Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2016 i Horse & Rider

Get Organized! After reading “Way to Show,” starting on page 44, we hope you’re inspired to get out there and do something with your horse. Caroline Wood has devised comprehensive checklists so you don’t forget anything. Find the helpful hints on the Web site. Slow-Feeding Basics The slow-feeding movement isn’t a fad. It’s backed by science that shows benefits to your horse. Reap the benefits by learning the basics. Winter Riding Find yourself in the clutches of winter weather but don’t want to stop riding? Visit the Web site for “Good Winter Riding…for the Rest of Us.” Be a Horseman Bob Avila’s five tips will help you instantly be a better horseman—not just a horse owner. Your horse will appreciate your efforts. Watch It! On page 34, trainer and clinician…

Q My 7-year-old Quarter Horse gelding has suddenly become unsteady in his hind end. He can’t balance well with his hind legs, and sometimes almost falls down. He’s eating normally and doesn’t seem in pain. A test for EPM came back negative. A chiropractor once told me my gelding has some misaligned vertebrae in his neck, but we haven’t done X-rays. I can’t ride him like this, of course, and the fact that he can’t keep his balance makes him a danger to himself and to people who work around him. What could be wrong, and can anything be done? LAURIE SHEA, Colorado A Balance problems often indicate a neurological condition. I’d recommend a full neurological exam performed by a board-certified internal medicine specialist (a veterinarian with additional training in…

If your horse is moving toward senior-hood (or is in it already), there are feeding strategies you can follow to help him stay happy and healthy as the years go by. We asked equine nutritionist Juliet Getty, PhD, for some basic advice along this line. She’s the author of Feed Your Horse Like a Horse and other nutrition-oriented guides (gettyequinenutrition.com). Here’s what she told us. Avoid high-starch feeds. Cereal grains (oats, corn, barley) and feeds made from cereal grains are best eliminated from the diet. As your horse ages, he’s more inclined to become insulin-resistant and may start to exhibit signs of equine Cushing’s disease. Feeding lower-starch feeds will help to avoid promoting these conditions. Choose ‘senior’ products. These commercial feeds are precooked and formed into kibbles that are easy…

Q I enjoy trail riding, but my Appaloosa mare sometimes acts up for no apparent reason. She’s 11 years old and quiet in an arena, but often when we’re out on the trail, alone or with others, she gets excited. Sometimes it feels as if she’s going to take off with me, or she’ll tense up as if she wants to buck. Other times, she’ll stop and refuse to go forward; when I insist, she’ll start backing up. What can I do to feel safer and in better control? MIDGE RICHARDSON, Indiana A Midge, it’s understandable that you’re fearful when you lose control of your horse, especially if you’re on the trail. Horses are often more excitable out in the open. Your mare may be feeling fresh, which likely means…

WHEN YOU’RE WORKING TOWARD A GOAL, IT’S important to revisit what you set out to do so you can gauge if you’re on track. The start of a new year marks a popular time to reevaluate, redirect (if necessary), and press onward with renewed commitment. The H&R staff has such a check-in when we plan a year’s worth of magazines. We study our mission statement to see how what we plan to offer aligns with it. I’ll break down the nuts and bolts of it here. We Serve the Dedicated Rider Whether you’re a competitor or a recreational rider, you want to accomplish something with your horse. It doesn’t matter if the reward is a ribbon or that feeling of nailing it (hello, sticking a pivot or a frenzy-free water-crossing),…

Life sometimes imitates art. Judith Viorst wrote a children’s book titled Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. I can relate! Mine wasn’t just a day, however. I had almost nine months of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad things. It began in January of 2014, when I spent 15 days in the hospital for a smallbowel obstruction. Though it resolved without surgery, it meant being hooked up to as many as three IV lines simultaneously. Try turning over in bed with that many anchors. Left Leg, Right Foot When I came home from the hospital, the ordeal continued. Severe low-back pain plus sciatic-nerve jolts down my left leg made riding impossible. When rehabilitative therapy failed to provide relief, my orthopedist ordered an MRI. Before I could…

Smart Monitor Challenge: Your horse has a health condition or issue that merits extra surveillance for safety’s sake. New option: Nightwatch, the first equine distress and wellness monitor offered as a smart halter or collar. The monitor continuously analyzes realtime data on your horse’s vital signs and behaviors, alerting you via a message to your mobile device at the first signs of distress. Details: Visit nightwatch24.com or call (800) 757-3856. SAVE YOUR SCALP 50% Reduction in severe head injuries as a result of the wearing of ASTM/SEIapproved safety helmets, as estimated by the American Medical Equestrian Association. (For tips on getting a good fit—essential for proper protection— check out SmartPak’s video: bit.ly/helmetfi t.) Q:I’ll be hauling quite a bit this winter. Any tips? A: Yes. Outfit your vehicle with traction…

Fan-Designed Tack The challenge: Have Weaver Leather fans help design a new tack collection for 2016 using social-media voting. Fans chose all the features, from leather type to style and embellishments. The result: The Montana Sky collection, featuring metallic overlays, copper spots, and a combination of clear and turquoise Swarovski crystals. Choose from a browband (shown) or slidingear headstall choices. More info: Browband, $179.99; sliding-ear, $159.99; ridethebrand.com. Chaps for the Show A quality pair of chaps, such as this pair (#11136) from Berry Fit, pulls together your show appearance. The 100-percent polyester chaps are available in five rich colors, and have a covered concho, simple yoke, and back piece for easy adjustment or alteration. More info: $399.95; (866) 326-1975; rods.com. Classic Carryall Whether you’re headed to the barn or the…

John Pipkin Pipkin’s a carded judge for APHA, AQHA, NRCHA, NRHA, NSBA, and WCHA. He’s officiated at more than 380 shows nationally and internationally Pipkin’s a professor at West Texas A&M University, where he’s the director of the Equine Industry Program in the Department of Agricultural Sciences. He’s coached horse-judging teams to over 90 champion or reserve champion titles at competitions held in conjunction with national-level events. This month Helen Grace Guyer, an agricultural media and communications major and horse-judging competitor at West Texas A&M University, joins us as the guest author of Conformation Clinic. Guyer has shown horses with the AQHA and APHA, and plans to pursue judging professionally. When I judge a halter class, I look for the horse with the most positive characteristics of balance, structural correctness,…

It’s been a few years since you first put your feet in the stirrups and made your dream of riding a reality. Now, you’re starting to feel that little itch—a yearning to step your riding up a notch and show off the progress you and your horse have made together. Or maybe you’ve been showing for a while now and are ready to compete at a higher level. Either way, you’re a little unsure about taking the next step. No matter the source of your hesitation, we want to encourage you to go ahead. Here, we talked to three Texas women who compete at different levels to give you advice, insight, and inspiration on the showing experience. Just Getting Started Rider: Barbie McIntire of Anna competes in Western pleasure on…

LETTER OF THE MONTH Don’t Give Up on Boomers I read “Bye-Bye, Boomers?” (From the Editor, November 2015) with interest, because I did fill out the American Horse Publications industry survey, and I do (unwillingly) admit that I now fit that over-50 bracket! However, I think you may be over thinking a bit. Don’t rely too heavily on the facts from the survey—we’re very active with our horses and roping and fall into the Boomer generation. We go to Arizona every winter to rope and be warm. We see a large number of people older than we are roping and riding and buying new saddles even! I’d bet a good majority of them are not people who would’ve filled out that survey, read Horse&Rider, or even belong to the AQHA…

Details: 1987 AQHA gelding by Zippo Pine Bar and out of Ima Blister Bug, by Pats Dee Bar. Barn name: LT. Cared for and shown by: Kristin Pokluda and her daughter Madison, both of Whitesboro, Texas. Owned by: Julia-Dawn Taylor-Cheek of Dallas, Texas. Show-pen aficionado: LT’s been a show horse since he was 2, and has carried open and amateur riders to success in a variety of Western events. Now 28, he spends his retired life with the Pokludas in Whitesboro, where 6-year-old Madison competes lightly on him as her novice allaround mount. Last year, Madison and LT showed in showmanship, horsemanship, Western riding, and Western pleasure. They skipped trail, his best event, due to lack of practice. But, Madison says, “Trail’s my favorite.” She confides that her favored maneuver…

Small Bales, Big Savings We’ve touted the benefits of slow feeding numerous times—from saving money by wasting less hay to promoting better digestive health to avoiding vices by providing constant access to roughage. (If you’re not familiar with all the perks, visit HorseandRider.com this month for “Learn About Slow Feeders.”) Texas Haynet now offers a small-bale-sized hay net that offers the same features as a large round-bale net. Net holes are 1¾ inches to promote slow feeding, and the nets are made of UV-treated polypropelene fibers to withstand harsh weather and regular use. More info: $45; texashaynet.com. Stay Tough, Even in Cold Temps The problem: Finding a warm jacket that fits well and suits your horse life. The solution: The Girl Tough canvas jacket from Noble Outfitters. The lowdown: A…

Obstacles made of ground poles play key roles in trail patterns, so pole practice is essential if you compete in the class. But work over poles can benefit any horse and rider. By setting up “objects,” as I call them, composed of poles and other components of trail obstacles, you can test your horse’s steering, hone his response to your cues, and increase your focus. Th is Private Lesson was shot during an actual group lesson at my barn. While the riders do compete in trail classes, I’d have them work these objects (or obstacles) whether they showed or not for the aforementioned benefits. Th e riders will work through two objects that you can setup at home in an arena or in a fl at, open riding space. Our…

ALL-AREA CLEANER Model: All-purpose scoop. Maker: FarmTek. Why buy: Lightweight and non-corrosive, the 14-by-19-inch aluminum blade keeps stall and barn cleaning manageable. Cool features: The straight, reinforced fiberglass handle won’t splinter or crack, and the cushion grip is comfortable to hold. More info: (800) 327-6835; farmtek.com. Price: $41.95 EASY WIELDER Model: Dura Fork with ergonomic handle. Maker: Dover Saddlery. Why buy: The sturdy metal handle is ergonomically shaped to make cleaning more comfortable by easing wrist discomfort. Cool features: The satisfaction guarantee and tiered shipping rates, based on order volume, make for worry-free ordering. More info: (800) 406-8204; doversaddlery.com. Price: $27.99 SCOOP AND STORE Model: Future mini manure muck fork. Maker: Riding Warehouse. Why buy: The smaller-in-length, but still-sturdy handle is good for the barn or on-the-road mucking. Cool features:…