In every issue of Horse & Rider you'll find articles on training by the country's leading experts, the latest on equine health care from top veterinarians, trail riding tips from savvy back country riders, and much more!
THIS APRIL, I had to make the call every horse owner hopes they never have to make. My healthy 3-year-old mare needed to have emergency colic surgery for a colon volvulus. Acting fast is what essentially saved her life, and as I write this column, she continues to improve a little bit each day. Planning Ahead Several years ago, Barb Crabbe, DVM, wrote a piece for us called “Colic Surgery: Yes or No.” Within that article she talks about the importance of having a plan put into place so that if you ever get the dreaded call that your horse has colic, you can go into action immediately, and not waste precious minutes. From the day I purchased Keira, I put a plan into place to prepare me if I…
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW what makes you either really appreciate or totally resent the way you were raised? Having a child. Yup, starting a family in this crazy world. That’s what taught me to truly appreciate the months of my younger years spent traveling the rodeo trail with my parents. Memories Along the Road Rodeo families are like any other horse-owning family, really. When it was time to go on the road, my school would send me with the curriculum and I’d return with my work in hand. But I didn’t just come back with work—I came back with stories of the monuments and national parks that I had seen and touched in person before even learning about them in our textbooks. I came back with an understanding that…
you should know / horse&rider ondemand Be Part of the Fan Zone Do you love Quarter Horses and their versatility? Join the American Quarter Horse Association’s new Fan Zone to receive exclusive content including newsletters, e-books, downloadable charts, information on famous AQHA horses, history, helpful resources, and more. Find more info at aqha.com/fanzone. On Tap For OnDemand Get training tips and horsekeeping advice from the industry’s top professionals. ➞ Ranch Horse Clinic Cody Crow does a ranch horse clinic at the Arabian Horse Assocation Ranch Horse Championships, and we film the entire day so you can learn from home. ➞ Live Events New to OnDemand: You can now stream the finals of some of the industry’s top reining, reined cow horse, cutting, and ranch horse championship shows! ➞ Groundwork Fundamentals…
TRAVEL Franklin, Tennessee WHAT Extreme Mustang Makeover WHEN June 22–24, 2023 Discover the Magic of Mustangs Make your way down to Franklin, Tennessee, to watch selected trainers showcase their previously untouched mustang in a variety of events. The Extreme Mustang Makeover is dedicated to demonstrating the versatility and trainability of the American mustang. It’s produced by the Mustang Heritage Foundation (mustangheritagefoundation.org) in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse & Burro Program. TRAVEL Tennessee Gallop down to Tennessee to witness the beauty and versatility of the American mustang in action. After trainers are selected for the event, they pick up their untouched mustang in March, from a BLM corral. These mares and geldings are usually between 4 and 7, and trainers have around 100 days to work their magic…
Treatments Because OCD lesions are the most common cause of bog spavin, arthroscopic surgery is the most common treatment. Most OCD surgeries are very successful and result in a sound, functional, and even athletic horse post-surgery. Traumas to the hock that may also cause bog spavin can be a harder to treat. Once the source and the affected tissues are identified, treatment is often anti-inflammatories and controlled exercise. This may mean stall rest, but it may also be small-area turnout. A bandage may help minimize long-term stretch of the joint, but the hock is a very difficult area to bandage. If you aren’t confident in your bandaging skills, do not bandage this area as it could cause more harm if done improperly. Fluid in Joints Bog spavin is fluid in…
Avoid Trailer Injuries Trailer injuries are something all horse owners want to avoid. Developed by horse owners and made of impact-resistant foam, the Paddie ($270; iconoclastboots.info) is a stall divider that offers a safe solution for trailering. Effective at preventing injuries from kicking or pawing in the trailer, the Paddie also reduces the need for shipping boots which saves time and money. The divider is easy to install with heavy nylon straps with quick-release snaps and can fit trailers with or without mangers. Travel Smart Use these products to make traveling with your trailer safe, easy, and convenient. 1. Easy Tying Allow your horse to move more freely, safely graze, eat, drink, and even lie down while tied to a trailer. Simply pull out and secure the arm before attaching…
