trail bits - Open Trail

Transcription

trailBLAZER
May 2010 • volume 32 • number 5
founder & publisher
Susan E. Gibson
executive assistant to the publisher
S. Dianne Payton
managing editor
Bobbie Lieberman
associate editor • trail advocacy
Terri Folks
national sales team
Debby Nichols
Jade C. West
Joanne Horst
Cathie Hook
circulation & distribution
Dee Dee Paxton
art director
Claire Bonet
graphic designer
Keith Tarjanyi
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May 2010 • w w w.TR AILBL A ZER M AGA ZINE.US
contents
M ay 2010 | VOLUM E 32 | NUM BER 5
10
By Rob Lazor
LIGHTER SIDE OF
THE TRAIL
The adventures of a 16-year-old girl, a
runaway Appaloosa and a save-the-day
Aussie. By Angie McGhee
14
HELP FOR THE
BUDDY-BOUND
Teach your horse to look to you for
friendship, guidance and comfort, and you’ll
be on your way to overriding separation
anxiety. By Sean Patrick
A
20 DEVELOP
CONNECTED
PARTNERSHIP WITH
YOUR TRAIL HORSE
F E AT U R E S
42
CAMP: RIDER’S
48 BOOT
GUIDE TO FOOTWEAR
Today’s boots are works of art combined
with a sophisticated construction that focuses
on function and rider comfort.
By Gretel Hakanson
HERE COMES
THE SUN
Fine-tune your posture to reap the rewards
of better balance and a happier, more freely
moving horse. By Peggy Cummings
Vitamin D from the sun brings many benefits
to horses and riders, but as with many good
things, moderation is the key.
By Lisa Price
32
62
RIDE SMART TO
AVOID INJURY
Ten tactics to avert joint injury in you and
your horse. By Michele Roush, DVM
38
BUZZ OFF!
FLY CONTROL PART II
Swat less, ride more: Here’s how to stave off
the annual assault of the bugs in camp and
on the trail. By Pat Barnhart
SPRING & SUMMER
FASHION
NO KIDDING!
With a little advance planning, trail
riding and horse-camping with
youngsters can be a rewarding adventure.
By Jon Tanner
56
74
TRAIL DETOURS
Our new decade of dream
destinations rolls on to Kentucky and
Tennessee. Now that’s horse country!
By Pat Barnhart
TRICKS TO
66 TAKING
THE TRAIL
Teach the art of stillness. By Suzanne
De Laurentis & Allen Pogue
D E P A R T M E N T S
26
upgrade your ride: A Horseback Trek Through Time
8........... letters to editor
76........................ trail savers
77.................. trail warrior
80.......................... coOL stuff
84................................Trail Bits
89......................... Trail Blazer
Subscription Form
90.............................Trail’s End
A happy trail rider
enjoys the beautiful trails
of Texas as her mount
willingly jumps a log.
Photo by Joe Walsh
letters to the editor
I just wanted you to be able to tell your
advertisers that their advertising sure
worked in our case!
Rochelle Schroeder, California
Trail Blazer,
I retired from the show circuit last year
and am now trying to morph into a trail
rider. This isn’t as easy as you guys make
it look that is for sure, so when I found your
magazine I thought I had died and gone to
heaven. I am quite amazed at the scope
of what you offer each month. I think your
“Burning Questions” articles are especially
helpful. Thanks for a great publication and
just wanted you know that there is one girl
in Kansas who watches the mailbox every
month for my favorite magazine.
Lucy Waltz, Kansas
Dear Editor,
I gave the March issue to my husband to
read “Putting Together A Roadworthy Rig”
and he thought it was a great read! Both he
and I agreed that this was one of the best
articles we’ve seen yet, presenting good,
usable information. It reminds us of the old
adage that the more you know, the more
you know how much you don’t know. The
photos were really great as well. Reading
is good but actually seeing an example
helps a lot too. You never stop learning,
so thanks for thinking of everything we
need to know!
Donna Currie, Idaho
Dear Trail Blazer,
We run a bed and breakfast in northern
California, and I have seen the ads in Trail
Blazer for the Rocky Mountain Horses for
about a year now. When I saw the article in
the last issue, it was the push I needed. We
ended up locating a breeder and bought
four Rocky Mountain horses and brought
them back to use at our ranch. They are
great horses, and our guests love them
because they are so smooth to ride! So
Trail Blazer,
We’d like to see even more articles on
where we can ride our horses. With this
economy, our family spends more time on
weekend trail riding closer to home instead
of going on big vacations, so I always look
for your “Trail Detours” and “Best Trails”
sections to see if a trail pops up that the
crew wants to head to. I would like to see
you double the trail info you have!
Jorge Kerlin, Tennessee
Editor’s note: It’s a big country, and we’re doing
our best to bring you trail reports from all over
the land every month. We hope to expand these
sections in the coming months with more firstperson reports of super horse trails.
Hey Trail Blazer,
It can be a dangerous world when I take
my Trail Blazer mags to trail rides—although most of my friends already subscribe, there are always newbies who fight
to get their chance to read it in camp. There
are really big rides in the Southeast, and
I would like to see you do more stories
on these big rides, how to prepare to go,
and what you need to do to have a good
experience when there are a thousand
other trail riders there. I think the biggest
problem I see is people who bring stallions
who are not well mannered. Maybe you
could write about proper manners for big
group rides. Trail Blazer is always the star
of our camp, so thanks so much for doing
a great job taking care of us trail riders for
so many years.
Mike Bodoh, Michigan
Editor note: You’re in luck! We have a story on
how to prepare your horse for a big group ride
coming up in August. Happy trails!
Email your comments to: [email protected]
Or mail them to:
Letters to the Editor
Trail Blazer Magazine
PO Box 27243 • Prescott Valley, AZ 86312-7243
The LIGHTER SIDE of the Trail
Scouting New Trails
The adventures of a 16-year-old girl, a runaway
Appaloosa and a save-the-day Aussie.
PHOTO BY J OSEPH WALSH
By Angie McGhee
I
am not very good about exploring new trails on horseback. I
used to be. I used to search for trails the way search & rescue
workers search for lost children. I would grid off an area and
crisscross it on foot to make sure no path went undiscovered.
In the neighborhood where I grew up I knew every dirt path
that connected two subdivisions or that some kid with a bicycle
had made out his back door. I was actually a bit of a legend,
well known in the area. Old people would find pony tracks in
their gardens or flowerbeds and without hesitation they called
my parents to complain.
10 May 2010 • w w w.TR AILBL A ZER M AGA ZINE.US
I recall with great detail my first real
trail-finding expedition. My best ponyriding buddy, Tracy, always considered
me the Tonto to his Lone Ranger. Though
I was 12 and older than Tracy, he had more
miles on him. He was only nine but he’d
ridden ponies longer, knew how to build a
campfire and could weld. His dad hunted
and fished and mine played team sports
so he assumed this made him “alpha” in
all things outdoors. However, when it came
to exploring on horseback he was greatly
hindered in that his mom would not let
him ride across the pavement in front of
his house, or out of earshot of her car horn
in any direction behind the house. My
mother, on the other hand, never considered that I would even think of going over
a half mile away from home on my pony, so
I had no official rules that forbid me from
doing so.
Mine and Tracy’s first big exploratory
expedition came about one day when
we were lounging on the lower limbs of a
Mimosa tree watching our bareback ponies
dragging their reins grazing the few tufts of
grass his bird dogs hadn’t trampled in his
yard. Tracy took a swig of his Nehi grape
soda, squinted at the sun and said, “You
ain’t never been to the power lines have
ye?” then he spit. Tracy could spit a long
way through his front teeth, but I wasn’t too
shabby myself. Before my teeth matured
and closed up the spaces I could spit not
only through the center gap, but the ones
to each side of center, so I had a choice
of three directions to his one. This irked
Tracy to no end since he was the one who
taught me how to spit through my teeth in
the first place.
“Where’s the power lines?” I asked as
I looked straight at him and spit through
my teeth to the left so that it missed him.
“Let’s go there now.” Tracy sighed his
“You’re such a greenhorn I can’t believe
I waste my time on you“ sigh and said it
was too far to go today, it might get dark;
but we could go there tomorrow if we got
an early start.
That night I dug out my brother’s army
belt that had a canteen and several ammo
storage pouches hanging on it. I put some
cookies and matches in the ammo pouch
in case I needed to survive in the wild for a
few days. By the time it was good and light
I was sitting on my pony outside Tracy’s
bedroom window tapping the glass with
“Running horses up vertical hillsides is an unofficial redneck
sport and had they ever organized and kept official records
Tonka would have been a champion.”
my switch until he finally emerged. Unfortunately I’d forgotten he wasn’t allowed to
get his pony out until his mom got out of
bed, which could be as late as noon when
her soap operas came on. My anticipation
had time to grow as we watched Captain
Kangaroo with the loudest volume we
dared trying to get her to stir.
My worries that we might be burning
needed daylight were unfounded. What I
had expected to be an all-day trip turned
out to be about a 100-yard pig trail spur off
our usual trail out back of the house. The
little trail turned up through the woods and
emerged through a patch of briars into the
cedar-studded high-voltage line right of
way on the side of the mountain.
We arrived at our destination approximately 15 minutes after we set out on the
journey. Though I was disappointed with
the duration of the expedition, the opening did offer a pretty good view, and the
fact there was actually something there (a
tower) did make it a viable, “namable” destination. However, the journey definitely
did not satisfy my appetite for exploration.
My pony wasn’t even sweating enough to
improve my grip on her bare back and
worst of all I wasn’t thirsty enough to even
take a swig out of my canteen. My later attempts at exploring were more exciting.
Lessons Learned Exploring
My experience with exploration on
horseback has taught me two things: 1.
There are times when you will come to
physical obstacles on the trail that will
make you realize that a human can go
places where a horse cannot. Because
of this fact, it is often best not to bring a
horse along when you go bushwhacking.
2. If you insist on bringing the horse along
you’d better drop some breadcrumbs or
something because the way you came may
be the only route that you can get a horse
back out. There’s nothing more frustrating
than knowing you could climb up a small
cliff and be home in five minutes, but you’d
have to abandon your horse to do so.
Case in point: I decided to scout out a
new trail across the side of the mountain
to bypass the mile of pavement complete
with biting dogs, kids on Big Wheels
and maniacal drivers that I had to ride
to get to my favorite trail. I climbed up
on my 16-hand Appaloosa, Tonka, and
headed cross-country. After being broke
and trained by a 16-year-old, Tonka had
three speeds: turbo extended walk, jig
and runaway. I’d tried unsuccessfully to
make him into a winning barrel horse
after he retired from the track but had
since learned that his special talent was
climbing inclines that were deemed
unclimbable. I discovered this ability by
accident one day while trying to pull him
down from runaway to jig. My dad had
always told me if he wouldn’t stop to aim
him at a steep hill. I soon found that there
were no hills steep enough to stop him
but some were long enough to eventually
drop him back to a jig.
Running horses up vertical hillsides is
an unofficial redneck sport and had they
ever organized and kept official records
Tonka would have been a champion. I
only knew of one other horse that would
attempt the climbs Tonka would climb,
but after the day he lost his momentum,
wheeled around and got stuck in the fork
of a tree, that horse was never as bold as
before. I had managed to keep Tonka out
of trees so we were well known in my area
as the near vertical climb team to beat.
To a 16-year-old he seemed like the
perfect mount for mountainside exploration. Since I planned to be far from civilization I also brought along my smarter
than brilliant Australian Shepherd, Trudy.
Trudy was the definite brains of this
outfit, and it was a heavy weight on her
shoulders. The look of worry on her face
showed she had a sense of foreboding
about the whole affair.
Tonka settled into his head-nodding
power walk as we headed out to the end
of my charted territory. Trudy scouted out
into the woods, killed a small mammal
and brought it to me as a bribe to return
home. She was well aware I planned to
be a taxidermist when I grew up and most
days would have gone straight home to
continued next page
w w w.TR AILBL A ZER M AGA ZINE.US • May 2010 11
“Our trajectory through the woods was something like a small
slow-motion tornado, spinning yet moving forward down the side
of the leaf-strewn ridge and across the mountainside.”
skin it, but I knew she was trying to buy
me off and I wasn’t having it. I rode straight
to the end of the dirt road, up the vertical
bank and into the uncharted woods.
My first obstacle stemmed from the fact
that Tonka was a tall horse and scrubby
pine trees have lots of low sharp limbs.
Tonka was lowering his head and power
walking beneath the limbs while I was
doing “Matrix”-style moves to avoid being
impaled. I quickly decided it would be
better to dismount and lead him. Saying
that leading Tonka was an improvement
over any situation was saying a lot. Tonka
was not prone to moseying and it was all
I could do to keep up with his fast walk.
Fortunately, my dad taught me how to
deal with his forging ahead. I would throw
my back into Tonka’s shoulder and wheel
him in a circle around me every time he
got ahead of me, which was approximately
every two steps.
Our trajectory through the woods was
something like a small slow-motion tornado, spinning yet moving forward down
the side of the leaf-strewn ridge and across
the mountainside. The ridge got progressively steeper until on one side of our spin
I was taller than Tonka, but on the other
side I was eye level with his knees. Trudy
watched with a worried expression, waiting
for an opportunity where nailing Tonka on
his rear heels would improve my situation.
Finally, we skidded to a stop with a big pile
of leaves in front of us, and a low bluff just
ahead. Here in the Appalachians, for some
reason there is a rule that there has to be
a band of cliffs on the side of any ridge
or mountain making a simple trail top to
bottom impossible. In this case it was the
smallest of rock formations, just about
eight feet from the end up the upper slope
down to the beginning of the lower slope,
after that it looked like smooth sailing.
I walked parallel to the drop off looking
for a break in the rocks, and then I saw what
I was looking for. It was like a big step cut
into the side of the bluff, maybe a two-foot
step down onto a ledge just big enough for
Tonka to stand on, then from there it was
maybe four feet down to the continuation
of the dirt slope. Tonka wasn’t known for
thinking two steps ahead so he was fairly
easy to get onto the ledge. Since it wasn’t
big enough to turn around I figured success
was assured, sooner or later.
Once I had him situated I climbed down
the rocks to the lower slope and turned
to face him, or at least face his hooves.
From above I really hadn’t noticed just
how steep the slope below the bluff was.
Though it was only four feet down at the
rock, it was probably an eight-foot drop
one-horse length away where his front feet
were going to land. I looked at Tonka and
it was apparent he’d done the math about
the same time I had, but had yet to realize
retreat was impossible.
Situations like this were the reason for
the worried expression Trudy always wore.
She knew they were coming and since it
was before cell phones it was up to her to
bail me out of these predicaments.
Our eyes met, I shrugged and said,
“Get him!” Trudy wheeled and ran down
the bluff line until she found a place to
scramble to the top, came running back
with her head low uttering a low growl that
Tonka knew from past experience meant
he could “Git” or “dance”. He made a quick
decision, squatted low and then leaped
off the ledge like a Lipizzaner, except he
seemed to expect me to catch him. All I
saw was the belly of a flying horse coming
my way, then he landed and I found myself
sitting on the ground, my back to a tree, my
feet out in front of me and an 1,100-pound
lap horse sprawled out on my outstretched
legs. Ha. Not a scratch on either of us.
Unfortunately, that trail didn’t pan out.
I did learn a little more about my neighborhood, like that the man down the road
didn’t need a back fence for his horse pasture because a bluff kept them in, and that
Trudy was capable of holding three horses
at bay until Tonka and I were able to spin
our way out of their pasture gate.
I’m still on the lookout for new trails,
and Trudy’s great great granddaughter is
on my porch ready to jump at any chance
to scout for trails. She and I leave the horse
at home.
Angie and her husband, Bill,
definitely live their lives on the
“lighter side” of the trail in Wildwood, Georgia. Angie’s Book:
“The Lighter Side of Endurance,”
a collection of her articles, is
available at www.lightersideofendurance.com
Separation anxiety can manifest
itself in many ways. You may
experience endless calling and
screaming from your horse as
he tries to locate his mates.
This is very unsettling for
many riders. You will feel him
tighten his muscles, lose his
focus and ignore your cues.
Some will spin, rear, shy, jig
or run. In a nutshell, your
horse becomes completely
preoccupied with finding
his way back to the herd,
no longer fun or even safe
to ride. The amount of
anxiety varies, of course,
but it can certainly
reach extremes.
Help is here…
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W
e once acquired a beautiful Paint gelding with plenty of riding under his belt.
He lived alone in a pasture all of his life
with a family near the city. He was the first horse I
came across that had zero herd instinct. He was, in
effect, an “orphan.”
On the range he would graze alone. When we
gathered the herd, he was nowhere to be found.
He wouldn’t be too far away, but with dense brush
he was difficult to locate. A bell around his neck
became almost permanent.
He was a great riding horse. In fact, he was the
perfect candidate to round up others, as we could
calmly trot against the herd’s movements unaffected. Many mounts were anxious to be a part of
the moving mass, but Maverick was content being
his own man. In the winter, he would jump the fence
and hang with the bulls.
On an outfit, this was good and bad. It was nice to
have a calm and willing horse, but in camp he had to
be staked out, as his nature was to wander; he had
no social ties to the group. This is the exception.
Even our good trail horses struggle with separation.
Maverick’s solitary beginnings shaped his behavior
differently than most.
continued next page
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Story by S
Even that “third-wheel” horse will struggle with
separation from his pasture mates.
What’s the Big Deal?
This young gelding is handled and exercised daily. He is
comfortable alone in his pasture and stall. His foundation of
skills, trust and respect is well on its way.
Socialization Matters
Horses naturally live in herds. Some bands are quite large, but
most break into groups of 35 or less. For survival purposes, they
rely on each other. Within a group friendships are created.
When you domesticate your own horse, it is helpful to keep these
natural tendencies in mind. You have most likely witnessed friendships forming within a small group as well as over fences and stall
walls. You may only have a handful of horses on a property, but
nevertheless, they become bonded. A horse-to-horse bonding is
strong. As a rule, if a small group of horses are housed, pastured
and in close contact with each other, they will form this bond.
Socialization is healthy and natural, right?
Of course, but you want to domesticate your
horse. If he continues to act like a whitetailed deer, you will be bounding over
fences and running from headlights. You need
your horse to overcome natural fears and
anxieties in order to be a safe, sane mount. When you find your
A foal requires the care, nutrition, leader- riding horse anxious
ship and teachings of his dam. In the wild
with separation, this
this period of time naturally ends as the foal
is a sign you need to
becomes more confident, self-sustaining and
as the mare prepares for her next birth. In a separate him. You
domestic situation, we wean the foal after a might want to pasperiod of time, usually between 4-10 months. In ture him separately,
an ideal situation, this foal grows up with other alternate stalling
horses, continuing to strengthen and socialize times and spend
with them. The weaning process is difficult for more time tying him
some, but necessary.
in a safe, comfortable
Your leadership and interaction is extremely area. He will become
helpful during this time, in order to help with accustomed to being
his transition from a growing prospect to a
apart and begin to
well-trained trail horse. At some point, usually
relax in time.
after two years, more intensive handling and
“starting” is begun. This is the time where he learns to focus on
you and your requests. He learns to be separated, even if only a
short distance away from his mates, while his confidence, respect
and skills are developed.
Separate on Purpose?
Yes. You must. When you begin teaching him to handle his new
riding life, you need to prove to him that life with you is safe and
enjoyable. By separating him, even if for a short time and working
with him, he learns to accept this. Stalling, tying, mounted work,
groundwork, hauling, bathing and vetting all need to be done
with a horse that is comfortable, relaxed and willing.
When you find your riding horse anxious with separation, this
is a sign you need to separate him. If not, your weekend trail ride
will always include a small group of horses running behind you,
and you’ll need a bigger trailer!
You might want to pasture him separately, alternate stalling
times and spend more time tying him in a safe, comfortable
area. He will become accustomed to being apart and begin to
relax in time. A pasture-kept horse at a kid’s camp struggles with
separation, while a stall-kept performance horse (with solitary
turnout) does not. Whatever you get them used to is what they
will be comfortable with.
Leadership and Teaching
Your relationship with the horse affects everything. If your horse
looks to you for friendship, guidance and feels absolutely comfortable with your handling, separation issues are minimal and
easily helped. If not, start working on it.
Frequency is key. Daily handling and workouts are important to
your relationship. It’s difficult to form and maintain a relationship
without frequent—daily—handlings. Make it a personal priority
to schedule your time around your horse.
Proactively teach respect. You do this through movement and
control exercises, where you put yourself in the driver’s seat and
take charge of your horse’s options. This is what a herd boss would
do. Your horse will actually calm down and relax
more with you if your spot
above him on the pecking
order is clear. Once he
recognizes and accepts
your position, he can then
follow. Think about a wild
group. There are only a
couple of real leaders.
The rest take a back seat
and do as they’re told.
Your horse will give up on
testing you and pushing
you around. Instead, he
will focus and respond to
your wishes.
Build trust and estab- Your relationship with the horse
lish some default posiaffects everything. If your horse
tions. Creating a confident looks to you for friendship,
horse takes time, but it
guidance and feels absolutely
can sure be sped up if you
comfortable with your handling,
focus on improving it. How
separation issues are minimal
you gauge, enter and exit
and easily helped. If not, start
your pressure levels helps
build trust. If you are quick working on it.
to use pressure, fail to release, or use more than necessary, your
horse will not want to be handled by you. Seek sound advice
and ask how you can improve your use of pressure. Default
positions are situations and positions where my horse knows he
continued next page
can completely relax and wait for
a request. In the round pen or on
a line, this is with me, looking at
me squarely. In the saddle, this is
a complete halt, where movement
is not required.
Replacing Anxiety
horse alone in a pasture? Sometimes. I like to have horses on a
property, together, but separated
by stalls and fences. This keeps
them a part of the commotion,
but not “buddying up” with one
particular horse. I also do not enable dependent behavior. If I see a
problem starting, I will work and
separate a horse more, just to
keep anxiety from happening. It’s
easier on both the horse and me.
Have you ever noticed that
weaning a horse is best if you completely leave? If you remain in earshot, both horses continue to call.
If you leave, it stops. The more you
separate, the easier it is on them.
When your horse is acting anxious it is helpful to replace his
behavior and thought process with
your own. Put him to work. Jogging
This sensitive mare needs her rider to channel energy
serpentines, for example, can be
into productive exercises. This replacement helps
used to work on shoulder control,
with many fear and anxiety issues, including separarhythm and softening, as you stay
tion. Working on relaxation and rhythm while develactive in your horse’s focus. This
will help replace his complete fooping bridle responses is a good approach.
cus on the separation issue.
A reactive or inactive rider will find himself clutching the reins
and hoping for the best. Instead, channel the horse’s energy into Reinstall your Operating System
something productive. It won’t only calm the horse down, but will
I used to call the computer help line a lot. The typical response
help you stay fluid and avoid tensing up.
was always, “Have you reinstalled your operating system?” Since
this was the base for all logic functions, it had to be free of errors
“Weaning” the Adult Horse
and corruption. Horse training is the same.
Separation anxiety is symptom of a failed operating system in
The solution is not always easy or the same in every situation.
“It depends” is usually the correct answer with most training ques- some cases. If the respect is perfect, the trust is solid and growtions. Sometimes, separating horses from each other is best. If your ing, and the skill set is progressively climbing, a rider doesn’t
goal is to head out on the trail for a three-day weekend you cannot struggle with issues like this. That’s because they work their horse
have a horse calling and pacing for the entire time you are gone. frequently and have developed a relationship with him that overThis is more stressful than keeping them apart in the first place. rides herd tendencies. You are his herd.
This does not mean that your training is bad if you have
We struggle with what fair is sometimes. Is it okay to keep a
this issue. We purposely house horses together for many
reasons. Just keep in mind that this type
of dependency will happen if you let it.
I struggled with this exact issue with a couple
of mares recently. After a couple of foals and
ample time in the pasture together, even my
well-trained mares called and became preoccupied with the separation. After about two weeks
of working them apart, stalling them separately,
while still pasturing together, the anxiety completely went away. But it was the combination
of getting them back in a routine and putting
the focus back on their job that solved it.
I encourage you to look at your horse’s routine
and training level and come up with a plan that
will help you teach them to be confident without
that one special buddy, as well as viewing you
as both their friend and leader. Safe riding!
As a professional horseman,
Sean Patrick spent much of his
career in British Columbia as
a mountain guide and packer.
Sean continues to use his
backcountry knowledge and
experience while training in Florida with his wife
Alisha at Pioneer Trail Reserve. Sean’s book, “The
Modern Horseman’s Countdown to Broke”, was
published In September. Visit Sean on the web at
www.seanpatricktraining.com
with your trail horse
part four by PEGGY CUMMINGS | photos by DEBBIE HOPPER
Are you looking to improve your balance, ease and lightness in the saddle, making the ride smoother for
both you and your horse? Follow Peggy Cummings each month as she provides insights and commentary
into the balance and movement of trail riders and their mounts. We invite you to submit photos for consideration for use in the column, which will appear in both Trail Blazer magazine and TrailtownUSA.com.
Please send your photos to [email protected]
T
rail riders usually
can’t wait to
“hit the trail.” As we
continue with this
monthly column I
wish to share with you
pieces of information
that relate to finding
what I call the “pea
under the mattress.”
What I’m getting at is
that if your posture isn’t
balanced, nothing else
works. You can take all
the lessons in the world,
but if you don’t address
the posture that is
needed for horse and
rider to work together,
you can lose it all.
The most important
thing for the horse, as
he carries you up hill
and down dale, is that
he be able to use his
spine efficiently.
Posture: The “Pea Under the Mattress”
As most horses spend their unridden
time mostly on the forehand, when riding
begins their weight needs to shift dynamically with every stride. This means they
must be able to move from down to up,
back to front, and side to side. In order to
carry the rider’s weight efficiently, lift his
back and access the driving power of his
hind legs, a horse has to be able to “telescope” his neck—lengthen it forward and
down—and lift the base of the neck.
In the last few articles I have remarked
about how the rider’s posture affects the
horse. If you are unconsciously “arched”
or “slumped” even slightly, this posture
restricts the horse’s ability to work efficiently. Likewise if the horse is traveling
head high or curled with his nose behind
the vertical (overbent), his ability to move
freely is severely hampered.
The most comfortable ride that will
take the least amount of stress for you
and your horse is when the horse is able
to distribute his weight over all four feet
instead of pulling himself forward with his
forehand most of the time. A horse has
no fixed connection linking his body to
his forelimbs; instead, his forelimbs are
anchored to his body by what is called the
thoracic sling. For a horse to have freedom
of movement, his base and thoracic sling
have to go up and down with every stride
(see illustrations, p.22). A horse on the
forehand travels with his base down and
this decreases the functional ability of
the thoracic sling while increasing stress
everywhere on his body.
This month’s photos are of horses that
have a lot of potential and riders that look
fairly good. One horse has
more freedom and suspenRIDER
sion in his stride than the
others. With a few minor
tweaks in position, these
teams can be going down the
trail with even more freedom.
back cannot work efficiently. He has a lot
of potential to be fabulous on the trail
but in this picture his “base” is down
and that puts a lot of stress on his joints.
The rider could diffuse some of this hot
energy by making a few minor changes.
“Thinking wide” through her knees (see
“Solutions,” p.24) and allowing her arches
to stay more soft will allow her to be more
shock-absorbing as she is trotting. Her
forearms in this photo could be half an
inch higher, which will keep the alignment
from elbow to bit and release the brace
against the rein.
If she “combs the reins” (see “Solutions,” p.24) occasionally and slowly
rotates her torso slightly each time she
rises out of the saddle, she will diffuse the
tension in the horse’s neck so that he telescopes, raises his base and uses his back
and hindquarters more efficiently. Notice
the stress on the underside of his neck and
the bracing in his left fore and right hind.
It almost appears that he is pushing back
more with that diagonal than he is coming
forward with the other one.
Rider Two
Here is another rider who looks fairly
good with a horse that is in a much better posture, although his “base” is still
down. She has a nice angle from the bit
to the elbow and this picture shows her in
the phase of the trot where her seat is in
the saddle. There is more of an appearcontinued next page
ONE
Rider One
This rider looks fairly good
right here even though it is
not easy to ride the posture
that this horse is showing.
There is apt to be a lot in
the rider’s hands and the
sensation of a lot of out of
control power needing to
be contained. This horse’s
’s
y
g ue
g
pe ritiq
c
RIDER TWO
ance that she is “thinking wide” through
her knees. I would also recommend that
she “think wide” as she rises. Combing
the reins and rotating very slightly would
allow this horse to “come through” from
behind even more. There is less stress
on this horse than the previous one and
if his base were up you would see more
roundness and evenness in his diagonals
and also a softer contour from his loins to
his croup without his croup having an apparent peak.
Rider Three
This horse and rider are traveling along
with more ease and synchronization. This
rider is “thinking wide” through the knees
and has a nice angle from bit to elbow.
Her feet are level and she is absorbing the
movement well. This horse is telescoping
nicely as his “base” is up, his thoracic sling
is free to move, allowing his back to come
up and his hind end to come underneath
him. It then is possible for his diagonals to
be even and the overall aesthetic is soft,
free and graceful with a soft contour from
his loins over the croup.
I really appreciate all these riders that
allow me to use their pictures so I can help
you readers see and gain understanding of
how horses can go more efficiently on the
trail and how their riders can help them.
It is possible for a horse and rider team
to be more synchronized in movement
RIDER THREE
more than 90 percent of the time. This is
an attainable goal, providing the rider pays
more attention to how her posture is in the
saddle, and they also need to understand
what a horse has to do in order to cover
ground more efficiently.
These three riders show good basic
knowledge and body use. There is always
the need to maintain awareness as you
are riding so that the “pea under the mattress”—your posture while you are riding—can release stress again and again.
Your awareness and slight body changes
make it possible for your body to diffuse
the imbalances and the needs of the horse
for support during stressful moments.
continued on page 24
For a horse to have freedom of movement, his “base” and thoracic sling have to go up and down with every stride. In the
drawing at left, the horse is base down, which inhibits his movement and compresses his spine. In the drawing at right,
the horse is base up, which allows him to use his back and hindquarters more efficiently and with less fatigue.
Illustrations by Nancy Camp
Solutions
“Combing the reins” is an exercise
where the reins are held in one hand
as the other hand reaches up and
“combs” down towards the other hand
in a continuous alternating motion. The
index and middle fingers slide between
the reins and the elbows have a soft
bend—not locked. The combing motion
gives a steady oscillating rhythm to the
horse, encourages him 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 patterns.
Rotating your torso is a helpful way
to release tension in horse and rider.
Imagine a shelf in front of your hands
holding a very large clock that is laying
flat on the table. When you look at 12
o’clock you are facing forward. As you
post out of the saddle, rotate your upper body towards 10 o’clock (left). This
should take about three or four posts
(or strides if you are sitting the trot or
riding a gaited horse). Then rotate back
to the middle and proceed in the other
direction towards 2 o’clock and then
back through the middle and so on.
Changing rotation helps get a horse
off the forehand and allows you to stay
off his mouth. Stay soft in your lower
back and “think wide” through the
knees to resist squeezing with your
thighs. The feet need to be placed on
the stirrups behind the ball of the foot,
which is easy in western and endurance
stirrups because they are often wider.
“Think wide” through the knees
is a way of overriding the tendency to
squeeze with the thighs and push the
heels down, both of which dampen their
ability to be shock absorbers. It is the
best way to stay secure in the saddle
when a horse bolts or spooks. When
your thighs let go and “think” open the
calf is lightly resting on the horse’s side;
with your foot level in the stirrup your
reaction during sudden movement is
automatically stabilizing. This is not
a big, visible change. It is more about
allowing your legs to hang down from
your hips so all the bones and joints
from your hips to your feet are free to
move and provide shock absorption
and stability.
Peggy Cummings aboard Liberale,
a 14-year-old 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
her website: www.connectedriding.com
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story By Rob Lazor |
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Photos by Sandra Ya
continued next page
As we move on down the trail alert to the clues of man’s
historical presence, our ride also serves as a good training
exercise for my horse and I as we venture into areas and
situations we would not normally go.
W
inter’s days are on their last legs.
The wind and cold (even for us in
Northern California) have taken
their toll on man and horse. The fever of
spring is blossoming, nudging you to take
your favorite steed to a desired location.
Have you really thought about where you
will be riding?
What uses (e.g. mining, agriculture) did
prior inhabitants have for the location?
Was it a gathering place (e.g. town, Indian village, hunting camp) because of its
location to water, game and feed?
Did it serve as a transportation corridor because of its proximity to bountiful
resources (e.g. rivers)?
Exploring Time and Space
Normally, my excitement for a horseback ride is reserved for my longer trips,
seven to 14 days in remote areas of the
country, such as Yellowstone and Yosemite
National Parks and Lost Coast (see August
2009 Trail Blazer, “In Search of the Lost
Coast.”) I absolutely love the preparation
for such travel. Half the fun is researching
each new location as I try to absorb information of the area’s history, geology, flora
and fauna.
The more mundane rides on local
horse trails never seemed to get the same
attention to detail as my longer horse
escapades. Lately the rides on the same
local trails had become too routine. Does
“boring” ever enter your vocabulary on
your rides?
So in order to “upgrade” my local rides
I started doing similar research as I do on
the longer treks. I began to find that the
pleasure is in the details whether your
ride is near or far. The adventure is in the
challenge of oneself. Add a little spice
to your ride by taking on the challenge
of learning about the habitat where one
rides—“habitat association” is what I call
it. This ability to blend mental (study of
nature) and physical (trail riding) exercises
is an art worth pursuing, one that provides
inspiration and a refreshing outlook from
the back of a horse.
Learning a little of the history (exploring time) of the land you ride through leads
one to better understand the makeup of
the terrain along with a greater appreciation of the flora and fauna (exploring space),
for they are intertwined. A good place
to begin a basic understanding of these
areas is by contacting various nature or
nature-related groups that are known for
their great sources of information. More
often than not, the personnel of these organizations (e.g., Audubon Society; County
Land Trusts; State Departments of Fish
World War II era training bunker from
the old “Camp Beale” displays the
damage done by live 50mm caliber
ammo rounds.
& Game or similar government agencies;
Community College field trips, local public
library) are more than willing to share their
knowledge and their passion of the sector
of their expertise.
Introducing the
Spenceville Wildlife Area
One of my favorite areas to ride my
Morgan gelding Firebird is the Spenceville
Wildlife Area (SWA), a 13,000-acre wildlife
area northeast of Sacramento, California.
Administered by the state’s Department
of Fish & Game, SWA is roughly 20 miles,
as the crow flies, from my house. It holds
within its grounds the clues and information about the past escapades of humanity, from Indian tribes that inhabited the
area through present day uses by hunters,
equestrians and hikers. Spenceville is not
unique in that respect. As are many riding
areas around you, the land holds a treasure chest of clues to humankind’s march
through time.
As we move on down the trail alert to
the clues of man’s historical presence, our
ride also serves as a good training exercise
for my horse and I as we venture into areas
and situations we would not normally go.
Crossing creek beds (Firebird slowly
chooses a safe route), climbing hills (practice positioning my seat) and descending
ravines (making Firebird use his hindquarters) are all good training skills practiced
on these rides without the tedium of
“practice”. On these rides I like to find a
“goal within a goal,” and more times than
not I find I have acquired some knowledge
while progressing toward my destination of
better team (rider and horse) performance.
Ultimately, training the mind and the body
to increase one’s awareness is the goal.
Water: Lifeblood
of the Land
A good place to begin any ride is to
find a source of water. Water is a wonderful
index to follow the procession of humans
through time for water is the lifeblood of
the land. Also, there is something magical
about riding along or through the power
of moving water. It emulates the passage
of time, and a riparian habitat displays
the most abundant sounds and smells of
the fauna and flora. (I’ll leave the flora and
fauna for another time and focus more on
the history for this piece).
Along Dry Creek, Firebird and I meander through and around granite rock
formations that, upon closer inspection,
present clusters of mortar pits used by
Indian tribes of the past (Maidu Indians).
Mortar pits are bowl-shaped indentations
in rock in which substances such as acorns,
wildflowers and berries are pulverized with
a pestle of stone.
A little research reveals that the Maidu
Indians gathered and processed acorns
along this creek. The depth of the mortar
pits represents years and years of use.
Acorn flour was a staple of their diet and
water was needed for leeching the tannins
from the acorn pulp. Thus, mortar holes
were more than a place to prepare food.
Processing acorns for food was a series
of time-consuming activities—roasting,
pounding, leaching, cooking. It was where
men and women congregated, performed
their chores and revisited year after year.
It became a part of their culture, a part of
the life cycle of a given people in a given
area. These pits tell a story of this land at
a particular point in time.
Following a tributary from the creek bed
we climb a hillside and view the landscape
for deviations from the baseline, or the
normal formation of the landscape.
The ability to blend mental (study of nature) and physical (trail riding) exercises is an art worth pursuing, one that provides inspiration and a refreshing
outlook from the back of a horse.
Geological Impact
This is where the impact of the geology
is readily apparent. Activity from millions
of years ago, two tectonic plates, the
western moving continental plate (North
American) and the eastern moving island
plate (Pacific), collided and created a 100
continued next page
and schools fed
people’s needs,
and their imprint
still exists. As we
ride we hunt for
traces of a town
Riding over a hundred-year-old building foundation left
that once was but
over from the old mining town of Spenceville.
no longer is except
for hidden traces
of a time past. We
mile long by 100 mile wide area that gave find a semi-hidden cemetery in an open
rise to California’s noted Mother Lode and field, foundations of stone buildings and
the subsequent gold rush of the 1850s. evidence of old wagon tracks that belong
Gold compounds in the magma dissolved to the original Emigrant Trail.
The Emigrant Trail was a major route
in the water and rose in the fissures, where
the cooling gold fell out in the water as over the Sierras to the lower hills that
metal. In 1849 John Sutter discovered gold delivered the wealth seekers in search
in the foothills of California. This discovery of gold. Some of the more famous travelunleashed a torrent of wealth seekers into ers on this trail were the survivors of the
the hills of California, the Gold Rush was on infamous Donner party of 1848. The worldfamous Tevis Cup 100-mile endurance
and Spenceville was no exception.
Also, a geologic formation—Foothill ride from Truckee to Auburn, California
Copper Belt—with its copper deposits was traverses Emigrant Pass on the full riding
responsible for the population “boom” and moon each summer.
mining success of the town of Spenceville
(no longer with us) from the 1850s for more Mining Scars Remain
than 60 years.
Unfortunately, not all transgressions are
Then town sprang up to feed and service softened by time. Alluvial deposits clothed
the miners. Bars, brothels, general stores in the velvety grass of spring tell a story of
mining in the area. Still seen today, these
small mounds were created by miners to
divert water from a stream channel in order
to more easily find gold. These scars of
hydraulic mining can be seen along many
streams of California, some masked by the
diluting effects of time.
As we trek along the trail paralleling the
creek bed we are met with a “DANGER”
sign hanging from an enclosed area. Foamy,
polluted water tells the story. An old copper mine (long since closed down) to this
day oozes, leeching poisons into the surrounding area. The fenced off area poses
no threat to the horses on the trail but remains a reminder that we need to be cognizant of our role as stewards of the land.
In 1942 Camp Beale swallowed up the
SWA, as Spenceville was reinvented as
“Spenceburg.” The new Spenceburg was
utilized as a practice “Nazi stronghold.”
American troops were preparing for an
invasion of Europe and the US military
employed booby traps, tank traps and
concrete bunkers as training obstacles. An
infamous tank trap, Dragon’s Teeth is still
visible along areas now used for grazing.
Concrete bunkers, bastions of the World
War II era, permeate the rolling hills. The
bunkers and tank traps help prepare the
13th Armored Division join General Patton’s
3rd Army in Europe. No longer utilized by
the military, the bunkers remain. Though
camouflaged with 60 years of growth, the
retired bunkers retreat into beds of safety
inhabited by the local wildlife population,
mostly rodents and birds.
The bunkers remind me of another
time when a casual horse ride was not the
normal use of this land. The land helped
prepare people for a war that dominated
the world landscape.
This horseback trek through time has
taken us from the local Indian tribes of
centuries past who used the lands as a
food-gathering place to pioneers transporting their families to a better life along
the transportation corridor known as the
Emigrant Trail. The procession of time has
brought us to the mining craze of the 1850s
and finally to more recent military uses
during World War II. Today, the modern era
has witnessed that time has returned this
land to recreational users—equestrians,
hikers, hunters.
Time has altered the land over the centuries, and it remains our responsibility to
protect its future uses. Understanding the
history of the land aids one in becoming
an informed steward of the land and better
able to answer the following question:
How can we best ensure that the land we
ride through be safeguarded for future
Military History
SWA borders Beale Air Force Base in
the foothills outside Sacramento. Home of
the U2 plane, its present day use by the
Air Force is apparent as modern aircraft
sweep across the sky but previous uses
of this land tell of another time. Bunkers
punctuate portions of SWA as it served as
a training ground for troops during World
War II.
Rob Lazor lives in Grass
Valley, California, where
he is an entrepreneur
and confirmed adventure
trekker with his two Morgans. Always looking for
a new place to ride, the
author welcomes suggestions for a weeklong
trek to that next adventure. Please contact
[email protected]
Ten Tactics to Avert Joint
Injury in You and Your Horse
Whether you spend most of your riding time in the
arena or out on the trail, taking a few minutes to
think about ways to prevent joint injury can be well
worth your efforts. Benjamin Franklin told us that “an
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and
none say it better when it comes to joint health. In
contrast to soft tissue, joints can easily experience
loss of mobility and function after an injury, and
any resulting scar tissue can have disastrous
effects when it comes to performance. Therefore,
it is imperative to minimize the risks of injury as
much as is feasible.
T actic 1 :
Know Your Horse
The balance between proper workload and over-training can
be somewhat elusive, but your eyes and hands can be powerful
tools to help you assess how your horse is handling the work.
Looking at and palpating legs on a daily basis, and most especially after more strenuous workouts, can illuminate heat and
swelling that may be subtle indications of underlying problems, and warning signs that more rest is needed in between
works. Any fill in or even around joints should be carefully
monitored and compared with the degree of work the horse
is being asked to do.
T actic 2 :
Consider Supplements
A slightly different approach to maintaining healthy
joints can be found with the myriad of chondroprotectant supplements and products now available on the
market. These include injectible substances as well as
daily oral supplements, and one form or another can
and should be used regularly for horses in moderate
to heavy athletic training. As well, senior equines and
horses already suffering from the effects of arthritis
can benefit greatly from some of these products. Your
veterinarian can advise you as to which is the most
suitable form and brand for your particular horse
and activity level.
continued page 34
By M i c
h
ele Ro
us h , D
VM
Signs of
JOINT DAMAGE
Occasional or frequent
stumbles, especially on
uneven ground or downhill
Stiffness or reluctance
to move out
Shortened strides
Heat or swelling
after exercise
Lameness—in the early
stages, after work; but
as it progresses, degree
and chronicity increase.
continued next page
T actic 3
Know How
to Fall Off
Take a class or have your instructor teach you how to fall off. You can
practice protecting your body as you
fall under controlled circumstances,
so that if and when you come off in
an uncontrolled manner, you have a
better chance of escaping relatively
unscathed. This sounds scary, but it is
taught in a step-wise fashion, so that
you learn in small increments. Along
with learning to fall, you can learn an
emergency dismount, so that if you have
time you can safely come off your horse
when going at speed. All these are tools
that you should have in your hip pocket, to
pull out when you are in need of them.
Along with learning to fall, you should learn
an emergency dismount, so that if you have
time you can safely come off your horse
whe n going at speed. All these are tools
that you should have in your hip pocket,
to pull out when you are in need of them.
Photo by Leslie Thompson
T actic 5 :
T actic 4 :
Stay on Top of
Your Horse
Riders need to be aware of the possibility of significant joint injury, not
only to their horses, but also to themselves. You should take care to adhere
to the first rule of riding at all times:
Keep the horse between you and all
hard objects and bodies of water!
Unfortunately, following this simple
rule is not always as easy as it sounds.
With that in mind, the following tips
can help you minimize the damage
when you find yourself in violation of
“riding rule #1.”
Do some warm-up and stretching
exercises before each ride. These
can be done either on the ground or
on your horse, or you can do some of
both. Preparing the body for the work
it is going to be doing is paramount
to avoiding all types of injuries, joint
injuries included. To ease stress on
your horse’s legs and joints, be sure
to include a warm-up and cool-down
period for him as well.
Teach Your Horse
to Leg Yield
Another very useful tool to have and use
regularly is a modicum of control over where
your horse’s body goes. A common injury for
trail riders involves the slamming of a knee
joint into a so-called “knee-knocker.” These
are trees that are close to the side of a trail,
usually positioned on some sort of a curve
or corner, so that if a rider does not take
care to bend the horse around his or her leg
while going by the tree, the rider’s knee gets
banged into the tree.
Having the horse listening, even mildly
collected, and bending around your knee
as you pass the tree or other obstacle will
prevent this painful injury from happening.
If you find yourself approaching a tree too
closely, the worst thing you can do is pull the
horse’s head away from the tree at the last
minute, as this will cause the horse’s body,
moving forward and carrying your knee, to
move closer to the knee-knocker. Some basic dressage or arena lessons can give you
the skill and practice you need to be able to
have your horse yield to your leg.
T actic 6 :
Condition for the Task
One such tactic is simple common sense: Do not ask the body to
do something it has not been properly prepared to do. Conditioning
for the task to be done consists of a period of progressive loading
over time. Remember that different tissues in your horse’s body
vary in their rate of response to exercise (see “10 Fitness Tips for a
New Season on the Trail,” Trail Blazer, March issue, p.28.) Respecting this concept will help avoid all injuries, not just joint injuries.
One joint-specific caveat to this tactic is that joint injury, and
arthritis specifically, can be brought on by repetitive stress. Therefore, conditioning should be planned out thoughtfully and should
be without miles or hours of wasted effort. Make each minute of
conditioning count for something, and do not spend much time repeating over and over a task at which your horse is already proficient.
T actic 7 :
Mount With Care
A fall and subsequent joint injury can occur not only from the
mounted position. The mounting process itself can be a tenuous
time for a rider. It involves a period of time, short as it may be,
that the rider by necessity is slightly unbalanced, and has to
trust the horse to be there at the end of the maneuver. If you are
awkward or slow to mount, it is doubly important that your horse
be trained to behave and stand still as you clamber aboard. The
use of a mounting block can also be safer for you. (Editor’s note:
see story “The Art of Stillness” in this issue on p.66.)
Volleyball players are familiar with the concept of jammed
fingers, but they are not alone in being the ones to experience
this painful joint affliction. Riders who do not close their fingers on
the reins, and ride a horse prone to spookiness, will not take long to
discover that the meeting of open fingers with a horse’s neck is a joint
adventure best avoided.
A more supple horse who can bend through the rib cage,
soften through the poll and work off his hindquarters rather than travel “heavy” on the forehand will also experience
less concussion to his front legs, lessening the chance of
injury and joint wear-and-tear. Photo by Leslie Thompson
T actic 8 :
Help Your Horse Be Soft and Supple
Working with a riding instructor or clinician who understands equine and human physiology has additional
benefits for your horse’s long-term joint health. A more
supple horse who can bend through the rib cage, soften
through the poll and work off his hindquarters rather than
travel “heavy” on the forehand will also experience less
concussion to his front legs, lessening the chance of injury
and joint wear-and-tear.
continued next page
T actic 1 0 :
Lighten the Load
FMI
For the best products for horse
Finally, for both horse and
and human joints, see:
rider, it is important to lighten
the load as much as possible.
Joints, whether human or equine,
Absorbine, p.36
can only take so much stress and
Equilite, Inc., p.44
strain, and obesity can be a leading cause of added stress. Think
Farnam Companies, Inc., p.31
about how your joints might ache
Horse Health USA, p.35
if you donned a 30-pound backSelect the Best, p.34
pack and went for a hike. Then
Source, Inc., p.37
imagine how much added work
White Haven Farm, p.19
your joints would have to do if
you did this day after day. Yes,
your muscles and tendons would
gradually adapt to the workload, but your joints would have to bear the
brunt over and over. It is that kind of repetitive trauma that will add the
most wear and tear to everyone’s joints.
It does not take much to smarten up and spend a few minutes thinking about strategic ways to avoid joint damage to both you and your
horse. Remember that joints do not repair as well as soft tissue, so the
proverbial ounce of prevention is worth its weight in gold!
T actic 9 :
Easy on the Speed
and Turns
Another strategy for avoiding joint injury
in horses is to avoid or minimize speed and
quick changes in direction or velocity. This
is especially true when the horse is working in heavy or slick footing, such as sand
or mud. When you are riding in treacherous
footing, slow down and be ready to help
your horse maintain a good, balanced frame,
to help him negotiate the tricky stuff safely.
“The balance between proper workload
and over-training can be somewhat
elusive, but your eyes and hands can be
powerful tools to help you assess how
your horse is handling the work.”
Michele Roush, DVM, has logged over 12,000 AERC miles in her endurance career. She was on the gold-medal winning team at the Pan
American Endurance Championships in 2003, won the Haggin Cup
for Best Condition at Tevis in 2005 and has been a world champion
in Ride & Tie. She lives and rides in the California Sierra foothills with
one dog, one cat and four horses.
BUZZOFF!
B y Pa t B a r n h a r t F ly C ont r o l Pa r t I I
Stave
off the
annual
assault of
the bugs in
camp and
on the
trail
FLY me to the moon, and let me play among the stars …
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars
I’m pretty sure Old Blue Eyes (Frank Sinatra) wasn’t thinking about sending flies to the moon, but who hasn’t wished them gone far, far away?
Last month we discussed methods, products and strategies for controlling flies around the home, farm, barn and paddocks; in fact all horsepopulated environments. Congratulations if you are no longer bugged by
fly infestation problems as a result of implementing some or all of them.
But you can’t stay home forever. Sooner or later you have to load up the
trailer and venture away from your home base to explore new environments. In fact, trail riding is what we’re all about.
If you have a summer of trail riding and camping planned, you can be
sure there’s an army of flies waiting to attack you and your horse when
you are most vulnerable and off your home turf. In fact, they’re playing a
different Sinatra tune: Ain’t She Sweet.
So will it be back to: Swat! Slap! Spray! Repeat!? No!
Plan Ahead
Review all of your home-based fly
control strategies, and consider whether
or not you will need to extend them when
traveling for horse shows, trail rides or
endurance rides. Depending upon the
length of your trip, you may need to
continue your home-based treatment
(i.e., feed-through program) so that you
maintain continuity in your fly-control
strategies.
Guess who’s coming
to dinner?
The pests that swarm around your
barn, paddocks, pastures and pens may
be different than those you will encounter
on the trail. You may be traveling to a
different state or region of the country,
with an entirely different population of
aggressive Bug McNasties licking their
tiny little chops at the thought of you and
Trigger coming for dinner.
Battle of
the Bugs
The Ride
English Riding Supply
introduces the Got Flies™ Fly
Mask and Fly Sheet for your trail
horse. It is made from a highly
durable mesh Textilene material
that breathes. The Fly Wraps®
have an all natural insecticidefree solution that protects your
horse’s legs against flies and
mosquitos. Photo courtesy of
English Riding Supply,
www. englishridingsupply.com
Getting to know you,
getting to know
all about you
Take the time to do some research ahead of
time. Consult your veterinarian, or ask someone who’s been there. Learn what to expect
during the time of year you’ll be visiting. Online resources, riding clubs and social media
networking can work wonders; you may find
yourself with new friends and lots of helpful
hints about local pests of the bugging kind.
As we learned last month, the most prevalent members of the McNasty family are:
Stable Fly—These little suckers bite.
House Fly—They don’t bite, but they are
attracted to anything they can feed on.
Face Fly—Cousin of the House Fly, they
love the eye area and can actually cause
blindness.
Horn Fly—Tiny pricking bloodsuckers that
love cattle but will settle for your horse.
Bot Fly—They lay eggs on the horse’s coat,
which then must be scraped off.
Gnat (aka no-see-ums, biting
midges)—Some species bite
and are most pesky at dawn
and dusk.
Once you know who the most
likely local villains are, purchase
the appropriate spray and either
carry the large container, or transfer several ounces to one or more
small bottles that can be easily transported. This will depend
upon the logistics of your trip, its
length and whether or not you are
carrying a saddlebag.
W.F. Young offers UltraShield Swipe, an insecticide
and repellent in a convenient applicator bottle
that you can carry easily
in your saddle bag for
on-the-trail application.
It has sunscreen and is
sweat resistant. Photo
courtesy of W.F. Young,
www.absorbine.com
By riding early in the
morning (we’re talking crack
of dawn here) you will avoid
flies to a large degree, as
they prefer to sleep in,
then enjoy an equestrian
feast. (What a life, huh?)
This strategy is not always
possible in competitive and
endurance trail rides, but
it’s something to consider for leisure trips.
Likewise, riding in open areas—as opposed to heavily wooded trails—will result
in fewer pests. Lots of vegetation and an
abundance of standing or slow-moving water
(swamps, bogs, etc.) will also produce more
flies and gnats than wide-open spaces.
Tack up your horse before using spray;
this will avoid irritation that can occur when
covered areas that have been sprayed become hot and sweaty. You may get more up
close and personal with the trail than you
intended. Talk about passing the buck!
Don’t spray your horse’s head; instead use
a soft cloth to wipe the spray on, especially
around the eyes. Creams and gels are especially useful in the ears, and roll-ons are great
to use around wound areas.
If you decide to use a fly mask, don’t just
whip it out the day of the trail ride and introduce it to your horse! Train with it for a few
days before the trip to ensure a cooperative
mount. Hey, how would you like it if someone
slapped a hood over your head and asked
you to navigate some strange territory? Your
horse may object to the encumbrance until
he gets used to it. Consider your horse’s
demeanor and personality when choosing
a style of mask. Ditto with boots, which are
particularly helpful in preventing your horse
from stamping and pawing to rid himself of
flies biting his legs.
Fly strips (tags) can be attached to browbands or bridles. They flutter in the breeze
A botanical fly spray
that really works? EQyss
Marigold Premier Spray
does! Most people know
that if you put marigolds in a
garden the bugs disappear.
This nontoxic barrier spray
can be used safely on
the head and ears. Photo
courtesy of EQyss Grooming
Products, www.EQyss.com
and discourage flies from landing. Again, it’s
best to allow your horse to become accustomed to the device before heading out on
the trail. You can purchase them or make your
own with cloth strips saturated in fly spray.
Another frequently used device is a handheld fly whisk, which looks a bit like a riding
crop with a long brush at the end. Wield the
whisk to shoo away Mr. McNasty and his
buddies. Depending on your horse’s level
of training and adaptability, this may act as
a “stimulant” so beware, especially if you’ve
ever used a crop in your training regimen.
Campsite insights
Just like at home, cleanliness is next to...
being pest free. Remove manure as often and
as far away as practical.
Camp in a shaded, high and dry area if possible, away from the aforementioned
standing water hazards, and you will encounter much less bug-tivity.
There goes the neighborhood
Don’t camp (if possible) next to a pasture
populated by other animals (horses, cows,
goats, llamas, etc.) Their owners may not be
as diligent as you are.
uThe ultimate barrier is fly netting; some
products can even enclose your campsite.
uSecure food, horse feed and trash appropriately so as to not attract flies.
uSome campers swear by citronella candles
and/or torches; others claim they have little
or no effect.
uBring along some fly strips to hang around
the paddock area and/or campsite.
uPack plenty of your favorite repellents:
roll-ons, sprays, gels, shampoo.
uSprinkle granular fly bait around campsite
and/or tent areas. This product attracts and
kills flies rapidly.
Natural solutions
Citronella, orange peel, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemongrass, lemon oil and lavender
are all said to possess repellent qualities
continued next page
Breaking it down
To recap, the main categories of weapons
in the war against the Lord of the Flies include:
Topicals: Sprays, wipes, roll-ons, gels,
shampoos. The idea is to make you and your
horse less attractive to flies but their effectiveness is relatively short-lived (especially if
The Quiet-Ride™ is sheer
and translucent to allow
your horse to see clearly
without impairing his
vision on the trail. The
Quiet-Ride™ can be worn
either over or under
the bridle and is light
weight, comfortable and
nonrestrictive. Photo courtesy of Cashel Company,
www.cashelcompany.com
For more information about the
best fly control products see:
FMI
to varying degrees. Use the item itself (like
leaves or peel), or obtain the essential oil.
Make your own fly strips with cloth, using
these natural repellants. Dot each strip with
several drops of your essential oil of choice.
Hang the strips around the perimeter of
your campsite to repel flies and a host of
other insects.
Apple cider vinegar in your horse’s water
is said to greatly control flies. It may take
some time to accustom your horse to the
taste, however. And petroleum jelly works
well in place of insecticides inside the ears.
Avoid bathing, showering or shampooing with fragrant products, as they seem to
attract insects. Don’t make yourself so darn
attractive!
And finally, try this: Take along some
small plastic baggies. Once you are in camp,
fill them with water and add five or six pennies. Hang the baggies on trees, posts, horse
trailer, etc. This is not a joke; they will keep
away flies (and wasps too). The scientific
explanation is that the millions of water molecules present their own prisms; flies have
so many eyes that the reflected light and
movement create a dizzying effect. Flies
perceive them as dangerous predators and
stay away. Seriously.
A-1 Unique Insect Control, p.51
Absorbine, p.13,47
Cashel Company, p.8,9
Durvet, p.45
English Riding Supply, p.23
Equine Medical & Surgical
Associates, p59
EQyss Grooming Products, p.3
Farnam Companies, Inc., p.5,41,58,79
Feed Mark, p.52
Greystone America, p.61
Intrepid, p.68
JT International Dist., p.2
Pro Tech Livestock Corp, p.40
White Haven Farm, p.19
Whup A Bug, p.76
Zephyr ‘s Garden, p.50
your horse is sweating heavily or it’s raining).
There are dozens of products for both you
and your horse, and they are essential for
comfortable camping and trail riding.
Barriers: Optional products that come
between your horse and the flies.
Masks: Many styles are available, some
for longer ears, some cover only the eyes;
some extend to the muzzle.
Sheet Mesh: This material covers the
horse generally from withers to rump;
some styles also feature belly, neck,
and chest protection. Some styles offer
UV protection from the sun, particularly
beneficial for pink-skinned horses.
Boots: These cover the lower leg.
Traps and Baits: From strips to containers, they all use some form of attractant
to lure the flies, then entrap or poison
them. You’ll need to give some thought
to the types of flies that are the problem, and purchase the correct product.
Within each category, you will find a
wide range of methods, prices, quality and
delivery systems. It will take some trial and
error to discover the products that work
best for you, your horses and your budget.
Eventually you will discover your favorites.
Wishing you a happy fly-free summer of
trail riding, camping, and singing a different
tune. Cue the music …
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.
On every holiday, my mom and dad loaded all six of us kids in the truck and camper and went camping.
It was often a caravan of campers and trailers, because we went with several neighbor families. I have
memories of riding motorcycles all over the mountains, fishing and burning marshmallows over a
campfire with my siblings and neighbor friends. | In my early adult life, I was involved other outdoor
activities such as river rafting, rock climbing, backpacking, skiing, fly fishing and hunting. Most of these
sports focused on individual performance. I am now blessed to be a father to five daughters. I have
worked hard to teach my girls those same activities and make tomboys out of them. Unfortunately for
me, my wife has worked even harder to make ladies out of them. In order to compete, I had to adjust
my sports activities to include my daughters. It had to be something fun, better than going to the mall
with mom. Shooting an elk and gutting it on the side of a mountain was more of “ick” than an “ooooh”
experience for my girls. I found the girls enjoyed riding the horses.
S t o ry a n d ph o t o s by J o n Ta n n e r
With a little advance
planning, trail riding
and horse-camping
with youngsters
can be a rewarding
adventure for all
Three daughters: Jasmine on Porter,
Darcy on Aggie and Camille on
Maya crossing ridge at Strawberry
in North Central Utah near the
treeline at 10,500 feet.
Checklist
for camping
with kids:
Kids being kids
while on a trail
ride. Be sure
to set safety
rules, such as
always wearing
a helmet.
Plan the trips with
your kids
Plan other activities to go
along with the ride—fishing,
telling scary stories around
the campfire
Start with shorter trips and
progress to overnights at
the trailer before taking
extended pack trips
Our trips evolved from short rides, to all-day rides, into
overnight camp-outs, and into extended pack trips. We have
explored miles into wilderness areas and set up camps for
extended stays. We have camped at trailheads and done day
rides. My daughters have spent many a night in the gooseneck
of my horse trailer, in small dome tents and in a large wall tent.
Here are some of the things I have learned:
It’s gotta
be fun!
Make sure they ride an
appropriate horse
My daughters would
choose to come camping
with me vs. staying home
with mom as long as they
thought it would be more
fun. So I involved them
in planning the trips, and
they got to choose some of
the destinations. We often
brought their friends. Even
if they didn’t ride with us,
they got to play in the river
or around the campfire with
friends after the ride.
I taught my daughters
to fish! They didn’t need
to catch big fish, as catching
an eight-inch brook trout is
exciting to a child. The fun
with fishing made the camping experience much more
than just a horse ride.
I like to ride a spirited horse. My geldings are usually
around 16 hands tall. That’s a lot of horse for a child to
crawl up on. So I went out and bought my youngest
daughter a Shetland pony. It was the right size for her
to saddle and easy for her to get on and off without
help. The pony was too small for me to ride and keep
him honest so the pony took advantage of my daughter
during trail rides.
I had competed in endurance races and competitive trail rides with my gelding and he liked to move
out on the trail. My daughter began to resist going
on rides with me. In questioning her, she told me that
she got a side ache when riding. So I watched her on
the next ride and realized that her pony did a hard
trot in order to keep up with my gelding’s easy brisk
walk. My daughter had no control over the speed or
gait and she was too young to have learned how to
post a trot. We sold the pony and bought a 14-hand
foxtrotter mare. It was harder for my daughter to tack
up and climb into the saddle, but the smoother ride
solved the side aches she was getting. Because the mare
was larger than the pony, I could ride her occasionally
and keep her tuned up, so my daughters had a more
responsive horse.
continued next page
Don’t resist changing plans
if the kids are not enjoying
it—they may get cold or wet;
they may get tired or sore
Pack extra clothing—
raingear, coats, dry clothing
Bring plenty of drinks and
snacks to eat while in the
saddle and around camp
Involve kids in basics of
camping: setting up tents,
starting fires, taking care of
the horses
Teach kids basic survival
skills—read trail markers,
recognize edible plants, what
to do if something unexpected
happens
Let kids be kids! They will get
muddy and wet; they will get a
scrape or bruise; they will get
bug bites
Keep younger kids within
eyesight, older kids within
earshot
Don’t overdo it
I have competed in 50-mile endurance races and have accumulated a lot of miles in competitive trail rides. In these types of rides
reaching the end of the ride on time is the goal. But I quickly learned
that my daughters didn’t have the attention span to compete in those
types of events. My daughters much prefer a ride that allows them
to stop and eat lunch when they are hungry, or get off the horse and
play in a river or lake. It was important to turn around and go back
to camp or the trailer if they got cold or tired.
Watch your kids during the ride. Make sure they don’t get rubbed
or chafed from ill-fitting clothing. Kids often get the leftover saddles.
Sometimes those saddles don’t fit them properly. Check and make
sure the stirrups are adjusted to fit their legs, and tell the kids to let
you know if they start getting sore spots.
Food and water
I put a horn bag on each of my kid’s saddles loaded with bottles
of water and Gatorade. We frequently camp in higher elevations
where staying hydrated is important. If they don’t get enough water,
they can get altitude sickness. I insist that they drink several bottles
of something during each ride. My girls have learned that if they get
back to the trailer or camp with anything left in their bottles, I’m going
to make them chug it. So they have learned to drink during the day.
Pick snacks that your kids will eat. I’m happy to get off the horse
and sit on a log and open a can of sardines; my girls prefer licorice,
gummy bears and other treats. But I try to also include string cheese,
apples, jerky and some kinds of nuts. Regardless of what you consider
healthy or allow your kids to eat, choose something they can and will
eat while they ride. Packing into the backcountry for several days has
its own problems. It’s difficult to keep perishables fresh. On day rides
it is easy to bring a sandwich, but pack trips often require food that is
more durable such as canned goods, MREs, and freeze-dried meals.
Safety first: My seven-year-old daughter Darcy, shown
here on her Shetland pony Trixie on the trails of northern
Utah, always wears her helmet.
Safety
When my kids first started riding, my youngest rolled off a big horse,
hit her head and went to the hospital with a concussion. I learned a
valuable lesson. The horses don’t have to buck or be mean and nasty
for kids to fall off. Kids just don’t have the strength or experience to
keep their balance when a horse spooks or moves unexpectedly. My
daughter recovered just fine, but we set up a family rule that they will
wear a helmet every time they get on the horse. My youngest daughter
is almost out of high school now, and I have never had to remind her
to put her helmet on. The girls just know it’s part of riding. So set some
family safety rules and stick with them.
The same thing goes for other activities you might encounter while
camping. Teach the kids how to use a knife around camp. It’s no fun
to watch your kids get stitches. If you are a hunter, they should know
basic gun safety. My daughters never had a desire to hunt. But they
occasionally rode with me during hunting season when I have a gun
with me. I’ve taught them how to be safe, if they need to handle the
gun around camp or while unsaddling my horse.
continued page 46
Know the way home
Dress for the worst
My wife was always worried I would ride 20 miles into some
wilderness mountain and my kids would get lost. Every year
there is a news story about a boy scout or a tourist who got lost
while hiking. Volunteers spend hundreds of hours searching
for them. Some are rescued, some are not.
Many years ago, I ran across a couple from Michigan who
had brought their horses out to Utah for the fall elk hunt. They
had ridden 10 miles back into the mountains. When I bumped
into them, they were poring over their map trying to find a
shorter route back to their camp before dark. I asked them
where they were camped and told them to follow me as I was
going in that direction for part of the way. The trail we headed
down wasn’t much more than a game trail. It would be visible
for a ways, and then disappear. After about six miles I had to
turn off for my camp. I told them to continue following the
trail, and it would take them to their camp. They looked at me
with a blank stare and asked, “We’ve been following a trail?” I
asked them if they had noticed the various trail markers we had
passed, but they had not. They had not seen where wilderness
travelers over the decades had marked the trail with a blaze
on the occasional tree, or that as we entered and exited the
meadows, there were small rock cairns marking the trail. The
trail markers are there if you know how to spot them.
I make sure my kids notice the trail and are not just following
me. I always ask them, “Which way would you go, if I got hurt
and you had to go for help?” When we come to a place where
the trail is faint, I get one of my daughters to look around and
find the trail markers. We’ve even gotten off the horses, pulled
out the GPS, compass and maps and figured out where we
were and which way to go. It’s important for the kids to learn
how to find their way in case they get separated from you.
Why is it that my girls jump in the truck and think that camp at 10,000
foot elevation will be as warm as my home at 4,400 foot elevation? They
will wear a helmet without being reminded, but never seem to remember
to bring a jacket. I’ve learned to keep extra jackets in the trailer.
When we get saddled and are ready to head out, I make them tie
a jacket and usually a rain slicker
behind their cantle. Sometimes it’s
my extra jacket and a big floppy fit
for the kid, but I’d rather they have
too big a coat than no coat at all.
I keep a space blanket and
matches in each child’s cantle bag.
We have never had to spend an
unexpected night on the mountain, but we have huddled under My daughter Jasmine is well
a copse of trees, wrapped up in prepared with her yellow slicker
the space blanket while a sum- during a mountain rainstorm
mer thundershower pelted the near Lime Kiln South Slope of
area with hail and violent weather. Uinta Wilderness in NE Utah.
With a little thought and preparation, a camping trip with your kids and horses can be a great adventure.
Maybe even better than a trip to the mall with mom.
Jon Tanner is a general contractor in Northern Utah who
relaxes with his horses while trail riding in Utah, Idaho
and Wyoming. He has competed in both competitive
trail riding and endurance and started and operated the
Strawberry competitive trail ride near Heber City, Utah
(now the Strawberry Fields Pioneer endurance ride). Jon
enjoys exploring remote areas with his five daughters and friends and does
frequent pack trips into wilderness areas to hunt and fish. He has owned
Arabians and Paints and now has four Missouri Foxtrotters.
Today’s boots are works of art
combined with a sophisticated construction
that focuses on function and rider comfort
A Rider’s Guide to FootWe ar
Boot
Camp
By Gretel Hakanson
“
Traditional
cowboy boots
have inspired many
variations to suit a
variety of riding styles,
and are offered in a wide
range of prices. The most
common boot styles used
by the trail rider include
cowboy, western
riding, roper, workwestern, lacers
and paddock.”
No single person is credited
with the invention of the cowboy boot. History says it evolved
organically based on the needs
of early American cattlemen.
After the Civil War ended in
1865, cowboys discovered that
the military-issued boots didn’t
suit the long hours of driving
cattle across the country. Over
time, the military-style boots
morphed into boots more suited
to the daily life of the cowboy.
M
any of the quintessential features of
riding boots originated to serve a
specific function. For example, the
toe became pointier for better stirrup compatibility. The height increased for additional
protection from brush and branches; the heel
became bigger, thicker and angled toward the
toe for stability in the stirrup. The tight-fitting
upper and high arches provided more support,
and leather soles were easy to slide the foot
in and out of the stirrup. Boots were pulled
on with long mule-ear straps but were loose
enough around the top so that they could be
wiggled out of if the rider got caught in the
stirrup and needed to get out in a hurry. The
shaft was stitched to keep the leather from
buckling and rubbing against the leg.
»TYPES OF RIDING BOOTS
Since then, traditional cowboy boots have inspired many variations
to suit a variety of riding styles, and are offered in a wide range of prices.
The most common boot styles used by the trail rider include cowboy,
western riding, roper, work-western, lacers and paddock.
Pull-on boots are not the only option for riders. Many manufacturers
offer lace-ups in a variety of heights and styles. Amber Vanwy, marketing
manager of Rocky Brands says, “Lacers are a popular boot with riders
because of the customizable fit and comfort, especially if you’re getting in out of stirrups and on and off the horse a lot. The kilty, the little
skirt/apron on the front of a lace-up boot, is a really good thing to have
because it prevents dirt and dust getting down into the boot.”
Leather is the most popular material for uppers. However, according
to Michael Diamond, vice president of sales and marketing at Mountain
Horse, there are two good reasons to select a synthetic upper. “One is
price; the second is kids. They’re usually less expensive and easy to
take care of,” he explains.
A heeled boot is more
secure in the stirrup.
When you’re negotiating steep inclines,
the tendency for your
boot to slide through
the stirrup is even
greater. You need a
tremendous amount of
balance and strength
to stay in the stirrup
going downhill, and a
heel keeps you where
you need to be.
»SOLE & HEEL
Leather versus a synthetic is a question
for soles as well. John Pearce, director of
product development for Justin Brands, notes
that “Years ago you couldn’t get a cowboy to
ride in a rubber-bottomed boot because he
wants to be able to escape the stirrup with
the greatest of ease.”
However, most rubber soles on modern
riding boots are much less “sticky” than those
used on other footwear and are designed to
be compatible with stirrups. Vanwy says, “You
want a boot that’s not overly luggy on the bottom. It needs to be somewhat smooth. You
want to make sure that it’s smooth enough so
it will easily slide into and out of the stirrups.”
Rubber-bottomed running-style shoes and
hiking boots may be comfortable to ride in
TOE SHAPE
but are not a good choice for safety reasons.
The classic cowboy boot has a narrow, pointed toe, designed to slide
Pearce says, “I wouldn’t ride cross-country
easily into the stirrups; however, riding boots now have many different
or endurance without a heel on my boot. If
toe styles. From most to least pointed, the industry toe-shape standards
you slide through the stirrup and your foot
are organized as follows:
is on the other side of the stirrup, you’re in
» J toe: Sharply pointed
really deep trouble.
» D toe: Tapered toward a point, but with a flat tip
A heeled boot is
» R toe: Tapered, but rounded at the tip
more secure in the
» W toe, U toe, Roper toe: Fully rounded or U-shaped
stirrup. Also when
» Square toe: A wide, flat and angular toe
you’re on steep inRegarding toe shape, Austin Condit, product manager at
clines, the inclinaAriat International, says, “Some people see it as function,
tion to slide through
others as style. We’re seeing a lot of the wide-square toe
the stirrup is even
styles now. It started as a style trend, but once you get into
stronger because you
them, most people really like them from a comfort standpoint
need
a tremendous
Leather is no different
because their toes don’t get pinched.”
than the
amount of balance
skin on your hands. If yo
Bob Frazier, founder, owner and designer at Twisted X,
u let
and strength to stay
agrees. “If you take a boot with a wide toe, it’s going to be
your boots dry out, jus
in the stirrup when
t like
better for your foot. If you stand barefoot and look down at
your hands they will sta
you’re going down the
rt to
the shape of your foot, you need something that’s shaped
crack. A lanolin-based
side
of a hill.”
lea
the
r
like your foot. You don’t need it shaped like your foot and
balm restores the moist
ure
to
too big; you need it shaped like your foot and snug. When
the leather and keeps yo
continued next page
ur
your foot slides forward naturally when you’re riding, [a wider
boots soft and flexible.
toe] is not going to pinch your toes or create pressure.”
»
Glossary: Parts of a Boot
» Pull tabs: The leather pieces
stitched in the shaft, found on the left and
right sides of shaft, that are used to pull
on the boot, sometimes called mule ears
or ears.
» Insole board: What your feet stand on inside
the boot, cushions the foot inside the boot and is
often removable.
» Counter:
The part that encloses
the back of the heel
» Shaft:
The upper part of the boot
covering the calf.
» Spur ridge: A ledge, located
on the back at the heel, for the
spur to rest upon.
»Vamp: Where the upper part (shaft) and the
bottom part of the boot are joined.
» Toe box: The material in the boot
toe that offers protection and reinforces
the shape of the toe.
» Heel:
There are a variety of
styles of heels available in both
height and angle.
» Shank: Metal or heavy plastic strip in
the sole used as reinforcement for the wearer’s arch. A full shank goes to the toe while a
3/4 shank goes to the ball of the foot.
» Outsole: Bottom of the boot, the only part
aside from the heel the touches the ground.
»FIT & COMFORT
In addition to toe shape, proper fit is
essential for comfort. But getting a proper
fit can be a challenge. Manufacturers agree
that trying on boots is essential: They say
go to a store, try on different styles and
see what feels good for you.
There’s only one way to fit a pull-on
boot, says Frazier. “You can compare it to
a shoe or a lace-up boot. When you lace
up a shoe or a work boot, you lace it up as
tight as it feels good. A cowboy boot is the
same way. The only thing is that you don’t
have the luxury of a fit system, like laces.
All you’ve got is the instep. If the boot is
not snug on the instep, it is going to move
around on your foot.” That means it doesn’t
fit properly.
You should have to tug a bit to get a pull
on boot on, according to many manufacturers. A lot of first-time cowboy boot wearers
purchase boots that are too large. “If your
foot slides right into the boot, I can tell you
right now, it doesn’t fit. If you don’t have to
tug a little bit to get it on, your foot is going
to move in the boot. But if you force the
boot on and your foot goes to sleep, it’s too
little or too narrow,” adds Frazier.
Getting the proper fit simply requires
knowing what to look for. Condit offers
another fitting tip, “When trying on boots,
your heel is actually supposed to pop up a
little bit in a new boot until they’re broken
in. When boots are broken in, a little crease
forms across the back of your ankle that’ll
hold your heel in place.”
However, your foot should not move
from side to side. “If you ever wear a hole
in the foot bed, it means your boot doesn’t
fit you. You’ve got friction going back and
forth. It may not be because the boot is too
long. It may be that the boot is not snug in
the instep,” says Frazier.
Inconsistent sizes can be a problem in
getting a perfect fit as well. For example,
you may wear a size 9 in boots from one
manufacturer and an 8½ in another. One
reason for this could be attributed to the
sizing system used by the manufacturer.
The molds (or lasts) that are used to make
many riding boots are in European sizes,
according to Diamond.
“The conversion isn’t necessarily consistent from manufacturer to manufacturer
or even from model to model within the
same manufacturer,” says Diamond. “Often there’s no exact translation from the
European size to the US size. When that
happens, they rounding up or down. To get
the most accurate fit, you should know your
European size, and then buy according to
your European size.” Most manufacturers
will provide that information.
continued page 52
5
important things to remember
» when ordering a custom pair of boots
By Priscilla Sanchez
1 » Have fun! — Don’t be shy — Personalize!
These special boots will be made for one person—YOU! As long as it takes to make a really good pair of boots and as much as they cost, make it really worthwhile. Nothing displays
your attitude more than your boots. Go for a bootmaker with a topnotch record of customer
service who will develop a relationship with you over the years, keeping your information
and “likes” in your file.
2 » Comfort IS important.
There is no such thing as a “one size fits all” definition of a “true fit.” It has long been
believed that a tight fit is the desired fit. The idea of tight fit and breaking in your boots
started out for a reason—for working cowboys—and yes, they wear the heck out of them day
in and day out. Most other folks do not. Most people have a pretty good idea of what feels
good to them, so discuss your preferences with your bootmaker.
If your size varies or you don’t know your size, pick up the phone and talk to them. A
good custom bootmaker will know in the first five minutes of the conversation what size
needs you have, how to interpret information, and how to customize or build a last (mold)
if necessary. No one can tell you what you perceive to be beautiful, no one really knows
what is “comfortable” for you—but you!
NEVER purposely go narrower and longer than your most average size.
This will cause several problems. First, the toe will curl up and there will be
no arch support. The ball of the foot is its widest part, and going narrow and
long forces the widest part of the foot into the narrowest part of the boot. It
will land too far back in the arch and can cause the vamp to tear apart from
the sole, not to mention the discomfort it will cause.
3 » Choose a bootmaker that
knows leathers well.
Not all leathers stretch to the same degree, and there are many boots
out there that are not all leather or are pig-lined. Pig lining may be leather,
but it is not pliable and can tear under stress and prevent the upper leather from stretching
properly. Sizing and fit are important considerations in what leather to choose, especially if
adjustments are necessary should you have your heart set on a specific skin.
4 » Mail-order boots are good boots.
One fallacy that has been passed on through the generations is that a reputable bootmaker will size and take measurements only in person. That has just plain never been true!
Because of the limitations and hindrance of traveling, there was a time that mail order was
the only option for most folks in the expanding West. For over 100 years, that’s how
this country was built in all aspects of personal dress and home styling.
5 » Patience is a virtue!
Handcrafting boots is an art form. It takes talent, and it takes time. A
well-built, high-end quality boot can take 8 to 12 weeks (or longer!) to
turn out. There are many reasons for the length of time it takes. There are
many steps and stages to bootmaking, and all aspects of building the boot
are time-consuming, from choosing quality skins and hides as well as the
patterning and style, the cutting and top-stitching and sizing and “lasting,”
to stacking and sanding soles and heels, and finally buffing and cleaning.
Don’t be put off by the term “approximately.” Handmade boots don’t
have UPC barcodes on them that go through a computer to determine ship
times. Slight imperfections are expected in a handcrafted boot, both in
the natural hides as well as the craftsmanship, as long as they do not
compromise the aesthetic nature, integrity of the use of the boot.
Priscilla Sanchez is a custom bootmaker with Caboots
(www.caboots.com), a company out of El Paso, Texas, that has
been making custom boots for over 100 years.
rs because
Lacers are a popular boot with ride
, especially
of the customizable fit and comfort
on and
if you’re getting in out of stirrups and
skirt/
off the horse a lot. The kilty, the little
t, is a really
apron on the front of a lace-up boo
dirt and
good thing to have because it prevents
dust getting down into the boot
»KEEPING WARM & DRY
Having warm and dry feet can make the difference between a pleasant ride and a
miserable outing. Trail riders are almost guaranteed to be around some sort of water
some of the time, whether it’s rain and puddles, a water crossing or a hose. When selecting footwear keep in mind that waterproof and water-resistant are not the same.
“Leathers high in oil content will resist water, but they’re not waterproof,” explains
Pearce. “A waterproof boot requires an internal bootie that is completely sealed off. It’s like
a totally enclosed sock built in the boot that has a waterproof membrane on it. The holes
in the membrane are big enough to allow the exchange of oxygen and CO2 molecules but
small enough to keep the water molecules from coming in.” Pearce says there are spray-on
agents that are water-resistant but they are not going to ensure that the boot is waterproof.
“Breathability is a very important thing,” says Diamond. “It’s why most people
don’t want to ride in rubber boots—they’re hot and sweaty. If a boot is waterproof,
it may be breathable or it may not be breathable. Trail riders probably want either a waterproof, breathable boot or one that’s water resistant and breathable.”
Many riding boots are lined with leather. Leather lining is the most traditional style and it
provides some insulation. Synthetic linings are gaining in popularity and can add breathability
and warmth. For example, a mesh lining made from synthetic material is cooler than leather
and wicks moisture. Frazier says, “In athletic footwear, people don’t expect a leather interior,
but they do in a boot. When I work cattle, I wear boots with air-mesh lining and my feet are
cooler. I’m in brush country; there’s cactus and it’s hot. The mesh lining pulls moisture from
your foot and keeps it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.”
For proper fit, most manufacturers would agree that for cold weather riding, you should
either purchase a boot sized specifically for thick socks or choose boots with extra insulation.
Insulation is typically made with a synthetic material because it’s less bulky and wicks moisture
better than natural materials such as goose down. The amount of insulation is determined by
weight and may range from 200 to 1,200 grams.
»CARE &
MAINTENANCE
Most boot manufacturers agree
that your boots should be cared
for and cleaned just like your
saddle: remove the dirt with a soft
brush, use a leather soap and soft
towel to clean the leather, allow
it to dry completely—without a
heat source—and moisturize the
leather with an oil-based leather
conditioner.
“The thing you need to understand about leather boots, whether it’s exotic leather or regular
cowhide,” explains Pearce, “is that
leather is no different than the
skin on your hands. If you let your
boots dry out, just like your hands
they will start to crack. A lanolinbased leather balm restores the
moisture to the leather and keeps
your boots soft and flexible.”
In choosing footwear for riding,
we can’t forget about esthetics.
“The most important is that the
boot be appealing to you, from
both a comfort standpoint and
from a functionality standpoint,
and of course, you have to like the
way they look,” says Vanwy.
The variety of riding footwear is
staggering. Many boots available
today are works of art combined
with a sophisticated construction
that focuses on function and rider
comfort.
continued page 54
Gretel Hakanson,
from Tucson,
Arizona, is a regular
contributor to Trail
Blazer Magazine.
She lives with her
husband, horse, three dogs and a cat
and spends her free time trail riding,
hiking, running and bike riding in the
desert.
the trail blazer staff takes footwear to the trail
9
The Trail Blazer staff was wildly enthusiastic when they were given the assignment to be official
testers of great footwear for trail riding Following are the top nine styles of footwear that the TB staff
voted as the BEST for trail riders, in a variety of styles and range of pricing. Each staffer wrote a note
about what they liked best. The four number rating system is (in order) » STYLE » COMFORT
OUT OF THE BOX » COMFORT AFTER WEARING ALL DAY » QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION.
ARIAT “Heritage Roper”
Durango “Flirt Cowgirl BootS”
“The boots are stylish, comfortable and versatile, I can
wear them while working in the barn, riding or out
shopping. They’re easy to slip on and off. We are still
experiencing the occasional snow with freezing ice
and they have kept me upright several times.”
5
5
4
Sugg. Retail
- $99.00
Sugg. Retail
- $119.95
twisted x “Women’s Rough Stock”
Sug. Retail
-$189.00
3
4.5
“The J Flex comfort system
is all that they say it is! I put
these fabulous boots on first thing in the morning
and thought I would only be able to wear them for a
short time! Boy was I wrong I wore them all day and
rode in them in the evening. I liked the compliments
that I got wearing them.”
5
Sugg. Retail
- $230.00
5
5
5
Sugg. Retail
- $74.99
Right out of the box, these
shoes were immediately appealing – a wonderful athletic type shoe but in
that great Ariat style. Sliding on, it was love at
first glide. The shoes were totally comfortable to
wear all day long, in the barn, around camp, even
gardening at home.”
5
5
5
5
5
5 “The leather is so soft it
molds to your foot. I like the
high top for ankle support and the padding
around the top for added comfort. My favorite
feature is that once you get the laces right, you
can get in and out of the boots using the zipper
in the back These boots are absoutely gorgeous
and stylin’!”
Sugg. Retail
- $260.00
ROCKY “Sante Fe Western Boots”
4
5 “Not only are these
5 5
boots extraordinarily
comfortable, they work perfectly in the stirrup–no slippage; easy in and out. There is
an alchemy in the combination of the sole,
elastic side panels and shape of the upper
that offers not only a great fit but the comfort
of a running shoe.”
5
5
ARIAT “Monaco LACED Paddock”
5
ariat “RIDGE LACE”
5
3
Sugg. Retail
- $229.00
MT. HORSE “Peak Protector with Steel Toe”
Sugg. Retail
- $129.00
5
“This boot combines the best
of leather and crepe soles.
Not only are they comfortable to wear all day, but
you can feel the stirrups under your feet as you
would with thin leather bottoms. Well made and
stylish, these boots are a great buy!”
5
5
JUSTIN “Denim Italian Pullup”
5
4
BOULET “CREPE SOLE BOOT”
“This is a beautiful boot that
just gets softer and more
comfortable every time I pull them on. The wide
toe box assures plenty of “wiggle room”, and the
soles have just the right amount of texture to hold
the stirrup without sticking or sliding. The built-in,
pull-on “grips” are a great feature.”
5
“Finally a boot that matches
the beauty of my horse. We
are styling as we ride the trail. I want to wear shorts
just to show off the boots. They are so comfortable I
don’t wait till I can take them off as I did with my old
boots. Fits like a glove, when you are in the saddle
or just walking.”
5
5
“This is a cute and comfy boot
that you can ride, walk and
work in. The low leathers let you slip them off and
on without bending over. They come out of the box
ready to wear with very little “break-in” time. These
are my favorite boots now!.”
5
5
5
4
Sugg. Retail
- $179.95
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
ARIAT - www.ariat.com
BOULET BOOTS - www.bouletboots.com
DURANGO BOOTS - www.durangoboot.com
JUSTIN BOOTS - www.justinboots.com
MOUNTAIN HORSE - www.MountainHorseUSA.com
ROCKY BOOTS - www.rockyboots.com
TWISTED X BOOTS - www.twistedxboots.com
here comes the
Back in my college days in Pennsylvania, the first feeble sunrays of April signaled
us roommates to “lay out” to start our summer tans. This was usually accomplished
on roofs, in view of the boys’ dorm. We had all manner of techniques and concoctions thought to enhance the process, such as turning every 15 minutes, and
using baby oil mixed with iodine. Yes, some of us got sunburns, while others
seemed to darken visibly in just a short time. By Lisa Price
B
ack then I had a good friend named
Donna, who I thought was ultra-cool
because she played guitar and sang
in coffee houses, and had a one-eyed white
mare named Dolly she’d taught to jump.
The horse had been owned by a man who
belonged to some equine drill group, all
riding white horses. After a pasture injury
caused Dolly to lose an eye, the owner
felt he could no longer use her in parades
because of her appearance, and had given
her to Donna.
I remember the care Donna lavished on
Dolly’s remaining eye, in particular, sunscreen. I remember learning with surprise,
“Who’d have thought that horses could
have a wide range of reactions to the sun,
just like people do?”
But they do. Like their counterpart human redheads and blondes, equine Appaloosas, Paints, pintos, grays, whites and
chestnuts are particularly susceptible to
sunburn. Even dark horses are susceptible
to sunburn on their white blazes, muzzles
and leg markings, especially on their heads
and lower legs where the skin is thinner
and often pink.
Nearly 100 years ago, Lt. Col. Charles
E. Woodruff, US Army, wrote about equine
skin color and its relation to the abilities
of horses to perform in the cavalry. His
work, part of the Army’s quest to breed a
military horse fit for campaigning in every
climate, was published in the US Calvary
Journal, 1912.
“Due to differences in heat radiation,
retention and absorption, the color of skin
and hair are significant factors in horses’
endurance and survival,” Woodruff wrote.
He cited the earlier work of Dr. Robert Wallace, Professor of Agriculture, University of
Edinborough, who had discovered that the
skin of all domestic animals in the tropics
was black—to radiate heat—no matter
what the hair color.
Interestingly, Woodruff also theorized
that smaller horses were better suited to
hot climates. Also, he believed that among
black horses, the ones with coats that lightened or reddened with sun exposure were
more valuable, because he believed this
trait was inheritable. He also advised that
black horses wear a white cover sheet to
help them reflect the sun’s rays.
No trail is completely shaded and there
is no giant umbrella you can hold that will
cover horse and rider; nor would you want
either of those things. Vitamin D received
from the sun brings many benefits to
horses and riders, but as with many good
things, moderation is the key. Also, a
horse’s likelihood of becoming sunburned
can be caused by other factors, not just
sun exposure.
Vitamin D Benefits
Whether it comes from the sun, food
or supplements, all of us—horses and
humans—need vitamin D. Probably the
most commonly-known benefit of vitamin
D is that it is essential for the proper handling of calcium in our bodies. But what
researchers are just beginning to discover
is the broad range of diseases that vitamin
D deficiency can cause, including autoimmune disease, chronic pain, diabetes, depression, high blood pressure and cancer.
They are also quickly revising the optimal
levels needed to prevent such illnesses.
Many experts now recommend up to 5,000
IU per day, especially for those living in
northern latitudes. To learn whether you
are getting enough vitamin D, have your
continued page 59
This rider wears
a wide-brimmed
hat, a good choice;
but she still
needs to put on
30-SPF or higher
sunscreen to be
fully protected
from the sun.
Studies have found that
people and horses who
have received proper levels of
vitamin D have an increased
sense of well being, sleep well, have
improved thyroid function, greater
production of both red and white
blood cells and much more. One benefit,
tougher to measure, is that it just plain
feels good to soak up the sun, for people
and humans, especially after a long winter.
This horse and rider are both
susceptible to sun damage.
The rider needs to protect herself
with a long-sleeved shirt with a
high collar, and a wide-brimmed
hat. The horse needs to wear a
fly mask that will protect both his
eyes and pink muzzle. Both horse
and rider would benefit
from 30 SPF or greater
sunscreen.
Sunburn and Skin Issues
Blue-eyed blondes and red-haired
people are more apt to burn, because
they don’t have as much natural pigment
in their skin. And as if hot flashes, thinning
hair and dependence on cheater glasses
aren’t enough, post-menopausal women of
all complexions may be more susceptible
to burning, because after 50 the capillaries
in our skin begin to thin.
Susan Hopf, editor of the horse section
of www.BellaOnline.com, was diagnosed
with basal cell carcinoma at a relatively
young age. Vigilance regarding sun protection, for her and her horses, has long been
a habit with her.
“I use a sweat-proof product with SPF
(Sun Protection Factor) 30 year round
and SPF 50 during the months with longer
days,” she said. “I use products which
contain titanium dioxide.”
“Horses can get Periocular Squamous
Cell Carcinoma, which is directly related
to sun exposure, and it’s a malignancy
JT International
offers a Contour Mesh
Blanket, Neck Cover and
Removable Mask which is
a great solution for sun
protection. The mesh allows natural
air circulation over the horse and does
double duty keeping annoying flies
and insects away. Photo courtesy of JT
International, www.jtdist.com.
that affects their eyelids and corneas,”
she added. “It’s very painful and difficult
to treat, and I use fly masks on my horses
to protect them.”
Horses can develop increased photosensitivity to the sun because they’ve
eaten certain weeds, including white clover
(white or pink flowers), buckwheat, ragwort,
field bindweed and others. If your horse
seems prone to sunburn or dermatitis, it
continued next page
blood tested at least annually and shoot
for blood levels of at least 50 ng/ml.
Studies have found that people who
have received proper levels of vitamin
D have an increased sense of well being,
sleep well (vitamin D helps our bodies regulate activity cycles), have improved thyroid function, greater production of both
red and white blood cells and much more.
One benefit, tougher to measure, is that
it just plain feels good to soak up the sun,
for people and humans, especially after a
long winter. Just ask any sleepy-eyed horse
happily stretched out in the sun in the pasture, soaking up those early spring rays.
You can take vitamin D as a supplement,
but there is great benefit to reaping the
benefits of direct sun exposure. Researchers have found that in order for us humans
to get the maximum benefit of vitamin D,
we only need to expose skin (as little as
six square inches!) to sunlight for about
one hour per day. Depending on your age,
complexion and even medications you are
taking, more than that can be risky. One
rule of thumb is to stay in the sun onequarter of the time it would take you to get
sunburned. If at any time your skin begins
to turn pink, head for some shade!
tions. The more you burn, the more likely you are to get skin cancer later in life.
The most common skin cancers, basal
cell and squamous cell carcinomas,
occur on the skin areas that typically
get the most exposure to the sun, and
sunburns—face, head, neck, hands and
arms. The most common areas for skin
cancer in horses are around the eyes,
nose and mouth, and under the tail.
Signs of sunburn are similar in horses
and people: skin that’s reddened and
sensitive or hot to the touch, with
Like their counterpart human redheads
cracking and peeling. Products to
and blondes, equine Appaloosas, Paints,
treat sunburn and other dermatitis in
pintos, grays, whites and palominos are
horses and people share similar inparticularly susceptible to sunburn.
gredients, usually aloe and vitamin E.
Management of sunburn in horses
could be what he’s eaten.
includes
keeping them indoors during
According to Dr. Bob Wright, Veterinary
Scientist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, the heat of the day, and weed manageFood and Rural Affairs, hair loss and ment, particularly around fences, of those
dermatitis in horses is usually caused by particular species. For bad skin cases,
sunburn, contact dermatitis and photo- especially those involving skin cracking
sensitivity. Contact dermatitis is most fre- and peeling, the horse should receive
quently caused by a reaction to chemicals veterinary attention.
in fly sprays; on the muzzle, it can also be
Physical Protection
caused by the pretty, yet potentially toxic,
from the Sun
buttercup.
Some medications, such as antibiotics
Remember Johnnie Fedora and Alice
(tetracycline, sulfas), non-steroidal anti- Bluebonnet? They were two hats that
inflammatories (NSAIDs) and birth control met in the window of a department store
pills can make humans more likely to burn. and fell in love, according to the Pointer
Even if you rarely burn, you should take ex- Sisters song (you can Google it). They
tra precautions while taking those medica- were purchased by separate people but
eventually were reunited, worn by a pair
of carriage horses.
Hats have come a long way since then,
in design and materials, with some manufactured specifically for sun protection.
“The American Cancer Society recommends a hat with a three-inch brim all
around, not a baseball-style cap,” said
Trina Hatfield, Oxford Trading Company,
Pennsylvania, a company that sponsors
the Headwear Association (www.theheadwearassociation.org, which includes a
section with tips on choosing a hat for sun
protection). “Also, check the materials,
and look for ‘fused solar block cloth’ or if
considering a straw hat, make sure it has
a very tight weave.”
Hatfield explained that hats may also
include a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating, and a minimum rating of 50 is
recommended. You can also find clothing
with UPF ratings, and a minimum rating of
30 is recommended.
How can you balance the need for a hat
and long-sleeves with handling the heat?
Again, read labels.
“Look for words like moisture wicking,
light-weight, UV protection, breathable
Vetrolin® Body Wash
formula is in a one-step applicator that cleans without
scrubbing when you get
back from your trail ride.
The formula contains PABA
sunscreen to protect the
coat and sensitive areas
against sunburn. Photo courtesy
of Farnam www.farnam.com
and action back, which will have mesh vent
openings for ventilation,” Hatfield said.
“Choose a hat with a style that protects
both your face and neck.”
Our horses aren’t going to wear hats.
But they can wear hoods, fly masks and
fly sheets to gain more protection from the
sun. There are also products formulated
specifically for horses, including shampoos
and coat sprays that include long-lasting
sunscreens.
Can you use your personal sunscreen on
your horse, or should you stick to a horsespecific spray or lotion? In general, horse
products may be cheaper by the ounce,
and some products developed for people
can cause allergic reactions in horses. You
don’t want to compound a sunburn problem
by adding an allergic reaction to a product.
When using a sunscreen on a horse, be
sure to apply it to sensitive areas such as
eyes, nose and mouth, even ear tips. Cover
the white areas such as blazes and snips.
Don’t overlook the belly or white legs, because the sun’s rays can reflect onto those
areas, especially off water and sand.
Some owners opt to switch to the night
shift during the months with hot sun, keeping the horses in stalls during the day, and
turning them out to graze at night. Another
option is keeping horses in stalls between
late morning and early afternoon, when the
sun’s rays are most direct. To encourage
horses to stay in the shade, feed hay in the
shade of a walk-in shed or trees.
With just a few changes to gear, and new
products for you and your horse, you can
grab every minute of these long, beautiful days.
Lisa Price is a former
newspaper reporter,
now happily a freelance
writer living in Barnesville,
Pennsylvania. She most
often writes articles about
outdoor subjects including dog training,
backpacking, trail riding, archery hunting
and traveling. Her first book, One Woman’s
Haven, is is available at www.publishamerica.
com . She shares her home with four dogs.
traildetours
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traildetours
Sevierville, Tennessee
Arnold Estates Log Cabin and Equestrian Resort — Arnold Estates is situated on 100 acres adjacent to Great
Smoky Mountains National Park, offering an opportunity
to combine two fabulous things to “yee haw” about: horseback riding and mountain scenery. Proprietor Richard
Arnold, a retired commercial pilot, may even share his
under-construction biplane with you if you’re interested
in aviation.
Ten miles of trails offer wooded and mountainous
terrain to suit every skill level (in case you have to bring
along a sugarfoot). For intrepid Trail Blazer folks, there is
also an extreme trail for getting your giddy-up on that
leads to the highest point on the property. You might
even catch sight of a black bear
momma and her young cubs, if Contact info:
you ride in the early morning 3459 Arnold Estates Parkway
and skirt the small lake. Arnold Sevierville, TN 37876
Estates is enjoying a rewarding 865-429-8259
year of recognition for their 800-969-4504
events and amenities, which [email protected]
include a monthly Cow- www.arnoldestates.com
boy Challenge and barrel racing.
Guests can ride or hike to the top of the mountain that offers spectacular four-state views (North
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia) or
ride in the shallow East Fork of the Little Pigeon
River. The valley bottom trail follows a stream you
can easily jump across to reach a secluded pond,
perfect for picnicking, musing or escaping reality.
You are welcome to bring your own horse(s);
both stalls and paddocks are available, and there
is a park-like setting for RVs and trailers. Campsites and primitive cabins are secluded miles
from civilization, in case you’ve joined the Hole
in the Wall gang or are looking for an isolated setting. You can also fly in and land on Capt. Arnold’s
grass strip, but be sure to call ahead.
For those rare non-trail riding moments, there
are pool tables, wireless connectivity, a game
room, archery range, skeet shooting, carriage
rides, fishing and float tubing. Thinking about
food? With advance reservations, a luscious buffet breakfast or dinner may be served daily, and
a sack lunch is prepared to go with you on your
trail ride.
There are lovely, cozy log cabins and a bunkhouse for overnight stays; there’s even a wedding
gazebo (overlooking the Little Pigeon River) if
you’re of a romantic mind, or use it for your own
secret getaway to devour a good book (or your
latest copy of Trail Blazer).
For even more fun, add a side trip to nearby
Dollywood, Rainforest Adventures, Gatlinburg,
Pigeon Forge, Dixie Stampede or Black Bear
Jamboree.
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.
take tricks
to the TRAIL
By Suzanne De Laurentis & Allen Pogue
Photos by Kate Austin
the art of stillness
Teaching your horse to stand quietly is a process of
patience, practice and developing self-confidence
W
e live in an action-packed modern
equine society that values movement
in our horses—riding, round penning,
stops, spins, jumps, collection, slow
canter—in other words, we like action!
But between the action we want our
horses to stand still, and we often expect
stillness between bursts of adrenaline
with not much slow-down time!
Standing still is inclusive of many
activities that are all related: standing
still for the farrier, the vet, while tied,
while mounted, in a trailer, in a stock
and on a lead to name a few. Stillness
is a habit, not a space on an automatic
gear shift lever. Stillness and obedience
are learned over time and with endless
patience by the trainer.
When you know where your feet
belong, standing still is easy!
Pedestal training builds a
horse’s self confidence and
gives him a reason to stand still.
If you are reading this article to find a
“by the numbers” approach to creating a
patient horse that knows how to be still
and quiet, you may be disappointed. At
Imagine A Horse we are dedicated to creating the “Ultimate Companion Horse”. It
is much easier on both horse and human
to develop good habits, including the
patience and self-confidence to stand
still, when a horse is young. It is always
better to prevent situations with training
methods that can cause problems than to
try to remedy unwanted behavior later on
in a horse’s life.
Stillness Success
At Red Horse Ranch we like to habituate student horses (of any age) to our
everyday world by bringing them with us
as we work through our daily activities. If
we are riding horses, the student horse(s)
will be tied where they can watch. If we
use the golf cart to check other horses in
the pasture we lead the student alongside
“Learn what motivates and inspires
your horse. To discover how to
inspire each individual horse has
been one of the highlights of my
life as a trainer; this is what makes
it fun and fulfilling.”
as we go. When we eat lunch at the picnic
table, the horse is tied close to us. Basically the horse is treated more like a dog
on a leash than a horse and so is witness
to lots of human activities. A week or two
of this inclusion really helps to create a
patient horse.
In creating a Companion Horse, we communicate our training requests to our horse
as clearly as possible to help him become
the best partner that he can be. In other
words, we plan for his success and help him
achieve it. Horses only act on and react to
the experiences they have had. The habits,
cooperation and obedience we create in
our horses are the results of our communication skills and their experiences. Habits,
be they good habits or undesired ones, are
created in just a few incidents, so creation
of any habit happens quickly.
Having a clear reward and correction
system for your horse will expedite learning by letting the horse know which behaviors are correct and which are not. Effective
rewards can vary from simple release of
pressure to a food treat, scratching on his
favorite spot or verbal praise. Correction
doesn’t mean punishment, it means repositioning or asking for another repetition of
an exercise when his response wasn’t what
you were asking for.
Learn what motivates and inspires your
horse. To discover how to inspire each individual horse has been one of the highlights
of my life as a trainer; this is what makes it
fun and fulfilling.
continued next page
LEFT: Gently prevent
evasions. Sue uses a cavaletti
on one side, a mounting
block and her body on the
other, and the corral rail
at the rear to help Boullet
know where she wants him
to stand.
It’s Easy if You Start
Them Young
We like to say that our young horses
are “finished before they’re started.”
For our foals, education begins on the
first day of life. Being a precocious
species, horses are ready and able to
learn shortly after birth—unlike baby
humans, kitties and puppies. In the
wild, foals also begin to learn from
their dams and by observing other
herd members shortly after birth.
Our foals learn to step up on foalsized platforms and stand quietly,
“walk with” us, load into trailers and
sit down on beanbags and remain until released, in their first few months.
When the foals learn to “walk with” us,
it is the very first step in obedience
training and will affect their behavior
later on when they are old enough to
be tied and stand still. When the foal
is on the platform he learns to stands
quietly for “scratches.” I want to stress
that we do not tie or otherwise restrain
foals but we do provide safe and pleasurable situations that can help them
learn to accept standing still.
Patience and Stillness
in the Adult Horse
In our ongoing Trail Blazer series
“Take Tricks to the Trail”, we’ve explained many skills or tricks we use in
As you are teaching your horse to
stand still, it’s great to have a helper
to steady him and prevent evasions.
training to develop a willing, obedient
and dependable equine partner. All
of these segments contribute easy to
understand and logical (to horse AND
human) building blocks that will result
in a horse that will stand still for just
about anything that he could possibly
be exposed to.
Pedestal Training (“Put Your Horse
on a Pedestal,” September 2009) gives
a horse confidence and a reason to
stand still where his feet are “anchored.” “A Steady Mount” (February
2009) includes teaching a horse to
side-pass to a mounting block and
to park out. “Liberty Training I and II”
(January and February 2010) explain
how to shape a horse’s natural desire
for freedom of movement into cooperation and self-confidence to stand
his ground in the midst of other horses working around him. “Teach Your
Horse to Ground Tie” (March 2010)
provides more building blocks in a
horse’s education that prepare him to
stand still when you need him to. (For
a link to access any of these articles
email us at [email protected])
Stock Still
A stock is great preparation for
trailer loading, tying and, of course,
veterinary treatment. Because it is
open, horses tend to not fear the
confinement. Lead the horse through
the stock until he is comfortable going
through it, then proceed to leading
him through and halting for varying
periods of time before securing him
with the chest and butt ropes or gates.
Don’t leave the horse unattended
in a stock; it is a good idea to tie a
quiet horse near him at first for added
comfort. Grooming a horse in a stock
continued page 70
“Having a clear reward and correction system
will expedite learning by letting the horse know
which behaviors are correct and which are not.
Effective rewards can vary from simple release of
pressure to a food treat, scratching on his favorite
spot or verbal praise. Correction doesn’t mean
punishment, it means repositioning or asking for
another repetition of an exercise when his response
wasn’t what you were asking for.”
can be a great relaxation method if the
horse is nervous about being confined.
Your vet will love you for having prepared his future patient.
Trailer Tranquility
Standing loaded in a trailer can be a
Powder River assumes a “Park
Out” position, which helps him
to understand he is to stand still.
wonderful way to help a horse
acquire patience! We keep a
trailer in our training area that
has been secured permanently
so that it is not able to roll. Our
Walking through the open stocks gives
horses take turns being fed or
the young horse confidence before he
just standing in the trailer as
is confined in it.
part of their daily routine. We
make trailer loading a part of a
horse’s regular training, almost
on a daily basis. We also vary
their trailer partners so that
looks on our friends’ faces when we
they learn to accept new friends load- just point and say “load up.“
ing up with them.
A student horse often gets a break Mounting Problems
between short sessions and even
Most of the problems that are relatgets his grain for the day while he is ed to us regarding an adult horse and
loaded up. Feeding a horse his grain standing still are for mounting. Trainin a trailer occasionally is not the same ing and retraining a horse to stand still
as trying to bribe him into the trailer requires patience, good horsemanship
when you need him to load.
and willpower to restrain from using
Sometimes we leave the trailer “quick fixes”. Adult horses can be redoors open so they can back out when trained with patience and devotion to
finished and sometimes we close the horse and to the outcome, but the
the doors for varying lengths of time process just can’t be rushed, so we will
before we ask them to step out. Keep- cover that in another segment.
ing the time and sequence of loading
variable reduces their anticipation of Teach the Mount
being released and creates patience.
We teach young horses the basics of
We teach our young horses to “load
standing for mounting long before they
up” from a distance. It’s fun to see the
begin saddle training. An adolescent
horse can be taught to stand
quietly at a mounting block,
to side-pass toward it and
also away from the mounting
block or area. Even though
we are able to mount a horse
without a block, the additional elevation of a block
lessens the pull on a horse’s
withers and back and reduces
the element of surprise when
he is being saddle trained.
We don’t mount the adoles-
“Being a precocious species, horses are ready
and able to learn shortly after birth—unlike baby
humans, kitties and puppies. In the wild, foals also
begin to learn from their dams and by observing
other herd members shortly after birth.”
cent horses but we do make sure they are comfortable with
the process.
The entire mounting process consists of many small, incremental behaviors. We know that horses can wiggle around,
so we gently “prevent the evasion.” We use a small jump or
a cavaletti on one side, the mounting block and handler on
the other side and the railing or fence at the rear to help the
youngster understand where exactly we want him to stand. It is
also helpful to have an assistant in handling the horse.
Introduce each object or prop including a helper separately
and treat each as a new experience for him. Work through all
the segments of teaching the mount on the ground before
the actual mounting. If at any time the horse is agitated or
doesn’t understand, return to the previous step until you gain
his confidence and cooperation. Vary the separate sequences
occasionally to reduce his anticipation and help him stay calm
and focused.
Put the horse in position… If he evades by backing, put
his rear end toward a fence. If he walks off, condition him by
placing his head into the fence. To prevent sidestepping, put
him alongside a barrier or even cavaletti and have an assistant
stand at his head. Treat every phase of the evasion as a separate
evasion to be blocked and the behavior extinguished.
It may take from one session to dozens or more to put all the
building blocks together so do not be discouraged. When you
feel the horse is reliable to stand for mounting in an enclosed
area such as the round pen, very gradually change locations.
You may have to re-educate him to every new location and
circumstance, at least in the beginning.
Sue De Laurentis and Allen Pogue live in Dripping
Springs, Texas, where they own and operate Imagine a
Horse and Red Horse Ranch. They blend modern and
classical horsemanship to make Trick Horse Training understandable and fun for horse and human. Visit online
at www.imagineahorse.com and www.redhorseranch.ne
ABOVE ALL: These
two-year-olds have been
“loading up” on voice
cue since they were
weanlings. They think
jumping onto the trailer
is a game! A permanently
secured trailer is a great
asset to the training area.
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Spring &
Summer
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Coveralls in Tan
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Western Soda Bottlecap
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Ariat Women’s Vechta
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Cooling Vest
Stay cool on the trail with the Hobby Hill
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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!
Michigan Trail Riders Association Busy Bees
The Michigan Trail Riders Association
(MTRA) has a very busy schedule this
year. There are many projects and ongoing changes to work through. One of their
Work Bees (volunteer workdays) in the
Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp (Mud Lake)
will make adjustments to the camp after
removal of about 300 stumps left from the
state clearing out oak trees that have been
killed by oak wilt. Many man-hours will be
needed to level the ground, fill holes, set
picket-poles and generally remove brush
to clear the camp for the rides. This Work
Bee is planned for spring before their first
June Ride.
Another spring Work Bee held in Luzerne Trail Camp will remove piles of
brush left by the state clearing trees in
the campground. The brush needs to be
At this Work Bee at McKinley Trail Camp,
volunteers demolished and rebuilt the boardwalk along the trail between McKinley and South
Branch Trail Camps. Facing the camera are President Garry Randall (in the middle) and Board
Member Chuck Fanslow.
removed because it is blocking campsite
parking areas. They have new trail to mark
by Stoney Creek Trail Camp as the county
is moving part of the trail and taking gravel
out of one of the sections. This will be a
fairly easy job as just a few branches and
brush needs to be moved. Then the “new”
trail needs to be marked with their blue
dots and markers.
MTRA also plans to work at Elk Hill
Trail Camp to put in new picket poles. The
Back Country Horsemen – Pigeon River
and Beyond is looking forward to helping
with this endeavor as they have adopted
this camp to help keep it cleaned up and
maintained.
MTRA has needed to make adjustments
at the “watering hole” at the Smith Bridge
along M-72 that has been used for over
40 years. Trail riders will have to water
horses with buckets rather than let them
water in the river as they’ve done in the
past. The MTRA is still working with the
DNRE to find an acceptable alternative.
Spring is coming early this year and is
greatly appreciated as their 15-member
Board each has a camp and a trail section
to clear and clean for this summer’s rides.
Their Blossom Ride in May is just around
the corner.
There is lots of discussion about the
“Right to Ride” bills currently being
discussed in Michigan’s legislature and
senate which were designed to protect
and re-open trails that have been closed.
Many MTRA members are also Back Country Horseman – Pigeon River and Beyond
members and are working diligently at
getting this legislation in place and to
be able to have some input for decisions
regarding trail openings and closures.
For more information about the Michigan Trail Riders Association, visit them on
the web at www.mtra.org
Massachusetts Trail Workshop Series
The Massachusetts Recreational Trail
Advisory Board (MARTAB) in partnership
with the Department of Conservation and
Recreation, the Trustees of Reservations’
Highlands Community Initiative and the
Ashfield Trails Committee sponsored a
one-day Trails Training Workshop, May
15th, at Sanderson Academy in Ashfield.
The trails workshop provided volunteers,
conservation land managers and those
interested in becoming trail stewards
some of the tools and techniques needed
to develop and maintain sustainable
and enjoyable trails. The workshop was
instructed by experienced professionals
and volunteers among a variety of motorized and non-motorized trail user groups
in Massachusetts.
This trails workshop is the second in a
series of MARTAB-sponsored trail events
that focus on bringing the trails community together for educational opportunities
and the sharing of ideas and experiences.
For more information about future
workshops, email Paul Jahnige at paul.
[email protected].
Arizona Stewards of the Trails
In the past five years, the Back Country
Horsemen of Central Arizona has contributed volunteer hours equivalent to an
estimated $682,000 to all of the National
Forests and BLM agencies in Arizona.
Currently, BCHCAZ is actively engaging
in the public meetings regarding mules
and horses in the Grand Canyon.
The BCHCAZ works with other trail
users through the newly organized Sustainable Forest Project. Their goal is to
build and maintain sustainable trails in
partnership with the National Forests,
BLM lands, and National and State parks.
They also plan workdays with volunteers
Nick Martinez exemplifies a true Trail
Warrior’s spirit. He is a member of the Santa
Fe Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of
New Mexico. In addition to his countless
hours of trail maintenance, he is one of their
most dedicated ambassadors of the trail.
Nick’s enthusiasm for keeping wilderness
areas available is unmatched. His unassuming
nature and hard work has drawn many to this
Nick
cause. He is currently national coordinator for
Martinez
volunteer hours for Back Country Horsemen
of America and serves as their local chapter’s
representative and on their board of directors. Aside from his administrative work, Nick’s skills
really shine when loading up his pack string (one mule and two horses) and taking off for the
high country leading a work party. He lends a hand to help newcomers learn his skills with an
axe and crosscut saw. He provides horse trailer space so others can participate. Could there be
a better example of a Trail Warrior? Thanks, Nick, for serving as a champion for our wilderness
areas and serving as a mentor.
Nominated by Joyce Davis,
Santa Fe Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico
Send your Trail Warrior nominations to [email protected]
Members of the Back Country Horsemen of
Central Arizona prepared to volunteer and clear
trails for equestrians and other trail users.
from the Prescott Saddle Club and the
Verde Valley Horse Club. Activities include clearing and grooming new and old
trails; Groom Creek Horse Camp spring
clean up which includes installing 32 corrals. They packed in and out supplies to
the National Forest and BLM work sites
and tower. BCHCAZ are also stewards of a
14-mile section of the Arizona Trail.
The group will volunteer at the Groom
Creek Horse Camp to add a covered
pavilion over the dining area of the
group campsite in partnership with the
Prescott Saddle Club. Funding for this
project included a memorial grant from
the Arizona Horse Lovers, donations from
the Prescott National Forest and other
monies from individual donors.
An $8,000 grant from Tractor Supply
through the American Quarter Horse
Association’s STEP program will complete
a second phase of the Almosta Trail,
an area north of Granite Mountain. The
project began in December 2008 with a
5.5-mile non-motorized trail. The grant
will fund two loops and will add another
8.5 miles to the Almosta Trail System.
For more information, visit their website at www.bchcaz.org
Organization Works to Unite Equestrians in Oregon
The Rogue Valley Equestrian Trails Association (RVETA) is a non-profit equestrian
group located in Southern Oregon, in and around Medford. The organization started
life in 1994 as the Bear Creek Equestrian Trails Association. The trail system they built
follows the corridor in the Rogue Valley known as the Bear Creek Greenway, an area
designated for the sole purpose of creating trails that would travel from the Pacific
Crest Trail down to the Rogue River. The Greenway, designated in the late 1980s has
morphed into somewhat less than the public had planned for. Originally equines
were allowed on all parts of the Greenway, but as time has passed, the equine portion has been reduced to just a few miles of the 50-mile corridor while bicycle trails
have replaced much of the former horse trails and continue to eat away at the equine
trails every year.
“Our organization has become more politically oriented, with one result being the
name change, another change has come in the makeup of our members. We have
made it a point to collect members from every equine organization in the Rogue Valley, with the sole purpose to make use of the thousands of voices the riders in the
Rogue Valley possess,” said spokesperson Talmadge Thoms.
For more information about getting involved in this group, email [email protected].
continued next page
trail savers ...fighting the good fight
BCHA Buffalo River Chapter Accumulates 1,303 Work Hours
This Back Country Horsemen of America chapter mainly
dedicates itself to the trails surrounding the beautiful Buffalo
National River in Arkansas. However, they also volunteer work
hours for the Ozark National Forest and Arkansas Game and
Fish. Their two Leave No Trace Trainers volunteered 89 hours
of teaching time in 2009.
The BRC has been awarded a grant to repair a trail in the
Middle Rivers of the Buffalo River. They will be working with
professional crews starting in July. Meetings with the Park
Service will help work out the details with BRC members.
Their regular workdays continued to be scheduled for the
first Saturday of each month.
Member Fred Woehl recently returned from a year in Iraq
as an agriculture advisor. He showed a presentation to their
chapter about working with the Iraqi people and their horses.
He returned to Iraq in April and the chapter members donated
tack for him to take with him to better equip the hard-working
equines and mules.
For more information about the Buffalo River Chapter, email
[email protected].
Fred Woehl takes time out
from working on Arkansas
trails to work with people
and horses in Iraq.
Show-Me Back Country Develops Working
Relationships with Public Land Managers
The Show-Me Chapter of the Back
Country Horseman (SMMBCH) dedicated
energies towards developing relationships with Missouri’s public land managers have paid off. SMMBCH has also developed a positive working relationship
with the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources. The DNR recently released
a statement endorsing the relationship
with the equestrian community and in
particular, the SMMBCH:
“The state parks system supports
equestrian trails and considers them a
valuable recreational opportunity. We
have a very positive relationship with
the equestrian community and intend
to continue to provide this type of trail
in the future.
The Division of State Parks recently
entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Show‑Me Missouri
Back‑country Horsemen (SMMBCH) and
has been working with the group to address issues and improve the overall experience for the equestrian community.
The SMMBCH have been at the forefront and actively promoting the Leave
No Trace message, which the state park
system has adopted. Leave No Trace is
an educational program to encourage
outdoor enthusiasts to protect nature
from human‑caused recreational impacts. Trainers have been provided by
SMMBCH through a partnership with the
division and SMMBCH has trained more
than 40 state park staff as certified trainers. The division appreciates all the support of the SMMBCH and the equestrian
community on this program.
We also have put together an equestrian trail panel with state and local
representation to assist the division with
addressing issues and provide input for
design of equestrian trails and other
equestrian facilities.”
Allison Schottenhalmel, SMMBCH
president, serves on the Missouri DNR
Equestrian Trail Panel and has played
an instrumental role in helping foster
this positive relationship. SMMBCH and
DNR have entered into a Memorandum
of Understanding to work together for
multi-use trails.
For more information, visit showmebch.org
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!
cool stuff ...for the trail horse & rider
Weaver Leather
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Award winning design for safety of the
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English Riding Supply
Premier Spray Marigold Scent
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Got Flies?® English Riding Supply has your solutions - fly sheets,
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Cashel Company
Swayback Saddle Pad by Cashel Company
100% hand woven wool blanket encases the popular Cashel Swayback Cushion
Pad. With a 1-1/2” center that tapers to 3/4” in the front and back, it helps keep
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Call, tol free, (800) 333-2202 or visit our website at www.cashelcompany.com
Hull & Company, Inc. – Denver
Circle Y Saddles, Inc.
Insurance Coverage for the
Equine Industry
Circle Y Saddles Matching Tack Sets
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Hull & Company, Inc. - Denver
is a Program Administrator that
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the Equine industry. Our liability products are tailored to meet the
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Call (361) 485-6725 or e-mail Dara
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Call, toll free, (800) 544-8966 or visit our website at www.hullco.com
JT International Distribution
Durvet
Tough 1® Snuggit™ Double Roller Buckle Cinch
FlyRID® Spot-On
Easy to use double roller buckle makes tightening your girth
quick and easy. Unlike conventional cinch buckles, the two
rollers allow the latigo strap to roll freely giving the rider
more leverage. Available in waffle weave neoprene or airflow neoprene and traditional or roper styles.
Get everything your horse needs in pest control
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For more information visit our website at www.jtidist.com
Call, toll free, (800) 821-5570 or visit our website
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Espree
White Haven Farm
Aloe Herbal Horse Spray Fly Repellent
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Award winning safe and effective natural fly
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Call, toll free, (800) 328-1317 or visit our website at
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Beet Treats
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Hayhuts LLC
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Call (386) 871-8839 or email [email protected]
trail shoppe
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trail bits
BCHA Recognized as Leading Equestrian
Group at Federal Conference
B
ack Country Horsemen of America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving
public land use by trail riders, was honored in
April as one of approximately 200 groups invited to attend the White House Conference
on America’s Great Outdoors. The conference
brought together leaders from across the country that are working to protect outdoor spaces.
Participants included working ranchers and
farmers, sportsmen and women, state, tribal
and local government leaders, conservationists, business people and others who view the
outdoors as integral to their communities.
“Being one of the invitees to this conference
represented the high note of 37 years of being
the quiet voice of reason,” reported Terry Morrison, BCHA Chair, during the annual meeting of BCHA’s national directors the following week. “Interior Secretary
Salazar stated there could have been thousands more groups invited, but those
represented were viewed as those who would not only take back the plans from
the meeting but who would implement them.”
BCHA’s current implementation plans call for increasing public awareness of
the history and role that packers and horseback riders played in the development of this country as well as the
work they continue to provide in
the protection of wilderness areas.
Developing partnerships with
community groups, land managers,
other nonprofits and user groups
remains a priority with BCHA, but
following the brainstorming sessions at the White House conference, Morrison anticipates BCHA
will move forward on more fronts
than ever. As a beginning to these
plans, greater emphasis on development of community-based and
website youth programs is moving
forward rapidly.
President Obama stated during
his speech to the conference “Few
pursuits are more satisfying to the
spirit than discovering the greatness
of America’s great outdoors.” At the
conference, the President signed a
21st Century Strategy for America’s
Great Outdoors, the text of which
can be read on BCHA’s website,
www.backcountryhorse.com
AHC to Hold Recreation
Forum at Annual
Meeting in June
T
he American Horse Council invites
all recreational riders and equestrians to attend the AHC Recreation Forum
Tuesday, June 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Hyatt
Regency Hotel on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The forum will emphasize issues of importance to recreational riders
around the country.
The highlight of the program will be
two panel discussions. The first panel will
focus on building better relationships between equestrians and local federal land
mangers and will include leaders from
the National Park Service, National Forest
Service, the Bureau of Land Management
and other federal agencies. The second
panel will spotlight the shared interest of
equestrians, other recreation groups and
conservationists. The forum will also include several presentations from groups such as Backcountry Horsemen of America and the American Quarter Horse Association.
“This is a great opportunity for recreational riders in the Washington, DC area
to hear what concerns are on the mind of
other recreational riders, what national
groups around the country are doing and
how equestrians can better work with
their land managers,” said AHC Legislative
Director Ben Pendergrass.
The forum is being held in conjunction
with the AHC national issues forum.
The cost to attend the recreation forum is $25.
For more information
and to register, visit
www.horsecouncil.org/events.php
and click on the registration form
trail
Honoring the
“Everyday Horse”
ACTHA Prepares for
World Record Trail-Riding Event
June 13th
A
merican Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA) members will saddle
up and make history on June 13. Not only will
they set a new world record for a one-day
trail ride, but in concert with their sponsors
they will raise funds for horse rescues and
charities across the US.
On that Saturday, thousands of trail riders
with a heart and appreciation of what the
horse has done for mankind will assemble
in every state in the union. They will have a
fine time, “casually” competing along a sixmile trail in a location near them. Along the
trail will be a series of safe, fun, natural trail
obstacles. Each horse will be judged by helpful, trained judges. There will be over 1,000
winners in three divisions, and all who take
to the trail will be counted in the Guinness
record!
“There are many things that astound me
about this attempt,” said Tom Scrima, general
manager of ACTHA. “There’s the incredible generosity of all our sponsors, and the
wonderful Guinness records people who are
working alongside ACTHA and the Humane
Society (HSUS) to make it official.
“But what touches me most is that over
1,000 volunteers are making it possible for
us to raise money for horse rescues and
programs in one day! The ‘profits’ from this
effort would be non-existent were it not for
them. They are dedicating weeks of their
time in preparation for this unique event.”
Continued Scrima, “The issue [of horse
rescue] is multi-faceted and complicated
but one thing is abundantly clear and
simple—we must restore the value of
the everyday horse. He needs a job,
and ACTHA has thousands of openings. I am thrilled ACTHA is one of the
cohesive forces at the vortex of the
solution to this horrific issue.”
bits
Visit the ACTHA website to find a
ride near you: www.actha.us
trail bits
10 Tips to Tread Lightly When
Trail Riding and Camping
vide plenty of room and
the proper environment
for confining animals. The
site should accommodate
them without damaging
the area.
M
inimizing your impact on the
environment is a critical component of a successful trail ride or camping trip with your horse. The nonprofit
Tread Lightly! offers some basic tips to
help keep your favorite recreation areas beautiful, healthy and open to the
public.
1.Stay on designated roads, trails and
other areas open to horse use. Ride
single file to reduce trail damage. If
you are allowed to ride in an area with
no trails, spread out to disperse impact
and avoid creating a new trail.
2. Avoid riding in sensitive areas such
as meadows, lakeshores, wetlands,
streams, tundra, seasonal nesting or
breeding areas and cryptobiotic soils
of the desert—unless you are on designated trails.
3. Water animals in areas where stream
banks and water access can withstand hard
use and are downstream from campsites.
4. Pre-plan camp locations that pro-
5. Use hitchlines, hobbles
and staking to confine animals. Erect hitchlines in
rocky areas with established
trees and use straps or tree
savers to protect bark.
6. Use yards, paddocks and hitching
rails where provided.
7. If you use temporary corrals, move
the enclosures twice daily.
8.To prevent the spread of invasive
species, use weed-free feed. Start
feeding it to your animal at least three
or more days before entering the
backcountry to clear their digestive systems. Also wash your gear and support
vehicle and check your animal before
and after every ride.
9. When breaking camp, remove or scatter manure, remove excess hay and straw,
and fill areas dug up by animal hooves.
10. Be prepared to let other trail
enthusiasts know what needs to be
done to keep you, the horse and other
passersby safe when you meet on the
trail. Take responsibility for your horse’s
education. Introduce him to vehicles
and situations it may encounter on
shared trails.
More tips can be found at www.treadlightly.org.
The Chattahoochee
Trail Horse Association
will host the
Southeastern Equestrian
Trails Conference
T
he Chattahoochee Trail Horse Association (CTHA) is pleased to announce that the Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference (SETC) will be
held in Atlanta, Georgia on July 15-17
at the Atlanta Marriott Norcross hotel.
This informative and fun conference is
intended for trail users, land managers
and anyone interested in horses and the
outdoors.
Keynote speaker Rick Lamb, author
and host of “The Horse Show” on radio
and RFD-TV, will speak about “Riding
with Purpose”. Other featured speakers include Tommy Irvin, Commissioner,
Georgia Department of Agriculture;
Mary Morris, Deputy Regional Forester,
Operations, Recreation, Engineering,
USDA Southern Region; Rick Potts, Chief,
National Park Service Conservation and
Recreation Division; and Dennis Dailey,
Senior Advisor, Wilderness, Recreation
and Trails, Back Country Horsemen of
America.
The theme for the 2010 conference is
The Art and Heart of Keeping Our Trails
– Ride Smart and Do Your Part. The
logo reflects the theme, with a trail rider
crossing the host states into the sunrise.
Topics cover a broad range, including
equestrians and politics, organizing
volunteers, obtaining funding for
trail projects, managing shared-use
trails, trail design and construction,
and environmental concerns.
Online registration
and additional
information are available at
www.southeasternequestriantrails.com
trail
International Fund For Horses And The Cloud
Foundation Launch Effort On Behalf
Of Captured Mustang Mares
“Stop the roundups and respect our wild mothers”
T
he American wild horse crisis is filled with issues of animal cruelty and
the world looks on and asks, “Why?” Currently the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) is holding over 1,800 captured Calico mustangs at a
privately owned, feedlot-style facility in Fallon, Nevada. The manure-strewn
pens have become a makeshift nursery for captured mares now giving birth
without cover or protection from the elements. In honor of America’s wild
horse mares and their foals, International Fund for Horses and The Cloud
Foundation launched a letter-writing campaign to First Lady Michelle Obama
on Mother’s Day, requesting a moratorium on roundups in the American West.
The two foundations ask the First Lady for help to end the cruelty, stop
the wild horse roundups and call for an investigation of the BLM’s Wild Horse
and Burro program. “Tell our First Lady how you really feel about what is
happening to our wild horses and burros,” urges Ginger Kathrens, “Cloud”
filmmaker and Executive Director of The Cloud Foundation. “The BLM’s Wild
Horse and Burro Program is a fiscal train wreck for the American taxpayers
and an ongoing nightmare for the Calico horses. Adding more wild horses
and burros into holding facilities while the ranges are emptied of the last of
our iconic mustangs makes absolutely no sense.“
The public of all ages is invited to write to: First Lady Michelle Obama, The
White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20500, fax her at
(202) 456-2461, call her office at (202) 456-1414 or email her online at
www.emailthepresident.com/first-lady
“You never
see a horse
tied up outside
a psychiatrist’s
office...”
bits
trail bits
Coming Next Month:
June•July 2010
Trail Blazer Magazine
Our Readers’
Burning Questions:
Traveling With
Horses
Developing A Connected
Partnership With Your
Trail Horse
How To Keep Your Horse
Clean On A Campover
High Country Warning!
Ten Safety Tips For Riding In
High Elevations
Upgrade Your Ride!
High Fiber, Low Starch Diets:
The New Nutritional Wisdom
Managing The
Weekend Warrior Horse
Build A Spirit Of Compliance
In Your Trail Horse
Solving Pain Problems
In The Trail Rider
Successful Show Horses
HIt The Trail
Trail Blazer is a visually stunning gorgeous magazine
that is as much fun to look at as it is to read!
M O N E Y B AC K GUA R A N T E E
If you don’t absolutely love TB after your first issue,
we will give you a full refund, no questions asked.
TWO WAYS TO subscribe to or renew to Trail Blazer:
1. Send in the form below with your payment ...
2. Visit our secure website at www.trailblazermagazine.us ...
SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND THE NEXT ISSUE WILL BE ON IT’S WAY!
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Return with payment: Trail Blazer, PO Box 27243, Prescott Valley, AZ 86312-7243
Trail’s
End
Still crazy after all these years …”
O
ur goal each month is to create for you a charming coherent
collection of terrific tidbits for the trail rider. This May issue
actually started about a year ago, when we gathered for our annual
“Next Year’s Editorial” meeting. We discussed and debated and
decided on what information we are going to present, how we are
going to present it, and who is going to pen the articles. At the end
of the month – we come off of the mountain with our tablet of the
Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10
next year’s editorial, with articles assigned to issues. Then Managing
Editor Bobbie Lieberman takes the reins and works with the authors
with outlines, writes, questions, rewrites and a final draft is achieved.
Every article has to be matched up with the best author with the best
knowledge of the topic. This is a very thoughtful creative process
Next the Editor works with the Art Director to decide on the
creative presentation of the brilliant content. And this painstaking
process is done for every article in every issue. Meanwhile the Sales
staff is very active in contacting companies to help connect them with
our readers in providing the best products and services to improve
horse and rider lifestyles. Then we go into the “deadline” phase, where
Dianne is akin to a “air traffic controller” and managing all the hundreds
of bits and pieces assigned to one issue, and in an amazing process, it
all starts to take form and shape over weeks of very long days.
The final phase reminds me of making a quilt. Throughout the
process so far, each article is worked separately, and now it is time to
put it all together in one 92 square quilt, and hope and pray that each
unique piece will fit into the overall finished magazine. Dianne gives
the battle cry alert: “The Whole Enchilada is coming within the hour”,
and a digital version of the entire issue arrives. I open it up, and move
from page one to page 92 … and the months of people and pieces all
blend into one charming coherent collection of terrific tidbits for the
trail rider.
It is uploaded to the printer, the entire team at Trail Blazer does
a virtual “high five”, we clean our desks and catch up on email for a
couple days. And then the June issue is knocking on the door, and we
begin again to do our best.
After 32 years, the birth of each issue is still exciting.
God is Good.
susan
founder & publisher
A DV E RT I SE R S ’ D I RE C TO RY
A-1 Unique Insect Control.........................................................51
Absorbine...............................................................................13,36,47
Bitless Bridle.........................................................................................82
Cameo Fencing..................................................................................82
Cashel Company | Equibrand................................................. 8,9
Cowgirl Attitude...............................................................................74
CSI Saddle Pads..........................................................................71,83
Delta Mustad Hoofcare Center...............................................12
Desert Equestrian | BrushRack.com................................51,82
Dixie Midnight....................................................................................83
Down Under Horsemanship......................................................55
Durvet..................................................................................................... 45
English Riding Supply...................................................... 23.24,29
EquiLite - Botanical Animal........................................................44
Equine Medical & Surgical Associates.................................59
EquiSpirit................................................................................................. 4
EQYSS Grooming Products.......................................................... 3
Fabtron...................................................................................................... 7
Farnam Companies..........................................5,31,41,58,65,79
Feedmark Inc.......................................................................................52
Greystone America........................................................................61
Hay Huts......................................................................................... 70,82
Health EZ Hayfeeder............................................................. 82,85
High Horse Saddles........................................................................78
Hobby Hill Farm................................................................................75
Horse Health USA............................................................................35
Hull & Company........................................................................18,82
Imagine A Horse.............................................................................. 88
Intervet................................................................................................... 25
Intrepid International.................................................................... 68
Iron Horse Jeans......................................................................... 16,17
J M Saddler Inc.................................................................................. 64
J T International Distributors....................................................... 2
Kerrits............................................................................................... 28,75
Lander Industries................................................................................ 4
Larry Whitesell Gaited Horsemanship................................87
Life Data Labs...............................................................................11,60
Max - Flex Fence Systems ...........................................................83
National Bridle Shop......................................................................82
North American Trailer Dealer Assn....................................53
Northwestern Saddlery................................................................82
Orme School of Arizona.......................................................83,87
Ovation Helmets...............................................................................24
Peggy Cummings.............................................................................. 85
Pro Tech Livestock Corp............................................................. 40
R.W. Bowman Saddle Co., LLC.........................................46,82
Richdel | Select the Best.............................................................. 34
Ricochet Ridge Ranch....................................................................82
Rosies Workwear for Women...................................................74
Sean Patrick..........................................................................................75
Side Step Safety Stirrups............................................................ 30
Silver Eagle Outfitters.....................................................................75
Smooth Stride.....................................................................................74
Source Inc..............................................................................................37
Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference.....................78
Southern Building Systems..........................................................83
Straight Arrow................................................................................... 92
Tekna Saddles.................................................................................... 29
Troxel, Inc..............................................................................................82
Tsylos Park Lodge............................................................................ 88
TTUSA............................................................................................ 72,73
Tucker Saddlery................................................................................91
Wagon Mound Ranch Supply.......................................... 82,84
Weaver Leather................................................................................ 69
White Haven Farm....................................................................19,83
Whup-A-Bug................................................................................76,83
Zephyr’s Garden....................................................................... 50,82

trail bits - Open Trail

Transcription

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