Indholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2020 i Horse & Rider

Thin, sensitive soles can put your horse’s feet at risk for bruising and abscesses. Thin soles can be caused by over-trimming, and most practitioners now know not to try to trim an arch into a flat sole. Wet environments can overly soften the sole and contribute to thinning. Then, too, some horses are simply genetically predisposed to thin soles. Good nutrition is essential; make sure your horse receives enough biotin, methionine, lysine, copper, and zinc in his diet. Regular exercise to promote circulation is also critical, as are routine visits from a competent hoof-care professional. For extra help, see “Sole Solutions” at right. Toughen Up! Commercial products designed to harden and reinforce the equine sole can be part of an effective strategy for dealing with your horse’s sensitive-sole problem. Properly…

1. As you hit the trail this summer, don’t forget your sun protection—and we’re not just talking about sunscreen! If you choose to wear a helmet when you’re in the saddle, you know your nose is exposed to the sun and at risk of getting burnt. You’re probably also squinting to see what’s ahead of you. Solve these problems by using Troxel’s detachable helmet brimmer ($49.99; troxelhelmets.com) for added shade and protection from the summer sun. With a full 4 1/2-inch palm leaf brim that attaches to any Troxel helmet, you can easily switch out the brimmer to another helmet to have a different look for every ride. 2. Ventilated Boots These kicks make summer chores a breeze thanks to the ventilated shaft that provides maximum airflow and the seven-layer…

When trainers started using the word “broke” hundreds of years ago, they meant that they’d broken a horse’s spirit. As horsemanship has evolved, we’ve learned that “breaking” a horse’s spirit isn’t the goal. No—I want a horse that’s still got his spirit, enthusiasm, and mojo. Instead of a broke horse, I’ll used the phrase “well-trained.” It doesn’t roll off the tongue or make for as catchy a headline, but it more accurately reflects how well we’ve done our jobs as horsemen and -women. And whether we’re professional trainers or weekend warriors, we should be able to train our horses to possess these five critical elements of a well-trained horse in order to maximize our success and safety in the saddle. Plus, a horse that can manage these five skills is…

When COVID-19 swept through the United States this spring, the toll on human life and the economy soon followed. As hospitals sprang into action, businesses shuttered and the scramble for provisions began, animal rescue organizations started bracing for the worst, knowing that surrenders and possible starvation weren’t far behind. At Drifter’s Hearts of Hope, a 501(c)(3) equine rescue in Franktown, Colorado, Jacqui Avis and Rachelle Nye sought to head this problem off at the pass. As president and director of fundraising for this group, they knew better than most that it’s seldom cheap to feed or care for horses, having rescued more than 460 to date. “We had experienced an increase in owner surrender requests [people who ask to relinquish ownership of a horse to the rescue] and had seen…

The Collectors: Ryan and Annie Kennedy Mead, Colorado The Collection: When Ryan and Annie Kennedy got married three years ago, they had no idea that their wedding gifts to each other would be custom belt buckles designed to honor their special day. The one on the left, designed by Molly’s Custom Silver, was Annie’s gift, while the one on the right, designed by Montana Silversmiths, was Ryan’s gift. “I was at a loss as to what to get Ryan for our wedding. He doesn’t wear cufflinks, a watch wouldn’t last a day on his wrist, and if he needs anything, he gets it himself,” Annie shares. “He has a few buckles and I thought it might be special to have a buckle to remember one of the best days of our lives.”…

Compete Online! While regular competitions are sidelined because of COVID-19, several groups are offering opportunities for you to compete “virtually,” online. These include: • Team roping: the Ariat World Series of Team Roping’s Practice Pen Finale Qualification (bit.ly/wstrpracticepen).• All-breed pattern classes, ranch riding, horsemanship, and more (bit.ly/virtualhorseshow).• Paint Horse classes of all types (bit.ly/ehorseshow). Doesn’t Horsepacking Sound Great? Itching to get out on a real trail—and learn new horsepacking skills to boot? The University of California, Davis hopes to continue its Summer Horsepacking Courses this June and July. Track wild horses in California’s Inyo National Forest, or learn horsepacking in the Golden Trout Wilderness of the High Sierra. Also in July: the Animal Rescue in Disaster Planning course. For details head to page 25; to register visit bit.ly/UCDAdventure. POPULAR PALOMINO…

#HORSELIFEIRL luxe_equus Shake it out. Get up and move. Do some yoga. Don't let your energy get stagnant. #horselifeirl Tag your Instagram photos #HorseLifeIRL (In Real Life) for a chance to see your post here! FUN ON FACEBOOK We shared the article, “Horse-Crazy Parents Without Horse-Crazy Kids.” Here’s what a few of our fans had to say. Rebecca Johnson: I look at the fact that my children aren’t interested in the horses as a blessing in disguise. It probably would have bankrupted us if my daughter had loved horses the way that I do! Suzanne Garrison: Sad to say the only thing my daughter likes about my horses is being able to take selfies with them. My son likes them but would rather do other things. I’m lucky to have…

Horse training is all about getting your horse to do what you want him to do. You achieve this by providing a foundation, setting your horse up to succeed, then asking him in a way he understands. If you’re successful, he complies. But when he doesn’t, it’s important to know the difference between his saying “I can’t” or “I don’t want to” and “I won’t and you can’t make me.” The first, I can’t/don’t want to, is resistance. The second, I won’t and you can’t make me, is defiance. Distinguishing between these two and knowing how to respond to each will make you a better horseman and a more confident, effective rider. (Note: Anytime your horse’s behavior becomes consistently difficult in any way, always rule out pain, discomfort, or illness…

Theodore Roosevelt National Park has all the elements needed for a true-blue Western riding adventure. The scenery is breathtaking, as well as lonesome and foreboding. One can ride trails or cross-country and most likely encounter bison herds, deer, elk, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, and a multitude of bird life. This has been one of our favorite riding destinations, and we would like to share it with you. THE BACKGROUND Theodore Roosevelt spent some years in North Dakota’s Badlands following the deaths of his wife and mother, both of whom died on the same day. He came here in 1883 to hunt, ranch, and have a “mental escape” from his personal problems. It worked. He fell in love with this singular landscape, calling it the “romance of my life.” He said…

Summer sores are an oozy, itchy, seasonal skin condition caused by the larvae of an equine stomach worm, typically Habronema. Flies are the intermediate host that make summer sores possible; the condition happens when the stomach worm’s life cycle is disrupted. Let’s look at how it works. The normal life cycle. The adult Habronema worm lives in a horse’s stomach, where it may not cause too much harm unless there’s a severe infestation. The adult worm lays eggs, which pass out and hatch in the horse’s manure. House, stable, or face flies then pick up the stomach worm larvae from the manure and carry them to the horse. If a larva is then deposited on the horse in a place (such as near the mouth) where the horse inadvertently ingests…

HERE WE HAVE A CLASS OF MARES that I’m judging based on the major stock breeds’ criteria of balance, structural correctness, breed and sex characteristics, and muscling, and looking for the most positive combination of those components. I’m also looking at these mares specifically for their potential as reined cow horses, a division that requires bursts of speed, quick turns, and powerful stops. Balance is considered the most important characteristic when judging conformation, but structurally correct legs for soundness and muscling for adequate power in reined cow horses are musts. My top horse in a class often will give me the best first impression. I make mental positive checks or negative checks in different categories for each mare, and if she has a positive profile, she often has positive checks…

Warwick Schiller has close to 200,000 followers on social media and 20 million views on YouTube. A lifelong horseman, he has traditional horse-training credentials, having represented his home country of Australia at the 2010 and 2018 World Equestrian Games plus earned a National Reining Horse Association reserve world championship, among other achievements. He’s also known for his ability to explain horse training in a way anyone can understand—a fact reflected by his growing fan base among riders interested in a kinder, more horse-centric method of training. His approach, which is ever-evolving, focuses on solving horse problems by changing the rider’s perspective. Schiller’s Problem Solved column is a regular feature in the quarterly Horse&Rider and online at HorseandRider.com. This interview reflects his most recent thinking. HR: How would you say your…

The horses are surprisingly calm as they walk down the bustling steel and concrete corridor of New York City’s Fifth Avenue. A few of their riders are somber, subdued by the gravity of the ride’s purpose. Others are giddy, happy to be here—to be alive. Bright yellow ribbons ornament the horses’ manes, fluttering gently as they catch the breeze. These ribbons aren’t festive decorations, however. Each bears the name of a veteran lost to suicide. Mitchell Reno was almost one of those ribbons. By 2004, combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq had left the former infantryman shattered—both physically and mentally. Unprepared for re-entry to civilian life, Reno spent the next decade intent on self-destruction, mired in dark thoughts, chasing comfort through alcohol and pills. “When I say I was at-risk,…