Horseback Magazine April 2013

Welcome New Columnist:Pete Ramey

Hay & ForageFeature

Matt CaldwellAt Home in Texas

TM

An Equine Living & Lifestyle MagazineVolume 20, No. 4April 2013Priceless

Jim Hubbard • Pat Parelli • Jessica Jahiel • Cathy Strobel • Dianne Lindig • Lew Pewterbaugh • Kelly Kaminski • Corey Johnson • Pete Ramey

Lifestyle & More:

Ashes to the Palo Duro

A Small Wagon Train Brings Ashes of a Beloved Camp Cook to His Final Resting Place

IN A COFFEE POT.

Oh, what a day for a drive!

2 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE - April 2013 www.horsebackmagazine.com AN-49f (0113)

For stable coverage that makes sense, pick a winner. PROPERTY COVERAGE • Residences • Barns • Hay & Grain • Farm Machinery • Farm Products & Supplies• Tack

LIABILITY COVERAGE• Care, Custody & Control • Riding Instruction • Clinics • Boarding Liability • Shows • Carriage & Buggy Rides • Hay & Sleigh Rides • Umbrella

LIFE INSURANCE COVERAGE

One-stop shopping for your EQUINE

INSURANCESOLUTIONS

Horse Sense.

To learn more about American National’s Insurance for Equine Operations visit:

anpac.com | keyword: equine

Products and services may not be available in all states and eligibility requirements will apply. Personal and com-mercial lines insurance is issued by American National Property And Casualty Company (ANPAC®), its subsidiaries or a liates, including American National General Insurance Company, Paci c Property And Casualty Company (California), American National Lloyds Insurance Company (Texas), American National County Mutual Insurance Company (serviced by ANPAC®-Texas), and ANPAC® Louisiana Insurance Company (Louisiana). American National Property And Casualty Company is a subsidiary of American National Insurance Company. Life insurance and annuity products are issued by American National Insurance Company, Galveston, Texas.

www.horsebackmagazine.com April 2013 - HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 3AN-49f (0113)

For stable coverage that makes sense, pick a winner. PROPERTY COVERAGE • Residences • Barns • Hay & Grain • Farm Machinery • Farm Products & Supplies• Tack

LIABILITY COVERAGE• Care, Custody & Control • Riding Instruction • Clinics • Boarding Liability • Shows • Carriage & Buggy Rides • Hay & Sleigh Rides • Umbrella

LIFE INSURANCE COVERAGE

One-stop shopping for your EQUINE

INSURANCESOLUTIONS

Horse Sense.

To learn more about American National’s Insurance for Equine Operations visit:

anpac.com | keyword: equine

Products and services may not be available in all states and eligibility requirements will apply. Personal and com-mercial lines insurance is issued by American National Property And Casualty Company (ANPAC®), its subsidiaries or a liates, including American National General Insurance Company, Paci c Property And Casualty Company (California), American National Lloyds Insurance Company (Texas), American National County Mutual Insurance Company (serviced by ANPAC®-Texas), and ANPAC® Louisiana Insurance Company (Louisiana). American National Property And Casualty Company is a subsidiary of American National Insurance Company. Life insurance and annuity products are issued by American National Insurance Company, Galveston, Texas.

4 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE - April 2013 www.horsebackmagazine.com

www.horsebackmagazine.com April 2013 - HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 5


8 Horse Bites

10 Parelli

12 Dream BiG & Believe - Kelly Kaminski

14 Foot Form Function - Pete Ramey

36 Whole horsemansiP - Dianne Lindig

38 TACK TALK - Lew Pewterbaugh

40 on the enGlish Front - Cathy Strobel

42 horse sense - Dr. Jessica Jahiel

44 the coWBoy Way - Corey Johnson 46 COWBOY CORNER - Jim Hubbard

PUBLISHER EDITORVicki Long Steven Long

NATIONAL NEWS EDITORCarrie Gobernatz

LIFESTYLE EDITORMargaret Pirtle832-349-1427

[email protected]

EVENTS EDITOR Leslie Greco

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Crystal Shell

[email protected]

ADVERTISING OFFICES• CORPORATE OFFICE

(281) 447-0772 Phone & (281) 893-1029 [email protected]

• BRAZOS VALUE BUREAUDiane Holt(936) 878-2678 Ranch & (713) 408-8114 [email protected]

• GULF COAST BUREAUCarol Holloway - (832) 607-8264 [email protected]

• NORTH TEXASMari Crabtree - (216) [email protected]

• NEW MEXICO BUREAULaurie Hammer - (505)315-7842 [email protected]

Volume 20, No. 4 Horseback Magazine, P.O. Box 681397, Houston, TX 77268-1397, (281) 447-0772. The entire contents of the magazine are copyrighted April 2013 by Horseback Magazine. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Horseback Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other material unless accompanied by a stamped, self addressed envelope. Horseback Magazine is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or management. Subscription rate is $25.00 for one year.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Horseback Magazine, P.O. Box 681397, Houston, TX 77268-1397. Fax: (281) 893-1029

Email: [email protected] Phone: (281) 447-0772

April 2013FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

The big rodeos are all behind us. The Spring show season is in full swing. But most important of all, winter is over and we are all hitting the trails, and that is special indeed. But there are a few things to remember, a few very important things to remember for the sake of both you and your horse. First and

foremost, it gets hot really quickly in all of the states of Horseback’s market area, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. We write this same thing every spring and summer, so we might as well get it out of the way.Does your horse sweat? This is so tremendously important, because vets tell us that 30 percent of all horses aren’t able to cool themselves off by letting the evaporation of external hydration take its normal course. That all came home to us on a very personal level. Dillon didn’t sweat. The sixteen-and-a-half hand Thoroughbred was given to us years ago by Horseback’s Margaret Pyrtle. She and our publisher, Vicki Long, worked together at another publication and Margaret knew we loved horses and no longer had a use for a big Thoroughbred. She had even bought an elaborate misting system for his stall that came with him. I could never figure out how to hook it up. As we became acquainted with Dillon, we saw how he suffered when the brutal Texas summers took their toll on us, not to mention him. At one point in 1994, I was forced to give him four showers a day just to keep him healthy. Fortunately for us, Dillon loved his shower bath. Fortunately for him, and us, we managed to keep him cool until the end of his life. Others haven’t been so lucky. We have seen horses die when their owners thoughtlessly ran them in the midday heat, not heeding the fact that no sweat was forming on their neck, back and sides. In short, pay attention to your horse when he is under your control and is unable to sensibly find shade or a pool of water when he is too hot. We know, we’ve written this before, again and again, but a dead horse laying in the middle of a country road without an ounce of sweat on him leaves a lasting impression. We once saw that horrifying sight. It certainly has remained with us, and we’re certain it did with his owner who was standing next to the corpse crying.

By Steven Long

staFF

Cover Story: 16 The Long Ride - Steven Long

Lifestyle & Feature:

28 A Triple Crown

Lest We Repeat Ourselves – But Worth Hearing Again

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSJim Hubbard, Steven Long, Vicki Long, Dianne Lindig, Roni Norquist, Pat Parelli,

Pete Ramey, Lew Pewterbaugh, Cathy Strobel, Dr. Jessica Jahiel, Cory Johnson, Margaret Pirtle

On the Cover: Jeanne Williams Of Sargent Equestrian Center, Lodi CA with “Annie” her competitive driving Mustang.

20 Hay & Forage24 At Home in Texas32 Barn & Garden

FLAX IS NATURE’S HIGHEST PLANT SOURCE FOR OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS. In addition, flax is higher in

overall fat, making it a superior alternative to rice bran. Historically, ground flax has been expensive to

buy and keep fresh. Now, with Triple Crown® Omega Max®, you get 100% ground, GMO-free golden flax

with a 2-year shelf life. This stabilized flaxseed not only reduces costs and spoilage, but comes in a convenient

and affordable 25-pound bag. It’s a great value for you and maximum nutrition for your horse. For dealer

locations and more information about Triple Crown® Omega Max®, please visit www.triplecrownfeed.com

or call 800-451-9916.

RICH IN VALUE. RICH IN OMEGA-3.


FLAX IS NATURE’S HIGHEST PLANT SOURCE FOR OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS. In addition, flax is higher in

overall fat, making it a superior alternative to rice bran. Historically, ground flax has been expensive to

buy and keep fresh. Now, with Triple Crown® Omega Max®, you get 100% ground, GMO-free golden flax

with a 2-year shelf life. This stabilized flaxseed not only reduces costs and spoilage, but comes in a convenient

and affordable 25-pound bag. It’s a great value for you and maximum nutrition for your horse. For dealer

locations and more information about Triple Crown® Omega Max®, please visit www.triplecrownfeed.com

or call 800-451-9916.

RICH IN VALUE. RICH IN OMEGA-3.


Paint Barrel Racing Incentive Program Provides Expanded Opportunities for

APHA Barrel Horses and Members

FORT WORTH, (APHA) – The American Paint Horse Association has created the Paint Barrel Racing Incentive Program. Initiated by a group of APHA members, the PBRIP is designed to increase opportunities and purse money for participants who breed, promote and run American Paint Horses in barrel racing events. Central to the PBRIP program is the opportunity to offer APHA dual-approved barrel races at existing barrel racing events with greater ease. Through PBRIP, the association no longer requires the use of APHA judges, offers greater flexibility in pattern size and offers exclusive PBRIP side jackpots for Paint barrel horses at dual-approved events. Designed by members for members, the PBRIP is the brainchild of a group of horsemen committed to supporting Paint Horses and APHA members in the barrel racing industry. Founding members include Melanie Bearden, Shannon McCartney, Lisa Mullinax and Pancho Villarreal. Guidelines for PBRIP partici-pation for competitors include:

• Open to Regular Registry and Solid Paint-Bred horses, but they must meet APHA stakes-eligibility racing rules (RA.000.D. in the 2013–2014 Official APHA Rule Book).• Competitor must be PBRIP-enrolled and a current APHA member in good standing. PBRIP enrollment fees will be used to fund added-money side pots

Horse Bites - Con’t. on pg. 27

at selected barrel races, as well as for program administration and promotion. Watch the Paint racing website for more details and forms. Any speed event is eligible for APHA dual-approval by submitting an APHA Special Event Application. In addition, these events are also eligible for PBRIP endorsement. Guidelines for organizations to host dual-approved PBRIP events include:• Organization submits an APHA special event application and $25 fee to APHA• Organization agrees to offer a PBRIP side pot for exhibitors who meet PBRIP criteria, verifying APHA registration and membership.• Organization agrees to send $10 per PBRIP entry to APHA—funds are reserved for jackpots at the APHA World Championship Shows and help cover program administration.

In addition to dual-approved events and side-pot money, PBRIP also hosts an annual stallion service auction. The inaugural PBRIP Stallion Service Auction takes place through March 31 at HorseAuctionsLive.com PBRIP also plans to create a subscription program for stallion and their offspring, beginning in 2015.

“Horse Bites is compiled from Press Releases sent to Horseback Magazine. Original reporting is done as circumstances warrant.

Content is edited for length & style.”

National Horse Show Adds Events to October Roster

LEXINGTON, (Phelps) – The Alltech National Horse Show, scheduled for the Alltech Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, October 29 - November 3, 2013 an-nounced that the Performance Working Hunters at the 3’3” and 3”6”levels will be added to this year’s line-up. This division has become very popular since its inception, bringing out some of the top professionals. Through-out the year, riders will be competing for points to qualify for the Alltech Nation-al Horse Show, making these divisions competitive at a high level. The 3”3” and 3”6” divisions have also provided additional opportu-nities for riders, trainers and owners to

show their horses. Horses that nor-mally would not have moved past 3”3” would have been passed on to a Junior, but now they have the chance to further

their career. The Alltech National Horse Show, for the second year in a row, was named the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame Horse of the Year. This award follows another top ranking by the North American Riders Group (NARG) in their annual ratings of North America’s best equestrian events.For more information about the 2013 Alltech National Horse Show, please visit http://www.alltechnationalhorse-show.com/.

Kentucky Derby Winner Slows Down for Dressage

WELLINGTON, ( JRPR) – During the Dressage National 3 show, Hall of Fame thoroughbred racehorse trainer, Carl Nafzgar, enjoyed horses “moving a bit slower,” in particular, the talented Sagacious HF with Caroline Roffman in the Under 25 Grand Prix division. With two Kentucky Derby winnings to his name, in 1990 with Unbridled and in 2007 with the beautiful bay Street Sense, Nafzgar has taken some time to enjoy the slower power of horses in Wellington as he watched Sagacious HF and Roffman wow the judges with precision and grace. The Dressage National 3, a show of the 2013 Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington Florida, gave Roffman her best competitive ride yet this winter season with Sagacious HF scoring a 70% and then a 78%. The 14-year-old Pan Am Team Gold medal horse impressed judges once again as Caroline Roffman rode to a high score of 78.602% on the second day through the help of coach Juan Matute. Roff-man credits Juan Matute for his excel-lent horsemanship skills and helping her ride with finesse to achieve the high score on her second day. Sagacious HF, a 1999 KWPN (Welt Hit II x Judith x Cocktail) geld-ing, owned by Al Guden’s Hyperion Farm, Inc., won team gold and indi-vidual silver medals at the 2007 Pan American Games. And in 2012, Guden gave the ride to Caroline Roffman of Lionshare Dressage based in Welling-


HORSEBACK MAGAZINE: One of the first experiences I had with watching Pat Parelli was viewing your National Geographic special on wild horses. It was remarkable to me how you culled out an animal that had never seen man, who was literally climbing the fence of the trap, was white eyed fearful – and within the space of a relatively short amount of time, you had gentled the horse to the point you could get on his back. You are a master horseman. What about the person who, with the best of intentions, buys a Mustang at a BLM auction, gets it home, and then says, “what have I done?”

PAT PARELLI: A lot of people have the Wild West American dream. Adopting a Mustang can be a great idea, or your dream come true can become a nightmare. You know, over the last 50 years I’ve had a lot of experience with Mustang horses. Coming from Northern California, when I was a young boy, age 10 on, there would be as many of 100 of them come through the horse sale on Friday night. The Mustang horse is something that a lot of people have written and talked about. The word Mustang comes from the Spanish word, Mesteno, which basically means feral horse. That is a domestic horse gone wild that has developed breeding herds and survival instincts. Nature is quite marvelous how she takes care of her species. She does it so the fittest will survive, and survivors will breed.

HORSEBACK: In your experience, are they always wild?

PARELLI: A lot of time it is misinterpreted that the horse is always going to be wild. I’ve seen some Mustang horses that are gentle by nature and actually gentle in training that are as easy, if not easier, than some highly bred horses.

HORSEBACK: So, a horse, is a horse, is a horse, is a horse.

PARELLI: Please don’t mistake the difference between the word Mustang, which is their genetic makeup, and wild raised. You can take a wild raised, Arabian, Thoroughbred, or Quarter Horse, and you may have more on your hands than you ever bargained for. “Wild raised” is kind of an oxymoron, a little bit like farm raised trout, or farm raise salmon. Just because they are genetically a Mustang horse doesn’t mean they are going to be wild. All that said, every horse has his

own horsenality based on innate characteristics, learned behavior, environmental influences, and spirit. So if you are going to take a mustang, something you should think about - just remember green on green makes black and blue, and if you have the experience to train and develop horses, you probably won’t have too much difficulty. If not, there’s something I’ve said for a long time now. Get yourself a weanling or a yearling, raise it, and get it gentle, and then go on about your business. And one more thing, remember to keep it natural.

hB

“So, You Want to Adopt A Mustang”

By Pat Parelli with Steven Long


We are seeing the sport of rodeo dying out here in this area of Texas. Years ago there

were amateur rodeos everywhere where someone could compete at what are called open rodeos. There were some that were weekly, in such places near as Cypress, Field Store, and Snook. These were in the summer. There was also the Round Up in Simonton, Virginia City in Tomball, and who could forget old Gilley’s back in the day, that was weekly? Then there were the yearly open rodeos that were good ones such as the Katy FFA Rodeo and Livestock Show. I grew up in Katy and loved that time of year. My mom even bought me a gold lame’ shirt to wear on the night I competed in the Katy ISD barrel race. It seems all of these have become just a memory but what’s really hurting the sport is how the big rodeo committees like, RodeoHouston, RodeoAustin and San Antonio Rodeo has been helping nail the coffin lid shut. I don’t think the big rodeo committees such as Rodeo Houston, San Antonio Rodeo and Rodeo Austin have realized how limiting the entries, has hurt the surrounding areas economically. Houston limited the entries to 60 per event several years ago and recently has really tightened down to just 30 now with the Super Series they started a few years back. Austin and San Antonio followed suit in order to not have to have slack, find more cattle for the ropers and steer wrestlers, etc. The problem with our local

economies in the surrounding area is with the people that were travelling on the road to these rodeos. The numbers were much more than 45 per event at San Antonio or 30 at Houston. There were 100’s. The smaller towns would absorb some income from the participants. The feed stores would sell more feed, hay and tack, the restaurants would have more customers to serve. Gas stations, grocery stores, farriers, vets, etc would all benefit from the visitors. These people would stay on an average of 2 months in February and March. The smaller spring rodeo towns benefitted as well. For my sport of barrel racing, the local clubs would have more entries as the women would bring extra horses to ride with our usually nice weather, or have their kids along and take them to compete as well. I loved it because we had “cowboy camp” every year here at the ranch where my friends from other places such as Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, etc. would come stay for a couple of months. Sadly this has come to an end. Those who normally would come, if they have a bad year and can’t qualify for those three big ones, aren’t going to travel all the way to Texas for the little ones. Now Arizona is benefitting from

our loss. They have a boom in winter population of ropers and barrel racers, who bring their families, horses and wallets with them. They started buying small “ranchettes” of 3 to 5 acres to winter. The local barrel racing and roping clubs have competitions during the day everyday of the week. As I said before, I don’t think the big committee’s who are mainly supported by the little towns surrounding them realized how they have affected those small town economies, not to mention the relationships and bonds our families had with others. It makes me sad.

hB

Kelly Kaminski has twice won the WPRA World Barrel Racing Championship, and has also won the Reserve Championship twice at the National Finals Rodeo. This great American horsewoman continues to compete, hold clinics, and train worthy

horses. She is currently accepting a limited number of horses for training.

www.Kellykaminski.com

“Rodeo Decisions Effect Us All in the End”


Q:“My horse’s hoof walls are very brittle, with multiple splits and sometimes they seem to peel apart in thin layers. We have tried shoes with clips,

epoxy repairs and glue-ons, but the walls usually won’t hold a shoe for more than a month. My farrier suggested we pull her shoes for a while, but my horse is too lame to ride when she throws a shoe. Is there any help for us? Are some horses just born with such bad feet that there is no hope for them?”

A:Yes, some horses are just born with feet that cannot do their job. The good news is that such horses are so rare I have only seen a half-dozen

in my entire career (spanning thousands of horses in 8 countries and most US states). What is, instead, very common are horses that have not had the opportunity to develop their hooves to their individual genetic potential. It is easy to blame a horse for having bad feet, but usually more accurate to blame ourselves—and more productive, too. When faced with hoof problems (or to prevent them), think of all the factors that can affect hoof quality and soundness. Try to optimize each factor and you can almost always improve hoof quality and performance. Here are some of the basics:NutRitiONAlthough the subject of equine nutrition is complex, a majority of hoof problems and weaknesses are caused either by mineral deficiencies or by excess sugars in the diet—focusing on those two items can reap major benefits. Wall quality, frog quality and sole quality can usually be improved by finding ways to cut some of the sugar from the horse’s diet. Some time on green grass can be replaced with time in a dirt paddock eating hay, some of the grains can be replaced with higher-fiber feeds, and sweet treats (including apples and carrots) can be eliminated. It is also important to understand that you can almost never meet a horse’s basic nutritional needs by throwing a mineral block out in the pasture and giving a daily scoop of feed. Concentrated mineral supplements are important and generally make a huge difference. To take it to the next level, hire an equine nutritionist (often worth their weight in cut-diamonds)

to design a correct diet around your individual pasture and hay situation, or learn to do it yourself by studying the nutrition chapters in my book Care and Rehabilitation of the Equine Foot. Everyone’s hay and grass is different. In my home area, I have tested the hay and grass, and found that there is almost no copper or zinc present. So in my area, I only use supplements that are providing the full NRC (National Research Council) values of those two nutrients and the changes to hooves are dramatic. The soil, and thus the nutrients in grass, varies from place-to-place. You have to test your own forage to maximize your horse’s nutrition, because excess or imbalance can cause problems as well. This will not only help the hooves; the same nutrients needed for optimal hoof growth are also responsible for general health, performance, immunity and recovery—every aspect of the horse’s life, really.ENviRONmENtMost horse owners already know that urine and manure can be destructive to the hoof walls, sole and frogs—routine barn and paddock cleanup is a must. An equally-important factor is the terrain the horse lives on. Horses that live on soft footing tend to develop soft hooves. This is a natural adaptation that helps horses maintain their own hooves in the wild, but does not do us any favors if we wish to produce hooves that perform well on hard terrain and with our added weight. Draining wet areas, adding fine gravel to high-traffic areas, and fencing horses out of those mushy areas can really help the hooves.FROg HEaltHMost horse owners recognize that a wide, healthy frog is a good thing—an indication of a healthy foot. Fewer horse owners realize that a sick frog can literally cause the rest of the foot to be unhealthy or even to be destroyed completely. If you have ever seen a horse with a deep central sulcus infection, think of how careful you have to be when picking out the resulting deep cleft in the center of the frog. The horse will flinch at the slightest scrape with the hoof pick, and may react violently if you try to insert the hoof pick inside the cleft. Now imagine how painful it would be moving over terrain impacting the ground heel-first. These horses usually compensate by shortening their stride and landing toe-first. This

movement pattern over-stresses the laminae (connection of hoof wall to bone), leading to wall flares and thin soles at the toe. In my experience, most horses that have trouble holding a shoe are impacting the ground toe-first—it is a big deal. To fix or prevent weakness or infection in the back of the foot, use the dietary and environmental advice already discussed. It is also very important to treat deep sulcus infections diligently—do not stop treating until you can see the entire frog i.e., there is no deep “crack” in the center, and no excess sensitivity. Most importantly, you have to put the frog and underlying tissues to work—overprotection leads to further weakness and increased sensitivity. Riding in hoof boots with padded insoles usually helps build strength in the frog area, and often eliminates the toe-first landing syndrome as well.HOOF BOOtsWhile most farriers would agree that a temporary barefoot period—while being routinely trimmed— can greatly improve hoof quality and function, this step is often eliminated because it interferes with the owner’s riding needs. Hoof boots are the great compromise that can allow the horse to benefit from barefoot turnout, while allowing the owner to carry on with their riding program. Riding in boots with padded insoles does a great job of developing the frog and internal foot as well—the more you ride, the more the foot tends to improve. Hoof boot development has come a long way in recent years. I tend to heat-fit the new Easyboot Glove, which is as light and almost as compact as a common horseshoe, with no buckles to interfere with movement. tHE miCROsCOPiC ENEmiEsFungi and bacteria are always at work feasting on your horse’s hooves. Their destruction contributes to cracks and tiny fissures in the walls, separation of the laminae, sensitivity and weakness in the frog, and can infect the coronet, soles and bars as well. The dietary and environmental factors already mentioned help remove some of these microbes from the horse and/or strengthen the hooves, giving them resistance. Antifungal/antibacterial soaks can be very beneficial as well, particularly if damage is already deep enough that you cannot see to the bottom of cracks and fissures. Many products and home remedies will work—here are my basic requirements for an acceptable soaking solution:

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1) Kills both bacteria and fungi.2) Does not harm living tissue (I half-jokingly tell clients they should be able to apply it to their own most-tender-parts, or it is probably not appropriate to put into a separation or deep sulcus on their horse’s foot).3) Is not oily or greasy (such solutions may seal fungi into an anaerobic environment, increasing the destruction).

ROutiNE HOOF CaRERoutine trimming, at six-week (or less) intervals, is very important to overall hoof quality. When a hoof becomes overgrown, the laminae tend to separate and the walls tend to

become shelly and split—weakness develops from the inside-out. I believe that this is just another adaptation that would allow the hoof to self-maintain (break away in chunks) if it became overgrown in the wild. The flip-side of this is that when the hooves are constantly maintained at a correct length, they tend to get tougher, thicker and stronger from the inside-out. Allowing your farrier to place the horse on a routine, automatic schedule year-round will yield a much-better hoof than if you call and schedule the farrier when it “looks like” the hooves need care. Remember that the new hoof growth produced during the “off-season” is

Cracked and flared hoof walls make shoeing difficult, rob performance and create a constant danger of more serious problems. These worries can usually be eliminat-ed with improved nutrition, trimming and environment.

what you will be competing on when it makes it to ground-level six months later.YOu aRE iN CONtROlThe most important thing you can understand is that hooves can be cultivated like a plant. You cannot stop hooves from constantly changing, but you can control whether this change is good or bad. Yes, every horse is bound by its individual genetic potential,

but very few horses have had the chance to grow their best-possible hoof—whether your horse was blessed with nice feet or not, there is almost always room for improvement. It is worth the time, effort and money to do everything you can do develop the best hooves your horse can grow. The horse will not only perform better, but will also be less likely to become injured or fall victim to career-ending hoof disease—and in the end, you will probably spend less money on vet bills and specialty shoeing. Prevention is cheaper than cure and is a better deal for the horse as well.

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Same foot, one-year duration. When deep central sulcus infections are present in the frog, the horse cannot impact on the back of the foot. This can cause horses to throw shoes, wear the toes exces-sively, and predispose them to injuries to the foot and throughout the lower limbs. Diligent treat-ment by the horse owner cleared up this problem, creating a safer, happier situation for the horse.


photo: Abilene Reporter News

“Put me in my favorite old coffee pot and take me to the Palo Duro Canyon.”

- Len Williams



At 68, Kelly Boesen could be living in com-fort-

able retirement on his pen-sion check from the state after 38 years as a teacher and principal in Austin and his native Nebras-ka. He ran schools for the deaf. Instead of kicking back, he bought a team of horses and wagon. You see, Kelly Boesen is a born adventurer, and his retirement has been one string of trail rides after another, both long and short. He has even taken his wagon and horses to Canada. Early this spring he braved the bitterly cold North Texas weather to fulfill a wish. He and 12 other driving aficionados took on a mission. They drove their rigs into strong March winds and sub freezing temperatures to fulfill the final wish of cancer stricken fellow driver, Len Williams. They carried his ashes 309 miles from Williams’ Yellowfork Ranch near Breckenridge, Texas which is located between Fort Worth, and Abilene. Their final destination was the breathtaking Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo. The ashes of Williams, a chuck wagon cook, are being carried to the storied canyon in a large blue camp coffee pot. Shortly before his death, Williams had one final humorous

parting shot at life. “Put me in my favorite old coffee pot and take me to the Palo Duro Canyon.” Interviewed along the way by the Abilene Reporter News, his wife Janice, known across Texas as simply, “J” said, “He’s in a bag in there. It’s pretty heavy. He was a big boy.” Williams died April 18, 2012 at the age of 52. Reached by cellular phone sitting on the front bench of his wagon, Boesen told Horseback he had driven through a lot of cattle country and was now passing “wheat fields as far as the

eye can see.” As he spoke to Horseback on

the phone, Boesen was driving with Len’s ashes riding in the

percolator next to him. The wagon train was going

down the lonely road between Throckmorten

population 828, and the much larger Monday, Texas, population 1,527. During all this, his 12 traveling companions, each driving their own rig, posed for a graduation picture of sorts under a giant

Longhorn sculpture in West Texas.

The photo reveals a group that has faced the

elements for days. Their clothing was at least four

inches thick and their shoulders were hunched against the strong and

bitter wind. Boesen seems to make a habit of taking his barrel wheeled Newton covered farm wagon on a big road trip. In fact, he’s not even sure if the vehicle is a Newton, which is painted on the antique box compartment sitting on the axels. “You can change out the boxes on these things,” he says. Boesen doesn’t even know the age of his rig, but he guesses it is somewhere between 70 and 110 years old. While a few on the ride pull wagons with rubber tires, Boesen sticks with the tried and true wheels that got

The Long Ride to the Palo Duro

By Steven LongPhoto’s by Hanaba Munn Welch



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pioneers from their launching sites in the East, all the way across America. “They are wooden wheels with spokes and iron “tires,” he says. “The other two covered wagons on this trip are the same. There are also two Amish “box buggies.” One of the buggies is driven by J. Williams, Len’s wife, the other driven by her best friend. B o e s e n knows the woman only as Tina. “Two more weeks on the road and I’ll know her entire name.” That is the period of time Boesen expects to be on the road. He estimates the trail ride traveled at 3.5 mph throughout the ride with his team, Bonnie and Clyde dutifully pulling the covered wagon. Driving can be as affordable as a person wants to make it. Pullable wagons range from two wheel carts to stagecoaches and Conestogas. For the simplest wagon, such as a buckboard, the nineteenth century version of the pick-up truck, a would be wagoneer might spend as little as a thousand dollars or less, to as much as $4,000. “I’d say you get a usable one from $500 - $1,500,” he says. But that’s not all, horses don’t pull a wagon just by tying a rope to their tail and attaching it to the buggy. “It kind of depends on whether you want to buy new, or used rigging,” he said. “You can buy a new harness for under $1,000, but you could spend $2 - $3,000 if you want to.” Boesen’s wagon is a little more than three feet wide and 10.5 long. When he’s not out on an adventure, the intrepid wagoneer lives in bucolic New Braunfels, Texas as a horse farmer raising hay. Some of his planting and cutting equipment is 80 years old.

Boesen is not inclined to teach others to drive. He thinks the reasons are obvious. “This morning I left one of my lines (in wagoneering, they aren’t called reins) unfastened from the bridle of one of my horses, and yesterday I put the headstall on the horse, and I guess he ducked his head at about the time I was doing it, which was nice because he is 17.5 hands tall, so his head’s up there in the air and he brought it down nicely for me but I guess I missed his mouth. I hooked the team up and I was hookin’ them up to the wagon and my buddy said, ‘how come you leave the bit under his chin? Does it work better that way?” Even after 15 years of driving in all sorts of conditions, Boesen cheerfully admits he still makes mistakes. Thus far he hasn’t had the big mistake. “Experienced drivers say that if you haven’t had a runaway, you will have one, he says. Boesen admits there are close calls, and a young horse once ran with him holding the two lines, but he had no trouble getting him under control.

Driving is a two handed job, and those old enough can attest who

remember Ward Bond in the TV drama, Wagon Train,

or who have watched John Ford’s classic film,

Stagecoach, starring John Wayne in his breakthrough role. Yet Boesen’s modesty about his driving abilities is blown like a wind on the Staked Plains when he takes a call on his cell phone. Boesen holds

a line with one hand, and steers the horses

with his foot gently touching the other. Neck

reining is impossible. “You can’t possibly

neck rein a driving horse,” he says.

Mostly it’s just piling mile upon mile at the 3.5 miles per hour. The longest stretch he has done in one day was a trek of 37 miles. His longest full ride was Bandera, Texas to Dodge City, Kansas – a grueling 607 miles over a seven week period. The worst weather he has encountered was driving the famed Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Salt Grass Trail. “About three years ago there was a strong wind, rain, and I was in front of a covered wagon, and I didn’t have a lap robe,” he remembers. “My pants got wet from the rain, it started sleeting in a strong wind, and I almost had hypothermia by the end of that day - and it was a long day. It was a very, very, long way.” At the end of the trail ride, and back in New Braunfels, Texas Boesen planned another throwback into the past. He and his wife were throwing a barn dance in celebration of the Spring planting season. Farmer Kelly’s fine grass that would soon become hay would be planted by a draft horse pulling a planter.

Kelly Boesen and J. Williams carry Len’s ashes to lunch at the L’il Red Hen restaurant in Munday, Texas



Is your horse gettIng the most from your forages?

Ask any horse owner “What’s the protein content of their purchased grain?” and it’s guaranteed that they’ll know the answer without a second thought. Now ask them the protein content of their hay. Maybe 1 in 20 will know the answer. Forages make up at least 50% of the diet and it’s a crime that horse owners have the least amount of information about the feed that makes up the greatest part of the ration. How do you determine the nutri-ent content of your hay? Commercial for-age testing laboratories have been offer-ing this service since the 1970s. Forage analysis is a mainstay of the dairy industry. Forages are routinely analyzed as dairy pro-ducers try to balance diets to optimize milk production and herd health. Beginning in the 2000’s, horse owners began analyzing forages as they strove to offer better bal-anced diets. Of particular interest, were owners of horses with metabolic chal-lenges such as sensitivity to carbohydrate levels. Forage quality is determined by species (legumes vs. grasses), stage of ma-turity at harvest, fertilization, environmen-tal conditions, weather, harvest and stor-age management practices. These factors sum to determine overall forage quality with species and stage of maturity at har-vest generally having the greatest impact. The analysis process begins with taking a representative sample at the farm. Hay should only be sampled using a Penn State hay probe or similar instrument. The probe is attached to a household electric drill and core samples are taken by drilling into the center of the bale. To obtain a truly representative sample, you must core 12 –

20 bales. Individual bales will vary in qual-ity and only by sampling multiple bales will you get a true picture of overall quality in

the lot of hay. Resist the temptation to “grab sample” hay. Grab sampling involves grabbing a handful of hay from the cen-ter of the bale. Typically, grab sampling will result in a greater proportion of stemmy material at the expense of fin-

er, leafier material. Leaves are higher in nutrient value than stems, thus a misrep-

resentative stemmy sample will yield an analysis that shows the hay to be poorer in quality than it actually is. This may result in unnecessarily supplementing the diet with unneeded nutrients resulting in a nutrient imbalance. Pasture samples should be com-posed of multiple subsamples chosen from 12 – 20 locations where there animals have been grazing. Sample only the mate-rial that the horses have been eating, e.g., don’t include thistles in the sample if the horses aren’t consuming them. Clip the grass with scissors at grazing height. For example, if the grass is 10 inches tall and the horses are eating the top 7 inches, clip a handful of grass 3 inches above the ground. Repeat this process for 12 – 20 lo-cations throughout the pasture collecting your samples in a clean plastic bucket. Cut the clippings into 2 inch pieces, blend to-gether and take a 1 lb. (1 full quart size zip-lock bag) composite sample to submit for

analysis. To prevent c o m p o s i t i o n a l changes, freeze im-mediately or micro-wave dry the sample. Drying instructions

can be found on multiple web sites includ-ing www.dairyone.com/Forage/FactSheet/Microwave.htm. Hay or microwave dried pasture samples are “stable” and require no special shipping considerations. Frozen pasture samples should be shipped overnight or using a 2 day service and packed with ice. You’ve now taken the first step to determining how well your horse’s nutri-ent needs are being met by your forages. Proper sampling is the first and most criti-cal step in the analysis process. A poorly taken sample will lead you to draw the wrong conclusions about your forages, make improper dietary adjustments, and create potentially costly or harmful nutri-ent imbalances. The next step is interpreting your results and putting the information to work. Future articles will address and help you understand your forage analysis results.

By: Paul SiroisDairy One/Equi-analytical

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What do all of those numbers mean?

You’ve heard that having your hay or pasture analyzed is critical to determin-ing how well you’re meeting your horse’s daily nutrient needs. You diligently spent time collecting your sample to insure that it is representative (see previous article ##/##/2013), you sent it off to the lab, and now you’ve re-ceived your results. The page is full of numbers e x p r e s s e d as percent-ages, parts per mil-lion (ppm), g r a m s / l b . , etc. Addi-tionally, there are at least two columns of numbers – one labeled “As Fed or As Sampled” and the other “Dry Matter or DM basis”. Most people are apt to look at the “As Fed” fed column reasoning that “I’m feeding my horse, thus the ‘as fed’ values are the ones that I want”. In real-ity, the numbers in the “DM column” are of the greatest value. Therefore, to prop-erly interpret your forage analysis report, you must first understand the meaning of the two columns. All feeds and forages are made up of two basic components – water (or moisture) and dry matter (everything that is not water). The dry matter is com-posed of protein, carbohydrates, miner-als, etc. and defines the nutrient value of the forage. Thus, it is the composition of the dry matter that will determine the nutrient contribution to the diet and how close the forage comes to meeting your horse’s daily requirements. Reporting results on a 100% dry matter basis removes the dilution effect of the water on the results and this is best illustrated by using an example. Exam-ine the case of hay vs. pasture in the table Right Above. Hay is typically 90% dry matter (10% moisture) and pasture almost the complete opposite at 20% dry matter (80% moisture). If you just considered the As Fed results, you’d assume that the hay is better in quality. However, once you remove the moisture, the pasture has a higher protein content per pound of dry matter – and it is the dry matter that supplies the nutrients. Hence, elimi-nating the dilution effect of the water

allows you to make an “apples to apples” comparison of the nutrient values. The tradeoff is that the horse will have to con-sume more pounds of pasture to meet its daily nutrient needs. Continuing the ex-ample, if a horse consumes 10 lbs. of hay, this is equal to 9 lbs of dry matter (10 x (90/100)). To consume the same amount of dry matter from pasture, the horse will need to consume 45 lbs of pasture (9/(20/100)). To think of it in a different way,

10 lbs. of hay is composed of 9 lbs. of dry matter and 1 lb. of water. Likewise, 45 lbs. of pasture is composed of 9 lbs. of dry matter and 36 lbs. of water. The National Research Council (NRC) publishes booklets of nutrient re-quirement tables for most classes of do-mestic livestock. The tables outline daily nutrient needs based on growth, daily activity, reproductive state, etc. These ta-bles form the foundation for most ration

programs used by nutritionists to develop balanced rations for their clients. All of the values in these tables are expressed on a dry matter basis. Nutritionists use this information in conjunction with the dry matter values on your report to develop sound, balanced rations for your horses. In summary, all forage and feeds are composed of two basic fractions: wa-ter (moisture) and dry matter (everything else). Daily requirements are based on

the con-s u m p -tion of n u t r i -ents in the dry m a t t e r. Require-m e n t s are ex-pressed on a dry

matter basis and logically, forage analysis results should be used on a dry matter ba-sis for developing rations and comparing different feeds. Grasping this basic concept is the first step to understanding nutrient requirements and interpreting analytical results. You’ve now got an essential tool for understanding, evaluating, and devel-oping well formulated diets.

hay Vs. Pasture

% Crude Protein

As Fed DM Basis

Hay (90% Dry Matter) 14.4 16.0

Pasture (20% Dry Matter) 4.0 20.00

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From adventure to romance, no time in American history and folklore has been portrayed more vividly than the Old West. Gallant cowboys riding the range in a

rough and tumble paradise and in death they were buried in simple wooden boxes in a cemetery aptly named “Boot Hill.” Our buri-als today have be-come a billion dol-lar business, and our loved ones usu-ally entombed in a metal box with lavish satin interior and guaranteed to keep its contents away from the earth around it. Many people today are shunning this cold

approach to burial and going back to a more natural box made from wood. To honor those who love the outdoor life, horses,

cowboys and cowgirls, Trails End Caskets of-fers commemorative caskets, Maurene Tot-man, owner of Trails End Caskets says, “We take pride in our work. Our wooden caskets, as solid as fine furniture, lined with sheepskin or cowhide are hand made in Colorado Besides the differ-ence in cost of the cas-ket, wooden caskets also have the added value of being totally green for the environ-ment. There is no law in America telling you that you must be bur-ied in one of the caskets

that a funeral parlor has in stock. In fact, you can order a wooden casket from Trails End and it will be there, in time for any viewing or funeral services you are planning.

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by Margaret Pirtle


Caldwell


by Margaret Pirtle


Everyone in the country music business knows where the stars are born, and it isn’t in Tennessee, or Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia,

or even the Carolinas. The deep south may have given country its roots, but Texas gave it a birthright going right back to the Lightcrust Doughboys, Bob Wills, and even Grayson County’s Gene Autry (born in Tioga).Matt Caldwell, with his just released his new single “What Cowboys Do” could very well fill some very large and well worn boots from those Texans who have gone before him. He grew up in a rural Nevada, a town so small it isn’t even mentioned in the Texas Almanac.

Think about this. Matt Caldwell, probably didn’t have much choice about becoming a country singer. Every time he opened his mouth to sing, whether at church or with friends, his voice sounded so much like legendary Texas singer George Strait that folks keep asking him to sing more. He wasn’t trying to sound like George: he just did.

A guitar-strumming song-writer, Matt has become a staple on the Texas music scene and finds is soul in the lyrics he writes. “I love the Texas music market,” Matt en-thusiastically tells Horseback Mag-azine. If I can stay here and have a good career, then I’m happy.”

So far, that goal is being met in big ways. As, for heading to Nashville and the national scene: a

flirtation with the hub of country music looks to be in his future also since his fan base has grown way beyond the state line.

Married and father of his precious little girl, Matt sees himself as a family man “My wife deserves all the credit. She is the one staying home and raising our child: doing the yard work and working full time as a physical therapist. If it wasn’t for her my music career wouldn’t be going anywhere.”

For now Matt is the new Texas country singer traveling the blue highways of the Lone Star State. That is hardly a limitation though, because as Matt points out - he can write and sing what he wants while traveling the roads of Texas.

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ton, Florida. Roffman took over in late 2012 and has had continued success with the talented black horse throughout the 2013 season. Roffman plans to continue cam-paigning Sagacious HF during the show circuit in Wellington. Roffman knows the thrill of being in winner circle as she currently holds the title of the 2012 Inter-mediare I National Dressage Champion. She is a rising star on the dressage scene as a trainer, rider and instructor. Earlier this year at Lamplight, Roffman won the USEF National Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Dressage Championship aboard Her Highness O. She is looking forward to much more success this season, especial-ly after having such an amazing show with Sagacious HF.

Three-time World Champion John Bowman heads 2013 ProRodeo Hall of Fame induction class

COLORADO SPRINGS, (PRCA) – The late John Bowman, a three-time world champion and a charter mem-ber of the Cowboys’ Turtle Associa-tion – he signed the original petition and carried card number 10 – heads the 2013 ProRodeo Hall of Fame in-duction class of five.

Horse Bites - Con’t. from pg. 8

Film to Mark 40th Anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown Campaign

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Secretariat Foun-dation) – Jockeys are a unique blend of athleticism, keenness and courage. Some may meet with success in their careers, but few ever reach the heights that Ron Turcotte experienced. His story is the subject of the National Film Board of Canada’s documentary Secretariat’s Jockey, Ron Turcotte, which will premiere during Kentucky Derby Week in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Secretariat’s his-

toric Triple Crown campaign. This touching film, directed by award-winning filmmaker Phil Comeau and produced by the NFB’s Maryse Chapdelaine, follows Turcotte as he re-turns to the people and places that have marked his storied life. It provides an in-sider’s view of horse racing as well as an intimate glimpse of this resilient and leg-endary jockey, whose marveled 16-year career ended in 1978 when a fall left him paraplegic. The world premiere, presented by the Kentucky Derby Museum and Secretariat.com, will be Thursday, May 2, at the Baxter Theatre in Louisville. Ticket sales from the world premier will benefit the Secretariat Foundation, Kentucky Derby Museum, and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Special screenings for the film will continue during the Triple Crown season. On May 14, Secretariat’s Jockey, Ron Turcotte will be at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Springs, Md., in conjunction with the Preakness Stakes, and the film will be shown for the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York, at a time and location to be determined.

Bowman is joined by the late 1962 Saddle Bronc Riding World Champion Kenny McLean, 1990 Bareback Riding World Champion Chuck Logue, four-time PRCA Bull-fighter of the Year Joe Baumgartner and the late Rex “Bud” Kerby, one of the PRCA’s top stock contractors for more than 30 years. Induction ceremonies are sched-uled for 10 a.m. July 13 in the garden area of ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy in Colorado Springs.


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No, Ramon Arizmendi didn’t win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness or the Belmont. He did however win the International Formula 3 Circuit Race:

the National Water Ski Championship for Mexico and International Horse Shows across the world. As a result, he becomes one of only a handful of people worldwide who have mastered three separate sports and won championships in all arenas It is only in Ramon’s world that that jumping a five foot oxer; water skiing at 50 mph or racing a Formula 3 car at speeds of over 175mph seems common.

‘”I can said the key to succeed at the top level is to start at an early age. In any of them is hard work, discipline, consistency, dedication, good mentors, with the right scenario and working tools,” Ramon told Horseback Magazine when we spoke to him about all his accomplishments. Most of us feel we could work till the cows come home and still not measure up to what he has accomplished, so there must be more – something that ties winning to all sports - something that Ramon has found that others are not seeing. Spurring Ramon on, the answer and the key to all sports, from football to snow skiing, from horseback competitions to skydiving is The Set Up. Ramon explained how this simple thing can determine a win or a loss in any sport or endeavor we try.

the set uP: Whether it’s riding, skiing or racing, finding the correct set-up is the key to succeed. Scenario changes conditions.

horse ComPetItIons:In the horse world there are multiple situations than can affect your horse, but using the correct training methods and tools can help. Having your horse shoed correctly, finding the correct bit and tack set up, saddle fitting just to name a few can affect how a horse is a going to behave different at a horse show than at home.

WaterskIIng:Setting up your water ski fin and binding placements can make a complete difference, not to mention lake set up, weather conditions, water depth, water c o m p o s i t i o n and the boat manufacturer just to name a few.

Car raCIng:You have different variables like springs, shocks, sway bars, height, wings, brake balance, tires composite, etc

by Margaret Pirtle

TRIPLE CROWN WINNER:



“It is possible to master any sport,” Ramon explained. “Every horse arena is different, just as every car track is different. If you expect your horse to perform just as he does at his home arena, then you aren’t looking at all the differences and allowing your horse to become comfortable with the changes in his environment. His comfort is just as important as your riding ability.”

R a m o n , who was born and raised in Mexico, is the owner and trainer of Del Lago Sport Horses in Magnolia, Texas. After traveling all over the world and competing in three different sports, he is now devoting his talents fully to the equine world. Through training of both horses and riders, Ramon, is taking his knowledge of what winners need and helping equine riders be the best at showing their skills. I doubt any of us will ever drive a British Reynard chassis hB

with a Brabham Judd engine, or live in Costa Rica training world water skiers, but we can learn from Ramon how to be a better rider and with the help of his knowledge, take our skills to the next level.

Ramon Arizmendi



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Tack StorageAll your horse tack adds up to expensive pieces of accessories for your horse It is only natural, therefore, that you want to protect your tack from the damage caused by wear and tear as well travel time. Try out these fun and sassy tack carriers to not only protect your tack investment, but to make a fun fashion statement.

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Soaker SacksFor years, horse vets have used empty IV bags as a makeshift solution for soaking and icing hooves. Hoof Wraps Brand has taken the concept and improved on it, offering another down and dirty solution for everyday hoof care. Each kit includes two 12 mil thick soft vinyl “sacks”, two EZ straps and one general purpose EVA foam pad. EZ straps have industrial grade hook on one side and loop on the other, attaching to themselves for easy application. Soaker Sacks are 18” tall X 12” wide so they’ll fit most hooves. • www.hoofwraps.com• 865-607-94525

Potato’s & RosesPropagating roses by cuttings is easy!Some say the secret of success is the humble potato! Before planting rose cuttings, push the bottom end into a small potato, which keeps the cuttings moist as they develop roots.

It sounds crazy, but apparently it works really well. • DIY Rose Cuttings: www.amateurgardening.com/home/taking-rose-cuttings• Courtesy: Jane Sparkes, Ioanna Andriopoulou & Katharine Sundström.



GardenStories Behind the Gate

Metal ranch gate signs are often taken for granted, but they can hide a treasure trove of stories. Seen above driveways, or on gates, the sign not only adds a flare to your spread or farm, but tells the passing cars a little something about your personality and often conveys a first and lasting impression of your operation. Arching high above the entrance to the ranch, this classic option can include shapes, animals or brands in a silhouette that stands out against the wide open sky. The same insignia that you use for your gate, can also flow into personalized embroidery on clothing, logos on boots, and even to home items like coaster or wall décor. Hollis Browne, of Rustic Texas Metal Art, is one of the premier sign makers in Texas. Knowing that ranches wanted more than just the perfect sign, Hollis, with the help of his wife Amy, have expanded their personalizing techniques into embroidery work, laser etching, garment printing and also have the capability of producing rhinestone patterns, all produced with the same quality as the metal art. Proud of what you are accomplishing at your farm or ranch? Then maybe it’s time to show it off. Let visitors and passer-by’s get a glimpse of the stories you can tell behind the gate.

• www.texasrusticmetalart.com• 432-466-1596

Barn CatsOne part mouser and two parts cuddly companion, barn cats are your eyes and ears when you’re away and rid the barn, not only of rodents, but also much nastier creatures who also feed on rodents - snakes! But, to be an effect mouser, barn cats must be fed a regular diet to motivate and “supplement” their hunting activities. The beauty of Barn Cats is that they’re territorial, hugely independent and are a fixture at most stable operations. Many local animal shelters offer discounted adoptions on spayed/neutered “feral cats” for use as barn cats. • Check with your local shelter or cat-specific rescue.


By: Margaret Pirtle, Lifestyle Editor

34 HORSEBACK MAGAZINE - April 2013 www.horsebackmagazine.com www.horsebackmagazine.com September 2012 - HORSEBACK MAGAZINE 51

A Pasture Net!Freedom Feeder® , the original slow feed hay net MADE IN THE USA, is available in three sizes to create your feeding system. Horses are grazers, think of Freedom Feeder® as a “Pasture in a Net”. The 1.5” nylon mesh controlled free access feeding system can: Reduce: Colic, Ulcers, Boredom, Vices, Wasted Feed - Enhance Digestion - Improve attitude and peak performance - Free owners from meal feeding regimens - Better Support Easy keepers, IR, cushing and metabolic horse issues as well as Not-So-Easy Keepers

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A Little Piece of HistoryDuring the 1920s the British Royal Family sent their horses around the world eating local grasses that made their animals sick with respiratory and digestive problems. The result was a constant battle getting ailing horses fit enough to carry a queen. After a particularly devastating spell of sickness, a royal commission of scientists was charged with developing a feed that would stand the test of travel. What they came up with has stood the test of almost a hundred years. The nutritionists developed a forage product using supreme quality alfalfa and a kiss of molasses that was special and compressed it to ensure highly efficient fermentation. Now, nearly 100 years later Chaffhaye has built our product on this same foundation, based on solid science and the very highest quality ingredients.

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Oatmeal Molasses Horse Cookies

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Our summer pack trips offer an excellent non-t r a d i t i o n a l

vacation with family and friends. Warm weather, high mountain scenery, and abundant wildlife photography are the perks of one of these classic outings. Yet, this haven of recreation, fishing, and wildlife, is largely secluded especially when compared to the busy Yellowstone country just a few miles to the west. On the Big Horns you will see more of the West the way it was; the way it ought to be. We at Tangle Ridge Outfitters invite you to enjoy this unforgettable beauty with us. We’ll tailor the adventure to match the experience you have in mind. We keep our groups small so our guests will learn more and experience more with our private approach to back country outfitting. Wyoming is like no place on earth and we invite you to come see it for yourself.

HORSE BACK RIDING Our horses are well trained strong and mountain wise. One need not be an excellent rider to fully enjoy the trip. Days are spent riding and exploring remote areas off the beaten path. You will enjoy discovering areas seldom visited, viewing summering wildlife, searching for wily trout or photographing breathtaking mountain landscapes.

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O u r trips usually comprise just your family or a few friends. The daily itin-erary is tai-lored to your interests, whether it be riding, photography, hiking, looking for wildlife, exploring, or just relaxing. Our trips are excel-lent for even the youngsters in your family. We too have young children and can attest to their love of the wilderness. We also pride ourselves on our trips tailored for the guys and gals. Maybe you and your buddies need to rough it in the great outdoors for a few days, or maybe the ladies need some bonding time for girl talk and relaxation. We understand these needs and can accommodate them all. Tall tales and

fishing for the guys or champagne breakfast and naps in the warm sun for the gals are waiting for you in the Big Horn Mountains. Your group is sure to cherish the memories of the summer pack trips with Tangle Ridge Outfitters.

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Remember Who You Are

The first time I heard these words being sung was in 2002, in a theater full of children, while watching the animated feature, Spirit: Stallion of the

Cimarron. The words portrayed the thoughts and emotions of Spirit, (and the spirit who speaks to him), as he is being hauled in a railroad car, with other mustangs, broken and in despair, from his prairie homeland to a railroad construction work camp. You didn’t have to be a child to be moved by the words and emotions they reflected. In fact, their relevance appeared to be even more poignant to the adults in the theater, who, like myself, could relate to the times when they’d found themselves in the darkest of situations, and, unlike most of the children watching and listening, they weren’t sure things would all come out OK in the end. The longer each of us lives, the more exposure we have to life’s challenges. Sometimes, we place ourselves in uncertain situations, and other times, we wind up there by circumstances beyond our control. Sometimes, we’re not sure which of these it is. We sometimes blame ourselves for being careless, or for taking too great a risk. While blame serves no purpose, retrospection, and review of the steps that brought us to this place may help us to regain our sense of balance and perspective again. Were we true to ourselves at each step of the journey? Even if we were not, we can still reconnect with that unique, essential part of ourselves, and be true to it from this point forward. When we do so, we have done what matters most, and truly all that we can, no matter how things turn out. In horsemanship and in life, each of us will travel a unique path, sometimes making huge strides in performance and skill, sometimes reaching plateaus, and sometimes feeling that we are losing ground. Even professionals, such as cutting great Barbra Schulte, tell of times when their enthusiasm for their craft has waned, or when life’s other challenges have made it seem impossible

to go on. Already suffering from the burn-out of constant competition, Barbra was blind-sided by her son, 15 year old Zane’s, diagnosis of a rate form of bone cancer in the late 1990’s. One can only imagine the sadness and despair she must have felt, as her son’s illness worsened, and he eventually passed in June of 2000. She could have chosen to give up on her career, and on the prospect of happiness in her life. Instead, she looked deep inside herself, and remembered who she was- her very special talents, and her passion for horses and her chosen sport, and her desire to help others. She found the courage to rekindle her career, now as an

author, teacher, and coach. Today, her work with others offers insightful encouragement, which transcend the worlds of cutting and horsemanship, to the level of life itself. Though many of our difficulties are not as dramatic as Barbra’s, they are, nevertheless, significant to us. We may question why we are even pursuing this path, and may consider giving it up. Your riding skill will be progressing beautifully, when suddenly, one day it seems that everything you mastered in the weeks before has gone out the window. Or you gain confidence in your skill as a trainer, as your horse learns a new skill, only to

find, days later, that your horse has taken two steps back, seeming to have forgotten what they learned. It is easy to become frustrated, sad, even angry. It is at these times more important than ever, that we take a step back, and remember who we are. This doesn’t mean berating yourself up, but it does mean being honest with yourself- about your intentions, as well as your abilities. Why are you involved in the horsemanship process? Why is it important in your life? What are your best talents and abilities? Are you losing sight of why you began the horsemanship journey to begin with? Are you expecting too much of yourself or

your horse from a technical standpoint? Remember why you are unique and special. You may be a very talented competitive rider. You may be the best recreational rider around. Or, your gift may be helping others through equine-assisted physical or emotional therapy. You don’t have to be the best in someone else’s way, just be the best in your own way. Sometimes, it takes the words of someone who cares about us, to help us remember what makes us unique and special, and to give us the confidence and courage to go on. When I was first learning to jump, my friend Lucy Chalcraft was kindly giving me a lesson. I was having all kinds of problems, because I was trying too hard, and feeling insecure and self-conscious, in what was, for me, a fairly new endeavor. After giving me what technical advise she could, Lucy paused. Having known me for a few years, and being familiar with my skill in

other riding disciplines, she simply said, “Dianne, you want this so badly, that you are trying to force things to happen. Just remember who you are, and let things flow.” Things began to flow, and my confidence was restored. I will never forget her words, and how deeply they spoke to me, just when I needed them most. In horsemanship and in life, let the love of others remind you who you are, be courageous, and Always Remember to Enjoy the Ride!

“Sound the bugle now...tell them I don’t careThere’s not a road I know that leads to anywhere

Without a light I fear that I will stumble in the darkLay right down and decide not to go on

Then from on high, somewhere in the distance There’s a voice that calls,

“Remember who you are...if you lose yourself, Your courage soon will follow,

So be strong tonight...remember who you are.” Bryan Adams

Dianne can be reached at Hill Country Equestrian Lodge where she teaches Whole Horsemanship year-round.

www.hillcountryequestlodge.com, or (830) 796-7950

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“You don’t have to be the best in someone else’s way, just be the best in your own way.”


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“Breast Collars, Martingales & Pulling Collars”

Horseback Magazine’s Saddle & Tack Editor

It’s been a while since I’ve expounded on breast collars and their cousins. I do have opinions, and my dear old Daddy used to say, “Opinions are like……”, well maybe I better not say what my dear old Daddy used to say. I will say that I try to make sure my saddles fit my horses as well as can be expected for riding several different horses with two saddles. I ride the Hill Country State Natural Area when I can afford the gas, and I often ride on the ranch. There are some interesting areas in both places; interesting

being almost straight up or straight down, with some climbing or sliding involved. I don’t rope. I’ve watched roping, so I have formed opinions that may or may not be correct. I’ve watched barrel racing, although I’ve never barrel raced, so I have opinions that I believe are correct. Let me preface this story with a story. I once had a dream horse. He was about 14.3 hands, about 1285 pounds, and his barn name was “Hank the Tank”. A beautiful registered quarter horse gelding, who had just been gelded a week before I got him as a Five year old. He had that classic stallion look, and a lot of that stallion attitude. He was buckskin, built, and proud of whom he was. I’m 6’ tall, and I never felt small on this guy. I was riding one day in Bowie Woods, back in Tennessee, and I was just amazed at how this muscle bound horse had such a free and easy stride. His walk covered country. The very next day, I received a mohair breast collar, girth, and a black and

gold Parker headstall that I thought would look great with his gold coat and black mane and tail. I dressed Hank up. And we went for another ride in Bowie Woods, hoping to run into other riders so we could show off our new outfit. Hank ‘s previous free and easy stride was stilted and short. We weren’t going anywhere! I thought “What in the world is wrong with this horse today?” The only thing I could see really different was that I was using a breast collar, where the day before, I wasn’t. I stopped, took the breast collar off, put it in my saddle bags, and we took off like the day before. Hmmmmm. Fast forward about 20 years. I am now starting to become a “saddle fitter”. I was at the “Twin Elm Rodeo” when a customer asked me to check her saddle fit. She had been spending $35.00 of good U.S. dollars to run 22 and 23 second times in the barrel racing against horses that were running high 16’s and low 17’s. She asked me to check her saddle fit, and I moved her saddle back behind her


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horse’s shoulder blades, and told her to hang her breast collar in the trailer. She said without the breast collar, her saddle would slide back. I asked her to where, and she said, “About where you put it”. She did what I suggested, and went out and ran a 17.23. She ended up winning the buckle series for the year.When I watch roping, let’s say team roping first, the header throws a loop, catches a steer, pulling the saddle…….forward? O.K., where does the breast collar help there? Now the heeler comes in, picks up the heels, slams on the brakes, and the pressure on the saddle horn is……forward? Now the header has turned, facing the steer, the header and heeler are facing each other, and the pressure on their saddles is……..forward? I’ve always been confused by that, and I may be missing something. As I said, I am not a roper. A recent article in Western Horseman stated that the purpose of a breast collar is to keep your saddle from sliding back.

It should be kept loose with about 1 and 1/2 inches of play, so it doesn’t interfere with the horse’s movement. The only time it comes into play is if your saddle slides back. If you have your saddle too far up on your horse’s shoulder, and have the breast collar snug enough to hold it in place, you are cramping your horses ability to move in two

directions. Your saddle tree is impeding his ability to move his shoulder blade back as he moves his leg forward, and the breast collar is restricting his ability to move his shoulder, or more anatomically correct, his knee, forward. I don’t like breast collars. I never use one. Breast collars can be pretty. If you want a pretty breast collar, leave it loose enough so it doesn’t interfere with your horse’s locomotion. If you really need a breast collar, get a pulling collar. They work like a draft collar, and fit the horse’s skeletal structure better, and interfere less with his movement. A martingale is similar to a pulling collar, usually with a strap across the withers, and straps coming back to the saddle, acting very much like the aforementioned pulling collar. The martingale is probably the oldest design, and in a lot of ways, probably still the best. Well, now if I’ve made someone think, my job this month is done. I’ll admit I may not always be right, but I’m almost always thinking about it.

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1.5” of play”



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you determine which division(s) would be best for your level of experience. If you are planning to show more than once in a season, it would be in your best interest to join the organization so that you receive the points earned in your classes toward the year-end awards. Generally, each division will have a Champion ribbon for the horse or rider that wins the most points from the class placements on the day of the show. The second highest point earner will receive the Reserve Champion title. Division points are typically tallied at the end of the year for Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion

awards. Often there is an annual banquet or awards ceremony for the presentation of these honors.

How sHould I dress? Everything in the hunter and equitation

arena should reflect what goes on at a fox hunt. Think of it as a cocktail party where you and your horse show up in semi-formal attire. You want to look groomed with a jacket, polished boots, a nice helmet and gloves. Your jacket should be conservative in color, such as a solid or pin stripe dark blue, green, brown or black. Choker collar show shirts are customary in soft colors or white with a choker pin or monogram at the collar. Men should wear a button down shirt with a tie and tie clip. Riding breeches should be a light color such as khaki, tan or grey, but not white. Tall field boots in black or brown with a hunt cap, gloves and belt to match. A black or brown crop is permissible and conservative spurs with straps in the same color as the boots may be worn if needed. Hair should be secured under the helmet with a hair net to catch the fly away hairs. Small earrings are fine, but no big, dangle type earrings. Your horse should be clean and well groomed with a pulled mane. Check with your trainer to see if braids are expected at the show you will attend. If so, make sure you practice braiding to achieve a

You (or your child) have been riding for a while and sharpening your horsemanship skills. You feel good

about your balance and control so you and your trainer decide you’re ready to take it on the road and start showing. It sounds like a good idea, you think, and suddenly it occurs to you that you have a million questions about what to expect. Then you feel that maybe you should wait because maybe you really aren’t ready yet, after all. Or maybe you just need to be able to ask the questions you are too embarrassed to ask. Let’s take a look at some of those questions you might have.

How do I know tHat I am ready to sHow?

First of all, trust your trainer to know if you are ready. If you wait until you think you won’t make any mistakes, you’ll never participate. Everyone makes mistakes. Then, understand that there are many different local show organizations and associations that feed into the nationally recognized United States Equestrian Federation and United States Hunter Jumper Association shows. These local organizations are a good place to start. You can build up your knowledge, wardrobe and equipment gradually while you get your feet wet. They’ll also help you learn the ropes without breaking the bank. Each of these associations will have rules that typically reflect the spirit of the USEF and USHJA. They will include divisions that are more elementary than the nationally recognized divisions. A division is a group of classes, usually 3-5 classes, that is geared towards a certain level of experience. The same group of horses or riders will usually go through the division together. You may ride in more than one division unless restrictions are mandated. Your trainer can help

“A Primer for the Hunter & Equitation Arena”


Cathy Strobel has over 30 years of experience as a trainer, judge & clinician she can be reached at Southern Breeze Eq. Ctr. at (281) 431-4868 or www.sbreeze.com

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neat look. If you are not willing or able to do this, seek assistance from someone who is practiced at braiding. Professional braiders attend most recognized shows. However, you will want to talk to them as early as possible to get on their list in a timely fashion.

WhAt Do I neeD to Do BeFore the shoW?

Make sure you have all of your equipment, tack and clothing ahead of time and inspect it for loose stitching, missing buttons or other flaws that could cause a last minute problem. Polish your boots. Clean and condition your tack and make sure your saddle pad is clean. You need a white shaped pad for hunter or equitation classes. Spend some time grooming and bathing your horse. Make sure the feet are trimmed and shoes securely on his feet. Prepare a check list of all the items you will bring with you to the show.

WhAt hAppens on the DAy oF the shoW?

Let’s assume we are talking about a one day show. Plan your timetable so you can arrive on the grounds in time to school your horse in the show arena before it begins. Then

plan to arrive at your barn early enough to get your horse fed, brushed and lunged if needed, before you load him. Don’t forget to load all of your tack and equipment into your vehicle or trailer. Make sure you pack some hay and a water bucket for your horse. Then load your horse and head for the show. When you arrive, look at the courses that are posted so you know which jumps you’ll be using. Your trainer can help you learn to read them. Then have you trainer help you school in the arena you will be competing in. She will instruct you on what to do, similar to a lesson at your barn. The purpose is for you to get familiar with your surroundings and for the horse to get comfortable with the arena. You will want to bring him over all the jumps he’ll be doing in your classes so he doesn’t refuse anything. When you and your trainer are satisfied with your efforts, untack him and put him in a stall or tie him to the trailer with some hay and water. Your trainer will help you determine when to get yourself and your horse ready for your competition. While waiting, stay near enough to your horse if he is tied, to help him if he should get loose or tangled up. Never leave a tied horse unattended. Now, wait for your turn. Since a

show is sequential, there is no way to know what time you will compete. You just have to pay attention to how fast things are going. In other words, hurry up and wait. When it’s time to ride, have another brief warm-up under your trainer’s watchful eye before you enter the arena to loosen your horse’s muscles. Your trainer will then coach you through your classes to help you get the best performance you can. Then she’ll help you assess your round to set goals for improvement. When you finish, don’t forget to clean up your horse and give him a good rub down with liniment. Clean your equipment and put it all away. Then you can sit down and reflect on the day. Whether you won or came in last, remember to use your experience to set your future goals and measure your progress. Understand that nothing is ever perfect. It’s what you do with that imperfection that makes the difference. Regardless of how you did, at the end of the day, you should be able to sit back and say, “That was fun!”

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Q&A“Anhydrosis: No Sweat?”

Q:We moved to South Florida from Minnesota last September and this will be our first summer down here.

We brought our horses with us and they had a little too much winter coat already when we moved, so we clipped them and (on our new trainer’s advice) we clipped them again just a few weeks back. Now it already feels like summer to us (compared to Minnesota) but I know it’s going to get a lot hotter! I have a question about one of my horses. Two of them sweat a lot when they run around or when we ride them hard. The other one doesn’t. I don’t remember him being like that in Minnesota, or if he was like that I am a bad horse owner for not noticing! I think I saw an article once in a horse magazine, all about horses that don’t sweat but I couldn’t remember if it was a health problem or just the way some horses are? Also, I’m pretty certain it was about Thoroughbreds and Chief is a Paint so I don’t know if he could have that problem (can’t remember the name of it, sorry). Is this something that could mess up our summer riding? Our trainer said “Wait and see” but he sounded kind of worried. I hope Chief is okay, but if it turns out he does have this, is there a medicine for it so we can ride, or do we just have to leave him in the pasture all summer?

A: You really need to talk with your vet; that’s the person who will be able to give you the best advice about how to help your horse cope with your local weather conditions. That said, I’ll be happy to get you started with some basic information

about anhydrosis. First, we use the term “no sweat” to mean that something’s easy or not a problem, but anhydrosis – which actually means NO SWEAT – can be a big problem for an afflicted horse. It’s not just a health issue, it can lead to horses dying from being overheated. Horses and humans both sweat to cool off – exercise raises their body temperature, the heat produce produces sweat, and the evaporation of the sweat from their skin cools them off. Horses and humans that don’t sweat can’t cool themselves efficiently, and that means their body temperatures can rise into the danger range and remain there until someone takes action. If you take your three horses out for a ride and all of them get hot and breathe faster, that’s normal. After the ride, if they all cool off and begin breathing normally after a short time, that’s normal too. But if you see that one of your horses isn’t sweating, you should monitor him carefully, because there’s a strong possibility that he will not cool off. If his temperature and respiration remain high after the other horses’ temperature and respiration have returned to normal levels, you’re probably looking at a case of anhydrosis and you need to (a) get that horse cooled off, and (b) talk to your vet pronto. Second, anhydrosis can affect horses of any breed. We tend to hear more about the condition in Thoroughbreds, but the fact that Chief is a Paint won’t prevent him developing anhydrosis. I don’t know whether you’ll be able to ride him, but I can tell you that this is


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something that happens to all kinds of horses, not just the ones that work hard. Anhydrosis has been seen in everything from broodmares and stallions that aren’t ridden at all to racehorses that are ridden very hard. Third, don’t waste time feeling guilty – instead, get moving! Chief may not have had this condition when he was still in Minnesota – it’s quite possible that he developed it after making the trip south. Most horses with anhydrosis weren’t born with it – they develop it later on. Some horses develop it very quickly, so don’t feel that you’re at fault for “not noticing.” There may not have been anything for you to notice. Fourth, now is the time for you to take action. First and foremost, get your vet involved – that’s your best way to get up-to-date information about any medical condition including this one. Your vet will be aware of the latest research and of what medical and management solutions do or don’t tend to work under your local conditions. Your vet will probably also have some suggestions about Chief ’s activity level and your summer riding plans.

Meanwhile, here are some management suggestions for you. Your goal is to keep Chief from becoming overheated. Keep him hydrated (ask your vet about supplements and electrolytes)! Here’s a useful tip: If you put electrolytes in his drinking water, always give him a second bucket containing plain water so that he’ll drink even if he doesn’t want the electrolyte-laced water. Be sure that Chief has cool water and shade available at all times, and do whatever have

have to do to keep him cool. I don’t know whether you’ll be riding him this summer, but I know that all-day pasture turnout may not be an option unless your pastures are breezy and have plenty of shade. Some horses with seasonal anhydrosis need extra help to get through the summer months. Some horses need to be turned out only at night and kept indoors during the day, in an airy barn, in the shade, with a misting fan running. I don’t think that anyone has this condition figured out yet, but since you’re in Florida you should definitely plan to contact the equine specialists at the University of Florida. A lot of the most recent – and most useful – research on this subject has come from there, so you’re in the right place. I believe that there’s even a feed supplement that might help Chief. Your vet and the vets at the University of Florida will be able to advise you on that. Good luck!

“Take extra care in hot weather to ensure your

horse is sweating.”


When I was a kid, we had a mare named Sonny Gill’s Flash, we called her Flash. That was real original,

except in the story behind the story - the name fit! Dad brought her home in a small two horse homemade trailer. The trailer didn’t have a top and, of course, all of the wind and lights was just too much for her to handle. We hadn’t gotten very far when we hear a terrible ruckus from the trailer.

So Dad stopped and when he got to the back of the trailer, he found she had kicked the back door out! What a start to life with the Johnsons! Since Dad was a feedlot cowboy, she spent her first couple of years in the feedlots. She was pretty handy working a cow and she could pull one around pretty well too! I think I got her as mine to ride when she was about four. Boy, she was snake on the ground. Anything could come up behind her and she would run smooth over you to get away! I suppose she was

given to me because there is a fine line between brave and stupid, most of the time I didn’t know which side was which. But in the saddle, that was a different story! I ran in gymkhana’s with her and she could really move (she was out of a stallion called Gill’s Sonny Boy – same as Charmayne James great horse Scamper. I wonder…did that make her sort of a celebrity?). Of course if I had been a better hand, there is no telling what

she could have been. I always wanted to ride her more in the Mill Iron Wranglers, the local youth drill team. But, of course, the flag popping and snapping was just too much for her fragile mind! Once we were waiting for a parade to start (the one time I rode her in the Wranglers) and one of the carnival rides started to move. Boy, you’d have thought it was a giant horse eating monster! She wanted to leave the country, but was too afraid to turn her back on the evil thing…fortunately for me! That pretty much ended her career as a parade horse…just way to quick and jumpy for all those crowds. As Dad evolved so did our thinking habits about horses. We started asking why she acted like everything was trying to eat her. Come to find out she was partially blind in one eye! Once we figured that out, it became a whole lot easier to deal with her. Of course other than Dad, no one else was brave, or stupid, enough to ride her but me. After we had moved to Kansas (a feedlot cowboy’s nomadic life), we kept our horses at a place that wasn’t very far from Dad’s work. So it was pretty easy

“Flash and the Kamikaze Bird”


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for him to change horses, he would just tell one of us boys to ride the 4-5 miles and bring a new horse over whenever he needed one. Well, if you know anything about Kansas, there are a lot of pheasants. They seem to have suicidal tendencies, everyone there seemed to have broken front windshields from those things flying up at the side of the road. Dad had asked me to ride Flash over, so I headed over as he had requested. One of the things that I always enjoyed about Flash was the “feedlot walk” that she had. It just meant that she could walk reallllly fast! So we were cruising down the side of the rode and lo and behold….there was one of them dad gummed pheasants waiting in a death watch on the side of the road! That thing was probably 10 or 12 feet away when it launched itself for its kamikaze run! Now this probably speaks volumes for their intelligence. You see, it’s hard to kill yourself running into a horse. Unfortunately, it is easy for a horse to try and kill a rider. Once that pheasant hit Flash in the side of the head, it must have knocked that BB that was her brain loose and it started rattling around inside her head! She turned so fast it was all I could do to stay on her back; (well technically I was

more hanging way out on the side with one hand on the horn, and one foot on the back of the cantle). She tore through that wheat field on the other side of the road, like the devil himself was chasing us. The scenery was whizzing by so fast I thought I was going to get car sick…err…horse sick! I was finally able to climb back in the saddle, but getting her to shut down…heck even slow down, was hard to do! In her mind, Satan had attacked her and she was not letting him catch her! Her natural prey instincts had kicked in, that instinct is fight or flight….she was in full flight mode. Luckily, the fields in Kansas are usually a

full section, so we never had to cross any roads. But wow! It was some ride; a horse in full panic mode can cover some ground! I got her calmed, slowed down, and headed back to the feedlot but her mind was a mess. She was hypersensitive to any movement from the wheat fields; of course I was pretty hyper sensitive myself, but the rest of the trip was uneventful, except for the nerves! Flash was a pretty good horse, but she just wouldn’t tolerate pheasants after that! I don’t blame her, stupid kamikaze birds!


Howdy,welcome to Cowboy Corner.

Well the “Greatest Show on Earth” has just ended. Understand that Barnum and Bailey Circus claimed to be the “Greatest Show on Earth”, well folks the circus is just a rock in the road to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Still have a hard time believing almost 2 ½ million people attending a rodeo. That’s an average of over 120,000 per performance. How about 27,000 volunteers to put the show on for almost a month? Thanks to the Officers, Directors, and Staff that keeps the big wheel turning for the benefit of all Texans. Thank you Lord just one more time for providing me the strength and resources to be a part. Have mentioned before that I am volunteer at the rodeo serving on the Grand Entry committee. The big parade in the arena starts every rodeo performance. Lots of officials, officers, and directors of the show participate in the grand entry horseback, along with buggies, wagons, and fire trucks filled with lots of kids and folks representing various groups. The committee really brings the rodeo to the people, and a fun place to work. I’ve been in my job is wagon outrider for a long time. A group of the outriders were mounted, waiting for the grand entry to begin, and started talking about

how long we had been in the saddle, for the 2013 rodeo. Now most of these outriders are also members of the various trail rides serving as assistant trail bosses, scouts, or other officials. Soon this group came to be known as the “30 club”, thirty consecutive days in the saddle beginning with a week of trail riding, the parade, grand entry practice the day of the parade, then twenty performances of the rodeo. What a ride! I am blessed. Like to visit the commercial exhibits and Ag Mechanics show to get those “take back to the ranch tips.” Cowboy Corner over the years has featured lots of what I call “Brazos Bottom Engineering” learned at the rodeo. The rodeo is also a great social event with lots of denim and diamonds, buckle bunnies and whatever. To expand my education and hopefully social graces, I try to attend, after every grand entry, a great establishment operated by the Corral Club Committee know as the Chute Club. Now, the Chute Club is a real learning experience especially

for those of us with a likin’ for pretty girls, and adult beverages. The club has a long history of providing cowboy education. Well, my education got expanded when I heard one night the second biggest lie in the world. All know the biggest lie in the world is “the check is in the mail.” To set the stage for the second biggest lie in the world, picture this: a long, lean, goat roper type hittin’ on a Brazos Bottom Debutant, “”Oh darlin’, so sorry, but tonight I’m taken”. There’s two chances of me believin’ that, slim and none. Guess now that I am educated or enlightened as whatever, it’s time to try to start getting caught up at the ranch. Seems to me our late winter has been real windy and bringing down the remaining dead trees from the 2011 draught. Sure has been tough on our fences and makes us check them after each “blow”. Don’t take long for those ‘ol cows to find the bad place in the fence caused by a falling tree.

Happy Trails!

The Greatest Show

on Earth!

Horseback Magazine April 2013

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Transcript of Horseback Magazine April 2013