Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2016 i Horse & Rider

Trump Trail Troubles Identify and solve common trail predicaments in “Hidden Hazards on the Trail,” on page 68. Visit the Web site for even more trail-savvy safety tips in “Avoid Seven Types of Trail-Riding Problems.” It’s Back! “Hey! It Works!” is back with even more fun, innovative products. Read reviews of five new-to-the-market items on page 61. Find the first installment online. Wound-Care Basics Get the lowdown on wound care in Whole Horse, page 14. Learn to evaluate injuries in “Wound-Assessment Q&A” at the Web site. Check, Check, Tow Tow safely this season. Find our “Trailer-Safety Checklist” online, and brush up on the do’s and don’ts of safe hauling in Horsekeeping on page 26. From Our Blogs This month, discover the one great riding trick that solves all of your…

Q I keep several horses and am wondering—which kinds of wounds are most problematic? Are ointments ever a useful treatment? Also, why do some wounds heal with hair growing back in white? LAUREL WISE Durango, Colorado A A wound’s location plus the possibility of contamination and a foreign object’s being embedded are all important factors when considering the potential severity of a wound. Location can dictate whether a wound is minor, potentially career ending, or even life threatening. Wounds that enter synovial structures such as joints and tendon sheaths are the most serious; they can have devastating outcomes and be extremely costly to treat. Wounds that enter the abdomen or thorax (chest) can have similarly serious consequences. Wounds that don’t enter body cavities or synovial structures will generally have good…

The DR Power Grader is designed for country property owners with unpaved driveways, roads, and other surfaces to maintain. Towed behind your ATV, UTV, or riding mower, the Power Grader’s carbide-tipped scarifying teeth loosen and redistribute compacted materials — potholes are filled in, and washboard is smoothed out. And, because it recycles existing material, the Power Grader frequently can get the job done without the expense of trucking in fresh gravel or other landscaping materials. New for 2016, DR Power introduces the EZ-Dial model starting at just $799.99 with free shipping. Unlike the established models — which use a wireless remote control for adjusting grading depth — the EZ-Dial uses a simple hand crank that allows the operator to make adjustments from the tow vehicle. The manual adjustment reduces the…

In the quest to find the perfect fencing product, the Cashman Elite Fence System has it all, right down to the wire. It is strong, safe, and low maintenance. Unlike any other fence, the fence posts in the Cashman Elite Fence System can be spaced up to 50 feet apart, saving time and money, while still being visible and strong. It is made of polyester rope with six strands of tin-coated copper woven throughout. This allows for the rope to be electrified to keep livestock away from the fence with a better electrical current than high-tensile wire. The Cashman Elite is very forgiving. In the case of an animal hitting the fence, the rope will flex and push back rather than cut as high-tensile wire will. In the event of…

We Cover Structures are the freespan design-build specialists, building quality, custombuilt fabric and steel-roof buildings to give you the right building for your property, business, or leisure. We Cover steel components are fully galvanized, including the weld joints, so there is no difference in color between the welds and the rest of the structure. All metal components are hot-dipped into zinc after manufacturing to guarantee complete corrosion protection. The truss spacing on the fabric is at 12-foot maximum to eliminate fabric joints between the trusses, maintain structural integrity, and prevent flapping or sagging of the fabric. The translucent roof is designed to show no fabric joints for visual appeal. The truly vertical side walls are closed with traditional materials or a ventilation system. Eaves are protected by a generous overhang…

If you have horses, you know the difference between the must-have items, and the wish-I-had products. You have a well-stocked arsenal of your favorite grooming tools and products, your horse’s most-loved treats, and the apparel items that fill you with confidence in the arena. You stick to what you know and like because you’re confident in the outcome. Though you window-shop occasionally at your local feed or outfitting store or online, you hesitate to invest in a product you’re not familiar with and have it not live up to its hype. That’s why we’re here to take the risk out of the trial-and-error process by testing the products you’d most like to buy. We’ve found five products that are well-made, innovative, and seek to solve the problems you face most…

YOU’D BE AMAZED AT THE VOLUME OF PRODUCT information that _lls our email inboxes each day. Our reactions run the gamut, from “Wow! We have to tell our readers about this one!” To “Hmmm, that’s interesting; we need to look into it.” Down to (thankfully not too often), “How the heck did they get my email address? ‘Please unsubscribe.’” As editors, Jenny, Alexis, and I—as well as our contributing editors—serve as product gatekeepers. We take the job seriously because we’re horse owners, just like you, which means we can’t waste a lot of time or money on bum purchases. We’re guessing you can’t either. How We Pick Products We see all sorts of gadgets and gear on photo shoots, at event trade shows, and in our own feed and tack…

“Things would work a lot better with this gelding,” said the Old Man quietly, “if you’d stop pulling on him.” I was 11 and having trouble getting a little gelding I was riding, Spark, to turn and stop. If I pulled to the right, he would pull to the left; if I pulled to the left, he would pull to the right. The Old Man, a wise and experienced trainer, was helping me. “I don’t know how to do that,” I said in frustration. “How to do what?” “Not pull!” The Old Man stood quietly for a few seconds. Then he said, “Why don’t you put him up for now? We’ll try again tomorrow.” “Okay,” I said. I put Spark away and finished a few chores. Just as I was…

All-Purpose Chaps When you’re out on the trail or in a versatility class, chink-style chaps, like these brown pull-up fashion chinks with floral yolks (#65-3298) from Weaver Leather protect your legs from brush and abrasion or polish off your Western turnout. In either situation, you’ll want to take these factors into consideration before you pick up a pair of your own. • Fit: Just like full-length chaps, chinks should fit around your waist and thighs and be of adequate length. Take your measurements, and then find chinks to fit you. Proper length is mid-shin, excluding fringe. • Budget: If your pocketbook’s bottomless, you can splurge on custom chaps in heavy-weight or fun, hair-on hides with intricately-tooled yolks. For a more budget-friendly option, choose lighter-weight (but still chap-appropriate) finished leather or…

Holly Hover Hover is an experienced judge, trainer, and exhibitor. She’s been a carded judge since 1988, and holds cards with the AQHA, APHA, NRHA, and NSBA. She’s officiated national and international events, including the AQHA youth and world championship shows. She serves as a member of the youth and steering committees for the AQHA Level 1 Championships, and is a dedicated sponsor of Arizona Quarter Horse Association championship shows. Hover coaches amateur and youth all-around competitors, and specializes in showman psychology. Hover resides in Cave Creek, Arizona, where she owns and operates her training facility, Holly Hover Quarter Horses. The first things that I look for in a horse are soundness, balance, and eye appeal. A horse should be well balanced so that he looks cohesive. Th is means…

Reduce fence-related injuries, and spend less time maintaining your fence or chasing after escaped horses, with ElectroBraid® electric fence. Available in white, checkered, or black, Electro-Braid® is highly visible to horses, strong, and durable. Traditional electric horse fence uses small diameter steel wires, which are hard for horses to see. Electro-Braid® uses copper wire conductors braided into a highly visible rope. Fence posts can be spaced 30 to 50 feet apart, requiring fewer materials and less maintenance than traditional fence. ElectroBraid® can absorb the energy of a panicked horse and will typically bounce the horse back into its pasture with no harm to horse or fence. Unlike a wooden fence, there are no sharp points, hard edges, or boards to break or splinter. The electric shock from a UL- or…

Feeding hay can be costly and messy, but Bale Barns, LLC, has you covered — literally. Bale Barns feature a strong, one-piece design that is both durable and easy to use. Each Bale Barn is 8-feet-by-8 feet and 69 inches tall, so it can be used with anything, from multiple small square bales, a large 8-foot square bale or a 6-foot round bale. No tractor or special equipment is needed: Just take the wrap or strings off the bale, and flip the Bale Barn over the hay. That’s it! Eight large feeding windows allow easy access to hay and help eliminate the bickering between horses, but with the slow-feed integrated net, you can worry less about the overeaters and other free-choice-hay feeding problems. Plus, when horses eat more slowly, the…

Muddy Creek Rain Gear understands the needs of horsemen and horsewomen on the trail or at the ranch, including riding through the rain. Made from lightweight, durable, waterproof, breathable, and washable fabric, Muddy Creek Rain Gear can’t be beat for all-weather riding gear. For the ultimate coverage, including your saddle, Muddy Creek’s long coat will keep you dry and comfortable. The long coat features large external pockets with VELCRO® Brand storm flaps and a convenient internal pocket, a detachable hood, and an oversize cut to ensure you and your saddle are covered top to bottom, front to back, guaranteed. Other top-quality products include a short coat great for riding, chores, or just walking the dog — with a matching canine coat! Hats, bags, gloves, and knives round out a selection…

My favorite ride is the Fort Braden Tract of the Lake Talquin State Forest in North Florida. Miles of horse trails. My gelding Harley is great with water, which is good as there are lots of creek crossings. Lily Hawkins, Florida Deer Creek Hills at the Sacramento Valley Conservancy is my favorite. Over 4,000 acres of rolling grasslands, oak trees, and wildlife. The bonus in spring is that it’s green! No better way to spend a day with friends, on horses. Tamara Winchell, California My family loves the Longleaf Trail in Louisiana’s Kisatchie National Forest. It goes on forever, with so many different terrains, and it’s just beautiful. Linda Perrington, Louisiana Bucktail Trail runs across the western state border of Virginia into West Virginia, within the George Washington National Forest.…

Horse Shopping, Done Right When I read “Working With Icons” (From the Editor, September 2015), it reminded me of my experience meeting icons of the reined cow horse world when we shopped for a new fence horse for my 16-year-old daughter, Maggie. We knew that this was coming, so we put our trust in our trainer, Brenda Brown, to lead our search. What we didn’t know was that we’d meet some of the top cow horse trainers nor expect each one to be as nice, respectful, and helpful as they all were. First we met with Randy Paul. He treated my daughter like an adult and took the time to talk to her about the horse before she rode. After about 10 minutes of watching her ride, he had her…

When it comes to working cow horse, most people focus on the fence work—it’s exciting, but it can be overemphasized. Too oft en, riders and spectators overlook circling the cow at the end of the run. Solid circling can put the icing on the cake if you have good fence turns; and it can salvage your run if things go wrong down the fence. Th roughout an entire cow horse run, we want to see control— of the rider, the horse, and the cow. Not only is that the desired goal for judging, it also ensures that all three parties stay safe. If the horse is in an off ensive position to control the cow, there’s a cushion of space between the horse and the cow, and the rider is…

Kubota’s new RTV-X1140 is the luxury car of utility vehicles. It offers great versatility, featuring the innovative K-Vertible cargo conversion system, which transforms the vehicle from two passengers and a large cargo bed to four passengers and a cargo bed. Conversion is quick and easy, and requires only one person. Featuring sophisticated technology, the RTV-X1140 offers an impressive array of comfort and performance features, with tilt steering, simple inline shifting, and a long-travel, four-wheel independent suspension that enhances handling in most off-road conditions. Secure lockable storage is also available, with a large glove box and under-seat storage compartments beneath the splitbench seats to provide convenient storage space for tools, tiedowns, and personal items. The new five-point Roll Over Protection Structure design increases RTV-X1140’s legendary workhorse characteristics, allowing for industry-leading cargo…

The Savvy Feeder is the smart, healthy way to feed your horse. By using a stabilized floating grate, the feeder prolongs feeding 4-10 times as long as eating off the ground, reducing the chance of ulcers and eliminating boredom, nervousness, and frustration. By keeping the hay off the ground, the Savvy Feeder reduces ingestion of sand, manure, bedding, and other things that invite colic, and its excellent drainage eliminates spoilage. The Savvy Feeder allows your horse to forage in a natural head-down position, correctly aligning the jaw and reducing the risk of guttural pouch infection. The Savvy Feeder works just as well, whether you feed 5 pounds of hay or as much as 25 pounds. And with the new latch system to prevent the bottom from sliding out, it is…

Family-owned Linear Rubber has been manufacturing highquality rubber mats and flooring for use in recreational, agricultural, and industrial facilities since 1971. The highly popular Soft Stall Mats are easily installed over virtually any surface. The Deluxe Soft Stall mats eliminate the need to repair a barn floor by adding dirt, screenings, or other costly fillings. With the largest mats in the industry, installation is simpler, and there are fewer seams than with many other mats on the market. Soft Stall Mats help reduce the cost of shavings, straw, or sawdust by up to 75%, often offsetting the cost of the mats within two years. Bedding will not stick to the top side of the mats, and dust problems are eliminated. The nonslip surfaces provide a natural, solid, and secure footing…