Indholdsfortegnelse for Fall 2020 i Horse & Rider

During the production of this issue, I snuck away from my office for a day to spend time in the arena with Shali Lord, a National Finals Rodeo barrel racer and jockey to the great Freckles Ta Fame—known as CanMan in barrel racing circles. Shali has mastered the art of consistency that’s so required of horsewomen at the most elite levels, and her ability to stay at the top of the sport over two decades is a testament to that. Shali made a three-hour trek to film to Bennett, Colorado’s dreamy Bar Double J Arena for our Horse&Rider OnDemand (Ondemand.HorseandRider.com) platform, our year-and-a-half-old venture that connects our premium subscribers with unlimited access to hundreds of videos that, if studied and applied, will dramatically change your horsemanship. Shali’s series—an introduction to…

Hand-Position Mistakes After learning how Dan Huss perfects lead changes in the center of the arena in this month’s Private Lesson, be sure to go online and read about the importance of using your rein hand properly so you can cue your horse for any maneuver. Huss also breaks down the common mistakes he sees non-pro riders make. Get Ranch Riding Ready Look the part. On our website, Laurel Denton offers the finer points of presentation for ranch riding classes, from tack to rider turnout. Master transitions. Kevin Oliver shows you how to perfect ranch riding transitions so you can earn higher scores in the arena. Ride over logs. Is your horse new to going over logs? Jon Carpenter teaches you what to expect when going over lopeovers. GIVE IT…

Uniquely Gray 1. We’ve seen black and chocolate saddles make a splash in the show pen, but now we’re seeing another trend with the color gray. The new Fade to Gray line by Continental Saddlery offers high-quality performance saddles that’ll have you looking your best (starting at $4,350; continentalsaddlery.com). They’re made of tannery drum-dried leather, and each saddle comes with black wool lining, black Don Orrel wood stirrups, and matching silver trim. Not sure if gray is your color? Try it before you buy it with Contintental Saddlery’s demo program. 2. Cowboy Hat Want a traditional-looking cowboy hat, but bored of black? Check out Resistol’s 30x felt cowboy hat in the color phantom gray. $460; resistol.com. 3. Saddle Pad This saddle pad is made for every type of riding, and…

WE’RE ALL IN THE STORM, just in different boats. This is the most accurate statement I’ve heard to characterize this odd time we’re experiencing. There’s so much sadness, hate, and uncertainty influencing our society right now. Things we could always count on have shifted, and our loved ones are even supposed to stay at a distance. All this change is hard. So what are you doing with it? How are you handling being home? I’ve asked those questions of myself multiple times over this period. I first came back home to Elk Ridge, Utah, in March, returning early from Arizona as I wasn’t sure how serious the quarantine was going to be. I started by enjoying the time at home, as I’d been gone for three-and-a-half months and I don’t…

#HORSELIFEIRL aintnatureneat Now, bring me that sunset. #horselifeirl Tag your Instagram photos #HorseLifeIRL (In Real Life) for a chance to see your post here! FUN ON FACEBOOK We asked our fans if they’d consider never riding again if they were offered $3 million to stay out of the saddle. Here’s what a few of them had to say. Nicole Rey: No, I wouldn’t take it. I’ve been waiting almost my entire life to finally have MY horse, even if I have ridden several others before that time. Money doesn’t buy happiness. Happiness is every moment that I’m with my horse, and that’s priceless. MaryLee Dorsey: I love horses and would like to get back to riding but could give it up as long as my daughter and grandson could still…

There’s nothing more stunning than a horse with a long, lush mane and tail, and as horse owners we work hard to take care of our horse’s locks. But it can be harder than it seems. One way to keep your horse’s tail from getting pulled out during a riding session, or getting dirty during a horse show, is by braiding it. If your horse is especially messy, you may even look into a wrap, like this one from Rock’N Tail Bags ($20; rockntailbags.com). This wrap allows your horse’s tail to stay tangle free and in show-ready condition at all times. Everyday Hair Care Give your horse’s mane and tail a little TLC with these products. 1. Detangling Gel 2. Mane and Tail Brush 3. Growth Serum…

IF YOU’RE NOT GETTING YOUR lead change in the correct part of your pattern, chances are you’re leaving points on the table. While changing leads in the center of the arena might seem easy, many riders struggle with finding center and staying straight before, during, and after a flying lead change. PRIVATE LESSON Lead-Change Drill I use this drill so my non-pro riders have a visual to help them learn how to change leads in the center of the arena for reining, but it can also help you prepare for any discipline that requires lead changes. If you don’t compete, this drill can allow you to have better control over your horse’s body position and improve your steering during a change. Start by finding the center of the arena and…

The first rides kids or beginners make can shape their love of (or disdain for) horses for the rest of their lives. To set my students up for future success I like to focus on safety, balance, hand placement, and demeanor in their first lessons. Safety To keep my students safe, especially the little kids, I like to start them out on a safe lesson horse (see HorseandRider.com this month for what makes a great first horse) in a round pen. The smaller the environment, the better for the beginner to remain in control. Balance I like to give kids space to find their balance in the round pen, just at a walk. For kids, sitting on a horse is unlike anything they’ve ever done, so allowing time to just…

Have you seen them? Those never-ending “longeing lines” at some of the larger shows? Exhibitors will be queued up 10 horses deep waiting for a place to longe; some wait at all hours of the day and night for their turn. And no wonder. Longeing can be an effective tool for exercising your horse and preparing him to show. Still, some of what I see during these longeing sessions makes me cringe. Blunders like an extra person chasing the horse around in a circle. Or a dog running and barking behind the horse. Or exhibitors talking or texting on their phones while longeing. I want to share a more intelligent way to longe. Growing up on a ranch, I was taught that longeing was a necessary part of becoming a…

The Collector: Mattie Moore Harrisonville, Missouri The Collection: Moore’s collection of pole bending awards dates back to when she was in middle school and has a special place in her heart because she won the awards competing on horses she bred and trained herself. “In 2010, I lost my horse Floppy unexpectedly. It was a long, tough two years getting my backup horse (Cinco) trained and competitive in the pole bending, but we finally made it to the top,” Moore shares. “Winning the saddle was most meaningful because it was the first major award Cinco won. It also helped show me I could still be a champion even with Floppy gone.” All of the awards have Moore’s name engraved on them along with her horses’ names, because she knows winning…

App World Shows Combined This fall, the Appaloosa Horse Club will present its two world shows together for the first time. Running October 29 through November 8, the World Championship Appaloosa Show and World Championship Appaloosa Youth Show will take place at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Nearly 80 youth classes will be offered over a five-day period, and show management intends to make the combined events “truly a family affair” (appaloosa.com). ‘In a twist of fate, the pandemic presents a unique opportunity for horseback riding.’…Time to Ride, the American Horse Council’s initiative to promote horseback riding, explaining its new gold-silver-bronze program for lesson facilities as parents seek easily accessible athletic activities that get children out of the house while allowing for social distancing. Learn more:…

When it comes to competition, some people purchase prospects with the goal of competing in certain age events with them. For example, the National Reining Horse Association has an event for 3-year-old horses that’s considered to be one of the top reining competitions in the country. So it’s very common for people to look at yearling and 2-year-old prospects with the goal of competing at that event. However, it’s also important to let your horse develop at his own pace. While he might be showing potential early in his life, it’s never a good idea to try to push him past what he’s physically and mentally capable of doing so you can compete at an event. Understand Your Horse Just like people, each horse learns differently. You need to study…

Does your horse turn and trot across the pasture or pen when you call him? I’ll show you a straightforward way to train him to come to your voice cue or whistle. You’ll need only a halter, lead, longe line, and longe whip (or training stick with lash), plus a safely fenced small paddock or round pen. For your own safety, your horse must already have solid ground manners. Before You Begin Decide on the cue you’ll use to call him. It can be any short word (such as “here” or “come”), or a loud whistle. Don’t make it his name, as you use that at other times as well. This cue is exclusively to call him to you. Use it the exact same way each time; consistency will speed…

What four words from a client make my heart race and my palms sweat? “My horse has diarrhea.” Not what you were expecting? You might think I’d be more concerned by such statements as, “My horse is down, and he can’t get up,” or, “He can’t bear any weight on his leg.” But in reality, it’s diarrhea that gets my full attention almost every time. ‘But in reality, it’s diarrhea that gets my full attention almost every time.’ The reason is simple. If diarrhea is bad enough to make a client call the veterinarian, chances are, it either means there’s a really sick horse in a barn full of others at risk of getting sick, or it’s a chronic problem that will be almost impossible to diagnose and even more…