Indholdsfortegnelse for Fall 2019 i Horse & Rider

Stall rest. What can prompt your veterinarian to prescribe it? Soft-tissue injuries, bone fractures, severe wounds, post-surgery recuperation (as for colic), and more. Whatever the cause, here’s how to manage your horse on stall rest in a way that keeps him happy and healing. Location, diet. Where you confine your horse will affect how he accepts it. A stall where he can observe the goings-on around him, as in a working barn, can work well. Having other horses stalled nearby at least some of the time is especially helpful. If other equines aren’t available, consider an other-species pal (such as a goat or sheep) to keep him company. If your vet OKs it and weather permits, an outside pen downsized to stall dimensions can provide an enjoyable change of scenery.…

Confidence on a horse is all about feeling in control. When you can trust that you direct when and where and how fast your horse moves, and that you can transition downward anytime you choose, you can feel like a confident, effective rider. Unfortunately, it’s easy for us to fool ourselves on this point. We can assume that we are controlling our horse quite precisely, but if we’re not actually measuring our results, we don’t really know whether we are or not. This exercise answers that question for you. It makes use of cones to mark exactly where your transitions must occur. With a clear visual target to gauge by, you can learn whether or not you’re nailing your transitions and, if not, use the cones to refine your cueing…

If your ideal vacation spot includes beautiful scenery, lively action, and fine horses, consider visiting a guest ranch. In the past, guest—or dude—ranches were known for their sedate trail rides tailored to city slickers in brand-new boots. Today, however, many ranches are adapting to include rides that will keep savvy riders active and interested. Here, we’ve put together our pick of riding-vacation destinations where you can ride fast, traverse serious terrain, learn to work cattle, or even participate in a real cattle drive. These ranches, recommended by the Dude Ranchers’ Association and as a result of our editors’ own travel experiences, have horses to match your riding level. While most ranches don’t allow you to bring your own horse (for their herd’s safety), they work to keep their horses tuned…

When it comes to trail riding, certain things just come in handy—an extra halter and lead, hobbles, friends to ride with, fly spray, snacks, and, of course, neck reining. While it’s not required, if you teach your horse to neck rein, it allows you to multitask as you ride, sweeping branches aside and managing other trail obstacles, pointing out a nice water feature with your hand instead of a head nod, or reaching down to pat your horse when he handles the sudden approach of wildlife drama-free. It also gives you the opportunity to relax, resting your reins forward as you move quietly down the trail until it’s time to pick them up for a cue. Transitioning to neck reining isn’t as simple as moving both reins into one hand,…

Mingling with a herd of feral horses in an open field may not be a typical therapy activity, but it’s a regular occurrence at the Eye of a Horse program in St. Cloud, Florida, where wild Florida Cracker Horses play an important role in helping adolescents and adults with autism practice their social skills and gain confidence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 1 in 59 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder, a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by difficulties with social interactions, verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted repetitive patterns of behavior, interest, and activities. Although there are many resources available to children with autism, most end once the child turns 18. That’s when Eye of a Horse steps in. Dr. Sandra Wise,…

IN JUNE, I WATCHED my little sister’s state finals rodeo. I saw many different types of kids competing. I think these types exist in any sport, not just rodeo or even the horse world in general. And every type deserves to be seen and recognized. To the kid who wins the all-around: I’m so proud of you. I’ve been you. You put so much time into what you accomplish. Countless hours spent—in the practice pen, down the road, at the vet’s—preparing for this win. You worked to succeed not just in one event, but in multiple. You knew what it took and were willing to put in the time to see it happen. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. To the kid they call “rich”: I’m so proud…

Whether or not you live in a sandy-soil area, take steps to guard against sand colic. Your horse can ingest sand or other particles of earth if he grazes on too-sparse pasture or eats hay off the ground. The results can be diarrhea and chronic weight loss, as well as colic. Treatments for sand accumulation in the gut range from administering bulk-forming laxatives to surgery for the removal of large amounts. Prevention is key! Turnout on grass and feeding free-choice hay both help to keep everything moving through and out of your horse’s GI tract. See other key preventive measures on the opposite page. Consider Psyllium If, despite other preventive measures, you’re still worried about sand, ask your veterinarian about the periodic feeding of a psyllium supplement to help clear…

1. Whether you prefer hitting the trails or riding the rail, classic Western spur straps are pieces of equipment that never go out of style. If you like to keep it simple, try Weaver’s Rambler spur staps ($57.99; ridethebrand.com). These light-leather straps feature antique buckles and embellishments, giving you a vintage look. Similar to the Rambler straps are Weaver’s Oiled Harness Leather straps ($61.97). Accented with pewter spots and buffed-brown, iron-scalloped buckles, these straps are perfect for riders who enjoy the dark-leather look. If your fashion tastes desire tooling and heavy stitching, Weaver’s Turquoise Cross Geometric Tooled spur straps ($29.09) are perfect for you. The heavy-stitched accents highlight the tooling, and these straps have non-rust, stainless-steel hardware. 2. For the Trendy Rider Sunflower tooling has been everywhere this year. Stay…

The mental part of riding is just as important as the physical part. Having a plan before you get in the saddle helps you and your horse have a productive riding session, whether your goal is to improve on basic horsemanship skills or be successful in the show pen. Some days, your riding objective will include letting your horse relax, which might involve an easy riding session in the arena or going for a leisurely trail ride, while other days your objective will be more specific to help you prepare for a competition. Regardless of what your end goal is, it’s good to plan your ride before you even step foot in the arena. Aim for Improvement Once you know what your end goal is, it’s time to come up…

THIS IS A CLASS OF YOUNG, solid-colored Paint geldings with potential performance careers ahead of them. When judging, I stick to the basics laid out in a breed’s rulebook. I look for balance first, then structure, then breed and sex characteristics, and finally, muscling. A well-balanced horse will outperform a poorly balanced horse, and I use form-to-function criteria, keeping their potential to perform at the forefront when placing them. I assess their structure for correctness, looking at both front and hind legs. Performance horses won’t last long with significant flaws in their legs—they need good, flat knees, well-set hocks, and strong, well-sloped pasterns to stay sound over a performance career. When judging from photos, I can’t walk around them, so I must place them based on the one view I…

When you’re at home, consistent grooming helps keep your horse’s coat looking sleek, healthy, and shiny. At the show, those same habits come in handy for a different purpose all together. When you and your horse look neat, clean, and professional, you’re presenting the absolute best version of yourselves to the judge long before you start your pattern or turn to follow the rail. The way you look in the show pen can be just as important as the way you perform, according to Wendy Huss of Scottsdale, Arizona-based Huss Performance Horses. “In my experience, it makes a difference to the judge when someone comes into the pen and they’re really turned out well,” Wendy says. “My theory is that so much can happen when you go through that gate,…

All Around 5 Star Saddle Pad We value versatility in our horses—why not in a saddle pad? If you ride in different Western disciplines, the All Around 5 Star Saddle Pad has you covered. Handmade in the USA, this popular square-skirted pad can be used for barrel racing, trail riding and roping. It’s also a good fit for smaller skirted saddles. And it’s crafted from 100% pure virgin wool, which can protect your horse’s back by dispersing heat, wicking sweat and spreading pressure away from high pressure points. Natural wool also stabilizes your saddle with minimal cinching and reportedly cleans up easily—so what’s not to love? There are even wear leathers for protection and durability. The All Around 5 Star Saddle Pad measures 30" x 30" and is available in…

PROS, JUNIORS & AMATEURS 673 Number of contestants accepted for the 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover taking place Oct. 2-5 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Disciplines include barrel racing, ranch work, and Western dressage (tbmakeover.org). ‘There’s so much demand!’—Press clip explaining why the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, previously for grades 6 through 12, has now extended membership to 4th- and 5th-grade riders (rideiea.org). Be Prepared! The ASPCA reminds us that September is National Preparedness Month—and don’t forget the horses. Review the feature “Prepare for the Worst” at HorseandRider.com. Learn more about ASPCA’s response team at aspca.org. LISTEN UP TO ‘THE RIDE’ Have you heard it? Horse&Rider has a new podcast, The Ride, a cool way for you to revisit (or hear for the first time) great features from the print edition.…

TRAVEL Ohio WHERE Columbus WHAT All American Quarter Horse Congress WHEN October 1–27, 2019 World’s Largest The All American Quarter Horse Congress, produced by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association, is the largest single-breed horse show in the world with more than 25,000 show entries, attracting some 650,000 people to the Columbus area. “The Congress” as those in the know call it, pays out over $3 million in cash and prizes, including trucks, trailers, trophy saddles, sterling-silver buckles, and bronze trophies. It’s the cultural epicenter of the AQHA world each October, with shopping, horse sales, demonstrations, and so much more. The OQHA hosted its first Congress November 3-5, 1967, at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, drawing in 5,000 eager horsemen that first year. Now 52 years later, the event generates some $382…

“Self-carriage”—what is it? A horse with self-carriage moves with bundled energy, pushing off vigorously with his hind end. To do so, he must change the shape of his body, picking up his shoulders and shifting his weight back. His hind legs must reach well up underneath his belly in order to carry weight and provide forward impulsion. Why would a horse offer this kind of controlled energy? Not because you’re kicking him like crazy—your legs would wear out before you could achieve this result consistently. It’s because he’s been trained to be sensitive to your lightest leg cue. It’s as if he’s just waiting for your signal and is eager to respond. I’m going to show you how to develop self-carriage to improve your horse in this way. You’ll urge…

When you see Alex Bauwens’ Instagram page, you get the real deal. No filters, no Photoshop, just photos and videos showcasing her daily riding adventures. Sometimes it’ll be a video of her doing a trick shot off the back of a horse with her bow and arrow, other times she’ll have her drone in the sky to follow her as she treks through the untouched desert terrain, and occasionally you’ll see photos of her most recent artwork as a professional painter. It doesn’t matter where she is or what she’s doing, Bauwens always finds a way to enjoy life from the back of a horse. Horse Crazy For as long as Bauwens can remember, she’s been horse crazy. Growing up in Northbrook, Illinois, her love for horses started at 3…

Quick tip: Cleaning alone can eliminate as much as 90% of bacteria from surfaces. Effective cleaning may be even more important than applying a disinfectant! If an infectious-disease outbreak strikes your barn, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into a hurricane. “Don’t touch that! Don’t go there!” your veterinarian will likely bark out, racing from horse to horse. As your vet races out the door, blood samples in hand, he or she will shout, “Isolate! Disinfect!” But where should you start? And how? Here, I’ll tell you how to prepare for an outbreak. I’ll start with a list of basic items to have on hand. Next, I’ll give you a set of practical, step-by-step guides designed to control the spread of microorganisms. Finally, I’ll tell you how to correctly use…

The Collector: Zane Bruce Mineral Wells, Texas The Collection: Bruce, of Zane Bruce Performance Horses, attends 20 to 25 American Quarter Horse Association and American Rope Horse Futurity Association shows annually, meaning he needs a sizeable collection of gear to fit the seven horses he hauls to each competition. His Bloomer Trailer, with its side tack, is critical for housing enough gear for all of the horses for which he’s responsible. “Showing at the Quarter Horse shows, there are so many times we load in and out,” Bruce said. “Trailers with a back tack usually only hold about four saddles. With all of the horses we bring, we need a trailer to house a much bigger collection. Plus, with this rig, you can unload your saddles straight into your tack…