Gait-Ways to Great

Transcription

Gait-Ways to Great

trailBLAZER
April
2012
•
Volume
34
•
Issue
3
founder & publisher
Susana E. Gibson
executive assistant to the publisher
S. Dianne Payton
managing editor
Bobbie Jo Lieberman-Weber
art director
Keith Tarjanyi
circulation & distribution
Dennis L. Payton
associate editor ~ trail advocacy
Terri Folks
Marketing Assistant
Lesley Thompson
national sales team
Jade C. West
Ethan Ryder
Charlotte Greyson
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4 | April 2012 • w w w.TR AILBL A ZER M AGA ZINE.US
contents
A pril 2 0 12 | VO LU M E 34 | N U M B E R 3
42
WEAR & TEAR ON YOUR
TRAIL HORSE
Part I: Keep your mount sounder
and happier by paying attention to
nine key areas. By Karen Chaton
MANAGING THE
FOUNDERED HORSE
With timely hoof care, diet and
exercise, your horse can be
trailworthy again.
By Jennifer Williams, PhD
LIGHTWEIGHT HORSE
CAMPING: MAKE IT REAL!
With ultra-light materials and
a bit of planning, you and
your horse can camp and
enjoy the backcountry—
without bringing along a pack
animal. By Robert Eversole
64
70
76
78
ICK! TICKS!
Keep the troops tick-free this
summer. By Pat Barnhart
MULES: THE LONG-EARED
TRAIL ALTERNATIVE
From extreme jumping to packing
in the backcountry, these trusty
trail partners are making their
mark. By Savannah Humes
DEALING WITH DAMP,
WET HOOVES
When the ground stays
soggy, take these steps to
protect—or heal—your horse’s
feet. By Monique Craig
GAIT-WAYS TO GREAT
GETAWAYS!
Surf’s up! Let’s saddle up
and head for California.
By Pat Barnhart
S
8.......................... letters to editor
T
10...........LIGHTER SIDE OF THE TRAIL
EN
DEVELOPING A
CONNECTED PARTNERSHIP
WITH YOUR TRAIL HORSE
“Light Hands”: What are
they, and how do you get
them? By Peggy Cummings
The 2011 Pony Express
Ride: 2,040 Miles in
40 Days
Part III: Through rugged,
rough and remote country,
Chief and Bo carry the author
soundly all the way to the
finish. By Karen Chaton
12.................... the facebook post
32.......................... WHY DOES MY
HORSE DO THAT?
48............................. MYTHBUSTERS
88................................... COOL STUFF
94.................................. trail savers
95...............................trail warrior
M
34
56
TOP TRAIL PICKS OF
THE MONTH BY THE
TRAILMEISTER
Ride your own marathon in
New Jersey, Tennessee and
Oklahoma. By Robert Eversole
97.................................. Trail Blazer
Subscription Form
98.....................................Trail’s End
T
26
F e a t u r e s 84
AR
22
TRAINING SOLUTIONS
FOR THE MODERN
HORSEMAN
Helping the “rushing”
horse relax with simple
exercises. By Sean Patrick
P
16
Prepare for your first ride with a plan that monitors your horse’s fitness—
and gives you a road map to success. By Darla Wright, DVM
DE
50
ARE YOU READY TO STEP UP INTO DISTANCE-RIDING COMPETITION?
Flinch, a Tennessee Walker
molly mule, carries rider Larry
Pincock off a ledge in San
Rafael Swell, Central Utah.
See story on page 70.
Photo by MaCee Payne
letters ...to the editor
especially those who want intelligent, thorough,
relevant articles and information!
Lisa Peterson, North Carolina
FACEBOOK POSTS
I absolutely love the new Facebook column,
and the latest of “scariest things on the trail” in
the March issue was unbelievable. It just goes
to show you that being a trail rider is not a
simple thing, whether you are at home in your
barn, driving on the road with your horses
in the trailer, in camp, and of course on the
trail—there is a danger factor in every situation. Probably the most amazing is that all of
the people who shared their scary stories are
still trail riding. It seems like all in a day’s work.
I enjoy reading stories in Trail Blazer that talk
about how to deal with scary situations on the
trail. That information never gets old.
Rose Hoenstine, Pennsylvania
Don’t miss round two of more
scary stories from the trail in this
issue’s Facebook Post, on p.12.
LOW SELF-ESTEEM
I enjoyed reading Sean Patrick’s article, “My
Horse Has Low Self-Esteem,” in the March
issue. I had a horse that showed many of the
same signs and ended up having to sell him
because he was dangerous, putting me in the
hospital a couple of times from freaking out
and throwing me. This article helped me realize it wasn’t my entire fault that he did this, and
now I know better how to deal with a horse if
that behavior ever happens again. I guess it all
starts with first understanding and then training
the horse the right way. I would like to know if
there are some horses that are truly crazy, like
a mental illness thing, and there is no hope for
them. I saw a horse like that in the film “Buck,”
and it got me to wondering. I really enjoy Sean
Patrick’s articles every month—I have learned
so much from them.
Rosalina Yates, Virginia
LOVIN’ ON TRAIL BLAZER,
FROM OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
This IS the best trail-riding magazine, and
I subscribe! I recommend it to all trail riders,
ENDLESS ADVENTURE
My wife and I have dreamed about going
full-time horse RVing after we retire, and this
article (“On the Road to Endless Adventure”)
refueled our dream to do just that. It really is a
bold adventure, as author Janine Wilder says,
because there is no comfort zone to rely on,
since things change almost every day. I imagine
you get into that frame of mind and start to use
more brain cells to problem-solve when you
don’t have all the timesaving, automated stuff
we use in our homes. I would like to hear more
about how her horses handled the long journey,
since we are told horses need and like routine
in their lives. We can hardly wait for part two,
and I hope someday that we will be able to do
this for at least one year and submit our story to
Trail Blazer with the title “We did it!”
George Willis, Wisconsin
You can look forward to Part II of this
series in our June issue, and we’ll ask Janine
to specifically address your question.
We believe that some degree of novelty is
quite healthy in a horse’s life, not only to
stimulate their own thinking process but
also to better prepare them to handle the
expected. For example, many folks purposely
feed at different times from day to day so
their horses aren’t too locked in a routine.
TREELESS SADDLE
Great article on treeless saddles in the March
issue (“How to Fit (and Outfit) Your Treeless
Saddle”). There is a lot of interest right now in
going to treeless saddles; in fact, some of my
trail-riding buddies have already bought one
and most seem to really like them. It was very
informative to read the facts and details about
how they are built as well as learn about the
different styles and features. This is one of the
things I admire most about your magazine—
you seem to have articles on topics I don’t see
in any other horse magazine, and you approach
these topics on a much deeper level than most.
It is the highlight of my day when I open the
mailbox and I see my Trail Blazer has arrived,
hard to miss with your dazzling covers! Each
one deserves to be framed. Thanks so much for
the obvious hard work you do for all trail riders.
Sandra Moses, California
Photo by Linda K. Toups—www.momentstomemorieshome.com
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF THE TRAIL
No Stranger
To The Rain
by Angie McGhee
This weekend it rained. It rained the entire weekend. It was wonderful.
I felt no pressure to ride—no way, no how. I sat inside my cabin listening
to the rain on the tin roof 100% guilt free. Believe me, nobody enjoys not
riding on a rainy day like someone who has ridden in the rain a lot. It’s
almost (but not quite) worth riding 50 miles or so in a monsoon just to
acquire the ability to appreciate not riding in the rain as much as I do.
A
ctually, it’s the dreading of it that makes it so bad. It’s one thing to be caught in a sudden
cloudburst, but it’s another thing altogether to look at a ten-day extended forecast that
calls for rain before, during and after your ride date. That’s as bad as your mama making you
wait all day for your daddy to get home to give you a whipping. It gives you way too much time
to contemplate just how unpleasant it’s going to be. There’s just something about making the
decision to leave “dry” and step out into “Get wet and stay wet” that’s especially tough.
I believe one of the main things that makes it so hard is the sound of the rain on the roof. When
you’re indoors, rain makes a lot more noise than it makes once you’re on the trail. The sound of
the rain on my roof makes me feel like it’s really coming down outside and I’d better stay in. The
sound of rain on top of a horse trailer is 10 times worse; the lightest drizzle sounds like a hard
rain and makes me want to pull the covers over my head and curl up in a fetal position. When
it’s a hard rain on the trailer I would go ahead and cry if it would help any. Unfortunately, I run
with a crowd that saddles up regardless, and peer pressure has always pushed me out the door.
Fortunately, once I’m outside, the sound of rain on the hood of a rain coat or the top of a helmet
is hardly even noticeable, so at least one of my five senses leaves me alone and stops complaining.
Now that spring is here, it’s a good time to give some advice to those who may be new to the
idea of riding in the rain. The first thing that comes to most people’s minds is rain gear. At my
first rainy competition I chose to wear my husband’s Wal-Mart rain suit; it consisted of a green
polyurethane jacket and matching pants. I
pulled the rain pants on over my tights and
then attached my half chaps on top of the rain
pants. When the ride started and 50 horses
surged down the trail in a fairly out of control
stampede I made it approximately 200 yards
before I realized my rain pants were climbing
up my leg along with my half chaps, which now
were above my knees so the upper two Velcro
straps had popped loose and were flapping. I
hauled my mount to a halt, dismounted, and
then hopped on one foot trying to pull the
plastic pants off over my shoes. That’s harder
than it sounds when you have one arm looped
through your horse’s rein and he is still maintaining a good 10-mile an hour pace, only now
it’s in a very small circle. With one final rageinduced bit of superhuman strength I finally
tore them loose from my shoe and threw the
stupid things as far as I could throw them into
the woods. From that day on I have learned to
live with wet legs.
Rain jackets come in several varieties.
There are the expensive name-brand breathable nylon ones that look very nice, but without proper re-application of water repellent
leak when worn any farther than from the car
to the front door of the mall. Apparently I am
incapable of reapplying that repellent since
I bought a can a couple of years ago and my
jackets have yet to be re-waterproofed. Next
there are the cheap plastic jackets that always
seem to have one torn pocket hanging down.
You can’t buy these without the stupid rain
pants that I don’t use but can’t make myself
throw away, and those begin to add up in your
mudroom after a few years. I used to inspect
these jackets closely trying to find the leaks
since I was always soaked when I took them
off. Finally, I figured out the problem was
that I was sweating like a government mule
because these hold in as much heat as one of
those weight loss body wraps.
Finally, there is the nice polyurethane
jacket with vented shoulders and underarms,
which is my personal favorite. Mine is on the
large size since Bill bought the good one for
himself and I absconded it. One good thing
about these jackets is that they are apparently
designed for people with heads like Charlie
Brown, so the hood fits perfectly over a helmet.
It looks a little strange, but it keeps the water
from running down your neck. When you get
right down to it, there’s no attractive way to
wear a hood. For some reason the designers
like to put a brim on the front of the hood as
if it were a baseball cap, but these soon warp
and become more “S” than “C” shaped. If you
wear the hood with no helmet the S-shaped
“For me the goal is to keep the same water next to my
body long enough for my body to heat it up so I’m at least
riding in a warm bath all day rather than an icy stream.”
brim is constantly hanging down into your eyes. If you put the hood
over your helmet you look like some sort of bigheaded freak with really low shoulders from behind. Some think it looks much better to
just leave the hood hanging down your back and let the vented helmet
serve as a leaky hat, but to me looking good is not worth having a large
scoop on back of my neck catching water and then sloshing it down
my collar each time I post, so I simply toss mine back when I see the
“Photographer Ahead” sign.
As an endurance rider who needs to move on out, I have avoided
what are probably very effective, but for me would be bulky, heavy or
flapping gear. I have not used three of the more popular forms of rain
gear for riders: the poncho, the Marlboro Man bright yellow split fulllength slicker and the oilskin coat. The problem with ponchos is that
even if your own horse is immune to their flapping at a gallop, it does
not mean all the other horses on the ride will be. From what I’ve seen,
ponchos seem to make a better sail than jacket. My husband bought
one of those cool yellow slickers, but the problem with it was that the
material these are made from is apparently the same grade of plastic
used for the bottom of a commercial whitewater raft…making it both
hot and inflexible. It was so stiff that on a cold day I’m not sure it would
have been willing to assume anything but an upright standing position
without considerable coaxing.
Finally, there is the really cool looking Australian Oilskin coat.
These don’t even come with a hood, which means you also need to
purchase a good imitation of Jim’s drover hat to channel the rain out
past the collar. If I had to ride along with my husband in the rain this is
the outfit I would want him to wear, since I would be able to appreciate
how good he looked in it. However, I wouldn’t be willing to deal with
the weight, the bulk or the awkwardness just to look good, so he would
still be stuck looking at a wife in a raincoat with what appeared to be
a freakishly large head and low shoulders with wet tights protruding
from the bottom.
I realize that for those who are on an extended camping trip, staying dry in the first place is a priority, so maximum protection from the
elements is a must. In contrast, between rain leaking in and sweat not
managing to get out, I will be wet regardless. For me the goal is to keep
the same water next to my body long enough for my body to heat it up
so I’m at least riding in a warm bath all day rather than an icy stream.
For the same reason I also prefer waterproof shoes. Though with my
half chaps funneling the water down into them the waterproofing keeps
water in, not out; at least the water that stays in my shoes heats up, unlike
water that seeps out the mesh of vented shoes. Reading this on paper
I realize just how desperately I have to be looking for something positive to consider having a shoe full of slightly warm water a good thing.
Some riders are positively appalled at the idea of getting a very expensive saddle really wet. My only advice in this area is the sooner you get
it over with the sooner you can quit dreading it. Be forewarned though,
when you first see your saddle after it dries you’ll wonder where all the
dye from the leather went. One glimpse at your favorite ride underwear
after they come out of the dryer will answer your question. However,
for the most part a good application of oil and the old color is restored…
to the saddle. The underwear will still be your favorites for the fit, but
you definitely hope not to have them on if you’re ever in a car wreck.
A final bit of advice is warranted for when you get to come out of
the rain. At one particularly cold and wet ride, my buddy Red Sonja
bragged for the last several miles about the big propane heater that her
husband had waiting for her in the back of the trailer. After we both
disappeared into our trailers to peel off our soaked socks and tights, I
soon heard a commotion with frantic shrieks and wailing coming from
her trailer, which was now rocking. She finally burst out the doors and
was hopping around in the cool air shrieking and clawing at her legs.
After a few bystanders subdued her we discovered that she had gone
from a day of riding in frigid rain to standing directly next to a very
hot heater and with the sudden influx of circulation to the capillaries
that had spent the day shut down she had been hit with a head-to-toe
itching fit that put hives, fleas and mosquito bites to shame.
When it comes right down to it, the second best part of riding in the
rain is when it’s over, so long as you don’t stand next to a hot heater for
a while. The best part of riding in the rain is how good it feels not to
the next time you hear it on the roof.
Angie and her husband Bill definitely live their
lives on the “lighter side” of the trail in Wildwood,
Georgia. Contact Angie at [email protected] to
order her book, The Lighter Side of Endurance.
w w w.TR AILBL A ZER M AGA ZINE.US • April 2012
| 11
FACEBOOK
POST
THE
Recently we posed this question to our
9,000-plus Trail Blazer Facebook fans:
DESCRIBE THE SCARIEST THING THAT HAS EVER
HAPPENED TO YOU ON A TRAIL RIDE: PART TWO
We received so many wicked-good, hair-raising tales of the trail that we just
had to run them over two issues. The first group appeared in the March issue;
the remaining wild ride reports are below. Each response selected will receive
a one-year subscription to Trail Blazer. Next month we will pose a different
question, so be sure to visit our Facebook page, become a fan and join the fun!
Q
Regina Broughton: We were riding
at the Iron Mountain Horse Camp, Ivanhoe,
Virginia. My friend on my Paint, Mr. Cash,
and me on Tango, the trusty Appaloosa, rode
up the beautiful Arrowhead Road on a sunny
morning to catch the Virginia Highlands
Horse Trail at the top of the ridge. Up, up, up
we rode. We got to the top of the mountain and
all of a sudden a big dark cloud rolled over the
ridge. Thunder boomed and lightning cracked
all around us. We tried to get back down the
mountain quickly. Suddenly, in the pouring
rain, the lightning struck very close to us and
came up through the ground, shocking us
through our feet. Between all of the rainwater
on the ground and the iron in the rocks, we
were in an electrical field! The horses, with
steel shoes on their feet, were pitching major
fits. We dismounted and tried to lead them
down the mountain as lightning struck again
and again, shocking us and the horses at least
six or eight times. Every time we’d get them
calmed down and moving again, another lightning bolt would shock us. The storm finally
rolled over us and the sun was coming back
out when we got back to camp. My dog Pete
was scared and lost for about 24 hours, but he
finally found his way back to the campground
the next morning. Thank God we all survived,
but I don’t ride when thunderstorms are likely!
Q
JONI JOHNSON: Years ago, friends and I
were riding on some private property. I was
riding a well-started young mare and we were
going through heavy brush, I was looking
down and saw her right back foot dropping
down. My reaction was to bail off and I did,
as she was swallowed into an abandoned open
well. The mare landed on her haunches and
you could hear the panic in each breath she
took. It took hours to get a tractor and set up
a tripod to hoist her out. I had my brand new
Simco saddle on her and all we could do was
drop a lariat around the saddle swells and
pull her up. She was terrified but survived the
ordeal totally exhausted. The saddle did the
job and had scuffing from her panic attacks.
Simco had me send them the saddle for free
inspection and minor repairs. Yeah, that
scared me big time.
Q
INGEBORG FRASIER: I was riding alone
on a trail with my horse and happened to come
up on a group of wild boars. There was a boar,
sows and babies. They scared my horse, who
bucked me off. I had to run up a tree to get
away from the angry pigs. The horse ran away
and left me there. I spent about an hour up
that tree when I saw a group of riders come
toward me. The pigs got scared and ran away.
I finally got rescued. My horse had run back to
the barn and the people there started looking
for me, with my horse in the forefront. All this
happened while I was still living in Germany.
Q
ALICIA DALE ALEXANDER: I was riding
my roommate’s huge Percheron mare Aya, and
my friend Cassie was on her big boy Jester,
for a five-mile ride back to Cassie’s house. We
had to go on a short stretch of roadside, which
the horses are familiar with; only on this day
a huge group of bicyclists rode up behind us
and spooked BOTH horses terribly! They
tore off for a full bore GALLOP down the
middle of the road! Cars were coming from
both directions, and I am assuming they just
figured we were playing and would get out
of the street...but our horses would not stop!
They went charging right at the oncoming cars
and let me tell you, that huge Percheron has
quite the stride! Falling meant landing hard
on the asphalt with oncoming cars! Miraculously, and God alone knows how, we got them
slowed and off the road...the drivers, no doubt,
startled out of their wits, had slowed down by
then...and all was well. What a ride!!
Q
CAROLYN COX: I was riding with my trainer when he decided to show off his horse and
went straight up the incredibly high side of an
arroyo. I was on my brand new Quarter horse
and we didn’t know each other yet, it was our
first ride. So we went up right behind them. My
trainer didn’t have any idea I had come up right
behind them so he stopped right at the top.
My horse got to the top and had to stop really
short! I was catapulted forward and all I could
do was say a strong “Whoa” and wrap my arms
around his neck and hang on as I did a sort of
flip. He planted himself firmly and I landed on
my feet with nothing harmed but a pair of sunglasses! I knew he had my back from then on!
Q
SUSAN JESSUP: I was out riding alone when
my horse stepped into some old barbed wire. I
thought he would struggle to get out of it, but
much to my surprise he stood quietly, while I
dismounted, took my Leatherman from my
saddlebag and proceeded to cut his back feet
loose. I was terrified the entire time, but he
came away with only a couple of scratches.
Q
BOBBIE JO WEBER: I was riding with
friends scouting trail for the Norco Riverdance endurance ride in southern California
on my trusty Arabian mare April. We had been
warned that vagrants often camped in the area
along the Santa Ana River, which was heavily
wooded in places and thick with arundo donax
bamboo. At one point we went down a blind
trail that dead-ended in a thicket of stinging
nettles. As April began to freak out, I jumped
off and she began spinning around me as the
tall nettles brushed her legs. Then I noticed we
were standing in a mess of old cable, which was
wrapping around both of us with every spin!
Had she taken off I would have been attached
to her in a very compromising way. Taking
a deep breath to diffuse the panic, I began
doing soothing TTouches on her poll to calm
her, while friends unwrapped the cables and
freed us. The rest of the ride was uneventful,
continued on next page
Every month we will pose a different question, so
be sure to visit our Facebook page, become a fan of
TRAIL BLAZER MAGAZINE and join the fun!
| 13
and we went on in two weeks to complete the
50-miler without incident.
Q
ROX ANNE COCCIA: I was riding on a
rail-to-trail in central Pennsylvania when I
came to two bridges. I thought the one on
the right was for horses to cross. Either I read
the sign wrong or there was a mistake. My
Foxtrotter Leah and I started across the first
few steps when I looked down I realized the
first few planks were solid but the rest was a
trestle. I realized it too late to my horror and
Leah’s front legs went down into the gaps.
I did a vault dismount off her shoulder, and
as I landed I slipped and one of my legs went
down into an opening. The other folded under
me so I was in a sitting position with one leg
down through the trestle. Leah threw all her
weight back onto her hindquarters and reared
backwards, pulling herself out. She thankfully
had only a little bit of skinned up cannons. I
ended up with a black left leg from my ankle to
above my knee and my right leg was black and
blue. Thankfully neither of us got anything
broken or stuck.
Q
GINA KILLINGSWORTH: When I was
in high school my half-Arab, half Quarter
Horse was going over a bridge with a creek
running underneath—about an 8-10 foot
drop. She went sideways right off the bridge
and I jumped for the bushes along the edge.
Of course the bushes were poison oak but I
only got a few scratches...which gave me poison oak. My horse got impaled on a stake that
was sticking up along the creek but it just went
through her lower lip and did not seem to faze
her much. She just missed another stake and
we were really lucky. She was always kind of
unpredictable.
Q
Audrey Birmingham: My 1st horse,
Xavier, our first time on a new trail with
some friends. hoooweeeee! He spooked on a
bird in the bush and took off running up hill.
Next thing I know it I am hanging by his neck
and he is still running out of control up hill.
With something I guess called adrenaline,
I hoisted myself on to this warm-blooded
quarter horse’s *neck* and grabbed the reins
to get him in control. I properly seated myself
back into the saddle and slowly trekked back
down to the others. Somehow both of us went
unscathed and continued the ride! :)
Training Solutions for the Modern Horseman
Q
Why does my horse always
try to rush? Why won’t he
just relax?
A
photo by Lesley Thompson
I believe there are three answers
to this question: First, the horse
might be speeding up to get
somewhere, such as the home ranch,
satellite camp or his buddy ahead of
him on the trail. Second, the flight
instinct is kicking in and he is unsure
how to respond, thereby reacting. This
is usually accompanied by defensive
postures such as a dropped back,
high head, tight muscles and so forth.
Third, the horse is used to this pattern
and sees no reason to change. The
“default” speed is set, it’s just not
where you really want it.
I remember a 5-year-old mare we
bought. She was a hopeless “jigger”
on the trail. Since we did not want her
to “ride the bit,” creating sores and
more anxiety, we used the lead line
attached to a halter to help rate her
speed all day. It was a chore to ride
her, and very uncomfortable. I did not
know how to view the issue and
simply did what I thought was
right—quiet hours on the
trail. When this didn’t
work, she became last
on the list to ride. I
failed her due to my
lack of knowledge.
Below I will
explain how I
would view this
mare now.
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Let’s Get Home!
Your horse is drawn to peace, comfort, food,
horses and environments that are predictable. This
could be the home ranch, a camp that is frequented
often or where the food is being doled out. The important idea to understand is your horse is motivated
to get there.
Then, encourage the horse to willingly leave home
as well. Offer a grain snack at lunch in a muzzle bag.
Stop frequently at natural meadows where the grass
is green and hand-graze him for a while. Rest in
the shade by a creek. Keep your horse happy away
from home.
Once you are back home, avoid putting him
directly into a stall ready with alfalfa and grain.
How you do this depends on your situation, but
the point is to not immediately reward him at home
once he arrives. This will only strengthen his sense
of urgency to get there.
Changing these patterns will not usually fix an
issue with speed control, but it’s still very good practice. Saddling up early and spending the day only
working with little food and water would encourage
any horse to want to be home.
continued next page
When horses rush, they tend to demonstrate defensive postures, such as
a hollow back, strung-out hocks, dropped shoulders, elevated head, tight
muscles, clamped jaw and overall tension, as this horse and rider demonstrate. Rating speed with the reins is counterproductive at this time.
| 17
Really? Are You Sure?
When a horse is unsure, about anything,
he reacts. When a horse is reactive, even if
slight, his mind is anxious. When the mind
is anxious, the body becomes defensive and
ready to fight or flee—usually flee. As soon
as the body is in “defense mode,” the horse is
no longer focused on the rider and her ideas.
When this happens, the speed of the horse
is difficult to influence. The rating of speed
with the bit compounds the issue, as it is very
trapping, and the horse becomes even more
uncertain.
The result is a horse that surges, stops,
tightens, hollows, calls, snorts, jigs and so
forth. On a lesser scale, the horse might just
remain slightly ahead of your seat aid—moving faster than you request. Any horse ahead
of his rider is most likely braced somewhere
and is struggling on the inside to relax. The
rider must learn to recognize this and work
on helping the horse through it.
What is a Default Speed?
Every horse should have a default speed for
every gait. This is directly related to rhythm
and relaxation. A default speed is a pace your
horse immediately falls back to when unsure.
I do not mean behind your seat—moving
slower than you wish—but rather, by default,
your horse will only give you as much extension and/or tempo as you ask for with your
seat and energy. Terms and ideas such as
“harmony” and “on the aids” can only happen when your horse waits for you, and is not
rushing off or shutting down. It’s all about the
horse’s mind being sure.
Three Reasons,
One Solution
Speed control is about certainty. When
your horse is uncertain about a situation or
outcome, he will remain unsure about what
to do. When unsure, as discussed above, the
horse’s speed is difficult to influence as he is in
flight mode by default. I have found that nearly
all horses struggle with rhythm issues at some
level. So, the solution to speed control is to
give your horse some “certainty.” Here’s how:
Your Speed Control
Exercise
I believe the best way to help a horse that
rushes is to perform serpentines—an exercise
that is a series of alternating arcs while remaining in one gait. The exercise itself is not
the answer, it is how you set parameters and
show your horse how to operate within them.
Instead of giving the horse two hands to brace on, offer an easy lesson where you can teach him to yield to only one side at a time.
This eliminates some of the brace as he learns a new pattern and
your new parameters. Even when he surges in speed, continue to
guide him and only release as he softens and follows his nose.
You will be able to develop rhythm, relaxation,
softness, respect, trust and self-carriage while
you work on this rudimentary pattern. You
will make him “sure” about what is the easiest way to conduct himself during your work
together. Your parameters must be clear, firm
and easy to follow.
Parameter #1: You will ask your horse to
trot for 10 minutes straight. You will sit the
trot. You will not allow the horse to walk during this 10 minutes. You will use clear, smooth,
firm, insisting energy when your horse breaks
gait and will do so in a timely manner—less
than a second.
Parameter #2: You will teach your horse to
yield to bit pressure to the right. You will keep
your left hand “on the buckle”—in the center
of your reins, while your right hand smoothly
runs down the rein and closes on it. You will
then take some slack out of the rein and hold
firm. You are not going to take more line,
but rather hold steady as your horse feels the
pressure. As soon as the horse “gives” to your
hand and follows his nose with his feet, offer
the rein back with an immediate full release.
You have just shown him how to get rid of the
teaching pressure.
Parameter #3: The same as Parameter #2,
but to the left.
This exercise is not difficult to understand;
the challenge begins once the rider is in the
saddle. These three straightforward param-
“When a horse is unsure, about anything,
he reacts. When a horse is reactive, even if
slight, his mind is anxious. When the mind
is anxious, the body becomes defensive
and ready to fight or flee—usually flee.
As soon as the body is in ‘defense mode,’
the horse is no longer focused on the rider
and her ideas. When this happens, the
speed of the horse is difficult to influence.
The rating of speed with the bit compounds the issue, as it is very trapping, and
the horse becomes even more uncertain.”
Your hands must be clear.
Use smooth, firm teaching
pressure as you show your
horse how to yield without
any pressure at all. If pulling or leaning on the bit is
an option, then that’s what
he will do. If you show him
that your hands are firm and
fair, he will learn to remain
off the bit pressure as you
communicate with him.
eters will prove to be difficult for those riders who have
not practiced this exercise many times before. Here is
what can go wrong, along with the solution:
Your horse continues to break gait. Solution:
You must insist that he remain forward. This means
not playing “catch up” and learning how to correct his
thoughts before they even happen, or at least quickly
fixing the issue before he is released in his response.
This is a very common issue. A horse that breaks does
not have rhythm. A horse that breaks gait learns that is
an option and will continue to try to break gait as long
as it is easy. Your job is to remain clear and firm in your
request and stay moving. Think 1, 2, 1, 2 as you feel his
hind end stride in rhythm. The longer you let your horse
quit on you, the more he will continue to do so. In fact,
letting him do so can create unsafe protests.
Your horse surges in speed as you begin the
exercise, causing fear and uncertainty in the rider.
Solution: Turn him. Yes, he will surge and speed off,
this is why the exercise is so important. Your response
to this is to guide this energy and speed into a turn. Do
not allow him to remain straight. This will only allow
him to gain leverage and strength as he does what he
already wants to do. The first few minutes can seem a
bit crazy, but after a short amount of time, you will find
that his speed begins to slow down. Do not abandon
the pattern.
Your horse leans on the bit pressure and will not
“give” to your hand. Solution: Hold your hand very
firmly. You are not allowed to “take” from him, but he
is also not allowed to “take” from you. So, when you
feel him pull on your hand, hold steady and firm and let
him know that a release will only come if he “gives” his
neck muscles to you. This must be the case from now
on. No exceptions. A horse is only as willing and soft as
you require. Your hands do not need to be aggressive,
but rather kind and assertive as you teach him to relax
and offer his muscles to the requesting bit pressure.
continued next page
| 19
Wishy-washy hands do not make
a horse light. Clear, kind, assertive
hands that promise pressure, and
promise a release, motivate a horse to
offer a response to you. He will soon
respond to your hand picking up the
rein as a pre-cue. Your consistent
pattern teaches him to respond early.
Your horse drops his shoulder.
Solution: Don’t worry about it. You
must stick to the message and remain
teaching your horse at the level he
presents to you. If you are worried
about advanced shapes and ideas
too soon, your horse misses all the
early lessons. Isolate only these three
parameters for now. What will most
likely happen is, he will learn to prepare for change and remain upright
with each 10-minute session.
You find yourself bouncing
around in the saddle as you find it
difficult to sit a trot. Solution: Take
this opportunity to learn how to sit a
trot. As long as you change your seat
to accommodate the horse’s rhythm,
he will find it difficult to come back
to your seat. If it’s uncomfortable
at first, keep at it. Your discomfort
will teach you how to get comfortable, eliminating the bouncing seat.
Your hands must learn how to be
independent of your seat. As long as
you rise to the trot, a novice rider will
find it difficult to teach her horse the
fundamentals properly as there will
be a huge disconnect.
As you continue with the exercise, the horse will learn to pace himself and start to
The horse bends his nose, but
stretch his back. You are now seeing the results of your efforts and can begin to
does not follow with his feet. Solulet your horse travel straight more and more as he remains in a slower default trot.
tion: Continue to hold pressure until
This is getting closer to a good “starting point” where real teaching can begin!
both of your requirements are met.
He must “give” his nose and track the
bend with his feet. As he improves,
you can ask for larger arcs and longer bends.
Why would he speed up? As you teach him to
As a professional
You feel like 10 minutes is an eternity. soften to the bit, as this is the most comforthorseman, Sean
Solution: Stick with it and use a clock to time able place to be, he learns that speeding up is
Patrick spent much
yourself. When working on this exercise, try only more work. When your hands are fair
of his career in Britto perform at least four to five 10-minute ses- and consistent, they will not frighten or pain
ish Columbia as a
mountain guide and
sions each day. As long as you only touch on him. But, they will also not allow him to lean
packer. Sean continues to use his
the lesson, the good stuff cannot happen. The on pressure and avoid simply yielding.
backcountry knowledge and experiexercise requires a steady pace for an extended
So, when your horse is rushing ahead, work
ence while training in Florida with his
period of time.
on this exercise and keep at it until it shows
wife Alisha at Pioneer Trail Reserve.
you great results. Each horse is different, but
Sean’s book and DVD set, “The
The Result
Modern Horseman’s Countdown to
this straightforward, fundamental exercise is
Broke,” is available from horseanYour horse will become “sure.” He will one that will teach your horse to remain “with
driderbooks.com.
Visit Sean on the
learn he must remain in gait. However, he will you” as he learns to respond with softness
web at www.seanpatricktraining.com
also want to conserve energy as you continue and willing feet, but at a much easier pace to
to keep him in gait, resulting in a slower pace. handle. Safe riding!
You are teaching his mind to want to go slowly.
Developing a
Connected
PARTNERSHIP
with your trail horse
“LIGHT”
HANDS
They happen from the inside out: releasing tension, stiffness
and bracing patterns throughout the body allows the incredible lightness of being in motion with your horse to emerge.
part nine by peggy cummings
In the riding world, there
seem to be many concepts that remain elusive
to the average as well as
more advanced rider, such
as “deep seat,” “half-halt”
and “light hands.” We all
want to have “light
hands” because we
are taught they are
kind to the horse’s
mouth; “heavy”
hands, in contrast,
dull the horse and
make him “hardmouthed.” As riders,
we spend countless hours seeking those fleeting
moments of lightness. As a young
trainer and rider, I
worked very diligently to
attain the lightness that I
understood to be possible, only to encounter
more stiffness and frustration the harder I worked
at finding it. It took me
many years to discover
the sensation I was seeking
in ways that ran counter
to what I had learned.
“Lightness”
is an internal sensation of
feeling in one’s body. It
is not something applied, per se, from the outside.
It is learning to understand the contrast between
tightness, stiffness and bracing versus lightness,
releasing and expansion during movement. Which
way would you be more successful carrying an egg
The wrist is straight and without tenThis bent wrist creates tension in the
in a spoon—with tightness or lightness? It is the
sion. Note the straight line from bit
arm and a pull on the horse. There is
same with your hands—they cannot be truly light
to elbow and softness in the wrist.
not a straight line from bit to elbow.
if there is tightness somewhere else in your body.
As I have written in this column and in my
books, lightness comes from the alignment of any human or horse body
to create lightness.
that is using their biomechanics properly. This means that the joints,
`` Ride with no contact or very minimal contact to stay off the horse’s
bones and levers of the body are moving in easy and effortless ways
mouth. If the horse is not prepared to carry the rider in a weight-bearing
with a minimum of drag or bracing against movement. This is what
posture, lack of contact will feel like lack of support to the horse’s body.
allows ease and lightness—it is not “made,” it is allowed. Of course,
What each of these directives have in common is they tell the rider
therein lies the paradox for many riders—trusting their own bodies to
to do something specifically with their hands in order to affect the
move freely atop a moving animal. This requires a degree of balance,
horse in some way, such as “getting” his head down. Techniques initisensitivity and body awareness with constant internal readjustment.
ated from the hands become mechanical aids, because they often cause
And, any novice to advanced rider can access this experience albeit
tightness or bracing in the rider and the horse, instead of allowing the
with varying degrees of finesse.
movement to flow through each body.
Neutral Posture: Where It All Begins
It’s Not Just About The Hands
Light hands originate from neutral pelvis and neutral posture, the
The first step to discovering lighter hands is to experiment with a
place of all balance and alignment. Once the body is stable and baldifferent perspective. Instead of focusing on your hands, start thinkanced at its base, the extremities—the legs and arms—do not need to
ing of ways you can become lighter in your whole body. Sitting with
be utilized for balance and are free to be used for influencing the horse
your seat bones in “neutral” with your stirrups just behind the ball of
in a supportive manner. Riders from different disciplines are taught to
the foot is one way to quickly lighten the body from bracing with
use their hands in different ways, and what is really interestthe hands or other body parts. Of course, this position
ing to me is that many of the uses of the hands are not
requires continual awareness and readjustment,
discipline specific.
“When you hold
since this is not a static position. We are lookHere are some of the different ways use of
ing to increase the amount of time we are in
someone’s finger in your
hands is taught and how they biomechanibalance in the saddle, because we and the
cally impact the horse:
hand, there will be a difference
horses are always out of balance some of
`` Hold the reins softly in your hands and
the time as part of a cycle of movement.
in the sensation of the person whose
move the fingers as if rolling a small
finger is being held if your body is standing Lightening Your Body
ball around in your hand. This is one
As you sit in neutral posture, your
braced or in alignment. What is interesting
of the techniques I was taught many
years ago and it was intended to about theses exercises is to try them and have legs are free and independent to do
minute, alternating muscle flexions
keep a horse’s mouth soft and flexed.
the
person
you
are
experimenting
with
close
of the thighs as if they are marching
`` Squeeze and alternately soften
your hand in a rhythmical way to
her eyes while you change your posture. You up and backwards as they flex (like
pedaling backwards on a unicycle).
get the horse’s attention, in order to
can slump with your knees locked, arch
These f lexions are almost invisible
turn or stop.
with your knees locked or stand in a
except to the trained eye and will feel as
`` Close the hand to stop or to do a half
if
your bones are moving and sliding with
halt or bend the horse’s head to one side.
more neutral posture with your hips,
the horse’s movement. The reason I place
`` “Sponge” the reins.
knees and lower back loosened the rider’s foot behind the ball and use the up
`` Separate your hands to get the horse to drop
and backward flexion motion is to ensure the
his head.
and softened.”
joints are free to move instead of bracing downward
`` Alternately squeeze one hand while taking back
against the stirrup in a place that locks the arch, ankle,
slightly on the rein and then the other to get the horse
and joints in the legs.
on the bit.
The joints in legs act as shock absorbers and as the legs move with
`` While holding the outside rein firmly with a closed hand, lift the inside
the motion of the horse, the seat bones are alternately moved followhand and get the horse to yield to the bit.
ing the motion of the hind legs. This is the only way the upper body
`` Take back with the hand to turn.
“buoy” is free to move with each stride, because the joints in the legs
`` Pull back on the reins to stop.
`` To keep your hands from bouncing, hold them quietly and close to are also moving freely as they receive the motion of the horse. The body
must be “unlocked” to receive and influence movement! Most riders
the saddle.
`` Hold the reins between the thumb and forefinger with the hand open
continued next page
| 23
have been taught to lock in and lock on to stay
afloat. This does not allow fluidity of movement or throughness in the horse and rider.
“Live Weight = Light Hands”
The most important byproduct of neutral
posture alignment is that it turns the rider’s
body into “live weight” instead of static,
braced, dead weight. In the neutral position,
the hands become an extension of the arm and
are used to hold the reins, rather than only
agents of direct signaling to the horse. The
rider’s torso is the stabilizer, and the movement of the horse travels through her body
aiding in uniting two bodies in movement.
Therefore, any contact on the reins becomes a connection through the rider’s body
and is used to support and rebalance the horse,
contain and redirect energy from the horse to
the rider and back to the horse. It is a continuous dynamic readjustment not unlike skiing,
ballroom dancing and other athletic activities
that require movement through space. When
the body is relatively free of bracing and can
meet the force of motion and gravity by using
core muscles for stability, joints and bones
are free to move in the moment; this allows a
more fluid and elegant ride. This is the place
of light hands.
Peggy Cummings aboard Liberale, a 14-yearold Lusitano stallion. Photo by Melanie Powell
(www.shybuckstudios.com)
Peggy Cummings is the creator and founder
of Connected Riding and Connected Groundwork, an approach to riding and handling
horses that gives both horse and human
more freedom, confidence and lightness in
any situation. For further information, visit
Peggy at www.connectedriding.com Her latest
book, “Connect With Your Horse From the
Ground Up,” is available from
Trafalgar Square Books.
Helpful Suggestions to Lighten Hands
You can encourage light hands by maintaining a bent elbow, straight wrist and soft
hold on the reins.
Comb the reins periodically. Combing the reins is an exercise in which the reins
are held in one hand as the other hand reaches forward, maintaining a soft bend in the
elbow, and reaches up and “combs” back down toward the other hand. The index and
middle fingers are in between the reins. As the hand that combs down reaches the other
hand, the first hand that held the reins releases them and reaches forward and combs
down in a continuous motion that gives a steady oscillating rhythm to the horse. You may
also comb just one rein at a time to offer the horse a different sensation. The combing
sensation encourages the horse to reach into contact and “telescope” his neck forward
and down, thereby encouraging the base to come up. The combing action also helps
the rider break up tension and holding.
When adding contact on the rein, minutely move your elbow back by engaging
the muscles in your upper arm while engaging the muscles of your forearm upwards as
if you are taking contact on the handles of a wheelbarrow preparing to lift. Simultaneously keep your upper body “thinking forward” (resisting the urge to go backwards)
and consciously allow your back muscles to stay soft. Practice alternately engaging the
arm muscles and softening in a quick succession for about 10 seconds.
You can do this while sitting on the horse and hooking your index finger on the mane
or taking contact on the edge of a table or shelf so that you can notice the elastic sensation this movement creates. I refer to this movement as “stretchy” or “bungee” elbows.
This movement keeps the horse from hanging; keeps your hands light and often will
help slow the horse down without pulling. If someone were watching, they cannot see
what you are doing and it definitely overrides the tendency to “pull back” on the reins.
`` Make sure your hands always hold the reins with softness versus tightness.
`` Make sure your wrists are straight and without tension.
Part I: From the outside in
Keep your trail horse
sounder and happier
by paying careful
attention to these nine
key areas of his body
PHOTO By Steve Bradley
When most of us think of “wear and
tear” on our horses, we tend to think
about their joints or damage that occurs
to their tendons, ligaments or muscles
as a result of heavy or extended use.
When a horse is being worked, he may
also experience a variety of other types
of what can be regarded as “wear and
tear” issues. In this first part of a two-part
series, I’ll look at wear and tear from the
outside in; next month I’ll discuss some
of the internal signs of wear and tear.
One of the important lessons I’ve learned
from riding more than 30,000 miles of
endurance is that it’s critical to pay close
attention to details. When we fail to notice a small detail or subtle change, our
horses often pay the price. Over time it
becomes easier to look for and spot the
types of things that can lead to a problem.
Keep reading to learn what to look for
as well as what steps to take to alleviate or
keep a minor problem from turning into
a big one. I will discuss each of nine specific areas on a horse and describe how
to look at each one as well as how to tell
if something may be a result of normal
use, or an important early warning sign
indicating your horse may need a break
before a more serious problem develops.
What You Need
to Know About
Prevention
Wear
& Tear
Story and Photos By
Karen Chaton
Area 1
Whether you use a bit or other headgear on your
horse for riding, always check your horse’s lips and
any area your tack comes in contact with. Inspect prior
to each ride as well as after—that way if a rub or sore
does start to appear, you can take steps to keep it
from getting worse.
It is important to inspect every area on your horse
before as well as after each ride. A good time to do this
is while grooming, cleaning or tacking up and again
untacking your horse. Often, a small area that appears to
be a minor rub or irritation can be kept from turning into
something more serious by being diligent about giving
your horse a good once-over before or after a workout.
Area 1: Head
When you are riding, working or traveling with your
horse, his head is an area that you need to keep a close eye
on. If you ride with a bit, check the corners of the mouth
for signs of soreness or rubbing. Continue examining your
horse’s face, muzzle and jowl area for any signs of rubbing
or sensitivity. Check closely around your horse’s ears and
poll area as well.
◗ What to do:
If your horse’s lips are showing signs of being rubbed
or sensitive, consider some salve or Bag Balm to lubricate
the area, especially if there are cracks. The most important
thing now is to prevent any rubs or sore areas from getting
worse. Consider using different headstalls, bits or other
tack pieces that will not further irritate any areas that
are showing signs of hair thinning, rubs, sores or other
sensitivity.
If your horse is overly reactive or nippy when you are
inspecting his head, he may need to have his teeth checked
by an equine dentist or veterinarian. This is especially
true if he is suddenly being evasive about being bridled
and has started to be uncooperative while being ridden.
Photo by Steve Bradley
www.stevesphoto.smugmug.com
continued next page
| 27
Area 2: Neck, chest and shoulders
Continue by inspecting the neck, chest and shoulder area. Use your hands
to feel over the entire surface for signs of heat, tenderness or inflammation
while visually inspecting the area at the same time. Pay close attention to any
areas that tack may come in contact, with such as a breast collar.
◗ What to do:
Check the fit of your breast collar. It may be too tight or too loose. Make
sure all of your tack is clean and in good repair. Consider changing styles or
materials if it appears that your current breast collar is causing some type
of irritation for your horse.
Be sure to not only
inspect your horse
visually but also
physically feel for
any types of sores,
rubs or tender
spots everywhere
Area 2
his tack goes. Keep
an eye out for signs
of flinching or adverse reactions that are not normal
for your horse. That may tell you that something
is too tight or otherwise causing discomfort.
Area 4: Girth and armpit area
Use your hands to gently
feel the folds of skin in your
horse’s armpit and girth areas. Look and feel for signs
of skin scurfing, heat rash,
thinning hair or any type of
irritation or sensitivity.
◗ What to do:
Area 3
Look for signs of thinning or broken mane hairs.
Some horses are very itchy after a ride and will
rub their mane out in patches or even completely. Closely examine the withers as well,
looking for any signs of rubbing or irritation.
Area 3: Withers and Mane
Look for signs of thinning hair, broken hairs, skin
scurfing (like a sunburn peeling) while also checking
for any type of reaction from your horse that might
indicate sensitivity in a certain area. Some horses may
be very itchy after a ride and will rub their mane out
in patches, or even completely. Closely examine both
sides of the withers as well as the top, looking for any
signs of rubbing or irritation.
◗ What to do:
Thoroughly groom your horse after each workout.
When finished, allow your horse to roll. Sometimes
that will take care of their need to rub and scratch.
Consider using a spray-on skin and coat conditioner.
Adding Omega 3 fatty acids (such as those found in
flax seeds) to your horse’s diet can help your horse’s
skin and coat from the inside out.
If your horse’s withers appear to be irritated or sore,
check your saddle fit. Consider getting a second or
third opinion regarding how well your horse’s saddle
and other tack is fitting your horse.
Many horses are prone to
Area 4
sensitivity in the girth and
armpit areas and require that
area be kept meticulously
clean. Make sure the area is
clean prior to each workout This horse sustained a heat rash
as well as after. You will prob- after being ridden on a hot day.
ably need to use a sponge and Apparently fly spray that had
water in order to remove any been applied to his neck mixed
sweat. While riding or after, with sweat and found its way
use a lubricant in the area into the sensitive armpit area.
that is not petroleum based. Sometimes girth and armpit
Petroleum-based products irritation or sores show up right
(such as Vaseline) may trap away; other times it may take
heat and cause the problem a day or two for the problem
to get worse. Diaper rash to surface. Use your hands to
ointment or Bickmore’s Gall feel the folds of skin to make
Salve are excellent choices. sure there isn’t a problem
Spraying a conditioner or hidden under your horse’s
coat rehydrating spray in the coat. In this case, cold hosing
area may also help; make sure and keeping the area clean
your horse doesn’t have an kept the horse comfortable.
adverse reaction to anything
you apply topically.
It also pays to be very careful about applying fly sprays or wipes in
the armpit, girth or other areas where tack contacts your horse’s coat.
If you are battling girth rubs, make sure your girth is clean for each use.
Consider changing to a different material or size. It may take trying two
or three different types of girths to find one that works. It might also be
worth checking your saddle fit again to see if the way it is rigged is causing some rubbing or discomfort in the girth area. Many times, a saddle
can have the rigging changed to center-fire, which will move the rigging
an inch or two further back and away from the sensitive armpit area.
Area 5: Back, sides, loins
When grooming your horse, be sure to note if he flinches or has any type of negative
reaction that is new or unusual. This may be a sign he is experiencing some soreness in
the back area. After brushing, use your hands to feel your horse’s back, sides and loin
area. Closely inspect for signs of rubbing, tenderness or inflammation. Ideally, the hair
should be thick and uniform over the area with no signs of skin scurfing or irritation.
◗ What to do:
Some horses are prone to having the fur on their loins or sides rubbed because
of how they move. It may take trying saddle pads made out of different materials to
find one that doesn’t cause loin rubbing or thinning hair.
Again, check saddle fit. Consider using a lubricant of some sort. Keep a close eye
out for signs of an adverse reaction; such products work well on some horses but not
on others. It may take some experimenting to find what works best for your horse
year round. Some horses may have the long hairs on their winter coat break off where
their tack comes in contact. This may not be a problem at all; just something to keep
a close eye on to make sure it doesn’t get worse.
In some cases, adding leg protection in
the form of ankle or
Area 6
splint boots can lead
to an injury. In this particular case, my horse
developed a swollen lump on both hind legs
directly above the top of his ankle boots. The
boots were used on him for a couple of years
without any signs of a problem. It wasn’t until
his workload was increased in the last year
that the problem developed. I immediately
changed to different ankle boots after this
was noticed; however the lump remains.
Area 6: Legs
During the summer months, many horses have an
extremely thin, fine coat. This can lead to rubs or
further thinning of hair. This horse had just been
washed, making the thinning hair on the loins
(gray area) even more apparent. Hair thinning
can also occur in the winter, when tack may shear
off the longer hairs it contacts with. Always feel
for signs of irritation, swelling, heat and sensitivity. Most important is keeping your horse and tack
Area 5
clean. If you do notice heat or inflammation, cool
the area down by cold hosing or by using an ice pack. I recommend not using a horse blanket over the top of an area that has been found to be inflamed
or is warmer than normal, as trapping in heat can lead to further damage.
Feel down each of your horse’s legs. Ideally,
each leg should be cool and tight, with no swelling,
lumps, bumps or sensitivity.
◗ What to do:
Swollen or inflamed (hot) tissues can be a result
of trauma, or can lead to soft tissue damage. Cold
hose, ice or use a poultice and wrap your horse’s legs
if they are showing signs of stocking up or sensitivity. Many horses will stock up after a workout or
long ride, especially if they are left to stand for any
period of time. Walk your horse for a few minutes
to see if the swelling goes down on its own.
continued next page
| 29
Area 7: Tail
Even if you don’t ride with a crupper, it is a good idea to check your horse’s tail dock. If
you do ride with a crupper then be sure to check the sides and bottom of the dock as well
as the top of the croup—basically any area that the crupper makes contact. Look for rubs
or sores and feel the area to see if there is any type of sensitivity or rubbed hair. This is a
popular area for ticks to hide so always be on the lookout!
◗ What to do:
If you are using a crupper and it is rubbing, consider trying a different type. Cruppers
are made from a wide variety of materials—leather, neoprene, biothane, plastic, etc. Make
sure your crupper is cleaned thoroughly after each use. It may help to rub a dab of Vaseline
or other lubricant on the tailpiece prior to each use.
If your horse is rubbing his tail hair out consider using a hair conditioner or adding Omega-3’s to help from the inside out. Some horses may rub due to insects or parasites so be sure to
review your deworming program with your veterinarian if your horse continues to rub his tail,
mane or other area. Make sure that any fly spray you use isn’t contributing to the irritation.
Area 8: Hooves
and Pasterns
Area 8
Your horse’s feet are often a reflection of his overall health. Hooves are
often the first area to show signs of
wear and tear. It’s important to learn
what your horse’s feet look like normally so that if something changes
you’ll be aware. Keep an eye out for
uneven hairlines around the coronet
band, stress or “fever” rings growing
out in the hoof wall, flares, cracks, chipping or unusual bulges. Pay attention to how your horse stands after each workout and at each feeding.
◗ What to do:
Horses that are worked regularly may show some signs of wear on
their feet whether they are shod, barefoot or booted. This is normal
and nothing to be alarmed about. Discuss any concerns you have
with your hoof care provider.
Pick up each hoof for a close inspection and be sure to feel the back
of the heel and pastern area. Look for anything out of the ordinary including wounds, interference marks, scratches (a form of dermatitis),
swelling or heat, sensitivity and cracks in the skin. There are many
good over the counter treatments for pastern dermatitis (this includes
skin cracking); if your horse has a constant problem in this area, consult
your vet because you may need to have something prescribed to clear
it up once and for all.
Remove any debris from the bottom of each hoof, especially if there
is manure packed into the frog sulci. Thrush can make the soundest
horse sensitive so consider spraying a 10:1 bleach/water solution or applying an over the counter thrush medication to the bottom of the hoof.
If you notice your horse standing in an unusual way, feet out in front
or tucked up under them check immediately for a strong or bounding
digital pulse and move your horse to see if he may be hoof sensitive and
experiencing a bout of laminitis. If so, call your vet!
Finally, pay attention to your horse’s general attitude and the look
in his eye. Is he bright and alert and attentive? Does he offer any resistance during a workout or has he become increasingly difficult to
catch? While doing the inspections listed here, does he react strongly by flinching, pulling away, trying to bite or pinning his ears?
◗ What to do:
Lift up your horse’s tail and inspect both sides
and underneath. If you use a crupper, check for
signs of rubbing or sores. This is one of the few
areas on a horse where tack may contact the skin
directly, allowing for a sore or rub spot to appear
quickly. Inspect the entire tail dock area for signs
of parasites—this is often a favorite place for ticks!
Even if your horses live in meticulously clean quarters, it pays
to check their feet on a regular basis. Many horses will step in
their manure, causing it to become packed in their feet. This can
lead to a nasty thrush infection, especially in wet conditions.
This hoof needs to have manure picked out of the crevices in the
frog area. As a preventive, especially during the wet season, it is
a good idea to apply some anti-thrush spray after each cleaning. An inexpensive way to do that is to use a mixture of 10:1
water to bleach. More serious thrush infections may need a more
targeted, specialized product.
Area 9: General Attitude
Sometimes horses just need a break. A horse needs to be allowed to have periods of recovery; otherwise the wear and tear
on the legs, body and mind can lead to injuries developing as well
as a sour attitude. Consider giving your horse a vacation or trying
something new and different with him. Maybe try out a new trail
or attend a new type of event. Variety is the spice of life and horses,
like us, can get stuck in a rut.
Area 7
Area 9
Becoming more familiar with your horse by
spending time fully checking him over each
time you are together will make you more
perceptive, give you a greater understanding of what is normal and allow you to catch
any subtle changes or issues that could turn
into a problem. Your horse will likely tell
you when something is wrong or is starting
to bother him; you just need to play detective and learn how to read the clues. Being
proactive and preventing minor issues from
turning into problems is the best way to ensure that many more great adventures await
you and your healthy, happy steed!
Watch Those
Details!
By paying close attention to
our horses we can ward off any
small or minor issues into turning into something more serious.
It takes time to learn each horse
and to be able to recognize signs
of wear and tear and to know what
is normal and what might lead to a
problem. If only our horses could
tell us when something doesn’t
fit or isn’t comfortable for them.
Checking over all the areas I’ve
covered above will help give you
an edge in keeping your athletic
horse working and from needing
Photo by Steve Bradley
to have time off from something
www.stevesphoto.smugmug.com
that was totally preventable. In
the process, you and your horse will become more familiar with each
other while strengthening your unique relationship.
Next Month: Preventing Wear And Tear From The Inside Out.
FMI
For more information
about the best products
for your trail horse, see:
Absorbine | WF Young, p.100
Dr. Rose Remedies, p.59
EQyss Grooming, p.3
Horse Health USA, p.29
JM Saddler, p.45
Leather Therapy, p.11
Smartpak Equine, p.21
Wendall Herbs, p.13
Karen Chaton lives in
Gardnerville, Nevada
and is a multiple awardwinning endurance rider
with more than 30,000
miles. Karen’s two horses,
Granite Chief and Pro
Bono, have traveled the country with
her and together they have experienced
many great adventures. Chief and Bo were
recently awarded the XP Horse(s) of the
Year for 2011, and Karen was awarded
XP Horseman of the Year. They were
the only ones to complete the entire
2,040-mile Pony Express XP ride in 2011.
| 31
THE QUESTION:
Photo by Marilyn Schiele©
I
WHY
is my horse doing
THAT?
Explaining Equine Behavior
E
quine behaviorist Jennifer Williams, PhD, will discuss
your behavior questions and problems, give insight into
why your horse is doing what he is and help you deal with
troubling behavioral problems. Williams earned a MS and PhD
in Animal Science with an emphasis on equine behavior, learning
and welfare from Texas A&M University. She has worked with,
ridden and shown a variety of horses in many different disciplines.
You can learn more about Dr. Williams at www.equinebehavior.net
If you have behavior questions, please submit them to
[email protected] to be considered for this series.
have a ten-year-old Quarter Horse gelding.
From what I can learn he was used as a cow
horse and reining horse up until I bought
him at age eight. He is terrific at riding in the
ring, doing obstacles, team penning, etc. The
problem is trail riding. If we’re alone, he is fine.
If we are with one other horse, he is excited
but does relax as we spend time on the trail.
Once we start riding with several horses, he
is very anxious and will not settle down. For
example, we met four other horses for a ride
and he was hard to control during the entire
two and a half hour ride. He was always prancing or loping in place. Although I can hold him
back, it is a constant job and no fun. This has
been the same on the last few trail rides we
have attempted.
I just started using him with the local
sheriff ’s volunteer group. He is fine in the
training sessions and was okay going out to
a park for some work with two other horses,
but this was not on the trail riding. He always
wants to be first, and if the other horses moved
out he wanted to race to catch them. In the
entire ride, he did not walk or trot once—just
pranced the entire time. He’s had several owners in his short life, but he’s a well-bred horse
with champions in his background.
Is this correctable? My main reason for
getting a horse was to trail ride. I love this
horse, but if this is not fixable then I must
make a change.
THE ANSWER:
I
t sounds like you have a great horse there—I
love working cow and reining horses! However, as you’ve discovered, they’re not always
ready to go right down the trail.
To us, trail riding seems like a natural fit
for horses: they’re used to varied terrain in
the wild and we feel they ought to be able
to walk down the trail with little problem if
they’re broke to ride. However, show horses,
reining horses, team penning horses, etc., may
never see the trail. They’re often ridden alone
in an arena with perfectly groomed ground.
The sights and sounds of trail riding can be
unnerving for them.
My own horse is a great example: he has a
national top ten in western pleasure and was
shown by a young child. However, when I first
“To us, trail riding seems like a natural fit for horses: they’re
used to varied terrain in the wild and we feel they ought to
be able to walk down the trail with little problem if they’re
broke to ride. However, show horses, reining horses, team
penning horses, etc., may never see the trail. They’re often
ridden alone in an arena with perfectly groomed ground. The
sights and sounds of trail riding can be unnerving for them.”
got him, he was scared of the sound of wind in
the trees, cows and anything out of place. He
did okay on trail rides as long as the terrain
was flat, but he got nervous going up hills, he
tried to run down hills and he often stepped
in holes that he didn’t appear to notice. After
months of riding in different places, he learned
to trust me and relaxed on the trail.
It sounds like your horse is fine on the trail
when he’s alone, but his problems start when
other horses join you. As a reining or working
cow horse, he probably wasn’t ridden around
other horses much, except in the warm-up
at competitions. If he was a team-penning
horse, then he was normally riding at high
speed when he was working with other horses.
Either way, he’s not used to riding quietly with
other horses so I would start by riding him in
an arena with other horses.
Start with just one or two other horses in
the arena. Have your horse stand in the center
of the arena while your friend walks around
the ring, giving your horse plenty of space.
Stroke and reward your horse for being relaxed
and when he’s quiet and calm, go to the rail and
ride with your friend on the opposite side of
the arena. Over time, let your friend get closer
to you. (Never allow your friend to get closer
than a horse’s length from your horse).
Keep both horses at a walk. As long as your
gelding stays quiet, reward him with petting.
If he gets upset, ask your friend to stand still
and put your horse to work trotting, cantering, side-passing or leg-yielding until he’s got
his mind on you. When you have your horse’s
attention again, let him walk. Make the right
behavior (being quiet with another horse
in the field/ring) easy by letting him walk.
Make the wrong behavior (getting upset)
harder by making him work harder when he’s
not listening.
Once your horse is calm and quiet, add
more horses to the ring. This may happen in
just one session or may take several rides. As
your horse stays relaxed, then let the group
trot and canter as well as walk. Once things
are going well in the ring, then it is time to
venture down the trail.
Start out with some low-key rides where
everyone is walking. Some horses have strong
herd instincts and get upset if other horses
trot or canter off, leaving them behind. So
stay with the group. As your horse starts to
relax, you can increase the speed at which you
ride. If your horse gets nervous and anxious,
put him back to work: trotting, circling, legyielding, side-passing, etc. Again, make the
right behavior (staying quiet) easy and the
wrong behavior hard. Sometimes retraining
will go quickly, but it can also take months.
If you want quick results, either work with a
professional trainer who can help you or look
for a horse who better matches your needs.
It sounds like you’ve got a talented horse
and you two can develop a fantastic partnership if you just give it a little time!
Imagine A Horse methods help
to increase the intelligence,
adaptability and predictability
of today’s Companion Horse, no
matter what your sport!
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| 33
Will he ever be trailworthy
again? With timely treatment
and proper management, diet
and exercise, yes he can!
What is Founder?
The word founder is sometimes used interchangeably with the term laminitis but it most often refers to
chronic cases of laminitis. To best understand laminitis
and founder, you need an understanding of some of the
structures of the equine foot. Inside the hoof, you’ll find
several bones but the most important in founder is the
third phalanx, also called the coffin bone. The coffin
bone is connected to the hoof wall by the primary and
secondary laminae. The primary and secondary laminae
fit together almost like the teeth on a zipper. In a healthy
hoof, the grip between the primary and secondary laminae is very strong.
Laminitis was once thought to be caused by inflammation; in fact, the term laminitis means inflammation
(-itis) of the laminae (lamin-). However, researchers
now believe laminitis is caused by ischemia (lack of
oxygenated blood flow) in the laminae. The mechanism
that causes the failure of oxygenated blood to reach the
Founder. That one word can strike terror into the hearts of horse-owners. Not all that long ago,
founder was a death sentence for most horses. Those that weren’t euthanized immediately were left
lame and unrideable, living out their lives on painkillers. Thanks to the dedication and work of several
equine researchers, today founder is often not fatal. In most cases, if it is caught early and treated
appropriately, foundered horses can go back to work and have many years ahead of them on the trail.
Managing the
Foundered
Horse
Photos courtesy of Leslie Davis,
Little Thunder Stables
laminae during laminitis is not completely understood, but researchers have
identified several possible causes (see sidebar at right).
When the laminae are deprived of oxygenated blood, they begin to die, and
the tight grip of the primary and secondary laminae loosens and they separate.
As the laminae pull away from each other, the coffin bone may either rotate
or drop down. In severe cases, the hoof wall separates from the underlying
structures and the horse sloughs his outer hoof, or the coffin bone penetrates
the soul of the hoof.
Acute laminitis refers to the time when changes are occurring inside the
hoof, and chronic founder refers to the period when there are changes to the
coffin bone but necrotic laminae are no longer present. Chronic founder may
also include recurring bouts of acute laminitis.
Causes of Founder
◗ Excessive dietary carbohydrates/sugars:
overeating grain, being turned out on lush
pasture without first being acclimated
◗ Gram negative bacterial infections with endotoxemia
◗ Excessive concussion to the
feet (“road founder”)
◗ Obesity
◗ Black walnut shavings
◗ GI problems—enteritis, colitis, endometritis
Treating Founder
David Hood, DVM, PhD, has been researching laminitis and founder for
more than 25 years. He is director of the Hoof Project Foundation, an organization devoted to studying founder and other diseases of the equine hoof. He
also recently opened the Hoof Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Clinic in Bryan,
Texas. The clinic focuses on treating hoof diseases in horses including laminitis
◗ Retained placenta
◗ Pneumonia
◗ Endocrine problems—Cushings, insulin resistance, hypothyroidism
◗ Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)
continued next page
| 35
Case #1: REEKA
Signs of Laminitis
and founder. In his experi◗ Lameness or soreness, particuence, he says that there’s no
larly in front legs
one right approach to treat◗ “Founder stance”—standing
ing founder. “What works
with the hind legs underneath
in one horse often doesn’t
the body. Because the horse has
work in the next one,” he
his hind feet far underneath his
notes. “The most successful
body, it makes it appear that his
approach in rehabilitation
front legs are stretched out in
of the horse with chronic
front of him. This is the horse’s
laminitis (founder) is to
attempt to keep weight off his
define what problems are
front feet, although research
present and then to tailor
has shown that all four feet are
treatment to suit the horse.”
equally affected.
T h is mea ns work i ng
◗ Reluctance to move
with your veterinarian to
◗ Heat in the hooves
not only diagnose founder
◗ Strong digital pulse (in the digital
through radiographs (xartery over the fetlock joint)
rays) but also to identify
◗ Spending an unusual amount of
why your horse has fountime lying down
dered in the first place. This
◗ Difficulty turning
may include examining his
◗ Elevated pulse and respiration
diet, blood work to check for
(in response to pain)
signs of infection, testing for
◗ Short-striding
insulin resistance and/or
Cushings, documenting his
health history and reviewing his recent workload. If your horse had foundered before you
acquired him, don’t worry if you don’t have his complete history.
Since several causes of founder are identifiable via tests (Cushings,
insulin resistance, ongoing infection, etc.), your veterinarian may
be able to determine why your horse has foundered or at least rule
out several possible reasons.
Once your veterinarian has documented the severity of your
horse’s founder and you’ve worked with him or her to identify
why your horse has foundered, ask your veterinarian and farrier
Reeka was an 18-year-old Andalusian mare sent to a veterinarian for a uterine infection. After 30 days on very strong antibiotics, the mare foundered. She was donated to a local horse rescue and sent to Little Thunder Stables in Kingsland, Texas
for rehab. MIDDLE LEFT: At the time of her arrival, Reeka had a prolapsed coronary band. Reeka had to be placed in a sling
(above) due to the pain in her feet. MIDDLE, CENTER AND RIGHT: After a series of trims by barefoot trimmer Martha Olivo,
Reeka’s coronary band (left foot) is returning to a more level position. The side view shows the mare’s feet returning to their
normal angle and axis. The toe has been rounded to ease breakover.BELOW: Reeka was in rehab at Little Thunder Stables for
two years and was eventually sound enough to be ridden.
“David Hood, DVM, PhD, has been researching laminitis and
founder for more than 25 years. He is director of the Hoof
Project Foundation, an organization devoted to studying founder
and other diseases of the equine hoof. He also recently opened
the Hoof Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Clinic in Bryan, Texas.”
Case #2: RUSTY
Rusty was a 28-year-old Appaloosa gelding rescued at an auction for $25. The woman who bought him knew she was over
her head trying to rehab him, so she gave him to a horse rescue and he ended up at Little Thunder Stables. Upon arrival
(left), Rusty’s hoof tubules were stretched and dished out in a profile typical of chronically foundered horses. Over a period of months of trimming, his feet began improving significantly (middle). Only a slight dish remains on the hoof (right),
and Rusty was pronounced sound for riding (below).
to work with you and an equine nutritionist to develop a treatment plan that addresses your
horse’s individual needs.
Dr. Hood cautions that owners must be committed to seeing their horses through founder
rehabilitation. While foundered horses can be rehabilitated and go on to live healthy lives, it
is not a fast process. He warns that owners shouldn’t expect immediate results and need to
understand that rehabilitation costs can be high (see sidebar, “When You Can’t Treat Him.”)
Leslie Davis owns Little Thunder Stables in Kingsland, Texas, a farm dedicated to rehabilitating foundered and navicular horses. She began learning about founder years ago after her
own beloved horse foundered. She agrees with Dr. Hood that many foundered horses can be
rehabilitated, but adds, “Founder recovery involves changes to the horse’s lifestyle that need to
be in place for the rest of his life.” In Davis’ experience, those changes often involve rethinking
how we house and manage our horses.
Signs of Chronic
Founder
◗ Rings or ridges in the hoof wall
◗ Bruised soles
◗ Widened white line (“seedy toe”)
◗ Flat feet
◗ Cresty neck
◗ “Dished” hooves
◗ Lameness
Trimming and Shoeing Concerns
After figuring out why their horse foundered and implementing a treatment plan to mitigate
the causes of founder, most horse owners turn their attention to their horses’ hooves. There are
two schools of thought when treating foundered horses: the natural (or barefoot) trim versus
various methods of shoeing.
The basic theory of the barefoot trim is that horses in the wild rarely suffer from founder
(or other hoof diseases) and that you can prevent and treat founder by mimicking the shape
and structure of wild horse hooves. This method employs much more frequent trimming than
more conventional farrier care. Small adjustments may be made as often as every few days, and
more full-scale trimming is conducted every three to four weeks. For this reason, many owners
who use the barefoot trim method of
managing their horses’ hooves use a
professional barefoot trimmer every
three to four weeks but attend clinics
to learn to make minor adjustments
every few days.
Once the hoof begins to take on
the shape of the wild horse hoof, new
hoof grows in, damaged structures
are repaired and the soul thickens
and toughens. Davis practices the
barefoot trim as part of her rehabilitative process for foundered horses,
and notes the transformation may
take as long as a year. Once the horse
continued next page
| 37
Case #3: RU-AB
Ru-Ab was a 24-year-old Arab that foundered from too much spring grass and not enough exercise as well as poor hoof
care. The radiograph (right) shows severe rotation of the coffin bone. The first photo (left) shows a flat foot consistent
with a dropped sole from rotation. Over a period of months, his feet improved significantly until he was sound enough
to return to light riding.
Resources &
Related Reading
returns to work, many owners fear their horse won’t stay sound when ridden over rough
terrain so they ride with hoof boots to protect their horses’ soles and frog. (For a more
◗ Hoofcare + Lameness, The
in-depth discussion of barefoot trim, see “Transition Your Horse to Barefoot,” in the
Journal of Equine Foot Science
August 2010 issue of Trail Blazer.)
www.hoofcare.com
Although the barefoot trim method is gaining momentum with many owners and
www.hoofcare.blogspot.com
some veterinarians, other veterinarians and farriers feel more comfortable treating
◗ The Hoof Project Foundation
foundered horses with a variety of shoes, pads and clogs. The goal of shoeing a founded
Dr. David Hood
horse is to provide pain relief for the horse and support for his hooves. Pads protect his
hoofprojectfoundation.org
soles and can provide support for sinking coffin bones. Clogs look like extra thick pads
979-255-1470
that provide additional protection and support.
◗ Little Thunder Stables
There are many approaches to shoeing foundered horses, and Dr. Hood has focused
Equine rehabilitation: speon testing them at the Hoof Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Clinic (HDRC). He is able
cializing in founder and
to test shoeing methods through the process of load stance analysis and says, “Not
navicular rehabilitation
only does this allow tracking the effects of specific treatments but is a valuable tool for
◗ Leslie Davis
diagnosis and clinical research.” So far, Dr. Hood says they’ve had the most success
www.littlethunderstables.com
with a properly applied three-quarter or full-solar support shoe, but they’ll continue
325-388-2727
to test different methods.
◗ Step Ahead Farm
David Jolly, DVM, of Step Ahead Farm in Hot Springs, Arkansas, also treats founDr. David Jolly
dered horses, and he prefers using the Steward Clog Shoe developed by Mike Steward,
501-525-1667
DVM, of Shawnee, Oklahoma. It is made of composite material and offers stability
www.stepaheadfarm.com
and protection for the coffin bone. The clog shoe can be used with a cushion support
area on horses whose coffin bone penetrated the soul, and it can be nailed, screwed or
glued to the hoof. Dr. Jolly says he and the farriers he works with have been amazed by the results using the Steward Clog Shoe.
Nutritional Concerns
Since founder isn’t only about the horse’s hooves, it means you have to address the problem of treating founder systemically—
and good nutrition is one part of the treatment plan.
continued page 40
“David Jolly, DVM, of Step Ahead Farm in Hot Springs, Arkansas, also
treats foundered horses, and he prefers using the Steward Clog Shoe
developed by Mike Steward, DVM, of Shawnee, Oklahoma. It is made of
composite material and offers stability and protection for the coffin
bone. The clog shoe can be used with a cushion support area on horses
whose coffin bone penetrated the soul, and it can be nailed, screwed
or glued to the hoof. Dr. Jolly says he and the farriers he works with
have been amazed by the results using the Steward Clog Shoe.”
When You Can’t
For more information
about the best products for
managing founder, see:
FMI
At Davis’ rehab facility, nearly
Treat Him
90% of the foundered horses she’s
Emerald Valley Equine, p.41
Although there are better
worked with foundered due to
EquiCast, p.37
treatment options than ever
lack of exercise and bad diet. So
for foundered horses, owners
Equine Medical & Surgical, p.14
in addition to using a balanced
and veterinarians still can’t save
barefoot trim to help them recover,
Frank Lampley, p.55
every horse. In researcher Dr.
she maintains them on low-sugar
Smartpak Equine, p. 21
David Hood’s experience, many
hay, feeds supplements to address
factors
go
into
the
decision
of
nutritional deficiencies and avoids
Source, Inc., p.39
whether to treat a horse or eufeeding grain. She also increases
Triple Crown Nutrition, p.5
thanize him. “A central question
the amount of exercise they get:
is what is happening inside the
this may be as simple as moving
foot and can what is happening
the horse out of a stall or small pen
be successfully treated?” he says.
and into a big pasture where he can
“Equally important is whether
move around more.
through access to mineral blocks or nutraceuthe pain and lameness can be
Even those veterinarians and
ticals (nutritional supplements).
successfully managed. The skill,
nutritionists who don’t subscribe to
training and experience of the
Riding Foundered Horses
the barefoot trim and the lifestyle
rehabilitation team is also an
that goes along with it tend to agree
Although years ago, a diagnosis of founder
important consideration. Lastly,
that by and large, our horses are fed
meant an end to a horse’s riding career, if not
and unfortunately, the cost of
far more grain than they need. So
his life, that no long has to be the case. There’s a
rehabilitation often becomes
cutting back the amount of grain
good chance that at least one person you know is
a major factor in the decision.”
(or eliminating it altogether) and
riding a foundered horse, and the horse is sound
Because each horse responds
increasing access to forage (hay
enough that you can’t tell.
differently and each owner has
and grass) is a good step in helpCatching laminitic episodes early (see
different resources available,
ing to keep your foundered horse
sidebar, “Signs of Laminitis”) and treating
there’s no checklist in determinhealthier. For horses with insulin
them appropriately is a vital step to returning
ing whether or not to treat your
resistance (a problem in both
a foundered horse to work. Davis adds that in
foundered horse. Discuss his
Equine Metabolic Syndrome and
her experience, “If the horse’s bones and joints
case and any financial limitaCushing’s disease), eliminating
inside the foundered hoof are not badly damtions with your veterinarian and
grain and limiting access to lush
aged and full circulation is returned, there’s no
farrier or trimmer. If you aren’t
grass is critical.
reason a foundered equine cannot have a good,
comfortable with their recomThere are several ways to deproductive and active life.” Horses that Davis,
mendations, don’t be afraid to
crease the amount of sugar your
Dr. Hood and Dr. Jolly have treated have gone
get a second opinion.
horse receives through hay or grass:
back to work as show horses, trail horses, endur»» Soaking hay in cold water for
ance horses and competitive trail horses.
30 minutes can reduce its sugar
Riding a foundered horse requires more dedication, as
content by nearly 50%.
you must remain vigilant in your feeding and management
»» Keep horses off pasture in spring and fall when the sugar programs. Closely monitor his weight as well as the condition
content is highest.
of your pastures and remove him from stressed pastures or
»» Plant varieties of pasture grass with lower sugar content.
pastures experiencing new growth (both associated with higher
»» Graze horses at night when sugar concentrations are lower. sugar content). Make sure he gets plenty of exercise and stays
»» Use grazing muzzles to restrict the horse’s access to the tops in shape, and be proactive in your hoof care, whether you use a
of grass, where the sugar content is lower.
barefoot trim approach or keep him shod. For barefoot horses,
»» Keep horses off drought-stressed pasture and freshly use appropriate, properly fitted hoof boots when you’ll be riding
mowed-pasture. Stress causes grass to release more sugar.
over rough surfaces. With dedication and time, you can keep
Testing your hay will let you know what necessary nutrients your foundered horse comfortable and going down the trail for
your horse is lacking. You can then provide those nutrients a long, long time.
Equine behaviorist Jennifer Williams, PhD will discuss your behavior questions and problems, give
insight into why your horse is doing what he is, and help you deal with troubling behavioral problems.
Williams earned a MS and PhD in Animal Science with an emphasis on equine behavior, learning and
welfare from Texas A&M University. She has worked with, ridden and shown a variety of horses in
many different disciplines. You can learn more about Dr. Williams at www.equinebehavior.net
With ultra-light
materials and a bit
of planning, you
and your horse
can camp and enjoy
the backcountry—
without bringing
along a pack animal
So you want to camp with your
horse in the backcountry, far from
the trailhead where the only sound
is the wind gently rustling the leaves,
where the stars and moon shine
brightly over whichever meadow
that is home for the night, where
the rumbling of generators and the
rattling of trailers pulling into camp
is but a memory. Sounds fantastic,
but how can you make it happen?
Lightweight Horse
STORY AND PHOTOS BY ROBERT EVERSOLE
T
he traditional method of camping with horses and mules
in the backcountry involves the use of pack stock to
carry the assortment of gear that usually accompanies
us. Unfortunately, only 4 to 5% of horse owners own a
spare equine that is trained to pack and an even smaller
percentage possess the essential knowledge to competently use a pack
animal. While visions of wall tents, cushy beds, roaring fires and hearty
Dutch oven meals in the backcountry are certainly romantic, there are
other ways to escape the confines of civilization that are easier for the
average horse rider to accomplish.
With preparation and forethought, you can safely enjoy the many
benefits of backcountry camping off your horse without the expense
and hassle of pack stock. The peace and serenity of true wilderness
areas can be ours if we make use of some of the techniques of modern
ultra-lightweight hikers. It may be heresy to mention but we do live
in the 21st century. Don’t let the riding and camping gear of the late
1800s that so many people cling
to out of “tradition” hold
Camping:
you back from truly experiencing the remaining wild places that can
be accessed by horseback.
Well, are you ready to ride into the backcountry for a day or two
without the use of pack stock? I’ll be the first to admit that initially
an endeavor of this sort can seem daunting. By keeping a few main
points in mind anyone can venture into what was once the exclusive
realm of packers.
The main tenets of lightweight horse camping are preparation,
weight and volume.
Preparation Ensures Success
Before you head out into the great outdoors, you’ll need to make
sure that you and your mount are ready for such an adventure. A little
knowledge will go a long way to making your foray not only safe but
also pleasant enough that you’ll want to make a return trip. Of course,
continued next page
Make it Real!
A hammock and
tarp system keeps
you warm, dry and
comfortable with very
little weight or volume.
Minning the Icelandic wonder horse
relaxes while the highline goes up.
you’ll also want to ensure that you and your mount are physically up
to the task.
Camping without pack stock means that your mount will be grazing
for his breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s your job to learn what conditions you can expect to find and to plan your trip around adequate feed
and water. For example, you’ll want to know where to find a meadow
sufficient for grazing, preferably near a stream. Not only will you want
to know where suitable stock feed can be found, but you’ll also want
to know what to expect on the trail getting to your destination. High
elevation trail riding trips can easily encounter snow-covered trails
well into August. Similarly, water is a major concern in other areas and
you may need to adjust your travel plans accordingly. I have found that
Forest Service offices and local backcountry riding groups are invaluable sources for this type of information.
Another bit of preparation involves learning a little rope work. Any
true horseman will know a handful of handy knots. At a bare minimum
you should be familiar with the bowline, the half hitch and the power
cinch. With the quick release versions of these knots you’ll be able to
construct a strong highline that will keep your equine partner in camp
while you slumber. Common sense rules; learn to string a highline and
train your horse to tie on a highline at home, not out on the trail. Waking up without your horse is a poor way to start the day when you’re
20 miles into the wilderness. An old proverb speaks to camping in the
backcountry “Trust in God, but tie up your horse.”
Backcountry horse camping
off your riding stock
will let you experience
wonderful vistas.
Weight and Volume
Are Your Enemies
Because we’re asking our riding
mounts to haul not only ourselves
but also our wilderness home on their
back, we must be vigilant about reducing weight at every opportunity, to prevent any unnecessary burden on our
equine partner. Nor is it enough that
the gear we take into the backcountry
be light weight to save our horse’s back.
The gear must also be very compact.
This is primarily for the rider’s safety.
If gear is piled higher than the saddle
cantle it can hinder your ability to
dismount, thus placing yourself in a
potentially dangerous situation. Your
wellbeing is paramount, so don’t jeop-
ardize it by strapping a folding chair to your saddle (yes, I saw this
once and it still boggles me).
The main areas where we
can reduce weight
• Rider and horse weight. Ask your family doctor what your
ideal weight should be and try to get there. Bam, I’m done with that
hot potato. While you’re at it, check with your veterinarian regarding
your horse’s weight and fitness condition.
• Tack weight is tricky. There are a multitude of well-designed
lightweight saddles available. If you’re still wrestling with a 40-lb stock
saddle that your granddaddy used to rope cows, consider upgrading
to one of the new models of lightweight—and ultra-comfy—trail
saddles.
• Camp gear and food is one of the new ways to go light. Luckily
for us, the hiking community has already done most of the hard work.
Let’s look at some of the ways we can shed the pounds. I’m confident
that the cowboys of yore, pragmatists that they were, would have used
this type of gear had it been available.
• Shelter. We need some type of protection from the weather
because yes, it will rain even in the paradise of a gorgeous mountain
meadow in summer. And if it doesn’t rain, the morning dew alone will
soak the unprepared to the bone. Fortunately, the days of the 40-lb
canvas wall tent are long gone. Instead, there are many models of tents
that weigh less than 5 pounds and are compact. Instead of a tent I have
found I prefer a hammock and tarp when camping in the backcountry,
for their combination of low weight and comfort.
The tarp I use measures 12 feet wide by 16 feet long. I find this
is plenty large enough to shelter two people, our saddles, gear and
also provide a covered cooking area, if needed. The hammock has an
integrated bug net to keep insect beasties at bay and hanging ensures
that rocky uneven ground doesn’t conspire to keep me tossing and
turning throughout the night.
• Sleep system. While a traditional heavy canvas bedroll is a romantic notion on a dry summer’s night, the temperature doesn’t have
to drop very far, or heaven forbid it starts to rain, before you’ll retreat
to your truck’s heated cab, or wish that you could. And please don’t
even think about having your riding buddy carry a bulky air mattress.
Affordable and high quality sleeping bags can be found that weigh less
than 3 pounds. I use a down bag but many synthetics are available that
beat down-filled in terms of weight, compression and cost.
Equally important is a sleeping pad, which provides insulation from
the cold ground, or air if you’re hanging a hammock. You might think
The TrailMeister’s
Backcountry Gear List
All of the gear I pack on my riding stock.
To illustrate a typical lightweight backcountry horse camping trip,
here is my gear list, including the weight of every item that goes with me
and my horse on an overnight outing without pack stock. If you ride and
camp with someone else—which I strongly recommend—the weights will
be somewhat less, since some items, such as a stove, tarp or tent, will be
used by more than one person.
TrailMeister (that would be me)—185 lbs including all clothing and
boots in addition to items always carried on me, such as emergency kit,
pocketknife and cell phone. Especially important to carry on your person
is a map of the area and compass, along with the requisite knowledge to
use them.
that the sleeping bag does that, but you’d be wrong. The weight of your
body compresses the insulation under you. This compressed material lacks the air spaces, or loft, that provides the insulation. In short
your back and butt will get cold without a sleeping pad. Secondary to
insulation, a sleeping pad’s other job is to turn rocks and roots into a
cloudlike cushion of comfort. I have used my horse’s saddle pad for this
purpose in an attempt to further reduce weight but I find that for only
11 ounces I can sleep better and not smell like my horse the next day.
• Camp kitchen. Although many folks are fine with PB&J sandwiches for the duration of a multiday ride, I like eating well and I also
function best with a hot cup of coffee in the morning. This means that
I bring along a stove and a container that I can make dinner in or heat
water. Reliable single burner stoves and a small fuel canister together
can weigh less than 13 ounces. A small one-liter pot will weigh under a
continued next page
Tack - 44.5 lb total, broken down as follows:
»» Saddle - 31 lb
»» Saddle Pad - 4 lb
»» Bridle / Reins / Breast Collar / Crupper - 4 lb
»» Pack Saw - 2 lb
»» Halter & Lead Rope - 1.5 lb
»» Saddle, Cantle and Pommel Bags - 2 lb
Camping Gear - 9.4 lb total broken down as follows:
»» Sleeping Bag / Tarp - 3 lb
»» Hammock - 1.5 lb
»» Sleeping Pad -11 oz
»» Water Filter - 12 oz
»» Camp Stove / Fuel - 12 oz
»» Cook Pot / Utensil - 10 oz
»» First Aid Kit for Horse & Rider - 13 oz
»» Highline - 50 feet “mule tape” & tree saver straps – 10 oz
»» Hobbles - 10 oz
»» Food—4.5 lbs
| 45
pound and heat plenty of water for hot beverages and meals. As a bonus
you can also store your stove and fuel canister inside.
• Food. You’ll find that food for you and your mount will be the
major determinant to how long you can stay in the wilderness. Indeed
food is the only area where my load differs greatly from those with pack
stock. For the human component, hiker fare is in order for these trips.
A two-day, one-night backcountry trip would consist of one breakfast,
two lunches and one dinner. The menu often looks like this:
Breakfast: two packets of instant oatmeal with nuts and dried
fruit, instant coffee
Lunch: Sardines and crackers
Dinner: Backwoods Thanksgiving consisting of 1 package Stovetop
Stuffing; ½ cup dried sweetened cranberries; ¾ cup instant
mashed potatoes; 1 foil pouch of chicken. Simply add hot water,
and take in the vista surrounding you while dining.
Feed for your mount comes from pre-trip planning. At the recommended 1.5% to 2.5% of body weight per day for a horse, we simply
cannot ask riding stock to carry an additional 25 pounds of feed per
day. Instead we must plan the trip around areas known to have good
grazing and readily available water. Forest Rangers, land managers
and backcountry riding groups are excellent sources for this type of
information. I carry at least a pound per day of hay pellets mixed with
some sweet grain for my horse on these trips. The additional weight
could be used for other items (like steak and eggs) but the horse likes
it and I like thanking him for his efforts in getting me into a piece of
paradise and for memories that will last a lifetime.
For grazing I use hobbles and turn my horse out for an hour or so
during the morning, noon and evening. With the use of hobbles we can
both eat at the same time with me watching him graze while I prepare
and eat my meal. When you graze your mount in the backcountry you
really should use either hobbles or hand graze with a lead rope. I know
a man who swore his horse would never leave the meadow because
he had a strong bond and knew his horse well. He let his horse loose
to graze at leisure. You may have heard him swearing as he made the
long hike back to the trailhead. By chance someone caught the horse
wandering between rigs at the trailhead and notified the local
forest ranger.
Horse containment
Trail riders need a way to keep their
Backcountry horse camping takes
you far from the trailhead!
For more information about the
best horse camping products, see:
FMI
Abby enjoys backcountry
horse camp in the
Alpine Wilderness
area of Washington’s
central Cascades.
Cashel Company, p.9
JT International, p.2
Weaver Leather, p25
mounts secure during the night. The most common way to accomplish
this is what is commonly referred to as a highline. A very strong and
very lightweight material used by commercial builders called “mule
tape” serves as my highline. (CAUTION: mule tape is very thin; thus,
if a horse gets tangled it can be a medical disaster. Mule tape is best
used only after you learn to create a safe and sturdy highline with the
traditional 3/8+ inch rope and your horse is trained to highline.) Note:
Mule tape is white and at first glance looks similar to the material
found in electric fences. The first time I used mule tape as a highline
the horse wasn’t happy to be so near something he was convinced
would give it a nasty shock.
This should help guide you in realizing your dream of saddling
up and heading into the wilderness with just your riding stock. Start
with learning, planning and training at home, then on short trips to
refine what works for you and your mount, and finally on to the really
beautiful country as you get more comfortable. With planning and
consideration you can experience some of the magnificence of the
backcountry without using pack stock. Ride on!
Robert Eversole owns and operates
www.TrailMeister.com, a website dedicated
to providing maps and trail information to
equestrian trail users. In addition to providing trail maps and reviews he also provides
pertinent trail-use data to riders across the
nation. A US Marine and most recently a refugee from
corporate America, Robert is enjoying his new career
helping fellow trailriders stay found and safe on the trail.
MYTH: A COLICKING HORSE
SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED
TO ROLL, AS THIS CAN
CAUSE A TORSION
OUR E XPERTS SET THE RECORD STR AIGHT
I
n the horse world, legends and tradition abound. The popular
Discovery Channel show “MythBusters” inspired us to create
a parallel universe in which equine traditional thinking is critically
examined and confirmed—or exposed. Each month we ask a
notable equine expert to discuss one or more “myths” in the
horse world and then set forth the facts surrounding that topic.
In this column, equine journalist and blogger Susan Kaufmann
discusses some of the more prevalent myths surrounding colic—
and reveals some facts that may surprise you.
MYTH: A COLICKING HORSE SHOULD BE KEPT WALKING
FACT: This myth remains widespread today despite research showing that in most cases,
the practice is of no benefit and may actually be detrimental. As L. Chris Sanchez, DVM, PhD,
Diplomate ACVIM, Associate Professor at the Island Whirl Equine Colic Research Laboratory
at the University of Florida, states, “It is very important to get the word out that it is absolutely
not necessary to force a horse to keep walking. Doing so for long periods of time can actually
tire the horse and increase dehydration. If a horse will lie quietly, it is fine to let him do so.”
The only time it is advisable to get a horse up and walking is if the horse is rolling violently or
thrashing in such a way that he may harm himself or others; In these cases, walking may help
distract the horse from his suffering.
MYTH: DEHYDRATION CAN LEAD TO IMPACTION COLIC,
SO THIS TYPE OF COLIC IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN THE
SUMMER, WHEN HORSES ARE SWEATING PROFUSELY.
FACT: Although impaction colic can be seen at any time of year, it occurs more frequently
during cold weather. This is often due to lower water consumption, which happens because
horses are less thirsty in cold weather and may be reluctant to drink very cold water. Water is
critical for normal intestinal function, and any level of dehydration can make it more difficult
for the horse to move ingesta through his intestines. Basically, the drier and coarser the feed,
the more likely it is to form a blockage.
FACT: This is another widely believed
myth that has been disproved by science.
Explains Dr. Sanchez, “A twisted segment of
intestine is one of the most painful things a
horse can endure. This typically causes severe
rolling, rather than the other way around.” When a torsion does occur, it is often a complication of gas colic. Gas colic, although very
uncomfortable for the horse, is generally not
serious, and the survival rate is very high.
However, complications can arise and become
life threatening if a distended bowel twists or
becomes displaced. Such complications are
not likely to be caused by the horse rolling,
but rather from the fact that the portion of the
intestine filled with gas will have a tendency to
rise to the top of the abdominal cavity. If rolling were likely to cause a torsion, it would be
dangerous for a horse to roll at any time—not
just during a colic episode.
MYTH: ALLOWING A HOT HORSE
TO DRINK IMMEDIATELY AFTER
EXERCISE CAN CAUSE COLIC
FACT: Chances are you have heard that a
hot horse should not be allowed to drink after
exercising until he has cooled down. However,
recent research has shown that withholding water after exercise may be potentially
harmful because it prolongs dehydration, and
dehydration can lead to colic as well as other
problems. Horses are more likely to drink soon
after exercise when their thirst drive is high,
and they need that fluid intake to replace fluids
lost to sweating. Therefore, it is a good idea to
allow the horse to drink in most scenarios. If
you want to err on the side of caution, provide
access to water that is not ice cold, and walk
the horse for short periods between allowing
him to have a few good gulps.
Susan Kauffmann is an
equestrian journalist
and photographer who
has been working with,
training and writing about
horses for nearly 30
years. Her articles on horse health, training
and welfare appear regularly in publications in both the US and Canada, and
she also writes content for horse-related
courses for Michigan State University.
Some of her articles can be viewed on her
blog, www.TheEquinist.blogspot.com.
Y
ou’ve enjoyed trail riding for a few years now, and your equine partner always finishes
his rides fresh and keen to go on. He hasn’t found a mountain he couldn’t climb or a river
he couldn’t cross, and he seems to just float over the rocks. He usually ends up leading
the group home with energy to spare. He has a gleam in his eye, his legs are strong and his
nostrils scoop in the air. Your riding buddies have been encouraging you to try an endurance or
competitive trail ride. You’re intrigued, but where to begin? Follow the guidelines of a champion
endurance rider and veterinarian to chart your course in a new and challenging equine endeavor...
Not only do you want to avoid a
chronically fatigued horse (which
can lead to injury or lameness and
depressed immunity), you don’t
want to create resentment. If you
overwork your horse, this will have
a negative impact, which will affect
his ability or willingness to learn.
Dis
Follow our expert guide to evaluate your
horse’s fitness level and readiness to compete
in your first competition.
Begin by assessing your horse’s body
condition, nutrition, hoof care and soundness. Make sure his overall health is excellent
before you step up any type of conditioning
program. Your horse should be of a healthy
weight but not be obese. His feet should be
properly trimmed and hoof protection considered, depending upon terrain. There should
be no obvious discomfort or gait abnormality.
Nutrition should be optimal—your horse
should be on a diet reflecting the type and
level of activity anticipated. Also consider the
age and prior fitness level of your horse.
Young horses need time to strengthen
Taking your horse’s baseline (resting) pulse and then monitoring his
recoveries after each ride will give
you a reliable indicator of his developing fitness. The average resting
heart rate for a horse is less than 42
beats per minute. Recovery should
be below 60 within 10 to 15 minutes
after exercise. If your recovery pulse
rate is higher than 72, you have asked
too much and need to back off.
continued next page
By Darla Wright, DVM
Are You Ready to Step Up Into
stance-Riding
COMPETITION?
bone, tendons and ligaments. Consider Wolff’s law: a healthy person
or animal will adapt to the loads it is placed under. If loading on a particular bone increases, the bone will remodel itself over time to become
stronger to resist that sort of loading. The key here is time. You cannot
rush conditioning, especially in a young animal.
If your horse has had an extensive layoff, consider groundwork prior
to saddling up. A round pen or arena may be ideal; however, a longe
line will also suffice. Establish that your horse can walk, trot and canter
freely, safely and quietly without a rider. Finally, give yourself ample
time to condition for the type of exercise or event intended. Basic conditioning involves taking into consideration the type of riding the horse
will be involved in, the level of competition or fitness that you expect
the horse to achieve, the time frame allotted to achieve conditioning
and the horse’s prior fitness level. For instance, a horse needs at least
one month to achieve any significant cardiovascular improvements.
The goal of any program will be aimed at positive adaptations to
exercise. These improvements are aimed primarily within the cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory and thermoregulatory systems.
Building the Equine Athlete
Two simple ways to assess your horse’s hydration
status are the capillary refill test (above) and the skin
pinch test (below). You can perform a capillary refill
test by pressing your finger against the gum of your
horse’s upper lip until it turns white, then removing
your finger and seeing how long it takes for the pink
color to return. A normally hydrated horse’s gums will
return to pink in no more than two seconds. The skin
pinch test is accomplished by pinching a fold of skin on
the neck of the horse near the point of the shoulder. A
normally hydrated horse’s skin will flatten instantly.
Within the first weeks of conditioning, your horse will experience
an increase in blood volume, as evidenced by greater numbers of red
cells as well as plasma volume. The result is an increase in oxygencarrying capacity to the horse’s working muscles. The next change is
in the horse’s heart. As with most muscles in the body, it increases in
size with exercise and conditioning. This change allows for enhanced
cardiac output, which means your horse is capable of more work.
Between the third and sixth months of conditioning, there begins to
be an increase in the number of small blood vessels within the skeletal
muscle. This in turn improves the efficiency of oxygen extraction from
the blood, thus providing more oxygen to the muscle tissues. Actual
physiologic changes occur as the horse trains and becomes more conditioned. As the horse’s level of fitness improves, you will see a reduction
in heart rate during submaximal exercise (trot or slow canter). Your
horse’s recovery heart rate (return to resting heart rate) will be faster
in well-conditioned horses.
Metabolic system improvements with conditioning are very important. As the utilization of fuel substrates becomes more efficient, there
is also an increase in the amount of fat utilized for energy production.
The result is a decrease in the quantities of blood glucose and muscle
glycogen used as energy sources, referred to as “glycogen sparing.”
What this means is that the horse is able to sustain a higher rate of
work during prolonged exercise without the build-up of lactic acid.
The result is the horse can exercise longer before becoming fatigued.
VO2max is the maximum rate at which the body can consume oxygen. Exercise improves the respiratory system by increasing VO2max.
Around week 8 to 12 in a conditioning program, the oxidative capacity of the muscles in the horse’s system is increased. This is achieved
by a boost in the number and size of the cell structures as well as the
quantity of enzymes that are responsible for and involved in aerobic
metabolism. Combined with the changes in the cardiovascular system,
these aerobic adaptations can increase a horse’s VO2max by up to 30%.
The end result is a significant improvement in work capacity; i.e., the
horse can sustain higher speeds for extended periods.
Finally, there is an effect on thermoregulation. Due to the fact
that an enormous amount of energy is required for physical activity,
a significant amount of heat energy is released during exercise. Stored
energy is converted to work at an efficiency rate of about 20-25%. As a
result, approximately 75-80% of stored chemical energy is converted
to heat within the muscle cell. Consequently this heat energy is responsible for a rise in body temperature.
Without a way to shed this heat, the body temperature of the horse
would rise to a dangerously high level after a relatively short period
of exercise. Most of this heat is removed through evaporative cooling (sweating). Unfit horses will lose more electrolytes and protein
through sweating than fit horses. A rider can observe this by noting the
sweat pattern. An unfit horse will have very white, lathery, and sticky
sweat that has a strong odor. On the other hand, the sweat of a fit horse
will remain clean and clear (more watery). This
change allows the horse to retain more essential
proteins and electrolytes needed while exercising.
Getting to Know
Your Horse
These are some of the basic concepts to understand prior to developing a conditioning program.
So now what? How do you develop the program
that is right for you? The answer is to start by
getting to know your horse again. What is your
horse’s resting heart rate? A stethoscope is the best
means of determine the heart rate; however, also
beneficial is a heart rate monitor. While a monitor’s accuracy may be delayed by several seconds,
it is very effective at telling you what’s going on
during exercise, not just before and after.
Heart rate (pulse) is the best individual guide
to condition response and status. Recovery heart
rate is a universal means to determine fitness. The
average normal resting heart rate for a horse is less
KEYS TO CONDITIONING AT A GLANCE
³³Evaluate your horse prior to starting your
program—age and current level of fitness play
a role in developing a conditioning program.
³³Start early to allow ample time to attain your
goals—don’t try to rush fitness, it will lead to
poor attitude and possibly illness or injury.
³³Begin each workout with a warm-up—at
least 5 minutes of walking and 5 minutes of
trotting—to loosen up large muscle groups and
increase flexibility of tendons and ligaments.
³³Assess fitness and level of conditioning
continuously—monitor recovery rate,
attitude and hydration status.
³³End each workout with a cool-down; reverse
your warm-up to allow for a decrease in lactic acid
build-up, which can lead to stiffness and soreness.
³³Conduct post-exercise checks to ensure
your horse remains sound, with an optimal
resting heart rate and a good attitude!
The goal of any program will be aimed at
positive adaptations to exercise. These
improvements are aimed primarily within
the cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory
and thermoregulatory systems.
than 42 beats per minute (BPM). As with humans,
horses with a high level of fitness will have a lower
resting heart rate. As a guideline, pulse ranges for
moderate work are around 75-105; yet this can
increase to over 200 during heavy work, such
as hill training. Recovery rate (the return to the
resting heart rate) should be below 60 within 10
to 15 minutes. If a horse takes 30-45 minutes to
recover, he is in poor condition. In other words,
if after 10-15 minutes of exercise, your horse
recovers to between 44-52, you’re ready to step
up to the next level. However, if recovery pulse
rate is greater than 72, then your horse has been
overworked and you’ll need to back off.
Respiratory rate has a direct correlation with
continued next page
| 53
As a full-time equine
practitioner and mom, author
Darla Wright, DVM, knows
that time can be an issue with
regards to conditioning for
the trail. Fellow riders have
asked her, “How do you keep
your horse in shape if you
can’t ride every day, or even
every week?” She found an
answer with a hot walker.
“Speed can be adjusted for
the type of work intended
(i.e., walk, trot, canter), and
it is beneficial for as little as
20 minutes per session,” she
noted. “I used a round corral
and/or longe line before
I acquired this extremely
useful piece of equipment.”
resting pulse rate. A normal resting respiratory rate for the horse ranges
between 8-16 breaths per minute. This ratio of heart rate to respiratory
rate should be 3:1 or 2:1. If the ratio is 1:1 the horse is stressed and you
should stop exercising him immediately.
Now that you know your horse’s resting heart rate, determine what
length of time you need to prepare for the activity you have chosen.
Start your program early and allow ample time to attain your goal. Start
with slower speed and longer distances. Exercise three to five days per
week. Make sure you have defined rest periods or days off. Not only
do you want to avoid a chronically fatigued horse (which can lead to
injury or lameness and depressed immunity), you don’t want to create
resentment. If you overwork your horse, this will have a negative impact, which will affect his ability or willingness to learn. Keep in mind
your program must be at a level to promote the competitive activity or
level of fitness desired. It’s a balancing act!
To achieve an optimal benefit during conditioning, a horse should
exercise at a level that attains a target zone of 135-155 bpm—about 6080% of his maximum heart rate. As fitness level improves, you will see
a concurrent shortening of his recovery rate; that is what determines
an increase in the level of exercise. You can achieve this in one of three
ways: duration, intensity (speed), or distance; however, it is critical that
only one of these variables is increased at a time in order to prevent the
horse from being overworked into the next phase.
Warm-Up and Cool-Down
What are the basics of getting started then? An extremely important step is an adequate warm-up period to minimize the chance of
exercise-related injury. This is accomplished by loosening the muscles
and tendons, which increases range of motion. A warm-up allows
the working muscles to accommodate harder work by increasing
Distance Riding Resources
◗◗ American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC)—
www.aerc.org
The nation’s sanctioning, governing and recordkeeping body for the sport of endurance riding.
◗◗ North American Trail Riding Conference (NATRC)—
www.natrc.org
The nation’s oldest and largest organization
devoted to competitive trail riding.
Other regional organizations include:
◗◗ Upper Midwest Endurance and Competitive
Rides Association—www.umecra.com
◗◗ Easter n Compet it ive Trail Riding A ssociat ion —
www.ectra.org
◗◗ Southeastern Distance Riding Association—
www.distanceriding.com
◗◗ Ontario Competitive Trail Association—www.octra.on.ca
Many of these sites have extensive archives of useful
training tips as well as the regulations and calendar for each
sport. For example, in AERC (endurance), your horse must
be a minimum of four calendar years to compete in the
Limited Distance (LD) division (25-35 miles) and a full five
years to compete in endurance rides of 50 miles and up.
best horse health products, see:
Assessing Hydration
FMI
circulation. Further, warm-up encourages
the horse to dissipate heat more efficiently
during intense exercise. A successful warm-up
routine might consist of walking the horse for
at least five minutes and then trotting for at
least five minutes before moving on to more
vigorous work.
Equally important is the cool-down. As
a rule of thumb, simply reversing the warmup (five minutes of trotting, followed by five
minutes of walking) will accomplish this.
Metabolically, the slower work helps the
blood remove lactic acid from the working
muscles, thereby minimizing any stiffness and
soreness the next day. Don’t forget to determine the recovery rate at this point, as it will
be your guideline for your horse’s readiness
for the next session.
Absorbine | WF Young, p.100
Cashel Company, p.9
Down Under Saddle, p.53
Frank Lampley’s Products, p.55
Source, Inc., p.39
Triple Crown Nutrition, p.5
The sweat of a fit horse will remain
clean and clear (more watery).
This change allows the horse to
retain more essential proteins and
electrolytes needed while exercising
During the training period, it is of utmost
importance to recognize dehydration in
your horse. Keep in mind that water makes
up more than 65% of a horse’s mass. Water is
an essential requirement for both metabolic
function and thermoregulation. Since sweating is responsible for the majority of heat dissipation
and the major component of sweat is water, the loss in the exercising horse can be enormous.
Two simple ways to assess hydration in a horse is a capillary refill test and a skin pinch
test. To perform a capillary refill test, press your finger against the gum of the horse’s upper lip
until it turns white. Remove your finger and determine how long it takes for the pink color to
return to the area. A normally hydrated horse will return to pink within two seconds. The skin
pinch test is accomplished by pinching a fold of skin on the neck of the horse near the shoulder.
A normally hydrated horse’s skin will flatten instantly.
Proper hydration is accomplished in several ways. The simplest strategy is to feed significant
forage (or hay). For example, for every 2.2 lbs of dry hay a horse eats, he will consume up to
one gallon of water. A reserve is thus built up within the digestive tract to help offset losses. In
addition, all horses should have free choice salt available. Another method to prevent dehydration is to hose your horse down with water at the end of his workout. This provides evaporative
cooling similar to sweating without the loss of water through sweating.
Darla Wright, DVM, owns
an equine veterinary
practice in Kingman, Arizona. Her twin passions are
equine health and endurance riding with her Arabian gelding EM Darrha (Apollo). Darla has over 6,000 lifetime
AERC miles and Apollo has over 5,000. The
duo placed third in AERC national mileage in
2011 with 1,740 miles and a 100% completion rate and to top off the season won first
place in the Pioneer (multi-day) division in
the nation. Darla and Apollo were featured
on the cover of Trail Blazer in October 2011.
Be Alert For Signs of Fatigue and Overtraining
Watch your horse closely during training—any puffiness in the ankles, weight loss or loss
of appetite and a host of other signs indicate you may be asking too much too soon. A change
in attitude or a change in stride may become evident. For example, if a horse who is normally
very alert and travels with a high head carriage suddenly becomes lethargic and hanging his
head. If your horse is normally surefooted and now you realize he is stumbling and tripping
more, it is time to regroup. As a horse becomes chronically fatigued, he is more prone to injury.
Stop and check for recovery heart rate and if necessary, back off to a lower level of exercise, or
give your horse some time off.
Not only are you trying to attain a certain level of fitness, you need to maintain it. It may be
useful to know that a horse will remain fundamentally fit for about 6 to 8 weeks. Also, horses that
have been trained up to a certain level and then given an extensive layoff will return to fitness
much faster than horses that have never reached that same level. Once you begin competing,
you will find it much easier to maintain your horse’s level of fitness, and the amount of riding
you will need to do between events will be far less.
Ready to ride? Check out the sidebar, “Distance Riding Resources,” on page 54. You may
find it helpful to find a mentor, and be sure to check out the AERC new member’s page:
www.aerc.org/New_Members_Page.aspx
Now get out, ride and have fun conditioning your horse!
| 55
trot
Chief and Karen
fin
al
toward the fin
ty,
Ci
ia
in
ish line in Virg
st
la
e
Nevada, on th
edible
day of their incr
ren:
Ka
journey. Wrote
living
e
lik
“It was almost
t
ha
W
in a fairy tale.
o
ot
Ph
”
an adventure!
g.
un
Yo
by Nannette
ugh
Part II I: Th ro
h and
rugged, ro ug
try,
re m ote co u n
Ch ief an d Bo
th o r
c arry th e au
th e
so u n d ly all
in ish
way to th e f
ride:
T he T wenty - E l even
Pony Express
STORY AND PHOTOS
By Karen Chaton
» Name and nickname: Pro Bono D
(Bo)
» Breed: Arabian
» Color & Markings:
Bay
» Age: 13
2,040 Miles in Forty Days
R
Meet the XP Horses
iding Granite Chief and Pro Bono 2040 miles on the
Pony Express trail, from St. Joseph, Missouri to Virginia City, Nevada last summer was some adventure.
We dodged tornados, slogged through miles and miles of
mud, braved heat, humidity, bugs and bogs. We also got to
experience history first hand, make new friends and develop
amazing relationships with our ponies. It was the experience of a lifetime!
Welcome to the third and final installment of my Pony
Express (XP) Diaries. So far I have covered a lot about how
I managed my horses and the products I used on this incredible journey (see the December 2011 and March 2011
issues). Now I would like to share with you three of the most
memorable days of
the ride, which all
took place as we
drew closer to the
finish. This was a
journey I’ll never
forget. I cannot
think about what
my horses were
able to accomplish
without feeling a
rizon. Is he
oks upon the ho
Chief eagerly lo
the nametag
e
huge amount of
ot
s ahead? N
lie
t
ha
w
g
rin
de
won
nametags
emotion. I am so
mane. I also put
s
hi
to
in
d
de
ai
br
e event one
saddles so in th
d
an
ck
fortunate to have
ta
r
ou
on
d it would
become separate
ld
ou
sh
em
th
of
these two wonreach us.
r somebody to
fo
r
sie
ea
it
e
ak
m
derful horses, and
my husband Dave is the best support crew in the world.
continued next page
» Height: 15.1
» Weight: 970 lb
» Most endearing
feature: Bo could also be called Dennis
the Menace, as he is a busy horse that
loves to play with everything in his living
area and often likes to rearrange things
like stall mats, 75-gallon water tanks and
anything else he decides needs to be in a
different spot!
Most enduring feature: What a great
attitude this horse always has; Bo is always
eager to see what is around the next turn.
If he had his way he would get there a lot
faster, too!
» Total AERC miles: 4,670
» Name and
nickname:
TBR Granite
Chief+/ (Chief
or Cheefy)
» Breed: Arabian
» Color & Markings: Fleabitten grey
» Age: 16
» Height: 15.0
» Weight: 940 lb
» Most endearing feature: Chief absolutely loves going down the trail. Of every
horse I have ever owned, Chief is by far
the one most attached to me. If he doesn’t
come trotting when I call him, he comes
running and will eagerly push his nose
into the halter. I never have to “catch” him.
» Most enduring feature: Chief’s conformation has had a lot to do with how well
he has held together for so many miles.
Combine that with his desire to go down
the trail with such a happy attitude and it
sure makes for miles of smiles!
» Total AERC miles: 12,015
www.TR AILBL A ZER M AGA ZINE.US • April 2012
| 57
ns and great company
BELOW: Blue skies, green mountai
and gave us something
made the days go by fairly quickly
es and difficulty
to think about other than the challeng
after day.
day
r
in getting through the ride day afte
ABOVE: Chris Herron and his stall
ion Hawk finally found a
safe spot to get in and drink and are
heading back to the trail.
The alkali was interesting in that you
couldn’t always tell if the
footing was firm, or if you might sink
. The landscape in Nevada
ranged from flat and fairly barren in
the alkali flats to being green
and lush with wildflowers, trees and
creek in the mountains.
Day 27 of 40: 1,375 Miles
Down, 665 to go!
Today we rode from Lookout Pass to Simpson Springs, Utah. It was
one killer hard day. I started at 6 a.m. and finished at around 5:35 p.m.
I had to hustle to make it in time—I didn’t want to be over time. Today
was the hardest day of the ride so far but also the most scenic trail. We
are now in the best part of the ride! It reminds me a lot of Schellbourne
(in Nevada) with the pinion pines and high desert wildflowers, grasses
and trees. We also had more natural water on the trail today. Chief
drank the best today of any ride. He is sure doing well. I am having a
great time riding him, he’s tough as nails and like the energizer bunny
he keeps on going and going and going!
The trail at the start headed out of camp straight up the steep side of
a mountain. When I say steep, I mean steep. And when I say something
is rocky, you better believe it’s rocky. I was having a hard time with my
tracks showing on my GPS. They were there, but when I zoomed in it
would take a long time before they’d show up again. This hadn’t happened before today, and I hope it won’t happen again. It was frustrating
at intersections or forks in the trail when I wanted to verify which way
to go— never fear though, as I still had
my trusty map to pull out and look at,
which worked each time. Always have
a good backup plan!
As I rode in to lunch I could see the
rigs spread out, spaced along the road.
I looked to see where [ride manager
Dave Nicholson, DVM] Duck’s trailer
was so I could vet Chief through. He
vetted me and then looked at my GPS
and said others were complaining of the
same problem I was with the tracks but
of course when he looked at mine, the
tracks were working properly. I headed
58 | April 2012 • www.TR AILBL A ZER M AGA ZINE.US
over to my trailer where Bo was tied and rearing up and bouncing
about all excited about Chief coming to visit him. We’re going to
have fun tomorrow!
It was warm today—90 degrees with about 20% humidity when I
finished. We had some cloud cover and a steady breeze with gusts up
to 60 mph. The footing was the rockiest it has been...very, very rocky
today and we had a good deal of elevation gain. I did a lot of leading on
foot on the down hills. I knew I’d need to pick things up a bit in order
to finish on time so tried to jog where the footing was good. There
were lots of creek crossings after lunch—a welcome change. Some
mud to get through but nothing like the last day of last week’s ride.
At lunch I put a stronger bit on Chief along with a martingale.
He’s so strong, and I’m so tired. We need to meet somewhere in the
middle, without it wearing us both out. With the Kimberwicke or
hackamore he pulls and puts his head up and tries to go faster almost
constantly. With the Myler that had some leverage on it along with
the martingale he can’t do that. It was kind of funny at first, because
you could tell he was mad. The look on Chief ’s face was so telling.
He’s a very opinionated horse.
l
A wetter than usua
season provided
quite an array of
een
wildflowers and gr
y
er
en
grasses. The sc
e
th
and footing in
course of a single
d
day often change
ly
tru
dramatically. It
to
nt
made one wa
nd
see what was arou
er
ov
or
the next bend
!
ain
nt
the next mou
This is one of the many obstacles
on the trail that our horses had
to maneuver through and/or
around. In some places there
were hundreds of badger holes.
Some would give in and collapse
under a horse’s weight, such as the
one that caved in on Bo and I.
Fortunately, he is also good-natured and got
over it before too long.
The wind would gust and blow dust into our
faces so hard that we couldn’t see ahead of us. I
could put my head down and have my helmet
visor protect my face. Chief didn’t have that
luxury. He is one of those horses that is always
happy to go though and never seemed bothered or irritated by the high winds or the dust.
I saw a small brown snake on the trail—
probably my first snake sighting in the last
three or four days. I think that brings the count
to 17 now. It looked like a twig until we got
close, then he slithered away.
I was by myself for most of the time after
lunch, which worked out well. I enjoy riding
Chief alone, it gives me time to think and put
things in perspective. When the trail permitted, I rode with my eyes closed a lot today.
I really enjoy feeling the rhythm of Chief ’s
trot, listening to the solid, even sounds of
his hooves hitting the ground. At one point
the Duck came around the corner on his
motorcycle—I was off leading as it was steep,
downhill and rocky. He asked me to trot
Chief for him, and I did and got the okay. It
was good to know that after completing more
than 750 Pony Express trail miles, Chief can
trot soundly downhill, over rocks.
When I got into the finish at Simpson
Springs, the wind was howling. Dave had to
hold the trailer doors for me in order to put the
tack away and get feed out. Apparently a few
people had been sent flying when they tried to
open their doors.
Horses are all taken care of and I’m ready
for bed. It’s still 90 degrees.
Things are about to get even harder
Day 28, Simpson Springs to Boyd’s Station, Utah. Today I rode Bo for the first time since
the middle day of last week. I rode Chief “out of order” so Bo could get some extra rest I thought
he needed. He may not have needed that much time off (five days), but he got it and it paid off—
Bo was fabulous today. We had a really good, really challenging ride. It was another tough day.
We started out on the actual Pony Express trail. It’s rough and rugged, with lots of badger
holes. I tried to get Bo into his own little space, so he wouldn’t be excited chasing horses in front
continued next page
| 59
At the awards ceremony the morning after the ride
or worrying about horses behind him. Yesterday at
ended, my horses and I were given an Outstanding
lunch when I came in he was rearing up at the trailer
Performance Award for completing the entire trail.
so I knew he had it in him to be a handful. He’s strong,
I couldn’t have been more proud of my horses, my
fit and a bit opinionated so I knew I better keep him
heroes! My best reward was knowing that Chief and
from getting too wound up.
Bo had not only accomplished something extraordiThe cross-country trail was overgrown with grasses
nary but finished looking fantastic. What an incredand weeds. That made the badger holes extremely
hard to see. As we were trotting along slowly trying
ible adventure it was to be able to ride the Pony
to find our way Bo managed to slip into a hole, or else
Express trail in the summer of 2011!
the ground around one collapsed, which they often do,
and he went down. I pulled Bo up and he struggled and
tried really hard to right himself. I felt this huge mass of
horseflesh crumble beneath me, melting into a gigantic blob of
splat. Down we went, he rolled over on my ankle as I was just a
Chie
fraction of second too slow to get out of his way before we hit
fw
in fam as now ri
the ground. I really thought we were going to have a “save”
di
i
on tr liar territ ng
from this fall, but no such luck. Bo rolled over and stood up,
or y
ail in
state
I rolled over and stood up. We both looked at each other,
. I ha his home
d
a
l
l
throu wonder
shaken. I reassured him and hobbled over to remount. It
ed
g
h
he w
was difficult as the ground around us was flat, with nothing for
ould the trip i
f
r
e
sure
me to stand on. I had a hard time bearing weight on my squashed and
enou member
foot
;
g
h, he
On t
as
twisted right ankle. It took me a minute to be able to bear weight on
d
h
ing to we got c
day, is particu id!
loser
it. Dave had just driven by on the road not far from where we were
gallo
I
l
a
h
r
to
ad
p
more
on the trail and missed seeing our spectacular crash and burn by less
than and was s the finish at times to get off
wher
anyth
an
o exc
camp
e he
than a minute.
as Ch d lead on
was. ing. That ited he w
with
ief w
I
a
’s
his ex
r
s
I continued on, tears streaming and breakfast coming back up due
uber eally did when I kn bouncin as tryn
a
g
e
’
nce,
to the intense pain. I reminded myself of all of the times I’ve gotten
as it m t mind ha w he tota around
v
l
l
ade m
in
y
through tough times and felt confident that we could get through this
e sm g to deal knew
ile.
as well. If Dave Rabe can ride with a pulled hamstring muscle, I can
ride with a tweaked ankle, right? Fortunately, my husband Dave was
not far ahead in the trailer talking to some backpackers.
I quickly dismounted and pulled my boot off to look at
my ankle. It didn’t seem broken. I took a couple Excedrin,
put my boot back on and remounted. I was sure glad I was
riding in my tall leather boots as I think they really helped
reduce the degree of injury. I just love those boots—they
are the only ones I’ve been able to ride in on this entire
ride that haven’t hurt my feet.
The trail was rough, bumpy, uneven and full of holes.
Bo took me through Tevis without a single misstep, but
on this trail he was having difficulty maneuvering around
the obstacles. I think he spent too much time in Kansas,
Nebraska and Wyoming on roads and not having to think
or pay much attention to the footing. Now suddenly, both
of our lives depended upon it.
We had a good lunch, and then continued on the XP trail.
It wasn’t too hot, the lightning storm cleared up from earlier
in the morning. Bo was finally figuring out how to dance
around the holes on the trail. We caught up and passed a
such as which
couple of riders, then caught up and passed three more. We
y attention to details—
pa
to
nt
rta
po
im
s
wa
It
then (at a walk) caught up to the two leaders. There were
rk so that at the
rig. Dave tried to pa
e
th
rk
pa
to
n
tio
ec
dir
only nine horses on the trail today. I ended up riding in with
was at its most
en the afternoon sun
wh
y,
da
ch
ea
of
d
en
Charlie Gaucci, a rider from Australia, and Lyle Capps, who is from
ade as possible.
uld have as much sh
wo
s
rse
ho
e
th
,
se
en
South Carolina. We tied for first place! Bo was perky the entire way
int
ter, I found readperature thermome
tem
nd
ou
gr
a
and I knew he had a good chance at showing for best condition. As it
ing
Us
m ground surfaces
ch as 30 degrees fro
mu
as
by
d
rie
turned out, Bo did win BC that day! I was happy that he was sound,
va
s
ing
those in the
nlight compared with
su
t
ec
dir
to
d
and that we’ve made it through 28 days of the ride. Only 12 left to go!
se
po
ex
extra effort.
rses appreciated this
ho
e
th
ow
I came back from showing for BC and wrapped Bo’s legs and got the
kn
I
e.
ad
sh
horses fed and water filled up.
A driver finally arrived with a load of certified weedfree hay. Everybody was happy and many joined in to
help with the unloading and reloading of the hay. We
are heading into areas where weed-free hay is required.
Tired, but having fun. Wind not blowing tonight,
maybe we’ll get some sleep.
Resting Up—Then on
to the Finish!
Thank you
Thank you to all of the terrific sponsors that helped
contribute to making our adventure a success!
✰ Equestrian Rider Supply
✰ Eqyss Grooming Products
✰ Hought Endurance Tack
✰ Just For Horsin’ Around
✰ Kerrits Performance
Equestrian Apparel
✰ Kensington Products
✰ Outback Trading Company
✰ Platinum Performance
✰ Porta-Grazer
✰ Renegade Hoof Boots
✰ Wyngz Saddle Pad
Dave is fixing our trailer brakes this a.m.—one side
had the wiring tear out somewhere along the trail. Glad
he notices stuff like that! We are also now going to be
required by the BLM as part of the permit process to
pressure wash our entire rig each time we enter a new
BLM district. It’s kind of a ridiculous requirement as
once we drive down a dirt road you can’t tell in five
minutes that the rig was cleaned off. Fortunately, there
were—believe it or not—a couple of pressure washers to be found
among our group. Dave and others were able to get one working using
a combination of bits and parts contributed by several people. While it
was a lot of work we shouldn’t have needed to do, I didn’t mind having
a clean rig again. I was able to wash out the back of the horse area in
the trailer, which was nice.
Now into the last part of our journey, we were crossing mountains,
with high desert in between. There is a mix of alkali footing with sagebrush, rocks and gravel roads. We often encounter very rough trail,
where the original Pony Express riders came through. Some riders
weren’t paying enough attention to their GPS’s and often would miss
the turnoffs to the actual trail and ended up riding on the gravel roads
instead. I figure I can ride on a road any time but not on the original XP
trail, so I am trying my best to follow it. I appreciate that the original Pony riders and their mounts
had a tough job, making their way through such
rough country. Never mind that they also had to
contend with Indians.
It was so great to be back in Nevada, my favorite part of the journey. We are remote and in an
area that looks the same as it did when the Pony
Express ran through here. The ride sure seem to
go by faster even when it is still an 11+ hour day
of riding just because the scenery has changed.
though I am sure the stronger bit helped. We did the first 18 miles in
a pretty decent time, knowing that the next part of the ride was going
to be a lot more difficult, with a challenging climb over rocky footing.
We had no water for this first leg of the trip. When we got back into
camp Chief drank and drank and drank. We decided to have lunch here
before loading up and trailering to the drop-off point to resume the ride.
We trailered, and then quickly unloaded across the river by Fort
Churchill. I wet my Cool Medics vest and put it on. It wasn’t real hot
yet, about 73 degrees, but I knew it was going to be warming up. It was
still pretty early, maybe 8 a.m. or so. Bette and I trotted everywhere
the footing was decent, slowing down for the rocky sections or where
we were on gravel road.
continued next page
The Last Day—Victory!
Day 40. Bucklands to Virginia City, Nevada. I
rode the world’s toughest endurance horse today,
Granite Chief (yeah, I’m only a little proud of
him!). We started out from Buckland’s (an original Pony Express station) riding nine miles back
down the trail we rode in on the previous day. It
was good footing and the weather was perfect.
The desert was beautiful as the sun rose—as we
have traveled west and the days have begun to get
shorter, it has been darker each morning when
we tack up to ride for the 5 a.m. start. It was nice
watching the red sunrise illuminate the country
that I love riding in so much.
I knew Chief would be a handful riding back
towards camp so I put the Myler combo bit on
him along with a martingale. He was pretty good,
| 61
more chalproved to be one of the
The last day of the ride
g. Never
ion gain and rocky footin
lenging due to the elevat
eriencd excitement we were exp
mind the anticipation an
climb(from California) and I are
ing! Here, Bette Jenkins
vada.
Ne
il” into Virginia City,
ing up the “Chinaman Tra
We were fortunate enough to get water from Bob, Kathy’s husband
and crew, right where we crossed Highway 50. Not far from there, a
local resident put out a kiddy pool with water for our horses. They asked
about our trip and were really friendly. We thanked everyone for the
water, which was greatly appreciated.
Now we rode alongside Highway 50 for a ways before veering off
to the right and towards Virginia City. It was slowly getting closer.
Soon we were able to see the “V” way up on the hill. Yay! The end was
in sight, finally.
Riding through a residential neighborhood we came to a house that
had water out in buckets, a hose, ice chests and several people that I
knew! It was great getting to see a lot of the locals, including Dave
Rabe’s sister who I got to meet for the first time in person. We watered
the horses, hosed them down and then left after a quick visit.
We got to where Rick (water guy) was on the trail with water and
the horses drank well. He had also put some tubs of water out back on
the highway, where Bette and I both stopped and fed our horses baggies of feed. We knew the second half of the ride was over 30 miles and
our ponies would need more than just grazing to keep them satisfied.
During this trip I had gotten into the habit of carrying baggies of feed in
my saddle packs and feeding them once each morning and once in the
afternoon out on the trail. Sometimes at a water stop, and often when
I wanted to let others get more spread out ahead of me.
The Duck passed by us on his motorcycle. He had ridden down
Sutro Canyon, saying he wished he hadn’t as it was so rocky and rough.
It seemed like forever until we actually began the long, steep and
rocky climb up Sutro Canyon. It’s also known as the Chinaman trail,
as back in the 1800s the miners there were Chinese. They had to hike
up and down this trail to work every day from Dayton. What tough
lives they led.
This section of trail is the rockiest of any endurance ride I have ever
done anywhere. It is really.....really......really.....rocky! Chief grazed his
way up and never ran out of enthusiasm to go on. Once we started to
get near the top and started doing some up and down sections I got off
and led on the downhill. That gave me a bit of a break as well as Chief
and allowed my sweaty legs to dry out.
I had a big smile on my face when we went around the corner that
gave us the first glimpse of Virginia City, Nevada. Chief perked up,
he knew we were getting close too. Soon we could see camp up on
the hill ahead. I could hear and see people cheering for us. We had to
ride around the neighborhood and paved streets a bit in order to get
down into camp from the other side across the train tracks. We rode
past dozens of tourists as well as where the V&T railroad was loading
passengers for its next trip. It is a steam train and made a lot of noise
the horses weren’t used to. Chief kept walking on by and I was able to
get across the train tracks into camp before the train came rumbling
down the tracks.
It was such an incredible feeling getting into camp and seeing everybody. I told Annie we were done and then vetted Chief. I got him
de-tacked and cleaned up and got myself cleaned up. Then it was time
for hugs all around and to start celebrating!
At 7:30 a.m. the next morning, we had a group breakfast and awards.
Chief and I were awarded the Outstanding Performance award, which
was really nice. Actually, Chief and Bo both have their names on it and
deservedly so. They worked together as a team and carried me through
the entire 2,040 miles of trail. I was the only one that rode every single
mile of the trail, nobody else did that even on a larger number of horses
so I know how fortunate I was to be able to do this. It wasn’t easy but
it was quite the adventure!
The best part of the entire trip for me was the last couple of weeks.
I could ride those parts of the trail over but don’t know if I’d ever have
any interest to do the first parts of the ride from the start through
Wyoming. I love the Utah and Nevada parts because they are so rugged, rough and remote and much like what the trail would have been
when the Pony Express ran. Not much has changed as far as the scenery
goes which is what draws me to doing something like this. I feel like
I am riding through history and enjoy spending those moments with
my horses especially when we are alone on the trail, left to our own
thoughts. Those are the best times.
ing did the
Rick Simcox from Wyom
water to ridng
uli
ha
ble
best job possi
p each day.
ers on the trail and in cam
of the riders
His wife Cindy was one
When they
and she did quite well.
water to be
saw the need for more
they took up
s,
rse
ho
available for the
riders and went
contributions from the
. It was a really
to work getting it set up
the ride!
great thing they did for
Karen Chaton lives in
Gardnerville, Nevada
and is a multiple awardwinning endurance rider
with more than 30,000
miles. Karen’s two horses,
Granite Chief and Pro Bono, have traveled
the country with her and together they
have experienced many great adventures.
Chief and Bo were recently awarded the
XP Horse(s) of the Year for 2011, and Karen
was awarded XP Horseman of the Year. They
were the only ones to complete the entire
2,040-mile Pony Express XP ride in 2011.
By Pat Barnhart
illustration by Troy Palmer Hughes
It’s better to keep ticks off than to get
ticked off when you find them feasting on
you or your horse. Here’s how to keep the
troops tick-free this summer.
A
s the clock tick-tocks
down to summer, we all
know what’s coming: the
icky invasion of the multilegged critters. Among
them, and one of the peskiest and most
dangerous, are ticks. You won’t hear
any dramatic warning sounds, like
the musical score of Jaws, to alert
you; the little buggers just show
up every year and begin silently
attacking you and your animals. They
are arachnids, by the way, not insects, so
most insecticides will not phase them.
Ticks are not picky eaters; the same
ones that go after your horse’s or other
pet’s blood can go after yours. They are
indiscriminate, equal-opportunity attackers so it’s critical to control them in
your farm environment and repel them
while camping or on the trail. It’s also
important to know what to look for, how
to prevent them (to the extent possible),
and what to do if your animals come
under assault.
continued next page
| 65
Let’s talk ticks…
Deer Tick
To vanquish the enemy, we
must recognize him. Or her. Or
them.
Ear Tick
There are basically four kinds
of ticks—wood, dog, deer, and
Wood Tick
spinose ear ticks—but there are
many tick species that fall within
those broad categories. Some live
only in specific regions across the
country; some can be found literally anywhere worldwide. They
are particularly troublesome in
Dog Tick
mountain foothill areas and the
South and Northeast regions.
In some species and life stages,
they can be minute and
hard to see, especially on horses that
haven’t yet shed
all of their winter f ur. A nd
what’s worse, you or your horse can get them just
by walking through an infested area or brushing
up against infested vegetation (such as leaf litter
or shrubs). They’re especially fond of moist and humid environments
near grassy areas or woods. What to look for
If you see your horses rubbing against trees, fences or stall walls, it’s
a warning sign. Check them for ticks immediately; you may have the
onset of an infestation. There could be other reasons, of course, but
itchy scratching is a Big Clue. If things have progressed to the point
that manes, tails, ears, throats or ears have been abraded (rubbed raw),
treatment is definitely in order. Tiny ticks can cause big problems.
The primary sites of tick infestation in horses are the ears, mane, tail
and under the tail dock, and around the anus and vulva in mares. Most
horse owners find that the ears are prime real estate in the world of ticks.
They are also devilishly diabolical. They find victims by detecting
their warm breath or body heat, body odors, moisture such as sweat
and even vibrations. Some species can recognize a shadow. They lurk
along well-used paths and
wait on the tips of grasses
and shrubs; unable to jump
or fly, they “quest” by simply
waiting for an opportunity
with outstretched front legs.
W hen you or your horse
brush against the spot where
a tick is waiting, it quickly
climbs aboard. Oh, shiver
me timbers…
Ticking Time
Bomb
Severe tick infestations
can lead to loss of appetite, depression, Lyme disease, piroplasmosis, Rocky
Mountain spotted fever and
tick-bite paralysis. Making
things worse is that most
ticks aren’t bothered by insect repellants. One or two ticks are a nuisance; large numbers can be
detrimental and cause extensive blood loss (anemia) that could result
in life-threatening diseases such as equine granulocytic anaplasmosis
(EGA, formerly called equine ehrlichiosis). Simply put, little critters
equal big trouble.
Lyme disease is probably the most well known danger; it takes on
added importance because it also affects humans. In one study, 60% of
New Jersey horses tested positive for Lyme disease antibodies. Signs
are frustratingly nonspecific, sometimes presenting as fever, muscle
soreness and stiffness of the joints (mimicking arthritis or the flu).
In horses, diagnosis is equally difficult, generally made by clinical
signs, history and response to therapy. Clinical signs vary in severity
and include fever, depression, edema, weakness and abortion in seriously affected pregnant mares. Anemia will be evident in a blood count.
A rider or horse experiencing unexplained and unrelated symptoms
some months after receiving tick bites should be considered a possible
Lyme disease victim. There are tests for Lyme disease antibodies; with
early detection and oral antibiotics (such as tetracycline), spirochetes
can be cured.
“Ticks are devilishly diabolical. They find victims by detecting their
warm breath or body heat, body odors, moisture such as sweat and
even vibrations. Some species can recognize a shadow. They lurk
along well-used paths and wait on the tips of grasses and shrubs;
unable to jump or fly, they ‘quest’ by simply waiting for an opportunity
with outstretched front legs. When you or your horse brush against
the spot where a tick is waiting, it quickly climbs aboard.”
NEW TOOLS FOR TICK REMOVAL
TickKey (www.tickkey.com) uses natural forward
leverage to remove the entire tick quickly and
safely without touching or squishing even the
toughest engorged ticks.
The Tick Twister (www.ticktwister.com) allows you to remove the tick without squeezing
or crushing the body, which may force infective body
fluids into the wound area. The tick is rotated instead of
pulled, which helps keep the tick’s mouthparts intact.
If you find yourself without one of these high-tech tick
tools, use good old tweezers to grasp the tick as close to
the skin as possible, say the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC). Wear gloves if you’re going to use your fingers. Pull
up with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can
cause its mouthparts to break off and remain embedded in the skin.
If this happens, remove the mouthparts with tweezers. If you are
unable to remove the mouth easily with clean tweezers or specialized
tick-removal tool, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
Forget any other tall tales you’ve heard, like painting the tick with
nail polish, drowning it with baby oil, dabbing it with petroleum or
scaring it with a lit match. All of these methods can cause the tick
to regurgitate blood back into you or your horse, increasing the
chance of disease or infection. Newer recommendations also say
NOT to put alcohol on the tick before removing it because this can
make the tick empty the contents of its stomach directly into your
or your horse’s body.
Some tick species have a twoto three-year life cycle, so if you
remove them manually, don’t just
toss them onto the ground or the
stall floor. It is crucial to kill them.
The hammer-smash method works
well and gets rid of your angst at
their attack on your horse, but it’s
probably a better idea to keep a
Tick Twister bucket of soapy water nearby for
disposing of the bodies. Ticks are
notoriously poor swimmers.
“Remember: when ticks are full they fall
off but do not die; they go into another
stage of their nasty little life cycle.”
Tick paralysis is another life-threatening
condition for horse and man alike. The Ixodes
dammini tick carries spirochetes that mimic
syphilis and can adversely affect organ systems, bones, joints, the nervous system, heart
and eyesight.
Ticks spread pathogens that cause disease
through the process of feeding, which, depending on the species of tick and the stage
of life, can take from 10 minutes to two
hours. The tick settles in, grasps the skin
and cuts into the surface. They then insert their feeding tube. In some species,
there are barbs to snag the tick in place;
others secrete a glue-like substance or
saliva with anesthetic properties so the
continued next page
| 67
victim isn’t aware of the attachment. (Hey, I
told you they were evil.) They then proceed
to feed for several days. Once they are fat and
happy, they fall off and begin the next phase
of their life.
Prevention: Tick
Tips and Tricks
Farm management strategies range from
the ridiculous to the sublime, but the tried
and true practice of keeping grass short and
trees and hedges well trimmed
gives ticks less of a habitat in which to thrive. Horses should
generally be treated only with products designed for them.
Again, the horse’s ears seem to be a favorite dining spot for
ticks, so check them frequently. Once there’s a severe infestation in your horse’s ears, he will be ear shy and it will be
difficult to remove them, so be diligent and check often.
When trail riding during spring and summer
months, stay in the center of the trail as much as
possible and avoid brush. While camping, do a
daily tick check on you and your horse and remove any you find. The
quicker they are removed, the better (see how to remove them in
thesidebar on page 67).
Look for repellants specifically formulated for ticks and horses;
there are spray and wipe-on products. Brands that contain 20% or more
DEET (N-diethyl-m-toluamide for skin or clothing) or permethrin
(on boots and camping gear); to protect yourself, wear long sleeves,
long pants and socks. You can purchase pre-treated clothing but the
downside is that it only retains its repellant properties for two to three
washings. Many trail riders swear by Deep Woods OFF for its ability
to stave off all sorts of critters, including ticks. Whatever method you
choose, it is a much better strategy to prevent them than to treat them
after an infestation.
Many species of ticks can survive the washing machine, even if you
use hot water, but the heat cycle of the dryer will do them in. It’s also
a good idea to check children and pets for ticks before letting them in
the house. Likewise, if you’ve been trail riding in a wooded area, check
your horse immediately upon your return to avoid infesting the barn
or other animals. Remember: when ticks are full they fall off but do not
die; they go into another stage of their nasty little life cycle.
For more information about
the best products for tick
control and removal, see:
FMI
“Lyme disease is probably the most well
known danger; it takes on added importance
because it also affects humans. In one study,
60% of New Jersey horses tested positive
for Lyme disease antibodies. Signs are
frustratingly nonspecific, sometimes presenting
as fever, muscle soreness and stiffness of
the joints (mimicking arthritis or the flu).”
Absorbine | WF Young. p.100
Bimeda, p.31,49
Ticking the Boxes
;; Keep horses away from heavily wooded or
thick-with-brush areas during tick season.
;; Take affirmative action with sprays,
chickens or guinea fowl to control the tick
population.
;; Use preventive measures when camping
or trail riding.
;; Check horses frequently for ticks and
remove (then kill) them immediately.
One unconventional management practice is to keep a flock of
chickens or Guinea fowl on the farm or in the barnyard area. They love
to eat bugs, including ticks, and as a bonus, you get fresh eggs. Caution:
don’t do this is you use fly predators. The fowl will eat the predators and
cost you money. It’s an either/or choice of method.
Anecdotal evidence shows that putting garlic in your horse’s feed
can make him unappetizing to ticks. Likewise, lavender oil mixed
with water and sprayed liberally works for some. I’m told that ticks
hate lavender.
A surefire way to control ticks on your farm is to spray each spring.
A single application of acaricide by a professional pest control company
can reduce the population of ticks that cause Lyme disease by 68–100%.
But you’ll also want to discourage tick-carrying deer by removing plants
that attract them and installing physical barriers to keep them and the
ticks they bring along out. Pyrethrins and permethrins are effective,
but always be sure to follow the label’s instructions. Lindane comes
highly recommended but now requires a permit.
Good, well-thought-out tick control is essential to protect you, your
family and your animals. Diligence is the key; you can’t spray once
and consider yourself done. As with all types of pest control, keeping
everything neat, orderly, relatively manure free and well trimmed is
critical to success.
Enjoy a happy, healthy and ick-free, tick-free spring and summer!
Former Paso Fino ranch owner/trainer and avid trail rider Pat Barnhart has
traded her years in the saddle for a career that now centers around writing,
book editing and travel. She has authored two novels (Vanderville and
Throwing Bones) and lives in central Florida with Belle the Basset Hound,
who runs a tight ship.
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Few animals are as misunderstood as the humble mule.
Once reserved as mounts for royalty, mules are beginning
to reclaim their status as superb riding mounts. The mule
has been thought of as a stubborn, ornery, noisy creature
that is almost more trouble than it is worth. Some have
gone so far as to say mules are stupid and only suitable for
farm work. If this were true, how is it that mules are now
considered by many riders to be the “holy grail” of trail
mounts? Indeed, these amazing equids are some of the
most intelligent, versatile and tough trail mounts around.
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atching the YouTube video is almost surreal. The mules and their riders
are leaping off ten-foot embankments with complete equanimity. There
is never a moment’s hesitation as they spring from one rocky ledge to
another, their riders sitting balanced and quiet in their saddles. Their
cool exterior masks their inner desire to enjoy an adrenalin rush. MaCee
Payne of Utah is such a rider. Along with her family and friends, Payne does a type of riding she
has dubbed “Extreme Mule” riding. She and her trusty mules spend hours climbing up rocky
hillsides, jumping over and off obstacles and sliding down nearly vertical hillsides.
These Extreme Mules are at home in rugged country in Nevada, Utah and surrounding areas.
They are healthy, fit and most importantly, they love what they do. “They’re always excited to
get going when we get out of the trailer,” says Payne. “You can tell how they’re feeling by their
body language.” When their ears are forward and they have a happy expression, “that’s when
you know they are enjoying themselves.”
continued next page
| 71
Neena, a 9-year-old Quarter Horse molly mule, demonstrates her ability to lie down on command with owner
Susie Weisser. Photo by Wild Mane Photography
Payne rides her mules barefoot, believing shoes will make them more likely to
slip in these conditions. Like all mules, hers have an amazing ability to traverse
difficult terrain. It is rare for a mule to slip or stumble.
Payne and her riding buddies love their mules, who display a deep bond with
their owners. Some were once scared, untrusting animals that wanted nothing to do
with humans. It takes a special type of person to be able to work with a mule, to win
their trust and achieve these types of amazing feats. Though most of us will never
leap off rocks or slide down hillsides like kids at an amusement park, mules nevertheless are giving horses a run for their money under the most rugged conditions.
Mules possess an uncanny ability to keep themselves safe. It is a very rare mule
that would put himself in harm’s way. When thinking about whether these mules
truly like this type of riding, it really comes down to one fact—you can’t make a
mule do something it doesn’t want to do or thinks is dangerous.
A Little Background
Mules are a hybrid cross between a horse dam and a donkey sire. Hinnies, which are much
less common, are very similar to mules with the exception of having a donkey dam and a horse
sire. Just like the various horse breeds, mules are bred by selectively breeding parents with
the desired traits for a particular discipline. Long gone are the days of so-called “ugly” mules
that were disproportionate, ewe-necked and overall not very aesthetically pleasing. Today’s
saddle mules can give any horse a run for their money in terms of conformation and athletic
ability. Aside from beauty, mules are famed for being affectionate and bond very closely with
their owners.
Aside from their physical appearance and those trademark ears, why do mule riders prefer
their long-eared companions to horses? Beyond personal preference, mule folks are quick to
point out the many virtues of their mules:
Holly, a 7-year-old
black Tennessee
walker molly mule,
is ridden by Mike
Blickenstaff in Cent
ral Utah. Photo by
MaCee Payne
continued page 74
Fascinating
Facts From the
History of Mules
With a rich history dating back to ancient
Egypt, mules have long been a prominent beast of
burden in human history. Little do many know that
mules were once reserved as mounts for royalty
and were often given as gifts from kings. In medieval times, only true gentlemen and members
of the clergy rode mules. Even the inhabitants of
ancient Ethiopia gave the beloved mule their highest status and honor of all other animals.
Let’s take a look at a few amazing history facts
mules proudly call their own!
Fact 1:
In 1495, Christopher Columbus brought four jack donkeys and two jenny donkeys to the New World,
along with horses. The value of mules was well
known and they were purposely bred to aid the
Conquistadores in their exploration.
Casey and rider MaCee
Payne in Southern Utah.
Casey is a 3-year-old
black molly mule. Photo
by MaCee Payne
Fact 2:
In ancient times the Hittites
were considered strong and
powerful horseman. They considered a mule to
be three times more valuable than a horse.
Fact 3:
The father of the American
mule trade was none other
than George Washington! He played a huge role,
beginning a breeding program after recognizing how useful these animals are. The first jack
Washington acquired was actually a gift from the
King of Spain.
Fact 4:
Alexander the Great, famous
for his horse Bucephalus,
actually rode a mule into battle. He also enlisted
12 mules to pull his war chariot and had 64 mules,
adorned in gold harnesses, pull his funeral bier.
Fact 5:
Mules were common in ancient Egypt. In fact, the first
recorded depiction of a mule was found on an
Egyptian carving. Ironically enough, the mule in
the carving was ridden by the Egyptian goddess of
fertility! Perhaps the artist had a sense of humor?
Fact 6:
Wagons pulled by mules
could average 30 miles a day
on the hot western plains. Wagons drawn by
horses or oxen could only travel about five miles a
day. For this reason thousands of mules were used
to pull pioneers’ wagons westward. These mules
were in such good condition that they were used
to haul logs to build homes after their challenging
journey. —Savannah Humes
| 73
“Mules possess an uncanny ability to keep themselves safe. It
would be a very rare mule that would put himself in harm’s way.
When thinking about whether these mules truly like this type of
riding, it really comes down to one fact—you can’t make a mule
do something it doesn’t want to do or thinks is dangerous.”
They Are Downright Intelligent
Many people overlook mules as riding mounts because of the many
myths floating around about them being stubborn or stupid. These same
people are unknowingly passing up the opportunity to ride a unique
animal that possesses many of the same traits we love in horses. We’ve
all heard the phrase “stubborn as a mule.” One of the biggest misconceptions about mules is that they are difficult animals to work with. This
couldn’t be further from the truth, say those who breed and train them.
The mule is quite a smart animal, often greatly surpassing their equine
cousins in intelligence. They have an extraordinary ability to take care of
themselves and stay out of harm’s way. They also have an excellent ability to pick up instruction fairly quickly, thanks to their donkey blood.
It’s no coincidence that you hardly ever hear of mules colicking,
working themselves to death, coming up lame or injured, running off
a cliff or any other number of incidents that occur with horses. Mules,
thanks to their donkey blood, have been given a wonderful gift of cautiousness and the ability to look out for their own wellbeing. In fact,
quite a few mule aficionados will proudly state that if you can stay in
the saddle, your mule won’t put you in harm’s way. This is a wonderful
attribute to have in a trail mount.
Their Surefootedness is Hard to Beat
Mules are known for being tough, sure-footed and capable of going over almost any terrain. Their hard, upright hooves are less likely
Mike Blickenstaff
with Tennessee
Walker molly mule
Flinch in the Valley
of Fire in Nevada. As
you can see, Flinch
loves jumping! Photo
by MaCee Payne
to develop issues than horses. As mentioned,
mules hardly ever come up lame or sore. They
are more rugged than most horses and even
oxen. Remember the Oregon Trail in the
1800s? This trail was nearly littered with oxen
and horses that could go no farther. However,
seeing a dead mule was a rare occurrence.
They Are Tough
and Agile
Mules possess exceptional endurance
and inherent hardiness. In addition, mules
are excellent at pacing themselves to prevent
exhaustion. Many a mule rider has witnessed
this feature on group rides. Usually they start
off at a nice comfortable gait behind the riders
whose mounts are jigging and prancing. After
about an hour, the mule riders are at the front
of the pack, still moving at the same pace. Their
mules may have some sweat around their ears
while the horses in the back are literally dripping with sweat from overexerting themselves.
Mules’ legendary agility is a combination
of their horse and donkey lineage. Mules are
very balanced and surefooted in the most rugged terrain. They also have an excellent ability
to calmly negotiate rough terrain and judge
which direction would be the safest route.
Another aspect of agility that mules possess
includes their incredible jumping ability.
Mules are able to jump extreme heights—upwards of six feet—from a complete standstill.
This is called jumping “flat footed” and is very
similar to how deer jump a fence. Mules can
easily out-jump horses in steeplechase and
show jumping.
They Are a Smooth Ride
The average mule has a surprisingly smooth
gait compared with most horses. They actually
inherit this wonderful attribute from their
donkey sire. This characteristic is another
reason mules are favored as pack animals, as
FMI
best products for mules, see:
Circle Y Saddles, p.99
Down Under Saddle, p.53
JT International, p.2
Specialized Saddle, p.93
Weaver Leather, p.25
on a horse and mule string the mule is usually
the one carrying the delicate items. Do you
suffer from aches and pains and thus ride a
gaited horse? While mules naturally seem to
have characteristics of being smooth gaited,
if you really want to ride the Cadillac of all
mules then choose a mule with Tennessee
Walker heritage, for example. These mules
will usually have an even smoother gait than
their gaited cousins.
They Have Hybrid Vigor
Mule owners proudly state that their mules
do not get sick, lame or injured nearly as often
as horses. Mules are just plain tough! Their
hybrid vigor keeps them healthy, and their
intelligence keeps them safe. Hybrid vigor
encompasses longevity, disease resistance
and overall better health. Mules have been
known to work all the way into their late 30s
without issue. On average, mules live up to
eight years longer than a horse. Mules even
require less feed than a horse of similar size
to stay in excellent shape.
Superiority to Horses?
Are mules superior to horses in some
aspects? Yes they are. Should you run out
and buy one? Not without doing a lot of
homework. There is a fond saying among
mule fanciers that all mule lovers are horse
lovers, but not all horse lovers are mule lovers.
Anyone who has been around mules for any
length of time will soon learn that it takes a
patient, understanding person to work with
a mule. It not only takes a different style of
training to work with a mule than a horse but
also knowledge of their donkey ancestry as
well. If you are up to the challenge of learning
to work with these extraordinary animals, you
are guaranteed a trustworthy, sound, versatile
mount for many years to come.
Savannah Humes is a
freelance writer based
in the beautiful Inland
Northwest. Though
currently between
horses, Savannah is an
avid equine enthusiast with a strong interest in natural
horsemanship. She has a particular
weakness for paint horses and saddle
mules, and enjoys trail riding as her
principle equine activity. Having grown
up in Los Angeles, she now happily
resides in a small, quiet community in
rural northeast Washington with her
dog, 3 cats and menagerie of reptiles.
| 75
de aling with
Damp, Wet
Hooves
by Monique Craig
When the ground gets too soggy, take these steps
to protect—or heal—your horse’s feet
M
oist, lush pastures, as beautiful
as they appear, have a
definite effect on hoof quality, and
that effect is not always good.
Excess moisture in the soil can
actually cause your horse’s hooves
to weaken. In such conditions,
hooves tend to splay out (flare)
and may also develop issues with
thrush. Such changes not only affect
external hoof conformation, they
may also affect the position of the
bones inside the hoof capsule. This
situation may lead to lameness issues.
Lush pastures also predispose some horses to become overweight, which can make them more prone to laminitic problems (see “Managing
the Foundered Horse,” p.34). The combination of weakened hooves due to excess moisture and overweight horses is a recipe for disaster. If hoof
problems do arise, it will be more difficult to help a laminitic horse that is overweight and has weak hooves. It may not always be possible, but
it is advisable to introduce a pasture management program in such cases. Try to find areas in your pasture that are drier and fence the horses in
these areas for some period of time. (See “When Your Pasture Takes a Beating,” in the March issue of Trail Blazer).
Ideally, give your horse a place to spend some hours of the day in dry conditions, such as a large covered pen with good footing (Figure 1.)
Tender Hooves
Ongoing wet conditions can lead to hoof tenderness in some horses.
Sensitive feet can be caused by a number of factors. Some horses do
not naturally produce enough sole, even under the best management.
Horses ridden barefoot should have at least half an inch or more of quality sole. I would advise asking your veterinarian to take quality lateral
(side view) radiographs of your horse annually as part of a preventive
hoof care program. Radiographs will help with assessing the sole depth
of your horse so you know what you are dealing with (Figure 2). You
can then make an educated choice on whether your horse needs shoes
or can be ridden barefoot or booted.
Some horses live on irrigated pastures but are ridden on drier
ground. This situation causes the soles to over-exfoliate. This means
the soles become thin and tender. You need to condition your horse
for the terrain on which you ride. A combination of pasture management and a good hoof-hardening product should help this situation.
Hoof-hardening products seem to help with hardening hooves but can
go only so far if horses are living in bogs!
FIGURE 1
In wet conditions, hooves tend to splay a bit more than those in
dry conditions (Figure 3). Of course, the hooves in Figure 3 are different due to their natural conformation, but a hoof that tends to be
more splayed will be worsened by excess moisture. If your pasture is
constantly wet due to irrigation, it is worth trying to keep it drier to
see if your horse’s hooves improve. If the pasture is wet due to weather,
you may need to put your horse in a dry pen for some time of the day
or during the night.
Hooves do not necessarily grow faster when weather conditions are
wet. Hooves appear to grow faster during a wet summer because moist,
soft ground does not allow the hoof to “self trim” itself; therefore, the
hooves appear to grow faster due to the lack of natural ground abrasion. It is amazing how different the hoof can look depending on the
moisture it is exposed to (Figure 4).
You may need to shorten the interval between trims. Note: it is
extremely important that the sole be very lightly trimmed or not
trimmed at all under these conditions. Have the excess wall length
and distortion removed but make sure that your trimmer is “zen” with
the sole and frog.
FIGURE 1: A 30’ x 30’
partially covered shed
can give your horse some
dry ground to stand on.
Base rock covered with
sand is used here.
FIGURE 2. A lateral
(side view) radiograph
can help you assess the
thickness of the sole.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3: Measuring the width at the coronary band and comparing to the width
at ground level can give you an assessment of how “splayed” or flared the hoof is.
In the measures shown here, the lower the percentage, the more it is splayed.
FIGURE 4: Same hoof, same trimming method, but in image (A), the horse was
on a very wet pasture, while image (B) was a year later on a very dry pasture.
Toughen Up Those Hooves!
A number of strategies can help weakened hooves that have been compromised by wet weather to recover their strength and integrity:
Pick your horse’s feet daily to remove
packed mud, debris and manure; use a stiff
wire brush if necessary to get into all the
cracks and crevices of the sole.
horse to higher ground, you may want to
consider putting hoof boots on your horse
overnight. Caution: do not leave hoof boots
on your horse for more than 24 hours.
Trim the hooves frequently, lightly rasping Increase your horse’s exercise on ground
flares off and keeping any excessive growth
at the toe in check. Consider contacting a
Certified Barefoot Trimmer to help you
keep the feet well balanced.
firmer than his pasture. This will increase
circulation, stimulate hoof growth and encourage the hoof-wall tubules to remain
straight.
If your horse’s soles become sensitive or Hoof supplements targeting the feet can
tender, consider riding him with hoof boots
supply important nutrients and amino acappropriate to the terrain and distances
ids necessary for the cross-linking of strucyou plan to ride. If your horse is shod, carry
tures within the hoof, especially in laminitic
a boot as a spare since you definitely don’t
horses.
want to be caught out on a rugged trail A pasture management program is espewithout hoof protection!
cially advisable in rainy states. In exceedingly wet areas, a covered pen is indispensable.
In extreme cases, if you can not move your
Monique Craig is a hoof researcher, farrier, consultant to farriers, rider, author and
founder of EponaTech (www.eponatech.com), EponaShoe (www.eponashoe.com)
and the Epona-Institute (www.Epona-Institute.org). She has a BS in computer
science engineering, studied art and won sculpture awards, and gives
seminars and lectures at the college level on the hoof, trimming, shoeing
and equine biomechanics. She is currently finishing a book on the
hoof. She can be reached at [email protected]
| 77
Surf’s Up;
Let’s Saddle Up!
Gait-Ways to Great
Ricochet Ridge Ranch. Photo by Shawn Hamilton
g e t a way s !
From beach
riding to
redwood forests,
from high desert
to mountains,
you’ll revel
in the iconic
beauty of the
Golden State of
California
SincE
the early gold hunters and intrepid
explorers began feeling crowded and
headed west, California has been an iconic destination. It
is as packed as a Padre’s mule with history, lore and ethnic
diversity, and blessed with widely varied terrain (desert,
mountain and seaside, from rural farming to dense urban).
What destination could be more perfect for a Great Getaway?
Our ancestors not only found ore, they found lots of other
valuable treasures: golden beaches, emerald forests, rubyred trees, silver-topped mountains, coppery canyons and
platinum blond bombshells ready for their close-ups.
— By
Pat Barnhart
Some Tasty Trail Mix
H
orses are dear to
ou r he a r t s , but
they were also an
integral part of the
development of the
state, and remain an important
economic component in racing, recreation, breeding and showing. They
may not always pull the farm wagon
any longer (unless it’s a hayride) or
deliver the mail, but their presence is
felt in every region of this vast state;
California is the western “gait-way”
and continental terminus to all
things equestrian.
California offers riding opportunities on sandy beaches, through
mountain forests, silent deserts, chic
vineyards and urban oases. You don’t
have to look far, but we have scouted
out some Great Getaways to pave the
way for an unforgettable adventure.
I
f you like horseback Contact info: riding combined with
◗◗1205 Silver Spur Place
camping in Califor◗◗Oceano, California 93445
◗◗(877) 570-2267
nia, you w i l l love the
◗◗www.rvonthego.com/Pacific-Dunes-Ranch.html
choices and variety of
◗◗www.pismobeach.org
terrain, amenities and
ambiance offered by the collection of 21 campgrounds represented under
the banner of RVOntheGo.
Our favorite was Pacific Dunes Ranch RV Resort, which offers horseback riding from their campground’s adjacent stables to the beach (and sand
dunes) of Oceano Preserve. Located near famous Pismo Beach yet feeling
a world away, Pacific Dunes presents a great option for camper-riders.
You will find boarding facilities, a clubhouse with game room, basketball
courts, barbecue facilities, walking/hiking paths and full hook-up sites for
long-term stays. Nearby offsite you will find a Children’s Museum, golf
courses, a winery, Hearst Castle and plenty of enticing restaurants.
Pismo Beach offers visitors myriad things to do, including a Monarch
Butterfly Grove, miles of toes-in-the-sand beaches dotted with coves and
caves, and a 1,200-foot pier for fishing, people watching or marveling at a
glorious sunset. Surf ’s up, dude.
continued next page
California offers riding opportunities on sandy beaches, through mountain forests, silent
deserts, chic vineyards and urban oases. You don’t have to look far, but we have scouted
out some Great Getaways to pave the way for an unforgettable adventure.
Riding in the Pacific Dunes
Gait-Ways to Great
g e t a way s !
O
ther rider-friendly campgrounds Contact info: include Butterfield R anch
◗◗14925 Great Southern
Overland Stage Route
Resort in Julian, California.
◗◗Julian, CA 92036
Located near San Diego, Butterfield
◗◗(760) 765-1463
Ranch offers tent camping, RV facilities
◗◗www.butterfieldresort.com
with or without your own horses and
luxury cabins. Hiking takes you to an
abandoned gold mine, and you’ll find lots to do there, including swimming, volleyball, pool, horseshoes and more. Take a swim in one of
three pools, play a game of pool or volleyball, or just lounge by the pool
and enjoy the great weather. Oh, and don’t pass up the opportunity to
stargaze, barbecue or grab your binoculars and get in touch with your
nature loving inner child by bird watching.
T
housand Trails Idyllwild, while Contact info: still in southern California, is
◗◗24400 Canyon Drive
blessed with all four seasons
◗◗Idyllwild, California 92549
because it’s high up at an elevation of
◗◗(877) 570-2267
7,000 feet in the San Jacinto Mountains
of Riverside County. There are 200 acres and about 300 campsites so
campers are spread out enough to allow for a sense of space and privacy.
You can enjoy basic tent camping or pull your luxury RV through and luxe
it up. A’skeered of driving your rig up the mountain? They will rent you a
cabin and won’t rat you out to anyone and spoil your “tough guy” image.
Idyllwild offers a wide range of activities including volleyball, basketball, horseback riding, fishing, hiking or just hangin’ by the pool. Breathe
deeply of the fresh air, relax, and consider this your California dream.
More Sea-Salt
Flavored Trail Mix …
Butterfield Ranch Resort
A
nd then there is R icochet Contact info: Ridge Ranch, owned by well◗◗(888) 873-5777
◗◗(707) 964-7669
known equi-trekking endur◗◗[email protected]
ance rider Lari Shea and located on
◗◗◗ www.horse-vacation.com
North Highway One, across from
McKerricher State Park in Fort Bragg,
on Mendocino’s Northern California coast. This locale enables riders to
experience the Redwood forest, vast cattle ranch land and the beach on
the same day! You can choose from a short, 1 ½-hour ride, to a full week
in the saddle; both English and Western tack is offered.
Your beach ride here will have a musical soundtrack: the crashing sea
spray and raucous chorus of sea gulls create a symphony of sound that
is music to a nature-lover’s ears. All adjectives aside, the experience is
truly inspiring and likely to bring out the poet lurking silently within.
Lari says, “We offer Redwood Coast Riding Vacations, which include
six nights lodging in a lovely B&B overlooking the town of Mendocino,
catered meals, wine with dinner, entertainment two nights, a great party
and incredible riding every day. We also offer shorter or longer custom
riding holidays, with us either providing lodging, or giving guests suggestions for where they might like to stay.” The horses provided for riding adventure vacations are not your ev-
Beach ride with Richochet
Ridge Ranch. Photo by Shawn
Hamilton (www.clixphoto.com)
Above and right: Dude’s Ranch Equine Rescue Center
eryday nose-to-tail creatures
always keeping a keen eye
out for the way home. Their
horses range from 14.2-hand
Arabian or Arabian crosses,
to 17.2-hand pinto Tennessee
Walking Horse crosses, and a
few mixes of Russian Orlov,
Akhal Teke, Quarter Horse
and Thoroughbred. They are
all first-class, well-trained,
responsive steeds, and they
love their jobs; it’s poetry in
motion. Clients range in age
from 6 to 97 (yes, 97!). In fact,
the 97-year-old woman, who
was expected to only pose on
horseback for a photo, instead
rode an endurance horse for a
week. She said she wanted to
ride a horse with spunk and
so she did!
Ricochet Ridge might just
give your Gait-Away the same
shot of adrenaline.
If you liked all that ridin’ and campin’, you will love
meeting the dedicated folks at…
Dude’s Ranch
Equine Rescue Center
“R
ide a horse, save a horse” is their motto,
and who wouldn’t want to do both?
Located about 40 minutes from the
western side of Los Angeles, 60 minutes from Malibu
and 35 minutes from Burbank, the valley has been
the setting for many movies and if you were brought
there blindfolded (and we hope you weren’t), you
might never guess you were so close to L.A.’s urban
crawl and sprawl.
Nestled on a quaint private ranch in Acton, they
will introduce you to places and trails you might not
discover on your own. Even beginners in your group
can ride; they will be given a clinic in how to ride and
communicate effectively with their designated trail
horse. They’ve been at this for about 12 years so they
know how to match riders and horses.
I f y ou f i nd Contact info: you would like
◗◗[email protected]
◗◗Acton, CA 93510
to support their
◗◗(818) 826-7604
work with horse
◗◗dudesranchequinerescue.org
rescue, retraining, rehabilitation and re-homing horses, they are a 501c3 nonprofit and donations are tax deductible. They are
also appreciated. Even if you don’t have time for a
ride, you can bring some carrots, visit the horses and
spend some quality time getting to know a needy
animal. Warning: How big is your trailer? You may
find yourself taking home a new friend.
continued next page
| 81
Gait-Ways to Great
g e t a way s !
Inn-Spiring
B&B’s
L
ifelong equestrian enthusiasts Robert and Sherry Gilson have created
a truly unique boutique hotel that
ref lects their passion: Hotel Cheval. In
1998, they purchased a farm property that
included the last standing Mennonite barn
in the region, dating back to 1897. Cheval,
of course, means horse and you will see
that elegant yet rustic sensibility reflected
throughout the hotel, as the property was
originally a stables.
Sunset Maga- Contact info:
zine designated ◗ 1021 Pine Street
Hotel Cheval as ◗ Paso Robles, CA 93446
one of t he “25 ◗ (805) 226-9995
Best Hotels of the ◗ (866) 522-6999
◗ [email protected]
West” for 2011.
The luxurious ◗ www.hotelcheval.com
16 -room property is situated in downtown Paso Robles
(on California’s central coast food-and-wine
region), just off the town park and marks
the Gilson’s first venture as hoteliers, even
though they are frequent property developers. They drew inspiration for the hotel from
regional architecture and their extensive
international travels. “The idea of giving
guests a surprising and delightful experience is very exciting and fulfilling,” stated
Robert Gilson.
Horseback riding is not available at the
hotel but can be arranged at nearby outfitters. What horse lover would not want to
check into such an aptly named hotel?
Hotel Cheval
“Lifelong
equestrian
enthusiasts
Robert and
Sherry Gilson
have created
a truly unique
boutique hotel
that reflects their
passion: Hotel
Cheval. In 1998,
they purchased
a farm property
that included
the last standing
Mennonite barn
in the region,
dating back to
1897. Cheval, of
course, means
horse and you
will see that
elegant yet
rustic sensibility
reflected
throughout the
hotel, as the
property was
originally a
stables.”
H
Churchill Manor
eading further north, you will discover a Victorian treasure:
Churchill Manor in California’s legendary Napa Valley. In
fact, there are currently more than 400 wineries in Napa Valley! Beautifully decorated guest rooms are named after Napa Valley’s
growing regions (called appellations), and feature cast iron tubs perfect
for a bubble bath, and cozy fireplaces.
Even though there’s a hearty nod to the
past with the distinctly Victorian décor,
they have embraced modern conveniences and provide iPod docks and free
WiFi. The inn is conveniently situated
within walking distance of downtown’s
restaurants, shops and tasting rooms.
Have breakfast in a light-filled dining
room,
as cozy and charming as you’d
Contact info: expect,
or you may be seated on the
◗◗485 Brown Street
◗◗Napa, CA 94559
porch (which they call a veranda). Peruse
◗◗(707) 253-7733
the morning papers (if you really care
◗◗(800) 799-7733
what’s going on the world), inhale the
◗◗[email protected]
aroma of freshly baked sweet and savory
◗◗www.churchillmanor.com
◗◗www.triplecreekhorseoutfit.com breads and plan your day. You might play
croquet, go horseback riding at a nearby
◗◗www.castellodiamorosa.com
stable, take one of many winery tours
available, or stay right where you are and read a good book. Maybe
order spicy huevos rancheros or syrupy orange French toast (made from
a bakery baguette with spiked honey cream sauce). Just so you know,
the house specialty is Eggs Churchill served with polenta slices and
chipotle cilantro salsa.
Each afternoon, freshly baked cookies and refreshments are served,
and in the evening you can meet your fellow B&Bers at a two-hour
reception where Napa Valley wines are showcased and accompanied
by a delicious variety of appetizers.
Take time to tour the inn’s acre of manicured gardens with a wide
variety of seasonal blooms, including a rose garden where you can
stop and smell the…well, you know. You might opt for a game of lawn
croquet, play chess in the parlor or go bicycling, but lest you think we’ve
steered you toward the “way too gentrified,” rest assured a horseback
ride is never far away.
Just book a horseback excursion with Triple Creek Horse Outfit.
They offer guided horseback rides through the 1,850-acre Kunde
Family Estate Winery in Kenwood, in Sonoma’s Valley of the Moon.
You’ll ride through oak woodlands and pastures of grazing Hereford
cattle to the stone Dunfillan Winery ruins, with unsurpassed views
of the valley and beyond from atop the rolling hills of the Mayacamas
Mountains. Rides last from one to 2 1/2 hours, or choose the ultimate
Mountain Top Tasting Ride Combo for a one-of-a-kind experience in
one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes.
You might also like to combine your love of horses with a winery
tour by taking a horse-drawn carriage ride at Castello di Amorosa. Yes,
it really is an otherworldly castle; a lovingly replicated 13th century,
107-room Tuscan style castle and winery.
So, for this Gait-Away we have explored California and gone from
surf to sensory overload, all with an equestrian sensibility. Surf ’s up
and saddle up, so to speak. But take a deep breath and get ready... next
month we’re doing it all again with new paces and many more fun places.
Former Paso Fino ranch owner/trainer and avid trail rider Pat
Barnhart has traded her years in the saddle for a career that now
centers around writing, book editing and travel. She has authored
two novels (Vanderville and Throwing Bones) and lives in central
Florida with Belle the Basset Hound, who runs a tight ship.
| 83
TR AILMEISTER
TO P T R A IL PIC K
S O F TH E MONT
H BY T H E
April showers may bring May’s flowers, but April’s third Monday brings tens
of thousands of the world’s best athletes to the Boston Marathon. At just
over 26 miles in length, the course winds over hills, pushing competitors
to the ragged edge in an event that the elite will complete in a short two
hours. Now I’m not sure about you, but if I needed to travel 26 miles, I
think I’d saddle up as opposed to running in an event that is legendary
for causing the death of the very first participant, the Greek messenger
Philippides, who collapsed and died after running from the battle of
Marathon to Athens and announcing the victory of the battle. Of course,
before you embark on a 20-plus mile day, be kind to your mount by investing
the time to get he or she, as well as you, in shape for such an excursion.
This month let’s find a few excellent riding areas that have more than 26
miles of horse- and mule-friendly trails we can enjoy with our mounts!
Ready to cover some ground? Check
out these 20-mile-plus trails in
NewJersey,
Tennessee &
Oklahoma
By Robert Eversole
New Jersey – Wharton State Forest
N
tr
a
r
ew Jersey is a much more than Jersey Shore. Bruce
Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” notwithstanding, New
Jersey is also home to the magnificent Wharton
State Forest. For horse and mule riders searching
for longer rides, this is the place with hundreds
and hundreds of miles of trails and abandoned
roads crisscrossing through the New Jersey Pine
Barrens. Equestrians from around the region
i
e
s
flock to these rural woods as a refuge from
t
m
e
il
the mayhem of civilization just as Tories
e s:
t
a
in
d
r
o
(British sympathizers) sought shelter here
GP S C o
323 3
.6
4
7
during the Revolutionary War. Once you ar,
1
6
39.777
rive at Wharton you won’t have to ride very far
to feel as though you are miles and eons away from
civilization’s hustle and bustle.
Horse and mule riders pulling in to Natchez
Trace will fully enjoy all of the amenities provided
at the Bucksnort Wrangler Camp. With nearly 70
full-service campsites, each with water and electricity, a bathhouse with showers and of course
picnic tables and hitching posts, camping with
stock at Natchez certainly does not have to be
an exercise in lightweight horse camping! Riders
will enjoy all of the benefits of this wonderfully
developed campground both before and after
their rides.
Of course, the main reason to
visit the park is the trails, and
with over 250 miles of them
you could ride the equivalent
of 10 marathons before
you started seeing the
same areas twice. Most
trails here wind through
thick forest along single
track and fire roads.
Footing on the trails
is generally smooth
with rocks being an
exception rather than
a rule. The native soil
trails do have a tendency
to become muddy after a
rain so please practice good
LNT practices, to help keep the
trails in good order, by not riding
il
m e i ste
GP S C o o r
dinates:
r
R
iders wanting to ride a long distance will find that Tennessee’s
Natchez Trace State Park will accommodate their desires
for a long day in the saddle with over 250 miles of trails that
wind throughout the park and the adjacent 48,000-acre state
forest. The park gets its name from a famous wilderness road of
the 18th century. Running from Natchez, Mississippi to Nashville,
Tennessee, this 440-mile route winds through a portion of the park.
tr
a
Tennessee - Natchez Trace State Park
-88.2713
,
4
2
9
.7
5
3
immediately after a rain or at a
minimum, ride straight through a muddy spot to
avoid making the trail wider.
As might be expected, Natchez Trace State Park
is a very popular destination point for riders across
Tennessee and surrounding states. Reservations
are not accepted for campsites at the Bucksnort
campground so you may want to arrive early to find
a spot.
tr
a
sharing the trails with all-terrain vehicles such as
motorcycles (the predominance of deep sand helps
to send bicyclists elsewhere).
Two of the more popular parking areas for
equestrian use are at the Atsion park office and
the Carranza Memorial locations. Both provide
large parking areas suitable for rigs with trailers
attached. While camping is permitted in Wharton, there are no equestrian-friendly developed
campgrounds.
Any discussion about Wharton would be incomplete without a quick shout-out to the many
horse riders, both individually and in groups, that
help to keep these trails open to equestrian use
through their hard work on the trails and their
efforts in educating other trail users on Leave No
Trace guidelines.
il
m e i ste
GP S C o o r
dinates:
r
Riders in the Pine Barrens can explore diverse
terrain ranging from the aforementioned trails
to paved roads. The trails meander through deep
woods and rural housing areas crossing native
soils, deep sand, blueberry bogs and even crossing
bridges and streams.
In your travels in Wharton not only will you
find wildlife in abundance, including eagles,
hawks, deer and more, you’ll also often encounter
evidence of the area’s industrial past. Over the past
200 plus years, the thick woods you ride through
now have seen many different variations including residential and industrial areas. Often all that
is left are the crumbling foundations of homes or
settlements.
The majority of trails here are unmarked and
multi-use, so horse and mule riders will often be
94.68996
,
9
1
3
7
.7
34
Oklahoma Cedar Lake
Equestrian
Camp – Ouachita
National Forest
D
istance riders from
the Sooner state and
neighboring Arkansas
can ride over two complete
marathons on the over-70
miles of well-marked trails
in this fabulous riding area
in eastern Oklahoma, near
the town of Poteau.
The trails here are laid out in
a series of loops, with most coming back to camp, and a variety of
connector trails that allow you
to turn a mini-marathon into a
100-miler should you choose to
do so. Be prepared for rocks on
these trails—hoof protection
is advised by both the Forest
Service and riders who frequent
the area. The same sources give
the best season to ride here
as the fall with spring being a
close second. Summers tend to
be on the hot and muggy side.
continued next page
| 85
The Cedar Lake Equestrian Camp is one of the
n icest c a mpg rou nd s
we’ve run across in the
central US and offers
not only a wonderful
overnight camping
facility but also excellent facilities for
day-use riders. For
overnight campers
the horse camp offers a
wide range of amenities
from full-service, doublewide sites with water and
electricity to more primitive
sites that offer the bare necessities.
The centrally located shower houses
and wash racks make post-ride cleanup easy
and convenient for both horse and human. Whatever
your inclination for camping you’ll find a great fit here.
As always thank you for your interest in finding new places to ride
and camp with your horses and mules. Until next month, for more
information on these and other equestrian riding destinations
throughout the US, please visit www.TrailMeister.com for free
trail maps and fully validated trail and trailhead information.
Robert Eversole
owns and operates
www.TrailMeister.com,
a website dedicated to
providing maps and trail
information to equestrian
trail users. In addition to
providing trail maps and
reviews he also provides
pertinent trail-use data
to riders across the
nation. A US Marine and
most recently a refugee
from corporate America,
Robert is enjoying his
new career helping fellow
trailriders stay found
and safe on the trail.
cool stuff ...for the trail horse & rider
JT International Dist., Inc.
Kerrits Performance Equestrian Apparel
Tough-1® Roughout Brisbane Trail
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with hand tooled border, padded
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Available in three sizes: 15”, 16”
and 17”. Also available in smooth
leather with or without the horn.
Visit our website at
www.Tough-1.com
Kerrits Ice Fil® Riding Shirt
Don’t let blazing sun or sticky
humidity zap your energy in the
saddle. Kerrits Ice Fil® top
uses cooling technology to
convert sweat into a refrigerant, effectively lowering skin
temperature by up to five degrees,
while blocking thermal radiation
from infrared light. The technology
is activated by motion; so the more
you move, the cooler you will be!
Visit our website at www.Kerrits.com
Downunder Horsemanship
Training Essentials
To get specific results from your horse, it’s crucial you are able to give
clear cues, and there are no better training tools than Clinton’s halter,
lead rope and Handy Stick. Each tool provides unparalleled effectiveness in letting your horse know exactly what you want him to do.
Call (888) 287-7432 or visit our website at
www.downunderhorsemanship.com
Arenus®
SORE NO-MORE® Sports Salve
Does your horse have some bald
spots, dry itchy areas or minor
scrapes? The SORE NO-MORE
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hoof hydrant! Deliver the soothing, cooling qualities of liniment
right to the source. Also makes excellent leg grease for competition.
Call (866) 791-3344 or visit
our website at www.arenus.com
Milk Specialties Global
Hoof Aid™
University research has demonstrated that sound hoof
growth requires several key
nutrients. In addition to these
nutrients, hoof growth also
requires quality protein, fat and
a host of minerals. Hoof Aid™
combines these ingredients in a
highly palatable, oatmeal-based
micro-pellet that is easily added to the diet.
Call Milk Specialties Global at
(800) 323-4274 for more information.
Cashel Company
Wunder Hoof, Inc
Horse Helmet
Wunder Hoof
Prevent injury from
head tossing while
traveling in the trailer,
or unintentional bumps
in loading or unloading.
With adjustable elastic
straps that snap onto
the halter, you won’t
have to remove the halter for use. Featuring larger
ear holes, foam insert at the poll, and soft hospital quality felt. Suggested Retail: $25.95
Get wonderful results with Wunder
Hoof! Rich, creamy, all-natural hoof
conditioner helps prevent and treat
hoof problems without irritation.
Doesn’t contain harsh ingredients
such as turpentine or iodine. Stimulates hoof growth, too. Just a dimesized amount is all you need per hoof
each day. It really works – try it today!
For a dealer near you, call
(800) 578-9234 or email us
at [email protected]
Visit our website at www.cashelcompany.com
for more information
Circle Y Saddles, Inc.
Wool Felt Saddle Pads with Bar Pads
These gray or black wool felt pads have XP™ gel or memory foam bar
pads inside along where the tree bars rest on the horse’s back to absorb
shock and distribute weight. Tacky-Tack™ bar liner for no-slip grip. Available to fit skirt shapes standard and dropped rigging full or round.
Call (800) 531-3600 or visit our website at www.circley.com
Golden Cross Ranch, LLC
Portable Trail Obstacles
At the Golden Cross Ranch we are
all about finding ways to have
fun with your horse while improving your horsemanship.
Our Portable Trail Obstacles
are not only fun but are also
awesome tools for training
and desensitizing: practical,
pretty, and portable, they set
up quickly and are lightweight
enough to carry anywhere!
Call (972) 242-8080, email
[email protected] or visit our
website at www.goldencrosranch.com
Equine Medical & Surgical
Associates, Inc.
HEALTH-E
HEALTH-E is the highest potency Vitamin E supplement at over
16,000 units per ounce in the country. HEALTH-E is in the ester form
giving super stability with all eight
isomers of Alpha-tocopherol providing added protection for your horse.
Only supplement certified low carb
safe. All horses require Vitamin E.
Call (610) 436-5183 or visit our website
at www.EquineMedSurg.com
| 89
WWW.TRAILTOWNUSA.COM
Join tens of thousands of trail riders at our exciting
and inspiring website dedicated exclusively to the trail rider.
This 600+ page ‘members-only’ web community is a combination of
brilliant content and a social network that is fun, inspiring and educational.
Whether you are looking to make new trail riding friends,
share favorite photos from your last trail ride,
or ask questions and get answers from experts and other trail riders,
from saddles to trails to training ... TTUSA is your trail town!
VISIT US ONLINE AND CHECK OUT OUR
MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL THIS MONTH!
Please support our sponsors who support trail riders and their horses!
W STATE PAGES
TTUSA has special sections for all 50 states,
where you can connect and share with trail
riders in your state and local communities in a
wide range of interests and topics that are all
about trail riding!
W CONNECTING AND SHARING
Our site is organized so that you can participate in blogs, chat rooms and sharing of your
experience and opinions with other trail riders
... down the road and across the country.
and introducing our hot new
CLASSIFIED ADS FOR
TRAIL RIDERS ONLY!
W TOP TRAINERS TEACH TRAIL
W ADVENTURES FROM THE LONG TRAIL
W HORSE CAMPING
W ALL TRAIL W SPORTS
W SURVIVAL SKILLS ON THE TRAIL
W COWBOY CHAPEL
W SAVING RESCUE HORSES
W TRAIL ADVOCACY
W BEST BREEDS ON THE TRAIL
W VACATION W DESTINATIONS
W STATE HORSE PROPERTIES
W STATE BUSINESS DIRECTORIES
W FINDING THE BEST W TRAILS
W EQUICACHE™
W EXPERTS ANSWER MEMBERS’ Q&A
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W FUNNY SIDE OF THE TRAIL
W EQUINE ART GALLERY
W MEMBERS SHARE W DO IT YOURSELF
W MEMBERS PHOTOS FROM THE TRAIL
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| 93
trail savers ...fighting the good fight
Terri Folks, Associate Editor of Trail Blazer, from Edmond, Oklahoma, works
tirelessly to help save our trails.
Would you like to see your horse group featured in this
column? Then email [email protected]
with information and photos, and you too could
receive national recognition as a Trail Saver!
Preserving the Tradition of Trail Riding
Green Mountain Horse Association, Inc. in South Woodstock,
Vermont, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a long-standing dedication to
the preservation of rural countryside and equestrian trails. It works to
keep open 500-700 miles of connecting trails in a uniquely beautiful
network through private property, public lands and roadways. Its founders first opened many of these trails in 1926 as part of the mission. A
Visitor Center located in the historic Upwey Barn holds a rich archive
showcasing the organization’s early years.
In addition to pleasure rides, GMHA hosts competitive trail and
endurance rides, such as the historic three-day, 100-mile competitive
trail ride, in its 76th year. Extensive trail maintenance efforts assure
that trails are constructed and maintained using best practices to
provide horses and riders with safe passage and avoid environmental
harm. Thirty trail volunteers provide nearly 200 hours of trail maintenance and 1,000 hours of marking and unmarking trails for various
rides and events.
To fulfill its mission amidst increased property turnover and
development pressure, GMHA created the Trail and Open Space
Preservation Program in 2010 to secure equestrian trails through
the innovative use of permanent trail easements. The program has
built strong partnerships, finalized seven easements and continues to
make critical connections. Among them, a two-year-long community
fund-raising collaboration with local residents, businesses and land
trust, which conserved a 71-acre parcel in South Woodstock. The “East
Hill” property provides an undeveloped backdrop for the village and
offers trails for hiking, snowmobiling, horseback riding, cross-country
skiing and sleigh rides for the community’s residents and businesses.
The Trail Preservation program’s success has opened new doors
of opportunity to protect even more trails, which will help sustain
the area’s cultural identity for traditional equestrian recreation and
working landscapes.
For more information, visit www.gmhainc.org/trailpreservation
A distance horse and
rider enjoy the extensive
and historic trails of the
Green Mountain Horse
Association in Vermont.
T
his month’s Trail Warrior honoree has amassed more than 40
years of service as a volunteer in the Pisgah National Forest
in North Carolina. Recently, he was honored with the Southeast
Regional Forestry Individual Volunteer Award from the US Forest
Service for his lifetime of achievement and volunteer service at Pisgah. Tom Thomas, president of Back Country Horsemen of Pisgah, has
“walked the walk and talked the talk” in his dedication to equestrian
trails. He serves as volunteer coordinator for the Pisgah District Trail
Volunteers. He coordinates regular monthly meetings with other trail
group leaders and the Forest Service for volunteers on forest trails.
Tom’s leadership has been vital in creating a unified organization that has proven to be a solid foundation for true partnerships,
enabling the Forest Service to provide quality experiences for all
trail users. He was instrumental in the development of two camping
areas that feature amenities for equestrian users—the Wash Creek
Group camping area and the Wolf Ford horse camp. Under his
guidance, volunteers have adopted and maintained more than 50
miles of equestrian trails. He is an instructor and training coordinator
and has completed the Leave No Trace–Train the Trainer course.
He is currently assisting the District with its trail strategy project
Tom Thomas
by working with other volunteers in conducting trail assessments.
This will provide accurate information for the Forest trail database,
which will be used to prioritize trail needs and projects. Thank you
Tom, for serving the trails as tireless volunteer and dedicated leader.
Nominated by the Back Country Horsemen of Pisgah
Send your Trail Warrior nominations to
[email protected]
Cedar Creek Trail in Missouri Gets Much Needed Maintenance
When a public meeting in Columbia, Missouri brought out 55 people in January, Show Me
Missouri Back Country Horsemen and representatives of the US Forest Service and other
equine users were pleased that so many folks were interested in restoring the trail.
The Cedar Creek Trail, located on national forest lands between Columbia and Fulton,
have long been in need of maintenance. Volunteers from around central Missouri have helped
with trail construction and maintenance on this trail for many years. This meeting discussed
the current needs of the US Forest Service, developed a work plan to meet these needs and
scheduled the first workday, which was held on February 18.
For more information on volunteering with this group, visit www.showmebch.org
Oregon Back Country Horsemen Host Horse
Packing & Wilderness Skills Clinic
In May, the High Desert Trail Riders Back Country Horsemen in Klamath Falls, Oregon,
will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their annual Horse Packing and Wilderness Skills Clinic.
The theme of the clinic is “Then and Now: Moving Forward, Looking Back,” and the event is
set for May 4-6 at the Klamath County Fairgrounds. This free (except for the barbecue dinner) event kicks off Friday with a Mountain Horse Trail Competition. They expect to have 50
educational demonstrations and seminars, which will include different packing styles, equine
health, horse and mule training and Dutch oven cooking. They also plan to have 120 commercial
and non-profit vendors and exhibits.
Saturday night is the barbecue dinner, auction and raffle. Dinner tickets must be prepurchased. They expect to have 600 in attendance for the dinner.
For more information about the event, visit www.hdtrbch.org
continued next page
| 95
Los Padres Unit Assists National Forest Service Renovating Rinconada Trailhead
The Rinconada trailhead in San Luis Obispo County, California,
within the Los Padres Forest has been in dire need of attention for many
years from use and weather erosion. The Los Padres Forest stretches
from the area of Carmel, California to the Los Angeles county line
and covers a distance of 220 miles of an area of approximately two
million acres.
US Forest Service Ranger Melody Fountain-Stone is a member of
the Back Country Horsemen of California Los Padres Unit (LPU)
and serves as its liaison representative. Fountain-Stone asked the unit
for their assistance in undertaking the repair project of upgrading the
Rinconada trailhead.
Under Fountain-Stone’s direction in coordination with LPU President Bill Chaides, many days and hours of preplanning were required.
The LPU paid for 47 tons of road base at a cost of $900 which was delivered to the trailhead road entrance. The damaged road was repaired
by using the road base and PCU member Paxton Pembroke’s tractor
with a scraper and bucket. Other members assisted by smoothing out
the edges with hand tools and Bill Obermeyer used his dually truck as
an improvised compacting roller to pack down the road base.
The second project was the relocation and installation of an upgraded watering trough for stock and wildlife use. Chaides sent a
letter requesting financial assistance to other local equestrian groups.
The Atascadero Horsemen donated $150, and one of their individual
members, Elizabeth Baron, donated $130. LPU completed the approximate projected cost of $300 by donating the rest of the needed
funding. The existing metal tough was fed by a natural plumbed spring
and had rusted through. Plus the trough was located under oak trees
and decaying fallen leaves made the water unattractive to equine stock.
A poly-type trough was purchased and placed in an open area unobstructed by tree cover. It was set within a 4-by-6 foot wood frame
atop crushed granite rock. New plumbing was installed with a new shut
off and a separate flush clean out. A second smaller trough of about 40
gallons was installed to receive water from the overflow of the larger
trough for wildlife access. The larger trough will be covered by a hinged
top cover to assist in keeping sunlight from affecting algae growth.
Atascadero Horseman and LPU member Larry Allen is supplying the
plastic cover for the larger trough at his own expense. Both troughs will
be equipped with escape channels for crawling critters.
The Spring Box also had to be addressed due to slow water flow.
The Spring Box was full of water but was only allowing a trickle to
flow through. The newly installed trough water line was dug up for
realignment. It was decided to back flush the existing line with air to
hopefully unblock whatever was causing the obstruction. The spring
box was located uphill approximately 50 yards away. After many hours
of digging, it was discovered the PVC water line was cracked, allowing
water to escape, and it also was imbedded with vegetation roots. The
break was repaired, which allowed the trough to flow like a geyser.
The water flow was slowed by turning the control valve to the low flow
position. Total cost was approximately $330.
For more information about the Los Padres Unit of the Back
Country Horsemen of California, visit the website at bchc-lpunit.org
The crew of the Los Padres Unit of the Back Country Horsemen of California did road
repair at the trailhead with the help of a member’s tractor and a dually truck. The
members are (standing, from left) Dave Rigoli, Paxton Pembroke, Bill Chaides, Rich
Waller and Sandy Obermeyer; seated are Bob Stone and Melody Fountain-Stone.
This new trough was installed by
the Los Padres Unit of the Back
Country Horsemen of California
at the Riconada trailhead in San
Luis Obispo County, California.
trail blazer subscriptions
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Return with payment: Trail Blazer, PO Box 27243, Prescott Valley, AZ 86312-7243
Trails End
I
was on a call in February with dear friend Sue De Laurentis, and she
was lamenting the winter chill and rain and mud of Texas—and I offered a three-word solution: Come to Arizona. A few weeks later, in
the middle of March, Sue and her friend Kristi loaded their horses and
drive 900 miles to my home state, and we met up and set up camp at
Lake Roosevelt, the perfect getaway a couple of hours east of Phoenix.
Close your eyes and picture this huge, beautiful clear lake surrounded
by 8,000- to 10,000-foot snow-capped mountains. Abundant wildflowers, birds singing from sunrise to sunset and 80-degree days. In the
dead of winter. That’s what I’m talkin’ about!
Each day evolved into that most wonderful of routines when you
are camping with your horses. The horses started banging their feed
buckets at dawn, you roll out of bed to give them their feed and water.
Back inside to take care of a few personal items, and then the next most
important task of the day: Coffee! Followed by bacon and eggs, the
aroma drifting and mingling with the breakfasts of other horse campers.
All five dogs eat their breakfast quickly and then the games begin
with nonstop canine romping and playing. More coffee, and sharing of
past, present and future things that usually all have to do (of course!)
with horses. Mid-morning we find a chair to soak up the warmth of the
Arizona sun, horses take their post-breakfast nap, and the books we
never quite have time to read at home become our friends for a bit.
Now it’s time to saddle up and head out to find out what these
Arizona trails have to offer, and for the next four to six hours, horses
and riders traverse some pretty dramatic and ever-changing terrain.
The return to camp at the end of the day, and the focus is always on
taking care of all the needs of the horses, checking every inch of their
bodies to make sure they fared well that day, then filling up the feed
buckets. I never tire of hearing horses munch on their food, a sound
starkly missing from the world of the “office” back home.
Next is a fabulous dinner (all
food tastes good out camping,
doesn’t it?) and then the campfire
and a glass of cognac to end a
most excellent day. Is there anything better than sitting around a
campfire and laughing and sharing with your trail-riding friends?
Day after day after glorious
Be still and know that I
day, this is the simple and lovely
am God. Psalms 46:10
routine we follow. Caring for the
horses and dogs and ourselves
pretty much takes up our day, and
we reflect on how DO we even fit in “work” when we’re “back home,”
and then we all wave off that thought of work—not now, not yet.
In the early morning of our final night, a monsoon hit, and a mad dash
ensued to pack up camp in the torrential downpour, followed by hugs
and goodbyes and a promise to meet again this summer in Colorado.
Sue and Kristi headed east and south back to Texas, and I headed north
and west to go up over the 7,000-foot mountain pass, surreal as I hit
nine inches of snow. When I got home to Prescott I parked the trailer
and unpacked in a blizzard (welcome to Arizona!).
Horse camping gives us the ability to get away from the stress and
craziness of the world these days, to settle down in a beautiful setting
and for a time, to just live a simple life. It is about as close to heaven as
we can get here on earth.
When is YOUR next camping adventure?
Susana Gibson | founder and publisher
A DV E RTI S E R S ’ D I R ECTO RY
Absorbine | WF Young........................................ 100
Air Hitch Technology..............................................61
Ariat International...................................................... 7
Best of America by Horseback.............................87
Bimeda, Inc...........................................................31,49
Bitless Bridle...............................................................73
Cashel Company | Equibrand................................. 9
Circle Y | Tucker Saddlery.....................................99
Colorful Manes & Tails...........................................92
Connected Riding | Peggy Cummings...............67
Cowboy Magic..........................................................12
CQ Equine Gifts........................................................92
Down Under Saddle Supply................................53
Downunder Horsemanship...................................69
Dr. Alfred R. Plechner, DVM................................... 8
Dr. Rose’s Remedies.................................................59
Easy Care, Inc............................................................... 4
Emerald Valley Equine............................................41
Equicast, Inc................................................................37
98 April 2012 •
Equine Behaviorist | Bluebonnet.........................92
Equine Medical & Surgical Associates...............14
EQYSS Grooming Products..................................... 3
Frank Lampley’s Products......................................55
Golden Cross Ranch................................................92
Heartland Veterinary Supply...............................92
High Horse Saddles.................................................96
Horse Health USA..............................................29,92
Imagine A Horse.......................................................33
J M Saddler Inc..........................................................45
J T International Distributors.................................. 2
Jardine Ranch.............................................................14
Kerrits Performance Equestrian Apparel..........24
Klene Pipe Structures..............................................63
Lance Campers.........................................................47
Leather Therapy.......................................................11
MegaHitch | Clearwater Industries.....................83
Milk Specialties.........................................................19
Priefert Manufacturing...........................................75
w w w.TR AILBL A ZER M AGA ZINE.US
Quadra Mfg...............................................................92
Sean Patrick................................................................86
Select the Best...........................................................77
Smartpak Equine......................................................21
SOURCE Inc...............................................................39
Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference.....95
Specialized Saddles.................................................93
The Natural Feeder | Power To The Hoof........92
The Nibble Net | Thin Air Canvas, Inc................92
The Stablers...............................................................92
Tilt-Tie LLC.................................................................93
Trails West Trailers...................................................15
Transfer Flow............................................................... 4
Triple Crown Nutrition............................................ 5
Verm-Xusa...................................................................92
Weaver Leather........................................................25
Wendals Herbs.........................................................13

Gait-Ways to Great

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