Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2016 i Horse & Rider

Trainer of Trainers Read tips from master horseman Don Murphy in “Ride Better Right Now” on page 54. Visit the Web site to hear him tell of the history of reined work in competition. Piecemeal Grooming For manageable, show-ready prep, use the schedule in “Take Time to Shine” on page 62 and techniques from “Ease Your Horse’s Fear of Clippers” at the Web site. Back in the Game Is your horse safe to compete after a soft-tissue injury? Find out in Whole Horse Q&A on page 16. Learn more online in “Soft-Tissue Troubles.” Keepin’ It Cool Learn to “Keep Your Horse Cool in the Summer Heat” online. Use the quick fixes from our Solutions department to assure his comfort every day. From Our Blogs Enhance your communication with your horse;…

LETTER OF THE MONTH Help for Hives Thank you for the excellent article about hives in the March 2016 edition of Horse&Rider. I own a horse that has suffered from hives, and the outbreaks were getting worse every year. I had a blood test done, but couldn’t identify any single allergen that was specifically causing a problem. After reading this article, I now understand more clearly that an allergic horse is likely to have many triggers to cause an allergic reaction. I want to emphasize a sentence that could be easily overlooked in this article: “If your horse gets hives, always include an omega fatty-acid supplement with his daily ration.” I spent a lot of time researching hives and trying every type of natural remedy I could find. If only…

Dressage Groups Revamp Beginning this year, the world show of the Western Dressage Association of America will be organized under the WDAA brand, with a new date and venue. The Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, will host the event, which takes place September 29 through October 2. You need not qualify to compete (wdaaworldshow.org). On the West Coast, the 2016 Cowboy Dressage World Gathering and Finals also moves to a new date, September 8–11. The event again takes place in Rancho Murieta, California, just outside of Sacramento (cowboy dressageworld.com). And, mixing dressage with ranch work, North American Western Dressage now offers a new class combining training-scale dressage values with working maneuvers such as sidepassing, rollbacks, and more (nawdhorse.org). TOP-10 MEMBERSHIP FIGURES 6,278 AQHA members in Germany, according to the…

Step into my time machine so we can travel back to 1989. We see you and your horse with the veterinarian examining the horse for lameness. Nerve blocks show the problem lies in your horse’s heels, but his X-rays look just fine. “He’s got navicular,” the vet says. “It’s just not bad enough to show up on X-rays yet.” It’s a devastating blow. You treat your horse with corrective shoeing and anti-inflammatories for years. You even inject his coffin joints. Unfortunately, he’s never really right, and his X-rays never change. “There must be something there,” you think. “I wish there was a way to look inside his feet and see what’s really wrong.” Fast-forward a couple of decades. New horse, same problem. Your horse is lame, and nerve blocks confirm…

YOU’VE PROBABLY NOTICED THAT YOUR FAVORite magazines—including Horse&Rider—are beefing up their video libraries. For many publications, it’s to keep your attention longer. Your extended engagement equates to advertising dollars that help the bottom line. While we share that goal, there’s a bigger reason we’re excited to delve into video production: Print and video enhance and extend educational opportunities. H&R readers know that education is our sweet spot. We want to give you the tools to ride better, take the best care of your horse, pick the most suitable tack for the job—and we think adding video to our roster of offerings enables us to do just that. From the Page to the Screen You’re probably used to H&R sending you online for more information on topics in your magazine each…

Bex Salerio II lightweight polarized performance shades protect Dad’s eyes from UVA, UVB, UVC, and blue light rays. More info: From $125; bexsunglasses.com. Cooler than a button-up, dressier than a tee, the Cinch Arenaflex polo is the perfect barn-to-town choice. Handsome colors guarantee he’s sharp. More info: $44.99; cinchjeans.com. For a practical and traditional gift, you can’t go wrong with leather goods; enter The Leather Guy. The American-made, handstamped Santa Fe belt, with turquoise stitching is a traditional piece he’ll cherish forever. More info: Belt, $139.95; theleatherguytx.com. Rock&Roll Cowboy lightvintage-wash, competitionfit jeans have a straight leg, with plenty of room in the seat and thighs. More info: $79; panhandleww.com. Riding-Dad Wear WE LOVE: FATHER’S DAY GIFTS From his head to his face to his hands, our favorites have you covered…

He’s a trainer of trainers and a sought-after coach. His clinics and private lessons have helped countless amateurs, youths, and rising pros achieve success in reining and cow horse events. And when top trainers in other performance disciplines want to compete on a cow horse, it’s Don Murphy they turn to for guidance. Here, we share some of the iconic horseman’s best advice, useful no matter what kind of riding you do. And, whether you’re a rookie or well advanced in your horsemanship, these concepts from a National Reined Cow Horse Association Hall of Famer will enable you to become a better rider—plus wind up with a better-broke horse. Here are 10 key insights Don Murphy shared with us. 1. On preparing your horse’s mind for work. Always get your…

Q I have trouble keeping my Quarter Horse mare on the rail. She’s distracted by everything outside the ring and spooks at things she’s seen before. When she spooks, she drags me to the middle of the arena; then, I can’t get her back to the rail. Even when there’s nothing to set her off, she anticipates that there will be and drifts off the rail. I’ve tried to ease her fears by allowing her to stop and look at whatever she’s worried about, but the next time we come around the arena, she spooks at the same thing and runs to middle. How can I stop her from doing this? ALESE WATSON, Michigan A Horses stray from the rail for a number of reasons— sometimes spooking or the anticipation…

Q I’m leasing a 10-year-old Quarter Horse/Thoroughbred gelding that competed successfully in barrel racing with his owner. Now that he’s in my care, however, I’ve learned he has an old bowed tendon. I’d like to barrel race with him but am afraid he could reinjure that tendon. Should I worry? JULIE TREATH, Arizona A Most horses that get appropriate rest after a bowed tendon can happily go back to work, even at a high level of performance. Because barrels are a speed event, there may be more risk involved, but it’s still entirely possible for your horse to be able to perform safely, depending on a few factors. What’s usually called a bowed tendon is actually an injury to a horse’s superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT). Tears can range from…

Details: 2012 APHA stallion by A Good Machine and out of Special Ingredient, by Special Invitation. Barn name: Big Daddy. Owned by: Gavin Pope Farms of Raymond, Illinois. Trained and shown by: Laura Spell of St. Louis, Missouri. Prodigal son: Pope shares that the colt was an easy pick from the start: “His mom had an exceptional Western pleasure show career, and I saw potential for him in the Paint horse world as a versatile, all-around performer and sire.” Training then confirmed his suspicions. “Even as a 2-year-old, he was a natural,” explains Spell. “We took it easy though because, at 16.1 hands high, he was big for his age.” Stallion of stature: “Despite his size, he’s a slow mover,” explains Spell. “He naturally levels his head and trots and…

Comfortable and Customized The saddle: Black Mountain trail saddle, from Tucker Saddlery. Comfort features: The saddle comes in five different trees, to ensure that it properly fits your horse’s back, from gaited to stock-type breeds. Cutout skirts and a fully adjustable rigging reduce bulk and allow for closer contact with your horse for clear cues. ErgoBalance stirrups position your foot for reduced knee and ankle fatigue. A 5-inch cantle and wide swells keep you feeling secure in the seat, while the Gel-Cush shock-absorbing seat keeps you comfortable on long rides. Customizable style: You don’t have to sacrifice appearance for comfort. Choose from three leather finishes, round or full skirts, brass or chrome hardware, and an array of conchos for embellishment. More info: Starting at $1,775; tuckersaddlery.com. Forever Fork Innovations that…

Riders hate to hear it, but trainers and coaches keep saying it just the same: “Drop your stirrups.” While you might not like the soreness the day following the stirrup-free session, you can’t deny the practice is good for you. I have my riders go without stirrups on a regular basis for a few reasons. First, it builds leg strength. If you can hold your position without stirrups for an extended time, it’ll be even easier to stay in position with stirrups. Second, riding without stirrups does wonders for your stamina in the saddle. third, the confidence boost you get from knowing you can maintain your position at all gaits without stirrups is second to none. Finally, this practice improves your connection to and communication with your horse. Here, I’ll…

Karen Banister Banister has been a carded judge for APHA since 1994. She’s also carded with ApHC, AQHA, NSBA, NRHA, and PtHA. She’s judged the APHA Youth World Championships and the European APHA Championships, as well as the German and Italian Quarter Horse Championships. Banister and her husband, Marc, started White Harvest Farms in Brighton, Colorado, in 1986. It operates as a breeding, training, boarding, and lesson facility. They breed and train both APHA and AQHA horses for national-level competition and coach riders. They enjoy training national and regional champion hunters and team roping horses. When judging conformation, I adhere to the rulebook to judge each horse fairly and on his breed organization’s standards. The APHA standard is a horse of stock type that’s balanced, structurally correct, attractive with high…