Innehållsförteckning för Practical Horseman Extra Volume 5 från Practical Horseman

Timing, finding your spot, seeing your distance, using your “eye”—these are all terms for the same thing: guiding your horse to an ideal takeoff spot. It’s the single-most challenging element of riding a course in any jumping discipline. There’s a common misconception that some people are born with a great eye and others are not. In reality, all riders have the same ability to see a distance. The only difference is the degree of confidence we each have in our ability. If you worry about whether or not you’re going to “find” the right distance to a fence, you’re already setting yourself up for failure. This anxiety causes you to change your pace or line (or both), to pump your body, throw yourself ahead of the motion or clutch at…

Emergency situations can happen anywhere, so consider packing a duplicate travel kit that has basically the same contents as your at-home kit. You could store it in the tack room of your trailer or another easily accessible area, such as your barn tack room, so you can grab it and put it in your truck before a trip. The kit could be organized into a similar transportable container as your home version or you could even keep everything in a duffle bag as long as it stays in a weatherproof location to keep all the contents clean and dry. Having two complete kits can be pricey to stock, but you’ll have a better chance of having all the supplies you need in an emergency.…

No matter how extensive your first-aid kit is, it should never replace a call to your veterinarian in an emergency—or even if you’re not sure if you have an emergency. Serious symptoms like puffy eyes, sudden lameness or reluctance to walk, profuse bleeding, breathing problems and signs of colic (such as pawing, depression, excessive sweating, etc.) always warrant an immediate phone call. “My personal preference is always a phone call,” says Sarah Feathers, DVM, of Great Valley Equine Veterinary Services. “That doesn’t mean the vet has to come out. Just describe the symptoms. If you can handle it, great. If not, I’ll be there.”…

One of the country’s leading hunt-seat trainers, Geoff Teall builds the success of his horses and riders on a foundation of confidence and careful preparation. Based in Wellington, Florida, he travels extensively to teach, judge and compete. An R-rated USEF judge, he has officiated at many top shows, including the Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals, the USEF Pony Finals and the Washington International and National Horse Shows. He is a co-founder of the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation and a former member of the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association board of directors.…

A hoof problem might not always warrant an emergency call to your vet, but you want to have supplies on hand to deal with the situation. It is not uncommon for horses to lose shoes in the field or while being ridden, but in some cases the shoe will become loose or twisted on the foot. If that happens, bring the horse inside and call the farrier to come and remove the shoe. However, if the horse is standing on a clip, it is important to remove the shoe as soon as possible. “The danger of standing on a clip is that it can come in contact with the coffin bone, depending on sole depth and placement. At the very least it usually causes a hoof abscess,” says Sarah Feathers,…

Post emergency contact information for your vet and farrier in the barn and save it in your phone. Know how to take your horse’s temperature, pulse and respiration and be aware of these typical resting vital signs. “We do resting TPRs for every horse in the barn and those should be posted in every barn or in a notebook,” says Samantha Burton Henley, facility manager at Sandy River Equestrian Center. Check your first-aid kit monthly and toss out and replace expired medication. Replace anything you take out of your first-aid kit as soon as possible. Educate yourself. Make sure you know how to use everything in your kit or have your veterinarian show you. Practice wrapping your horse’s leg before a stressful emergency situation. Keep your horse’s health records up…