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IN THIS
MONTHS ISSUE
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January 2004 |
On the cover:
Sienna Roja, a 9-year-old
Paso Fino mare owned by
photographer Elliot
Framan. Sienna illustrates
one of the best attributes of
the Paso Fino—versatility,
spirit, natural gait, presence
and a responsive attitude.
Photo by Elliot Framan |
f e a t u r e s.
Los Caballos de Paso Fino:
The Horse with the Fine Step
by Judie Framan... 6
A Safer Horse Industry
by Christine Fleming... 8
Conditioning Isn’t Just for Race Horses
by Kathy G. O’Neal... 10
Focus on Mules by Sophia Sarember... 11
Colic: Not a Disease, but a Symptom
Part One by Doug Thal, DVM... 12
Just My Opinion by John Flint Martin... 15
Planning is the Key to Success
for Master Hatter by Pat Hubbard... 22
d e p a r t m e n t s
NM Quarter Horse Association Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 14
Stallion Showcase . . . . .
. . . . . . 16
Instructor/Trainer Directory . . . .
28
Calendar of Events . . . .. . . . . .
23
News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 30
Classified Advertising . . . . . . . .
38
Equestrian Property. . . . . . . . . .
44
Classified Advertising/Subscription
Information. . . . . 46
Advertising Rates and Information. 46
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A Safer Horse Industry
by Christine Fleming
The North American Horsemen’s Association (NAHA) was established in the midst of an
insurance crisis in 1987 by Horsewoman and Insurance expert, Linda Liestman. Back then,
many barns and stables were driven out of business by the lack of availability of liability insurance.
Liestman showed incredible foresight in organizing a professional group of horse people/
equine business owners concerned with the safe, insurable future of this industry.
In conjunction with professionals from all over North America, she established minimum
safety standards for equine related activities. NAHA also provided educational resources, legal
contracts, risk reduction standards and professional assistance in keeping up with an industry
that was becoming increasingly vulnerable to its often litigious clientele. Her work attracted
major underwriters to the world of equine insurance for the first time, making equine related
policies affordable to all. The input from the legal community into this organization made it
invaluable to professional horsemen all over the country.
I am proud to have been involved in the organization and its annual conferences, as
Liestman has influenced the way I do business and provide for the safety of my students and
clients. It’s fair to say that the NAHA has changed the way many professional horsemen do
business.
Although the NAHA is not as active as it was in its infancy, its existence constantly
reminds me why the insurance crisis occurred in the first place. As horse owners, we need to take
far more responsibility for our safety, the safety of our horses, and the safety of anyone who
comes in contact with us to protect the future of the horse industry.
That statement is not targeted toward the novice, non-owner who rents a horse at the local
stable, rather it is specifically aimed at those of us who own horses, offer horse-related services
or sponsor equine related events.
Horse businesses and equine sponsors are typically monitored by their insurers. They must
meet minimal safety standards, keep written records, post signs and meet contractual obligations
with their clients. Those businesses that are not insured don’t last long, as one accident is
enough financial burden to shut them down permanently. This is why fewer and fewer stables
offer public trail rides or horses for rent. To do it right requires more than just expertise and good
horses—liability insurance is a must! Ron Clayton, a longtime NAHA member and head
wrangler at the Grand Canyon Stables, has run thousands of “dudes” down the south canyon rim
in the past 20 years, with very few serious accidents. A commitment to a safer industry, like
Ron’s, drives many professionals to take their role as horsemen quite seriously.
Private horse owners, on the other hand, have the most injuries, the poorest safety
records, and take the biggest risks with their animals. The inspiration for this column is the number
of accidents that I know of personally this past year! All but one involved horse owners
who should have known better, did know better, or simply didn’t use common sense when dealing
with horses. I feel that this is such an important issue I should list a few circumstances that can
result in serious injury to people or horses. Even if you are not a professional horse person, safety
is your responsibility!
Most accidents occur on the ground,
not while riding. Have a plan for feeding and stall/pen cleaning that provides for your safety.
NEVER trust ANY horse completely. Invest in the time to work with your animals so that feeding
time is not anxiety filled. Some ways to accomplish this is to always feed at regular
times, feed several small meals or feed free choice hay. Keep aggressive horses housed away
from vulnerable ones and set up feeding stations that offer physical security to the person doing
the feeding. More space for horses and more grass hay is almost always a good start.
Get rid of the barbed wire, especially in small areas with many horses. Unless you run
your herd on big country (and even then) barbed wire is simply bad for horses. Economically, this
is a tough one, but weigh it against the price of loss or future veterinarian bills—and safe fencing
just makes sense. Don’t let others ride your horses. We’ve
all done it but that doesn’t make it OK! You open
yourself up for liability and worse yet, injury to your friend. Obtain a professionally written lease
if you are planning a long-term use situation. Far too often I see people who call themselves “experienced”
riding a borrowed horse that’s way too much for them. Worse yet, I see owners putting
others on their horses to “solve” problems they are unable to handle themselves. Often, this happens
because they are too cheap to get professional help or too ignorant/arrogant to listen to a
trainer’s advice.
ALWAYS follow basic safety rules when around horses. This topic is a column in itself!
If I only mention a few here, I would have to include: appropriate attire on the ground and in
the saddle, keeping your eye on horses while feeding, cleaning, shoeing, loading, walking,
tying (having an “out” at all times), and using
common sense when riding. Trail rides are especially risk oriented because so many “riders”
think its OK to let horses run up and down hills, choose their gaits, pass other horses, run up on
others, trespass, and generally do as they please. Poor behavior on the trail has led to several serious
accidents this year and all could have been prevented if the “riders” had ridden with courtesy
to others and at a level/site appropriate to ALL on the ride.
Never stop learning. Beware the person who thinks they know it all. A lifelong cowboy
had a self-titled book on his shelf with a cover that read “Everything I know about horses”. Inside
were 200 blank pages. Humility allows you to be a life-long learner. Arrogance will get you hurt!
Obviously there are more safety issues to address. I suggest you find a book that covers
basic horse ownership* or take a lesson from a good instructor to learn more. The NAHA has
done so much to insure that horses are an affordable part of this country in the future, the rest is
up to us! Do your part by being a safe, responsible horse person.
*Linda Liestman’s affordable book on horse ownership/safety is available by calling the NAHA.
Christina Fleming is a lifelong horsewoman living in
Cerrillos, NM. She trains, gives lessons and offers clinics on a variety of subjects. She has a BS in Biology and is a
certified instructor, judge,and guide. Visit her website at
www.newmexicohorsetrainer.com or send her an E-mail at
NMVaquera@aol.com.
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Cold
Back by
Sophia Sarember
In the last issue we looked at “sinking”,
the root cause of the mule’s sensitivity to back pressure. We saw how to recognize
a “cold-back”, how to girth up without aggravating the condition, and discussed
using a surcingle during initial training.
In trying to prevent a cold-back in young mules, train your mule to accept a
saddle and new sensations with as little fuss as possible. It may help to choose a
lightweight saddle for your first sessions. Make sure the saddle fits well and,
if necessary, use a breast collar, breeching, breeching, fore-girth or crupper to help keep the saddle secure. If you over tighten
the girth in an effort to compensate for an ill-fitting saddle that tends to shift,
you may encourage resistance from your mule. The tree of the saddle should
be made specifically for mules or the padding/stuffed panels must be
arranged or altered to facilitate a proper fit—making up for differences
between the shape of a “horse” tree and your mule’s back. A comfortable
saddle is less likely to trigger cold-back behavior. When saddling, watch your
mule’s expressions and be alert for any cold-back reaction. Proceed with
girthing as discussed in last month’s issue. As you continue to train your
mule, the saddle should be worn for halter work, ground driving, and even
lunging—all before you begin actual riding. This way the mule gets used to
the feel of the saddle, at all three gaits and under various circumstances,
before you ever break him to ride.
When a mule is completely at ease wearing its saddle during ground
training, then I get the mule used to pressure in the stirrups and mounting in
a gradual way. Over a few lessons I let the mule feel weight in the stirrup
several times, on both sides, by pushing down on the stirrup with my hands.
I keep the mule tied up during these lessons to encourage the mule to stand
still. I also take time to get the mule used to seeing me put my foot up close
to the stirrup. Later, I stand on a mounting block next to the mule and lean
on the saddle a little. I continue with this training until I can lean with my full
weight on the saddle from my position on a mounting block—all with the
mule standing calmly. I talk to and pet the mule while I am working with it.
As a result, the mule will keep its attention on me and I can better anticipate
its reactions. If a mule is initially broken to saddle in a “gentle” manner like
this, you can usually avoid aggravating a cold-back or provoke the mule to
buck. Sometimes, repeating this same training regime with an already-broke
mule may help alleviate cold-back tendencies or bucking.
Old fashioned, “hard-breaking” methods that deliberately encourage a
mule to “buck out” are counterproductive. Select logical and progressive
training methods that prevent bucking in the first place and focus on building
trust with calmness and confidence.
Next Month: Bucking
Sophia Sarember is a trainer, writer, and “muleteer” living in Edgewood,
NM. She can be reached at Mulegal@aol.com.
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