Miracles DO Happen!

To my ever-faithful followers,

I've got some news that may just blow your mind. It certainly did mine.

If you've been following since the beginning, you'll remember that my horse, Rusty, had an injury a year ago where he broke his lateral malleolus - in basic terms, about the top part of his tibia. We all know what usually happens when a horse breaks something: they're permanently lame or only suitable for light riding. In Rusty's case, this is what the vet from Iowa State, Dr. Stephanie Caston, said:

"This horse has a guarded prognosis to return to an athletic career and a poor prognosis to become a future light riding/pleasure horse due to the fracture location, joint involvement and arthritis that is already present and will continue to develop in the future."

Long-term rest was essential, and although Rusty received an injection in his hock to help inflammation, the vet doubted it would last long. Basically, he was done for. The vet even mentioned euthanasia as an option. My first horse, the horse I trained to jump myself, the horse that would do anything for me - he wouldn't be ridden again. I cried and cried, but I knew there was nothing I could do but hope and pray that it wouldn't be the case. My friends suggested that I start looking for a different show horse, and one of the gals I worked with mentioned something about getting a second opinion. In my heart of hearts, though, I knew the damage had been done.





 This is Rusty's hock 3 weeks after the injury. If you look up in the right-hand corner, you'll see the fracture line. If you go down farther, those little shadows around the leg are the bone chips that came off. Also, if you look at the shadow that encapsulates the bone, you'll be able to see that Rusty's hock is swollen enormously.

Somehow, after this injury though, Rusty's swelling managed to go down, and he was no longer running around on three legs. If horses ran three-legged races, I think Rusty would have won, hands down! Fortunately, he was able to move on all four, and slowly but surely, we began a little work with him.

My local vet told me that next spring that Rusty might be able to handle very light riding, mostly at a walk on flat surfaces maybe twice a week. Any more than that, he said, would probably cause him to go lame.

In the fall, after Rusty had been on numerous trail rides with semi-difficult ground about once a week, he walked, trotted, cantered, and galloped. When I took him to get his fall vaccines, the vet told me that I could probably do moderate work with him on an occasional basis - not jumping, per say, but some heavy trail riding. If we did it regularly, the vet guessed that he would probably go lame. He suggested that I take him back to the university to get an x-ray to see how everything had healed up.

After the same vet (Dr. Caston) examined him and took his x-rays, this is what she said in her report and also to me:

"His left hock is slightly larger than his right, but he is able to ambulate well when walked and trotted.

When a flexion test was performed on his left hock there was a slight difference in his gait, but no significant lameness was noted before that on the straight or in circles. The fracture of the left hind lateral malleolus has healed nicely. There are some slight roughened edges and some bony changes noted in the joint, but they are minimal. There are a couple of mild bone fragments embedded in the soft tissue on the medial side of the hock."

And then she said this, and it nearly made me cry:

"You can put Rusty into regular work and do whatever discipline you want with him."  

No Christmas present will be as wonderful as this one. This entire year I have ached to ride Rusty over a jump again, to be able to trust that he'd go over, to feel like we could accomplish anything. His x-ray looks amazing, as you can see here:

I'm not going to blow this picture up because you can see things pretty well at this size. Look in the upper right-hand corner. You can still see the fracture line, but the vet says it has healed up very nicely. In the left and right sides of the center of the picture, you can still see those bone fragments, which have settled into the tissue, not the joint. You can see in places that things have smoothed off, and if you look at his actual hock area, not the bone, you can see that it is still a little large but nowhere near as swollen as last time. The vet said the largeness is due to scar tissue that developed. His arthritic changes seem to be progressing slowly and are minor. He can be ridden regularly, jumped, and can do just about anything. If he gets sore, we may have to inject somewhere along the line, and we can also use Adaquan or Legend to help keep those joints maintained. He should be outside where he can move well (and he is!), and if he's warmed up carefully, things should go well.

This goes to show that miracles do happen, and sometimes the worst of scenarios can turn out fine. Next spring, I'm not quite sure what Rusty and I have in plan. I'd like to return him to the low hunters and work on finessing his lead changes and form. Obviously, there will be lots of trail riding, and a small part of me hopes I can do a beginner novice event with him.

Unfortunately, Casper did not receive the same great news Rusty did. After being dumped off at jumps, handling the unwillingness to move forward, and all the behavioral issues Casper started having, I took him to the university as well. He does has Degenerative Joint Disease in his right front leg, and everyone assumed that that was the culprit of all of this.

That was not the case. We found that Casper has Navicular Disease, which is similar to arthritis. The navicular bone is right around the fetlock area. His progression was fast, and his case is severe. We're not sure what kind of riding Casper will be able to handle in the future if we decide to inject him. He certainly isn't going to be doing any heavy-duty work with that damage, and although the vet said that the injections might make him perfectly sound, I can't see us doing much more in the jumping ring. The poor boy is only 12, and at this point, we're just going to let him rest out at pasture.

But, I am certainly happy that one of my horses came home with a positive prognosis! We all agreed Rusty is some horse, especially after the tantrum he threw in the vet office when we tried to get him to walk on the scale and step over it. Or when he was pacing his stall and whinnying because he couldn't see Casper. Or when he tried to get a drink out of the automatic waterer and the noise of it turning on spooked him. This happened to be his best moment:



Yes, Rusty had to be sedated for his radiograph. When he came back, you could tell he was sedated. His eyes were glossy and his lip was practically dragging on the floor. When he got in his stall, he practically dropped his head to his knees because he was so out of it. When I went in to take the picture, he kept trying to get away from the camera. Apparently sedation makes this guy act like a grumpy, old horse.

The next photo here is with the "scary" waterer. Rusty seems too out of it to realize that he's close to it!
Happy trails, ya'll!

River Valley Lodge and Campground - Farmington, IA October 21-23, 2013

Nestled in the rolling hills of southeastern Iowa, the River Valley Lodge and Campground is a second home for campers and horseback riders. The campground is located in Farmington, Iowa, which is one of the historic villages in Van Buren county. It has a population of 756 and is home to an annual strawberry festival that is held in June. Farmington is about 20 miles away from the nearest recognizable town in Missouri and borders the Des Moines River.

Here's about how long it takes to get to Farmington from some major Midwest cities:

Des Moines, IA - 145 miles, 2 hours and 30 minutes
Minneapolis, MN - 385 miles, 5 hours and 45 minutes
Rochester, MN - 280 miles, 4 hours and 40 minutes
La Crosse, WI - 265 miles, 4 hours and 50 minutes
Madison, WI - 275 miles, 4 hours and 25 minutes
Milwaukee, WI - 325 miles, 5 hours and 10 minutes
Chicago, IL - 285 miles, 4 hours and 35 minutes
Rockford, IL - 235 miles, 4 hours
Kansas City, MO - 235 miles, 4 hours
Springfield, MO - 315 miles, 5 hours 3 minutes
Columbia, MO - 175 miles, 3 hours
Wichita, KS - 435 miles, 6 hours and 40 minutes
Omaha, NE - 285 miles, 4 hours and 30 minutes
Lincoln, NE - 330 miles, 5 hours and 15 minutes
North Platte, NE - 555 miles, 8 hours and 15 minutes
Sioux Falls, SD - 430 miles, 6 hours and 30 minutes
Pierre, SD - 646 miles, 9 hours and 35 minutes
Bismarck, ND - 810 miles, 11 hours and 40 minutes

The River Valley Lodge and Campground is about one mile from Farmington. When you drive in, there will be a sign to greet you and direct you to the office. You can pay inside the office, and they will give you directions to your campsite.

There are three different types of camping allowed at the River Valley. If you don't want to rough it and if you like air conditioning, there is a bunkhouse or a cabin that is available for rent.

The bunkhouse is actually an old schoolhouse and still has the chalkboard inside. Six people or even more can fit inside. Just bring sleeping bags, pillows, and dishes as a small refrigerator and a microwave are available. One stall comes in the fee with the bunkhouse. $100 per night is the fee. Outside, there is also a bell, as pictured below, and signs that will help you find your way to other buildings. This would be a great place for a family to sleep.

For a single person or two people, the cabin is another housing option for the stay. It's a beautiful, wooden cabin right near all the amenities you'll need like the bathroom, office, and horse barn. You'll have to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, and dishes for the microwave and mini-fridge. This option is less expensive than the bunkhouse at $75 per night, with a horse stall included.

If you have your own camper, there are also 50 campsites with electrical hookup that comes with electricity, water, a picnic table, and a fire pit. One stall is included with the campsite. One of the lodge owners told me that the campsites can fill up fast, so I would suggest planning ahead. The electric campsites cost $25 except on Friday and Saturday, where they are $30.

Lastly, for the real troopers, there's primitive camping. This is what my group did. The lodge owner told me that primitive campsites are always open. They're $15 a night, and I recommend that you all try pitching a tent and sleeping on the ground like a true cowboy!

For the horses, there's also a couple of options. You can rent a covered stall for $5 except on Friday and Saturday when it is $8. If you have two horses that get along, you can put them in one stall. Otherwise, you can get four 20 by 30 foot pens for $10. The high ties are free. You'll just want to make sure that your halter is tight and your knot is secure, as our horses did escape once on the first night!

I also want to mention that the campground does not enforce generator laws. I found this out when my group was somehow thought to be in another group, and our groups were placed together on one campsite. One gal had a horse trailer and ran a generator all night. I went up to the office to see if there was anything we could do, and while the lodge owner apologized for the mistake and offered to move us in the morning, I do wonder how we got paired with this group, as we reserved a campsite for just the three of us, but people do make mistakes.

The office, bathroom, lodge, wash house, and playground are all located in a circle where you first pull in. It's a nice layout, and we found it easy to access, even in the middle of the night when a bathroom break was needed.

Your first stop will be the office, where you check in and pay. Every time I went into the office, the owner was there, day and evening. You will be assigned your campsite from there and given directions to it. The office also offers brochures about the River Valley Lodge and a map of the trails, including the ones leading into the Shimek Forest. The map was somewhat difficult to read, but we managed. Also, I noticed in the office that they did ask for you to report any mountain lion sightings, something to keep in mind while riding on the trail.

Beside the office is the lodge, which is a very elegant place used to hold conferences, weddings, or any other special events. I cannot say enough about the beauty of this building, especially the inside. It would have no problem seating many people. The weekend we were there, a wedding did take place, and the happy couple was escorted out in a horse drawn carriage. Very romantic for any horse lover!


Kids will not be disappointed with the amenities either. River Valley has plenty of places for kids to play, including a typical playground by the lodge and the Injun Fort, which has places to climb and play Cowboys vs. Indians! For younger kids, there is a carousel outside of the lodge that I believe takes some change for a ride.                                                 












Although we did not make use of this amenity, a washroom with a washer and dryer is also available. I think it is coin operated, and it sure is nice if your clothes get wet from rain during the night or if you are planning on staying for a while and need to wash some clothing.

The bathrooms were, by far, the best amenity that River Valley had for its campers. It was, hands down, the best bathroom I have ever seen at a campsite. There is a big counter with two nice sinks and a mirror to the right when you walk in the door. There's also a hand dryer. To the left is a ledge that you can put your things on, and farther into the bathroom are the bathroom stalls and a large mirror. At the end of the bathroom are the shower stalls. There are three of them, if I remember right, and one is a handicap accessible shower stall. The bathroom is very clean and is also heated. I felt like I was at a hotel whenever I stepped in.

The decorations in the bathroom were also astounding, and I felt as I was actually out west. Besides the cute little sign (see picture), there was a boot stuffed with flowers (see picture) and a few other western decorations. These people thought of everything! Actually, in every building at River Valley, the interior design and thoughtfulness to aesthetics was amazing.

For riding, there were two arenas that were available and an obstacle course, which I unfortunately did not get any pictures of. There was plenty of room to warm your horse up before hitting the trails. The obstacle course was very challenging, and I was proud that Rusty and I completed most parts of it. I think the biggest hit was the teeter totter, which Rusty did go over once. When the bridge went down, Rusty froze and later, my friends kept telling me how big his eyes got! There was also a wooden post that was attached to a rope that you could pull behind your horse. We did that one, too. Then there was a narrow bridge and an awning that had ribbons covering it that you had to walk your horse through. Those were no problems - thankfully Rusty is not a spooky horse. Then, you could either go and step through the tires, which I did not do, or go to the drop and up, which was similar to what you would see on a cross-country course. Danielle and Brea both completed the drop and up, as Danielle is an experienced cross-country rider and Brea is a talented daredevil that went bareback the entire ride. Rusty got to the edge of the bank (and I'm in my western saddle, mind you), and suddenly LEAPED off of it, nearly throwing me up of the saddle. Needless to say, I didn't try going up. Once you did that, you got to go down to the pond and get your horse through the water, which has never been a problem for Rusty.

The arenas were both large, and one actually had a barrel pattern set up. I think there were also bending poles you could put out, and there was an obstacle that was similar to a door frame that you could walk through. In one of the arenas on Saturday night, a drill team performed, and I have this slideshow from a video I took.

We got to River Valley about six p.m. on Friday night and set up camp with the people who were also at the campsite - that was the mistake that the office made. They were pretty nice, though, and welcomed us to the campfire, and we shared food both nights we were there. On Saturday morning, we hit the trails with this group, who liked to take things at quite a fast pace. They headed right into the Shimek Forest and off of the River Valley trails, so most of my pictures are of the Shimek Forest.

Most of the time, you are not really in the sunlight because you are in the forest. I would not recommend the trails out in the Shimek Forest to novice riders. There are far too many steep hills and narrow trails. Also, there are a couple of gullies out there that can scare the pan
ts off riders that are not used to riding down steep areas. Riders that are afraid of getting lost should either ride with people who know the area or find a good map - you can and will be lost. In most places, the trails are dirt or grass, but there are some rocky areas where tenderfoot horses might appreciate shoes. None of our horses were shod and were fine, but their feet were a little chipped after our ride from the rocky spots. A lot of the people we rode with were riding inexperienced horses. This is quite a challenge for an inexperienced horse and will definitely provide lots of new experiences.



When going out for a ride, I recommend packing an extra coat, a rain coat, food, a high-tie rope, a halter and lead, and water. You could be stuck out there all day, and just in case you need to rest or eat, it would be appropriate to bring these items along. In the summer, I'm guessing bug spray, sunscreen, fly spray, and even a riding fly mask (Cashel makes them) would also be helpful. It would also be wise to bring along a first aid kit, a compass, and your cell phone. The cell reception was fairly good in places.


We did not come across any water crossings out in the Shimek Forest. There were many creek beds that were dried up, showing that the last two summers of drought have affected southern Iowa. However, there were a few muddy areas, especially on the downhills, and it was important to take special note to those. No shoes were sucked off in the mud, though, so it wasn't that bad. The leaves were not yet turning color, even though we went at the end of October. There was plenty of foliage to observe. There was brier deep in the forest, and I'm sure there was plenty of poison ivy, too, so I would recommend being careful where you stop or take a potty break.


One of the biggest hits of the Shimek Forest is something that was called the Bra Tree. When our camp-mates were telling us about it, I was sure that it wasn't real. But sure enough, it exists somewhere out in the Shimek Forest. Legend has it that there is another Bra Tree out there as well, where hundreds of bras are displayed on a trunk. This one had less than ten; it also had some underwear.

The other legend in the Shimek Forest is the Lonesome Dove sign. The group we rode with found the sign the next day, when we did not ride with them. Lonesome Dove was a western show that was quite popular. One of the guys we rode with had a picture of the sign and showed us, so it definitely exists!

One of the most special things about the River Valley that we got to experience was the cowboy church that was held on Sunday morning up by the north arena. It was a small gathering of people. The person who delivered the message was not a minister but had been delivering the message for cowboy church countless times. He read out of the Cowboy Bible, and there were handouts of the book for everyone to take home with them. The message was simple and easy to relate to. Best of all, it served any denomination - Lutheran, Catholic, Evangelical, Baptist, etc. It was truly a blessed experience.


After church, it was a great time to ride into town and get breakfast. Farmington is only a mile away from the campground and is horse friendly. There os a restaurant that is open for breakfast, a bar, a grocery store, and several small businesses. There are quite a few nearby hitching posts, and the town is small enough that you don't have to hassle with vehicles or semis.

All in all, the River Valley Lodge and Campground is an experience that will not disappoint. My friends and I want to go back this next summer and fall for another fun-filled adventure. If you're looking for a family-friendly campground, River Valley would suit your interests well. If you have any additional questions about this ride, please feel free to comment below! Also, here is the website to the River Valley Lodge and Campground:
 http://www.rivervalleylodgeandcampground.com/

Here are some more pictures that were taken from the ride. The horses in the pictures are Rusty (the red dun, my horse), Sunny (the chestnut Saddlebred), and Kenyon (the gray Arabian/Trakehner corss). Brea, the redhead, owns Sunny and is the one that rode bareback. Danielle, the brunette, owns Kenyon and rode in her cross-country saddle the entire six hour ride! And I'm the blond.

Helmet or No Helmet?

First of all, I want to apologize for not getting a trail up for you this weekend. I had a trail ride scheduled, but the person riding with me had something come up and could not go. But I can guarantee you that this weekend will bring a fount of information on a great place to ride. Look for some pre-ride information tomorrow, and lots of pictures to come on Sunday or Monday!
As a filler for my trail ride, I rode Rusty down to a cemetery about two or three miles from my house. I put my boots on and slapped a saddle and bridle on Rusty. But did I wear a helmet? Not this time. I would say that 90 percent of the time, I wear a helmet. The 10 percent of the time that I don't is when I'm riding Rusty on the flat on even terrain. However, I don't usually condone this.
Many people say that to stay safe, you must wear a helmet. I don't like this statement. People do die falling off even with a helmet. However, a helmet is a precaution, likened to a seat belt. Yes, you can still die wearing a seat belt or a helmet, but they can prevent further injury had a person not worn one.
For example, if you're ever on Youtube looking up horse videos, there is a good chance you'll come across memorial videos of Jessica Forsyth. She was a 14-year-old girl who lived in California and died in a riding accident while she was wearing a helmet. Speculation says that Forsyth took her horse over a jump bareback, and since he would bolt after jumps, she used the arena fence to stop him. However, the theory is that the horse's momentum was too great, and he flipped over the fence and landed on her, crushing her skull and neck. Type her name into any search engine and surely you'll find many articles on the accident as well as videos of her riding.

A coma from a skull fracture and bleeding in the brain left Courtney King-Dye, a well-known dressage rider, with months of physical therapy to overcome the damage to her brain. She was schooling her horse when he slipped. She was not wearing a helmet. King-Dye is now a major advocate for helmets and believes the outcome could have been different that day had she been wearing a helmet. In the picture to the left is Courtney King-Dye for reference.
We worry that helmets look stupid to those that don't wear them or that they'll mess up our hair (which they certainly do!), but are either of those excuses big enough to forgo a preventative measure? The safest horse could still have an outburst where the rider fell and the horse stepped on the rider's head. A helmet won't totally prevent injury, but it might prevent your death.

This helmet fits this girl well.

Helmets have gotten more stylish in the past years too, making them not look like big bowls on a person's head. They come in assorted colors now. They are lightweight, allow air to get to your head, and have a stronger foundation to protect you from even the worst scenarios. They also are fairly cheap and still good quality, with schooling helmets being around $30 to top-of-the-line show helmets coming in at $500.
Before I show you some of my favorite helmets, you should know a few things about helmet care and fitting. You need to measure around your forehead to see what kind of size you need, especially for helmets that do not have a dial fit. When you try a helmet on, make sure it stays on. It should cover part of your forehead. It should not be propped atop your head. It should not be down to your eyeballs, either. When you nod, the helmet should not change position on your head, front to back or side to side. Also make sure that if you do showing there's enough room to fit your hair inside the helmet! Also, never buy a used helmet. You don't know what condition it is really in or what wear it has. One other thing: Make sure the helmet is ASTM or SEI certified or both. These kinds of helmets are allowed in shows and are proven to be beneficial to your protection.
After you buy your helmet, make sure to take good care of it. Don't leave it in extreme temperatures because they can damage the integrity of the materials of the helmet. Also, if you fall off and hit your head, make sure to replace your helmet. After the first fall, their protection is no longer as beneficial. Lastly, make sure to replace your helmet every five years, as the materials do wear.
Now, for some of my favorite helmets.

Ovation Protege Helmet

The Ovation Protege is my current helmet. I absolutely love it. It comes in all different colors with the carbon design on the top - you can get darker, more traditional colors like black or navy or brighter colors like pink or light blue. It comes with a dial fit, and the helmet has Coolmax technology in the liner. The liner is also washable, and the snap on the helmet is designed to stay off of your face. It's got a trendy shape to it and fits well. It runs $35-$40 depending on where you look.

Charles Owen Jr8 Helmet

The Charles Owen Jr8 Helmet is a helmet that I have known many people to recommend for showing. It has a shape to it that will frame your face and the suede of the helmet will deter scuff marks from appearing. The helmet is versatile enough for the show ring or even for schooling. This helmet runs at about $150, which is a pretty good value for an excellent show helmet.

Troxel Spirit Helmet

Troxel Dakota Duratec Helmet

The Troxel Spirit Helmet is one of the most economical choices in riding helmets, running about $27. The visor is removable as well as the liners, which are washable. Sizing pads make it easier to adjust for those times where you put your hair up and when you don't. The helmet is about 10 oz., and comes in black or white.

Troxel Sierra Helmet

The Troxel Dakota Duratec Helmet was designed in mind for someone who wanted to trail ride. The visor is longer, making it easier to keep the sun out of your eyes. It comes in three rustic colors:  mojave, grizzly brown, and trail dust. It has seven vents that are mesh-covered, making it easy for the breeze to get inside your helmet. It weights 12.7 oz., and runs about $50.

Aegis Pony Schooling Helmet

 If you want your helmet to blend in with the rustic look of a western rider, I would suggest looking at the Troxel Sierra Helmet. This helmet has suede or distressed leather design with many air vents for ventilation. It is also very adjustable and weighs in at 15 oz. This helmet runs about $100.

The Aegis Pony Schooling Helmet was made for little kids who also want to ride! It has a dial fit and vents for air flow. The snap of the helmet can be unsnapped with one hand. This comes in cute little designs like tie-dye peace, blue with ponies, or purple with ponies. This helmet runs at $50. There is also a similar helmet for junior riders from Aegis.

There are also many more helmets available on the market, but I figured these helmets would fit most riders reading this blog, at use and affordability. Many big companies carry these helmets and more similar to them. With the varieties offered, I'd think there's a helmet for every kind of rider!

Click it or ticket (at least for seat belts!),
Kelsey

Traumatic Trailer Loading

Horse people will all face a time where they can't get their horse in the trailer.


For at least a year after I got Rusty, we had so many problems getting him to load in the trailer. In fact, I don't even know how we got him home. He'd rear up, pull back, and once he was loaded, he'd refuse to back out. Every time I had excitement about riding off the property, it was always marred by Rusty's insistence that he stay out of the trailer.

Today, although Rusty isn't a willing participant, I can usually get him on the trailer in under five minutes. I believe the key to getting reluctant loaders on the trailer is finding out what makes them tick. For example, Rusty has always been very respectful of anyone that has a lunge whip. We found out eventually that Rusty loads very easily if you put a lunge whip behind him. In fact, he expects it now, so if anyone comes up behind him when we're loading him, he'll jump in really fast! Casper, on the other hand, works off of being backed sternly when he refuses to go in. We do that only once, and he'll get right in. Finding these strategies out early on really helps, even if your horse usually loads easily. When Rusty hurt his leg, it was very painful for him to step up. He didn't want to load, and for a good reason. However, we had to get him to the vet hospital for x-rays, and using a trailer was the only way we could get that done. We got out the lunge whip and Rusty went in without too much fuss.

Another thing I suggest is getting either a stock trailer or a slant load trailer. Some people really like straight loads, but I don't. From my experience, horses tend to load easier in slants. Even though Rusty loads very nicely now, I think he would be a huge hassle to get into a straight load. Sometimes, the straight loads have escape doors for you or the horse, but when they don't, you have to find a way out of the stall or lead your horse in the from the opposite stall. Some people suggest teaching a horse to load on its own for that. Also, getting out of a straight load is scary for a horse that doesn't like to back off a trailer, especially if there's no ramp. However, straight loads have been said to be roomier for the horses and a lot of them do have those escape doors in case there's an emergency.
Stock trailers seem to work well for horses that don't want to load. There's plenty of room, taking away that fear of being cornered that many horses have. The horse can turn around and walk off the trailer, and there's plenty of room for you to maneuver around as well. That being said, an antsy horse is given a lot of room to move around in, making the drive rather unnerving for you if the horse is bouncing around the trailer. Also, stock trailers generally are open, giving the horse a draft at colder times of the year. If you were to haul more than one horse, you would have to make sure you had a stock trailer with dividers as not all of them have dividers. Also, many stock trailers lack a front tack room, meaning you will have to put your equipment in the back of the pickup or in the pickup with you.
Slant load trailers are my favorite, just because I can haul multiple horses in mine, can shut the horses in if there's cold weather, and confine them so they can't move around as much. Most horses seem to load in a slant trailer better than a straight load. The trailer appears very open to the horse when he or she gets in, but then you are able to confine the horse with a divider. The few drawbacks to a slant load are that you don't have an emergency exit for the horses, the dividers can be scary, and depending on the size of the trailer, some horses do not fit comfortably in a slant. Also, I recommend getting one with a tack room in the front -- a tack room in the back of the trailer often makes it so the last horse has to back out of the trailer. It's also just easier to access from the front.

Regardless of the trailer you have, you have to get your horse to load in it. If you can't find what makes the horse tick, I have had many people suggest that you put the trailer out in the paddock and feed and water the horse inside it. That way, the horse is forced to get into the trailer and will become acclimated to it. Bribes can often work for a quick fix but usually will not solve the problem. If all else fails, sometimes putting your horse's favorite buddy in the trailer first will make your horse hop right in.

Lastly, when you get the horse in, make sure the horse is secure before you clip it to the trailer tie. Some horses will try to fly backwards while tied. Never duck under the dividers to access your horse either. It's a good way to get kicked (I would know). Try to train your horse to come off the trailer calmly instead of flying out - that can be dangerous.

Hopefully these tips helped you with your trailer loading.

Happy trailering,
Kelsey

What Would You Buy? Part 2

Hey there trailblazers,
Hope you all have had time to look at the horse ads from yesterday and mull over which would be the best choice for the scenario I gave -- that is, which horse would be best for a first time horse owner looking for a nice trail horse that could dabble in other disciplines that was under $3000. Now...for the moment of truth...


If you picked Beau...(Horse A)



Beau does seem like a great horse, doesn't he? Priced at $2000 and ridden by beginners with experience in different disciplines, he seems a little too good to be true. And he is. If you read in the description, it is noted that he suffered from allergies that caused hair and weight loss and even seizures. While his allergies aren't necessarily a make it or break it issue, they would have to be thoroughly looked into. Do they know what caused the reaction? Is he on medication? How are his reactions prevented? If they don't know what caused his reaction, would you be willing to chance that Beau has another seizure? Could you afford the medication if he has any?

Otherwise, Beau does seem like a good choice. Lesson horses are usually more experienced just because they put up with several different riders. He does have extensive trail experience, and the price is below our budget. But his allergies are definitely a cause for concern.

If you picked Jules (Horse B)...



Jules was probably the most promising horse of the group. She has English and western experience and is at the age where she isn't too old but has also been around the block a couple of times. It does list that Jules had been trail riding before; do make sure to ask about how much experience a horse has had. It looked like Jules was also quite taken with jumping. She was also in our budget, being priced at $2000. Although she isn't the prettiest horse to look at, she seems sturdy. The one thing I would caution about her and female horses (mares) in general is to take note that some mares get very moody when they go into heat and may act silly or even aggressive.

If you picked Goodwyn (Horse C)...

 I can't blame you. Goodwyn is a very pretty boy with extensive training in dressage and jumping behind him. He is said to have good manners and is coming along in his training. However, Goodwyn is not a good choice for the scenario at all. He doesn't have trail riding experience, and his career is based in dressage and jumping. A rider looking for a trail horse and a partner to try different things with doesn't need a fancy show horse, especially with Goodwyn's price tag: $10500. Pretty as he is, I would pass him up in this scenario.

If you picked Outlaw (Horse D)...

He's quite the looker. I imagine he's going to make someone a nice, little horse someday. Yes, someday. Outlaw is only three years old, and at three years old, he is still young. The ad even stated that he was still in training. Youngsters are often inexperienced and tend to react stronger to new situations than more experienced, older horses. For our first-time buyer, Outlaw would not be ideal. Our rider needs something that will be experienced enough to teach him or her. Learning together doesn't usually work with a horse and a rider. Green on green makes black and blue.

If you picked Special Delivery (Horse E)...

 She's free! Why not? Well, there's a couple reasons. First of all, the owner said she could be temperamental when in heat and around other horses. This is not a stressor our first-time buyer needs. The bigger problem though is her price tag. Free horses rarely come free. Usually there is a physical problem or a behavioral problem that comes with a free horse. After all, how many people are going to give a horse away when they could sell it with our economy? I would suspect that this ad isn't telling us the entire story.

If you picked Sultan Mareekh (Horse F)...

 He's beautiful, saddle trained, and could sire wonderful foals. Besides the fact that he's in training right now and is $400 over budget, he does have a problem: he's a stallion. A stallion, or unneutered male horse, is full of testosterone. This can make them hard to handle and even dangerous, especially around mares in heat. In fact, some stables and shows don't allow stallions in because of this. A stallion is not a good idea for a first-time horse owner. They just have too many hormones.

If you picked Stormy Jo (Horse G)...

 

Stormy Jo has no problem on trails and isn't spooky. And she has a lot of go...too much go for a rider looking for his or her first horse. The ad said it all: The horse was bought for a child who just could not handle all of the energy. Someday, riders will be able to appreciate a horse that is always eager to go, like Stormy Jo. But for a beginner rider, a too forward horse can be scary and anxiety provoking. After all, riding is supposed to be fun!

 

And now you wonder: If I didn't pick the right horse, how am I supposed to find my first horse then? It is possible. With the help of a trusted, horse-savvy friend, you'll be able to find the best match for you. Be sure to stick with your budget and find a horse that fits your experience level. The prettiest horse isn't necessarily the best one. Sometimes, the horses that aren't the most appealing visually may be your new best friend. First and foremost, find a horse that is safe. Then make sure that it's in good health, experienced, and has the training that is right for what you want to do. Make sure you get the history of the horse, a validation that the horse can do what the ad said it can do, a trailer loading demonstration, and more than one test ride. Also, it helps to get to your appointment early -- although we'd like to think it wouldn't happen, people can and will drug horses to get them sold or will run the energy out of them. Stay away from horses with bad vices like bucking or rearing. There's plenty of horses out there that don't do that. Make sure YOU feel comfortable with the horse. After all, it's going to be yours!

 

Before you make the final decision, make sure you have a vet check the horse out. This vet should be a vet that has not been previously involved with the horse. It may cost a couple hundred dollars, but that's always better than buying a horse that you later find out has an extensive medical issue.

 

If all goes well, make sure there's a bill of sale drawn up. I've read about cases where a person has bought a horse only to have the owner claim that the horse was never bought and was stolen. Because there's no paperwork, it makes it a lot harder to defend that claim.

 

With that being said, pay for your new best friend and bring him or her home!

 

Happy days will be ahead,

Kelsey

 

What Would You Buy?

My dream horse was a beautiful palomino Morab named Glaze Donut. She'd nicker at me when she saw me and then would come running up to me. Her manners would be perfect, she'd jump over anything, and she'd take me on wild adventures.

I went on some wild adventures all right, but not with Glaze Donut. My junior year of high school, I decided that I was sick and tired of riding lesson horses. I wanted my own horse, and there was no stopping me. The very first horse that I looked at was about fifteen miles away from my house. I rode him once in a round pen, and he was everything I ever wanted until he came home. After that, we spent hours trying to get him on the trailer, he would take off with people across the field, he'd rear up if he didn't want to do something, and he and the vet were on a first-name basis...meaning I'd say the horse's name and the vet didn't want to come out.

This is the picture that came with the ad. The horse looks familiar, huh? That horse was Rusty, who is now my #1 horse. I knew nothing about buying horses. For the first time horse buyer, selecting a horse can be hard. Today, we're going to get interactive and test your horse skills.

Here's the scenario: You're a first-time horse buyer. You are mainly just a trail rider that enjoys a safe, fun ride. You aspire to go on long or overnight trail rides and try your hand at showing at the local, lower level shows. You plan to spend no more than $3000 on the horse, not including the vet check. Here are some links to horses for sale. Which one would you buy?

A.
http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-3049213.html
B.
http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-2955852.html
C.
http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-3045753.html
D.
http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-2925887.html
E.
http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-3052024.html
F.
http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-3052152.html
G.
http://www.equine.com/horses-for-sale/horse-ad-3012271.html

In the comment box below, tell me, which one would you pick for the scenario and why? I'll post my answer tomorrow in the next blog.

Happy horse picking,
Kelsey