Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2017 i Horse & Rider

IT’S SAID THAT youth is wasted on the young. In some ways, I guess I could agree with the sentiment—especially when it comes to naptime, metabolism, and endless energy. But if a youngster has access to a horse, that’s probably the best possible way to take advantage of his or her younger years. Here are just a few reasons why. RESILIENCE Do you remember the last time you came off your horse? It probably hurt a lot more, for a longer time, at 40-, 50-, or 60-something than it did when you were a child. And I’d guess from my own recent ousting from the saddle that it made you more cautious the next time you mounted up—even a little fearful that it might happen again. Kids bounce. And when…

WE HEAR YOU Trailering Question My trailer is a threehorse slant-load. After reading “The Long Haul” (July 2017), I had a question. I frequently trailer only one horse at a time. Should I open up the entire trailer to be one large stall box for him on a 7-hour haul? Janet Sheldon Great question! Yes, that’s exactly what we do when hauling long distances in a slant-load trailer. We even haul this way for colicky horses being transported to a surgical facility—they’re much more likely to stay on their feet in an open trailer. As an added advantage, it’s much easier and safer to get the horse up if he goes down while on the road. If your dividers can’t be removed completely, make sure they can be tied back…

LEATHER CARE Kids are hard on their boots. Frequent conditioning keeps boots from drying out and extends their wear. ★ Boots for Your Buckaroo Finding the right pair of boots for your little one is no easy feat. Ensure a perfect fit by bringing a pair of boot socks for your young one to wear when you go boot shopping. To keep him comfortable when he’s on his feet, look for a boot that provides cushion in the footbed, like the Tombstone, shown here ($94.95; ariat.com). And if he’s between sizes, find a boot that has room for a removable insert. Kids’ Kicks Boots three different ways. 1. Olathe Tall Tops 2. Lavender Durangos 3. Hooey Boots…

• 4-H. A 4-H horse program is the time-honored place to begin a child’s involvement with horses, and ownership isn’t required. To learn about 4-H horse groups in your area (or to start one), check with your local county extension agent (4-h.org/find). • Certified Horsemanship Association. CHA promotes excellence in safety and education by certifying riding instructors; it also accredits equine facilities and produces educational conferences and materials. Find a certified instructor in your area at chainstructors.com. • Time to Ride. Partnering with such groups as the American Quarter Horse Association, Time to Ride connects American families to local equestrian resources, including lessons, camps, and clubs. Check out its interactive Web site at timetoride.com. • Interscholastic Equestrian Association. Serving middle and secondary school students across the United States, the IEA…

Fall brings out more than just beautiful weather and stunning colors—it also draws seasonal hunters. To avoid being mistaken for a deer, Dave Di Pietra, owner of Synergist Saddles in Cheyenne, Wyoming, offers these hunting-season safety guidelines. • Go orange. Wear a bright-orange vest, try an orange helmet cover, and outfit your horse in orange wraps or an orange quarter sheet. This is the universal sign to a hunter not to shoot. • Ride with a buddy. More people and horses mean more noise to signal your approach. • Carry a whistle and blow it to identify yourself. Attach a bell to your tack so it jingles when your horse walks. • Avoid riding at dawn or dusk, which are peak hunting times of the day.…

Canyons of the Ancients. The very name conjures visions of ghostly figures gazing from cliff dwellings in high, shady alcoves. Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, located in Colorado’s Four Corners region, is an enchanting place to bring your equine partner and discover both history and beauty. We explored the area aboard our well-traveled Missouri Fox Trotter geldings, Cowboy and Nate. Canyon Trails Ranch Canyon Trails Ranch (canyontrailsranch.com) is located about a mile from the Canyons of the Ancients boundary, 15 miles southwest of Cortez. It offers an equine-friendly campground situated on a gentle rise overlooking an emerald field framed in the layered, sun-kissed cliffs of McElmo Canyon. Sagebrush, pinyon pine, and prickly pear cactus adorn the campground. Each campsite has water, electricity, and a corral. We stayed here four nights…

Share Your Horse For the second year, Time To Ride is hosting the Take a Friend Riding Challenge. Pledge to take your non-horse friend riding at timetoride.com/pledge before September 16, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a Kentucky Horse-Crazy Trip for two. It includes passes to the expansive Kentucky Horse Park, a Kentucky Horse Park trail ride, reserved seats at Keeneland’s grandstand, a tour of Keeneland, and the opportunity to participate in a Dan James horsemanship clinic in Kentucky. Last year’s sweepstakes winner learned about the contest in the pages of H&R. You could be the next winner, but not if you don’t take the pledge! $600K In cash and prizes awarded September 20–October 1 at the APHA World Championship Show. Ride With the Best The opportunity:…

Prevention Is Best Reduce your horse’s overall risk of colic with smart management strategies: ★ Feed small amounts frequently, or even better, provide 24/7 forage or grazing. Make any changes in feed gradually. Give fresh, clean water of a drinkable temperature. ★ Provide exercise, deworming, and dental care on regular schedules. ★ If you’re in a sandy environment, place hay in a feeder or on a rubber mat to avoid sand ingestion. Ask your vet about sand-clearing products containing psyllium. ★ Where you can, minimize stress-inducing events. Be ready for colic Colic know-how can save your horse from this No. 1 killer. Abdominal pain can be caused by gas in the digestive tract; obstructions and feed impactions; bowel twists, tumors, or ruptures— even issues elsewhere in the body. Call your…

Safe, comfortable, trailready tack says you’re a dedicated, knowledgeable trail rider. You’ll also be ready for long rides in fall’s cool weather. On the trail, your tack must stay in place, fit well, and be attached correctly so that your horse can conquer any terrain comfortably. If your saddle doesn’t fit, his back will be sore after just a short ride. If your saddle isn’t securely attached, it could slide backward or forward, especially when you ride up and down hills. If your bridle doesn’t have a browband and throatlatch, it could come off if your horse brushes against a low branch. Here, I’ll explain what’s safe and unsafe in your trail bridle, trail saddle, and your saddle’s attachments that help to keep it in place—the flank cinch, breastcollar, and…

For trail riders, fall is a glorious time of year—crisp, cool weather, bright-blue skies, and trees bursting with autumn splendor. Here’s everything you need to plan your fall-color excursion, whether it be a day ride, an overnight adventure on your own horse, or an equestrian vacation at a farm or guest ranch. (For an exclusive listing of specific fall-riding destinations, equestrian vacations, and guest ranches, go to HorseandRider.com.) PEAK-COLOR PLANNING Before you head out on a fall-riding adventure, find out when the leaves are expected to change color at your destination. Leaves turn color at different times, depending on the latitude, elevation, weather, and tree type. Check reports on the Web site for the park or national forest where you plan to ride, or contact the resort or outfitter you…

“FRANTIC EVACUATION IN CALIFORNIA LEFT ANIMALS TO FACE WILDFIRE ALONE.” The 2015 New York Times article headline that caught my eye described horses wandering down state highways, dazed and injured. One wandering horse was struck by a vehicle and killed, and at least three died in a pasture due to smoke or fire they couldn’t escape. One horse owner reported having a trailer big enough to haul all but two of his horses; he had to pick which two to leave behind. A devastating choice. Some had no choice but to leave their horses when they had to flee their homes. Would they have had a better chance if they’d had a prearranged evacuation plan? Possibly. When it comes to disaster planning, there are three important questions you must answer:…

Trainers on the Rise Who are the hot new trainers in the Western world? Featured up-and-coming pros include Madison Shambaugh (above) and Cody Crow, our expert resource for Confident Rider, beginning on page 55. Use his drill to focus your mind on riding instead of your nerves. The Thinking Rider On tap for September: Calming a hot horse. Follow Horse&Rider on Facebook for alerts on new posts from this informative blog, winner for the second year in a row of the American Horse Publication’s first-place blog award. Must-See Items ➝ Assess His Health Colic happens. Learn how you can prevent it on page 32. To help assess your horse’s overall health status, read “Check Your Horse’s Vital Signs” online. ➝ Wildfire Prep Are you prepared to evacute your horses if…

TIP Keep your horse’s long mane from getting tangled within your saddle by braiding the hair near his withers. Tame His Mane ★ We all love a long, flowing mane, but what kind of work goes into managing those gorgeous locks? If your horse has a mane similar to National Reining Horse Association stallion Xtra New Pal Voodoo (photographed here), it takes a little extra TLC to guarantee everything stays clean and tangle-free. To maintain New Pal’s famous locks, trainer Trevor Dare shampoos and conditions the horse’s mane once a week. And when New Pal isn’t being shown (or washed) his mane remains neatly braided. Mane-Care Supplies Products that promote a healthy, clean mane. 1. Rosewater Shampoo 2. Mane 'n Tail Conditioner 3. Argan Oil Detangler…

★ WHETHER YOU’RE A BEGINNER OR advanced, ride trails or rails, effective speed transitions are an essential part of your horsemanship. Controlled, smooth changes of gait make for a more enjoyable ride for you and your horse—less bouncing around, fumbled cues, and confusion for your horse. And they net you a better score if you compete. Here I’ll explain how one of my young riders works on her transitions to eventually make them effortless and almost invisible. Use a bit your horse responds to, and consider using spurs if your horse is lazy. Use two hands on the reins for the best control and clearest cues from your hands, then advance to one-handed riding once you and your horse are dialed in to the transition cues. Warm up your horse…

• Lessons. This is the best way to introduce your child to riding anyway. He or she is safest learning the basics on well-schooled lesson mounts under the guidance of an experienced instructor. • Sharing. If your child is eager to develop a relationship with one horse, consider sharing one. Your lesson barn may allow sponsoring, which conveys some benefits, or you may find another parent who would welcome help in riding and caring for the horse his or her child owns. Such arrangements can be informal (your child rides in return for friendship and help with barn chores) or contractual. In the latter case, a “part-lease”—in which you pay a set portion of a horse’s monthly board, shoeing, and routine veterinary expenses in return for a set number of…

Our neighbors to the north have their share of spectacular fall scenery. Horse Country Campground in Foresters Falls, Ontario (horse countrycampground.com), will hold its Fall Colours Kick Off Weekend September 15–17, 2017, to celebrate the autumn beauty of Ottawa Valley. Riders will explore 30-plus miles of trails through forests of sugar maples, oaks, and other deciduous trees. “In eastern Ontario, the hot days and cold nights produce a spectacular array of colors, and the Ottawa River is a great backdrop with scenic vistas and views of the river—and Gatineau Hills in the background,” says Horse Country Campground manager Walter Willitt. “After riding, there is nothing better than spending a cool evening by the campfire.”…