Ask Julie Goodnight: Does the Lead Horse Participate in Mutual Grooming?

September 1st, 2010

Contact:
Julie Goodnight Horsemanship Training
Goodnight Training Stables, Inc.
PO Box 397
Poncha Springs, CO 81242

press@juliegoodnight.com

 Dear Julie,

First of all, I would like to thank you for your website and the information you share on it. Your Training Library is quite extensive and I am learning so much by reading through your responses. I am new to horsemanship and the background and experience you provide are invaluable to me. The other thing I appreciate is how clearly and systematically you explain/describe things. Your step-by-step directions are exactly what I need! I don’t feel so overwhelmed when you break things down into smaller pieces like you do. Thank you. 

My question is regarding grooming. I love to groom my horse and frequently go into the pasture to do so. However, I am now wondering if a “lead” horse grooms other horses. In other words, am I losing ground with my horse, from a leadership perspective, by grooming her (especially at times when she isn’t being saddled or unsaddled)? I am trying very hard to make sure I am being the leader my horse deserves. With the information on your website I have really begun to look at everything I do, and I want to make sure that I am not inadvertently giving her mixed signals.

Thank you for everything,

Tracy 

Answer: Tracy,

It’s a good question you propose, regarding both the horse’s natural herd behavior and the practicality of what you are doing. Armed with the right information, you’ll be able to evaluate what you are doing and possibly make some positive changes. 

Mutual grooming (technically referred to as allo-grooming) is the only known affectionate behavior of horses that is not reproductive related. It occurs only between bonded horses within the herd and they stand facing each other and groom each other using their teeth and lips, mostly in the wither area and down the back. 

Yes, lead horses mutual groom with other subordinate horses, BUT the lead horse always begins and ends the grooming session. And she ends it by biting the subordinate horse as a little reminder of who is indeed the boss. It’s okay for you to rub on your horse and scratch him where it feels good, but make sure you are the one initiating and ending the grooming session and never let your horse put its mouth on you and “groom” you back. If at any time the horse gets rude or is demanding to be groomed, you should hiss and spit at him and shoo him away. 

I do have a practical concern about grooming your horse in the pasture. If you are working on your horse while she is loose out in the field and she can walk away from you or move around whenever she wants, you may be instilling some bad manners in your horse. I want my horses to stand perfectly still any time I am working on them and, like most rules, this one has to be strictly reinforced. I would prefer to put a halter and lead on my horse and either ground tie or hard tie her so that I can take control of her if needed, to remind her of her ground manners. 

As an example, a friend of mine liked to go in his colt’s pen and rub on him and play with him. Of course the colt loved it too and then my friend started grooming the colt and picking up his feet—all without a halter on. He was very proud of being able to pick up the colt’s feet, but paid no attention to the fact that the colt would just pull his foot away and walk off any time he wanted. All this time, my friend had been teaching this horse that he could walk off and move away while he was being groomed and pull his feet out of your hands anytime he wanted and that the human had no control over him. He was not learning to respect authority, hold his feet up, stand patiently or have any restraint put on him. Additionally, foals are so tactile and love being rubbed on so much that when over-handled they start leaning into you demanding to be scratched. When you comply, not only are you letting the horse control your actions (in other words, be dominate over you) but you are also teaching him to lean into pressure—a VERY bad habit since normally we train horses to move off of pressure not lean into it. 

It’s excellent that you are taking the time to understand the horse’s natural behavior and reflecting on how that impacts the way you handle your horses. What you are doing with your horse might be okay, as long as you keep these concepts in mind. But with a better glimpse at the big picture, you may find you want to modify what you are doing just a little to make sure you maintain authority with the horse. 

Enjoy the ride, 

–Julie Goodnight Trainer and Clinician 

SIDEBAR

Horse Master Air Schedule (from the Napa Valley Equestrian Center in Napa, California):

Week of September 6

HM318RR “Braced for Impact”

The Horse Master helps a rider stop in relaxed, western style. 

Week of September 13

HM319 “Straighten Up and Fly Right”

The Horse Master teaches a pattern to prepare for flying lead changes. 

Week of September 20

HM320 “Bit of Change”

The Horse Master changes the bit & teaches the horse to round & give. 

Week of September 27

HM321 “Won’t Stand for It”

The Horse Master teaches a disobedient mare prep work for ground tying. 

Week of October 4

HM322 “Reach for It”

The Horse Master refines a rider’s jumping skills & teaches the crest release. 

Week of October 11

HM323 “Head Down on the Trail”

The Horse Master helps a tense horse & rider ride with a loose rein. 

Week of October 18

HM324 “Teen Queen”

The Horse Master teaches a high-headed horse to relax, move rhythmically.See Julie during the World Equestrian Games (presenting September 25, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. EST on WEG grounds) and during the International Equestrian Festival, which occurs simoultaneously– http://horsecapitalproductions.com/component/content/article/182. Find more free articles to read and refer to in Julie’s Training Library: http://juliegoodnight.com/q&a.php and watch Horse Master on RFD-TV every Wednesday at 5:30p EST —Direct TV channel 345, Dish Network channel 231 and on many cable outlets. Then visit http://www.horsemaster.tv and http://www.juliegoodnight.com for her 2010 clinic schedule, articles related to each episode, the gear used in each show, and for training DVDs and publications. Plus, see clips from each show at: http://www.horsemaster.juliegoodnight.com/episodes.html and check out specials and even more clips on Julie’s Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/horsemaster.tv. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at: http://juliegoodnight.com/emailsignup.php.

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Clinton Anderson Aims to Carry on Road to the Horse Tradition Started in 2003

September 1st, 2010

In 2003, a legend was born when Road to the Horse, a revolutionary colt-starting competition, matched up three horse trainers and gave them the challenge of a lifetime. Winning the two day event, Clinton Anderson awed and amazed those in attendance with his flamboyant style. Anderson will once again step into the lime-light when he competes in the 2011 Road to the Horse Legends. Matched up against Pat Parelli and Chris Cox, he aims for a third victory in Murfreesboro, TN on February 25-27, 2011.

Although Road to the Horse has grown into an event of epic proportion with worldwide exposure, the first competition was a very new experience for all those involved as participants and spectators. Held at the Cowtown Coliseum in historic stockyards of Fort Worth, Texas, the competition featured Anderson, Curt Pate and Josh Lyons. Winning on a colt named Hancock Sug, he created a Road to the Horse tradition during his freestyle when he stood up on the back of the horse and cracked a whip.

“It was an amazing accomplishment, even for a older trained horse. It was just amazing what Clinton accomplished with his colt. It might never be matched,” said Tootie Bland, Road to the Horse owner and producer in a 2003 post-event interview.

Little did Bland know, Anderson would would not only match his own feat, but he would up the ante when he returned to defend his title in 2005. Further increasing his “wow” factor, the Australian clinician shot a pistol in the air while standing on his filly. Competing in front of the sold-out Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, TN, Anderson won against Craig Cameron and Van Hargis.

Since Anderson’s consecutive victories, a cowboy (or cowgirl in the case of Stacy Westfall) standing atop a horse has become the iconic symbol for the World Championship of Colt-Starting. Wondering what he has planned for his freestyle against Parelli and Cox, horsemen and fans across the country are waiting in fervent anticipation for the 2011 Road to the Horse Legends.

“It’s been three years since I’ve last been to the event, and I feel that the time is right for me to go back. Since I’ve competed before, I know what I’m in for and know exactly what I have to do to prepare. I’m always on an endless journey to better myself, and I know that I have certainly gotten better as a horseman since the last time I competed in the event. Come February, I’ll be prepared to step into the ring with the other clinicians,” says Anderson.
Tickets to the event are on sale now by visiting www.roadtothehorse.com. With assigned premier and general seating sold out, a limited number of general admission bleacher seating tickets are still available. The Nation, a membership club that fans can join for $39.95 a year includes a host of benefits including a members-only website, advance access and line privileges, merchandise discounts and more.

About Clinton Anderson

Clinton Anderson was raised in Australia where he cultivated a natural ability with horses. After working for several well known and nationally respected trainers, he moved to the United States full-time in 1997. Upon his arrival in the U.S., Anderson began training, touring and conducting clinics and in 2001 became the first horse trainer to launch a “made-for-TV” weekly training program broadcast on satellite television.

In 2003 and again in 2005, Clinton faced the country’s best horse trainers and clinicians in the prestigious Road to the Horse, becoming the first person to win the event twice in a row. Throughout his career as a clinician, Clinton has continued to breed, train and show his own reining horses. He currently continues to compete and win at the highest levels of competition. Today, Clinton continues to teach, train and compete. He works hard to educate horse owners on how to be safe and effective while enjoying their horses. His mission is to “Inspire the Dreams of Horsemen” which he does with his easy to understand training method that’s designed to help horse owners get the results they desire.

Road to the Horse

Road to the Horse, the World Championship of Colt-Starting is unlike any other event in the equine or entertainment industry. The three-day sold out event matches three of the country’s best horse trainers and clinicians of today against one another as they train unbroken colts to ride in just a few short hours in front of a packed live audience and television cameras.  By combining education, edge-of-your-seat suspense, entertainment and the love of the horse, Road to the Horse has been responsible for solidifying the position of today’s horsemanship heroes and launching the careers of tomorrow’s hottest new stars. In the process, the event itself has become a catalyst for the advancement of natural horsemanship.  Spectators are guaranteed not only to have a good time, but also to walk away with training knowledge that will improve their relationship with horses.

Road to the Horse is proud to partner with many outstanding companies across the equine industry including Road to the Horse presenting sponsor, Western Horseman and strategic partner AQHA along with Nutrena, Quarter Horse News, Horses Magazine, abi Equine, Pyranha Inc., Martin Saddlery, Gist Silversmiths, Horsecity.com, WW Livestock, Valley Vet Equine, Wahl Clipper, Callaway Farms Manufacturing, Extreme Mustang Makeover, Hoofbeats Magazine, Rockin J Horse Stalls, ACTHA and Flying D Enterprises. For sponsorship opportunities and more information on the 2011 Road to the Horse visit www.roadtothehorse.com  or call 325-736-5000.

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Equine Extravaganza, a 3-Day all-breed, all-discipline horse expo

September 1st, 2010

Celebrating its 6th year,Equine Extravaganza, a 3-Day all-breed, all-discipline horse expo , returns to Virginia, October 29–31, 2010, but will debut at its new home: The Meadow Event Park, Doswell, VA, birth place of Secretariat and new home of the State Fair of Virginia. This year’s event will be bigger and better than ever with three-days of great shopping and more than 100 clinics, demonstrations, and seminars featuring top clinicians from around the world. Attendees can also expect to see the atmosphere spiced up a bit with some new and exciting features:  canine clinics and demos, more live music, mechanical cutting horse rides, a Cowboy Cook-off, cooking demonstrations, a Beer and Wine Garden with more live music, a VIP Clinician Meet and Greet Dinner, Gracie the amazing trick mule, trick horses, and much more.

One of the great things about the Equine Extravaganza is the cross-discipline appeal of the clinicians. Dressage master Jose Mendez’ is one such clinician who draws enthusiasts from all disciplines. Mendez’, a Spanish-trained Dressage Master and former rider and trainer for the Spanish Royal School of Equestrian Art, has represented Australia at the International Grand Prix and teaches clinics worldwide. Jose’s clinics will not only benefit dressage riders of all levels, but he will also offer practical tools that will benefit any rider who seeks to improve their overall effective use of aids, improve their seat, and generally enhance their communication with their horse. 

Jose has teamed up with Australian based Colleen Kelly, an Equine Extravaganza mainstay, who returns in 2010, to teach Rider Biomechanics, which helps improve seat, balance, and over-all connection for any horse and rider. Kelly and Mendez’ will demonstrate how dressage skills and a balanced seat are essential to riders whose attire staple is a cowboy hat! 

Other exceptional trainers in this year’s Equine Extravaganza line-up include Julie Goodnight, Kenny Harlow, Steuart Pittman and his Retired Racehorse Retraining Program, Richard Shrake, Randy Abernathy, Scott Purdum, Brock and Lesha Griffith, and so many more!  And known for its commitment to horse health care and education, Southern States will be sponsoring a wide variety of excellent seminars on nutrition, pasture care, eco-friendly solutions for your farm, horse health, and more throughout the weekend in the Southern States Seminar Hall. 

Caroline Rider, Karen Scholl, and Tara Jones will wow the audience with their colt starting skills in the first All Women Trainer Challenge. The Trainer Challenge will be held for an hour each day with a final obstacle course on Sunday for each trainer to demonstrate the progress they have made with their young horse through the use of natural horsemanship. 

And when you want a breather from the excitement of clinics and the great shopping, sit in the Beer and Wine Garden and enjoy some fantastic music with Tommy Jennings, Waylon Jennings’ brother, Bobby Plough, and Blue Grass greats Ron Thomason and Heidi Clare. On Saturday things will begin to heat up with the Cowboy Cook-Off. Attendees will get to taste test and judge which cowboy chow is the best. 

And for pure entertainment you won’t want to miss Gracie, the amazing trick mule, who recently starred in Get Low with Robert Duvall. Gracie returns to the Equine Extravaganza where she participated in and won the Horse Idol competition in 2008, which launched her movie career!  She will be showing off her best tricks in demos throughout the day on Sunday.

The Kids Corral will offer fun throughout the weekend including stick horse races, roping contests, trick horse demonstrations, and loads of fun for the kid in all of us!

Attendees can also expect great shopping with more than 150 vendors with everything from tack, apparel, gifts, trailers– and now dogs, and much more.  

Friday evening’s Denim and Diamonds Clinician Meet and Greet Dinner will offer an opportunity to meet the clinicians and ask questions in an intimate environment. Tommy Jennings will entertain the audience and there will be a silent auction to benefit the Virginia Museum of the Horse. 

Groups may participate in the “Giving Back” program which supports horse industry groups and associations by giving money back to the clubs who help spread the word about the event though the flyer distribution program. 

The Equine Extravaganza® is an absolute must attend for the horse owner, horse lover, or even the casual horse enthusiast, and now for dog lovers, as well! There is truly something for everyone!

Hours
Friday:                  9:00 AM­­­­­­­­­–7:30 PM
Saturday:             9:00 AM–7:30 PM
Sunday:                                9:00 AM–5:00 PM

Tickets are available online in advance or at the gate. 

Daily Admissions
Adults: $15, Children 6–11: $5, Children 5 and Under: Free
Special “Giving Back” revenue program for non-profit clubs and associations.

Additional information on Equine Extravaganza® can be obtained by visiting www.equineextravaganza.com or by calling the Corporate Office at 410.349.9333.

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Chris Cox, Two-Time Consecutive Road to the Horse Champion, Seeks to Win Third World Championship Buckle

September 1st, 2010

Looking to become a living legend, two-time Road to the Horse champion, Chris Cox seeks to become the only competitor who will hold three buckles from the world championship of colt-starting. Competing against Pat Parelli and two-time winner Clinton Anderson, Cox hopes to be the “last man standing” at the Road to the Horse Legends in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on February 25-27, 2011.

Entering the Road to the Horse arena for the first time in 2007, Cox had the formidable task of going up against two previous champions. Competing against Stacy Westfall and Clinton Anderson, Cox said he went into the competition hoping to win but also wanting to educate the crowd.

“The crowd was into it. It felt good. When I picked the horse and went in there, I was the last person to catch my horse. It’s constant work. I had to stick with it. I came here with the same plan I always use to work with a horse and I stuck with it,” said Cox in a post-event interview.

Cox said that he felt privileged to participate in such a great event. Named the 2007 Road to the Horse champion, he won his first buckle in a fierce competition where both fans and judges agreed upon the winner.

Returning to defend his title in 2008, Cox had three competitors including Mike Kevil, Tommy Garland and Ken McNabb. According to host Rick Lamb, one of the main aspects in play during Road to the Horse is learning to stay flexible and adjusting to fit the situation. Not giving his horse the required amount of rest time, Cox began day two as an underdog after receiving a score penalty. However, he was able to adapt his plan and pull neck-and-neck with all the competitors across the board. A very close competition, fans were held on the edge of their seat until the champion was announced. Emerging victorious, Cox left the event two for two, bringing home his second Road to the Horse championship title and buckle.

Looking to obtain a perfect three for three record, Cox will bring his superb horsemanship skills into the arena in hopes of winning the 2011 Road to the Horse Legends.

“I’m not going to do anything different to prepare for Road to the Horse. I’m just going to stay in shape and do what I do every day, which is travel and train horses. I won’t be competing against the other competitors. I’m competing against myself and with the horse. What the other competitors do during the competition doesn’t affect me,” says Cox.

General admission bleacher tickets are on sale now at www.roadtothehorse.com. In addition to the publicly available seats, a special prime seating block has been set aside for members of the Road to the Horse Nation. The Nation, a membership club that fans can join for $39.95 a year includes a host of benefits in addition to prime seating, including a members-only website, advance access and line privileges, merchandise discounts and more.

About Chris Cox

Chris Cox’ entire life has been influenced by his relationship with the horse. With his television show on RFD TV, the nationwide Ride the Journey Tour stops and appearances at equine expos and events, Cox has touched the lives of many a horse enthusiast and shown them there’s a straight-forward, practical way to gain a better relationship with their horses.

Cox is not only a successful clinician; he trains and competes at the highest levels of cutting horse competition. At his Diamond Double C Ranch near Mineral Wells, Texas he often has over twenty horses in training. Cox offers progressive six-day horsemanship clinics at his ranch and nationwide three-day clinics to make it even easier for those throughout the country to get first-hand instruction directly from him. Learn more about Chris Cox at www.chris-cox.com.

Road to the Horse

Road to the Horse, the World Championship of Colt-Starting is unlike any other event in the equine or entertainment industry. The three-day sold out event matches three of the country’s best horse trainers and clinicians of today against one another as they train unbroken colts to ride in just a few short hours in front of a packed live audience and television cameras. By combining education, edge-of-your-seat suspense, entertainment and the love of the horse, Road to the Horse has been responsible for solidifying the position of today’s horsemanship heroes and launching the careers of tomorrow’s hottest new stars. In the process, the event itself has become a catalyst for the advancement of natural horsemanship. Spectators are guaranteed not only to have a good time, but also to walk away with training knowledge that will improve their relationship with horses.

Road to the Horse is proud to partner with many outstanding companies across the equine industry including Road to the Horse presenting sponsor, Western Horseman and strategic partner AQHA along with Nutrena, Quarter Horse News, Horses Magazine, abi Equine, Martin Saddlery, Gist Silversmiths, Horsecity.com, WW Livestock, Callaway Farms Manufacturing, Extreme Mustang Makeover, Hoofbeats Magazine, Rockin J Horse Stalls and Flying D Enterprises. For sponsorship opportunities and more information on the 2011 Road to the Horse visit www.roadtothehorse.com or call 325-736-5000.

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Now Available – Tennessee Walking Horse: An American Tradition

July 31st, 2010

Lewisburg, TN – The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association is pleased to announce that the long-anticipated book, Tennessee Walking Horse: An American Tradition, has arrived from the printers and is now available at Association headquarters for only $50.00 (plus tax and shipping and handling).

A unique and artistic look at the past, present, and future of the Tennessee Walking Horse, this book is a must for anyone interested in the breed. Archival photographs and artifacts are combined to beautiful affect with fresh modern photography to present the one-of-a-kind story of the American phenomenon that is the Tennessee Walking Horse.

To find out more and purchase your copy of this long-awaited book Click Here or contact Kristen Stegall via email at kstegall@twhbea.com or by phone at 931-359-0592.

Copies of Tennessee Walking Horse: An American Tradition are available for review by publications. To request a copy for review please contact Sarah Gee at sgee@twhbea.com or 931-359-0590.

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Posted in August 2010 | No Comments »

Ask Julie Goodnight: Why Should You Post at All?

July 31st, 2010

Julie Goodnight Horsemanship Training
Goodnight Training Stables, Inc.
PO Box 397
Poncha Springs, CO 81242
press@juliegoodnight.com 

Question: Last month I asked about whether all riders should know how to post on the correct diagonal. Now it seems the question has changed to “should Western riders know how to post at all?” Can you help refine our riding group’s ongoing debate? 

Sharon
Answer: Sharon, In every horsemanship clinic I teach, I start the mounted session by assessing all the riders in terms of their control, their riding position and skill and their authority over the horse. To do this, I put them through some regulated paces that involve changes of gaits and changes of direction. During this process I am watching the riders and their horses to try and figure out what are the most pressing things that need improvement and that will guide what I have each individual rider work on. As I make this assessment, I always ask for regular trot, slow trot, sitting trot and posting trot, specifically to see how much ability the rider has. 

To me, it makes no difference whatsoever whether you ride English or Western; if you are riding the long trot you should be able to post and posting is a very fundamental skill. If your horse is so incredibly smooth gaited that you can comfortably sit the extended trot, then you are very lucky and probably a very good rider. But I ask for everyone to post the trot at some point to see if someone doesn’t know how to do it or uses poor technique (posting off the stirrup instead of off the thigh). Before the end of the day, they will learn how to post because it is an important skill for a rider and it would be silly to think that Western riders don’t need this skill. 

Think about it, if you had 20 miles of fence line to ride today, would you do it at the sitting trot? When you need to cover ground on a horse over long distances, the long trot is the most efficient gait to ride and posting is easiest for both you and your horse. Besides, posting is a fundamental skill and  building block for more advanced skills—you wouldn’t want to leave a block out of your foundation. 

So why don’t Western riders post in competition? Well, if you are showing at the long trot it is probably in some sort of pleasure class and if you are being judged on how easy and pleasurable your horse is to ride, you want to make him look smooth. If you are being judged on how great a rider you are, then sitting the long trot shows a lot of skill. In some cases posting in a Western competition is prohibited by the rules or dictated by the class procedures. In other cases, like versatility ranch horse competitions, you are allowed to post but in doing so, it may appear to the judge that your horse is so ungodly rough gaited that you couldn’t possibly sit the trot. 

Anywhere you go where there are Western riders, you’ll see the riders posting– it is a pretty basic skill. Though they may not do it during an actual competition, it is a skill they need and use regularly. If you have the pleasure of riding a gaited horse that does not trot, you don’t really need to post and in fact may not be able to do it correctly on  gaited horse since correct posting involves using the lift in the horse’s back as he goes into suspension in the trot. Riding a gaited horse can give a false reading on how skilled a rider is; they are definitely easier to ride (if they are well trained and well gaited). If the rider has never developed the skill to ride the natural trot or canter (the gaits with suspension) she/he may not have adequate skill to ride in difficult situations or even ride a naturally gaited horse; she may not have developed a strong leg position, adequate balance and the strength to hold on when the going gets rough. 

I doubt you would find any accomplished riders anywhere, in any discipline, that do not know how to post. All riders should know how to sit the trot, post the trot and ride the standing trot and they each have their particular challenges. Learning to post seems tricky at first—it’s one of those skills that you think you’ll never figure out and then once you do, you can’t believe how easy it is. To me, it seems easier for people to learn the posting trot than the sitting trot (unless they are on an incredibly smooth horse). 

Enjoy the ride, 

–Julie Goodnight Trainer and Clinician 

SIDEBAR
Horse Master Air Schedule (from the 3Y Ranch in Crawfordville, FL):
Week of August 2
HM313RR “Don’t Baby Me” (Kiera Fiveash)

The Horse Master helps a yearling’s owner to be safe as she leads the baby.
Week of August 9

HM314 “Attention Please” (Kathy Klenk)
The Horse Master helps a rider take charge, learn leg cues and avoid spooks. 

Week of August 16
HM315 “Mustang Mascot” (Amber Mathewson)

The Horse Master works with a mustang that gravitates toward the arena gate. 

Week of August 23
HM316 “Hooked on a Feeling” (Mary Lackey)

The Horse Master teaches a rider to feel her canter leads. 

Week of August 30
HM317 “Yield to Pressure” (Katie Ramirez)

The Horse Master teaches a collegiate rider to perform leg yields. 

Find more free articles to read and refer to in Julie’s Training Library: http://juliegoodnight.com/q&a.php and watch Horse Master on RFD-TV every Wednesday at 5:30p EST —Direct TV channel 345, Dish Network channel 231 and on many cable outlets. Then visit http://www.horsemaster.tv and http://www.juliegoodnight.com for her 2010 clinic schedule, articles related to each episode, the gear used in each show, and for training DVDs and publications. Plus, see clips from each show at: http://www.horsemaster.juliegoodnight.com/episodes.html and check out specials and even more clips on Julie’s Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/horsemaster.tv. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at: http://juliegoodnight.com/emailsignup.php.

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Posted in August 2010 | No Comments »

“Leg Protection for Your Horse”

July 31st, 2010

PALM PARTNERSHIP TRAINING™
Building a Partnership with your Horse
by Lynn Palm 

There are various forms of leg protection you can use during exercise, turn out, trailering, and in the stall. Let’s look at a few. 

During Exercise

  1. Splint Boots: The easiest to use form of leg protection during exercise is the splint boot. Splint boots protect the splint bone on the front and hind legs as well as offering light support for vulnerable tendons and protection for the fetlock. Besides being used during exercise, split boots protect the horse’s legs during turn out and leisure riding as well. Because they fasten with Velcro, splint boots are easy for even a novice to put on (be sure not to fasten too tightly which can interfere with circulation). Although there are many good brands to choose from, I recommend Professional Choice Elite Boots.
  2. Polo Bandages: Polo bandages also protect the splint bone on the front and hind legs, and they offer greater support for tendons than do the split boots. However, learning to wrap polo bandages correctly takes a little time. Because there is the possibility of wrapping polo bandages incorrectly or too tightly and actually damaging soft tissue instead of protecting it, make sure that an experienced horse person teaches you the correct way to wrap and supervises your first several attempts. 

How to wrap polo bandages: Always start at the top and wind downward and then back up to the top where you fasten the bandage. Always wind from front to back so that when you tighten the bandage the pressure will be on the shinbone and not on the tendon which can actually damage the tendon. Most wraps now have Velcro fasteners that have replace the old bandage pins.  Note: Many horse professionals recommend never leaving bandages on for more than twelve hours and always giving your horse a leg massage after removing them. 

After Exercise

After your exercise and cool down routine, cool your horse’s legs with a hose. Start on the foot and work upward to prevent forcing heat into the delicate hoof and foot. Thoroughly dry the legs and heels with a towel. 

If you notice an injury or a great deal of swelling after a workout, your horse may need more than just a quick cooling off with the hose. (Remember, in almost all cases, cold before heat on an injury.) There are several products available that let you apply cold to the legs without you standing and holding a hose for long stretches and without your horse having wet feet for an extended time. If you do not have these products, keep a couple of bags of frozen peas in the freezer for such use. The bags conform nicely to the leg when held in place by a flexible wrap. 

A hand massage of the legs is always a good idea after a hard workout or if you have a horse that is prone to leg swelling. Always massage downwards. On the front legs, start at the tip of the knee and work to the fetlock. On the hind legs, start at the top of the hock and massage to the fetlock. 

You may use Vetrolin to further cool the legs; or, if it’s been a hard workout, you might want to use a leg brace. A mild leg brace would be a combination of one-half part rubbing alcohol and one-half part Bigeloil. This will stimulate circulation and sooth and cool tired and over-heated legs. For a stronger brace use Bigeloil full strength. 

A poultice differs from a brace in that it contains medicine to draw out swelling and soreness as well as containing a cooling agent. 

Standing Bandages

As the name suggests, standing bandages—also known as stable bandages—are used when the horse is going to be standing for several hours; e.g. in his stall at night or on long hauls in the trailer. They support the tendons and fetlock joint and suppress fluid. These bandages usually run from below the knee or hock down over the fetlock (shipping boots are longer), and they are thicker than exercise wraps for added warmth and protection. Again, there are many brands to select from, but I recommend Professional Choice no cording bandages, quilts, and polo wraps. 

Standing bandages are also used to protect wounds and keep them sterile. Again, there is a fine line between keeping the bandages in place and wrapping them too tightly and impairing circulation, which would be especially serious if a wound is involved. 

Other Leg Protection

I recommend Professional Choice Hock and Knee Bandages. These are used to support the joint and reduce swelling. They also can be used to keep medication in place and to protect wounds and keep them sterile. I also recommend Professional Choice Bell Boots to protect the heels and to keep long-striding horses from pulling off their shoes. 

Any time you are taking care of your horse’s legs, remember this is training time for him. He needs to learn to stand quietly while you do all the steps necessary to take good care of his legs. Remember too, however, that you must make him obey in a quiet and patient way so that he does not become apprehensive.

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I’m Home In The Spring

July 31st, 2010

Pam Mullins 

Springtime- a call of Mother Nature’s new birth,
And the scent of fresh rain, like Gods fragrance on earth.
A sparrow in flight and God keeps his eyes on all that it needs to survive,
A canvas of color, fresh wildflowers growing and everything comes back alive.
 

In the beauty of the morning dew and the light of the dawn,
A weak spirit cried “Lord, – lift my pain and take me home.
For a time I may leave behind loved ones today,
But it won’t be good-bye,   just parting I pray.”
 

“My family joins my side and the prayers lift me high,
I can stand on their shoulders to reach the sweet by & by.
Now isn’t that what a loving family is for,
To give a final boost up to the Mansions door?”
 

“As I’m lifting my hands, a force pulls me away,
And the wind warms my soul for I’ll see Jesus today.
Now I’m climbing the stairs that lead to God’s Mighty throne,
Then I stop and look around, angels are rejoicing with song.”
 

Look up my child, your father awaits for thee.
In the arms of the Lord, your pains are set free.
I feel Him near without even a sight,
The aroma, the peace & the brilliance of light.
 

Now I’m home for the Spring, no worries or fear,
Joe, Frank and others are all standing near.
In the Pearly City, where love abounds forever more,
I’m home and I’m safe, with my savior I adore.
 

Don’t cry for me, not one more tear,
God’s grace is sufficient and I’m always near.

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Posted in August 2010 | No Comments »

THREE FARNAM® FLY SPRAYS RECEIVE TOP MARKS FROM HORSE JOURNAL™

July 31st, 2010

Mosquito Halt® Repellent Spray for Horses, Repel-X®p Emulsifiable Fly Spray and

Endure® Sweat-Resistant Fly Spray For Horses Were Honored in May 2010 Issue 

PHOENIX – July 13, 2010 – Many horse owners and competitors are familiar with the product reviews conducted throughout the year by the Horse Journal, a monthly product, care and service guide for people who love horses.  Farnam Horse Products is proud to have received highly favorable reviews from the Horse Journal on three of its most popular fly sprays for horses.

      Mosquito Halt® Repellent Spray for Horses was voted Horse Journal Editor’s Choice in the May 2010 issue.  “Farnam’s Mosquito Halt topped the class in deterring both biting flies and mosquitoes, both for its duration of activity and is fairly priced for products that claim extended duration of effects,” said Eleanor Kellon, VMD and veterinary editor in the May 2010 issue of Horse Journal.

      Mosquito Halt® spray halts more than just mosquitoes; it also controls gnats, face flies, stable flies and house flies.  In addition to soothing aloe and lanolin, this exclusive formula contains two insecticides and two repellents to provide residual control.  It can be used on horses, ponies and foals and comes in a 32 ounce bottle with sprayer and also in a one gallon refill.

      Repel-X®p Emulsifiable Fly Spray was voted a Horse Journal Best Buy in the May 2010 issue.  “Our Best Buy, Repel-Xp Emusifiable concentrate, is also highly effective but with a shorter duration of activity,” said Eleanor Kellon, VMD and veterinary editor in the May 2010 issue of Horse Journal.

      The horseman’s choice for more than 30 years, Repel-X®p Emulsifiable Fly Spray is an economical concentrate – 16 ounces makes one gallon of ready to use fly spray – that kills and repels horn, house, stable, horse and deer flies plus gnats, mosquitoes and ticks including deer ticks which may transmit Lyme Disease.  Available in 16 ounce, 32 ounce and in one gallon sizes.

      Endure® Sweat-Resistant Fly Spray for Horses was reviewed and recommended by Horse Journal as a Best Choice for chemical-based fly sprays in the May 2010 issue.  The editors noted its residual effects provided “the same effect using less product as the season progressed” and sweat resistance made it “more effective than others in staying power during a heavy-work session.”

      Endure® Sweat-Resistant Fly Spray for Horses is the only fly spray with the exclusive RepeLock® ingredient, a conditioner that binds to the hair shaft, locking in the fly repellency of Endure® spray so that it stays active even when your horse sweats or in wet conditions.  Endure® spray protects against biting and nuisance flies, gnats, deer ticks and lice as well as providing repellency and quick knockdown of mosquitoes.  Available in a 32 ounce bottle with sprayer and in a one gallon refill.

      All three products honored by the Horse Journal – Mosquito Halt® Repellent Spray for Horses, Repel-X®p Emulsifiable Fly Spray and Endure® Sweat-Resistant Fly Spray for Horses – are official fly control products of the American Quarter Horse Association and United States Equestrian Federation. 

Farnam Companies, Inc.

Over the past six decades, Farnam Companies, Inc., has grown to one of the most widely recognized names in the animal health products industry and has become one of the largest marketers of equine products in the country. No one knows horses better than Farnam. That’s why no one offers a more complete selection of horse care products. Farnam’s Horse Products serve both the pleasure horse and the performance horse markets with products for fly control, hoof and leg care, deworming, grooming, wound treatment, leather care supplies and nutritional supplements. For information about Farnam® Horse Products in the U.S. call toll free at (800) 234-2269 or visit www.farnamhorse.com.

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Farnam Introduces The Shimmerlator

July 8th, 2010

A New Web Site Gives You the Opportunity to See Which New SuperMask® II Mask
with Shimmer Weave™ Mesh Will Best Highlight the Beauty of Your Horse  

PHOENIX – June 15, 2010 – When Farnam Horse Products introduced the new SuperMask® II Horse Fly Mask with Shimmer Weave™ Mesh Color Collection earlier this year, fashion forward horse owners were faced with a dilemma:  Which of the four new color combinations will best bring out the natural beauty of their horse? 

      This question can now be answered with the new SuperMask® II Mask Shimmerlator; an interactive tool that allows you to see how different horse colors look in different Shimmer Weave™ mesh horse fly masks.  Simply select your horse’s color and try on the four different mask color combinations to see which new mask will best enhance your horse’s natural coloring.  The Shimmerlator is located on the new website: www.farnamhorse.com/supermask.

      This new site also provides a link to “Learn More” about the mask by watching our video to see how fly control has gone high fashion, how to properly put our mask on your horse and use the double latch closure for the best possible fit.  It also provides fast facts about the mask and pointers for a properly fitting fly mask. 

      Other links on the site include a “Fly Control Guide” that explains the importance of starting with a strategy for fighting flies and how Farnam’s complete line of fly control products, including the SuperMask® II Mask with Shimmer Weave™ mesh, can fit into your plan of attack.  A “Retail Locator” allows you to find a retailer near you by entering your zip code or choose an online retailer to order the SuperMask® II horse fly mask of your choice for delivery right to your door.  Be sure to click the “Save Now!” button at the bottom of the site for an instant coupon redeemable at participating retailers.

      After choosing your horse’s new sophisticated fly control fashion statement return to the website in July for an exciting new SuperMask Contest.

      The new SuperMask® II Mask with Shimmer Weave™ Mesh Color Collection is available in four fashionable color configurations: Copper mesh with Cheetah trim, Silver mesh with Lynx trim, Copper mesh with Black trim and Silver mesh with Black trim.  Choose the trim and weave color combination that enhances your horse’s natural coloring.  It is available in Horse, XL and Arabian sizes without ears and in Horse and XL sizes with ears.

      SuperMask® products provide proven performance – Built to Fit, Built to Last, Built to Stay On!™ – even when horses are turned out together.

      The SuperMask® II Horse Fly Mask is an official fly control product of the American Quarter Horse Association and United States Equestrian Federation. 

Farnam Companies, Inc.

Over the past six decades, Farnam Companies, Inc., has grown to one of the most widely recognized names in the animal health products industry and has become one of the largest marketers of equine products in the country. No one knows horses better than Farnam. That’s why no one offers a more complete selection of horse care products. Farnam’s Horse Products serve both the pleasure horse and the performance horse markets with products for fly control, hoof and leg care, deworming, grooming, wound treatment, leather care supplies and nutritional supplements. For information about Farnam® Horse Products in the U.S. call toll free at (800) 234-2269 or visit www.farnamhorse.com.

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Posted in July 2010 | No Comments »

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