Storey's Barn Guide to Horse Handling and Grooming by Charni Lewis

As anyone who works with horses can attest, even the friendliest horse can be unpredictable. Horse handlers need authoritative information, but they also need both hands free. A conventional book is neither the safest nor the most convenient source for step-by-step instructions when difficult equine situations arise.

Clearly illustrated with large print and a calendar-like hanging format, Storey's Barn Guide to Horse Handling and Grooming is easy to use as a quick reference on the go. Full of plenty of simple, clear instructions for the novice horse handler, it remains a valuable reminder for more experienced horse men and women.

Organized and color-coded for quick reference, the guide offers resources in the following categories:
· Approaching & Catching
· Leading a Horse
· Turnout & Tying
· Grooming & Bathing
· Braiding
· Tacking Up
· In & Out of the Saddle
· Reading a Horse
· Horse Play

The appendix includes tips on show grooming, a horse anatomy chart, and an easy reference sheet to fill in with emergency contact numbers so they're easily accessible when and where you need them.

Charni Lewis is a trainer and instructor at Flintridge Riding Club in Pasadena, CA. She has an extensive background in dressage, veterinary medicine, and thoroughbred breeding.

128 pages
$24.95
ISBN 978-1-58017-657-6
Storey Publishing http://www.storey.com/

Bedding: Make the Right Choice for Your Situation, Part 3 of 4

by Alayne Blickle

Literally dozens of bedding products on the market may confuse horse owners who are trying to choose the best product for their situation. In this series we have covered how to assess your needs and your choosing criteria for what’s available in your area. This month we'll cover wood product bedding types, their advantages and disadvantages.

Shavings
There’s nothing quite like the look and smell of a stall freshly bedded with traditional shavings of pine or fir. However, while shavings smell wonderful and horses do seem to enjoy rolling in them, they aren’t very absorbent. Some types of shavings are more absorbent than others–kiln dried shavings with a lower overall moisture content will be better than heavier and more chip-like shavings. Shavings, particularly loose shavings, are also notoriously dusty, creating a layer of dust on everything from you and your horse to the walls of your barn. In order to avoid equine respiratory problems (and a potential fire hazard when layers of fine wood particles build up in your barn and on cobwebs), good ventilation is extremely important in a barn using loose shavings. So is attention to keeping cobwebs and dust layers reduced.

Loose shavings in bulk are much cheaper than bagged, but require a dedicated shavings bin or other storage area. It is best to have the bin located away from your barn to avoid the dust problem. Be sure this area is easily accessible year-round by delivery trucks.

Bagged shavings are costly but easier to use, convenient to store, and far less dusty. Cedar is not recommended since it has properties that resist decomposition. Also, a very small percentage of horses are allergic (a skin sensitivity) to cedar.

Pellets
A variety of pelleted wood products are becoming popular in many parts of the country. Wood pellets are made of kiln dried wood (usually fir, alder, or pine and very little cedar) and sawdust. The fine material is compressed into a small, hard pellet that expands back to the sawdust stage once exposed to moisture. Wood pellets are very low in dust and are usually sold by the bag, making transporting and storage quite handy. With the addition of a cover or tarp, you may even be able to store bagged pellets outside in a very small area. The extremely low moisture of the pellet makes them highly absorbent, and the fine material afterward composts quite well. You may even be able to use wood stove pellets as bedding if you find they are cheaper, but be sure they are 100% wood products with no glue or chemical additives. Some brands of pelleted bedding contain zeolite additives to help with odor control. Zeolite, a naturally occurring mineral, absorbs ammonia and reduces what gets volatized into the air, thereby helping with respiratory issues. Zeolite products are a good addition to the compost pile, as they slowly release nitrogen back into the soil.

Stalls bedded with wood pellets do not need to be cleaned the same way as traditional shavings. Cleaning works best in stalls with rubber mats. Empty 2-3 bags into a clean stall. Hoof action and moisture (even just from the air) break pellets down into fine sawdust. If you prefer having sawdust right away, spray the pellets to gently dampen them. Cleaning the stall will be more like cleaning a cat’s litter box; remove manure but take out as little of the bedding as possible. For urine, only take out the sopping wet portion and remix the damp bedding with dry until you can’t tell what was damp and what was dry. Two bags in a stall can last a couple of weeks, sometimes more. Some horse owners just add a portion of a bag at a time.

Disadvantages to pelleted bedding include learning how to clean a stall with pellets--it takes some training to realize that you need only remove the really soiled bedding and manure. If someone else cleans for you, this could take time and training and you may end up wasting clean bedding at first. Also, in very cold climates the pellets may not be able to absorb moisture well.

Other Options
Other types of wood products can make excellent bedding materials. Alder sawdust is one of these. Alder, a deciduous tree, is a soft wood. Without the lignums of conifers, it breaks down quickly and composts very well, much better than pine or fir. It is usually sold as “green” sawdust, which means that it is not dried and that the small pieces are more like tiny chips rather than shavings. Its ability to break down quickly and compost fully makes this product popular among gardeners and composters. It is also absorbent and low in dust. A disadvantage is that it is only available regionally--usually just the Pacific Northwest, where alder trees grow naturally. So far it is only available in bulk form.

We finish up this series next month by discussing alternative and non-wood bedding products.

Happy Horsekeeping!

~Alayne

Top Ten Website Mistakes -- Part 2 of 2

by Doug DeVries of Tech Help

Last month, we looked at five of the top ten mistakes in web design, adapted from an article by Jakob Nielsen of Useit.com. Here are mistakes 6-10:

6. No Site Map
The site map is the easiest way for a user to find what they are looking for without sifting through submenus or trying to guess at the proper search terms. Even if you have a great search function, everyone interacts with a website slightly differently. Be sure to provide your users with multiple methods to access the same information.

7. Anything That Looks Like an Ad
Web users no longer pay attention to ads that come between them and their goals. This includes:
· Banner Blindness: If it looks like a banner ad due to shape or position, users will look right past it.
· Animation Avoidance: Blinking/flashing text and aggressive animations don't attract attention--they drive it away.
· Pop-up Purge: Even if pop-ups get past their blocker, most users shut them down before they're fully rendered.

8. Violating Design Conventions
Jakob's Law of the Web User Experience: "Users spend most of their time on other websites." Those other sites teach them what to expect from your site. Unconventional sites are harder to use because they force the users to retrain themselves. Most users would rather find their content elsewhere.

9. Opening New Browser WindowsThere are only a couple of situations where a new window or pop-up should be used on your website. Links to pages within your website should never open new windows. Links to other resource websites can open new windows, allowing people to keep track of where they are within your site. Extra windows can cause confusion, so use sparingly.

10. Not Answering Users' Questions
People use the Internet because they have a goal. They want to accomplish something, or maybe even buy your product. If you don't provide the information they're looking for, your website has failed. This includes service or product details, phone numbers, prices, and return policies.

For the full text of Nielsen's article, visit http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9605.html

Horses and Youth

by Dr. Hannah Evergreen, guest columnist

Editor's note: Filling in for Nicole Lanphear this month, we have Dr. Hannah Evergreen, a veterinarian with a holistic practice in Western Washington. Dr. Evergreen shares her experience of watching kids grow up in the company of horses, one of the most natural, healthy ways you can guide young people toward a responsible future of caring for the people, creatures, and world around them.

Horses stole my heart from the moment I laid eyes on them as a child. This attraction quickly led to riding lessons and shortly after, a horse of my own. I experienced first hand the importance and benefits of horses for children. Horses have changed my life forever and have shaped me into the person I am today. Over the years I have also watched horses teach the same important lessons that I learned to the many young people involved with them. In particular, I've seen the deep impact that horses have on children by teaching them life skills.

Important Lessons Learned: Assertiveness, Responsibility, Compassion.
Horses teach children assertiveness and leadership. Assertiveness is the ability to appropriately and confidently take charge and express opinions in a situation. Horses rely on their humans to be an assertive leader and reward this behavior by being compliant and well behaved. Horses give children immediate feedback and reward when they are being assertive to help teach this important life skill. This has helped many a shy child come out of their shell and raise their self-esteem. Learning assertiveness through horses also teaches children how to control their anger and aggression; those of us who have learned this lesson as a child (or an adult) have found that anger puts us right back to square one with our horses and makes us have to re-establish trust all over again.

Horses teach children responsibility. When children are put in charge of the daily chores of their horse’s care, they are rewarded with and motivated by riding and companionship. We all know that it’s not easy caring for a horse. There are consistent, structured chores every day, no matter what…cleaning out the stall and paddock, feeding, watering, grooming, exercising, and training. Horses rely on their people to make sure their needs are met. They are also quick to point out to children if their needs are not being met…kicking and whinnying in the barn when they are hungry, knocking over buckets when they are thirsty, finding the perfect piles of manure to roll in when their stalls aren’t cleaned. Horses leave no room for excuses.

Children should also be encouraged to keep detailed records of de-worming, vaccinations, dental floats, yearly veterinary exams, and farrier care. 4-H and the U.S. Pony Club are helpful programs that time and time again teach children responsibility and record keeping. Children who become successful horse owners develop an ingrained sense of responsibility by the time they are adults; this stays with them and helps them throughout their lives.

Horses teach compassion. Learning to love and care for an animal teaches children compassion for all life. I believe horses have an extra special ability to heal people, and this innate quality seems to soften the hearts of those they encounter. Children are especially sensitive to this, and those children raised with the bond of a horse develop a strong sense of unconditional love for all life. Gandhi taught us that “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

Building Community
Assertiveness, responsibility, and compassion guided me through many years of school to become a veterinarian and still guide me today. Seeing the importance of these skills in my life reminds me constantly of the importance of passing these skills on to younger generations through horses. Now that I have fulfilled my dream of becoming a veterinarian, I feel a great responsibility to give back to the youth of our community, in turn.

Community service is part of my holistic approach as a veterinarian, and that includes educating young people. I was involved in horse 4-H throughout my childhood, so naturally I enjoy doing talks and demonstrations for the local 4-H clubs. Doing talks for horse rescue groups has also been a good way for me to influence young people in our community. I have fond memories of riding along with my vet as a child, so, in turn, I also have an extra seat in my truck for kids (and adults) with a strong interest in veterinary medicine to ride along with me as I go about my daily farm calls.

It’s only natural for those of us touched by horses to want to share what we’ve learned with the next generation. I know the young people of today will follow in our footsteps and do the same. Horses have kept this cycle going throughout the generations by teaching us these important life skills in a way that no other can teach. There are many ways to share horses with children, such as teaching riding lessons or supporting local 4-H, Pony Clubs, and horse camps.

Sometimes, all that it takes is offering a lead-line ride to an eager child on your trusty horse to get them hooked. Once they're hooked, you’ve changed that child for the better for the rest of his or her life.

Dr. Hannah Evergreen is a 2004 graduate from Oregon State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. She has loved, cared for, ridden and trained horses for most of her life; horses are her passion. Before becoming a veterinarian, she gained experienced as a veterinary assistant and a farrier. After graduation from veterinary school, Dr. Hannah worked as an associate veterinarian, then started her own mobile practice based out of Monroe, WA. Learn more about Evergreen Holistic Veterinary at www.evergreenholisticvet.com.

Veterinary Q&A for Kids

by Dave Sauter, DVM

Q. How many teeth does a horse have, and what kind of care do the teeth need?
-Hailey, age 7

A. Unlike other domesticated animals, the number of teeth horses have varies. The number can be between 36 and 44. Think of the horse’s mouth as having four rows of teeth: left upper, left lower, right upper, and right lower. Every horse has at least 9 teeth in each row (three incisor, three premolar, and three molar) so every horse has at least 36 teeth (9+9+9+9). All male horses have canine teeth, one in each of the four rows. This means all male horses have at least 10 teeth in each row, or a total of at least 40 teeth. That brings us to the one last possible tooth in each row, the infamous wolf tooth. The wolf tooth is not always present. Both male and female horses can get wolf teeth. Usually, they only get upper wolf teeth; lower wolf teeth are rare.

Regular dental care helps promote healthier horses. Horses should have their teeth checked once a year. Their teeth are different from ours--they continue to grow throughout the horse's life until they finally wear out. As they grow, they get very sharp edges that cut into the horse's gums and make it painful to chew or wear a bridle. Their teeth can get very uneven, creating more serious problems. Nowadays, we “float” or grind their teeth with power tools to smooth out the sharp edges and make them more even again.

Q. Do horses have four stomachs like cows, sheep and goats?
-Grace, age 10

A. No. Cows, sheep, and goats are ruminant animals, which have four parts to their stomachs. These animals have a “true” stomach, kind of similar to ours in some ways (it produces gastric acid and enzymes to help digest food). In front of this true stomach are three other large chambers, specially designed for digesting plant material we humans cannot. Because these three large chambers are before the true stomach, they are called forestomachs. Thus, ruminants are foregut fermenters. Deer, elk, camels, llamas and alpacas are also ruminants.

Like ruminants, horses are herbivores and can digest plant material like grass and hay. Unlike ruminants, horses have only one stomach, a “true” stomach. Horses also have large chambers for digesting plant material but theirs are a long way downstream from the stomach. The horse’s large fermentation chambers are the cecum and large colon. Hence, horses are “monogastric” and are hindgut fermenters.

Q. How much hay should a horse eat?
-Kameron, age 8

A. An average 1000 lb. horse will eat about 20 lb. or so of hay per day. That will vary some depending on what the horse does for exercise and what other food it gets. Just for comparison, a horse might eat up to 60 to 100 lb. of lush green grass per day to get the same amount of food found in 20 lb. of hay because so much more of the green grass is water.

Q. What are final examinations like prior to graduating from veterinary school?
-Kate, age 16

A. You are challenging my memory a bit with this question, since I graduated long before you were born, but I’ll give it a try. All veterinary schools have fully equipped hospitals for all species, staffed with a full gambit of clinicians, residents, interns, and students. These are teaching hospitals. Veterinary students spend their entire senior year rotating through the various departments (small animal medicine, small animal surgery, large animal medicine, large animal surgery, pathology, ophthalmology, etc.) developing their knowledge, skills, and experience. Senior students are allowed some time away from school for private practice preceptorships. In a sense, senior year is like one long practical exam, testing you on everything you learned the previous three years.

Senior students also are required to sit the National Board Examination, which covers all species, even wild animals like you might find in a zoo. It covers all subjects, from medicine and surgery to ethics. This is a written test and it takes all day to finish. Each individual state also requires sitting a state examination. Generally, these state examinations cover the laws and regulations concerning the practice of veterinary medicine within that state.

Q. What should I use to deworm my horse?
-Frances, age 11

A. Internal parasites are nasty creatures that compete for nutrients, damage internal organs and cause health problems such as weight loss, respiratory disease and colic. Unfortunately, the domestication of the horse and the necessary confinement it imposes allow parasite numbers to grow way beyond what they do in the wild. Periodic purge deworming is necessary to cope with the problem.

Today’s dewormers are safe, relatively inexpensive, and so far, effective; your vet can help you choose the kind that is right for your area. Parasitologists are concerned that parasites could develop resistance to our current products if they are used too much; in fact, this problem has started to happen in small ruminants.

Consequently, we need to be conservative with our use of these products. The schedule our clinic recommends includes four purge dewormings per year and is outlined on our website (www.kulshanvet.com). Twice yearly fecal tests for parasite eggs can help determine if your program is working. Good manure management also helps control parasites since many of the parasite species pass their eggs in feces.

Q. How do you properly wash a horse?
-Bella, age 5

A. As long as it is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer, it is warm enough for a horse to have a bath. Warm water lathers better, cleans better, and feels better. If you don’t have a warm water faucet, try a sponge bath with 5 gallon buckets of warm water. Make sure to thoroughly rinse the shampoo off. For specific bathing products and techniques, I’d prefer to let the show horse experts comment.

Q. How many gallons of water do horses drink in a day?
-Brittany, age 8

A. Water is essential for horses and the amount they need is affected by weather and the amount of exercise the horse is getting. Because horses come in different sizes and shapes, one way to describe the amount of water they need per day is in terms of their body weight.

In general, in cool weather the average horse will drink about ½ gallon of water per 100 lb. of body weight per day. So, a 1000 lb. horse would drink about 5 gallons per day. Hot weather, hard work, and milk production for a suckling foal will increase the amount of water horses need up to 3 times that amount, or 1½ gallons per 100 lb. of body weight per day. This is a fairly wide range, so the best advice is to provide free access to fresh, clean, and not frozen water at all times. There is an exception to this rule: if a horse has been worked hard and has finished working, do not provide free access to water for at least an hour, until the horse has cooled out. If the horse is walked to help it cool out, it can have a few swallows of water every five minutes or so. Horses that haven’t finished their work (for example, a hard trail ride) can be permitted to drink moderately.

Thank you for the wonderful questions!

April Spotlight

Triple Crown Nutrition Arrives in the Pacific Northwest!
This unique line is a winning combination of three critical elements: EquiMix Technology, premier ingredients, and a revolutionary formula. Together, they create a feeding program designed to avoid complications horses typically encounter.

TC feeds feature 7 organic minerals including SEL-PLEX organic selenium (recommended for the Pacific Northwest selenium deficient areas), kelp, live yeast, digestive enzymes, probiotics, beet pulp shreds, Bio-Mos and other toxin binders, yucca, and lecithin. This superior lineup of no filler, no by-product feeds and forages combined with an unmatched digestive package sets the Triple Crown Nutrition equine line apart.

While Triple Crown products may not produce a Triple Crown winner, they will help your horse achieve excellent health and championship performance, even if it’s just in your own back pasture! For more information and nutritional consultations, contact Triple Crown Nutrition at 800-451-9916 or check out their website at www.triplecrownfeed.com.

Report from OHSET
The 2008 season for the Central District of the Oregon High School Equestrian Teams is coming to a close! The third and final district meet is April 10-12 at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center Hooker Creek Arena in Redmond, Oregon. The district awards will be Sunday, April 13.

There have been approximately 140 riders competing this spring in the Central District, which is comprised of 14 schools: Sisters, La Pine, Madras, Paisley, Redmond, Bend, Mountain View, Summit, The Dalles/Wahtonka, Dufur, Crook, Pendleton, Lakeview, and Hood River. The schools compete in small (1-7 riders), medium (8-15 riders) and large (16+ riders) size teams. Each day usually starts at 8:30 a.m. and admission is free. Vendors will be on site. The State OHSET meet is hosted by the Central District, also held at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center on May 15-18 with awards following the final drill performance. For more information, contact Kathy Russell, Central District Media, 541-419-8925.

MacKinnon Ice Horse® Sponsors Susan Dutta
International dressage rider Susan Dutta announced her recent sponsorship from MacKinnon Ice Horse. MacKinnon Ice Horse is the developer of the Ice Horse Equine Cold Therapy Continuous Cooling System with passive compression, along with the Big Black Boot for hoof cooling, Evendura® Cold Wrap, Tendon, Hock and Ankle Wraps. Dutta and her staff apply Ice Horse therapy with First+ Ice insert technology as part of their daily regimen.

Chuck Dumbrell, owner/developer of Ice Horse, is pleased to have Dutta on board the Ice Horse team. Ice Horse Cold/Heat technology products are available at most tack stores, equine catalogs, and veterinary offices throughout the U.S. or visit www.mackinnonicehorse.com online for more information.

From Small Talk to Reality
It is amazing what can arise out of small talk outside a barn. When Equine Sport Therapist Alexa Linton and her client Laurie Joslin first discussed the idea of organizing an event dedicated to complementary therapy for horses, they were thinking small. Well, so much for that!

The Healthy Horse Expo, in its 2006 debut, grew into an event with over 50 booths of complimentary wellness practitioners and vendors dedicated to equine wellness, presentation areas showcasing some of the best in the industry, and a classroom setting to provide further opportunities for education.

The 2008 Healthy Horse Expo will take place from 10-4pm on April 5 at the Saanich Fairgrounds in Victoria, BC. Explore the many practitioner booths, enjoy a massage, watch a demo, learn a new skill, or just come for the shopping. This will be a fun day for the whole family, and tickets are the perfect gift.

Tickets are available at a Vancouver Island tack shop near you for just $5, or $7 at the door. Visit www.healthyhorseexpo.com for more information.

Ride the Old West
To the horseback rider looking for adventure and excitement, the Outlaw Trail Ride, Inc. is a non-profit organization created to promote recreation and tourism in the State of Wyoming. In 1990 the Outlaw Trail Ride was developed to retrace the steps of the infamous Butch Cassidy, Sundance Kid, and the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang from Hole-in-the-Wall to Thermopolis, Wyoming. It offers the rider spectacular scenery, a fun filled week of entertainment, and a chance to relive the history of the Wild West cowboys like nowhere else on earth.

The idea of a trail ride began as a 100th anniversary project organized by a group of volunteers from Hot Springs County and surrounding communities. The trail ride was a great success and funds raised have been donated to various organizations and individuals ever since.

The 2008 ride is August 2-9. For more information visit www.rideoutlawtrail.com.

With Patience and Passion

Tara Cunningham strengthens the horse/girl bond

When I was young, I believed anything was possible with a horse, no matter its breed or bloodlines. But as I was swept up in the work of top clinicians and performance horses, where those around me had a great influence on my thoughts and opinions, I soon found myself in the position of limited beliefs. I had lost my true passion for the horse and all the great beauties they possess. In this, I also lost confidence in myself.

Learning the Ropes
Like many young girls, Tara Cunningham was crazy about horses from a very young age. The rest of her family didn't share that love, but after years of begging she got her first horse: an 18-year-old retired Arabian show horse who became her first teacher.

Click here to read the full story.

Stout-Hearted Rodeo Queen

by Nicole Lanphear

Northwest Youth with Cystic Fibrosis Lives her Dream

For many young girls, the sight of a smiling, curly-haired rodeo queen atop her prancing steed sparks the dream of one day becoming that queen. For Jennifer Stout, her first view of Kari Kondro, Miss Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo, set her on the path to that dream.

“Her first impression was that Kari was so outgoing,” says Stout’s mother, Dolores. “She was a very genuine person, and had not changed once she became a rodeo queen. Her genuine love for people touched and inspired Jenny.”

On the path to reaching that goal, Stout had more hurdles than most girls her age. Now 16, Jenny Stout is one of 30,000 children and adults in the United States with cystic fibrosis[i], a genetic disease that affects the respiratory and digestive tracts and growth rate
[i] According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.


Click here to read the story in PDF format.

Youth Essay Contest Winners

Northwest Horse Source presents the winners of the 2008 Youth Essay Contest, "Places my horse has taken me"

Editor's note: I was thoroughly impressed by the insight and creativity shown by the young riders and writers here in the Northwest. Congratulations to all who won, and also to all who entered. We loved reading your stories and seeing the next generation of horse lovers in action. I'll let four young writers tell the rest of the story...

Click here to read the full article.

The Versatile Connemara

Born out of poverty, the Connemara Pony evolved from an unusual blend of natural selection and human need. The history is obscure, yet the Connemara Pony is considered Ireland's only native breed. Legend has it that when the Spanish Armada sank off the Connemara coast in the 16th century, the horses swam to shore and bred with the native ponies running wild in the mountains. They learned to live on the tough vegetation and survive the hardships of their habitat, as a misplaced step could send a pony crashing to its death.

Local farmers could only afford one good pony, often captured off the mountain and tamed. This had to be a mare who could give them a foal each year to sell for subsistence through the long, dark winter. She would pull a plow, a cart, and work from dawn to dusk under extremely harsh conditions. Stallions would travel the primitive roads between villages, covering many mares and many miles in one day.

The largest of the pony breeds, Connemaras range in height from 13 to 15 hands, with 14 to 14.2 hands as the average, making it a suitable mount for both children and adults. Easy keepers, they do not require a rich diet to stay healthy and fit. Connemaras are the image of strength, kindness and trust. Their inner peace will calm you as they charm their way into your heart.

This breed profile was excerpted, with permission, from the American Connemara Pony Society web site at www.acps.org.

Youthful Enthusiasm

by Deb Taber

Not long ago, I went to a reading given by The Hearts of Horses author Molly Gloss. I love going to live readings—there is something about hearing a writer give voice to her own work that infuses it with a different kind of life than just seeing the words on the page. In addition to reading, Gloss talked a bit about her own horse background.

Growing up in rural Oregon, she never had a horse of her own but often rode with friends and neighbors. After many years away, when she got the idea of writing about a young woman who broke horses in the early 1900s, she knew she needed to get a little more hands-on background. Gloss started a BLM mustang with coaching from a professional trainer. The life in her eyes as she talked about the mustang reacting to her most subtle cues showed clearly her love of the horses around her.

I heard several people talking in the audience afterward. Some were horse owners, others just held onto their childhood dreams of quiet time with their equine friends. I overheard one woman talk about how the book made her feel like taking up riding, but at age 61, she felt to old to begin.

I'm a firm believer that you're never too old, yet I find that I, too, am a lot more cautious than I used to be after so much time away from horses. That hesitation is countered every month by the articles I read and edit...the ones that make me look forward to the opportunity to set my feet into stirrups and go out in the world with that special view you only get on horseback.

And speaking of special views, I'm pleased to announce the winner of part 2 of our newsletter's "Winter Wild!" photo contest. For those of you who don't get the newsletter, we split the contest into two categories, so here I give you the Winter Wild! Part 2 winner, Chris Johnson of Northwind Arabians. Congratulations, Chris! I hope you enjoy your copy of Molly's book.

Sign up for our semi-monthly newsletter at www.nwhorsesource.com for sneak peeks, tips, contests, and more.

Lessons from Youth

by Karen Pickering

It must be spring. Flowers are peeking their heads out through the dirt, adding some color to our bland winter landscape. It’s time for renewal, birth, warmth from the sunshine, and the promise of warm days ahead. Perfectly appropriate for our focus this month: youth.

I believe we have a responsibility to help young people on their journey to adulthood. In return, we get inexhaustible ideas, energy to try something new, and a license to dream big. What can we learn from the young people around us? What is a young person’s perception of the way things are?

Please let me know your thoughts on how we can preserve our heritage and support organizations such as 4-H that develop our youth into responsible, caring adults. Who is going to take our places? What are your kids telling you they want to contribute? Perhaps our young readers can write in and let me know what they would like to read in the magazine. Should we bring back our youth column, along with advice from Shaboom and Clyde?

This issue is dedicated to our future horsepeople. Please celebrate with us the rediscovery of a young girl's love for horses as Tara Cunningham shares her journey into the world of clinicians and showmanship, then back to the simple love of the horse (see this month's cover story). Read the winning essays from four young people whose horses have taken them to places of imagination, fear, and wisdom beyond their years (see Youth Essay Contest feature). Follow the inspirational story of Jennifer Stout, a young rodeo queen with cystic fibrosis who has the courage to face every challenge head on and never forget those around her.

As for my own challenges, I’m still working on getting a good ride in on a regular basis. I need a nudge from time to time, but I’m making it happen.

Until next month….remember to ride!

Quote of the Month:

"Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different. Life would undergo a change of appearance because we ourselves had undergone a change in attitude."
~Katherine Mansfield

Building A Relationship

by Steve Rother

It is early Saturday morning and you are on your way out to the barn to see your good friend "Brownie," who you have been waiting all week to ride. Today you are going to one of your favorite trail riding locations, but in the back of your mind you are a bit hesitant. You are just hoping and praying that Brownie has come to like the place as much as you do. On your last trip up that trail he wasn’t too excited. In fact, he wasn’t impressed at all and only wanted to be back home at the barn. As you look over into the paddock, you see your good friend come loping over to the gate to greet you. Wow, hopefully things are going to be off to a great start after all!

You go to get your halter and meet Brownie back at the gate. You slowly enter, put his halter on…and then it happens! You feel the joy of your 1,200 pound friend standing on your foot as he makes an attempt to squeak past you on the way to the gate. At first you are a bit shocked, then a bit threatened, and then finally you start to feel your confidence sliding. You say to yourself: “Maybe Brownie wasn’t so happy to see me? Or maybe he just forgot about me for a brief moment? Or perhaps he is just in a hurry to start his trail ride?” In any case, it feels as if you are losing control of the situation before it even begins.

At this point it is time to make some very important decisions about the relationship between you and your horse. There comes a time in every person’s life when they have to learn to draw an appropriate line between themselves and their horse(s). If this line is drawn carefully, it can set you up for success in the long run. However, if this line is poorly drawn, it can mean the difference between building a partner and losing a friend.

Taking it to the Extreme
When trying to develop a better partnership with your horse, I would like you to be aware of two extremes:

One extreme is the place where there is absolutely no wrong for your horse. Everything is roses, carrots, and belly rubs. If you ask your horse to do something, there is always some form of verbal or bribed coercion involved in the process. This place seems like a great one to be. How could any horse not love this one? I am sure that we would all like this place--at first… The other extreme is the place where everything is forced. Once again coercion steps into the picture, but this time it is in the form of big sticks, chains, and loud verbal tidbits of meaningful banter for your horse.
I want you to notice in these two examples that there is one word in common for both of them: coercion. You might ask: “how can this be?” One form seems so nice, while the other so harsh.

Many people may condone one of these behaviors around their horse, but never condone the other. However, since we are dealing with a horse--and not a human--we should look much closer at both.

The Problem with Coercion
Take two horses that are loaded into two separate trailers, one with a bucket of grain, and the other with several whips. Both horses may eventually load…but in the process of getting in, did they learn anything about the dark steel cage? Or were they distracted, one horse by grain and the other by whips? Both horses have an equal chance of panicking once the door is shut and the wheels are set in motion.

So, though one method may have seemed much kinder, the mental, emotional, and physical stability of the horse are still at risk due to the coercion factor.

Why is coercion such a negative thing in the long run? Typically, coercion lacks some very important pieces that are necessary to the development of a good relationship between you and your horse. Some of these are: leadership, education, and partnership.

I encourage you to find the middle ground between these two extremes. Find the place where you can be kind but not taken advantage of, firm but not feared, and fun but still taken seriously. For a lot of students in my clinics this means stepping it up a little, and for others, taking it back just a notch.

Looking for Leadership
The next time you are at the gate with your horse and there is a question mark in your mind as to where the day might be heading, step up to the plate and be the leader that your horse is looking for. Let him know that sneaking past you (to the gate or his buddies) is not the way to go. Get him to look to you for leadership and support, so that he wants the partnership that you have to offer.

The answers are, once again in the feet…move the feet! Forward, backward, left and right. The feet affect the mind. Go out there and get the job done. Start with the motions, and then make it solid. Find that partnership you have been looking for. Your horse will thank you.

Until next time…ride for fun!

The Right Fit

by Allison Trimble

During two years of writing this article I have had a number of emails from readers, and the largest portion of the letters I receive ask a variation of “How do I find a trainer?” I felt as though I had already covered the issue, but a few weeks ago a reader came to my ranch who was struggling with what to do with her 3-year-old gelding. We got to talking about the different factors in the decision.

The most important thing to do is assess your situation. Finding a trainer isn’t difficult, but finding one that fits your situation can be challenging. Most of the emails I get are from people who already have a horse and are looking for a trainer. Often, the horse is home-raised and there is a lot of emotional attachment to it. This is not a bad thing, but it can make the process complicated. The following are a few of the things you need to take into consideration:

Age of Your Horse
Typically, cow horses are started as 2-year-olds, shown at the end of their 3-year-old year in the snaffle, and then progressed through the hackamore and finally are shown one handed in the bridle as 6-year-olds. If you are starting out with an unbroken 5-year-old, this will be challenging. Horses need a solid two years of training before they are competitive, and you would lose the ability to ever show that horse two handed. Some trainers may be hesitant to take on a horse in this situation.

Bloodlines
There are certain bloodlines that are more likely to perform in cow horse events than others. Assess your horse's lineage and see how many performance horses are in its past. It is always preferable to have a horse that is by a performer and out of a performer or producer. The better bred your horse is, the more likely that someone will want to take it into training. Here is where I will stress the importance of looking at your finances: often it is much less expensive to find another prospect for the show pen, and maybe just enjoy the horse you have at home. I am not saying that a horse lacking the pedigree won’t perform, it is just a risky bet to make.

Level of Competition
Is this horse destined to be a horse for you to show, or for the trainer? Are you hoping to win in the pen, or just to see what your horse is capable of? With most trainers, the goal is to have a horse that is competitive in the show pen. This is not always an easy task. Decide up front what is most important to you--success in the show pen or your horse’s well-being. These are not always mutually exclusive, but they often are. This is a very demanding sport and only a small portion of horses have the ability to perform at a competitive level. High speeds, quick moves, and cattle are often a recipe for destruction in a horse that is not equipped to handle the stress. Not to defend those who may be too strong-handed, but many trainers find themselves in a serious bind. They have a client who wants their horse to perform, but the horse doesn’t have the natural ability. Often, good horses are ruined by people with the best intentions. There are so many horses today that are naturally gifted, many trainers are not excited to train a horse that isn't. You don’t want your horse in that situation.

Define a Training Plan
If your horse’s treatment is important to you, have a discussion in the beginning with your trainer. There are a few different ways to approach this situation. One way is to tell your trainer that you want periodic assessments of your horse’s abilities and potential. Make it clear that you do not want him to push your horse to do things that it is not capable of. If your horse’s well-being is paramount to you, you have to be willing to hear that this may not be the best job for it.

You can also say you want your horse to get in the show pen, but that you want it to come along at its own speed. Winning is not more important to you than having a solid horse. In this instance, you have to realize that it may take a lot longer to finish your horse than another horse. If you do not say this, your trainer will most likely do everything in his power to get your horse in the show pen in short order, and he may cut corners to get that done. You also have to expect that there will be a lot of going to shows, schooling, and not bringing in a paycheck. The more pressure put on your trainer to perform, the more likely your horse will be pushed unnecessarily. This can be a very costly route to take.

Finding a Trainer
Once you have a clear picture of how you would like your horse’s training to go, it is time to find the right trainer. The easiest scenario is if you are a person whose main goal is to win--you can always go to association websites and look through the show results and standings. This will tell you who the most successful showmen are. You just put your horse in training, pay the bills, and trust in the trainer’s ability to get it done.

If you are looking for a trainer who can get a horse the most ready for you to show, look on the association pages in the non pro categories and find who the trainers for those successful non pros are. Talk to the non pros and find out how their training experiences have been.

If you are looking to get a horse started, go to the shows and talk to people. Find out who started their horses and ask about their experiences. Most people are willing to tell you if they have reservations about certain trainers or if they strongly recommend someone. Know what you want out of the project and what you do not want. Be honest about it, but be open to understanding the process and do your homework. Know what is going to be expected of your pony in a cow horse training program. There are a lot of really great trainers out there, but what matters is finding the one that fits you and your horse best.

Please, please, please email me with topics you would like more information on! I want to know your needs and be able to go find the answers to any questions you may have.
~Allison

Riding Outside the Box, Part I

by Alice Trindle

If you are anything like me, I am so ready to get out and RIDE! We have had such a severe winter here in eastern Oregon, and while I have been blessed with an indoor arena, I am just itching to get outside to jump some logs, canter up hills, and play with cows.

This series of articles will give us a chance to discuss the many environments and obstacles we use in our clinics to prepare horse and rider teams for riding outside the arena. We will look at constructing obstacles such as bridges, car washes, and the use of tarps to create trail-type experiences at home. Next, we will head to the mountains and into big fields or meadows to use the environment to present new situations to our horses so that everyone is prepared for the unexpected...all the time working on new ways to get together with our horse and learn to feel for his feet, body, and mind. The last article in this series will focus on one of my favorites…how to use cows to connect to your horse. It’s going to be a fun ride these next few months as we examine riding and thinking outside the box!

Getting Started
Let’s begin by taking a look at several items in which you may decide to invest and build to help prepare you for riding outside the arena. These are elements you will most likely find in any trail course, and for those of us who have the opportunity to ride in mountain environments, you will find on almost any trip to the hills. In all cases, these obstacles are opportunities to accomplish the following:
· Create curiosity in your horse
· Create self-confidence in both horse and rider
· Give humans the opportunity to feel of, for, and then with the horse
· Develop rhythm, timing, and balance with focus from both the horse and the human
· Develop patience and the ability to wait
· Have FUN!

Building a Bridge
Not to get too metaphorical, but getting your horse to cross, stand upon, or back over a bridge-like obstacle truly is “building a bridge.” It is a bridge between the horse and his rider, where the rider proves his connection to all four feet of the horse. An actual bridge is such an easy thing to construct, and it opens up myriad maneuvers to be accomplished that ultimately achieve all of the skills listed above.

Regarding construction, make sure you use quality materials that will hold the weight of the horse. We use treated 6x6 or 4x6 posts as the runners down both sides and 2x6 or 2x10 lumber as the cross pieces. We have had better luck using long wood screws rather than nails. Make sure none of the screw heads or tips are protruding where the horse could step on them or catch a body part. The length can vary depending on what you are desiring to accomplish.

We have two bridges at our place. One is about 7' long and approximately 3' wide. This bridge is great for working length-wise to develop a flow over forward and backward, stopping on top of, or stepping one foot at a time. This length of structure is probably similar to many bridges you will find out in the woods, spanning small creeks. We also have a smaller bridge (approximately 3' x 3') that is actually much more difficult to negotiate. This small bridge is great for developing feel, timing, and balance in both the horse and the rider, from the ground or on board. We try to achieve goals such as getting one foot, then two feet, then three or even four feet on the bridge at one time.

The ways to use the bridge are only limited by your imagination! Just remember to always set it up with a clear goal in your mind’s eye, stay present, and do not rush. Your Horseman’s Protocol is as important to apply while practicing these maneuvers as it is when preparing for your training level test in dressage. Become present, breathe, focus, allow, and definitely reward the slightest effort in the right direction. As with all the obstacles we will be discussing, I highly recommend practicing first on the ground with your halter and a 12’ or 22’ lead. You will be developing valuable leadership skills, which will transfer flawlessly to the saddle work.

Making a Car Wash
I was first introduced to the car wash-type structure (see photo below) in a Dennis Reis clinic. It simulated situations I have been in many times when chasing cows through thickets where branches, bushes, and leaves were so thick you could barely see where the ol' cow had effortlessly run! How great to re-create this situation at your home before you find yourself in one of those thickets. Use of the car wash will build confidence in both the horse and rider, and you will be creating a situation that definitely helps you be there to give guidance to the horse before he needs it.

I have seen three types of car washes: 1) Permanently attached to side of barn or arena; 2) Portable U-shape; and 3) Cattle panel arch. For instruction on building and hanging your own car wash, visit www.tnthorsemanship.com/articles.

Other Uses of the Tarp
Getting your horse acquainted with going over, carrying, and dragging tarps is a great exercise for every discipline. I will almost guarantee that after the tarp practice your dressage horse will not shy at the flowers located on the judges stand! Tarps are great for building on the curiosity of your horse and ultimately bolstering his self-confidence. For the human, tarps help us learn to wait on the horse’s feet and to become a good and patient leader.

Please Note: I do not consider tarp work such as carrying or dragging a tarp as good preparation for the ability to take your coat or slicker on and off while on the horse. This is NOT a safe practice, and I highly recommend that you get down from the saddle when dealing with your coat, sweatshirt, or slicker. Think about it…there is always a time when your arms are confined, and maybe even a time when you cannot see. If the horse takes off at this moment, you are in a world of hurt.

Here are a few cautions to consider when using a tarp to sensitize your horse:
1. No Holes: Make sure there are no holes in your tarp. Should a foot get caught in one, it would ultimately teach the horse the wrong thing. You may be able to work your way up to the horse accepting dragging a tarp with his feet by building on a proper release, but wait until you are in control of the timing of that release.

2. One Step at a Time: Again, have lots of patience. To the horse, a tarp may look like a deep hole; it sounds and feels strange when he steps on it, and it smells unnatural. Give the horse plenty of time to test it out, first by looking and dropping his head, next by smelling, and last by testing it one step at a time. Have a vision of him stepping on, carrying, or dragging the tarp, but be satisfied by little ‘tries’ toward achieving that vision. Time is not an element. Reward the effort.

3. Dragging or Following: You may wish to attach a rope to the tarp to make it easy to drag behind your horse or to pull in front of him so that he thinks he is pushing it. These are great exercises. However, be cautious about the rope. You need to prepare your horse to accept ropes while he moves, on all parts of his body, prior to attempting the drag-type exercises with the tarp.

So there you have ideas for building and using three pieces of equipment to help prepare you for riding (and thinking) outside the box! It really does not matter what discipline you are pursuing; from a backyard trail buddy to a partner that will take you to Grand Prix level, these tools will be invaluable for the development of a great relationship. They will help to cement your leadership skills while teaching your horse self-confidence, which will allow the two of you to ride through, over, past, under, around, up, and down anything…all in willing communication and with a joyful heart!

photos by Susan Triplett