Winter Riding in Oregon

Give yourself the gift of time with your horses all winter long
by Nicole Lanphear
photo by Kim McCarrel

This season, give the gift of an extra trail ride, an extra moment with your equine companion. Winter doesn’t bring an end to the horse activities in the Pacific Northwest; despite the rainy and snowy days, dedicated Oregonians head out with their horses to hit the trails all year long.

“We trail ride all winter here,” says Kim McCarrel, a member of Backcountry Horsemen and Oregon Equestrian Trails (OET). “I live in Bend, and we have several places nearby with very sandy soil where we can trail ride in all but the worst weather. If the roads aren’t icy, we ride!”

Rose Mahoney of Philomath is also a member of OET. She showed Morgans for many years but now spends her days with her horses on the trails of Southern Oregon. She makes a point of continuing to ride year-round.

Click here to read the full article on Winter Riding in Oregon.

Driving Horses, Part 3 of 3

Common misconceptions about driving and the reality behind them
by Kayo Fraser

Driving horses can be fun and challenging. However, there are skills that must be learned and developed first to avoid injury to yourself and your horse.

Misconceptions About Learning to Drive
1. It is easy to learn
Driving is not a skill learned in a few hours. The amount of time it takes varies with each individual, but we recommend at least two weeks of professional lessons to absorb the basics and be able to drive a well trained horse or pair of horses. It takes practice to develop an instinctual response to surprising situations that could be potentially dangerous. The more you know, the better you can avoid mistakes.

2. Any horse can be driven
Some horses do not have the disposition required to be a safe driving horse. It is more challenging to teach older horses to drive, and often they do not appreciate doing something this different from their previous training. Compare it to teaching a teenager to clean his room if he has never had to do it before: rebellion sets in. A mature horse has figured out his lot in life and may not be willing to learn something as frightening as pulling a “monster on wheels” behind him. His rebellion may be devastating. Either start with a well trained horse or train your horse when he is young and receptive.

3. A bomb-proof horse can teach you to drive
There is no such thing as a bomb-proof horse except a dead one. Horses feel safer when their driver knows what he/she is doing. They need to trust the driver to not get them into a troubling situation or to be there for them if they get frightened. All horses have the potential to run.

4. You can learn to drive from books or videos
Wonderful books have been written by great trainers – but a book or video cannot correct bad habits or misuse of the reins, or tell you what to do if your horse refuses the lesson. Hands-on training with a professional instructor is the best way to learn these skills correctly.

5. Anyone can teach a horse to drive
Try teaching a college course in calculus with no background in math. If your horse loves and trusts you, he may be willing to try something new –but how can you teach proper driving techniques if you don’t know the basics yourself?

6. Buy before you try
A lot of money is wasted by people who buy horses, harnesses or vehicles without proper knowledge or advice. Even if you buy from a reputable manufacturer, you may spend money on something that is not suitable for your horse or application.

Common Mistakes Made While Learning
1. Driving with a loose rein/line.
A novice needs to understand the importance of contact with the horse’s mouth instead of driving with a loose line as you would in neck reining. It is the most difficult habit to change. The lines are like telegraph wires sending signals from you to your horse. If you drive with proper contact, you can feel your horse and your horse can feel you.

2. Hollywood-style driving
One of the first mistakes we correct is slapping the lines on the horse’s rump to make him go. It is a learned response from watching western movies and TV shows. Any time you slap the lines, you abuse the horse’s mouth. There are much better ways to ask a horse to move ahead.

3. Staring at the lines to be sure there is no slack
It is surprising how many people believe they need to look at the lines while they drive. When you learn to “feel” the reins, you know you have the right connection to your horse. If you stare at the reins or the horse’s head, you might miss that bear walking out on the trail up ahead or a dog waiting to bark as you pass by or a child running out from the bushes to greet you. You need to be aware of your surroundings, not only to be safe, but to relax and enjoy the experience.

4. Leaning forward in the carriage
Center of balance is as important on the carriage seat as in the saddle. Leaning too far ahead not only looks bad, but it will eventually hurt your back. If the horse lunges forward, you are at risk of being pulled out of the seat and under the carriage.

5. Letting the horse go where he wants
If it were up to most horses, they would go back to the barn for oats and a brush-down. A horse needs his driver to be confident and in control. He may not realize you need to stop at an intersection for his safety and your own. A horse is a creature of habit and may take the same route every day like milk delivery horses did in the past. Driving to new areas for a change of scenery will be fun for everyone.

After a few lessons, most students realize that driving is not as easy as they thought. It takes time and practice to learn and develop new skills. I call it cellular memory or muscle memory when the brain has learned how to make the muscles respond properly to driving a carriage horse in all situations.

The sport of driving is the fastest growing equine activity today. If you decide to give it a try, be sure to have someone who knows what they are doing help you get started. Before you take anyone for a ride on the carriage, please get professional training for yourself. Risking your own life is up to you, but before you risk the lives of other people, there are many techniques and safety issues you need to learn so everyone can have a great time – especially your horse.

Spotlight on GIFTS!

The Gift of Light: The Trail of Painted Ponies Announces Handcrafted Candles

The Trail of Painted Ponies is one of the premier fine art and collectibles companies in the world. The Trail of Painted Ponies candles are alluring! Eight custom-blended scents reflect the spirit of eight of the most popular Painted Ponies. These highly fragranced soy candles are hand-crafted with care, using the finest ingredients and eco-friendly soy blend waxes that make them lovely and long-burning. Light a candle and let your imagination run wild as you ride The Trail of Painted Ponies by candlelight.

“We are dedicated to beauty and artistry, and it is natural that we would create attractive accessories and home décor accents that allow you to surround yourself with the beauty of The Trail of Painted Ponies. Relax and enjoy each and every day with these inspiring handcrafted candles,” says The Trail of Painted Ponies President, Karlynn Keyes.

Find out more at www.TrailofPaintedPonies.com.

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The Gift of Health: Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health Donates EquiRab(TM) to UHVRC

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health donated 7,250 doses of EquiRab rabies vaccine to the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign (UHVRC) in honor of World Rabies Day. The donated vaccines were sent to 150 UHVRC equine rescue and retirement facilities across the country, helping to protect the thousands of horses in their care from contracting the fatal disease.

World Rabies Day, held annually Sept. 28, was created to increase awareness of rabies and encourage animal vaccination in order to prevent human rabies cases worldwide. Since 2003, Intervet/Schering-Plough has donated more than 900,000 doses of canine rabies vaccines to vaccinate dogs in Tanzania. The company increased its support for the 2009 World Rabies Day by helping unwanted horses as well. With the donation of EquiRab to UHVRC, more than 7,000 unwanted horses received protection against the untreatable disease.

For more information visit www.equirab.com or www.intervetusa.com.

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The Gift of Warmth: Cashel Presents the KixnBux Raincoat
This rider-designed, polyurethane-coated waterproof raincoat is perfect for work or play. The coat has a number of special features that help protect you from the elements, yet give enough flexibility, durability and convenience to be your all-in-one choice when riding in inclement weather.

Makes a great gift for Dad this holiday season! Visit www.cashelcompany.com to learn more about the KixnBux Raincoat or ask your local Cashel Company dealer.
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The Gift of Knowledge: Fix it up for the Horse DVD by Pat Hooks
Review by Karen Pickering

Pat Hooks' set of three DVDs, “Fix it up for the Horse,” is a perfect tool to learn the bare basics of horsemanship as well as review some essential tools for improving your horsemanship skills. Pat takes you from understanding footfall to knowing where your horse’s feet are in all his gaits to the basic tools used in working with your horse both on the ground and in the saddle. The DVD set also includes some simple steps to breaking your colt and a discussion on working with mustangs.

Pat's easy-to-understand techniques break down the most difficult maneuvers. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced horseman, his perspective is gentle and effective. I’ve seen him work with problem horses and problem people (namely me), and he always brings a thorough understanding of the human-horse relationship.

I recommend this DVD as an essential in every horse person’s library. For more information contact Hooks Ranch at (580) 423-7482 or www.hookshorseranch.com.

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The Gift of Renewal: Nikwax Leather Cleaner
Product Review by NWHS Staff

Nikwax Leather Cleaner is a spray-on cleaner that works great on saddles, jackets, and any of your smooth leather goods (the company offers other products for use on nubuck and suede). I used it on an old pair of boots, and I'm fairly certain that if it could have repaired the scuffs as well, they would have passed for new after the cleaning. The one drawback is that I found the smell unpleasantly overpowering while working with the product. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully and have plenty of air circulation while spraying; the scent fades as it dries, so it is not a long-term problem. The best thing about this product for users in the Pacific Northwest is that it works on mold, so if you have items that have been out a little too long in the damp, Nikwax Leather Cleaner will help.

More information is available at www.nikwax.com.

Choose Confidence

Show pen strategy, part 3 of 3
by Allison Trimble

One of the most important tools you have in your showing "grooming bag" is confidence. Competitors need to understand that they are capable of being confident regardless of their performance outcomes. It is natural for a person to feel and act confident when showing well and unconfident and frustrated during or after a poor run. These competitors “go with the flow” and allow their performance to dictate their confidence. By taking responsibility for your confidence by viewing it as a choice, you can influence your level of performance rather than letting your performance influence you.

Different Types of Confidence
Confidence can be defined as the belief in one’s ability to successfully perform a skill or set of skills at a desired level, and it can be more trait-like or state-like. Confidence that remains relatively stable day in and day out due to personality factors is trait-like confidence. Unstable confidence that is apt to change for differing situations is state-like confidence. Tendencies in state-like confidence can either facilitate or inhibit positive trait-like confidence. Confidence can be affected by other psychological aspects, too, such as motivation and anxiety levels. Mental training techniques such as positive imagery, goal setting and negative thought stoppage can have a positive influence on confidence, both in and out of the show ring.

The vast majority of research indicates that self-confidence is a key component to successful performance. However, there is a point when too much confidence can become detrimental. Optimal confidence allows athletes to be convinced that if they put in the necessary hard work they will be successful. Overconfident athletes think that they can get by on their talent alone and not work hard to achieve their goals. Overconfidence can have a negative impact on performance and is an undesirable characteristic. However, most competitors dealing with confidence issues are under-confident.

Confidence as a Choice
When confidence comes from internal aspects, a competitor can feel it despite negative external factors. There are three tools that can be use to increase internal confidence if used correctly. These are:

• Free will – Free will is the ability to act or think independently in the presence of all other influences. Until the athlete truly believes he can control the quality of his thoughts, he will never completely control his confidence. Confidence results from competitors proactively choosing correct responses at home and in competition.

• Self-awareness – Being self-aware is knowing the thinking and responding habits one has in competitive situations. Like physical habits, responsive thinking habits are often automatic and done without consciousness during performance. Awareness of your own thinking tendencies lets you scrutinize these habits, while free will gives you the ability to change them.

• Imagination - Imagination is a powerful tool because of its ability to create instant thoughts and feelings that reach beyond the present reality. The willingness to use imagination in ways that increase confidence is important in creating the necessary performance mindset.

Show with Confidence
Competitors are confident when they "turn their minds off" during competition and trust their training. Having a trusting mindset allows a confident state of mind in which one is free of conscious control and trusts the automatic selection and execution of skills during performance. Lacking trust often results in over-thinking, over-correction of movements, or trying too hard. This can cause delayed or overly reactionary responses.

Remember that confidence is a choice, choose to use it, and I guarantee you will see the results in the show pen.

A special thanks to my husband, Jon Rylaarsdam, for helping me with this topic. See more of our program at www.coastalequine.com.

Benefits of Cavalletti Work

Use of ground poles and the cavalletti, part 1
by Alice Trindle

As we embark on the seasons of colder weather, and pictures of bundling up to go out to play with our horses come to mind, I am drawn to practicing exercises that will warm up both horse and human. For many of us who don’t have regular access to indoor riding facilities in the winter months, we are always seeking methods of keeping horses mentally and physically fit and finding exercises that may not involve putting on the saddle or getting the horse too hot. The next two articles will discuss several ways to use ground poles and cavalletti to improve attitude and movement. Most of these exercises can be accomplished on the ground using a lunge-line, 22' ring rope, or on the long lines, making for a great winter activity!

For full article with diagrams, click here.

Winter Preparedness Tips

Fall preparations make winter life easier
article and photo by Alayne Blickle, Horses for Clean Water

Who can forget last winter’s weather? Record snowstorms, arctic temperatures, then all the flooding. Many of us (along with our horses) were cabin-bound for weeks on end. So…are you ready for another potentially wet and wild Northwest winter? As with most things, now is the time of year when an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Below are a few of HCW’s top tips to help get your horse property ready for the worst that winter can dish out.

1) Bring in footing material for paddocks and other high traffic areas. It is much easier for delivery trucks to back into paddocks and drive through pastures now, rather than once these areas have become slick and muddy in January. These materials are usually more available at this time of year, before the demand gets high. Plus, getting footing now will avoid creating a mud mess later on. For more information on choosing footing types, refer to the handout “Footing Findings” at http://www.horsesforcleanwater.com/.

2) Check gutters and downspouts. Now is the time to clean and make needed repairs or additions to your roof runoff system. Think “keep clean rainwater clean” by diverting it away from your paddocks to areas where it won’t get contaminated. Good places to divert to include grassy ditches, a dry well, rain barrels, stock watering tanks, a fish pond, well-vegetated woods, or an unused portion of your pasture. Doing this will reduce the amount of mud your horse stands in this winter and will make daily chores easier for you.

3) Close down your pastures. If you’re lucky enough to have pastures, then fall is the time to baby them. Pastures grazed too closely in the autumn are subject to winter damage and slow regrowth in the spring. For winter protection, it’s best if you allow grass plants to produce at least four inches of leaf growth. During the winter months, pasture plants are dormant so they simply cannot survive continuous grazing. Also, soils are saturated and easily compacted during our soggy winters. The best option for managing your horses during winter is to create a winter paddock or sacrifice area. Confine your horses to this area during the winter and in the summer when pastures become overgrazed. For additional help with sacrifice areas, refer to the Horse Farm Management articles in the December 2008 through February 2009 issues of NWHS, which can be found online at http://www.nwhorsesource.com/.

4) Tarp your manure piles. This will help keep the nutrients you are trying to save in the compost and not allow them to get washed out into the surface waters where they can cause problems and contribute to more mud and yuck. Be sure to store manure as far away as possible from streams, ditches or wetlands to avoid potential environmental problems, as well as away from fence lines to be a good neighbor. More information about composting is available at http://www.horsesforcleanwater.com/.

5) Spread compost. Fall is a great time to spread compost. Compost is a rich soil enhancement that adds micro and macronutrients and replenishes natural microbial life, which improves the health of the soil and plants. Spread compost in pastures during the growing season, no more than a ½ inch layer at a time or a total of 3-4 inches per season.

6) Consider liming your pastures. Have a soil test done on your pastures. If it indicates your pastures need liming, then fall is an excellent time to do this. Fall applications allow the lime to neutralize soil acidity as it reacts with the soil over the winter. Changing the pH allows grass plants to be more competitive next growing season.

Good horsekeeping to you!

The Scoop on Supplemental Feeding

An overview of supplement types and what they do for your horse
By Clint McKnight, DVM, photo courtesy Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital

Feeding the modern day equine isn’t as simple as providing hay, grain, and water. Today, horses are used in a variety of different disciplines, and depending on your horse's workload, nutritional requirements can vary greatly. Most horses require supplemental feeding to provide essential vitamins, minerals, and additional calories that forage alone may lack. Feed producers have addressed this issue by offering many different products for horse owners to choose from. With all of the products available, it can be difficult to determine which one is right for your horse.

Categorizing feed products into defined groups based on what they provide your horse and then determining the specific needs of your horse can help you decide. I generally break supplemental feed products down into grains (concentrates), beet pulp, fat supplements, and complete feeds (pelleted).

Grains
Grains are a common part of the equine diet, and the most frequently used include corn, oats, and barley. Although they do vary in composition from one type to the next, grains generally are high in energy (starch and sugar), low in fiber, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin A (except yellow corn), and variable in protein content (8-12%). The type of processing used in grain preparation plays an important role in how well the horse can extract and utilize the nutritional contents. Whole grains are poorly broken down by the horse, and thus provide very little nutritional value. In order for the horse to most efficiently utilize grains, they should be rolled to break the outer hull, allowing access to the nutritional components within.

Beet Pulp
Beet pulp is generally classified as a forage because it contains about 18% fiber, yet it provides more calories than most hays (forages) pound for pound. This will provide your horse with a good source of energy as well as non-absorbable fiber. Beet pulp is the by-product from the manufacturing of table sugar. Because current extraction processes are very efficient, beet pulp contains little to no sucrose (table sugar) and provides most of its energy from soluble and insoluble fiber. This energy is released relatively slowly during hindgut fermentation and does not lead to rapid spikes in blood glucose, which can occur with concentrates. Beet pulp can be found in compressed pellets or shredded forms. Typical recommendations are to soak beet pulp prior to feeding, with pellets requiring longer soak time than the shredded form. Soaking is essential to prevent choking caused by the rapid expansion of the dehydrated beet pulp once it is exposed to fluid within the esophagus.

Fat Supplements
Fat supplements are products that can provide a higher caloric density in a smaller volume. This can be especially helpful for horses in high performance disciplines or “difficult keepers,” when providing enough calories to maintain weight with hay and grain alone is not accomplishable. Fat can also be added to the diet to keep calories up but allow for the removal of carbohydrate calories. This is particularly important when treating diseases like polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), in which high carbohydrate and starch levels can exacerbate the disease.

Common products high in fat include high fat wheat bran, rice bran, and vegetable oils. Bran products contain very low levels of calcium and high levels of phosphorus (which binds to calcium and can create a calcium deficiency) and should be fed in conjunction with other feed products such as beet pulp or a complete feed. Some manufacturers have developed pelleted feeds that are >20% fat but balance the calcium, phosphorus, and other vitamins and minerals needed by the horse.

Complete Feeds
Finally, there are pelleted feed formulations referred to as complete feeds. The feed manufacturer has done the hard work for you by starting with a hay base, then balancing protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals for a horse’s particular needs in a palatable, easily digestible pellet. Most companies will have specific feed products designed for the stage of development, age, or workload of your horse. Other complete feeds help address medical conditions. This is important because there are distinct variations in protein, trace mineral and vitamin concentrations between various grass hays and legumes.

Which Type is Right?
Although good quality forage (hay) should provide the base of good nutrition, supplemental feeding is often required to provide the additional nutritional components needed for growth, development, and to maintain your horse's health and performance. Knowing what various products provide can help determine which is most appropriate for your situation.

Grains can be of great benefit to athletic horses, as glycogen replacement and storage is dependant on dietary glucose. Increasing the fat component of a diet can provide needed calories when trying to increase weight, reduce carbohydrates, or provide additional energy. Beet pulp is a good choice to incorporate with other feed supplements, providing increased fiber and calories without added starches or sugars. Complete feeds generally are the most effective choice when a balanced diet is needed, particularly in growing, athletic, and older horses. Low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) complete feeds are also of great value in the treatment of equine Cushing’s disease, metabolic disease, and in storage myopathy cases.

There are always questions surrounding equine nutrition that should be addressed on an individual basis, so I recommend discussing your horse’s diet with your veterinarian. He or she can help determine if any adjustments need to be made.

About the Author
Dr. McKnight graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in January 2004. He completed a medical and surgical internship at Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital, where he now works as an equine ambulatory practitioner.

Breed Profile: The Trakehner

Light and tall for a warmblood, the Trakehner horse was developed and refined through the major events of European history. Origins of the breed trace, not surprisingly, to the Trakehnen region of Europe, a part of what was once East Prussia, known to the modern age as Lithuania.

As with many horses, war was a strong determinant of breed characteristics; the decline of heavy armor in the age of gunpowder and longer-range battles led to a lighter weight, more athletic horse. King Frederick William I of Prussia bred his horses for beauty, stamina, and soundness, and the breeding program he began was further refined after his death in 1787, leading to the characteristics found in the Trakehners of today.

As war gave way to more constructive competition, the Trakehner excelled. Sweeping victories in Olympic equestrian events throughout the early 20th century cemented the Trakehner's place as a treasured athlete, but the return of war in the 1940s nearly wiped out the breed. Not until World War II ended were the horses that survived the flight from Eastern Europe once again gathered together to re-establish breeding lines and rejuvenate the breed. In the 1950s, the Trakehner was introduced into Canada, then the U.S. in 1963.

Generally 16-17 hands and chestnut, bay, brown, black or grey, the Trakehner is a smooth-gaited, athletic horse that proves a capable, intelligent and elegant mount for the sport enthusiast and the casual rider.

Sources: Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of America and The American Trakehner Association (www.americantrakehner.com). Public domain photo.

Can I Get Some Bute?

Why some common medications require a prescription
R. Paul Schwab, DVM


Veterinarians get many requests each week for medications such as phenylbutazone (“bute”), trimethoprim/sulfa (TMS) pills, and others that require a doctor’s prescription. Many of these are used routinely for horses with minor and major ailments including injuries, wounds, respiratory infections, etc. A large percentage of horse owners and trainers are very familiar with their uses and side effects, but are frustrated when the veterinary office may not sell it to them without first seeing their horses.

Veterinary drugs are classified in different categories that determine how a particular product can be dispensed:

1. Over the Counter (OTC) drugs do not need a prescription from a veterinarian; products may be sold through catalogs, feed stores, and veterinary hospitals.

2. Prescription (Rx, Legend) drugs have the following statement: “Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.” Prescription drugs may be distributed only by persons or firms authorized by state and local laws.

The FDA is the responsible party who puts individual medications into one of these categories. Usually they are classified based on the amount of information required so a product can safely be used in an individual animal.

Veterinarians usually dispense prescription drugs based on the need of an animal or group of animals that they are treating for a specific problem. There are times when we can dispense medications to owners or trainers for animals that we have not seen. We may recommend and dispense a prescription medication to an animal for a simple problem handled over the phone or for an ongoing issue on an animal treated previously. Veterinarians can only do this if they have a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) with the person they are selling the medication to.

A VCPR exists if*:
1. The veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making clinical judgments regarding the health of the animal and the need for medical treatment, and the client has agreed to follow the veterinarian’s instructions.

2. The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the animal. This means that the veterinarian has recently seen and is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal by virtue of an examination of the animal or by medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal is kept.

3. The veterinarian is readily available for follow-up evaluation, or has arranged for emergency coverage in the event of adverse reactions or failure of the treatment regimen.

What Does All This Mean?
Basically, in order for a veterinarian to sell or prescribe a medication for an animal(s), he or she needs to have seen that animal or group of animals recently and know the client well enough to know the medication will be used properly and for those animals only. The actual time frame may vary between states or clinics, but realistically, an animal needs to have been seen within one year.

Online Pharmacies
How do online pharmacies fit into this picture? You can buy medications from online pharmacies if your veterinarian has faxed or called in a prescription to that pharmacy and as long as that pharmacy is certified through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. The pharmacy staff veterinarian cannot authorize a prescription without consent of a licensed attending veterinarian.

These rules and laws are meant to help protect the animal from misuse or misunderstanding of use of a particular medication. So on your next visit to the vet, if the receptionist or veterinarian doesn’t freely give out the bute or TMS tablets you wanted to pick up, there is a reason.

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*Taken from AVMA’s Guideline for Veterinary Prescription Drugs

Hope . . . From the Heart of Horses

by Kathy Pike

Hope . . . From the Heart of Horses explores and celebrates the relationship and bond possible between horses and humans. Each chapter offers a life lesson about trusting one's instincts, honestly addressing emotions, achieving clarity in communications, and releasing negative thoughts.

Because survival depends on being highly tuned to the thoughts and feelings of others, horses sense human intentions rather than what a person offers in facial expressions, which creates a remarkable effect on the relationship between these two distinctly different species. Among the moving stories the author relates are a horse named Hope who teaches the difference between hope and faith; an abused horse’s background bringing up old memories and helping the author to move on; a young Olympic equestrienne hopeful who discovers and reaffirms her self-esteem; and a corporate training session in which one participant achieves great success merely by being honest about her fears.

KATHY PIKE is the founder of the Mind Body Method (MBM), a leader in the field of Equine Experiential Learning, and a Life Coach. She conducts equine-facilitated workshops and training sessions throughout the country and abroad. She lives in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Skyhorse Publishing
http://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/

Ride the Shoulder-In

Learn to ride dressage movements, part 2 of 2
by Jane Savoie

Shoulder-in is the father of the advanced lateral dressage movements. It does many wonderful things for your horse. Here are just some of them:

• Shoulder-in is a suppling exercise because it stretches and loosens the muscles and ligaments of the inside shoulder and forearm. During shoulder-in, your horse passes his inside foreleg in front of his outside foreleg. This motion increases his ability to move his forearm gymnastically in other movements.

• It's also a straightening exercise because you should always straighten your horse by bringing his forehand in front of his hindquarters. Never try to straighten him by leg yielding his hindquarters out behind his shoulders.

• Shoulder-in is also a collecting exercise. It increases your horse's self-carriage because he lowers his inside hip with each step. As a result, his center of gravity shifts back toward his hind legs. His hindquarters carry more weight and his front end elevates.

What Does Shoulder-In Look Like?
The horse flexes to the inside and bends around your inside leg. His forehand comes in 30 degrees off the wall so he's on three tracks. At this angle, his inside hind leg lines up behind his outside foreleg. Sometimes in competition the judge likes to see a hoof's width more than three tracks, but don't bring the forehand in more than that, or you'll lose the bend.

What Are the Aids?
If you're doing left shoulder-in, the aids are:

1. Put your weight on your left seat bone.
2. Keep your left leg on the girth for bend and to ask for engagement of the inside hind leg.
3. Place your right leg behind the girth to prevent the hindquarters from swinging out.
4. Use your left rein to create a +1 flexion at the poll.
5. Keep your right rein steady and supporting to prevent too much bend in the neck.
6. Keep both hands low and equidistant from your body as you move them to the left. Move them to the left enough to place the outside front leg in front of the inside hind leg. Use your inside rein as an opening rein. Bring your outside hand very close to the withers, but never let that hand cross over the withers.

What's the Sequence of Aids?
Always ask for bend before you ask for angle. The formula for the advanced lateral exercises is Bend + Sideways = Engagement. It's not Sideways + Bend = Engagement.)

• Make a 10-meter circle (or ride a corner with a 10-meter arc) to bend your horse.

• You'll know your horse is bending easily when you can soften the contact on the inside rein and he stays bent by himself. He'll also feel like he's "giving" in his rib cage (i.e., if you're circling to the right, his rib cage feels like it's bulging to the left).

• Once he's bending nicely, start a second 10-meter circle.

• Interrupt that circle during the first step, and continue down the long side. To interrupt the circle, look straight down the long side and give a squeeze with your inside leg.

• Bring both hands to the inside to place the forehand 30 degrees away from the wall.

• Make sure you do the shoulder-in with the same amount of bend and angle in both directions. Don't ride on three tracks in one direction and on three and a half tracks in the other.

Marks of a Good Shoulder-In
The quality of the shoulder-in really comes down to bend. You know your horse is bending if his hindquarters are in exactly the same position (i.e., parallel to the wall) in shoulder-in as they are when you're just riding straight down the track. If his hindquarters swing out at an angle to the wall, you're just doing a leg yield in a shoulder-in position.

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.


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