Indholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2019 i Horse & Rider

WHERE Granby WHAT Julie Goodnight and Barbra Schulte Riding and Wellness Retreat WHEN May 2–6, 2019 Retreat Fit for a Cowgirl Bring your own horse or borrow a dude ranch horse to enjoy five days of riding in the Rocky Mountains with renowned clinicians (and H&R contributors) Julie Goodnight and Barbra Schulte at the luxurious C Lazy U Guest Ranch (clazyu.com) during the annual riding and wellness retreat. This riding retreat offers you plenty of saddle time with daily lessons from Goodnight and Schulte, plus workshops that help you develop your inner strength, confidence, personal fitness, and healthy living. Wind down after an afternoon packed with activities by partaking in a guided trail ride and explore new areas of the ranch, or stop by the spa for a relaxing and…

Your horse’s digestive process—like yours—depends on a healthy population of beneficial microorganisms, or so-called gut bugs. Here’s how probiotics, prebiotics, and the products designed to contain them fit into the picture. What Are They? Probiotics are live bacteria, yeasts, and other microorganisms that support digestive function by outcompeting bad gut bugs and improving or restoring good bugs. Prebiotics are fibrous foodstuffs that nourish the good gut bugs and help them thrive. Already a multi-billion-dollar industry for human use, probiotic and prebiotic supplements are now marketed for horses and other animals, too. Why the intense focus on gut bugs these days? Because we now know they’re extremely important. Your horse’s intestinal microbiome performs many critical functions, including aiding digestion, supporting his immune system, helping ward off disease, and more. Factors that…

You’ve probably seen cutting and working cow horses use the flag in training practice. It helps sharpen a horse’s response to cues, focuses his attention on the flag, and helps beat cheating behaviors that can develop in a seasoned horse. While that’s all terrific, it might not cross your mind that a horse that won’t ever see a cow could benefit from working the flag. I’m here to show you how it can help just about any horse in many different ways. A note on the equipment: I use a CowTrac flag system. It’s easy to install, convenient to use, and it’s portable. There are other systems out there, and some innovative horsemen have even made their own with bicycle parts. The point is: Don’t let not having a flag…

AS A JUDGE, understanding a horse’s balance and structure and how they relate to the horse’s performance is critical. Today we have horses that specialize in halter classes; however, the conformation ideal is supposed to maintain the breed standards. That always goes back to balance and structure and how those factors affect soundness, longevity, and performance. As I assess a class, I look for horses that’ll be useful and stay sound beyond a halter career. The purpose of halter is to maintain the breed standard, and we wouldn’t have needed a performance halter class if we’d been judging on structure and balance as opposed to size and mass in traditional halter classes. If we’re truly interested in maintaining the breed standard, we must be concerned about the longevity of these…

For gorgeous trail riding in country steeped in Western history, head to southeast Arizona. This corner of the state offers a diverse landscape of golden grasslands and island mountain ranges, all waiting to be explored. Ride through pages right out of Western novels, from the gunfight at the OK Corral to Cochise’s hideout to the land of Geronimo. Here’s our from-the-saddle guide to southeast Arizona’s top trails and equestrian accommodations. Tombstone We first trailered our Missouri Fox Trotter geldings to Tombstone Livery Stable (tombstonelivery.com), located about 3 miles north of Tombstone. Owners Doug and Terri Evans will fill you in on local history and give you trail-riding maps. Tombstone was the site of the famous gunfight at the OK Corral.Our first journey was a ride to the monument of Al…

Imagine yourself waking up on a cold or rainy morning and running downstairs or through a door to feed your horses—without even having to go outside. And how nice would it be to check your horses before bedtime without having to bundle up? Living in the same structure as your equine friends has never been more popular. The “barndominium” or “barn house” trend is taking hold across the country, with options ranging from budget-friendly to extravagant. While a “barndo”—as they’re commonly being called—may be an attractive option for those who desire convenience and rustic charm, there are a few things to consider before you plunge ahead with the idea of living with your horses. Challenges—Plan Ahead Before you purchase land or get your heart set on a barndominium, carefully consider…

The bearded cowboy looks completely at home in these environs. At the Crossed Arrows Ranch, a small working ranch in the high desert country south of Santa Fe, rolling hills of chaparral and dirt roads extend to a horizon punctuated by the dusky, towering Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Against this backdrop, the cowboy prepares his horse with the practiced, assured motions of someone who’s performed this routine many times before. With his black felt hat, pressed shirt, and canvas work vest, he looks straight from a calendar. But it wasn’t that long ago that Eric Yorty, a sergeant in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, was in a very different environment, wearing a very different uniform. At the age of 17, Yorty joined the Army as an infantryman. Soon after,…

Navicular Prevention and Treatments Heel pain can occur to any horse, but the risk is higher for Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, and warmbloods, especially those over the age of 7. To lower the risk that your horse will ever develop navicular syndrome, provide all the horsekeeping standards that are basic to excellent care—especially including attention to hooves. 3 Can’t-Miss Senior Stories 30 Is the New 20 Advances in equine health care have markedly extended the potential lifespan of senior horses. “30 Is the New 20 for Senior Horses” tells you what to expect as your horse heads into his third decade. Age Is Just a Number Learn about six horses that are well into their golden years and their stories of success in “Seniors That Still Have It.” Tend Your Oldster…

Don’t Miss This explore. See spectacular views and wildlife sightings when driving the famous 1. Trail Ridge Road that winds through the 2. Rocky Mountain National Park. Eleven miles of this highway drive is above treeline, with the highest point at 12,183 feet elevation. eat. Before you decide to explore Granby, grab a breakfast burrito smothered in green chili (a Colorado must) from 3. The Glory Hole Cafe. Or, after a long day of hiking, stop by 4. Maverick’s Grille for a big, juicy burger. do. After five days of riding horses, visit the 5. Hot Sulphur Springs Spa to soak sore muscles in one of the many mineral pools. For those feeling more adventurous, head to the sky one morning and see some of the best views of the Rocky…

1. Whether you’re doing chores around the barn, saddling up to ride, or getting dressed up for a fun night out, boots are part of your daily life—and your family’s. For long days at the barn, wear a lightweight boot like the PrimeTime boot (left) from Ariat ($199.95; ariat.com) that offers fashion and function. Between its durable outsole and gel-cushioned footbed, this boot helps reduce fatigue so you can work all day. For the horse-loving little girl in your family, the pink unicorn boots (middle) by Macie Bean ($158; maciebean.com) are the perfect color for springtime. And for dressier nights, change up your look with distressed, metallic leather booties (right) from Miss Macie ($259.99; missmacie.com). The silver conchos give this bootie some Western flair and the side zipper makes them…

Watch. Learn. Ride. You can do all these things with the new Horse&Rider OnDemand program. Watch a training video from our trusted Western performance experts. Further your learning by reviewing the process before you head to the arena on your phone or tablet. Ride through the drills, tips, and pointers to help you reach your in-the-saddle goals. With this program, professionals Brad Barkemeyer and Bud Lyon come to your barn virtually to help you achieve your goals, overcome roadblocks, solve problems, and become better horsemen and -women. Barkemeyer trains horses and coaches riders of all levels for working cow horse and Western performance events, plus trains horses for marquee aged events. Lyon focuses his operation on reining and ranch riding, where he coaches amateurs and youths as well as trains-up…

Shouldn’t there be a magic pill or supplement you can give your horse to encourage him to eat? A quick Google search suggests a lot of possibilities. The real question, though, is how effective they’ll be. For insight, I ran those Google-search possibilities by Dr. John Schlipf, a veterinary internal medicine specialist at Oregon State University. He says stimulating appetite in critical-care patients is one of his most challenging problems. Here’s what I found out. BENZODIAZEPENES What are they? Benzodiazapenes (diazepam or Valium and midazolam or Versed) are anti-anxiety medications that work on neurotransmitters in the brain. Commonly used in humans with anxiety and panic disorders, seizures, and insomnia, benzodiazepenes can be highly addictive. The inside scoop. These medications will often work to boost appetite in the short term, but…

When you feel good, it shows on your face. And when you feel good, you perform at your best—because it’s easier to access the skills you’ve practiced so hard to acquire. Best of all, when you feel good can be controlled—because you can prompt yourself to feel great by creating an environment that puts a smile on your face. It’s true: Science tells us we can actually act our way into becoming a more confident, effective rider. This is the reality behind the strategy I use with the students I coach on Texas A&M’s equestrian team. At every practice, we create a vibe that encourages every girl to grin and feel terrific. We do this by cheering for each other—because you can’t keep from smiling when someone is boisterously rooting…

“Cruzer is the best horse I’ve ever had,” my client explains. “He’s sound, reliable, and still winning at every show. He’ll be 18 next year, though, so it’s time for retirement. Sure gonna miss him….” Wait, I’m thinking, what? Just because he’s getting older doesn’t mean it’s time to quit. In fact, in recent years we’ve seen 21-year-old horses compete successfully in World Cup jumping. Besides, why not consider letting the horse step down to a less demanding job rather than retiring him completely? Then there’s the other type of owner. “There’s something wrong with my horse,” she’ll say. “He’s only 24, and he’s having a hard time keeping up with my friends’ horses on trail rides. I don’t understand it. Is there anything we can give him to up…

Insight can help us understand our horses better. Where does insight come from? Typically it results from experience tempered with thought leading to some fresh realization. So even those challenging moments we struggle through with our horses (everyone has them) can result in newfound wisdom…if we take the time to think them through. We asked four experienced horsemen to share their own “eureka moments”—that is, the pivotal events that led to key horse-training insights. Read their stories—provided in their own words—and you’ll increase your ability to recognize and benefit from eureka moments of your own. TOMMY GARLAND: Temper, Temper A popular clinician as well as a show trainer, Powhatan, Virginia-based Tommy Garland is a past Western Pleasure Trainer of the Year for the Arabian Professional and Amateur Horseman’s Association. His…

When you work with a horse on the ground, it’s easy to underestimate the amount of communication that takes place between you and your horse. Even if you have only a half hour to work with your horse on a given day, the feedback from your horse during that time can be just as valuable as the feedback from an hour-long riding session. It’s not about the amount of time you have, but the kind of time you spend being productive with him. Here I’ll offer my best tips for using even a short ground-work session to get the most from your horse and build your relationship. I’ll help you break up your session into 5- to 10-minute increments so you can use your time wisely, set goals, and communicate…

It’s extremely important to preserve space for your horse on the rail during Western pleasure classes. The goal is to get your horse shown as best you can. But if you’re bottled up in a jumble of horses, that’s not possible. You must be able to maneuver your horse through tight spots, out into the open of the arena, and back to the rail without sacrificing your horse’s performance. Here I’ll give you four things to work on at home and four tactics to put to use at shows for smooth sailing on and off the rail. AT HOME Technique is best developed at home where pressure is less intense for both you and your horse. You can take your time, use two hands when you need to, and address…