mutation in glycogen synthase. Pedigree analysis of Type 2 suggests a familial basis, even though the…

W e love horses. We hate flies. We worry about ourselves, our horses and our environment, and we would prefer to use pesticides and chemicals as little as possible when trying to control flies. On the other hand, we don’t want ourselves or our horses to be bothered by annoying or biting flies in our barns or fields. What’s a horse owner to do? Take control of your fly problems and learn how to prevent and control flies so they aren’t a nuisance or a disease threat on your property. Understand Your Options Chemical options for fly control are abundant. There are sprays that repel or kill fl ies and work because of a variety of ingredients, from natural botanicals to man-made chemicals. There are various types of fly traps.…

How should you clean up after a sick horse leaves the barn? The following steps will help you ensure that the stall is safe for others, and will give you insights on how to disinfect a show stall as well. Step 1: Dry Clean. First, you’ll physically remove all old shavings, hay, and manure that’s left behind. It’s very difficult to disinfect around these physical obstructions, so sweep all of the nooks and crannies until they’re as clean as possible. Step 2: Wash. Use hot water and a detergent (such as powdered laundry detergent) to scrub down walls and floors. This helps to loosen and remove remaining organic material that makes disinfection difficult. Step 3: Rinse. Detergents inactivate many disinfectants, so stall walls and floors should be rinsed with water…

Maybe you’ll recognize yourself or someone you know in these examples of riders (names have been changed) whose fears threatened to end their horse enjoyment. These scenarios, all real, represent an all-too-common reality in the horse world: fear, sometimes with an obvious source or reason such as an accident, but sometimes without. Each of these riders was able to regain confidence and ride again with tremendous success, each at her own pace and in her own way, and so can you. • Susan grew up barrel racing, but sold her horses after an accident put her in the hospital for two weeks with months of recovery. She still misses riding, her friends, and competing. • Barb enjoyed showing reiners, but got out of horses to raise a family and further…

Spare shelves, bins, nails, hooks, and even garbage cans that sit unused in your garage or storage shed can often be repurposed as barn organizers. Learn how with these tips, and put your clutter to work. Dirty-duty tools. Garage-tool organizers (or even closely spaced nails) will allow you to hang and separate your picks, shovels, and brooms, eliminating hazardous clutter while keeping your tools in one place. Tall bins and garbage cans serve the same purpose, but without the convenience of separation. Brushes and such. Purchase a pre-fabricated brush organizer that can be hung on your tack-room door or against the wall, or better yet, pick up a hanging shoe organizer that’ll serve the same purpose. Totes, baskets, and bins also work as carryalls for your brushes, though don’t keep…