Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2017 i Horse & Rider

No More Stumbling Go to our Web site to watch Clinton Anderson work with a horse that tends to stumble, after reading “Curing a Stumbler” on page 64. Scoop on Poop In Whole Horse Q&A, read about a mare that only eliminates in her stall, then see what your horse’s manure can tell you about his health. Safety Fir st If you keep your horse at home, review our safety checklist to ensure that your barn is safe for both you and your horse this spring. Products That Work Read “Hey! It Works” on our Web site to learn about products for you and your horse that performed as promised when put to the test. Join the Herd! We love hearing from you! Send all high-resolution images for Conformation Clinic; Problem…

Q My barn has box stalls and large, shady paddocks. My two geldings usually eliminate outside, but my 5-year-old mare stays in her stall 24/7 in all weather. She eliminates there, then walks through it, creating a mess that requires frequent cleanings. When I work her in a nearby pen, she doesn’t seem to mind being outside. Would feeding her in her paddock, instead of her stall, encourage her to go out more? STACY HAWES, Ohio A It sounds as if you’ve provided a great environment for your horses, with options of being inside or heading outside for visual stimulation and exposure to the elements if they choose. Two of your horses take advantage of this and eliminate in that location, as well. Make that area more inviting for your…

You have probably seen my face on our Fly Eliminators ads. Since 1979, we have parasites we call Fly Eliminators in our insectary. I’m a horse lover and have been fortunate to have been mass horses and their kept a couple of horses on our property over the years. We all know what a nuisance guardians. They can transmit diseases, cause irritation and sores. My solution at home is to use our Fly Eliminators for biological control of files Every 3-4 weeks I take a bag of hatching Fly Eliminators out to where we keep our horses. We have covered stalls and open turnout areas. I open the bag and begin to sprinkle the tiny Fly Eliminators and contents of the bag on “hot spot” areas where our horses place…

THIS LINE OF WORK TAKES ME TO COUNTLESS dream barns. From over-the-top fancy (chandeliers, posh lounges, and matching everything) to fancy-functional (every gadget serves a purpose, expert organization, and superclean). It’s enough to make a girl have serious barn envy. In an effort to keep my green monster in check, I think back to my early horse-crazy days, when I didn’t have the luxury of keeping my horses at home. A little perspective helps me appreciate what I have. From One Pasture to Another When my mom returned to horse life after a motherhood-induced hiatus, she boarded her 2-year-old gelding at a nice barn (the one with the lesson pony that launched me into a fence) not too far from our home. But when my brother and I finally got…

Igrew up in a family of horse people. My parents rode endlessly, teaching me the ropes when I was old enough to walk. I got my own horse when I was still in single digits. Though many different horses passed through our little family ranch, all of them had one thing in common. They were all geldings. Though a lover of all horses, my dad was a firm believer that geldings make better mounts. According to his credo, they were safer and easier to train, plus didn’t come with the “moody baggage,” as he called it. With a gelding, you always know which horse you’re taking out of the pasture,” he’d say. “With a mare, you never know.” As an adult, I heard variations of this wisdom from other horse…

Springtime Jacket It’s time to think about putting your winter coat away and choosing a jacket that’s perfect for springtime layering. Horseware Ireland’s Nessa riding jacket comes in the colors charcoal gray and pool green, and is a lightweight, waterproof topper. The hidden hood comes in handy when you’re stuck catching your horse in the rain, but can be tucked away to dress it up when you’re running around town. When it’s time to get the mud that comes with spring off your jacket, just throw it in the washing machine. More info: $80; horseware.com. Trail-Friendly Jeans The situation: Your jeans become uncomfortable during long trail rides or training sessions. The answer: Smooth Stride real riding jeans. The features: The jeans are made in the United States and are designed…

Karen Banister Banister has been a carded judge for APHA since 1994. She’s also carded with ApHC, AQHA, NSBA, 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 coach riders, and breed and train Paints and Quarter Horses for nationallevel competition. 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. _ e AQHA standard is a horse of stock type that’s balanced, structurally correct, attractive with high quality,…

Electrobraid Save time, money, and have fewer fence-related injuries with ElectroBraid® electric fence. This fence uses copper wire conductors braided into a highly visible rope, providing a safe and effective barrier. ElectroBraid® fence has a psychological effect, as well, allowing horses to see each other and you — and you can see them. There are no places for predators to hide. Horses are happier and more relaxed, so they don’t pace up and down their fence line. ElectroBraid® can absorb and repel the energy of a fast-moving horse, keeping the horse in the 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 CSA approved fence energizer is…

horse prone to stumbling is a nuisance at best and a health hazard at worst. It’s normal for a horse to trip or stumble every once in a while, but if tripping on the trail is becoming a regular thing for your horse, that means he’s in need of help. A I’m going to tell you how to address this problem. I’ll discuss the importance of ruling out physical causes, then give you a practical approach that will encourage him to mind how he steps. Why Address Stumbling? Just like us, horses sometimes take a misstep, especially if the ground is rough or uneven. It’s when stumbling becomes a common occurrence that you must address it. If it’s not a health-related issue (more on that in a moment), then the…

LETTERS OF THE MONTH Praise for the Senior Issue I’m totally impressed with the February 2017 senior issue of H&R. My senior, Annie (at right), is a registered Quarter Horse, now 32 years young. I showed her to earned two AQHA Registers of Merit in amateur and open reining._We also placed in the top 10 at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in freestyle reining. Annie went on to become one of my lesson horses and taught many young children to ride. At age 25 I retired her to the family farm so she could enjoy her senior years. Two years ago, Annie lost her sight. I have a friend who cares for old, rescue, and blind horses, and she’s thriving in her new environment. I still ride her once…

Your Horse Your Life WE’D LOVE TO OWN Details: 2011 AQHA gelding by One Hot Krymsun and out of Zipped Tight, by Zippo Pine Bar. Barn name: George. Owned and shown by: Angela Fox of Oak Point, Texas. Trained and shown by: Highpoint Performance Horses of Pilot Point, Texas. Curious George: “He’s very mischievous,” Angela laughs. “He gets into just about everything; his personality reminds me of a cartoon character. We’ve learned that you can’t leave standing wraps on him at night because he likes to rip them off immediately and chew on them.” Play time: When George isn’t competing at horse shows, he makes the most of his turnout time in the pasture. “He’s not a peaceful grazer. He’d rather visit with everyone or run and play the entire…

Pole practice is obviously required for horses competing in trail classes and ranch riding, but it also encourages your horse to li_ his back and travel with cadence and impulsion (i.e., collection) to avoid hitting poles. Any horse can bene_ t from being better collected under saddle, so don’t hesitate to try the exercise even if judged trail isn’t your focus. Set up four 12-foot poles in a square in your riding arena. (You can buy garden timbers at a garden-supply store if you don’t have any at home.) You’ll travel over the square in a fourleaf- clover pattern. Out_ t your horse in a bit he responds to, and ride with one or two hands on the reins. Two-handed riding helps when you’re starting out, then you can progress…

We have a love-hate relationship with barn chores. Sure, we enjoy the time in the barn, watching our horses as we…shovel poop, clean buckets, fix fence, or clean up wasted feed, sometimes in cold, muddy conditions. But there are innovations that can help the “love” part outweigh the dread that sometimes comes along with barn work. Here are nine products to consider trying in your barn, whether you have a small acreage and a few stalls or a larger horse farm with more property to manage. ClearSpan Fabric Structures The idea: The Hercules Truss Arch Building is ideal for horse or stable owners. These durable buildings provide a clean, dry, safe environment to house your horses, set up an indoor arena, or store feed. The company also offers metal and…

YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BREED YOUR MARE. She’s beautiful, sweet, and has been the perfect companion over the years. Now she’s 16 years old, and if you don’t breed her soon, it might be too late. Of course, you don’t have any trace of her registration papers, she has a clubfoot, and she’s hard to keep sound…oh, and you’ve never raised a foal on your own. Maybe you want to breed your mare…but should you? That scenario might seem extreme, but it brings up the question of your desire versus the realities of breeding. The decision to breed a mare isn’t one to take lightly—it can be expensive and risky to bring a foal into the world, especially at a time when the plight of the unwanted horse continues to…