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4 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

Of Interest

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38 Equine Central 44 Ready to Ride Guide56 Advertisers Index56 Real Estate 58 Classifieds59 Photo Classifieds60 Upcoming Events61 Traders Corner

Special Sections

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DD rreesssage - Esage - Ennglisglishh

6 Lower to Pressure by Clinton Anderson

8 Sacking Out Your Horse by Ken McNabb

10 Ground Work: The Foundation by Craig Cameron

12 Spring Training - Loading and Unloading by Dennis Auslam

16 The Art of Ponyingby Bob Jeffreys & Suzanne Sheppard

18 How Well Do You Know Western Pleasure? by Jennifer Lindgren

22 Building Confidence By Thinking “Outside-The-Box” by Tommy Garland

24 B is for Balance by Tracy Porter

26 Ask Mary: What are some ideas for a spring tune-upfor my trail riding horse? by Mary Hamilton

28 Training Commands, part 6 - by Lynn Palm

34 Introducing Cattle Work by Richard Winters

APRIL 2010

TTrraiai l Hl Hoorrsese48 It’ll Be Fine! part 2 by Doug Lindgren

50 Fast and Rough Canter Departures by Julie Goodnight

54 Tami Hoag talks to Equine VIP by Susan Ashbrooke

FEATURES14 West 2030 Ansur Saddle Company

46 What is ACTHA and this new sport called Competitive Trail Challenge?

52 Saving America’s Living Legends

LAW35 The Use of Liability Waivers

for Equestrians

HEALTH20 Human Health - Tick, Tick, Tick

36 Horse Health - Performance Horse Nutrition

On the Cover - West 20 Ranch and SaddleCompany located in East Troy, WI. Plus, Publisher of Midwest Horse Digest, Rahn

Greimann congratulates Craig Cameron on\his win at the 2010 Road to the Horse.

Our congratulations to Craig Cameron! Winner of the 2010 Road to the Horse!

5MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

Midwest Horse Rahn Greimann, Publisher,

Owner and Editor© 2008 Greimann Industries

35418 90th StreetBlue Earth, MN 56013

507-526-5943Fax 507-526-2629

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andrea@horsedigests.com

Midwest Horse Digest is distributed FREE at equine-related businesses in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa,Northern Illinois and North and South Dakota. Nomaterial from this publication may be copied or in anyway reproduced without written permission from thepublisher. Neither the advertisers nor GreimannIndustries are responsible for any errors in the editorialcopy.. Greimann Industries reserves the right to refuseany advertising which we deem unsuitable for ourpublication. No liability is assumed for errors in oromissions of advertisers in this publication. Opinionsand views expressed in articles and advertisements arenot necessarily those of the publisher, editors oremployees, nor does publication of any opinion orstatement in Midwest Horse Digest constitute anendorsement of the views, opinions, goods or servicesmentioned. While every possible effort is made to makeour publication accurate and timely, Midwest HorseDigest does not warrant the accuracy of materialcontained in any article or the quality of goods orservices contained in any advertisement.

TO ALL OF OUR ADVERTISERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND READERS -

WE THANK YOU!

Pick up Midwest Horse Digest every month at over 850feed stores, tack shops, veterinarians, farriers andequestrian centers across the Upper Midwest. If yourlocation does not get Midwest Horse Digest call us at507-526-5943 or email rahn@horsedigests.com

Please direct all editorial and correspondence, as wellas change of address to:rahn@horsedigests.com or call 507-526-5943

My wife, Shelly, and I had the great privilege to meet up with our friends and professional contributors,Ken McNabb, Tommy Garland and Richard Winters down in Murfreesboro, TN at the 2010 Road To TheHorse competition. It is always fun to meet back up with friends and have the opportunity to make newacquaintances.

These men are truly pros in the horse industry and we thank them for their valiant efforts to help all ofus and our horses.

A special thanks and admiration for Ken McNabb's professionalism while handling his horse in the finalround of the obstacle course. Twice, Ken chose to not push his horse too hard to complete an obstacle.At his own expense, he protected the mind and well being of his horse. He is a True Champion! Specialcongratulations to Craig Cameron on his victory this year, see page 13.

Rahn Greimann

Horse ownership should be fun for both youand your horse. A big part of what makes thetime you spend with your horse fun is having ahorse that is easy to handle. For many owners,clipping their horse’s ears, bridling or doing any-thing that involves the horse’s head is anythingbut enjoyable because the horse throws his headin the air, making it difficult for you to reach him.Whenever you do anything with your horse’shead, he should lower his head to the groundmaking it easy for you. Most horses won’t natu-rally lower their heads for you, but you can teachthem a cue to bring their heads down. Once yourhorse knows the cue, and if you are consistent inasking him to lower his head every time you doanything with his head, then it will soon becomea habit and he will do it without you having to askhim.

Heads UpThere are two reasons that a horse throws

his head in the air: He is disrespectful of you, orhe’s scared and doesn’t trust you. Both issuescan be resolved by doing groundwork and thendesensitizing the horse to movement around hishead. Groundwork exercises such as BackingUp and Lunging for Respect Stage I and II areeffective because they establish your role as thehorse’s leader.

Pressure on the PollWhen your horse is both respect-

ful and trusting of you, then you canteach him the cues to lower his head.The first cue asks the horse to lowerhis head to pressure on the poll fromyour thumb and index finger. Usingthis exercise you can teach yourhorse to lower his head all the way tothe ground whenever you press him inbetween his ears. Once he has low-ered his head, he should keep it low-ered until you give him a cue to raiseit again.

Stand on the left side of yourhorse facing his head with your bellybutton. Hold the cheek piece of thehalter with your left hand. Put yourright hand between the horse’s earsand gently touch his poll with yourthumb and index finger; your fingersshould be on either side of his fore-lock just behind the hard lumpbetween his ears. Gradually increase

the pressure by pressing with your fin-gers, then pushing harder and finallydigging your fingers in until he respondsby lowering his head. The instant hedrops his head even slightly, immedi-ately release the pressure and rub hispoll.

Initially your horse may dislike thepressure and will react by throwing his head up.If he does, you should keep your hand on his pollas you maintain the pressure until he finds theanswer by dropping his head. The key to thisexercise is to reward the slightest try. If he dropshis head even slightly then you should rewardhim by releasing the pressure and rubbing hispoll with the palm of your hand. Through repeti-tion, your horse will gradually drop his headlower and lower until it eventually touches theground.

Rubbing your horse after he has dropped hishead is very important because it will stop himfrom becoming defensive about you touching hispoll. Rub him for a few seconds or until he rais-es his head again and then repeat the exercise.After your horse becomes relaxed with havinghis head lowered, teach him to keep it there untilyou ask him to raise it by putting your hand underhis chin and lifting his head up.

Halter PressureYou should also teach your horse to lower

his head to steady pressure on the halter. To dothis, you’ll take a hold of the lead rope and pulldown with steady pressure until the horse dropshis head. Again you are looking for small incre-ments of improvement, and you should releasethe pressure initially even if the horse drops hishead a half-inch. This exercise is particularly

useful if you are in a situation where you cannottouch, or it is not safe for you to touch the horse’spoll e.g. in a horse trailer.

Ensure that you teach your horse to lowerhis head to both cues when you are standing oneither side of him. When you change sides youwill have to re-teach the entire lesson as thoughyou are dealing with an entirely different horse.

Safety FactorsAlways make sure that you are standing to

the side of your horse and are not bent over thetop of him when you are asking him to lower hishead or when he has his head lowered. If you arebent over the horse and he throws his head up,you will get whacked on the chin or head.

Author’s note: A native Australian, ClintonAnderson began his quest to become the besthorseman he could be by apprenticing undernationally acclaimed Australian trainers GordonMcKinlay and Ian Francis. In 1996 Clinton movedto America to continue training horses andapprenticed under Al Dunning, winner ofmultiple AQHA World Championships, beforebeginning to train under his own name.Clinton loves training reiners and cow horsesand has been successful in both competitivearenas. Clinton is the host of DownunderHorsemanship TV, the number one ratedRFD TV program that airs at 10 and 12 pmEastern Standard Time on Tuesdays and3 pm on Sundays. To find out more aboutClinton and how you can transform your horseinto the partner you’ve always wanted, log ontowww.downunderhorsemanship.com.

6 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

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Lower to Pressure:A ‘Must Do’ Exercise to Teach Your Horse toLower his Head to Pressure.

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by Clinton Anderson

7

Sacking out is getting your horse used to havingall kinds of things around him and touching him. Iuse it when I am starting a colt for the first time,and it’s a very valuable exercise to refresh if youhave an older horse that you don’t know thebackground on, or a horse that seems to be get-ting nervous and jumpy.To me, sacking out is not about de-sensitizing thehorse. I want my horse to be sensitive; that iswhat makes him very responsive. Sacking out is

about teaching my horse to control hisemotions and make the right choiceswhen he gets nervous or scared. Idon’t have time to expose my horse toevery possible situation and teach himnot to be afraid of every object hemight encounter in his life. Instead, Iwant to teach him how to control hisemotions in a way that applies to anysituation he may encounter.Training is about conditioning andmuscle memory. When you are driv-ing down the road and you see thebrake lights go on in the car on front ofyou, your right foot automaticallymoves to the brake pedal of your vehi-cle. You don’t have to stop and think “Isee brake lights, I need to stop my car,how do I do that?” You have put yourfoot on the brake so many times thatthe response is automatic. Throughmany repetitions in sacking out, youwant to condition your horse that whenhe sees something scary he needs tocalm down, stay put (don’t run away),and keep his feet at the same tempoand speed they were at before he saw

the scary situation.For this exercise, you will need round pen, a hal-ter and lead rope, a lariat, a Navajo-type saddleblanket, and a plastic grocery bag. I try to keepall exercises as simple as possible for me, thatway I can keep things simple for my horse.Approach everything with the mindset “how canI make it easiest for my horse to learn what Iwant to teach him?” Start with your horse haltered in the round pen.Pile your gear in the middle of the pen, and leadyour horse around. As you walk, deliberately“spook” at things. Stop and jump a little. Remain

calm, but notice how your horse starts paying alot more attention to you. When your horsespooks away from you, let his feet leave but don’tlet his nose leave you. Keep making spookynoises and waving your arms or whatever youwere doing at first that set him off. What you arelooking for is his feet to slow down and his emo-tions to start calming. As soon as you sensethis is happening, stop whatever you were doingthat caused him to spook in the first place andpet him. Do this just until your horse consistentlybrings his emotions down soon after he is afraidof something. You don’t want to overdo thispart of the exercise, because too much of thiswill make him dull and unresponsive.Next, take off the halter and lead rope and turnyour horse loose in the round pen. Your horseneeds to be allowed to run away so that he willmake the decision to stand and accept thingswithout being forced to do so under physicalrestraint. Take your lariat, and rub it gently on your horse,starting at his nose and moving up and back. Putyour hand on his jaw, not to restrain him but as alittle comfort. If he stands still and lets you rub thelariat on him for a few seconds, take it down andpet him. Move away and then come back. Asyour horse gets more comfortable, rub him forlonger periods of time and move back until youcan rub over his face, head, neck, back, haunch-es, and all four legs. If at any time during theprocess he moves away, that is okay. Just sendhim out around the pen and make him work for afew minutes, then invite him to come back to you.If your horse doesn’t move off during this processthat is great. You are not wasting your time; youare checking your foundation.After your horse is comfortable having the lariatrubbed all over him, uncoil it a little and run therope around your horse’s belly like a girth. Gentlytighten and loosen it, and move it back along hiswhole belly and flank area. Stay in a safe positionso you don’t get kicked by accident.Next, take the saddle blanket and repeat theprocess you went through with the lariat. Start atthe head and move back along your horse’sentire body. Start with the saddle blanket foldedsmall, and gradually unfold it as your horse gainsconfidence. When he is comfortable with theblanket, do the same process with the plasticbag. Remember to release the pressure regularly bytaking the scary object away and stepping backfrom your horse. Reward him when he does well,and if he moves away at any point just send himaround the pen to work for a little while, and thenoffer him the choice to come back to you.

Enjoy your horses, and until next time may Godbless the trails you ride.

For more information on Ken McNabb’s programscall us at 307-645-3149 or go to www.kenmcn-abb.com.

www.horsedigests.com

8 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

Sacking Out Your HorseBy Ken McNabb with Katherine Lindsey Meehan

9MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

10 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

"Preparation is the foundation for all success.”

GROUND WORKThe Foundation

by Craig Cameron

Ground work is the basis for all horse train-ing. When you actually begin to teach your horseto ride in earnest, he'll be ready if you've doneyour ground work and prepared him from the timehe was a youngster. Preparation is the foundationfor all success.

Round PenThe ideal place to begin training is in a round

pen because it has no corners for a horse to stopin or escape to.

One of the best things about a round pen isthat it allows the horse to use his strongestinstinct to survive and that's to run. If your horseneeds to run, let him do it. Mother Nature gavehim four legs, big lungs and the gift of speed andtells him to run whenever he thinks there's a prob-lem. You can allow your horse to do that in around pen, but don't think of it simply as a placeto gallop your horse until he's too tired to buck. It'sbeen my experience that there are very few timeswhen a horse is too tired to buck.

The training process is all about dealing with

the horse's mind, which con-trols his body, legs and feet.

His legs and feet are what he fights and fleeswith. If you can control the horse's mind, you cancontrol the horse's body.

Basic Ground WorkStart your training with basic ground work

and by desensitizing your horse, which is all partof taking the fear out of the horse. A horse isn'twell broke unless you can handle every part of hisbody, including his face, legs and feet. I like to saythat a horse needs to be gentle from the firstwhisker on his nose to the last hair in his tail.Some horses are a lot more touchy, sensitive orprotective than others. Work with the horse andhis particular circumstances. Be patient and takeall the time your horse needs to desensitize himto your touch. The main reason for ground work isto relax your horse, to take the pressure off him,to desensitize him, to get him to accept a touchand follow a feel so he can give and yield to pres-sure.

The tools you need include a rope halter, 12-foot lead line, 25-foot soft cotton rope with a brass

snap, a 50-foot lariat rope with a horse-handlinghonda and a flag. The latter is nothing more thana swagger stick (3 to 4 feet long) or you can usea short longe whip or buggy whip. Tie a plasticbag or whip cloth or something fluttery on its endas a flag.

As I mentioned in the before, some horsesare quite bothered by a flag's noise and flutter.They don't know what it is. Introduce your horseto it slowly. Rub him with it until he accepts it allover his body. On a real skittish horse, you mighthave to start by wadding up a plastic sack in yourhand and rubbing the horse with it until he relax-es and is comfortable with the material's noiseand feel.

To start ground work, put a rope halter onyour horse and attach a 12-foot lead line. Rub thehorse all over with the lead line or use the coils ofthe 25-foot rope. Just like the flag, make sure thehorse accepts the touch everywhere, from hismuzzle, which is the most sensitive part of thehorse, to the last hair of his tail.

If your horse is particularly sensitive, use the25-foot rope instead of the 12-foot lead line

because you have moreline to work with shouldyour horse become trou-bled by the touch. You'rebetter able to stay out ofharm's way with a 25-footrope than a 12-foot one.You also can use your flagto touch him and still staysafe. Remember: Safety inall things comes first.

Any time your horsebecomes frightened, takeaway the lead line, rope orflag. Never force anythingon your horse. Quietlypresent it to him again,and if he becomes nerv-ous, take it away again. Dothis until he realizes itwon't hurt him.

Ground Work providesa solid basis for communi-cation long before youstep in the saddle. SafetyFirst!

F u r t h e rDesensitization practicesnext issue…

You can order Craig’sbook and DVD’s atwww.CraigCameron.com

www.horsedigests.com

The 2010 Great Prairie Modern Pentathlonwill take place on Saturday, July 10, in the townsof Long Lake and Hamel. The event is hostedby Great Prairie Sports of Minneapolis.

The Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlonconsists of five disciplines (Fencing, Swimming,Equestrian Jumping, Shooting and Running)competed in one day. Since the 2008 BeijingGames, the Run and Shoot are now combinedinto one event. We train and compete in eachsport very well individually; however, it is time weprepare athletes to perform each sport collective-ly. The Great Prairie Modern Pentathlon will fea-ture competition for men and women in four agegroups:

Youth (12 and younger)Junior (13-14) Senior (15-17) Masters (18+)

The Fencing and Swimming competition willbe held at the Orono Education Link in LongLake, while the Equestrian Jumping andCombined: Shooting/Running events will takeplace at Skyrock Farm in Hamel.

Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the father of theModern Olympics, “modernized” (to the late1800s) the classic Pentathlon performed by theancient Greeks, hence the name. He chose thefive disciplines because he believed those werethe skills that best represented Napoleon’s offi-cers. Since he also created the Olympic emblem- with its five interconnected rings - he believedthe winner of Modern Pentathlon represented thebest athlete of the Olympic Games.

Great Prairie Sports has been working withUSA Modern Pentathlon to build the base ofModern Pentathlon and prepare athletes fornational and international competition. Whencomparing the best high school 3200m Runnersand 200m Swimmers in the State of Minnesota,their times beat or are competitive with the besttimes established at the 2009 UIMP Junior WorldChampionships. For far too long, Europeanshave dominated Modern Pentathlon. Recently,other nations have developed a strong base for

their future elite teams. It's time for Team USA toclaim gold. If Minnesota can produce theWomen's Gold Medalist in Downhill Skiing duringVancouver 2010, we can produce a GoldMedalist in Modern Pentathlon for 2016, 2020,2024 ...

For those wanting to familarizethemselves with the rules of UIMP:http://www.pentathlon.org/index.php?option=com

_content&view=article&id=159&Itemid=148For those desiring more information

about USA Modern Pentathlon:http://usapentathlon.org/

For all participants and volunteers, thislink provides a very good example of the

Combined (Running/Shooting) event, which isthe last element of Modern Pentathlon:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK9WqVr_z4c

More information is available on our websiteat www.greatprairiesports.com. Please feel freeto contact me with any questions you may have.

11MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

Great Prairie Modern PentathlonEvent Slated for July 10, 2010

Spring is here and that means many of youwill be traveling to events and trail rides. Thatalso means you will be loading and unloadingyour horses. Which brings me to the subject ofthis article - How well does your horse load andunload from the trailer? Are they a willing partici-pant or do you have to beg, pull, push andholler, only to give up an hour later.

Nothing can be more frustrating than a horsethat will not load or unload safely from your trail-er. Sometimes they load well and do not unload.Sometimes they will unload easily, but loading is

a real trial. Sometimes it is both, theywon't load and once you get them inthey won't come out.

Much of the problem horses willhave with loading is based on their lackof confidence and fear level. Your lackof confidence and your fear level alsocontributes to the problem.

Over the years I have loaded andunloaded thousands of horses. Veryearly on I developed system that workswith any style of trailer and any horse.

One of the first things you shoulddo before starting to work on trailerloading with your horse is inspect yourtrailer. Make sure all handles andobstacles are out of the way and thereis nothing protruding that could causeinjury to your horse. Latches need tobe out of the way and other objectsthat could cause injury need to beaddressed. When you are ready tostart you also want to make sure youhave plenty of time available and arenot in a hurry to get the horse loaded.

You will need a halter, I prefer arope halter, a lead rope approximately

12 foot long and a 5 foot whip with a short whipend. I use a front leg tapping method, tappingon the back of the front legs, to move the horseforward into the trailer.

One of the training methods you can startwith, before moving on to a trailer, is gettingthe horse to move forward and up onto abridge or other open obstacle that they wouldhave to step up onto just like they wouldhave to step up into a trailer. This will helpboth your confidence and the horse’s confidence.

The first thing you will do is walk thehorse up to the trailer and encourage him tomove forward into the trailer. You will bepositioned at the side of the trailer opening. Ifyou have difficulty getting the horse to moveforward into the trailer began to tap its frontlegs with the whip. This does not hurt thehorse, it just encourages the horse to moveforward. If you have difficulty in even gettingthe horse to move close to the trailer you usethe same tapping method, encouraging him tomove towards the trailer opening.

Always be aware of where the horse is atand keep the horse out of your space. Yoursafety is just as important as the horses andyou need to stay out of striking distance. Thetapping stick should keep you at a safedistance, but always be aware of the spacebetween you and the horse

When you have the horse up to the traileryou will again encourage the horse to moveforward into the trailer by tapping on the back ofthe horses front legs. Your horse should eventu-ally step up with at least one hoof to check andsee if this contraption is safe. That is what youare looking for and have been asking for, let himrelax and check it out. If he moves back apply thetapping pressure again to move him forward.At the point that you have the horses front endin the trailer you can start tapping on the backof his back legs to encourage him to continueto move forward.

Never pressure the horse beyond his levelof confidence, which will grow with each stepforward he takes into the trailer and realizesthere is not a bogey man in there that's goingto get him. Release your pressure and let himrelax when he makes the correct movementforward. Give him time to check things out, thiswill allow his confidence to grow.

When he has successfully gotten all the wayinto the trailer let him relax. If he wants to comeout allow him to come out and then start over.When the horse is relaxed in the trailer you cango in and teach the horse to back out.

Again, as in all horse training, you are apply-ing pressure, and releasing the pressure whenthe horse responds correctly. If you watch thehorses body language and learn to encouragethe horse at the right times, and let the horserelax at the right times, you are on your way toa successful horse loading experience.

Remember, if you are experiencing difficultyor this is beyond your level of confidence or thehorse is extremely difficult, it is best to work witha professional.

Stay safe and have a great spring!

Dennis Auslam of Redwood Stables inMorton, MN, trains both the horse and the riderthrough lessons and clinics. He runs a regularschedule of clinics for Confidence Building,Horsemanship and Cattle Work, includingRoping Clinics and has recently added aChallenge Trail Course to his facility.

Call 507-430-0342 or email him atredwoodstables@mvtvwireless.com - You canvisit his website at www.redwoodstables.com

12 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

Spring Training - Loading and Unloading

by Dennis Auslam

www.horsedigests.com

13MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

ROAD TO THE HORSE

Craig Cameron2010

World Champion of Colt Starting

Texas Hall of Fame cowboy, Craig Cameron,has been crowned the 2010 World Champion ofColt Starting by winning the Road to the Horse inMurfreesboro, TN. Cameron was going head tohead with Ken McNabb and 2009 WorldChampion, Richard Winters. The competitionbegan with each of them picking out their coltfrom a remuda of 10. Each had 3 hours over atwo day period to get the colt started under sad-dle and ride the colt through a difficult obstaclecourse. This is a challenge under any circum-stances, but to get it done in front of a crowd of7,000 spectators adds an element that is beyondwhat most people can successfully accomplish.The panel of judges gave Cameron the nod asdid the unofficial vote of the crowd via text mes-sage.

Cameron is often referred to as the MickJagger of the round pen and the George Strait ofclinicians. He feels honored to be compared inthis manner to these two legends as a horseman.At age 61, his schedule remains rigorous and hehas no plans to slow down as he continues totravel nationwide and to other countries, teachingand demonstrating his superior horsemanshipskills to hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CRAIG CAMERON,2010 WORLD CHAMPION OF COLT

STARTING!

Equine DictionaryLongeing - A training method a horse uses

on its owner with the purpose of makingthe owner spin in circles-rendering the

owner dizzy and light-headed so that theyget sick and pass out, so the horse can go

back to grazing.

Onwer and Publisher of Midwest Horse Digest,Rahn Greimann, gets a chance to congratulate

Craig Cameron in Murfreesboro, TN atThe Road to the Horse competition

West 20 Ranch and Saddle Company in EastTroy, Wisconsin has long been known as theplace to buy a saddle. Just the number of saddleson hand at West 20 is enough to surprise eventhe most seasoned saddle shopper. In fact, visit-ing customers from Texas, Oklahoma, Montanaand similar Western locales often comment onhow much they wish they had a store like West20 "back home". Yet West 20 is more than justthe savvy saddle shopper’s paradise. It is thetruest example of the center of our industry. Aplace where beginners can learn, and experi-enced horsemen can exhibit their skills. A homefor everything horse related. The place ahorseperson can call to find not just a hard tofind piece of equipment or a saddle, but anhonest referral for a farrier or a veterinarian, ahorse hauler, riding lessons for themselves ortheir kids, or knowledgeable answers to myriadof common and not so common questions aboutequipment and horses. In addition to the retailbusiness, West 20 hosts and promotes a largenumber of horse shows each year, drawing par-ticipants from quite a distance. The ranch is alsohome to a successful 20 year old breeding pro-gram, and raises high quality American QuarterHorses.

For over 20 years, Julie Cyra and her knowl-edgeable staff have been fitting saddles to hors-es of all breeds and types, from all backgroundsand disciplines. From Quarter Horses toFriesians to Fjords, Gaited and Dressage horses,ponies and draft horses, West 20 is the destina-tion point for customers struggling with saddle fit.Julie Cyra presents many Saddle Fitting Clinicsat Horse Fairs and Expos. These clinics includeThe Physics of Saddle Fitting, which gives ridersof all disciplines a better understanding of howdifferent types of saddles affect their ride andtheir horse’s movement, as well as improvingtheir understanding of saddles and saddle trees.Clinics will be presented this year at the MichiganHorse Expo at MSU, Illinois Horse Fair, andMidwest Horse Fair, among others. Clinic atten-dees typically comment that they thought theyunderstood saddle fitting, until they came to theclinic. They leave with a clear picture of themechanics of the horse, and how the shape ofthe tree, rather than the width, is key. West 20’sretail store was designed with saddle fitting inmind. The back of the store has a glass viewingroom that looks into an indoor arena where cus-tomers can bring their own horse for a free sad-dle fitting, and actually get to ride in a potentialnew saddle. Horse owners appreciate West 20'shuge selection of high quality, American Madesaddles and tack. The selection can be over-whelming; so many shoppers plan a day trip toWest 20. There are saddles for all disciplines andbudgets, and a vast selection of bits, bridles,strap goods of all types, and, of course, a largeselection of Western wear and English attire.Hats are a big part of West 20's popularity as

well. They carry a wide array of both straw andfelt hats, and even provide old fashioned hatshaping and cleaning services. West 20 alsooffers a wonderful variety of Western home fur-nishings, including framed artwork, sculptures,kitchen and bath accessories, and gifts galore forboth the horseman and the Western lifestyleenthusiast.

In addition to being the largest and mostextensive saddle shop in the Midwest, West 20 isalso home to a rapidly expanding horse showseries. This year, West 20 will host its 7th AnnualOpen Horse Show Series, which consists of fiveOpen Shows. The series participants have achance to win embroidered prizes at each show.The Grand and Reserve Grand Champions in alldivisions, including Halter, have a chance to beawarded a custom buckle by MontanaSilversmiths. The buckles are presented at theHoliday Horse Show, held annually in November.The Holiday Horse Show is popular with theyoungsters, as the show day wraps up with agroup of fun classes, including a costume class.Over Halloween, West 20 has put together ashow that includes fun classes as well as a typi-cal open show schedule. In 2008, West 20 devel-oped an Open Gaited Horse Show Series thathas become a great success. This is a threeshow series that invites the horse owners of allgaited breeds to participate. This series culmi-nates with an Award Presentation held annuallyduring the Holiday Open House and Presentationof Horses for Sale, held the first week ofDecember. Gaited Show Series participants arepresented with custom Montana Silversmithsbuckles as well. The Fox River Saddle Club alsomerits mention. This is a group that has been inexistence for generations, and has producedmany successful trainers and exhibitors in theMidwest. They have developed a strong showseries at West 20, and encourage family partici-pation and a strong spirit of volunteerism. Thisyear, West 20 has added a two day Jean CyraMemorial Horse Show, celebrating the life andspirit of Jean Cyra, mother of proprietor JulieCyra. Jean Cyra passed away in October of thisyear, after a five year battle with MultipleMyeloma, a cancer of the blood plasma. Thisshow will include an Open Pleasure Show onSaturday, May 8th, and an Open Speed Show onSunday, May 9th, which is Mother’s Day.Proceeds from this show will be donated toMultiple Myeloma research. Prizes for theseshows will be extensive, as manufacturers areshowing their support by donating prizes for theevent. Class sponsorships are available, andmore information and a complete list of sponsorscan be seen at www.west20.com. West 20 ishappy to announce their NBHA Barrel RacingSeries of shows, and more information is avail-able online. This series begins in May.

West 20 will be hosting several clinics thisyear as well, including the ever popular “LadiesOnly…Fundamentals of Cow Work”, brought toyou by West 20, and presented by SteveLundean. This year West 20 will also add a coedversion of this clinic, as well as the moreadvanced Intermediate Cow Work Clinic. Anothergreat clinic being brought to you by West 20 andClassic Equine, in conjunction with the ReiningHorse Sports Foundation and NRHA is theReining For Beginners Clinic being held in June.This clinic is designed to bring top trainerstogether with beginning reiners to develop theirskills, and also to help bring new participants tothe great sport of Reining. Another big draw atWest 20 is the Drill Team Competition held inJune. This is hosted by the Kettle Moraine RoughRiders and brings drill teams from all over theMidwest to compete for cash and prizes. It isgreat entertainment, and an example of greatteam work and choreography, and is a movingand very patriotic event to watch. A great newevent developed by West 20 this year is StockHorse 101, Presented by Jim Truemper, andSponsored by Simco/Longhorn and Tex Tan. Thisclinic will be held July 31 and August 1, and willbring experienced Stock Horse Of Texas exhibitorJim Truemper to the Midwest to explain the StockHorse and Ranch Horse Versatility classes, asthey were originally designed and developed byTexas stock men and women. Simco/Longhornand Tex Tan have responded to West 20’srequest to bring this clinic to the Midwest bysponsoring the majority of the cost, making this avery affordable option for those looking to devel-op their Ranch Horse skills. More clinics andevents are listed online at www.west20.com.

West 20 is home to a 20 year old breedingprogram, raising high quality American QuarterHorses that excel in a vast array of disciplines.Comments from horse buyers, and horses forsale, can be seen online at www.west20.com.Horses are boarded and trained at West 20, andthey offer a great lesson program. Lessons areavailable for Western and English riders, youthand adult. Reining lessons are available, as well.Facility rental is available for your club or event,and West 20’s marketing team will help makeyour event a success. Planning a day trip to West20? It’s only four miles from Southern KettleMoraine Horse Rider’s Park. Plan to come for asaddle fitting or show? They will be happy to pro-vide you with overnight stabling and directions.West 20 is open 10-6, 7 days a week.

Plan a trip to West 20 this year.

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15

We’re going to take a break from theversatility articles this month and talk aboutusing your own broke horse to help trainyoungsters or even older horses that need somehelp. Your horse is much stronger than you,and allows you to get close to and above theother horse without actually being on him. A“pony” horse can also soothe a nervoushorse just by being there.

To begin you’ll need to outfit your horse inhis usual tack using a western saddle with ahorn. Do the same with the horse you’ll beponying (training while you ride your horse), butuse a halter on the trainee with a 10-12 foot lead rope instead of a bridle. If you can’t yet catchor saddle the horse in training you’ll need todo some round pen work and sacking out firstuntil he’ll accept these things, as well as ropesacross, around and over his body.

Next mount up your horse while holdingon to the other horse’s lead rope with one hand.We usually mount our horse on the side awayfrom the “ponied horse”. For example we’d mounton our horse’s left side while holding the lead

rope in our right hand with theponied horse on our horse’s rightside (see photo 1). This way we’reout of kicking range should a tussleoccur between the horses. Nowwe’ll just move our horse into posi-tion alongside and parallel to thehorse in training, so that both arefacing the same direction. Then we’lltry to just walk around gentlyencouraging the youngster to walk.We do this while holding the leadrope in our right hand, close to ourthigh. If he’s comfortable with thiswe’ll just keep at it, starting andstopping, and every once in a whilepetting the youngster while we’reall standing still. We’ll pet his neckand head gently (photo 2). Repeat

on the other side by backing your horse awayand slipping the lead rope over the head of thehorse you’re riding.

Next we’ll start to move the young-ster’s front end by walking forward and thendirecting our horse toward the youngster’s headand shoulders, kind of pushing them away (photo3). When he moves his shoulders over, quitpushing and praise. When you pet you canalso include tapping lightly on the saddle andshaking it a little. Again, repeat on the other side.

We’ll now want to change positions andhave our horse’s head by the youngster’s rearend, and we’ll begin to disengage the hindquar-ters by gently pulling the lead rope toward theyoungster’s hip (photo 4). When it disengagesrelease the pressure and reward with praise andpets. You can now hopefully begin to touch thetop of his head, ears and between his eyes. Alsobegin to bump him lightly with your foot so thathe’s comfortable with it. Repeat on the other side.

Finally you can ask the other horse torespond to the pressure of the halter by dallyingyour rope around the horn of your saddle in a

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16 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

The Art of Ponying

by Bob Jeffreys & Suzanne Sheppard

17MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

counter clockwise fashion, locking your handdown in front of the pommel (be sure yourthumbs and fingers are clear of any entangle-ment in the rope or you could lose one of thosedigits (photo 5). Then back your horse away. Youmay also have to use this method to get the otherhorse to move if he refuses to go forward at allin the beginning. Just be sure you’ve gone farenough away when you pull so that he won’tland in your lap if he jumps forward.

Ponying is a great way to teach otherhorses, and your own mount will learn to lovehis “job”, too. Doing something together aspartners also builds the bond between you.

Until next time, ride safe!

©Bob Jeffreys & Suzanne Sheppard 3/10.Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard travelnationwide teaching people how to bring outthe best in their horses. Their homebase is Bob’sTwo as One Ranch in Middletown, NY.

For info about Bob & Suzanne’s WindRider Challenge, private horse traininglessons, riding lessons, clinics, DVDs, books,Horsemanship Ed Courses and ProTrack™Trainer Certification Programs please visitTwoasOneHorsemanship.com or call 845-692-7478. Free horse training downloads, too!

Where should the Western Pleasure horsebe carrying his head and neck in relation to hisshoulder? The style of head and neck carriagedepends on both the breed of the horse andhis individual conformation. A proper toplineallows your horse to move with a free flowingstride, keeping his gaits balanced and rhythmic.If you are showing a stock type horse (QuarterHorse, Palomino, Paint, Buckskin, etc.) you willfollow AQHA rules and standards which clearlystate that the tips of the ears should not fallbelow the withers consistently and the head

should be slightly infront of the vertical.Topline and headcarriage should remainconsistent throughoutthe entire class.

Is passing another horse penalized? Manyriders are reluctant to pass another horse, fear-ing that the Judge will penalize their horse formoving faster than the one on the rail. Passingis often essential to acquire strategic rail positionor avoid another horse. Judges focus on watch-ing quality of movement and passing canshowcase your horse, allowing the Judge todirectly compare you to another entry. Don’tassume that a horse who moves extremelyslow is the better mover. You should never stay

behind a horse that is misbehaving or that youare dangerously close to. A smooth pass thathighlights your horse’s abilities will earn you morepoints than locking yourself nervously into a poorposition.

How quickly should I execute a transition?Transitions should be completed in a timelymanner. Scan the arena, assess your spacing,and be aware of the judge’s position prior tomoving off. Riders mistakenly believe that theyshould wait until the rider in front of them lopesor jogs off. This often leads to problems. Whatif the horse in front spooks, hesitates too long,or fails to move on? If you are confident in yourhorse’s abilities, move off the rail, complete thetransition, pass the other entry, and smoothlymove into a new rail spot. If you need to hide apoor transition, keep an eye on the judge cueingwhile his head is turned. While a judge can’tcredit what he doesn’t see, he also can’t debit it!

Should I lope canted or straight? Loping ahorse slightly canted, where his shoulder istipped towards the rail (hip to the inside), is theproper way to demonstrate a cadenced pleasurelope. A horse that lopes freely in the field willcan’t slightly. This means that instead of the hindand front feet moving directly in front of eachother, in two tracks, there are actually 3 tracks.If loping on the right lead, the right front and theleft hind will move in the same track or line. Onthe stock horse circuit, there has been a trendtowards overly canting, making the horse movecrooked down the rail. This is incorrect and theBreed organizations are working hard to makesure this motion is penalized. Watching a horsefrom behind makes it very easy to determine ifhe is loping properly.

Do I have to show my horse on both therail and the inside? No. If you can hold railposition, keep it. Some exhibitors will give up agreat spot on the rail to show to the inside.This often backfires and costs the exhibitor aribbon. Don’t be afraid to break out of a crowd ifyou need to be seen, but then return back to acomfortable spot on the rail when possible.

If it is all about the horse, why does mytack and attire matter so much? If you lookgreat, you will feel great. Also, your horse, justlike yourself, will look better in some colors. Aunique, professional outfit will help a judgelocate you in a large class. You and your horseshould shine. Clean tack shows your pride anddedication Just like in any sport, following rulesand traditions on attire is important.

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18 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

West

ern

Plea

sure

10 Most Common Questions About Winning Western Pleasure

How Well Do YouKnow Western

Pleasure?© 2010 by: Jennifer Lindgren

Do Judges really watch the back-up? Yes.Keep showing and do not chit-chat until thecard is handed in. Judges will walk the lineto double check numbers, look for illegalequipment, and get an up-close look at bothyou and your horse. Occasionally, placings areso obvious that even the worst back-upcouldn’t change them, but most of the time,the Judge is finalizing his decision. If the Judgespeaks to you, respond politely and with a smile.

Who decides the rules or standards thatgovern horse shows? Breed organizations takerules and regulations very seriously. As newissues or trends arise, organizations face themhead on. But, just like with any governing body,it may take a few years for new rules to beimplemented and properly interpreted. Getinvolved at the local, state, or national level ifyou want to have input into how your breed ofhorses is shown and judged.

Do I really need a professional trainer towin? That depends on both the level you wishto compete and your experience. If your dreamis to win a World or National title, I highlyrecommend you enlist the help of a professionalwho is successful at that level. Competitors atthe Open show level can often be successfulon their own if they start with a well trainedhorse. There is much more to competing thanjust owning a great horse and knowing how toride well. I recommend you start with a trainer,then break off on your own once you feelconfident you truly understand how to compete.If you can’t afford professional help, attendclinics, shows, and read up on what to expect inthe ring.

What will give me the edge over thecompetition? Attitude is everything! If you don’tlook and feel like a winner, why should theJudge choose you to be one? Ride with prideand you will always be memorable.

Jennifer Lindgren has been an All-BreedJudge since 1985. She is an experiencedcompetitor who has earned Regional andNational awards in Halter, Western Equitationand Hunter. She loves all breeds of horses andkeeps her private collection in Grant Park, IL.contact: jenlind22msn.com

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You’ve just returned from a weekend ofcamping and wonderful trail riding shared withgood friends. Your horse is now relaxing with hispasture mates, the trailer is unpacked and it’stime for a hot, soothing shower.

As you’re about to enter the shower younotice a tick attached behind your knee. Youcall to your spouse to bring the tweezers andhe grasps the tick close to the skin, tugs andproudly proclaims he’s gotten the entire tickincluding the head. It doesn’t look very big, so

you decide it hasn’t been attached for verylong, certainly not for that dangerous 24 hourperiod of which you’ve been warned. Just incase, you vow to check the site for the targetrash you’re sure will alert you to the possibility ofLyme Disease. Tick, Tick, Tick.

You check the site every day for a month.No target rash so you figure you’re good to go.No worries. Tick, Tick, Tick.

Weeks later, you experience flu-like symp-toms of fatigue, fever, achy muscles and a

headache. Just about the time youdecide to see a doctor, the symp-toms abate. You decide it wassome sort of flu or virus which hasrun its course. Tick, Tick, Tick.

Gradually, over time, you beginto experience strange symptomslike joint pain, severe headaches,

irregular heart beat and unbelievable fatigue.Months pass. You wonder what is happening toyour body as you find yourself experiencing weirdtwitching of the face and other muscles, tingling,numbness, dizziness, intermittent nausea, diffi-culty concentrating, forgetfulness, poor shortterm memory and sensitivity to light. Tick, Tick,Tick, Tick.

You finally make an appointment with yourdoctor. A test for Lyme Disease (not “Lyme’s”Disease) is one of several tests ordered by yourdoctor. It comes back negative and all othertest results are normal as well. Although youare puzzled as to what is causing your varioussymptoms you breathe a sigh of relief. Saveyour breath …you may need it because youjust may have entered the nightmare of LateStage Lyme Disease. Tick, Tick, Tick, Tick!

False negative tests may occur if performedtoo early or due to defects in test sensitivity,too low an antibody level to detect, or thebacterium has changed which can limit theimmune system’s recognition. Ask to be testedfor one or more of the following potentialco-infection: Babesiosis, Bartonella, Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever orTularemia. Not only do you want to be treatedfor any of these infections, but these tick-bornediseases are often carried by a tick which alsocarries the Lyme bacterium, which, unfortunately,means you very well may have Lyme, evenwith the negative test result. Doctors should notrely solely on tests but seriously consider yoursymptoms and medical history. If your doctorpooh-poohs your concerns, run, do not walk, toanother doctor. Your life may depend upon it.

Ten Facts About Lyme Disease: Supplied bythe Lyme Disease Association, Inc.

1. Lyme is the most prevalent vector-bornedisease in the U.S. and it’s found in more than65 countries world-wide.

2. According to the Centers of DiseaseControl & Prevention (CDC,) only 10% of LymeDisease cases meeting the CDC criteria arereported each year. That means about 230,000new cases of Lyme meeting that criteria actuallyoccur each year in the U.S. 2007 saw a 38%increase in cases in the year 2006.

3. Patients with Lyme Disease often haveco-infections with Babesia, Anaplasma,Bartonella, or other organisms, clouding thediagnostic and treatment picture.

4. Lyme Disease, the great imitator, can bemisdiagnosed as MS, ALS, Lupus, ChronicFatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Autism,Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

5. A bite from a tick that’s infected with LymeDisease bacteria can lead to neurologic, cardiac,arthritic and psychiatric manifestations inhumans.

6. Children, ages 5 – 14 are at highest risk ofacquiring Lyme Disease. Some studies show sig-nificant IQ drops in students with Lyme Diseasebut reversed after treatment.

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20 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

Tick, Tick, Tick, TICK!The Truth About Lyme Disease (part 1) by Martie Jacobson

7. Lab tests for Lyme Disease are not reli-able; you can test negative and still have thedisease.

8. Lyme Disease can cross the placenta andmay possibly cause birth defects or even deathof the fetus.

9. A 2006 published CDC animal studyshows that transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi(the bacterium that causes Lyme) through bloodtransfusion in mice is possible.

10. A rash does not always occur with LymeDisease. Symptoms may occur days or monthsafter a tick bite & the tick does NOT have to beattached for 24 hours.

Resources for Lyme Disease Information:The International Lyme and Associated

Diseases Society: www.ilads.orgMinnesota Lyme Action Support Group:

www.mlasg.comLyme Disease Association: www.lymedis-

easeassociation.orgLyme Info: www.lymeinfo.netMinnesota Online Lyme Support:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/minneso-talyme

Free Tick Identification Service: If youremove a tick which has potentially fed (containsblood,) call Metropolitan Mosquito ControlDistrict, Attn: Tick ID Services, 2099 UniversityAve. West, St. Paul, MN 55104-3431 at 651-643-8384 for instruction. Before calling, place thetick into a hard film container or pill bottle.Tick ID Services will instruct you as to how to shipthe tick to them for testing.

Martie Jacobson is a free-lance writer whose30 year old daughter is bed-ridden with LateStage Lyme Disease To read Elizabeth’s storyand for access to informational links go to:http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elizabethfadling.Martie may be reached at mlj@2z.net. Shewishes to acknowledge and thank all of the abovelisted resources for information included withinthis article.

May is National Lyme Disease AwarenessMonth. A walk-run will be held May 22nd in ForestLake, MN. For more information or to participate,please go to www.mlasg.com The award winningfilm, “Under Our Skin,” will be shown severaltimes at the Sawmill Inn in Grand Rapids, MN.Please call 218-244-0286 for dates and informa-tion.

Part 2 of this series on Lyme Disease will beincluded in next month’s publication.

21MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

My father, who also happens to be ahorse trainer, has taught me many valuablelessons in my life, but one of the most importantwas understanding the difference betweenteaching and forcing a horse to do what Iwanted them to do. That lesson has served mewell over the years and has inspired me to trynew training tools and techniques on thehorses I’ve had theopportunity to workwith over the years.

I learned earlyon that sometimesteaching a horse todo what I wantedthem to do wouldrequire patience, anopen mind and theability to try newthings and think, “out-side-the-box”. Thatphilosophy is how Idiscovered the bene-fits of implementingan equine trainingball into my trainingprogram. For the past20+ years, the train-ing ball has been astaple in my trainingprogram.

Horses that might be spooky, timid, orlacking confidence, can benefit immensely fromthis particular training technique and byfollowing these simple steps, you can builda confident and respectful horse.

Step One: You will begin by working withyour horse on the ground with a rope halter andlead rope. Move the ball slowly towards yourhorse. Make sure you give your horse timeto become familiar with the training ball andthen begin slowly pushing the ball away fromyour horse. Encourage your horse to moveforward and follow the ball. When your horsebecomes comfortable following the ball, they

will relax and soon begin nuzzling and/orbiting the ball. Let your horse follow the ball untilthey’re relaxed and focused on you and thetraining ball.

Step Two: Once your horse has achieveda good comfort level with the ball, you canslowly and gently begin rolling the ball againstyour horses’ front legs. This process will build

confidence and will get your horse accustomedto movement on the trails, in the show arena,etc. Initially your horse probably won’t be tooexcited about this process, but the more yourepeat this exercise the more comfortableyour horse will become.

Step Three: When your horse is comfortablewith you gently rolling the ball against theirfront legs you can begin the same procedureon the hind legs. Again, this gets your horseused to sudden movement, helps desensitizethem and gives them something to focus on.

As with anything, these steps should berepeated on a regular basis with your horse.As soon as you are comfortable with these

easy steps, you’ll be ready to begin workingwith the training ball under saddle and that isthe topic of our next article!

About Tommy Garland: Tommy Garland has ridden horses all his

life and credits his trainer father, also namedTommy, with teaching him much of what helearned early on about horsemanship. Tommyhas spent the past 30 years training Arabiansand Half-Arabians, but Quarter Horses,Tennessee Walking Horses, Paints and Mulesare part of his traiing program as well. Histechniques have been universally accepted,respected and utilized by horse owners of allbreeds & disciplines.

Tommy had a very popular TV show, “CPRFor The Horse & Rider” on RFD TV for a numberof years and he regularly participates at clinics,

expos, and other equestrian events throughoutthe United States, Canada and Brazil. He is aregular contributor to several popular equinepublications and his online clinics and trainingDVD’s are valuable resources for any wholoves horses!

Tommy resides in Virginia with his wife Dawnand children, Samantha, Katie and TBird(Tommy Jr.). For additional information on prod-ucts, training aids, DVDs and clinic and exposchedule, please visit www.tommygarland.comor email us at info@tommygarland.com.

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22 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

Building Confidence By Thinking “Outside-The-Box”

Building Confidence By Thinking “Outside-The-Box”

by Tommy Garland

23MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

The hottest allbreed, cross discipli-nary competition inNorth America will becoming to theMidwest HorseFair®. This inspiring,educational competition, Bob & Suzanne’s WindRider Equestrian Challenge, premiered in Ocala,Fl. in November of 2007 and has been blowingaway audiences across North America eversince. In 2010 Bob Jeffreys & Suzanne Sheppardare bringing their Wind Rider excitement to theMidwest Horse Fair®.

Bob & Suzanne’s Wind Rider Challenge isopen to riders 14 years or older from all disci-plines including western, dressage,hunter/jumpers, trail riders, natural horsemen,gaited horse riders and more. In the preliminaryrounds up to 25 riders will compete with theirown horses on a course that includes challengesdrawn from gymkhana, dressage, reiningpatterns, jousting, gaited horse events, trailobstacles, cavalletti patterns, hunter/jumpercourses, etc.

The cross disciplinary course will consist ofa pattern including some (but not limited to):circles cantered on the correct lead with speedcontrol, lead changes, a 2 foot jump, trotting orgaiting while balancing an object in one hand,backing through and around barrels, sidepass-ing, ground poles, balanced halts, turn on thehaunches or turnarounds, leg yielding,open/close a gate, dragging objects, and a ringjoust.

Honorable Guest Judges will score the riders

on their horsemanship, equitation, accuracy,and the horse’s attitude. Each rider will be givena time limit in which to complete the entirecourse; it will be up to each rider to decide howmuch time to devote to each specific challenge.Points will be awarded for each challenge on ascale of 0 to 5, with 0 being the lowest and 5being the highest, based on the combinedperformance of horse and rider. Judging will bebased on accuracy, horse’s attitude, goodhorsemanship and excellence in equitation.

This is a competition where winners triumphnot because of the bling on their saddles, or thebreed of their horses, but because of the mostimportant thing of all — the relationship betweenhorse and rider.

For the final challenge round on Sunday, thethree top scoring participants who rank asfinalists will each be paired randomly with adifferent international star clinician to ride a new,more advanced course, and then a musicalfreestyle pas de deux that they have had lessthan 24 hours to prepare. The champion will wincash and prizes, including a one of a kind,custom-made Wind Rider Challenge saddle fromOrtho-Flex Saddlery valued at over $6,300.Framed certificates will be presented to the WindRider Grand Champion, the Wind Rider ReserveChampion, and Wind Rider Runner Up.

Once the Midwest Horse Fair® Wind Rider

Championship is awarded to the highest pointearner, he or she will return on Sunday after-noon to compete in the North American WindRider Grand Champion Show Down. TheMidwest Horse Fair® Champion and Canada’sNational Wind Rider Champion will ride likenever before for cash, prizes and the NorthAmerican Wind Rider Grand Champion title.

Bob & Suzanne’s unique horse training andteaching talents come together in their Twoas One Horsemanship™, striking a perfectbalance between the English and Western rid-ing disciplines in a way that inspires equineenthusiasts worldwide.

To see just what the Wind Rider Challenge isall about go to TwoasOneHorsemanship.comand watch video clips of actual Wind RiderChallenges with some of the biggest superstarsin the world of horses. For more informationplease visit TwoasOneHorsemanship.com, orcall Suzanne Sheppard at (845) 692-7478.

Wind Rider Challenge at the Midwest Horse Fair

24 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

Dre

ssage

- En

glish

I needed a good pair of eyes,someone that didn’t need glasses.I also really didn’t want to spend thetime working in a boring arena.When my friend, Mary MondaZdunic, invited me to come out toSouth Dakota this past summer, Iknew I was in for a lot of work. Noneof it took place in a boring dressagearena! We rode miles and miles ofrough and tough terrain. Using thatterrain to build the bodies of ourhorses. We also did a lot of dambuilding when it was our turn toflood-irrigate the fields. I must say, Iam a dam good builder! This articleis dedicated to Mary, for without herhelp, I could not have written it. Iwould also like to thank Mr. ChuckGrant for his lifetime of work and“American Dressage”

So why would I have a problemwith balance? Why wouldn’t I? I amhuman right? Well I confess, Ialways had impeccable balance.That is until I had a horse crashand I shattered my C5 and C6. Thatpretty much ended my rein ofbalance queen. It took a lot for meto get back the simplest tasks.Countless hours I spent trying toraise one leg, so I could stand onthe other. It was very frustratingexperience, the kind that makes youcry endlessly. Fortunately I lived bymyself, so only the dogs and catsheard me wail. Well, God did too. Iprayed and prayed to be my old selfagain. Thru that process, I learned alot of lessons. And today, although Iam far from perfect, I think I ambetter for it. In my journey back, Ihave had lots of help, I could not doit on my own, Mary was my mostrecent helper. I should note that if itwere not for my mother, Shirley May,and friend Ellen Rood, I would not beriding today. While I was takingheavy medication, they fought myinsurance company to cover anexperimental surgical procedure.Not only was I able to heal withoutfusion, cadaver bones, plates andscrews that were to be the surgicalprocedure in my case, but my out-come was so successful that theoriginal doctor referred a dozenpatients following my surgery. I wasnot just a case number, but the starguinea pig in my doctor’s medicaldocumentation of my surgery. I hada grim prognosis…but an excellentrecovery. Here I am today riding,walking and running again. I do owea big thank you to my horse. If itwere not for a special Pinto PasoFino stallion I would not be riding

today. Caz liftedme up and carriedme along. When Itipped off hepatiently waited forme to get backon. Anyone thattruly wonders ifGod is producingmiracles only hasto know Caz and I.We are a miracle.Now that I havelaid my story out foryou let’s move on!

Ever notice your horse doesn’t seem to change direction well? Doyou feel that when you are going left, your horse is leaning so much tothe left that you are sure your knee is going to touch the ground?When you want or need to change directions, do you feel like you are ina plane flying thru turbulence? You know, choppy gait, stiffness in hismouth and feet? When you do change directions do you feel his feetspeed up? Does he slip? Have you wondered if he is going to fall

down? Well, if you noticeany of the above…youhorse is probably notin balance!

Before we begin anexercise to straightenyour horse, how abouta little self analysis? It isreally unfair to blamehim for being out ofbalance, if we aren’t inbalance. Here are 4basic concepts to keepin mind when you arestriding along! I promisedmy mom if she let meuse her for the photos, Iwould not show her facein any of them. Pleaseput your thumb over herface when viewing…THANKS!

How do you fill yoursaddle? If you’re sittingand filling the cantle ofyour saddle it’s either toosmall for you or you’resitting too far back! Ifyour saddle has ampleseat room you shouldbe able to fit the width ofyour hand between yourbum and the cantle. Ifyou can’t, you are eithersitting too far back or

your saddle is too small. Even though most folks sit in the saddle…ridingIS an athletic sport. The saddle was not designed for sitting. To sit correct-ly, you want to hover* (American Dressage III) in the saddle having slightpressure in the stirrups on the balls of your feet. You can find your seatposition without being on your horse. Stand evenly with your kneesslightly bent. Notice that you can only do it if your feet are BELOW yourupper body, the same holds true when you are in the saddle. This is thesame athletic position that you would take if you were to play any sport.Even though it is popular in the gaited world (and for a lot of trail riders) tosit in a chair position…it is not correct, in balance or helpful to your horse

Mom sits in saddle, checks if there is ample room behind her bum.

There should be at least the width of your hand behind your bum.

Here she sits in her Lazy Boy saddle! Note how she is sitting back on the cantle,

this also puts undue pressure on thekidneys. Also her legs shooting forward

will not help her maintain balance shouldher horse make a sudden stop, change of

direction or speed.

When mounting, check to make sure you are not pullingyour saddle to the side!

Weighting the ball of the foot in the left stirrup.

B is for Balance!By Tracy Porter

and anyone that says it is…ismissing a lot of information.

When turning, where’s yourweight When you are turningyour horse are you weighting toyour right when going to theright? Left when going to the left?Sitting centered when you aregoing straight? If you don’t know,make a mental note to check.You can also have a friendstanding on the ground tell you!Again, you don’t need to be ona horse to get the feel! If youare still standing feeling thesaddle position, you are ready toweight! Slightly, put an ounce ofweight in the ball of one of yourfeet. You are now in the frameto be turning that direction! Whenit is time to go straight, shiftthat ounce back so you are evenon both balls of your feet. When

you want to go to theother direction…you gotit…an ounce to that ballof the foot! Rememberthe pressure is straight,not pushing forward orbackward!

What position areyou holding the reins?What kind of pressuredo you have on them?Your body shouldconvey softness, notbracing. When turningyour horse right, yourleft hand should beforward of your right,so your horse can bendhis head without hittingyour outside hand! Theyshould be even in heightwith a soft straight linefrom your elbow to thebit. Pressure…hmm thatis an article all in itself.Really, there is no pres-sure, when the slack istaken out of your reins,your horse shouldrespond with no pullingor sitting in neutral. It isresistance whether heis sitting comfortable

without responding (zoning out),leaning on the reins or activelyripping them out of your hands.If you find any of this happening,you really need to address thisissue first before moving on.

Where are you looking? Areyour eyes open or shut? Hopefully they are open and you are lookingout forward to where you are riding. If you are turning left, it would be agood idea to be looking out, in advance, to the left. If you find you arelooking down, believe it or not, the weight of your head creates moreunbalanced weight for your horse to carry, making him heavier on hisfront end.

Spend some time in the saddle, then we’ll add some exercises thatwill help your horses balance! If you would like to see Caz and myspecial ride “The Little Paso Fino Stallion with the Huge Heart”, pleaseFacebook me. You can see all our videos there in addition to this specialone.

Life is too short to keep trading horses. If you find a horse you like,but have a few issues, instead of looking for new horse and falling intothe same rut…why not look into where your communication is failing?Learn how to create a successful life long partnership with your horse!You will find a new found freedom when you and your horse arespeaking the same language!

If you have any questions on training or you would like to be a partof a clinic or perhaps you would like to board your horse and becomeinvolved with ongoing lessons and training opportunities, please call608-868-5432. or visit www.Tracy-Porter.net. I’d love to help you andyour horse be the best of friends and enjoy the same relationship that Ido with mine!

Until next time, may you always…Ride Straight!

Don’t push down on reins

25MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

Weighting evenly, look at theshoulders and the elbows.

Watch for unevenness, while going left, this will throw horses weight on left shoulder!

Don’t raise reins

Socks gives to the sponge squeeze, look at the nice soft line from elbow to bit.

Hands even, parallel to the ground, slight pulse,like squeezing a sponge.

Mom takes her first ride onmY mustang!

AskMary:

What are some ideas for a spring tune-upfor my trail riding horse?

It’s time to dust off that saddle and preparefor a new season of trail riding. Before you hit thetrail, make sure you and your horse are prepared.Here are some training tips to prepare you bothfor a safe and fun trail riding season.

First, look over your equipment. Is your horsetrailer tuned up and ready to haul? Check yourtack. Look for damage, like rotted leather andrusty snaps. Repair or replace any items thatmight break out on the trail. Check that your sad-dle still fits your horse. Once that winter hairsheds we often have a different horse than thetrail fit horse we rode last fall.

Are your spring veterinary needs completed?That includes a current coggins, worming andvaccinations. Are your horse’s feet trimmed andshod if necessary. Don’t stress out and wait until

the last minute to schedule these appointments.Before you mount up spend some time on

ground work. This is a safer way to check yourhorse’s obedience then throwing a leg over andhaving him gallop off with you. Put him in a roundpen or on a lunge line to begin. Send him arounda few times to burn off any excess energy. Oncehe has settled down, work on obedience. Use theverbal commands, walk, trot, and canter. Yourgoal is to have your horse stay in the gait and thedirection you indicate until you change com-mands. Once your horse is listening to you andobeying your verbal cues its time to check hisground manners. Attach a lead rope to his halter(a rope halter works best for this exercise).Standing at his shoulder put a little pressure onthe lead rope. Your horse should bend his headtoward you and give to the pressure. Now reachback and apply finger pressure to his barrel tomove the hindquarters. He should step sideways.As soon as he does, release the pressure andreward him with a pat. Repeat this drill severaltimes on both sides. Your goal is a soft respon-sive horse that gives and won’t pull back whenwe apply pressure to the reins or his flank.

When your horse is comfortable and relaxedfor the ground exercises, it’s time to mount up.

Before heading down the trail it’s important tomake sure you have brakes and steering control.It’s safest to do this in a controlled space like anarena or pasture with good footing. Make surethat you can stop your horse, by doing a series ofwalk to halt transitions. Walk a few steps thenstop for a few seconds, walk a few steps then haltand repeat this pattern. When that is going well,try some trot to walk transitions. Remember toreward your horse for listening to you and stop-ping. Set up a cone course to navigate through.The cones give you a visual aid for your turns.Set up a line of cones about 2 horse lengths apartfrom one another. At the walk, ride a serpentinethrough the cones. Make you get a good bendand fluid changes when changing directions.When you are proficient at the walk try it at thetrot. Then back your horse through the course.

Before that first big trail ride consider condi-tioning your horse. Start with short rides aroundthe barn and gradually increase your ride timesuntil you are both ready for that long ride out onthe trail.

A little extra time and proper preparation willhelp ensure a positive experience for your firstspring trail ride. Plus it will give you the confi-dence to enjoy your ride instead of worrying if youcan control your horse.

Mary is a Mounted Police instructor and afully insured ARICP riding instructor. She devotesher creative energy to developing customizedtraining programs to improve show ringperformance, mount obedience and despookingtrail horses utilizing training methods used intraining police horses. Visit her Website atwww.riderselite.com or email your questions tomary@riderselite.com

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26 April 2010 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST

Dre

ssage

- En

glish MMaarryy HHaammiillttoonn

aannsswweerrss yyoouurr ttrraaiinniinngg qquueessttiioonnss!!

AA sk Msk Marar yy

27MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

Equine DictionaryEndurance ride - The end result when

your horse spooks and runs away with youin the woods.

Equitation - The ability to keep a smile onyour face and proper posture while yourhorse tries to crowhop, shy and buck his

way around a show ring.

Time spent on ground training will pay bigrewards as your horse learns to respondprecisely without pressure, tugging, or pulling.

Always make sure your horse is outfitted witha properly fitting halter, a longe line or leadrope, and leg protection. I like using a longe linebecause its length gives more flexibility to movewith your horse and still remain in contact.

Begin in a confined location free of distrac-tions and familiar to your horse, such as a stall.Continue to practice the commands, graduatingto less confined locations until you can getconsistent responses anywhere you ask yourhorse. If your horse does not understand or isinconsistent in his responses, go back to amore secure location and repeat the lessonthere.

Teaching the “Back” CommandBacking is an excellent exercise to improve

communication with your horse. For this lesson, Iprefer to use the longe line over the nose formore control. Thread the longe line through thehalter ring on the side you are working on,over the nose, clipping it on the ring on theopposite side of the halter. Make sure that thesnap faces outward. I like my Palm PartnershipHalter because, unlike other halters, the ringsare designed large enough to allow a lead orlonge to easily fit through them. Excess longeline should be held in a loose, but organizedneat coil.

A horse can best perform this maneuverwhen he is straight and balanced. Position himalongside a wall or fence to help keep himstraight when starting this maneuver.

Stand at your horse’s near (left) side, approx-imately one foot away from him. Turn and faceyour horse so that you are slightly in front andoff the side of his left shoulder. Never standdirectly in front of any horse. It is an unsafeposition and a common error when teaching thismaneuver.

Direct your vision to focus on the horse’s

entire topline, from his head to the top of histail. Avoid looking down at the horse’s feet asthis prevents you from seeing his responsesand body position.

With the coiled longe in your right hand,lightly place your hand on the left side of yourhorse’s halter at the chin piece (the part ofthe halter that goes underneath the head).Remember, if you control the horse’s head,you control his body position. Your contact willonly be used to guide the head and neck tokeep them straight in the middle of the shoul-ders and in alignment with the spine.

Using a deep, commanding tone say“back” as you apply light pressure on thehalter and move toward your horse’s shoulder.

Use your contact on the halter to keep his headstraight. Do not pull on the halter or the lead toforce him to move. The instant your horse takesa step backward, step with him. Release thepressure as you ask him to stop using the“whoa” command. Praise him with a stroke onhis forehead or a pet.

If your horse does not respond, re-evaluateyour position; reposition him by walking himforward. You don’t need to turn around, just backup a few steps as you continue to face him, andask him to back again. Add a little reinforcementby pressing your right hand on the point of hisshoulder to encourage him to step backward.

Keep contact on the point of his shoulderusing either a steady pressure or soft pulsatingcontact that varies in pressure with the timingof the horse lifting his legs to step backwards.Avoid using a tap or slap, which will onlyfrustrate or aggravate your horse. The instantthat he makes an effort to move backward, praisehim.

As he learns the verbal cues, eliminate thisguiding pressure and the touch on the halter.Soon he will respond and back up with only yourvoice command. Once he can consistently backseveral steps along the wall, ask him to backfrom the middle of the stall. This will be morechallenging because you will not have the wall tohelp keep him straight.

The tendency for most horses is to swingtheir hindquarters out of the desirable straight-line alignment when backing. To correcthindquarter alignment problems, you must reactquickly to slightly reposition the horse’s headin the same direction that his hindquarters aremoving to re-align his body. For example, if yourhorse’s hindquarters swing out to the left as heis backing, respond with a light tension on thelead, and reposition his head slightly to the left ashe continues to step backwards. This will causehim to move his hindquarters to the right,straightening his body.

If your horse gets too far out of alignment,

ask him to walk forward a few steps to straightenhis body. Stop, reposition, and ask for themaneuver again. Focus on keeping his headstraight as you ask him to back. Watch histopline to anticipate and respond to alignmentproblems as they happen.

Vary your “back” command with the “cometo me” command so that your horse doesn’tassociate your presence at his shoulder with areaction to back up. Once he consistentlyresponds to your command to back on his nearside, repeat the lesson on his off (right) side.

Moving the HindquartersThis command is a variation of the “move

away” command. It teaches the horse to movehis hindquarters, rather than his shoulder, awayfrom pressure. Start by stroking your horsealong his barrel and hip. These are the areaswhere you will be applying gentle pressure toask for the maneuver.

When he is comfortable with this contact,stand at the middle of your horse and extendyour left hand so that you have a light contacton his halter. Slightly turn his head towardsyou while you extend your right hand and applygentle pressure on his hip and give a “cluck.” Heshould move his hindquarters away from you.Follow his movement and praise him whenyou get this response.

If he needs more reinforcement, use a gen-tle give and take tension on his halter to veryslightly turn his head towards you at the sametime you are applying pressure to his hip. Theinstant he responds by moving his hips awayfrom you, praise him. Once he understands thiscommand, your goal is to work towards keepinghis body straight while moving his hindquarters.

Make sure that you are not getting the horseto move by applying too much pressure on thehalter. The cue for this maneuver is done on hishindquarters, not his halter. Resist the tendencyto pull on the halter or the shank of the lead.

Learn how to build a partnership with yourhorse from the ground up with Palm PartnershipTraining?. Ground training is covered in detail inmy Longevity Training Series, and each maneu-ver is demonstrated with several young horses.You can order this series and other helpfultraining products at www.lynnpalm.com or bycalling 800-503-2824.

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28 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

Be the Rider Your Horse Deserves

Golden Rules of Ground Training,

Training Commands Continued Part 6PALM PARTNERSHIP TRAINING‘

by Lynn Palm

29MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

www.horsedigests.com

30 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

Ansur Saddlery, LLC and NorthwesternSaddlery, LLC is owned by Don and CaroleWeidner, who bring years of combinedexperience to their saddle making companies.With a wealth of financial, sales and customerservice experience underher belt, Carol also hasearned national dressagechampionships with herhorse :”Bronze” from theMorgan Horse Associationand the USDF.

Don has over 40 yearsof organizational manage-ment and operations experi-ence as a city manager infive different cities, each astep up in size and respon-sibility, and he also createdand operated his own highlysuccessful water technologybusiness.

They also operated a modest breedingoperation from 1991 through 2004, raisingMorgan horses and Dutch Warmbloods and youwould always see a couple of brood mares andtheir babies grazing in their fields.

Over 10 years ago they combined theirtalents to make a winning team and a uniqueproduct line, producing Treeless Flex CoreEnglish saddles under the name Ansur Saddlery,LLC. Carol started the operation and when itbecame more than full time for her Don joinedin the operation and is now Vice President.

These saddles enhanced performance andwere pain-free for both horse and rider. The sad-dles are very popular and thousands have beensold. In response to an ever increasing interestfrom western riders they created NorthwesternSaddlery, LLC and designed and produced atreeless Flex Core traditional western saddle.

The tale behind the creation of their success-ful saddle lines is the real story though andbegins with Carol and the innocent purchase of adressage prospect 18 years ago. Her qualifica-tions for this purchase were simple, and shesays “quite stupid”. She wanted a quiet horsewith a willing temperament and good sizebecause she knew dressage horses were big.

Carol found her ”dressage prospect” atMountain View Morgans in Ridgefield,Washington. His name was Mountain ViewBronze and his hooves were very big, Decidingthat large hooves must mean a big adulthorse, Carol bought him. He did mature to be16.2 hands high. He was shown at halter andtaught to drive as a youngster. When he wasfour Carol rode him every weekend in the nearbyCascade Mountains, but she will tell you hewas the clumsiest thing on four legs, growingso fast he just could not handle himself.

At home he was full of shenanigans andescapades and neighbors were always watchinghim and taking pictures. Many commented that

they could not believe Carol rode him. Life changed suddenly for Carol, Christmas

Eve of 1992, when she learned she had breastcancer. 12 days later she underwent a doublemastectomy. and two weeks after that, against

her doctors ordersshe rode Bronze.With help from friendsand a ladder Carolmounted the tallequine and was ableto manage a walk,trot and even a can-ter. Carol will tell youthat that was “A brightday for her and a

beautiful feeling”even though lifewas hanging inthe balance. Butriding became hertherapy and shescheduled hercancer treatmentsaround riding.She often won-dered how shewould get throughanother day,Riding was heranswer and Carol will tell you that “physical heal-ing can take place when there are other things tothink of”.

Carol and Bronze ended up having a bannershow season that year, winning awards fromboth the USDF and the American MorganHorse Association and after that year Bronzewent into intensive training in preparation forthe FEI dressage competition. As work pro-gressed Bronze began to change though, andwhat once was a horse with intense concentra-tion and work ethic changed to a horse thatbegan showing resistance to advanced work. Insome cases he actually regressed. He wouldbrace his back and suck his back into his withers,wring his tail and he began to change and beargumentative when asked to do movements hehad already mastered.

All of Carols different fixes, from custom fitsaddles to different bits and all the other usualtypes of fixes did not work. Vet exams and testsshowed he was in excellent condition andchiropractor, equine therapists and other variousspecialists produced no evidence of unsound-ness or problems. The only problem that wasnoticeable was when he was asked to carry aload. Changing riders did not make a difference.So. in desperation, the decision was made totake off the “custom fit” saddle and try a simple

bareback pad. SURPRISE! The change wasimmediate and Bronze began to do all the correctmovements he had been taught, with no resist-ance, no hollowing of the back or swishing of thetail, no pinning of his ears. He even offeredmoves that Carol did not know he understood.

So here was our answer, but the problemwas what to do about competitions, whichrequired a saddle. There began the quest for acompetition saddle that Bronze would accept.How does one develop a show legal saddle thatwould not constrict Bronze’s movements?

Visiting a local saddler and laying out theentire problem resulted in an agreement to helpdevelop and construct an English style, totallysoft saddle. Through much testing and trial and

error, each layer was test-ed on Bronze, until finallyBronze decided he had thesaddle that he had beenasking for. The second stepwas to make the saddlecomfortable for Carol, soagain each layer was test-ed, only this time by Carol,the rider.

Unknown, at the time,to Carol and Don, this wasthe beginning of a saddlecompany. Questions wereabundant at the first com-petition the pair went towith their new saddle.There was a great deal ofinterest in why Bronze had

taken such a huge leap in his performance.What had changed? What had they done to thishorse?

Other riders began asking questions aboutthe saddle when they found out about it and as aresult of this interest the saddle was tested onmany other horses. When it became clear thatpractically all the horses tested in the new saddleperformed better and were more willing to work,it also became clear to Carol that this saddle wasmore than a quirky indulgence on Carols part anda saddle company was born.

Of course there is much more to this story,but Ansur saddle is the result of a horse andrider partnership that goes beyond what manyof us experience. Bronze gave his rider thewill to conquer a serious illness and he earnedher great love.

Today Ansur Saddlery, LLC also has asister company, Northwestern Saddlery, LLC,that manufactures a western version of the FlexCore saddle.

For more information you can visit theirwebsite at www.ansursaddle.com - the site fortheir English saddles and www.nwsaddle.com -the site for their western saddles. You can alsocontact: Carole Weidner 800 987 1545 orcarole@nwsaddle.com

The Making of a New Kind of Saddle

The Story Behind Ansur Saddles

31MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

The United States Dressage Federation hasnamed Nutrena® the official feed sponsor of thefederation. The three-year agreement makesNutrena® the official horse feed of USDF.

“This new sponsorship broadens our sup-port of the dressage community,” said DebCorrell, marketing services manager forNutrena® feeds. “We look forward to helpingUSDF members achieve their performancegoals, and provide them with the latest informa-tion and innovation regarding equine preventa-tive care and nutrition.”

USDF is the country’s only nonprofitmembership organization dedicated to thepromotion of dressage, with a focus oneducation. “It’s that education element thatmakes Nutrena® a great sponsor,” said LindaSchultz, director of marketing for USDF. “Notonly does the Nutrena® brand offer qualityproducts, but their consultants are also commit-ted to educating horse owners.”

Dressage champion and Olympic medalistDebbie McDonald has fed her horses Nutrena®products for more than six years. She says thatoptimum nutrition is vital for horses to develop,stay healthy and perform.

“I continue to be pleased with the waymy horses look and feel, and the educationI’ve received from their consultants is amazing,”McDonald said. “I am excited that they are theofficial feed for USDF, and I hope memberstake advantage of Nutrena® brand products andexpertise.”

Using the highest-quality ingredients and themost up-to-date nutritional technology, Cargillmanufactures and markets a complete line ofNutrena® brand feeds and supplements thathelp horses maintain optimal health throughoutall stages of life. For more information, visitwww.nutrenaworld.com.

About USDF: Founded in 1973, the UnitedStates Dressage Federation is a nonprofit mem-bership organization dedicated to education,recognition of achievement, and promotion ofdressage. For more information about USDFmembership or programs, visit www.usdf.org ore-mail usdressage@usdf.org or call (859)971-227.

About Cargill: A business unit of Cargill,Incorporated, Cargill Animal Nutrition(www.cargillanimalnutrition.com) is a customer-focused organization working to bring productand service solutions to producers. Cargill is aninternational producer and marketer of food,agricultural, financial and industrial products andservices. Founded in 1865, the privately heldcompany employs 159,000 people in 68 coun-tries. Cargill helps customers succeed throughcollaboration and innovation, and is committedto applying its global knowledge and experienceto help meet economic, environmental andsocial challenges wherever it does business.

For more information, visit www.cargill.com.

www.horsedigests.com

32 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

NUTRENA® BRAND NAMEDOFFICIAL FEED SPONSOROF THE UNITED STATESDRESSAGE FEDERATION

33MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

MinnesotaThoroughbred

AssociationAnnounces its

Sale Dates for 2010

Shakopee, MN – The MinnesotaThoroughbred Association has announced itssale dates for 2010. The 3rd Annual UpperMidwest Two Year Olds and UnracedThoroughbreds in Training sale will be held atCanterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota onSaturday, May 15, 2010. The Under Tack Showwill be conducted on Friday, May 14, 2010, atnoon with the sale beginning following the raceson Saturday, at 6:30 p.m.

Join the MTA on August 7th for the 2010 MTAYearling Sale. This event is also held atCanterbury Park and begins with a Parade ofYearlings at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 6th. TheSale is held on Saturday evening, August 7th,following the races at approximately 6:30 p.m.

The MTA is proud to offer these excitingopportunities for our consignors and purchasersto “Get in the Game” by purchasing top-qualityThoroughbreds for your stable! We look forwardto seeing you there! Details will be available onour website at www.mtassoc.com!

Whether it is in competition, practical ranchwork, or strictly for pleasure, cow work can bean exciting activity for you and your horse.What is your horse’s attitude toward cows? Isyour horse scared, curious,uninterested or somewhere inbetween? This article will outlinehow I like to introduce my horsesto cattle and begin to create aninterest in their minds about thework.

Follow-the-leader: One horse,one cow, and one pen is a greatway to start. Horses are naturalfollowers. You don’t have to havea pure bred cow horse to teachthis concept. I’ve watchedThoroughbreds, Arabians, Warm-bloods, and generic grade horsesshow interest and expression asthey began to play follow-the-leader with a single cow.

The idea is to simply followdirectly behind the cow wherever itgoes. If the cow speeds up, slowsdown, or changes directions, I wantmy horse to do the same. I willdirect my horse as much as neces-sary but I’ll try to do as little aspossible. The heavier I hang ontothe reins, the less my horse will beable to “hook” onto and becomeinterested in the cow. In theseearly lessons I’m not concernedwith driving the cow in any specificdirection. I am simply directing myhorse along the same track the cow is on.

This game of follow-the-leader will capitalizeon your horse’s natural curiosity and increase hisconfidence. Attempting to step up into a herd isvery intimidating if your horse is unsure or scaredof cattle. Yet, in this exercise, when your horserealizes the cow is yielding away from him, it’s abig confidence booster.

You need to be careful that you don’t overrunthe cow. However, you need to ride up closeenough so that your horse is engaged with thecow and begins to realize that his job is to follow.If the cow trots off, you should encourage your

horse to catch up. If the cow travels faster youcan accelerate into a lope and follow right inbehind.

Depending on your horse’s temperament,this activity might get him excited. Having yourhorse properly prepared before the cattle work-ing session is extremely important. That meansyou will trot and lope your horse as much as nec-essary during a warm up period. Youwant a horse that is physically andmentally warmed up and preparedbefore you start this extra curricularactivity.

Some hors-es will get overzealous andattempt to lungeat, bite, or strikea cow while fol-lowing. You needto feel what’sgoing on and nipthis in the bud. Ifyou feel your horse get tooaggressive, take hold ofthe reins and check himback. You might evenneed to stop him firmly,take a step back, and then

proceed again.As your horse

follows the cowaround the arena,try to guide him aslittle as possible.Keep your reinsloose and allowyour horse to takeresponsibility forfollowing. If yourhorse wanders offtrack, simply re-direct him back tothe cow and thenloosen your reins.

Teaching your horse to track a cow has manydirect and fringe benefits. If your goal is to havea competitive or practical cow working horsethis is the first step. This game also gets you andyour horse traveling free at different speeds inall gaits. Teaching your horse to speed up andthen slow down while following the cow willhelp him get comfortable with speed withoutfalling apart emotionally.

After I have introduced this game to myhorse and he is showing some interest, I’ll addperiodic stops. I will look for an opportunity whenthe cow and my horse are on a straight line, I’ll

sit down and say“whoa” and backmy horse up astep. I don’t wantto discourage myhorse from follow-ing. However, Ineed him to knowthat we can andwill stop any time Ichoose. After Istop and back up,I’ll sit for as longas I feel is neces-sary. Then I’ll trot orlope right back to

the cow and track it some more. Stoppingwhen the cow and horse are straight is importantif I expect my horse to stop well. If my horse isbent or crooked it will be difficult to stop with anykind of correctness.

You don’t have any cows? You can playthis same game with a friend on horseback.Except for acclimating your horse to a cow many

of the benefitsare the same.Regardless of yourgoals, this experi-ence can makeyou a better riderand your horse abetter ride! Forfootage to compli-ment this article:Google “YouTube– Richard WintersH o r s e m a n s h i pChannel”

Richard Winters Horsemanship BiographyFor nearly three decades Richard has dedi-

cated himself to honing his horsemanship skillsand to passing this knowledge onto others. Hisvast experience includes starting literally hun-dreds of horses that have gone onto almost everyequine discipline imaginable.

Richard’s credentials include WorldChampionship titles in the National ReinedCow Horse Association along with being an Arated judge. In 2007 Richard was namedchampion of the West Coast Equine Experience“$10,000 Colt Starting Challenge.” He was alsopresented with the 2007 Monty RobertsEquitarian Award for outstanding achievementsin Horse/Human relationships. Richard was alsohonored to be named champion in the 2009Road to the Horse - Colt Starting Challenge inNashville, TN. In July of 2009 Richard won theSuper Cow Horse competition in Santa Ynez,CA. Most recently he competed in Road to theHorse 2010.

Much of Richard’s work has been accom-plished through the numerous clinics he conductsaround the country. He also enjoys being a guestpresenter at various Horse Expo’s.

Richard, along with his wife Cheryl, reside inOjai, California, at the historic Thacher Schoolwhere he currently serves as artist-in-residence.You can view Richard Winters Horsemanshipprogramming on Dish Network Channel 9411 onSunday’s and Wednesday’s at 6:00 P. M. (PST).For more information about Richard WintersHorsemanship please go towww.wintersranch.com.

34 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

Perfo

rman

ce H

orses

I want to follow directly behind the cowon a loose rein.

This filly is taking the responsibility to followthe cow around to the right.

This is the level of control I ultimatelydesire to achieve.

Not all nutri-tional joint prod-ucts are createdequal. The gradeof the raw ingre-dients, the potency and formula combination arejust a few of the important facts that will deter-mine the product’s effectiveness. Jack Grogan,Certified Nutritionist and Chief Science Officer forUckele Health & Nutrition, has developed sever-al formulas that work strategically for horses withjoint issues specific to their ages and activity lev-els, “Important research regarding joint structureand natural supplements has shown thatGlucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, HyaluronicAcid, Silica, Yucca and Devils Claw are signifi-cant to joint health. Knowing what these nutrientsare, and how they perform in the body will pro-vide you with the tools you need to make educat-ed choices when addressing your horse’s jointissues.”

Uckele Health & Nutrition has devised sever-al formulas that address a wide range of jointinjury causes, condition specific issues, and theirrelationship to age and activity levels. “By far, ourproduct Arthroxigen is one of the most complexblends of joint support ingredients available in themarket right now,” Grogan says, “It’s a potentcombination of Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM,Devil’s Claw, Hyaluronic Acid, and Yucca. Whatreally places it front and center is it’s antioxidantstrength. It contains over 10 different dried fruits,Grape Seed Extract, Vitamin C, HydrolyzedCollagen, turmeric, Cats Claw, and WhiteWillow.”

Grogan strongly feels that the most importantof all the joint nutraceuticals is Glucosamine, “It is

the key building block for tissue integrity, withstudies showing that Glucosamine supplementa-tion provides symptomatic relief for pain, morerapid recovery, and partial restoration of jointfunction.” The two forms of glucosamine in pureform, hydrochloride and sulfate, deliver equallyeffective amounts of glucosamine. However, theideal form of glucosamine is hydrochloride, theadvantage being that it contains approximately25 – 30% more pure glucosamine for consider-ably less cost.

“Chondroitin Sulfate is the primary substancefound in cartilage,” Grogan explains, “Its keyfunctions include the ability to inhibit enzymesthat degrade cartilage tissue, decrease waterretention for synovial fluid production and theability to utilize glucosamine in the formation ofproteoglycans.” Proteolglycans organize colle-gen and water binding to give cartilage its desiredflexibility, resiliency and resistance. Chondroitinsulfate has also shown the ability to activatechondrocytes, which produce new collagen.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is found natu-rally in food and throughout the body. A bio-avail-able source of sulfur, MSM is important for con-nective tissue production and repair and hasbeen shown to reduce cartilage breakdown byprotecting the cartilage tissue. Hyaluronic Acid(HA) is also found throughout the body, with thehighest concentration in soft connective tissue.HA gives elasticity to the joints and retains waterin the cellular matrix. It is important for tissue

hydration, lubri-cation, andproper cellularfunction.

G r o g a npoints out that many herbs and botanical extractshave shown great promise in supporting jointhealth, “Yucca Schidigera Extract, Devils ClawExtract, Boswellia Serrata Extract, TurmericExtract, Cat’s Claw, Fever Few, White Willow andCayenne have proven to be a powerful group ofjoint supporting plants.”

Jack Grogan, CN, has worked extensively inthe fields of biology, biochemistry and nutrition, isan expert in tissue miner-al balancing, and hasexperienced notable suc-cess in balancing mineralchemistry to strengthenthe basic metabolism andimprove efficiency inhorses.

Uckele Health &Nutrition has built a repu-tation over 50 years cre-ating a broad spectrum ofnutritional supplementsfrom concept to shelf, also providing privatelabeling and custom manufacturing for reputablecompanies and organizations worldwide. Withdecades of nutritional knowledge and experi-ence, Uckele’s team of experts develop, formu-late and manufacture a vast array of high poten-cy, balanced nutritional supplements to supportoptimal health and performance at the highestlevel.

35MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, Hyaluronic Acid, Silica,Yucca and Devils Claw are significant to joint health

Performance horses are sometimes classi-fied as any horse being worked harder than juststanding in the pasture these days. While thisisn’t exactly the definition of a performance horse,it can be a thought in some owner’s minds. Theperformance horse we will focus on is one that isworked at a higher heart rate and at least 3hours/week with which most work is at an extend-ed trot or canter.

The first and most important part of anyperformance horse’s diet is forage. Ideally thisportion of the diet should be at a bare minimum1% of the horse’s bodyweight, but more prefer-ably 1.5% of bodyweight. So if you have a 1000-pound gelding, he would need 15#/ day of goodquality hay or pasture for the forage portion of hisdiet as a starting point. Horses being workedshould be fed a good quality forage that is higherin caloric content to meet their additional energyexpenditures. Choosing hay that is softer in tex-ture/finer stemmed, free of weeds and mold, and

contains more leaves than stems will typicallyresult in higher caloric content. Ideally you shouldhave your hay tested to determine its truevalue.

Depending on the ingredients and technolo-gy, performance horses can be fed textured,extruded or pelleted diets if properly formulated.Be sure to carefully read the feed tag for the prop-er amount to feed of that particular product.Ideally a product higher in fat should be chosenfor several reasons: improvement in endurance,heat tolerance, hair coat improvement andmaybe improvement in attitude. Horses on highfat diets experience increased endurancebecause of a glycogen sparing effect that occurs.Glycogen actually is the fuel for muscular activitythat is stored in the muscle cells and horses thatare on high fat diets conserve glycogen allowingthem to finish a performance event stronger. Thisis particularly important in polo, racing, eventing,cutting and other activities that require high per-

formance over time. Products higher infat are also a great way to increasecaloric density without the risk of starchoverload (defined in the following para-graph). Often these products allow you to

feed less of the feed portion of the diet and morehay. One example is Farr XTN™, which is 12%fat and completely balanced to be fed at a lowerrate than most grain or pelleted rations. A similaradvantage can be accomplished by choosing amoderately high fat feed such as Safe Choice™at 7% fat and adding 1-3#/day of a high fatextruded supplement such as Empower™ whichis 22% fat. Caution should be made to choose asupplement that is balanced so that when addedto an already balanced diet it keeps the nutrientto calorie ratio in check. Adding plain soy or cornoil to a balanced diet will unbalance the nutrientto calorie ratio.

Often performance horses are fed highgrain diets in large quantities. Many times thesehorses are constantly at risk because of highlevels of grain feeding which causes a starchoverload of the small intestine resulting instarch leaking into the cecum. The cecum andlarge colon house a bacterial and protozoalpopulation that do the work of digesting fiber.When starch enters the cecum the pH dropsresulting in death of this bacterial population. Thisresults in a cascade of events that may resultin colic, laminitis and in some cases death. Whenhorses eat an amount of a high starch feedthat is equivalent to .4-.5% of bodyweight permeal there is a risk of starch entering the cecum.This translates into four to five (4-5) pounds permeal on a 1000-pound horse. By using a diethigher in fat you are able to feed more poundsper meal safely. It should also be noted thatstarch is required in the diet for glycogen reple-tion, so feeding a diet too low in starch may alsocause problems. Talk with your qualified equinenutrition consultant to learn more. As always, anychange in diet should be made slowly over a 7-10 day period. Benefits from changing to a high-er fat diet typically take at least three weeks.

Another thought to ponder when choosingyour performance horse’s feed is completebalancing. While there may be many 12%protein feeds on the market, there are marked dif-ferences between them all. Examine the feed tagfor guaranteed levels of amino acids lysine,methionine and threonine. These are the firstthree limiting amino acids in the horse’s diet andensure that you are feeding a quality source ofprotein to get the muscle recovery you need. One12% protein feed may build a great topline onyour horse and the other may simply not work atall. You may also check to see if your feedalready contains many of the nutrients and sup-plements you were planning to top dress. Feedslike Safe Choice™ already contain organic traceminerals, yeast cultures, probiotics, and biotin.Why pay for a supplement when the nutrientshave already been added at a balanced level foryou?

Even in the “off season” you should be sureto have your horse on a balanced diet as buildingup mineral levels in their system may takemonths to replace. Choose a completelybalanced feed that is moderate in fat and feedat a Maintenance level for this time of year,but do not sacrifice the quality nutrients theydeserve. Abby Keegan, M.S., Nutrena®

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36 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

Performance Horse Nutrition.

37MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

www.horsedigests.com

38 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

The perfect place to advertise your Stable,Training Facility, Events, Stallions and more...

Great Value, Great Exposure...both in print and online!

Call Mark or Peg - 507-943-3355mark@horsdigests.compeg@horsedigests.com

Thoroughbred Trainer,Carl Nafzger, to be

Guest Speaker at annual MNTA

Awards Banquet The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association is

pleased to announce that Thoroughbred Trainer,Carl Nafzger, will be the guest speaker at itsannual Awards Banquet scheduled for April 17,2010. Mr. Nafzger trained the 1990 KentuckyDerby winner, Unbridled, for Minnesota owner,Frances Genter. Street Sense took the KentuckyDerby title in 2007 also under the guidance ofMr. Nafzger. A 2008 National Museum of RacingHall of Fame Inductee, as well as a member ofthe Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame, Mr.Nafzger has also authored a book entitled “Traitsof a Winner”.

The evening’s festivities will also includethe presentation of awards to the outstandingMinnesota-bred and Minnesota-owned equineathletes as well as owners and breeders whohave accomplished great things in the pastyear. The 2010 MTA Awards Banquet will beheld at the Sheraton Hotel in Bloomington,Minnesota.

Reservations for this special event arerequired. Details may be found on our website atwww.mtassoc.com or by calling the MTA office at952-496-3770.

Equine DictionaryBarn Sour - An affliction common to horse

people in northern climates during thewinter months. Trudging through deep

snow, pushing wheelbarrows through snowand beating out frozen water buckets tend

to bring on this condition rapidly.

39MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

"Some horses are so polite thatwhen they come to a fence, they stop and

let you go over first."

Suzanne Sheppard’sVersatility SignatureSaddle Give Away!Two as One Horsemanship team

of Bob Jeffreys & Suzanne Sheppardand Orthoflex Saddleworks Inc.

are combining to celebrateversatility in 2010!

We are pleased to announce-

At the 2010 Midwest Horse Fair, attendeeswill have a free chance to win the Orhto-Flex ver-satility saddle right off the back of Suzanne’sbeautiful AQHA horse, Distinctly Tuff.

Throughout the 2010 Midwest Horse Fair,individuals who attend any of Bob & Suzanne’sseminars or clinics will receive a free ticket for achance to win! This is no cheap giveaway, as itis Suzanne’s gorgeous signature Versatility sad-dle, designed by Orthoflex and to her demandingspecifications; to be comfortable and balancedfor horse & rider whether performing dressage,taking jumps, or even on the trail. The saddle hasa new value of $3,400 but is well broken-in bySuzanne and ready to rumble.

“Bob and I are so excited about coming backto the Midwest Horse Fair to hold not only clinics,but also our cross disciplinary competition, theWind Rider Challenge! When our Wind RiderChallenge participation sold out in just a fewweeks, we knew we had to do something big tothank the great horse people in Wisconsin fortheir enthusiasm and support. When AcieJohnson, owner of Orthoflex Saddleworks cameup with the idea of a free raffle for my versatilitysaddle, we thought it was brilliant!” saysSuzanne.

“Bob and Suzanne have created a challengeworthy of the Midwest Horse Fair and of the Can-Am North American Wind Rider Champion ShowDown. Their enthusiasm is contagious and, atthe 2009 Midwest Horse Fair, they had the semi-nar attendees on their feet. We all wanted toencourage another full house as they bring thismust-see challenge to Madison”, says AcieJohnson.

Remember- each audience member whoattends any of our clinics or seminars at theMidwest Horse Fair gets a free ticket, for eachsession attended! Attend more clinics and getmore chances to win this great saddle. The win-ning ticket will be drawn at Bob & Suzanne’sbooth (in the lobby) on Sunday afternoon, time tobe announced. To see the clinics and seminarschedule, go to www.MidwestHorseFair.com. Tolearn more about Orthoflex Saddleworks visitwww.ortho-flex.com. To catch the enthusiasmand find out how Bob and Suzanne teach peopleto bring out the best in their horses, go towww.TwoasOneHorsemanship.com

40 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

www.horsedigests.com

41MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

Call for Entries to the Inspiring

Horsemanship Event at2010 Holistic Horse Fair

The Inspiring Horsemanship Eventannounces a call for entries to its inaugural pro-gram at the 2010 Holistic Horse Fair (HHF)m heldSeptember 25-26 at The Horse First Farm inBrooklyn, WI. Through a non-competitive per-formance, the Inspiring Horsemanship Event(IHE) brings together the most skilled and harmo-nious horse and human pairs to beautifullydemonstrate just how much gentle and respectfulhorsemanship can accomplish. A handful of themost inspiring entries will be selected to performand be eligible for prizes.

Have you reached an extraordinary level ofpartnership with your horse? Can you demon-strate harmony, skill and willingness in a 5 to 10minute performance? If you feel your relationshipwith your horse can inspire others than you areinvited to bring your talents to this event. The IHEis currently accepting video entries for the 2010performance at the Holistic Horse Fair. Entriesmay demonstrate ground skills, mounted work ora combination of both. For complete details go towww.holistichorsefair.com and click on theInspiring Horsemanship link.

The Holistic Horse Fair informs horse loversof the many natural and holistic horse care andtraining methods that exist through a fun andexciting weekend fair. Watch demonstrations,speak with professionals, and shop vendorswhom offer information specifically about natural,alternative and complementary methods of caringfor and training horses. Information will be pre-sented on such topics as acupuncture, massageand body work, animal communication, herbs,natural hoof care, natural nutrition, horse-friendlyforms of horsemanship and training, and more.Potential vendors, sponsors and speakers areinvited to contact the HHF about participating orsponsoring the Inspired Horsemanship Event.Vvisit the event’s website:www.holistichorsefair.com, and contact HeatherKitching at (608)687-9534 or eaglevalleyequestri-an@yahoo.com to learn more.

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42 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

43MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

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44 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

ILLINOIS - Trail Rides34 Ranch & Camp, Herod, IL.

618-264-2141 www.34ranch.comBay Creek Wilderness Rides, Shawnee

National Forest, Simpson, IL.; 618-695-2670www.baycreekranch.com

Bear Ranch Horse Camp,Eddyville, IL.; Shawnee National Forest, 618-672-4249, www.bearbranch.com

Cedar Lake Ranch, LLC, Vienna, IL.; 618-695-2600, www.cedarlakeranchllc.com

Circle B Ranch HOrse Camp, Eddyville, IL.; 618-672-4748, www.circlebranch.com

Double M Campground, Junction, IL.; 618-275-4440, www.doublemcampground.com

Jim Edgar Panther Creek, IL.;217-452-7741

Little Lusk Trail Lodge, Harrisburg, IL.; 618-672-4303

One Horse Gap Trail Ride, New Hope Hill, IL.; 618-264-7433, www.onehorsegap.com

York Hills Horse Park, Albion, 260-564-0305,www.yorkhillshorsepark.comRiding Vacations

34 Ranch & Camp, Herod, IL. 618-264-2141 www.34ranch.com

Hayes Canyon Campground, Eddyville, IL.; 618-672-4751www.hayescanyon.comOvernight Stabling

34 Ranch & Camp, Herod, IL.618-264-2141, www.34ranch.comPublic Lands

Argle Lake State Park, Colchester, IL.;309-776-3422Big River State Forest, Keithsburg, IL.;

309-374-2496Chain Lakes State Park, Spring Grove, IL.;

847-587-5512Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, DeWitt,

IL.; 217-935-8722Fox Ridge State Park, Charleston, IL.

217-345-6416Giant CityState Park, Makanda, IL.;

618-457-4836Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park,

Sheffield, IL.; 815-454-2328Kankakee River State Park, Bourbonnais, IL.;

815-933-1383Lake Le-Aqua-Ne State Park, Bourbonnais,

IL.; 815-369-4282 MatthiessenState Park, Utica, IL.;

815-667-4868Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area,

Collison, IL.; 217-442-4915Moraine View State Park, Leroy, IL.;

309-724-8043Newton Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area,

Newton, IL.; 618-783-3478Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton, IL.;

618-786-2156 Rock Cut State Park, Loves Park, IL.;

815-885-3311Shawnee National Forest, Harrisburg, IL.;

618-253-7114Weinbrg-King State Park, Augusta, IL.;

217-392-2345

IOWA - Trail RidesAmana Trail Ride, Amana Colonies, Amana,

IA.; 319-462-2206, www.amanatrailride.comNatural Gait, Harpers Ferry, IA, 877-776-2208,

www.thenaturalgail.com, ntrlgait@acegroup.ccOvernight Stabling

Aunt Reba’s Bed and Breakfast, Larchwood,MN.; 712-478-4042 or 888-282-5349: www.auntrebas.com

Iowa Bunkhouse, Audubon, IA.; May-September: 712-773-2737JM4 Rand, Arena, Horse Hotel, Bed and

Breakfast, Crescent, IA.; 712-328-7593,www.JM4Ranch.com

Lewis Bottom Farms, Shellsburg, IA.;319-436-3323, www.lewisbottomsfarms.com

Natural Gait, Harpers Ferry, IA, 877-776-2208,www.thenaturalgail.com, ntrlgait@acegroup.cc

RREEADY-TADY-TO-RO-RIDE GUIDEIDE GUIDETr

ail H

orse

River Valley Horsecamp, Farmington, 319-878-3888, www.rivervalleyhorsecamp.com,info@rivervalleyhorsecamp.com

MINNESOTA - Trail RidesBush Wacker Trail Ride Club, Huntersville Fall

Trail Ride, Huntersville, MN.; 218-894-0056Outback Ranch, Inc., Houston, MN.;

507-896-5550, www.outbackranch.comOvernight Stabling

Outback Ranch, Inc., Houston, MN.;507-896-5550, www.outbackranch.comPublic Lands

Arrow Head State Park, Tower, MN.;218-753-6256 Chippewa National Forest, Deer River, MN.;

218-246-2123Heartland State Trail, Nevis, MN.;

218-652-4054Lake Louise State Park, LeRoy, MN.;

507-324-5249 Maplewood State Park, Pelican Rapids, MN.;

218-863-8383North Shore State Trail, Two Harbors, MN.;

218-834-5238Pillsbury State Forest, Brainerd, MN.;

218-828,2557Taconite State Trail, Tower, MN.;

218-753-2580 ext.250

NORTH DAKOTA - Trail RidesBadlands Trail Rides, Killdeer, ND.;

701-764-8000, www.badlandstrailrides.com

Tennessee Walking Horse Associaiton of NorthDakota Trail Ride, Grassy Butte/Turtle RiverState Park, 701-947-2190Riding Vacations

Knife River Ranch Vacations, Golden Valley,ND.; 701-983-4290, www.kniferiverranch.com

Little Knife Outfitters, Watford City, ND.; 701-973-4331, www.littleknifeoutfitters.comPublic Lands

Fort Ransom State Park, Fort Ransom, ND.;701-973-4331

SOUTH DAKOTA - Trail RidesBlue Sky Ranches, Custer State Park, 520-

824-1660, www.blueskyranches.comBroken Arrow Horse Camp, Custer, SD: 605-673-4471, www.brokenarrowcampground.com

Hay Creek Ranch, Nemo, SD: 605-578-1142,www.haycreekranch.net

Krieger Cattle Company, Burke, SD:605-775-2113Riding Vacations

Bitter Sweet Ranch and Camp, HillCity, SD: 605-574-2324, wwwbitterseetranchcamp.com

Broken Arrow Horse Camp, Custer,SD: 605-673-4471,www.brokenarrowcampground.com

Hay Creek Ranch, Nemo, SD: 605-578-1142,www.haycreekranch.net

Gunsel Horse Adventures, Rapic City, SD 605-343-7608,www.gusdelhorseadventures.com

Salt Camp Cabins and Bed and Breakfast,Rosebud, SD: 605-747-2206,saltcamp@gwtc.net

WISCONSIN - Trail RidesBremer Creek LLD, Mondovi, WI.;

608-323-3092, www.bremercreek.comRiding Vacations

Bremer Creek LLD, Mondovi, WI.;608-323-3092, www.bremercreek.com

Palmquist Farm, Brantwood, WI.;715-564-2558, www.palmquistfarm.comSpur of the Moment Ranch,LLC,Mountain,

WI.;800-644-8783. www.spurofthemomentranch.orgPublic Lands

Black River State Park, Black River Falls, WI;715-284-4103

Brule River State Forest, Douglas County, WI.;715-372-4866

Castle Rock Trails, Arkdale, WI.;608-564-2233

Governor Dodge State Park ,Dodgeville, WI.;608-935-2315

Haymeadow Flowage, Chippewa Falls, WI.;715-726-7880

Kerrle Moraine State Forest, CampbellsportWI.; 262-626-2116; 262-594-6200

Lake Wissota State Park, Chippewa Falls;715-382-4574

Token Creek County Park, Madison,WI.; 608-246-3896Wild Rock Park, Neilsville, WI.; 715-743-5140

45MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

RREEADY-TADY-TO-RO-RIDE GUIDEIDE GUIDE

This article was condensed from an interviewwith Carrie Scrima, Karen VanGetson and TomScrima, Founders of The American CompetitiveTrail Horse Association.

The organization is called the AmericanCompetitive Trail Horse Association…i.e. ACTHA(www.actha.us ). Their purpose is to give recog-nition to the American Trail Horse - their mottobeing "NOT JUST A TRAIL HORSE ANYMORE".The goal is to provide a great sport for familiesand friends to get together and learn to demon-strate their horse’s abilities and have fun. It isn’ta demanding or stressful sport - it is natural to thehorse and rider, and there are rules that keepit that way. It is billed as a “casual” competition.

A simple description of an ACTHACompetative Trail Challenge is an easy 5 to 10mile trial with a minimum of 6 obstacles. Weencourage the obstacles to be as natural aspossible, using as much natural terrain aspossible. The obstacles might be crossingwater, stepping over logs, opening gates, andgoing up and down embankments etc.

How is it judged? Judging is on horsemanship and cooperation

between horse and rider. It is not a speed orendurance event. Each obstacle is worth 20points - 10 points for the rider, 10 points for thehorse. The judges like to see as much finesseas possible from the rider, and calmness,bravery, and athletic ability from the horse arerewarded.

A natural headset is appreciated as well as abalanced rider.

To assure as much impartiality andobjectivity as possible 6 different individualjudges are used for the obstacles. This differsfrom one set of judges rotating betweenobstacles and gives the fairest impartial results.

What are the rules that make this a naturaland horse-friendly sport?

ACTHA doesn’t have many rules, persay,although the use of martingales and other such‘training’ devices are not allowed. They DO allowbitless bridles and hoof boots. Barefoot isallowed based on the riders judgment.

They enjoy putting on rides that are fun, edu-

cational, and safe yetchallenging and alsohave clinics from train-ers, vets, performance

coaches, both traditional and holistic, and hoofcare practitioners at the rides. Although dogs arenot allowed on the trail, they know horse peoplelove their dogs and provide a Great AmericanBest Dog Contest for the fun of it while scoresare being tallied. .

Why the “trail” horse? For too long the trail horse has gone

unrecognized for its incredible ability to takeyou across country, maneuvering through thecountryside, and getting you where you needto go. These horses have amazing abilitieswhen they have to go through rough terrain,go up and down steep hillsides, take youthrough numerous gates, cross streams, crossbridges, and yet keep you as safe as you canbe. We owe much of our history as a nationand culture to the great American Trail Horse.

What kinds of horses can participate? Any kind - all breeds and all unregistered

horses and equines are welcome. Any style ofriding and any type of saddle is also welcome, aslong as the horse is happy with it. Carrie Scrimapersonally came from an English (hunter/jumper) background, but this sport is verypopular with the western riders as well. Cariiefound that even when she was showing, trailriding refreshed and relaxed her horse. Cariiestated, “ I have seen many sour show horses,but I have truly never seen a sour trail horse.This is an ideal sport for any horse - it’s greatfor rehabilitated and rescued horses that arecapable and want to have some fun”.

Are there different age groups or levels? You bet. Virtually all age groups are repre-

sented in all our rides. The only criteria are aminimum age of 7 by ride day.

Where do the Competitive Trail Challengestake place?

If it’s a Saturday or Sunday you won’t haveto look far. They have over 300 rides on thebooks for 2010…and at that time it was justFebruary! They may well reach their magic goalof 1,000 this year. So needless to say the answerto the question is EVERYWHERE! With thenational TV and media coverage we are getting

our growth is exponential. Most rides take placeon beautiful private ranches, although State andFederal Lands are also welcomed.

What are the prizes for winners? There are 4 divisions: open, pleasure, junior,

and buddy. All get prizes! For example, the lowannual membership fee of $25 is rewarded with$50 of gifts our members choose from ACTHA’smany sponsor’s stores!

Pleasure, open and junior divisions split up$850 in certificates to go shopping for what theyneed. Ribbons are awarded in places 1-6 in alldivisions.

There is a jack pot for open riders that arevoluntary for those who wish to ride for cash. Thepot is often “primed” by ACTHA and the affiliate.100% of the jack pot is awarded.

ACTHA affiliates try to get local merchantsto join in as well.

As usual the “sponsors” are the unsungheroes here. We love our sponsors and aredeeply touched by their genuine giving. Theirprize budgets for ACTHA are breathtaking! Manyare donating over $100,000 per year in goodsand services…WOW! Sure they want ACTHAmembers to buy more from them, but they arewilling to prove their product’s effectiveness first!Who could ask for more?

All in all, every ACTHA ride receives over$1,200 in gifts…even our Buddy Riders, whodon’t compete, get something.

There is also a registry. All members horsesautomatically become part of ACTHA’s registryand are awarded points ranging for completionof the ride to winning the ride. Many breedregistries recognize ACTHA horses achieve-ments with points etc.

Non-registered horses are now automaticallyREGISTERED Horses as American CompetitiveTrail Horses along with the registered breed competitors.

The idea being that now a trail horse willhave some readily identifiable trail abilitycharacteristics and corresponding value. Forexample should one be purchasing a trailhorse and be made aware of its ACHTA stand-ings and points, that person then can berelatively assured this is a trail horse that canopen gates, cross water and obstacles safely etc.

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46 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

What is ACTHA, andthis new sport called“Competitive Trail Challenge”?

Thus a benchmark and value accompanieseach ACTHA performer. Theoretically a horsewith ACTHA points is worth more than anunknown horse. And the more ACTHA points themore valuable the horse. Not only that, but ourincredible system records every performanceresult on every obstacle type. This givesprospective buyers an ACTHA xray of the horse’sstrengths and weaknesses.

Affiliate Program - ACTHA has a completeaffiliate program including manuals and DVD’s togive explicit directions and examples for every-thing from judging to obstacles and more. It hasall been laid out, plus each affiliate is assigned anACTHA “Trail Boss” team. These are fully trainedseasoned veterans of horse events whom alsoare on ACTHA’s staff and/or management team.This Trail Boss system is the new affiliate’s lifeline. For complete affiliate information pleasecontact them.

ACTHA'S GOAL is to be the largest contrib-utor to horse charities in the USA with specialemphasis on helping horse rescues. There are,at current count, about 170,000 starving andneglected horses in America. This is shamefulbeyond belief in the richest country in the world.Our current economy has made it even worseas of late.

They don’t get involved in the politics of thesituation, they just deal with the facts. And thefact is horses are starving to death in epidemicproportions. Something must be done, muchmore than is currently being done. There arewonderful dedicated people and organizationstrying to plug the leak in the dyke but thedyke has burst! Major monetary assistance isneeded ASAP! If ACTHA can play its role inhelping fund the expansion and creation ofmore of these facilities it is our hope OTHERORGANIZATIONS will join with us an eradicatethis insult to an animal species that has servedmankind above and beyond the call.

Their estimation is that for every participantin an ACTHA sanctioned event (we call CTCs,Competitive Trail Challenges), a starving horsewill be fed for 2 weeks. One successful ridewill feed that same horse and care for him/herfor 2 years! The goal is to eventually have 1,700affiliates holding 3,400 rides annually across theUSA. This would enable us to support rescueswith funding for 25,000 horses…woefully shortof the total needed. But as ACTHA helpsperhaps the major registries and other organiza-tions will join and amplify their efforts and erasethis terrible stigma on our industry.

How can one get involved and what are thecosts?

It’s easy…To ride in an ACTHA event justvisit our web site, www.actha.us and join up.

For a listing of schedules events go to therride calendar page. They have many more ridesunder review and add them as they areapproved. Right now they are adding dozens tothe list weekly!

Cost to participate ranges from $35 to $58 . The web site is www.actha.us … please note

its .US vs .Com! …Think United States! You’llfind everything you need, including our directcontact phone numbers.

If you are interested in becoming an affiliate,clubs and organizations will find this a greatway to keep their treasuries full. It’s repeatableand each ride gets better and better. Most

hold more than one ride per year and almostall repeat! You’ll also have the satisfaction inknowing you are doing something positive toprovide humane treatment for our wonderfulhorses that are, and have always, served us well.

Certainly individuals with the skill set and

land availability are also welcome to apply foraffiliate status.There are absolutely no up frontcost financially to become an affiliate

To join a CTCor find out about becoming anaffiliate visit www.actha.US

47MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

Last month I mentioned leadership, confi-dence, trust, patience and time. All are importantcomponents of a positive relationsip with yourhorse. Let’s talk about your confidence level.

Every time you interact with your horse youneed to display a high level of confidence. If youapproach your horse in a way that shows insecu-rity he will pick up on it instantly. You telegraphhow you feel and your horse responds in a likemanner. If you are fearful your horse will be look-ing for some threat and a down-hill spiral begins.On the other hand, being confident shows yourhorse that all is well and he will be ready to followhis leader, you. When you are confident yourhorse sees you as all-knowing, in control of everysituation and worthy of his trust. He is ready tocount on you to keep him safe.

With confidence and trust on both sides youcan ask your horse to stretch his boundaries;cross a stream, climb a rocky hillside, walkacross a wooden bridge. He will do what youask because you trust him and he trusts you.

A couple of years ago we had a group fromthe Twin Cities staying with us. One of the galswas riding a leased horse. This Dun was ayoung gelding that had developed some bad

habits and rearing was his favorite.The first morning we left camp for aride and soon after getting on the trailwe crossed a stream. Well, everyoneexcept the Dun and his rider. I couldsee the anxiety on Nancy’s face whenthe Dun didn’t want to cross. Shegave a good effort in asking him tocross until he used one of the tools hehad learned to scare her. He rearedup and her confidence was shot. Ioffered to get the Dun going andNancy accepted. If she had chosen totake her horse back to camp his posi-tion as “leader” of the pair would havebeen strengthened. This was not anoption.

I climbed up on the Dun and wesoon began to come to an understand-ing. He quickly realized that he was nolonger in charge! I offered him onlyone option and that was to cross thestream. I asked him to step up to thewater and he moved side to side,kicked out and kicked at my heels. Allthe while I kept his head pointed at the

water. All of his tricks were failing to get theresults he desired so guess what he tried next?Yes, he reared up, twice. I stayed with him, rodeit out, and moved back to the stream. Rearingwas his best trick and it hadn’t worked so now hestood at the edge of the water, looked at it,smelled it and finally stepped in and splashed init. I asked him to take another step forward andwaited. He moved into the water. I asked him tostop and stand there for a moment and he low-ered his head and drank. When he finished Iasked him to continue across. As soon as wecame out of the water I turned him around andasked him to cross back to the other side. Helowered his head, sniffed the water and walkedacross. We did this six or seven times. The Dunlearned to accept his rider as the “leader” andtrust that he was not going to be in any danger.

I told Nancy “It’ll be fine”, and it was. Sherode the Dun the rest of the week without inci-dent. She rode with confidence, rememberingthat she was in charge, and exceeded her expec-tations for herself and her horse. The Duncrossed countless streams that week, and was abetter horse for the experience.

Build your confidence and your horse’s by

doing. Spend as much time as possible with yourhorse and make it count. Pick up his feet, groomhim, throw a rope around him, carry a bucket withrocks and shake it around him. Do anything youcan think of that will be new to your horse, butalways keep safety in mind and anticipate howyour horse might react when you expose him tosomething new. When you are confident of yourown safety your horse will learn that new andunexpected things that happen when you’rearound don’t hurt him and his trust in you willgrow.

If you think you need help building your con-fidence don’t let that hold you back. Find a men-tor, coach or trainer you like and ask for assis-tance. There are lots of good people willing tohelp. Ride with knowledgeable people that willpush you a little. Probably the best confidencebuilder is riding a good horse. Put a novice rideron a horse that has had years of good experi-ence and in a short time you will have a riderthat’s willing to take on big challenges. The flip-side is something that I think happens too often.Beginning riders buy a young, in-experiencedhorse and expect to “grow” together. I don’t thinkthis is a good combination so if you find yourselfin this situation I recommend you find someoneto help you stay on the right track. You and yourhorse will both enjoy the benefits of experiencedguidance.

Trail riding offers tremendous opportunitiesto build confidence and trust. Take the relation-ship you’ve built on the ground into the saddleand out to the trails! Be creative and look formore experiences than just following the horse infront of you. Look for logs and tangles of branch-es on the ground to cross. This will teach yourhorse how to place his feet. When he really hasit figured out he will lower his head and hunt forthe best route through these obstacles (fun).Ride through a forest of small pines (we call thisPine Surfing in the Hills), asking your horse topush his way through. Trees in front, around,behind and even under your horse are a reallearning experience for him. And don’t forgetabout water crossings. Your horse will let youknow how much he trusts you when it comes towater. Some stop short and refuse to cross;some may load the gun and try to jump across.When you get to that crossing, telegraph yourconfidence to your partner. Don’t look down intothe water, pull on your horse’s head and tenseup. Instead, look across the water where youwant to go, stay relaxed in the saddle and giveyour horse his head and you will have anuneventful crossing.

Use trail riding to benefit your partnership.It’s fun and relaxing for you and gives your horsea job he can succeed at, a great combination.With increasing confidence and trust betweenyou and your horse, remember, “It’ll be fine!”

Doug and Jody Lindgren own and operateHay Creek Ranch near Nemo, SD. Doug rides2-10 hours every day, spring, summer and fall,training horses to be great trail horses. You canvisit their website at www.haycreekranch.net

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IT’LL BE FINE!Article IIby Doug Lindgren

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49MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

Question: Julie, I have a question that I amhoping you can help me with. My gelding canterson the lunge line with no problem. However,when I am riding, it is difficult to make him take upthe canter. And, then when he does, he takes offvery fast. Do you have any suggestions on howto train him to be more willing and consistent?Also, is there anything I can do to make him morecollected at the canter? I would like to slow himdown a bit. Thanks for your help. I appreciate it!Sincerely, Elizabeth

Answer: Elizabeth,The behaviors you describe are typical of a

horse that is afraid of the canter transi-tion. Some horses have been hurt somany times in the canter departure by therider hitting him them in the mouth andslamming down on their backs, that theybecome emotional train wrecks whenasked to canter. They throw their headsup in the air and run off; running in fearof the pain they are sure is coming. It isa self-defeating behavior that soonbecomes a self-fulfilling prophesy for thehorse because it causes the rider tostiffen and hold the reins tighter, which inturn causes the rider to hit the horse in the

mouth and back.However, before starting on a training

solution, you’ll have to rule out any physicalcause for the problem and this is also verycommon in canter departure problems. Could bea saddle fit issue, a chiropractic issue or evenlameness. Have your vet or another qualifiedprofessional examine your horse and saddle fitand once you have ruled out any physicalcause, you can look to a training solution.

Here’s what I’d do to fix the problem of ahorse that is scared and reactive during thecanter departure: first, I’d work the horse at the

trot, until I can trot on atotally loose rein with hishead down and at aslow, steady speed (ifthis is a problem, you’llneed to back up andwork more at the trotwith the exercises forslowing down you’ll findin my Training Library).Then I would give mycanter cue softly andin slow motion, (outsideleg, lift my inside handslightly then push withmy seat for the cueto canter) leaving thereins loose. If the horsethrows his head up inthe air and takes off, Ijust le him go, thengently and slowly pickup on the inside rein tobring him gradually ontoa large circle, which willdiscourage his speed.Continue at the canteruntil he slows down andrelaxes, then let himcome back to a niceeasy trot.

I would repeat thisexercise on a loose reinagain and again until helearns to trust that his

mouth will not be hurt in the upward transition tothe canter and therefore loses his fear of thetransition. Surprisingly, some horses will figureit out right away with the right rider, but if it isan engrained pattern in both horse and rider,this problem can be difficult to overcome. It willhelp if the horse can learn the correct responsefrom a skilled rider. This is not an easy problemto fix unless you have solid riding skills andconfidence riding at speed.

This problem is addressed in my cantervideo, along with the actual mechanics andtiming of the proper cue for canter departures.It is in volume 4 in my riding series,Goodnight’s Principles of Riding, Canter withConfidence. You can order onlinehttp://www.juliegoodnight.com/products.html orcall 800-225-8827, M-F, 9-5 mtn.

Once you have fixed the canter departure,and your horse is stepping smoothly into thecanter, you can start thinking about collection.Before working on collection at the canter, youshould be able to work your horse on a looserein in an extended frame or on a short rein in acollected frame at the walk and trot, and havehim maintain a steady speed, rhythm and frame.

You’ll need to have the ability to sit the trotand canter well and feel the rhythm of the gaitin your seat and legs. You’ll need steady handsand to learn to use your reins in an alternatingrhythm in timing with your seat and legs andyour horse’s hind legs. If you can do all of this,you are ready to work on collection.

First you must learn what collection is, howto ask for it and how to know when you getthe desired response so that you can rewardyour horse for his efforts with a release. All ofthis is explained in detail in volume 5 in my ridingseries, Refinement and Collection. There arealso many articles on my website that explainproper riding technique and how to feel thetiming of the aids for collection.

It will take time and patience for your horseto gain confidence in the canter departure andyou’ll have to work to improve your riding at thesame time. But if you work with patience andpersistence, you’ll get there.

Enjoy the ride, JG

Julie Goodnight has more than a quarter-century of horse training experience. Her variedbackground ranges from dressage and jumpingto racing, reining, colt-starting, and wildernessriding. She teaches "Classic Skills for a NaturalRide" and travels coast-to-coast and beyondto film her award-winning television show,Horse Master, as well as to appear at horseexpos, conferences and clinics. In 2008 she wasnamed Equine Affaire's Exceptional EquestrianEducator--one of only three awards ever given.Visit www.juliegoodnight.com.

www.horsedigests.com

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ISSUES IN THE SADDLE

Fast and Rough CanterDepartures by Julie Goodnight

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AMERICAN MORGANHORSE ASSOCIATIONHONORS ITS OWN ATANNUAL CONVENTION

Nearly 300 membersof the American MorganHorse Association(AMHA) traveled to theBluegrass State ofKentucky, February 17-20to attend its annual con-vention. Between semi-nars, auctions, and farmtours in Lexington, theyalso took time to honorthose who have dedicat-ed their time and devotion

to the Morgan breed on the evening of Friday,February 19.

Man of the Year and Woman of the Yearawards honor those individuals for their contin-ued support of the breed throughout the year.This year's honorees were Roger Barricklow ofSardinia, Ohio, and Connie Barker ofCarmichael, California.

Nicole Nicholson of Manhattan, Illinois, wasawarded the Cecil Brown MemorialSportsmanship Award, which is given to aMorgan exhibitor who has displayed outstandingsportsmanship throughout the past year.

Inducted into AMHA's Hall of Fame wereElaine Galatz of Las Vegas, Nevada; the late M.A. "Bud" Hanson of Lunenberg, Ontario, Canada;and Nancy Jewell of Post Falls, Idaho. Theseindividuals have promoted the breed on a nation-al level for many years.

The Breeders' Hall of Fame honored abreeder(s) who has produced Morgans that havehad a significant impact on the breed. This year'shonorees were Cedar Creek Farm in Perrysburg,Ohio; Tara Farm of Raleigh, North Carolina; andTennessee Valley Morgans of Knoxville,Tennessee.

The Golden Reins Award is given to aMorgan professional who has a 30-year career intraining or instruction. Harold Angell of LasVegas, Nevada; Pierre Loiselle of Hemlock,Michigan; and Lynn and Kathy Peeples ofOxford, New Jersey, received this special recog-nition.

Claudia Grimes of Wooster, Ohio, was hon-ored for her outstanding contributions to theMorgan youth program as the AMHA YouthPerson of the Year.

American Morgan Horse Association • 122Bostwick Road • Shelburne, Vermont 05482 •(802) 985-4944 • FAX (802) 985-8897

51MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

Midwest Horse Digest is Online, you’ll find

more articles, videos, photoclassifieds and back issues!

www.horsedigests.com

www.horsedigests.com

52 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

The first time I saw wild horses running freeacross the Nevada landscape, it took my breathaway – and my heart too. The herd consisted ofall sizes and colors of horses moving as a coor-dinated unit, seemingly carefree but with a desti-nation in mind. Reading about such things does-n’t compare to the real experience. In thatmoment I was part of history - the Pony Express,wagon trains, main streets in pioneer towns,Native American hunters returning to their vil-lages with buffalo carcasses. I was rememberingtales of the 1600s when Spanish horses weredispersed by settlers throughout the Southwestand California. Watching the herd from a camou-flage blind as a Bureau of Land Management(BLM) employee, the mountains of Nevada in thebackground, it dawned on me that I had no cluehow fast a wild horse could run! Another factwould surface as well: wild horses and burroscannot exist on the range at their present popula-tion levels.

Months later, on another staff visit toAmerica’s public lands, a colleague and Iwatched a horse standing by a tree - alone.John, a man with years of wild horse and burroexperience to his credit, said the horse would notwander far from that spot. The animal’s ribs wereeasily visible and its eyes were dull. John wasright.The horse never moved during our shortstay. This time, my reaction to seeing a wildhorse was different. Instead of excitement, I felt alittle moisture pooling in my eyes. Old age wasnot the reason for the horse’s poor condition;drought and lack of nutritious vegetation were.Native grasses had been replaced by cheat-grass, an abundant invasive species, one ofmany on western ranges. Cheatgrass does noteven appeal to livestock. However, even thoughlivestock can and do succumb to drought andmalnutrition, cattle can be managed so they donot starve - not such an easy task for wild hors-es.

During the next four years I saw more herds

whose numbers multiplied, and I witnessed moreunhealthy wild horse and burro incidents. Canadoptions be the answer to this problem? Notentirely. Reaching appropriate management levelamong 30,000 plus wild horses and burros is anearly insurmountable goal. But rounding upanimals and offering them for adoption canpresent a partial solution. However, animalsremoved from the range and not adopted mustremain in short-term corrals or long-term holdingfacilities.

Today, as I sit at my desk in the BLM EasternState Office working with the Wild Horse & Burro(WH&B) Program, I often recall that first WildWest experience. It is almost possible to taste thedust left behind from hooves moving in unisonand to feel the ground vibrate as if an earthquakewere to strike at any moment! But reality bringsme back to the present and to the importanttask at hand which is to find ways to save thelives of these amazing animals. Help is at handin the form of colleagues, adopters, volunteersand partners who support the BLM mission to actas “Guardians of the Past; Stewards for theFuture.”

Spending $125 to adopt a wild horse is, forhundreds of adopters, the beginning of a longfriendship. Juan Palma, BLM Eastern StatesDirector, describes wild horses as, “Intelligent,athletic, sure-footed, able to compete in a variety

of events andexcel in cutting,endurance, west-ern pleasure, andeven dressage.”This descriptionnearly echoes the

words of a wild horse and burro adopter whendescribing her adopted wild horse. Funds weretight for her and her husband at the time, andthey didn’t have a lot of land. What they did havewas an attachment for this animal that seemed toreturn their affection with his brown eyes.

A trainer said, “You can train all the domesti-cated horses you want, but a mustang, that’s atrue test of who you are.” Adopting a wild horseor burro today IS possible and there are many,many volunteers, adopters, trainers and BLMhorse specialists available to help with theprocess. Once you have adopted one of thesewild creatures, life will not be the same. It will bevastly enhanced!

Won’t you please think about adopting a wildhorse or burro? Or several of each? Remember,there is help out there for training, answers toquestions, learning what works, facing chal-lenges with other adopters and many additionalsupport mechanisms. Adoption can be from ascheduled site or from the Internet. If you alreadyown horses, is there a stable for one more horseor burro?

Visit www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call866-4MUSTANGS for further information aboutthe BLM Wild Horse & Burro Program, includingadoptions.

Saving America’s Living Legends

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Before writing 14 best-selling books, TamiHoag held a variety of jobs including trainingshow horses. With her success as a writer ofsuspense novels, including the book Night Sinswhich became a TV miniseries starring ValerieBertinelli and Harry Hamlin, Hoag turned herattention back to riding horses. Ms Hoag iscurrently touring to promote her new novelDeeper Than Dead but she made time to speakwith Equine VIP.

YOU HAVE WRITTEN 14 BOOKS THATHAVE BEEN ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST. YOU ALSO RIDE PROFESSION-ALLY AND COMPETE AT AN INTERNATIONALLEVEL OF DRESSAGE. HOW DO FIND THETIME?

It's a balancing act. My usual day is riding inthe morning and working afternoons andevenings. It doesn't leave much time for anythingelse, but these are the two things I love most, soI consider myself lucky.

YOU RECENTLY WROTE THE FORE-WARD FOR THE NEW BOOK “THE BIG BOOKOF SMALL EQUINES: A CELEBRATION OFMINATURE HORSES AND SHETLANDPONIES”. WE UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE APERSONAL CONNECTION TO SHETLANDPONIES?

Yes. I started out on ponies. I learned to rideand drive with your garden-variety backyardShetland ponies. They were great babysittersand friends.

THIS IS YOUR 10TH YEAR RIDING DRES-SAGE. WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE DISCIPLINETHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE SPORT?

The grace, the elegance, the control, thepower. Everything about it, really. I love thatdressage is based on a logical system of trainingthe horses that has remained basicallyunchanged for generations. Most of all, I lovethe partnership that develops between horseand rider.

TELL US ABOUT THE HORSES YOUCURRENTLY OWN, COMPETE AND RIDE?KNOWING YOU HAVE A GOAL IN MIND, HOWDO YOU PICK A GOOD PARTNER?

I have a great group of horses. Bacchus de

Light 2 will be my #1 grand prix horse this year.He is Swedish and came from Michael Klimke'sbarn in Germany. Bacchus is loved by all, thebenevolent king of all he surveys. He promptlyinjured himself after I bought him, and it's beena long road getting him back, but he's worth thewait. My #2 horse is Rush Hour 4, a tall brightred chestnut Hanoverian with a world of talent.Then there's Fhilosopher, the class clown. He'sa stunning liver chestnut Westfalen gelding.My project. He's something like fourth levelschooling grand prix Also a very talented athletewho needs a rider with a lot of feel and patience.I'm really enjoying getting into his head and work-ing to bring out the best in him. Last but by nomeans least is the fabulous Feliki, who will be 23in March and is still hot as a pistol. She refusesto retire. She can still outwork every horse in thebarn. We've been together ten incredible years inSeptember. She was my first grand prix horseand I almost didn't buy her because I thought shewas too old--at 13! Now I'm beginning to thinkshe'll outlive me.

How do I pick an equine partner? I alwayslook for a horse that will challenge me. I havenever owned a schoolmaster. D'Artagnon--myfirst dressage horse--was a very tough ride, but Ibought him knowing I would be a better rider forit. Feliki ran off with me all the time when I firstgot her because she thought I was stupid. I hadto figure her out and earn her respect. I like ahorse that's smart, maybe a little arrogant, oreven insecure, so I have to win them over andgain their trust. That's what's rewarding to me.When you make a real partnership with a horselike that, they will give you everything they have.

SPEAKING OF PARTNER – YOU STARTEDYOUR DRESSAGE CAREER TRAINING WITHBETSY STEINER. YOU’VE EVEN PERFORMEDA PAS DE DEUX WITH BETSY FOR THE USTEAM AT THE CHALLENGE OF THE AMERIC-AS. OBVIOUSLY, SHE HAS BECOME QUITE AMENTOR. CAN YOU SHARE A TIDBIT YOU’VELEARNED FROM HER?

Betsy has been a great friend and mentor fora decade now, so it's hard to boil that down into afew words. But I'll tell a little story that says it all.When I met Betsy I was looking for my first dres-sage horse. She connected me with GuenterSeidel from whom I purchased D'Artagnon, abeautiful but difficult small tour horse. I grew upriding western and some jumpers, but had beenout of riding for five years. I had only had a cou-ple of years training in dressage before that onborrowed horses. But when I bought D'Ar, mygoal for the year was to be riding Prix St.Georges by the end of the show season. Onlyone person in my acquaintance at the time didn'tscoff, didn't tell me it couldn't be done, didn't betagainst me. That person was Betsy. I told Betsymy goals and she took a big deep breath andsaid "Okay. Let's get to work." She was willing tobelieve in me. That's who Betsy is. She knows

what it is to have a dream and goals, and to workhard to achieve them. Two months after we start-ed working, I rode in my first show--the RaleighCDI. I won two amateur 4th level classes andtook home a bucket of ribbons, qualified forregional championships and Devon. By the endof that season I was not only riding Prix St.Georges, I ended up 5th or 6th in the nationalstandings--thanks to Betsy.

WRITING PROFESSIONALLY REQUIRESA GREAT DEAL OF DEDICATION. SINCE YOUARE SUCCESSFUL AT WRITING AND RIDING,DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OUR READ-ERS ON HOW TO MAKE TIME FOR A CAREERAND HOBBY?

You have to be very dedicated and disci-plined, and you have to be willing to sacrifice inother areas of your life.

YOU ARE SPONSORED BY TRILOGYSADDLES. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THEIR SAD-DLES THAT MADE YOU WANT TO RIDE FORTHEM?

--The Trilogy saddle is the most well-bal-anced saddle I have ever sat on. It allows me tohave perfect position without restricting me or thehorse. The design of the panels is very mindful ofthe comfort for the horse's back. All that and it'sbeautiful too. And the customer service isbeyond compare.

YOU ARE CURRENTLY ON A TOUR FORYOUR NEW BOOK “DEEPER THAN DEAD”. ISTHERE A WEBSITE WE CAN GO FOR MOREINFORMATION ON YOUR BOOK SIGNINGSAND APPEARANCES? www.tamihoag.comReaders can also follow me on Twitter:tamihoag@twitter.com

TWO OF YOUR BESTSELLING NOVELS,DARK HORSE AND ALIBI MAN, ARE SETAMONGST THE ACTION OF THE SHOWJUMPING WORLD OF WELLINGTON, FLORI-DA. ANY CHANCE YOU MIGHT WRITEANOTHER NOVEL AMIDST THE WORLD OFDRESSAGE?

I would definitely like to write more aboutthose characters, though I don't have a story forthem yet. I'll get back to them eventually.

WHAT IS YOUR NEXT EQUESTRIAN GOALWE CAN WATCH FOR IN 2010?

My main goal for this year is to take my timeand build my partnership with Bacchus. He'ssuch a special horse. I think we can go fartogether, but I won't rush it. It's most importantto keep him sound and happy, then we canhave a long career together.

Equine VIP is written by Producer/HostSusan Ashbrook who is also developing a TVseries based on her interviews with celebritiesand top equestrians. For more information go towww.equineVIP.com

Equine VIP interviews celebrities and eques-trian VIPs because “If It’s About Horses, WeCover It”.

Tami Hoag talks to Equine VIPby Susan Ashbrook,, owner Equine VIP

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55MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

Adertiser Index

Ace Tack & Outfitters page 13ACTHA page 47ADM page 17American Wood Fibers page 35Ansur Saddlery page 31 Arena Fenceline page 27Arena Trailer Sales page 49B Bar 10 page 26Bakko Industries - The Jug page 328Bale Buddy page 12Blairview page 25BLM page 53Bloomquist Law Firm page 61Cannon Falls Trailer Sales page 3Central Iowa Featherlite page 51Central MN Horse Fest page 23Carlson Wholesale - Ritchie page 21Connolly Red Mills page 31Conway Arabians page 41Custom Panel Doors page 17Denny’s Trailer Sales page 32

continued...

Donn’s Leather Works page 61DunHaven Horsey Headwear page 61Excalibur Breeding Center page 43Farnam page 2, 7, 11, 21Feathered Gold Stables page 39Federated Coop page 19Glad Farms Morgans page41Haycreek Ranch page 44Hillside Farm page 61I90 Expo Center page 29Ivanhoe fQ page 42J & B Western Store page 5Julie Goodnight page 50KCB Equine Center page 61Ken McNabb page 8K Fence page 33Larry Whitesell Clinic page 42Lincoln Sales page 51Lisa Kosmos page 44LJB & Company page 61Lynn Palm page 29Midwest Cremation page 27Mimbach Fleet Supply page 61MN Arabian Horse Assoc. page 39Minnesota Horse Council page 27, 61MN Horse Expo page 9MN Hooved Animal Rescue page 38MN Lake Realty page 44MN School Of HorseShoeing page 12MNTA page 41More Custom Leather page 61 Natural Plan Stomach Soother page 13Northland Buildings page 21Nutrena page 37Ogallala Livestock Auction page 38Painted Pony Western Wear page 18Pleasant Hills Saddle Shop page 20, 61Photo Classifieds page 59PMHA page 40Real Estate

HJN Team page 56Century 21 page 56

Red River Valley Horse Fair page 19Redwood Stables - Stallion page 40Roger Berg - Insurance page 57R.T. Duggan page 61Roger Berg Insurance page 23Schatzlein Saddle Shop page 27SM Iron Sales page 52Simon Horse Sales page 39Square Meal Feeds page 45Stable Grid Systems page 64Steers Tack page 36Tak Shak page 61Tail Tamer page 26 The Boot Lady page 18The Farm B & B page 17The Model Horse Store page 19The Natural Gait page 44Thurk Bros. Chevrolet page 36Town and Country Vet. page 37Triple Cross Design page 61Truly Cowgirl Creations page 18Twin Cities Featherlite page 29Twin Cities Horse Sales page 63Twoasonehorsemanship.com page 16UBRA page 62 Uckele page 33United Vet page 29View Point Stables page 44Vintage Vanners page 40Wade Scott - Insurance page 56West 20 page 14,15West Wind page 33Wind -N -Wood page 40

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57MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

Many people in the equestrian world oftenrun into Release of Liability and Hold Harmlessagreements. You may be the person being askedto sign the agreement or, if you plan to host anevent, you may be told you must have one inorder to have participants. But we may not allknow the laws surrounding these agreementsand their enforceability. The purpose of aRelease from Liability and Hold HarmlessAgreement, or a liability waiver, is to help protectyou and your horse business or facility from thefinancial effects of lawsuits that may result frominjuries occurring on your property or involvingyour equipment, staff or horses. Activities involv-ing horses, by their very nature, can pose manyrisks and dangers. A liability waiver should beused as part of your risk management plan.

There are many situations in which a releaseand waiver of liability can be utilized. Theseinclude, among others: liability releases for indi-vidual who allow guests to ride their horses;releases for individuals who allow guests to“haul-in” horses and ride on the individual’s prop-erty; liability release forms for those who haulother people’s horses whether they be individualhaulers, trainers or commercial businesses; lia-bility waivers for horse sellers who have potentialbuyers riding or handling sale horses; liabilityreleases for individual horse owners who haveother riders exercising or showing their horse; lia-bility release for horse boarding facilities; liabilitywaivers for trainers and riding instructors; andreleases for horse activities such as clinics,shows, and demonstrations.

In a liability waiver, the participant agrees tonot hold the person or organization providing theservice legally responsible for any damages thatthe participant may incur as a result of taking partin the activity. The liability waiver absolves theorganization of liability even for negligent acts, solong as the act does not constitute more thanordinary negligence. More than ordinary negli-gence is those acts that are done to intentionallycause harm, are grossly negligent or are willfuland wanton. Gross negligence is very great neg-

ligence that is absent of even slight care. Willfuland wanton is the failure to use ordinary careafter having discovered a person or property in aposition of danger.

In Minnesota, releases are not favored butare valid and enforceable if they are betweenparties holding equal bargaining positions, arenot against public policy, and are not ambiguousor purport to release one from intentional, willful,or wanton acts. Equal bargaining positions existwhere the activity or services are available else-where and are not essential (i.e. essential tolivelihood). Minnesota courts have stated thatrecreational activities, including horseback riding,are not the type of activities that involve publicinterest and are thus not against public policy. Inconsidering whether a release is ambiguous, acourt will interpret individual clauses in contextwith the obvious meaning of the release as awhole.

An accident must be of the type contemplat-ed by the liability release in order for it to releasea party from liability for that accident. Accidentsinvolving an integral aspect of an activity arepresumptively within the scope of a release ofliability governing the activity. For example,Minnesota courts have specifically held thatfalling off a horse is an integral part of riding andtherefore fell within the scope of a releaseconcerning horseback riding. To ensure thatpotential accidents are covered by the release,the release should include a description of thenature of the activity involved and list possibleconsequences of injuries, both minor and seri-ous. The list need not be comprehensive butshould be representative of the range of injuriesthat may occur. The release should also includelanguage regarding behavioral expectations ofthe participant (that they adhere to safety rules,wear a helmet, etc.).

A well-written release can protect one fromliability for injuries resulting from ordinarynegligence, but it is not foolproof. There aresome steps that one can take to help insure thatthey will not be held liable for any injuries to

participants of their services. When executing arelease agreement, it should be accompaniedwith a verbal explanation of the agreement. Theparticipant should be given an opportunity to askany question that they may have. If there is anaccident, the release will be a piece of evidencein any potential lawsuit, so it is important to retainthe original copy of the release. Further, it maybe helpful to make an accident report at the timethe accident occurs including written statementsof any witnesses. Finally, if the circumstancesof the organization or any of their horseactivities change, the release may also need tobe changed.

There are some specific laws regardingliability and equine non-profit organizations.Under Minnesota Statute § 604A.12, non-profitorganizations are immune from liability for thedeath or injury of a participant that results fromthe inherent risks of horse activities. The statutedefines inherent risks as those that result fromthe dangers that are an integral part of horseactivities, such as kicking, bucking, the unpre-dictability of horses, natural hazards posed bysurface conditions and the possibility of horsescolliding with one another or other objects.

In order for the statute to apply, the non-prof-it organization must post plainly visible signs inthe area that the horse activity takes place thatwarn of the inherent risks of horse activities andof the limitation of liability under the statute. Thestatute will not exempt a non-profit organizationfrom liability where the organization knowinglyuses faulty tack, failed to use reasonable careto protect the participant from a known, human-made dangerous condition, fails to make areasonable effort to assess the ability of theparticipant and match their ability to a suitablehorse (if applicable), or where the organization’sacts that caused an accident were willful or inten-tional.

Unfortunately, there is no ‘one size fits all’release form that will provide liability protection inall states and under all circumstances. Justbecause a release may work for one person,organization or business does not mean it willwork for another. You should always be wary ofusing a form contract as a form may not provideyou with the desired protection. Instead, youshould consult with an attorney to craft a Releaseof Liability and Hold Harmless agreement appro-priate for your situation. You should be sure todiscuss with your attorney the enforceability ofsuch agreements under your particular circum-stances.

NOT LEGAL ADVICE: This article has beenprepared for general information purposes only.The information in the article is not legal advice.Legal advice is dependent upon the specific cir-cumstances of each situation. Also, the law mayvary from State to State, so that some informa-tion in this article may not be correct for yourjurisdiction. The information in this article cannotreplace the advice of competent legal counsellicensed in your state.

2010 Copyright, All rights reserved. Leah A.Indrelie Loomis

Leah A. Indrelie Loomis is an attorney atBloomquist Law Firm, LLC, a small firm inChaska, Minnesota and practices in the area ofequine law, estate planning and family law.L L o o m i s @ B l o o m q u i s t L a w . c o m ;www.bloomquistlaw.com.

EQUINE LAW

The Use of Liability Waivers for Equestrians by Leah A. Indrelie Loomis

www.horsedigests.com

58 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

ClassifiedsBUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Horse Lovers! Would you like to own your own-business helping horses, working your ownhours and make about $75 an hour plus excel-lent sales commissions? 7 Year old companyneeds reps for US, Europe, Australia, etc. Oursuccess rate is amazing, and we can show youwhat to do and how to do it. No pushy salespeople, please. Ifyou love horses, PLEASE visitthe THERAPY page at www.sumereltraining.comto learn more. In 2 weeks you could be in anew career. Part or full time. $5,000 covers allequipment. Exclusive territories and excellentcompany support. If you already work withhorses, this could help you as well. 540-384-6220

ASSOICATIONS

International Spotted Horse Registry Association.Color registry for horses of color patterns. Draftsto Miniatures, Grade to Pureblood, Sponsoring2010 Online Photo Horse of Color Show! 300different classes. January to November 1st.866-201-3098ISHRPPA@AOL.COM

BOARDING

www.sunsetridgeranch.com : Heated/cooledindoor-outdoor-roundpen: pasture/boxstall board-training and lessons. Clearwater, MN 320-558-2980.

EQUIPMENT & PRODUCTS

10 box stalls,- 1-x1- - Brand new, nowood.$13,000. Choose your color. Contact507-527-2914. Will sell individually.

New leather harness, 3rd generation business.Team, work, complete with hames, collars extra.Draft $802.00. Qtr. horse $757.00. w 3 hip - Draft$882.00. Qtr. horse $812.00. Buggy breast Qtr$220.00, Pony $140.00. (651) 222-5616. Website- stpaulsaddlery.com Catalogue - St PaulSaddlery, 953 W 7th St., St Paul, MN 55102

Master Saddler offers complete saddleryrepairs.Trees replaced, complete reflocks, newseats,billets, tree alterations on Kieffer andPrestigesaddles. Appointments booked for quickturnaround. Skilled repair of driving harness and-sidesaddles. Custom accessories for side saddlecompetition. Bridles sewn in. Contact Michael -847-776-6700 or email master_saddler@saddlersrow.com Website www.saddlersrow.com

HORSES FOR SALE

3 year old palomino filly, broke. Topside:Frenchman Tanner, Frenchman Guy, Sunfrost,Driftwood. Mare side: Siverspike, Poco Bueno.Also - Full brother, 2 year old gelding, not broke.Color Camelo. 507-762-3467

Registerable 2+year old paint quarter horse studand green broke 6 year old gelding, 218-243-3321

2007 Buckskin gelding, cow bred, good disposi-tion and 100% foundation. 2008 Bay Stallion,Poco Bueno, Martin's Jessie and HollywoodGold. Stud Prospect.2008 Buckskin Stallion, 34%Poco Bueno, 22% King, 100% foundation. StudProspect. 620-378-3152

Beautiful Buttermilk buckskin Mare!! Smart, will-ing, and really sweet, broke to ride outside or inan arena. Needs a intermedite ridder!! She is builtfor speed but could be just a nice trail or ranchhorse if someone is willing to put time into her, upto date on shots, worming, and trimming920-566-0241 .

.Athletic, Flashy 8 YO TB Gelding, 16.1H beauti-ful gaits, upper level eventing potential. $12,000.SE Wisc. - 847/924-9089.

2007 Bay Overo English Prospect, started undersaddle and still in training. Good looking, bigbodied, nice stride, good minded and great man-ners.15.2 and still growing. Asking $9500.815/238-8462.

For Sale: 16 Yr. Buckskin Paint Gelding. Needsexperienced rider. 815/943-7031 evenings.Appaloosa Reg. Mares. 3 Yr+ Gentle, pretty,friendly. Will be great under saddle. Reasonablypriced. 815/814-1803.

STALLIONSDakota Gambler Rare Black and White Pintabian

At Stud: Proven 99.6% Purebred Arabian.Athletic, Correct, Beauty, Elegance, Kind disposi-tion with awesome movement. RegistrationNumbers: 320-283-5933, spruchlo@gctel.com

REAL ESTATE

165 Acres, Farmhouse & Horse Barn in Elk River,MN for $699,000. Located next to 2,700 acreSand Dunes State Forest which has 29 miles ofHorseback trails and the Bob Dunn HorseCampground.Contact Brian 612-532-1164

Barrington Hills – Famous Kickapoo Farms. 28acre horse facility w/2 updated homes, 15-stallbarn w/70x100 indoor arena, 90x60 pole barn,90’ round arena, 125’ outdoor arena, 11 pastures.Used to breed & train cutting horses/thorough-breds. Lori Rowe, Coldwell Banker 847/774-7464Go to www.premierhorseproperty.com

Custom built french country home on 40 acres.3600 square feet; 3 bedroom 4 bath; gaitedentrance; 3 bay shop with living quarters; 2 stallhorse barn with automatic water and vinyl fenc-ing.Paved driveway and lots more. 417-326-9784mrparsons@windstream.net

VACATIONS

The first Montana High Country Cattle Drive of2010 will be a singles drive. If you are into hors-es and romance, please visit our website atwww.montanacattledrive.com. or call 1-800-345-9423 for more information.

CLASSIFIEDS WORK!$10.00 per month for 20 words, $.15 foreach word over 20. Send your classified

in with your check or credit card to:

Midwest Horse Digest, Attention: Peg (classified)40694 30th Street, Elmore, MN 56027 or call 507-943-3355

Name:______________________________________ 20 Words = $10.00

Address:____________________________________ # Extra Words ___x $.15 = ______

City:________________________St:_____Zip:_________ Sub-Total: ______

Credit Card#____________________________________ # of months to Run x: ______

Type:________Exp. Date:_________3 Digit Code:______ Total: ______Phone:_______________Email:______________________Number of Months to Run:______

AD Category:_________________

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_____________________________________________________FRIESIANS,FRIESIANS,FRIESIANSwww.excaliburbreeding.com

218-678-4125

59MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

8 YR. MARE, Gorgeous,Beginners Dream Horse!Barrel racing and trail.$4,000 Pinto-Beginners,young or old, this is thehorse for you. Gentle,smooth, and a nice bar-rel horse, great on trailstoo. Call 605-670-9098harttraining@hcinet.net

NORWEGIAN FHORD HORSESBeautiful, family horses

1 Grey mare, 4 years old, Registered P.S. Emmie.Broke to ride, started driving, beautiful! 1- 3 year old

brown dun gelding, started riding and driving. 2 coming2 year old geldings. 1 grey and 1 brown. Ready to start.

All excellent breeding, family raised. 515-243-3807 days, 515-238-2745 cell

pantherstables@aol.com

RUSHLOW'S WONDER -GREAT YOUTH HORSE-WESTERN/HUNTOffered at $10,000 Call Dalton Budd 517-281-5271Rushlows WonderBloodlines 317-531-1326info@selectshowhorses.com

HALF-ARABIAN- CRBLONDE BOMBSHELLHalf-Arabian filly VanillaHot Shot (Cremello ASB) xKismet May Wine (Aladdin-breeding) 2009 Palomino -very fancy, sweet personal-ity, Show home preferred. 816-678-5807 - 816-665-7030 smc1776@embarqmail.com

WISH UPON A STARR- HALFARABIAN, IOWA GOLD STARAUCTION NOMINATED - SirSpattson x Greta Starrbo TM(GG Bask Starr) Extremely nicemare, lively, well-mannered!BLACK with 4 whites!Pprofessionally trained. Shown inHalter and Western Pleasure. 816-678-5807, smc1776@embarqmail.com

AA DESPIERTA, EliteWinner of the GANADORTrophy, (Despierto xArdorosa del Greco)$15,000 Andalusian Infoal to US NationalChampion 3rd level dres-sage horse "Legado".Sheis carrying a "sexed" male foal.Available in utero for$10,000 262-249-8870 selwoodp@idcnet.com

URGEL III. PROVENPRODUCER OFMOVEMENT! ANCCERevised, 16.1 hands (DanesIII by Maja VII). His foals areof consistent quality and havehis conformation, power,movement, kindness, andlove for people. 940-686-0910 ranchoandalucia@earthlink.net

For Sale

RARE OPPORTUNITY! 67 acre dream property, justwest of Alexandria,MN. Commercialhorse stable.Possibilities- horsestable,camp ground,mixed use develop-ment. $499,000 -218-943-9180 Mn. Lakes Realty of Alexandriahttp://www.flexmls.com/link.html?req94qdfymp,4,1

Horses of Distinction - One-of-a-kind reference all horselovers will treasure. Practicalguide to registering andshowing. Surprising factsand interesting insights. 31color photos. 91 pages.Softbound. 715-265-4226Fran333@centurytel.netwww.equestrian-horses.com

2009 Twister 4 Horse GN 8X32 7'6" Tall, with 14'SWSlide Out, Knotty Alder, 20"TV, Copper Sinks, WesternPackage, Ducted AC, 6 cu ftRefrig., Microwave,Recessed 2 Burner Stove,Large Bathrm with lots ofCloset Space, 888-263-7212, www.cannonfallstrail-ers.com

SPOTZ SENSATION,Homozygous! Exotic, Tall &stretchy! Only known grand-son of both Hot August Nite& Chubasco! Great motion,fantastic temperament,Multi Championship Winner. 715-210-5371

clearcreekarabians@yahoo.com

Stallions and Stallion Auctions

Equipment

Place your photo classified here for $20.00 per

month just call 507-943-3355 for more infoPlus you can also place your ad online at

www.HorseDigests.com

Thumbnail Photo Classifieds

ORIGINAL HORSEPAINTINGSArtist Lisa Kosmo218-834-3482 orlslkosmo@usfamily.netEach painting is drawndirectly on canvas then painted with acrylics.

AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE: BAILADOR DG. GREYSON OF SANTENO KDWLots of action in the frontand push from behind. Thisis a colt with substantialbone and an upright neck.Perfect for Dressage972-746-1457vintageandalusians@hot-mail.com

FAMOUS ECHO SCA - 2001Bay Tobiano AmericanSaddlebred Champion Stallion,direct son of Saddlebred stal-lion, The Color of Fame.16 HH,Tested Homozygous, Doubleregistered ASHA and PtHA .715-210-5371

clearcreekarabians@yahoo.com

ZINNIA BA ANDALUSIANMARE (Despierto xZinnia) US ReserveNational ChampionAndalusian Mare$15,000. Well startedunder saddle, GreatBroodmare, ProvenShow Horse 262-249-887selwoodp@idcnet.com

Services and Products

Real Estate

For Sale - WAGON - Saw-mill Lumber - Small case running gear, Excellent condition. Set of harnesses - fitsquarter horses, all leather, Various Carts and harnesses.

1 high wheeled cart, harness. 515-243-3807 days, 515-238-2745 cell

pantherstables@aol.com

www.horsedigests.com

60 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

Upcoming EventsRemember, call before your dirve

Saturdays in April - Natural HorsemanshipTraining for Teens - Eagle Valley Equestrian,W668 Joos Valley Rd., Fountain City WI.Heather at 608-687-9534 or eaglevalleyequestri-an@yahoo.com; www.learning2ride.com

4/1/2010- WI, Prescott, Roping Roping Practice 7-9pm - (715) 262-4284

4/10 & 11- Simon Arena, Cannon Falls, MN.-South Paws K9 Dog Show - 507-263-4200www.simonhorsecompany.com

4/13 - Simon Arena, Cannon Falls, MN..AllBreed Horse & Tack Sale - 507-263-4200www.simonhorsecompany.com

4/17 & 18 -Simon Arena, Cannon Falls, MN.-Spring Tune Up Horse Show - 507-263-4200www.simonhorsecompany.com

4/24 - Simon Arena, Cannon Falls, MN - TwinCities Appaloosa & Quarter Horse Sale-507-263-4200 - www.simonhorsecompany.com

4/2-4/4- IA, Cedar Rapids - Barrel - NBHA,UBRA - IA NBHA Easter Show @ IowaEquestrian Center - (319) 796-7715 - AddedMoney: $2600 - vorhiesj@gmail.com

4/3/2010- NE, FREMONT -Barrel - PURINAMILLS SADDLE SERIES - (402) 419-0191

4/2&3- Backus MN-Barrel Clinic to be followedby UBRA Barrel Race - Los Gauchos Ranch -Jane Melby - kstranch@paulbunyan.net218 947 3777

4/3/2010- MN, Verndale -Game Show -WSCAR&J Spring WSCA Buckle Series - Games Only& Coggins Clinic (get your 2010 coggins pulled)- (877) 212-6612

4/3/2010- MN, North Branch - Fun Show - FunShow Start at 11am HiPt Awards to All Age Div,Gear Bags For High Point!!! $20 for entire day!!!- (651) 277-1095 -houckhorsecompany@yahoo.com

4/6/2010 - MN, Sherburn - Catalog Horse Sale -Tack Sale - www.i90expocenter.com - 507-764-4025

4/8/2010- WI, Prescott, Roping Roping Practice 7-9pm - (715) 262-4284

4/8 & 9 - Simon Arena, Cannon Falls, MN -NCRCHA Horse Show - 507-263-4200 -www.simonhorsecompany.com

4/9-11 - Lincoln NE - Cowgirl Tuff Barrel Bash Barrel Race - Double B Productions,bolling@iowatelecom.net - 641-745-5845www.barrelbash.com

4/10-11 - Red Horse Ranch, Fergus Falls, MNWSCA Show hosted by the Red Horse RidersSaddle Club -rhra@prtel.com - 218-736-3000

4/10 - 4th Annual Olmsted County 4-H HorseProject Tack & Clothing Swap - Sat - 8:30 - 6-Sun 9-2, Old Fleet Farm building, 3600Commercial Dr. SW, Rochester, MN - FREERandy Kraling clinic both days! www.co.olmsted.mn.us/family/horse_project.asp

4/10 - Arrowhead Arena Team Roping &Breakaway Jackpots, Monticello, MN - Cody -612-817-6359

4/10 - High Island Arena Winter Barrel BuckleSeries - Kathy - highislandarena@hotmail.com507-964-2607 Henderson, MN

4/10-11 - WGBRA Spring Fling - Black RiverFalls Fairgrounds - NBHA & BBR Approved!Black River Falls, WI

4/10&/11- Verndale MN - R&J tack and catalogsale - R & J Arena - 877-212-6612

4/11- Simon Arena, Cannon Falls, MN - AllBreed Horse & Tack Sale - 507-263-4200 -www.simonhorsecompany.com

4/15/2010- WI, Prescott, Roping Roping Practice 7-9pm - (715) 262-4284

4/15 & 16 - Simon Arena, Cannon Falls, MN -South Paws K9 Dog Show - 507-263-4200 -www.simonhorsecompany.com

4/15-18 - MN AQHA Breed Show - Red HorseRanch - rhra@prtel.com - 218-736-3000 -Fergus Falls, MN -www.RedHorseRanchArena.com

4/17&18 - FREMONT NE - PURINA MILLSSADDLE SERIES - Barrel Race - DONNARANKIN - 402-419-0191

4/17&18 - Verndale MN - R&J Spring WSCABuckle Series Show- Pleasure/Game Show, R& J Arena - 877-212-6612

4/18/2010 - 4/18/2010 - Roping Practice &Jackpot 1-5pm - Prescott WI Oak Hill Ranch,715-262-4284

4/24-25 - Upper Midwest Endurance Ride - IronOak Ride, Arkdale, WI, contact May Clapper,608-474-0746, pullonfarm@yahoo.com

May 29, 30, 31 - Illinois State Buckskin Assoc.2010 Heartland Holiday Circuit Shows, 8:00 am.Contact Dan Vincent 815-562-9552. Openclasses offered for non-IBHA horses. PACApproved. www.freewebs.com/illinoisbuckskin

5/1-2 - Upper Midwest Endurance Ride -MnDRAI, Orrock, MN - Theresa Meyer, 763-753-5236, tmeyer@tpt.org

5/1-2, 2010 - Introduction to Perfect BalanceNatural Hoof Care - Eagle Valley Equestrian,W668 Joos Valley Rd., Fountain City WI. -Heather at 608-687-9534 or eaglevalleyequestrian@yahoo.com; www.perfectbalancehoofcare.com

5/ 8 & 9 - Jefferson, WI - Wisconsin BuckskinHorse Assn / IBHA, Kathy Yager 920-568-1111or sales@premierawards.com

5/8-9 - Upper Midwest Endurance Ride - GlacierTrails Ride - Palmyra, WI, Mona Radtke - 608-222-5200, helinoretonsor@earthlink.net

5/21/10 - MN, Pine City, Heidelberger Arena,Barrel Race and Pole Bending, 5PM Exhibitions,7PM Start time - (651)464-6460 -dunsmore_flmn@msn.com

5/22/10 - MN, Pine City, Heidelberger Arena,Rodeo - MN High School - 6PM Start time(651)464-6460 - dunsmore_flmn@msn.com

5/29-5/31 Memorial Showdown All Breed &ABRA Show. Jefferson County Fair Park,Jefferson, WI. 8:00a.m. Kyle Raabe 414-940-0375 swba@swbuckskin.com, www.swbuckskin.com

5/29-5/31 Memorial Showdown All Breed &ABRA Show. Jefferson County Fair Park,Jefferson, WI. 8:00a.m. Kyle Raabe 414-940-0375 swba@swbuckskin.com, www.swbuckskin.com

6/ 5-6 - UMBHA-IBHA show - Jackson CountyFairgrounds, Black River Falls, WI - AQHASpecial events, Heading, Heeling and Tie-Downroping - Michele Giraud 608 343-5690.

6/19th, 2010 - J & J Paints and Quarter Horses,Dodgeville, WI. - Riding Horse Sale/Auction.-Phone bidding welcome. Sale catalog - June1st. www.jjpaintsandquarterhorses.com - 608-341-8144

6/13, 2010 - Minnesota Walking Horse Assoc.Open House and Horse Sale,Crow Wing CountyFairgrounds - Brainerd, MN\abragstad@hotmail.com or 218.568.4153

6/ 25, 26, 27 - Jefferson, WI - WisconsinBuckskin Horse Assn / IBHA / NSBA, KathyYager 920-568-1111,sales@premierawards.com

Minnesota Pinto Horse AssociationShow Schedule

July 9-11- 3 days, 4 Judges - Red Horse Ranch,Fergus Falls - *WIN A KENSINGTON BAG SET*Field Representatives - Mahlon Bauman - 612-508-6832 & On Site PtHA Abby Duncanson- 612-877-0338 - Registrations Mary Noonan -402-920-0455

August 6-8 - Jubilee of Color Show - MNEquestrian Center, Winona *CO-PRODUCEDWITH MIN-I-KOTA PINTO* - Jubilee ShowCommittee Christine Peterson 320-493-3435 - *Special Awards * 3 FULL DAYS * 3 judges * 4sets of points

September 11 & 12 2 days, 4 Judges - RedHorse Ranch, Fergus Falls - *WIN A MIKEBRAY SADDLERY MIRROR* Stabling Ron &Karen Clark - 763-682-5324 - Show OfficeManager - Ed Neu 763-477-5027 - Visit ourwebsite www.minnesotapinto.com

Please email your event lisitings toPEG@HORSEDIGESTS.COM

61MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

Equine Health

Equine Lawyers

Saddles , Tack & Gear

Associations

Advertise in Traders Corner for as little as $20 per month. Call today for information on advertising in Traders Corner,

Let people know about your business!- 507-943-3355

TRADERS CORNER

Website and Ad Design

Training

62 MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGESTApril 2010

63MIDWEST HORSE DIGESTMIDWEST HORSE DIGEST April 2010

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