Let 'er Buck!

The Pendleton Round-Up celebrates 100 years of the wild Northwest

Cowboys and cowgirls may be a thing of the past to some, but their modern day counterparts still keep up that Wild West spirit. Here in the Pacific Northwest, there is no better celebration of the western way of life, past and present, than the premier event of September each year in Pendleton, Oregon: the Pendleton Round-Up.

100 Years of Horses

On September 19, 1910, every store in the Pendleton, Ore. area closed down. But rather than creating a ghost town feel, the closures were part of an event that drew the largest crowd the small city in northeastern Oregon had ever seen. That year, the Pendleton Round-Up drew in 7,000 people. In 2010, the crowd will number well above 50,000.

Click here to read the full story...

Equine Photography for Buyers and Sellers

A picture can be worth a thousand words...or dollars

by Catherine Madera

In the equine marketplace, the impact of good photography should not be underestimated. For sellers, it can mean the difference between a casual glance and a sale. For those buying, be aware that pictures can be accidentally or deliberately misleading, camouflaging conformation flaws, unsightly scars or injuries. With a few tips, anyone can improve their ability to both photograph a horse and analyze it based on a picture.

Presentation
Wash and/or groom your horse prior to taking its picture; also be aware of the condition of its hooves. This sounds ridiculously basic, but sale photos abound of horses snapped filthy and unkempt in their pastures. A poor photo with poor presentation suggests a lack of care. Potential buyers may wonder if this translates into other areas of the horse’s life such as training and health care.

Click here to read the full article in our digital edition.

Senior Essay Contest Winners

Two dedicated northwest horsewomen won our Senior Horse Essay Contest this year. Meet Kaitlyn and Chance, our youth winner and her beloved steed...

...and Terri and Toby, our adult winner (not pictured) and her trusty sidekick.

Click here to read the winning essays, and watch for the honorable mention essays coming on our blog for Reader Story Fridays!

The Fine Art of Giving

Make Meaningful Connections with The Trail of Painted Ponies

Despite the ups and downs, both global and personal, that the past year may have brought us all, the holiday season is approaching, bringing with it the time and the cause for celebration. Reinforcing the bonds between friends and family and remembering significant events in ways that strengthen our connection to others is what this season is all about. There is no better way to put the Merry back into Christmas than through thoughtful, meaningful gift-giving.

The Value of Meaning
The best way to give a gift of true value is to forget about how much you feel you should spend and make sure your gift is truly thoughtful and personal. Take the time to look for just the right item, something that will reach the heart of that special person, and something that means more coming from you than it would from anyone else—a reflection of a past experience or a special bond that the two of you share. Once you begin to think about gift-giving as a treasure hunt for that artful connection, the process can become so much more enjoyable both for the giver and the recipient.


Click here to read the full article in our digital edition.

Winterizing Your Horse

Keep your horse healthy and happy in winter for a more productive spring
by G.L. Moore, DVM


Depending on where you spend your winters, your horse may or may not need to be “winterized” when days grow short. If you winter in milder climates, your horse care routine may not change much if you ride regularly. However, if you give your horse a winter vacation, you will have to pay close attention so your trail riding partner or show horse is healthy and ready to go in the spring. Unfortunately, horses are not like golf clubs or boats that can be put away and forgotten until the next season. They need some care even when all you want to do is stay indoors by the fire.

Click here to read the full article!

Your Horse's Dream Home

All Purpose Structures helps you save time and money by getting your barn built right

Building your dream barn should be a positive experience. The end result is a beautiful home for your horse that is healthy and comfortable and meets your needs as an owner and caretaker. Small or large, following the simple steps below will keep your dream barn from turning into a nightmare of a project.

Determine Your End Purpose and Goals

All Purpose Structures, a post frame builder for over 21 years, suggests that before any plans are drawn up or calls are made to contractors, you ask yourself a few key questions:

• What is the purpose of my facility?

• Will it be used for personal or commercial use?

• What type of discipline is the facility for – e.g., jumping, roping or dressage?

• What do I think I'm looking for and what is my budget?

Once you’ve answered these questions, try sketching a basic outline of the structure on paper. This exercise prompts a second round of more detail-oriented questions...

Click here to read the full article in our digital edition.

Dennis Brouse: Building a Better Bond with Horses

Host of hit TV show “Saddle Up with Dennis Brouse” gave up the corporate world to develop simple and safe training techniques

When Dennis Brouse left the corporate world in the mid 1990s to dedicate himself to horses on a full-time basis, many people thought he had gone mad. After all, why would a businessman who had a family to take care of step away from his successful career?

But for Brouse this seemed like the only solution in overcoming his frustrations with the methods horse trainers were teaching him. The techniques seemed inconsistent, and he wasn’t seeing results.

“The more I got into it, the less it really worked,” said Brouse. “It got to a point where I was so frustrated that I almost gave up on horses.”

But instead of giving up, Brouse, who has been riding since the age of 14, decided to tackle his troubles head on. He sold his business and immersed himself completely in the world of horse training. He was relentless. He spent thousands of hours working on his own horses, as well as other people’s horses.

Click here to read the full story!

The Wild at Work

BLM Mustangs Do it All

Picture the rugged terrain of eastern Oregon, wind streaming through the manes of a band of horses that have never known the touch of a human hand. It is an iconic image of beauty and power and the American West.

The majesty of mustangs is just one part of their appeal. After generations of living in the wild, these descendents of the Spanish settlers’ horses are hardy, hardworking animals that offer an incredibly rewarding experience for everyone from new horse owners to established trainers.

A Blank Canvas

Those who work with mustangs know that one of the best-kept secrets in the horse training world is the mustang’s ultimate trainability. Now the secret is out: life in the wild has created a horse with sturdy legs and feet, a quick mind, and no bad habits left over from previous mismanagement. Often referred to as “a blank canvas for the art of training,” mustangs are preferred by many therapeutic riding programs, including the Adaptive Riding Institute in Oregon, because of this ultimate trainability and great patience.

Click here to read the full article in our digital edition!

Vita Flex Nutrition Equips Your Horse For Health

Interview with Allyson St. Vincent of Vita Flex Nutrition 

How do you know when your horse needs supplementation? What, exactly, do supplements do? Every horse and every owner is different, so rather than bringing you a list of “one-size-fits-all” instructions, NWHS went to the experts at Vita Flex Nutrition to find the best advice on supplementation. Just like any other piece of tack or equipment, finding the right fit is the best way to ensure the health and happiness of your horse.

Read the full interview in our online edition...

Backcountry, Wine Country, Horse Country

Horse activities in Northern California

by Nicole Lanphear

You won’t find it in a brochure, but there is a place for horse lovers to ride and have a picnic with a 1,200-year-old redwood affectionately called the “Grandmother tree.” You can only find this in Jack London State Historic Park of Northern California.

The state of California offers an expanse of horse activities, but the northern half of the state is distinctive from the southern half. Lifelong California resident Tiffany Whitehouse says Northern California has more opportunities to go out and enjoy riding horses. From vineyard tours to wilderness trails, Northern California is a haven for recreational riding. 

Click here to read the full article in PDF format.

Click here to read the full article in our digital edition

Extreme Mustang Makeover!

Tracey Westbury and a mustang named 'Steve Holt!' make the journey to Albany's extreme mustang event

It was raining. Again. The clay soil beneath the horse’s feet was turning to a thick, slick, "quickmud"--the kind of stuff that sucks the boots right off your feet. Not my idea of ideal training weather or footing. Yet there I was, making last minute preparations to bring home a horse that would be with me for the next three months in the nastiest of Northwest weather.

The first weekend in December, I took my daughter, Katie, and a friend to Burns, Oregon, where I would be picking up a wild horse for training. I was about to compete in the Northwest Extreme Mustang Makeover, an event sponsored by the Mustang Heritage Foundation. The event partners qualified individuals with a wild mustang for roughly 90 days of gentling and training. 

The Mustang Challenge

This was my second go-'round with a Makeover horse. Last year I competed during the Western States Mustang Challenge in Sacramento, CA. I’d never had a deadline looming while working with a mustang before, and must admit I was shaking in my boots. It can put a certain level of stress on you when you’re up against the clock for any competition, let alone one where you’ve got just 90 days to take a completely wild animal and turn it into a passive, green broke horse that’s capable of walking through throngs of people anxious to see what a wild horse looks like. In Sacramento, more people turned out to watch the finals of the Mustang Makeover than for the Magnificent 7…talk about pressure! 

Trainers have no say in which horse they come home with; the horses are assigned and you get what you get. If a trainer decides the horse isn’t working out as planned, it’s his or her responsibility to return the horse to the nearest BLM holding facility. Expenses, by and large, are the responsibility of the trainers, from pick-up to care to returning to the competition. It can be an expensive journey and takes some dedication on the part of the trainers, whether they’re in it for the personal challenge, a little self-promotion, or for the welfare of the mustangs.

People often wonder just how wild a wild horse is. They’ve become so accustomed to our gentled domestics that it’s hard to wrap their heads around the concept. My answer is typically this: “Have you ever caught a wild rabbit before? If you did, how long were you able to hold onto it? Now put all that fight and energy into something the size of an elk, and you’ve got a wild horse.” With that in mind, people then become curious as to how on earth you get into the horse's space and make that first contact, and good golly, is it even possible to be on a mustang and riding in 90 days? 

Training the Trainer

I must admit I’m just a regular person: horse crazy since birth, but with no special training that comes from years of clinicians. I’m in no way certified by anyone in particular, nor do I spend much time sitting in front of the television watching RFD TV for tips and hints on how to get my horse to do this or that. Before I took on the mustang for last year’s competition, I called an old friend, Curt Storbakken, and asked him if he’d give me some colt starting lessons. I’d ridden with his wife, Linda, 20 years earlier, but had taken a 15-year break from the horse world while raising my family. Jumping back in with both feet, not only to tackle an unbroke horse, but to put it together in this time frame, required a little bit of back up and reassurance that I was on the right track. Curt threw me up on a couple of his green horses. My body had to relearn a lot of what it had lost over the years, and my mind needed to pick up new things that related to getting a horse started rather than just being a pretty passenger. 

It was a lot of work for my soft body, and I went home sore more than once. The help I received was worth it and has paid off in a big way with my challenge mustang, 'Steve Holt!' The fire that had been in this mighty steed in December was down to a glowing ember as he became accustomed to me moving in and out of his personal space, trusting me as I placed my hands upon his body. By the beginning of the second week, he accepted the saddle. By the end of the fourth week I was on his back and testing the skills I’d learned the year before.

At the Event

There will be all sorts of training levels represented once we get to the Expo. Some trainers will have realized their mustangs are very reactive and need a bit more time before they’re ready to be ridden. Others will have perfected flying changes and be doing reined cow horse work to a standing ovation from the crowd. Most of us will be able to navigate a simple trail course pattern. 

The competition itself is broken down into three phases: Body Conditioning, In Hand Obstacle, and the Riding Course. Our horses must look their best; although trainers have the option of clipping or leaving the horses natural, the mustangs should be of good weight and have a nice shine to their coats. The horses' mannerisms are taken into account as well. The In Hand Obstacle portion features trainers showing how easily their horses will load into a trailer, pick up all four feet, and lead obediently over obstacles such as poles and a bridge, as well as trotting around cones. The last phase is the Riding Course, which counts for half of the trainer’s score. This is a basic trail course, typically with a bridge, turnarounds, sidepassing, backing and just about anything else you might find in a typical green horse course, including the need to perform at all three gaits.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a horse that isn't struck by stage fright and if you’ve done your job well, you may just end up one of the top ten point earners and win yourself a trip to the finals. All previous scores are thrown out at this point, and each contestant starts fresh. The finals is an "anything goes" event, and spectators are wowed by everything from horses climbing onto flatbed trailers as they cross the arena to others jumping through rings of fire. You may see simple reining patterns or find yourself amazed at the cow sense of a spunky little mustang as her trainer sends her after a calf.

Back to the Horse

But what does it take to get that wild, fire-breathing monster to this point? Patience and dedication. A willingness to think outside the box, to give up all your preconceived ideas on what a mustang can or cannot do. The ability to take one day at a time and build upon each day in a positive manner. It’s all about the relationship between horse and trainer; if you set the foundation early on and let the horse know you’re a trustworthy leader, it will do everything it's physically able to do in order to keep you happy.

As I’m typing this, a little ticker on my blog tells me I’ve got 22 days until the Northwest Extreme Mustang Makeover at the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo in Oregon. Twenty-two days…an eternity…and so close at the same time. Twenty rides left before we compete. Will we have what it takes to make the finals once we get there? I don’t know. I’m hoping so. 

Whether or not we make the finals, we’ve won. 'Steve Holt!' is comfortable wearing his domestic horse clothing. He enjoys human company. He’s great up on the trails and not afraid to work in the arena. Rather than being lost in a sea of bay horses at a long term holding facility for the rest of his life, he now has an opportunity to show the world that a mustang is quite capable of becoming someone’s partner and companion. 

On the third day of the competition--after the finals are finished and the awards have been presented--comes the hour of heartbreak for many trainers. All mustangs that competed will be placed up for adoption by the general public. At this point, after three long months, trainers have fallen in love with their mustangs. Some will adopt them back. Some won’t be able to afford them, and nearly all of us will be shedding a tear or two as we watch our hearts being carted away in someone else’s horse trailer.

Check out Tracey's blog at http://mustangdiaries.blogspot.com to keep up to date on her mustang activities!

About the Author:

Tracey Westbury was born and raised in Whatcom County where she learned to ride on the back of an ill tempered Welsh pony (it was either that or walk home).  While she's had no formal training, she's started several young horses over the years and always dreamed of taking on the challenge of training a wild horse.

Healthy Barn, Healthy Horse

All Purpose Structures understands horses' needs

We all like to see healthy animals on a farm. Some farms, however, are at a much higher risk for sick animals. The solution to having healthy horses may be easier and simpler that you think. The answer lies in whether or not your animals have a proper home.

Dr. Craig A. Smith (DVM), a veterinarian in Washington state, explains the vital importance of having a home to shelter animals.  “The climate of the Pacific Northwest requires that all animals have access to a solid structure to get out of wind, rain, and away from soggy ground. Many of the disease conditions veterinarians are called to consult upon have their basis in either no shelter at all or a building that simply does not prevent exposure to the weather.”

Click here to read the full story in PDF format.

Cowboy Campsite Does It Again!

Paving the way to a new, more modern industry!

by Duke Croney and Brian Trudeau


If you aren't on the edge of your saddle waiting to see what those guys at Cowboy Campsite are going to do next, you should be.


The Cowboy Campsite story began in late 2005 with the concept of an equine-only membership campground. In the last three years, the hugely successful Cowboy Campsite has grown to approximately 200 members at the Cascade Camp location near Sedro-Woolley, Washington and started the Clearwater River Camp in Kooskia, Idaho.


Although Cowboy Campsite is designed for folks who own horses and want a place they can always go to camp and trail ride, countless people have asked about other opportunities like rental horses, horse leasing programs, training opportunities, weekend campouts, wrangler rides, and more.









Click here to read the full cover story in pdf format.

Foaling and the First Hours

What you need to know for a smooth foaling process
by Alesia Willard

As spring draws near, it is time to prepare for the foals that will soon arrive. Whether this is your first foaling or your tenth, you need to be properly equipped and ready to handle any complications that might arise.

Be Prepared
Here are some things that should be done before the big day:
1: If the mare is foaling in a stall, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned and bedded with straw. Do not use shavings, as they can stick to the mare or foal and cause a variety of problems.
2: Make sure your mare, whether maiden or not, is accustomed to having her milk bag handled so she will allow the foal to nurse.
3: Have a foaling kit prepared. The kit should contain the following...

Click here to read the full cover story.

Click here to view the entire January issue in digital format.

A Year of Change

The NWHS Staff Looks Back at 2008

Over the course of the past twelve months, Northwest Horse Source magazine has grown and changed quite a bit. This issue, we’d like our staff members to tell you, in their own words, a little bit about what that has meant to them.

Click here to read the full story.

Click here to read the full December issue online.

LMF Sets the Gold Standard in Horse Feeds

Specifically formulated for horses in the West

LMF Feeds Incorporated, a northwest-based company, had its beginning in Deer Park, Washington during the late 1970s when two individuals in the banking business, Marlin Statema and Lanny Clegg, bought an irrigated crop farm. By 1981 a small feed-milling operation was built. This was the humble beginning of LMF (Lan Mar Farms) Feeds. As the mill continued to grow, and recognizing the need for quality horse feeds, LMF Feeds joined forces with Kentucky Equine Research, an equine research facility in Versailles, Kentucky.

In 1998 Dr. Stephen Duren of Performance Horse Nutrition, LLC took over the reins to provide LMF Feeds with advanced technology feeds that addressed the needs of horses in the West. As the popularity of LMF Feeds continued to grow, greater demands were put on the mill until it became overwhelming. This was the beginning of LMF’s partnership with Aslin-Finch Feed Co. in Spokane, WA and Farmers Warehouse in Keyes, CA. These two companies manufacture and distribute LMF feeds for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, California, Nevada and Arizona. LMF is now a major force in the western U.S. equine feed market.

Click here to read the full story.

Infinite Patience

Raye Lochert invests time to build confidence

When working with horses, patience isn't something you can have for just a little while. It must characterize every interaction between trainer, horse, and rider.

Communicating with horses is all about developing a language between the person and the horse. Not just the language of words, but the language of cues and intent. Horses are exceptional listeners, and their understanding of the language we use is crucial to a successful partnership between human and horse. All it takes to develop this is time.

Communication between trainer and student is also key to helping horse and rider learn to understand each other. For this reason, Raye Lochert emphasizes owner education in his training program at Critter Creek Ranch in Northern California.

Understanding the Language
Before a horse moves into action, there is a slight subtle motion, a shift at the thought of moving, as the horse's body prepares. Learning to release on that signal is one way riders learn to build communication with their horses.

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The Power of Relationship

Training for Health with Shared Hope for Healing

There is a moment for every horse person, perhaps so far back into youth that it can't be distinctly remembered, a moment when a relationship with a horse touches us with the magic of wholeness, a sense that we are safe, that we are trusted, that we are trustworthy, and that we are loved. But not everyone grows up around horses, and even those who do sometimes have other experiences in their lives that take away this sensation of safety and connection. The premise behind Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Personal Development (EAPD) is that broken relationships can be restored, and that horses are one way to recreate those damaged bonds.

Not Just a Theory
As a psychotherapist, Linda Shannon of Rickreall, Oregon, has seen her share of trauma survivors. She began incorporating horses into her practice in 1999, but with a background in the social sciences, she felt strongly not only about assisting her clients, but also documenting her methods and providing scientific evidence of the efficacy of EAP and EAPD.

Click here to read the full story.

Come Home to Barn Pros

Affordable luxury for horses and horse lovers

What does it mean to live the equine lifestyle? Is it some essence captured within the scent of fresh hay and a cool breeze over grass that soothes the horse-lover's soul? Is it a vision of flowing manes and majestically arched necks as horses run free under the setting sun? Or the feeling of flight as the ground passes by, thundering through nature like wind itself on a horse's back?

No. These things are only a part of the whole, small pieces of what horse people know in their bones is the life they were meant to lead. For many of us, we are content to say, "home is where the horse is." But there is more to the equestrian dream than running and riding and being the breeze.

The truth of it is, horses require a lot of care. For committed horse people, this isn't a hardship...but sometimes the location or situation makes it more of a chore than it ought to be.

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Four-legged Stars

Horses and Heart on The Hallmark Channel

In early spring, when late snows still threatened the Pacific Northwest despite the growing number of clear, sunny days on the calendar, the Northwest Horse Source team made the short trek across the border into BC, Canada to watch a day in the filming of Every Second Counts, a new horse movie from The Hallmark Channel.

A story of the sacrifices we make for love and a young woman's self-realization, Every Second Counts follows Brooke Preston (Magda Apanowicz from TV's "Kyle XY") as she rises to stardom in the world of team penning, just like her father before her. The problem is, she isn't sure that's the path in life she wants to pursue. Her father, Joe (Stephen Collins, "7th Heaven"), has his heart set on Brooke's rodeo success. He shares with her his own considerable skills as he lets more and more ride on his belief that his daughter can--and will--be a champion. Brooke's mother, Helen (Barbara Williams, "Quarterlife"), supports the young woman's other dream: to attend veterinary school. In a story of hopes and dreams, injuries and upsets, the horses fill the family's lives with a passion that any horse person can understand.

Click here to read the full story.