Riding Instructors and Horse Trainers

While often horse people talk about their “trainer” there are two very different roles this person can take on when working with a client. The term trainer can refer to a horse trainer or it can refer to a riding instructor. It can be very important for beginners to know what the differences are and how to identify their needs and if the trainer is meeting those needs. Sometimes a trainer will work as a riding instructor when they are actually a horse trainer, or a horse trainer will attempt to be a riding instructor and both these situations have the potential to go very poorly. 

Riding instructors focus on the rider. The horses that are used in these lessons are already trained and respond well to the rider’s cues. As the rider progresses in a riding program, the horses may become harder to ride and need more precise cues or a more confident riders, but they should still be trained for riding. During a lesson with a riding instructor, the riders should be working on their position, using their aids, and giving the horse correct cues. Riding activities should work on building strength, proper riding position, and figuring out how the rider’s actions affect the horse. The rider should not be worried about teaching the horse, fixing any problems with the horse, and should trust that the horse will do whatever is asked, as long as the horse is cued properly. 

Horse trainers on the other hand are focused on the horse. They are concerned about teaching the horse new things, reminding it of how to behave, and making sure the riders is getting the best out of the horse. The horse trainer should spend time riding the horse and teaching it, but also needs to make sure that the rider can get the same results out of the horse. When riding with a horse trainer, your goal as the rider is to learn how to teach the horse and how to get the proper response from the horse. Lessons should be focused on learning new skills and have specific goals for both horse and rider. 

As a client you should be honest with your instructor and trainer about the skills and experience you and your horse have. Dishonesty, even withholding information, can get you, your trainer or your horse into serious trouble or even injured. If you are unsure of anything your trainer asks you to do make sure you ask questions and let them know if you are uncomfortable. If your trainer consistently makes you feel uncomfortable and does not help you work through the issue, you probably need to find a new trainer or instructor. 

Fort Collins: Dec 24-26

December 24^th

Its Christmas Eve, while you do your last minute shopping in Fort Collins, take a break and enjoy a carriage ride around Old Town Square. The carriage picks up passengers on Mountain Ave., just east of College Ave., near BeauJo’s Pizza. 

For last minute shopping, make sure to get to Happy Horse Tack early in the day, they close at 1pm on Christmas Eve. 

December 25^th

Looking for a way to spend Christmas afternoon? After the presents are opened and with dinner still hours away, now is a great time to see the movie War Horse. Directed by Steven Spielberg, War Horse is guaranteed to be a great holiday film that tugs at the heart strings and has the right amount of sentiment for this time of year. Set during World War 1, this movie follows a boy and the horse that he loves. 

December 26^th

With highs in the 50s and sunshine predicted for Monday, a trail ride on your favorite horse is a great way to spend boxing day. If you need ideas of where to ride, check out some of my previous blogs. With this warm weather, some trails will be muddy and possibly closed due to melting snow, so check trail conditions before heading out. The best bets for open trails are the Poudre Trail and Eagles Nest.

Also keep in mind, the National Western Stock Show starts January 5^th, so start thinking about buying tickets to those events. These tickets could make great stocking stuffers and last minute gifts. The horse show at the National Western actually starts on January 1 with the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association’s Pre-Denver show. Some great events at the Stock Show include: Freestyle Reining, Gambler’s Choice Jumping, Grand-Prix Show Jumping, An Evening of Dancing Horses, and of course, the Pro Rodeo. Most of these events require tickets beyond just the entrance fee, so make sure to purchase those tickets early.

Horsey Holidays

Horsey Holidays 

How about incorporating horses into your holiday plans! Here are some ideas:

Carriage and sleigh rides

Old Town Fort Collins hosts a carriage company on the weekends, giving Christmas shoppers a chance to take a break and enjoy the historic district's beautiful decorations. For rates and hours, or to hire a carriage for special occasions, call 970-490-1958 or visit http://www.ColoradoCarriage.com .

Several resorts near Estes Park offer horse-drawn sleigh rides. A day trip to enjoy the snow and mountains would make a perfect winter escape. For the more adventurous, the YMCA of the Rockies' Snow Mountain Ranch near Winter Park (http://www.ymcarockies.org/snow-mountain-ranch-winter-park-colorado.html) also offers sleigh rides and winter horseback riding. Their dinner rides offer some of the best steak I have ever eaten and are worth the drive.

For any of these activities, make sure to dress warmly. Higher elevations are prone to intense cold and quick weather changes.

Community service

Several horse-rescue organizations in and around Fort Collins always can use donations, volunteers and people to adopt their horses.

·* Denkai Animal Sanctuary (http://www.denkaisanctuary.org/) has its adoption center in Greeley and does a wonderful job taking care of a wide variety of animals including horses and donkeys.

*· The Shiloh Acres horse rescue (http://www.shilohacres.org/) would love donations or volunteers.

*· Hearts and Horses Therapeutic Riding Center (http://www.heartsandhorses.org/) uses horses for therapeutic and educational purposes. It offers therapy for people with a wide variety of physical and cognitive needs as well as lessons for the general public, proceeds from which support the therapeutic program. As a Christmas gift, signing you, your friend or your children up for riding lessons will be fun for them and help people get needed therapy.

Horse tack and supplies

Several great tack shops serve the area, and most have a gift-card option. Happy Horse Tack & Saddle Shop (http://happyhorsetack.com/) is my favorite tack shop in Fort Collins; their employees will have great ideas for gifts and will help you find exactly what you need. Jax Farm and Ranch (http://www.jaxmercantile.com/) also has a great selection of horse supplies as well as clothing for riding and working needs.

For those looking for ideas and who don't want to just get a gift certificate, here is a list of things horse people can always use more of:

* Polo wraps

* Hoof picks

*    Boot socks

* Riding gloves

* Brushes

* Saddle pads

* Saddle bags

* Shampoo

* Show Sheen

* Rubber bands

* Mane and tail combs

* Horse cookies or treats

* Picture frames (for pictures of horses)

Happy horsey holidays!

Winter Riding

Riding during the winter brings a different set of challenges than riding in other seasons. The cold can cause colic, founder and many other health issues for your horse.

Whether riding inside or out, here are a few tips to keep you and your horse healthy and safe during winter:

Dress for the weather -- and dress in layers. You may get warm while riding, but when tacking up or cooling out your horse your body temperature can cool down very quickly. Most tack stores offer a variety of winter riding gear to help you keep warm.

Stepping off a horse onto cold feet hurts a lot. I suggest waterproof winter riding boots with warm linings. Wool socks or layers of socks also will help keep your feet warm.

Winter riding breeches are great, especially insulated or fleece. When choosing a jacket, try to find one that fits close to the body and does not have loose pieces which can get caught on tack. Gloves are also important and should be insulated but still allow the rider to use his or her fingers to tack up the horse and feel the reins when riding.

Warm up your horse. The most important parts of riding during winter are the warm up and cool down. Because the horses are out in the cold, their muscles will be cold and possibly stiff, and will need extra time to warm up and stretch. Warm up will be longer and should involve stretching and loosening exercises. Lots of walking and lateral work, if done uncollected, are great ways to help the horse warm up.

If the horse is especially cold, riders can use a quarter sheet draped over the horse's hindquarters. This will help keep the body heat near the horse and help the muscles warm up faster. This should only be used for warming up and cooling down, not while working.

Be careful on the trail. When trailering, you may need blankets on the way to the trailhead if you horse is usually kept in a stall or heated barn.

Trail riding during winter comes with the same warnings as riding in general. Riders should be prepared for sudden weather changes and drops in temperature. As soon as the sun starts setting, the temperature drops very quickly -- especially in Colorado. Riders should plan to be back before sunset or bring extra jackets.

Be careful about letting the horse drink water along the trail. If a warm horse drinks icy-cold water, it can colic or founder very easily. This is also true for allowing your horse to drink when you return to the trailer; it is best to let the animal fully cool down before it drinks water or eats.

If the horse is warm or sweaty when you return to the trailer, put the cooler on for the trailer ride home and groom the horse when you return to the stable.

Cool down your horse. The harder you work your horse, the longer it will take to cool it down. If your time is limited, keep the work easier so the horse does not get as warm. When riding indoors, horses will tend to get warmer and sweat more easily because there is less air movement. This will also be a factor when planning how long you will need for cool down.

Cooling your horse down properly during winter is important for several reasons. If the horse cools down too quickly, it may colic or founder, especially if turned into its stall or pasture where grain and water are available. If a horse is turned out wet from sweat, it may catch cold or may colic as well.

Once you have finished your riding work, walk the horse for at least five minutes under saddle. This allows the horse's heart rate to return to normal and starts the cool-down process. If the horse is still warm or sweaty, unsaddle it and put on a cooler sheet. This sheet will help regulate the horse's body temperature and help absorb sweat. Once the cooler is on, walk the horse or turn it out into the arena to walk on its own.

Check the horse every five minutes or so to see if it has cooled down. Place your hand low on the animal's chest, between its front legs. If the horse has fully cooled down, this area should be the same temperature as the rest of its body -- and also should be dry, not sweaty. That dryness is especially important if the horse wears a blanket; if the blanket is put on while the horse is still wet, it can't keep the horse warm or allow it to dry off.

Once the horse is fully cooled down, go through your usual grooming routine and then blanket the horse as needed. The horse can then be put into its stall or pasture to eat and drink.

Especially if you ride hard and your horse comes back sweaty, make sure it is fully dry and cool before adding blankets and putting it back in its stall.

Stay warm and enjoy your winter rides!

'Buck': A great way to warm up on a cold winter evening

The days end earlier and temperatures are colder as winter sets in, which makes it harder to find time and motivation to ride. Days like this make it appealing to curl up on the couch in front of a movie and hide from the world.

When the snow and cold keep you inside, check out "Buck."

An inspirational movie for horse people and non-horse people alike, this biographical documentary profiles trainer and clinician Dan M. "Buck" Brannaman. Buck was the inspiration for the book and movie "The Horse Whisperer" and even did some horse work on the film and helped Robert Redford with the character.

Buck has spent most of his life traveling the country, "helping horses with people problems." His clinics on colt starting and horse training have helped thousands. He has many worthwhile books and DVDs on training and other horse issues.

This incredibly well-made documentary features gorgeous scenery from Buck’s home in Montana and touching scenes from Buck’s past and from his clinics. The film will inspire you to be a better horse person -- and a better person in general. It will provide you will all the motivation you need to get out to the barn and spend time with your horse.

"Buck" is streaming on Netflix and available on DVD at most retailers. It is a great way to spend an evening and reinspire a love of horses and riding.

After watching the movie, you can explore his website, order books and DVDs, and find out when he is coming to your town.

Cool new Tech for horses

A very cool new technology, check out this video to see what it can do, then check out PonyUp Technologies.

While it may be a bit expensive now, this may revolutionize equestrian competition in the next decade. With horses dying at shows and collapsing while working, this may be the new way of monitoring horse health and keeping horses happier, healthier, and living longer lives.

Think what this could do for endurance horses both in training and during competition. With this you can far more accurately monitor pulse and hydration needs which will allow competitors to ride their horses at their peak ability.

This could also be great for eventers during the cross country and endurance phases. Riders could know if they were pushing their horse too hard, or if it could do more.
This could also speed up vet checks at both these competitions and with real time data vets may be able to pull horses off course before they have issues rather than waiting for the check points.

Who knows, this may have even been able to save Hickstead, the now famous show jumper who died this past weekend. Had the caretakers known about his condition they may have changed how they competed or cooled down after the jumping round.

Duminus Stupesidis

While the video quality is poor, this disease affects many in the industry and should be prevented at all costs. Enjoy this skeptical horse video :)

The Poudre Trail: A little bit of country in the city

As winter approaches, finding places to trail ride becomes more difficult. The trails get muddy, mountain trails are hard to access because of road closures and snow, and there is less time to travel to the trails as the days get shorter.

Fort Collins has an extensive system of trails throughout the city, however, and a few of them are open to horse travel. One of the city's best paths for horses is the Poudre Trail, great for an afternoon ride during fall or winter.

This east-west trail on the far north end of town parallels the Cache la Poudre River. The trail starts in LaPorte and heads past Old Town all the way to the Riverbend Ponds natural area off Mulberry Street and Timberline Road. Because this urban trail has a few road crossings and other obstacles, it's better for more advanced riders and horses. It offers a chance to teach horses about water crossings, bikes, dogs, people, and pavement. It's also a great challenge for a horse which is doing well on mountain trails.

Horse trailers can be parked in a number of places. To start at the beginning of the trail, park in LaPorte. A small parking lot is off Overland Trail just west of 54G. If that lot is full, equestrians can park in the supermarket lot just to the east, but must be sure to clean up after horses. Starting from this point means crossing a long and noisy bridge. This may not be the best choice for horses which are not calm and ready to behave immediately off the trailer.

A better choice is at the trailhead on Taft Hill Road. The fairly large lot has spaces designed for horse trailers. From the trailhead there, the trail heads south. Most of the route features two parallel trails -- one paved, one dirt -- to provide options for where to walk. This trail is popular, so equestrians will encounter people riding bikes, walking dogs and jogging.

The first major obstacle on this part of the trail is a tunnel. Although short, it's made from steel, so it is loud and echoes as horses approach and walk though it. If a horse becomes  nervous, it may be safer to dismount and walk the animal through it the first time.

The next obstacle is at Shields Street, which presents two choices: Walking under the road, a low bridge and blind corner, or crossing the road and watching for traffic.

After shields, Poudre Stables is on the right and the river is on the left. Some of the dirt side trails offer chances to play in the river or cross one of the many bridges and use the natural areas on the Cache la Poudre's north side.

The path winds down along the river, and crosses under railroad tracks and College Avenue. Those crossings are very low, so riders should dismount to be safe.

The trail eventually connects to Linden Street and passes New Belgium Brewing. A creative rider might be able to find a way to get a sample from the brewery before continuing on the ride.

The trail continues along a natural area and golf course until it connects to Mulberry Street and Lemay Avenue. Horses should be very used to cars and traffics to continue past here, because riders may have to travel on or near the busy streets. The trail concludes just past Timberline Road in the Riverbend Ponds Natural Area.

With all the side trails and adjacent natural areas, every trip down the Poudre Trail will be slightly different and can provide horses and riders many new challenges, both natural and human made.

Horses in Winter

The arrival of the Front Range's first big snowstorm of the season means it's time to start getting horses ready for winter.

 

There are many things to consider when preparing for winter at the barn: the needs of the horse, what facilities the barn has, and what an owner plans to do with his or her horse over the winter.

Shoes or no shoes?

Snow packing a horse's shoe can cause problems when walking and potentially injure the animal. Owners choosing to use shoes will need snow pads, rubber inserts which line the inside of the horseshoe and keep the snow from balling up in the foot. Consider shoes with snow pads if:

• The horse normally wears shoes.
• If the horse is to be ridden, especially on rocky ground or in places where the animal's feet will get chipped.
• If the horse is to be shown and normally wears shoes during those events.
• If the horse is not sound without shoes because of foot soreness or other issues.
• If the horse is ridden in icy or muddy areas and uses studs in its shoes.

If none of those situations applies, the horse probably can go barefoot for the winter. A farrier always should be consulted about an individual horse's foot needs.

The blanket statement

Does a horse need a blanket? The answer will depend on several factors including a horse's needs and what an owner wants to do with it during the winter.

Reasons a horse may need a blanket:

• An owner plans to show the horse or needs it to not grow a long winter coat because it's being taken to warmer places during the winter.
• The horse has been body-clipped -- which should only happen if absolutely necessary. A horse will be much more comfortable in its natural hair than in a blanket.
• The horse is older and cannot maintain body temperature as well as it did when younger.
• The horse doesn’t eat large amounts of hay. Digesting high-fiber feeds is one of the primary ways a horse stays warm.
• The horse has just been moved to Colorado and is not used to cold and snow
• The horse has a light winter coat. Before blanketing for this reason, observe the horse to make sure the animal is cold. Some horses stay naturally warm without a thick winter coat.
• The horse is underweight. Staying warm burns calories, so if the horse needs to put on weight over the winter, a blanket will help conserve calories and help the horse gain fat and muscle.
• The horse is cold. If it's shivering, it probably could use a blanket.

If none of these conditions apply, the horse probably will be fine without a blanket. For more advice on whether a horse needs a blanket, talk to the trainer, barn owner or barn manager. They observe the horse on a daily basis and can help determine if a blanket is necessary.

An owner also may choose to only blanket on certain days. Especially in Colorado, the weather changes quickly and a horse only may need or want a blanket on particularly cold or snowy days. The best way to determine its needs is to visit the horse daily, especially on days when it might need a blanket. If the horse tends to shiver when it snows because its coat gets wet, buy a waterproof sheet or blanket to keep it dry and put it on before it snows. If the horse tends to shiver only when the temperature falls below 10 degrees, buy it an insulated blanket and put it on when readings drop to more frigid temperatures.

An owner who choose to blanket will need to pick out the right one -- or ones -- for his or her horse. The animal may need multiple blankets depending on where it lives, how it reacts to the weather, and what sort of blankets are available for purchase.

Owners who only buy one blanket should choose something waterproof and with some padding to keep the horse warm. During snow, horses need a waterproof blanket to keep them dry and warm. During cold conditions, a heavier blanket with lots of insulation will do the same job.

 

Blankets may need to be layered when the weather is both cold and snowing. If the waterproof blanket is not very heavy, an extra layer of warmth also may be needed under it. Insulated blankets, if not waterproof, can collect water and actually cause a horse to be colder than without the blanket.

A horse which gets turned out needs a blanket that allows it to run and roll around. Turnout-style blankets have extra room around the legs and fit a bit more loosely, so the horse feels free to move around.

If the horse is kept in a stall, stall blankets will be sufficient.

For more information on blanketing, check out this article from HorseLink Magazine.

Comfort food

Winter can be hard on horses, and if not fed correctly they can lose significant weight and conditioning. The most important part of feeding a horse during winter is knowing whether it is gaining or losing weight and then changing its feed ration if necessary. A big part of determining what to feed a horse will depend on where it lives.

• Pasture horses are used to grazing all day and night on grass during summer. The best way to feed them is to provide free-choice hay. They will be able to determine how much hay they need during the winter day as well as they do during summer. Grass hay will take longer to digest and thus keep them warmer. If they are harder keepers which need the extra protein and energy, feeding a mix of alfalfa and grass or pure alfalfa will help the animals keep weight on. They also can be fed grain if they are losing weight. I suggest a complete feed-type grain during winter. Complete feeds have more fiber than do standard sweet feeds and will help to keep horses warm just as hay does.

• Stall horses have lower calorie needs than do pasture horses because they are not moving around as much - and because stalls in barns are warmer than living outdoors. These horses still will need higher-fiber hay to stay warm. If these horses are being worked, a combination of grass and alfalfa probably is best for energy and digestion needs. These horses should be fed at least twice -- and preferably three times -- a day to keep their digestive systems working properly. Like pasture horses, these animals may need grain. They also should be given a complete feed rather than a standard sweet feed. Complete feeds tend to have less sugar and molasses and therefore keep the horses quieter and less likely to get nervous or destructive when stuck in their stalls.

• Horses which live in runs with shelter will have needs between those of the pasture and stall horses. They will be exposed to more weather than will stall horses, but won’t be moving around as much as will pasture horses. Diet will mostly be based on the horse's calorie needs and weather tolerance.

Special needs

Older horses, no matter where they are kept, will have extra needs during the winter. They tend to not be able to maintain their body temperature as well, so they will need extra hay and grain. Older horses’ teeth tend to be worn, so high-fiber hay is extra hard for them to digest. Their diet should be supplemented with senior feeds, a grain-and-hay combination designed to be a complete feed and easy to digest so that older horses don’t lose weight. These horses may also need extra blankets or to be kept inside.

Weanlings and yearlings also may need special care. Their bodies haven’t had much experience dealing with cold and may need blankets or extra feed to stay warm. They also are growing during winter, which will create greater calorie needs as well.

Talk to a barn manger and trainer about any questions or concerns about keeping a horse healthy through the winter. These people see each horse daily, know its needs, and will help owners make the best decisions about his care.

Return Horses: Homing Pigeons of Colorado Mining Camps

Back when Colorado consisted of mostly mining towns, the main forms of transportation through the mountains were walking and riding horses.

Riding was especially important when miners needed to carry supplies and tools to their camp. Most miners didn’t own horses of their own and only had need for a steed a few times a year. This meant that miners needed to rent horses - but they only needed them for a one-way trip. There were no national rent-a-horse chains such as today's car-rental companies, so livery stables needed a way to get their horses back. Horses were expensive to raise and train, and were scarce in the lightly populated Rocky Mountains, so these horses could not be easily replaced. It thus was very important that any horse that was rented was returned to the livery.

The livery owners started investing in “return horses,” animals trained to return to their home stables from wherever they were set loose. Using these horses, miners didn’t have to worry about traveling back to town. They could set the horse loose once they got to camp, and it would return to the livery.

Return horses had to be well trained to deal with all the obstacles they might meet on the trail:

• Large snowdrifts, blizzards, fast-moving thunderstorms and flash floods.
• Predators such as mountain lions, which could be especially hazardous to horses which got tangled in their tack or in fallen trees.
• Other horses which they might be tempted to follow - but which might not be going back to the same stable.
•  Thieves. Return horses had to learn not allow themselves to be caught after being sent home.
• This meant avoiding people or fighting back if a person managed to catch them, and staying out of the way of wagon trains and pack groups.
• The difficult terrain of the Rocky Mountains.

There were some etiquette rules for renting and encountering return horses. When you set a horse loose, you had to make sure the girth was tight so the saddle wouldn't slip and get caught on tree branches or other hazards, and the horse would be kept from getting tangled. The reins also needed to be tight when they were pulled over the saddle horn, to keep them from getting tangled and to give the horse extra incentive to return home. With the reins pulled tight, a horse can’t lower his head to drink or eat, so the only way for it to get relief was to get back to the stable. Since the horse needed to get back as soon as possible, it was illegal to catch a return horse.

These horses were impressive in their ability to return to their stables and saved everyone time and effort.

As Enos A. Mills, father of Rocky Mountain National Park, wrote about the return horses, “These horses are the pick of their kind.”

Show in the Snow: Low cost, low key horse showing

It's almost time for the annual Show in the Snow, an annual event in Fort Collins which always is a good time for horses, riders and spectators.

The show, set for Nov. 5 at the Colorado State University Equine Center's B.W. Pickett Arena, offers a great chance to show at low cost. Classes are only $6 apiece if you pre-enter by Oct. 31, and $8 per class for entries received Nov. 1 or later.

It's a great chance to take green riders or green horses to a show for experience without having big expenses. The show offers Western, English, hunters and trail classes as well as “Ride a Buck” for fun.

The hunter classes start at 9 a.m. with the 18-inch division and progress to the 3-foot division. Next come the hunter-under-saddle classes and probably a lunch break because Western classes will not start before 1 p.m. These start with a showmanship class, followed by pleasure and horsemanship classes.

The equitation classes, both English and Western, are divided by age so all riders get a chance to win ribbons and compete against their peers. Reining and trail classes also are divided into age groups.

The “Ride a Buck” class is good entertainment for both riders and spectators. Riders sit on their horses bareback and attempt to keep a dollar bill under their leg.

While this is a schooling show, proper show attire is mandatory. Helmets are required for English classes. Western classes require either a helmet or a western hat. Proper show attire for English includes a white shirt, jacket, light-colored breeches, and tall boots. For Western, a button-up shirt, pressed jeans and possibly chaps are expected. Dress is especially important in equitation classes and can be used as a tiebreaker in close classes.

Show in the Snow is a great way to tune up a horse during the offseason or to get a horse some experience before shows start again in the spring. The show tends to be low-key and a fun experience.

It can be cold and also may be snowy, so be prepared for the weather. The B.W. Pickett Arena is indoor and heated, however, so the show can be held even in inclement weather.

Participation in the show supports the CSU Equine Sciences program and provides valuable experience for students in the Event Management class. The entry form and other show information are available at www.csuequine.com. You can also RSVP to the show on Facebook.

Red Mountain Open Space

Horseback riders can find winding trails of varied lengths and scenic rock formations in one of Larimer County's most recently opened tracts.

Red Mountain Open Space opened to the public in 2009 through efforts of the Larimer County Mountains to Plains Project. The tract is located about 25 miles north of Fort Collins on County Road 23. While the drive is a bit long, the experience of riding in this area is worth it.

 

The main trail, the Sinking Sun Trail, leaves from the northeast side of the horse trailer parking lot and heads north through the valley. Multiple hills and creek beds keep the trail interesting and challenging for the horses. The exposed rock on the hills comes in striking red and white, and provides beautiful scenery for riders.

Several options await equestrians following the Sinking Sun Trail.

 The Big Hole Wash Trail crosses east-west through the valley. To the east it enters the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, with its miles of trails. To the west is the other side of the open space, which features a creek and many more trails. A couple of short loops head into the hills on the valley's west side.

For a longer ride, the Ruby Wash Trail heads north through a gorgeous, winding canyon of red-layered rocks, and eventually reaching the Salt Lick Trail, which connects to the Sinking Sun Trail.

At the junction of the Ruby Wash and Salt Lick trails, the Cheyenne Rim Trail continues north into Wyoming and over to the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. The Cheyenne Rim Trail loops back and connects to the Big Hole Wash Trail.

The trails are wide and easy to ride in the valley areas, providing lots of opportunities for letting a horse out for a run or long trot. The trails provide options for long or short rides. From the parking lot, it's about 4 miles to the Wyoming border, and the trail can be done at any pace.

This area is a beautiful choice for a weekend day ride. No dogs are allowed in the open space -- not even on leashes. Riders should also be on the lookout for rattlesnakes, which are seen out there fairly often.

Red Mountain Open Space is a wildlife preserve, so riders may see deer, elk or other animals. This area also is prone to high winds and quickly changing weather, so visitors should be prepared with layers of warm clothing.

A few trails on the tract are not open to horses, so riders should check maps and any signs in the area to make sure a trail is appropriate.

More information, including complete directions from Fort Collins or Interstate 25, is online at http://www.larimer.org/parks/red_mountain.htm.

 Happy trails!

Stranger than Fiction: The evolution of the horse

Did you know that the horse used to be the size of a small dog and is native to North America?

Even though the horse is native, horses in North America are considered feral, not truly wild, because they were brought here by European settlers.

The earliest ancestor of the horse appeared around 55 million years ago and was the size of a small dog or large cat. Rather than hooves, it had multiple toes: four on its front feet and three on its back feet. These ancient horses browsed in the forest, and migrated all over North America, Siberia, Asia and Europe. They were prey for many of the larger predators and birds, but had spots and stripes that worked as camouflage in the forest.

The Mesohippus and Miohippus appeared around 30 million years ago. These horses were larger than previous ancestors and now had three toes on all of their feet. As the climate had changed, they became grazers and were able to survive on grassy plains. Many of these horses lived on the plains of Colorado and Wyoming.

By 14 million years ago, the Parahippus was living in North America. The size of large dogs, they were starting to develop normal horse behaviors and lived in bands, with a lead mare and stallion protecting the herd.

Ten million years ago, horse ancestors were pony-sized and still lived in North America. These prairie dwellers relied on speed to escape predators. The first one-toed horse appeared at about this time and started developing longer legs.

These horses continued to evolve, and eventually only a few species of the family Equus survived. Until about 12,000 years ago, the horse was living in North America. It died off with the other mega-fauna such as the woolly mammoth. The remaining species of Equus - Zebras, Donkeys and horses (Equus Caballus) - still were living in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Humans had been hunting these species of horses for food for more than 30,000 years. Horses, however, were not domesticated or used for riding or driving until about 5,600 years ago. Horses were reintroduced to North America by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage to the “new world.”

The wild mustangs which now roam the western United States are ancestors of the horses brought here by the Spanish and other colonists. Horses would escape or be turned loose and eventually formed the herds we see today.

These horses also have no natural predators in North America, so it is up to us to control the damage they do to the environment - because we reintroduced them to the continent.

Eagles Nest: Scenery and Wildlife From the Saddle

If you are looking for a great place to take horses trail riding, I highly recommend the Eagles Nest Open Space in Livermore, Colo. Scenic views, varied terrain and solitude await just minutes from the city.

 

From Fort Collins, follow U.S. Highway 287 to Livermore and turn left onto Red Feather Lakes Road. The road to the open space is less than a quarter-mile from Highway 287. A big wooden sign welcomes you to the tract at the start of a dirt road. Follow the road for about a mile to the parking lot and trailhead.

Make sure your truck has four-wheel drive. The road is steep and curvy, and four-wheel drive is recommended to keep road damage minimal.

The trail cuts across the mountainside, providing gorgeous vistas of the valley around Livermore as well as views of the mountains looking toward Red Feather.

The narrow trail can be challenging for horses new to trail riding. There are some rocky spots, so horseshoes are recommended. The trail eventually winds down the mountain and into the valley. Several gates will be encountered along the way, so be prepared to open and close them.

The trail eventually meets a stream, spanned by a large bridge. This area is a great picnic spot, complete with hitching posts. The bridge is closed from Feb. 1 to July 15 to protect golden eagle nesting. At other times of the year, crossing the bridge will lead to miles of trail that can connect to national forest land.

The gorgeous valley is a great place to take your horses out for a bit of a run or conditioning trot.

Because this open-space tract is not widely used or known, there are many chances to see a variety of wildlife. Deer are common in the scrub brush. Eagles and red-tailed hawks often are seen in the sky. Rattlesnakes are frequently encountered during the summer, so keep an eye out for them and keep dogs close or leashed.

This trail is great for shorter rides. The bridge is a 30-minute ride from the trailhead. The loop after the bridge takes about an hour. While short, the trail provides some challenges. Steep hills, rocks, and sharp turns make it interesting for both horse and rider.

This is a fun ride for any size group.

Happy Trails!

Strange Facts- The Great Horse Race

Did you know that the Denver Post once sponsored a horse race?

Back in 1908, a race was planned that would test even the strongest horse-and-rider teams. The Denver newspaper put up a $500 prize for the winner, did a major advertising campaign and even helped transport horses to the starting point in Evanston, Wyo.

The race was to run 523 miles from Evanston to Denver, following the modern routes of Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 85. This route covers challenging terrain and conditions  from deserts to mountain passes and the unpredictable weather of the Front Range.

The race started with 25 horses: 13 thoroughbreds and 12 “western broncos.” One of the race's purposes was to determine which breed was the better endurance horse. The riders were required to stop every 50 miles to check in and water their horses.

The two favorites, Sam and Teddy, were the first horses into Cheyenne. By then, however, just five contenders were left -- and only one of those was a thoroughbred.

By the time the race reached Greeley, Sam and Teddy were the only horses remaining in the race. Both were starting to feel the wear of the nearly 500-mile trip. Because of some gamesmanship among the riders, Teddy was especially exhausted.

At the final checkpoint before Denver, both horses were declared unfit to continue and their riders were ordered to walk the horses for the rest of the race. The race was declared a draw despite a last-ditch effort by Sam’s rider, who dodged around the pace car and crossed the finish line first. Sam did win the prize for the horse in the best condition, and got to graze on the state Capitol lawn the next day.

Both Sam and Teddy were “western broncos,” so the question of which breed of horse was better for endurance was answered unequivocally.

While races of this distance are rare today, the spirit of this race lives on in "endurance horses," which race 50 to 100 miles in a competition.

Hunter/Jumper

Hunter/Jumper shows make for fun weekend

The Colorado Hunter/Jumper Association puts on shows most weekends throughout the year all along the Front Range. But what is a hunter/jumper show?

First, a little history

The name "hunter" comes from the origin of the sport: fox hunting. Horses and riders would head out in groups, following a pack of hounds. The hounds would find the scent trail of a fox and take off running after it. The horses and riders would then follow over any terrain the fox covered - including fallen trees, hedges, ditches, and fences. Horses would have to jump over these obstacles and keep up with the hounds.

Eventually this sport evolved into more organized forms of competition such as hunter, jumper and eventing. Each sport tests different aspects of the fox-hunting experience.

Eventing tests the endurance and bravery of the horse. Jumper tests its power and speed.  Hunter tests its pacing and rideability.

Hunter/Jumper shows are split into Hunter and Jumper sections. The day often starts with hunter classes and ends with jumper classes, although each show will be managed differently. While horses can compete in both types of competition, each requires a different temperament and style of riding.

Hunter

These classes are judged and placed based on style, precision and rhythm. A hunter horse is expected to go around the course of jumps with a consistent rhythm, to jump the jumps quietly and easily, and to carry the rider with ease.

The judge will look for the horse's quality of movement and style of jumping. The horse should tuck its knees and be very precise over the jumps.

Jumper

Jumper classes are timed and placed based on the horse-and-rider combination with the fastest, cleanest round.

These jumps can be brightly colored, and the courses tend to be more complicated than hunter courses. Riders incur penalties for knocking down jumps, running away from jumps, stopping at jumps or going off course.

If more than one rider has a "clean" round, a jump-off is held, in which the riders jump a shorter, more complicated course. The fastest, cleanest jump-off round will win.

This section often includes an equitation portion, in which the judge watches the rider and his or her ability to communicate with the horse rather than focusing on the horse's movements.

Fences in these classes will be neutral- or natural-colored and made of natural materials.

At the show, classes usually progress from the smallest jumps to the highest.

When and where

Hunter-jumper shows will be held this weekend at Hobby Horse Farms in Firestone and next weekend at Four Winds Farm in Fort Collins. Check the CHJA website for schedules and more information.

These showcases of the relationship between horse and rider are fun for everyone to watch.

Horses and Halloween

Happy October!

It's time to start planning Halloween costumes, buying candy and getting ready for one of the best holidays of the year.

If you are like me, everything can be improved if done on horseback. So, how can you incorporate Halloween and horses?

Ever been trick-or-treating on horseback? Sound like something you’ve always wanted to do but never been able to? Trick-or-treating is just for kids, right?

Nope!

Every year the Mountain Riders Horse Club at Colorado State University goes trick-or-treating around a neighborhood in Laporte, Colo. These students are not seeking bags full of candy. They are collecting canned goods to donate to the Larimer County Food Bank.

Making the Halloween rounds on horseback has become a tradition -- and I helped start it!

I had wanted to go trick-or-treating with my horses since I first got a horse. I had talked about it with a lot of people but never was able to make it happen. I eventually met a group of girls through the Mountain Riders club who didn't have horses but liked to ride. I happened to own two horses, so these girls often would come out and ride with me.

When I brought up the subject of trick-or-treating with the horses, the girls became super excited. The first year it was just me, three other girls and my two horses, and we simply were trick-or-treating for candy.

The next year, we invited the rest of the club to join us, and one of the members suggested we make it a charitable event. Everyone really liked the idea, and that year we collected only about 10 pounds of cans - because no one in the neighborhood was prepared.

By the third year, the neighborhood was ready for us, and we ended up overloading the one pack horse we had.

Now, each year at Halloween, a group of 5 to 10 horses, riders and walkers meet just before sunset in the parking lot behind Vern's to start dressing up their horses and themselves before they head out into the neighborhood. They bring at least two horses wearing pack saddles which will be filled with cans before the night is over. Each year, the amount they collect gets larger, with more than 200 pounds collected last year.

More and more people participate each year. We bring three or more pack horses and still can't get to all the houses in the neighborhood.

Your group can do something like this, too -- wherever you are.

You will need to find a neighborhood that is friendly to horses. The easiest way to ensure this is to find homes with barns nearby. The residents will probably be accustomed to having horses walk through the neighborhood if there are already barns in the area. You could ask members of your club if the neighborhoods near where they keep their horses would be suitable.

To make collecting cans easier, post fliers and mail information so that the residents are prepared for your group to come by. You will either need one or two pack horses, depending on the size of your selected neighborhood, or you will want everyone to carry saddle bags.

You will also need people who are not riding horses. Their job is to knock on doors and help load the pack horses and saddle bags. If everyone wants a chance to ride, you can take turns walking and riding.

A few things to keep in mind:

• You will be riding at night. Horses can be more easily scared at night. You will need to watch out for cars and make sure your group is visible.
• Costumes and props can scare horses. Practice with your costume and make sure your horse is ready for the evening. Easily spooked horses should stay home.
• Here in Colorado -- and in many other areas -- it probably will be cold. Dress for the weather. Make sure children stay warm. Feel free to go home early if it gets too cold.

Remember to stay safe -- and have fun!

Horseback Riding is a Sport

Horseback riding looks easy from the spectators point of view. The rider is just sitting on the horse right? This is a common misconception partly due to it being the goal of every rider to look like you are doing nothing when you are truly controlling every move the horse makes. The connection between horse and rider is something that cannot be explained it can only be experienced. Enjoy this video :)

Wild Horses - and a Government Program that Works

A roundup of wild horses took place about a week ago near Durango, Colo. These roundups, which occur annually all across the western United States, are part of the Bureau of Land Management's strategy as part of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. The act charged the BLM with managing the West's wild horses to maintain herd and resource health.

Recently, many people have charged that the BLM is not doing its job, and actually harming the horses by removing them from the wild. Protests and lawsuits are common at wild-horse roundups. These people believe that wild horses are endangered, and that removing and stressing them could cause them to stop breeding, leading to the disappearance of wild herds.

That impression is false.

Horses compete with all other range animals -- deer, elk and domestic grazing stock such as cows and sheep -- for resource use. Any area can support only a limited number of animals, depending on the quality and amount of forage that grows there. In the arid western United States, rangeland forage can be very sparse, meaning that sustainable herd size is fairly small.

The estimated carrying capacity of the western range for wild horses is about 26,000 - but almost 40,000 horses and burros roam the West's public land today. Thus, wild horse populations are too large to be sustainable. Because horse herds can double in size every four years, a significant number of horses must be removed every year.

Wild horses have no natural predators and are not native to North America. The only ways to control herd size are to remove horses from the range and control reproduction. The roundups give the BLM the opportunity to do both.

Federal land managers are starting a program to give mares hormone shots to prevent pregnancy, which eventually will reduce the need for roundups and keep herd levels more sustainable. The horses the BLM removes from the range are either adopted or sent to pastures in the Midwest where they live out their lives. About 41,000 wild horses are kept in these pastures today.

The American mustang is not endangered in any way. The Wild Horse and Burro Act was a directive to preserve the mustang in a sustainable way on public lands.

While I fully support monitoring government agencies and holding them accountable, protests without full information are pointless and degrade the cause.

For more information on the Wild Horse and Burro Program, check out the BLM’s website: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/history_and_facts/quick_facts.html

http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/history_and_facts/myths_and_facts.html

10 Ways to Get in Shape to Own a Horse

This is stolen, but the original source is unknown, but its good for a laugh. 

1. Drop a heavy steel object on your foot. Don't pick it up right away. Shout "Get off, stupid! Get off!"

2. Leap out of a moving vehicle and practice "Relaxing into the fall". Roll into a ball, and spring to your feet!

3. Learn to grab your checkbook out of your purse/pocket and write out a $200 check without even looking down.

4. Jog long distances carrying a halter and holding out a carrot. Go ahead and tell the neighbors what you're doing.They might as well know now.

5. Affix a pair of reins to a moving freight train and practice pulling it to a halt. And smile as if you are really having fun.

6. Hone your fibbing skills. "See hon, moving hay bales is fun!" and " I'm glad your lucky performance and multi-million dollar horse won you first place - I'm just thankful that my hard work and actual ability won me second place".

7. Practice dialing your physical therapist's number with both arms paralyzed to the shoulder, and one foot anchoring the lead rope of a frisky horse.

8. Borrow the US Army slogan; "Be all that you can be'...( but add) bitten, thrown, kicked, slimed, trampled."

9. Lie face down in the mud in your most expensive riding clothes and repeat to yourself: "This is a learning experience, this is a learning experience ..."

10. Marry Money!

The True Costs of Horse Ownership

The True Costs of Horse Ownership

When I tell people I have a horse, I get a variety of reactions. One of the most perplexing is when people tell me about how they hope to buy a place with some acreage and put a horse or two on it. From my perspective, they are volunteering themselves for a lot of time, money and effort for something they aren’t truly passionate about.

Horses are expensive. Horse ownership is really only for those who truly love horses and will make them part of their everyday life.

Any prospective buyer has to take in all the expenses -- including time and effort. Besides the outright monetary costs of hay, grain, water and health care, there's the investment of feeding, cleaning and other labor -- as well as the realization that there's no more sleeping in.

Choosing instead to board a horse means a smaller time and labor commitment, but the monetary costs will be similar. Even if you board your horse, you should still go do minimal care for it -- such as grooming -- every day. Board doesn’t always cover all your expenses; you may have to purchase extra hay, grain or other treats for you horse. Board rarely covers veterinarian's expenses or farrier work.

Here is a sample yearly budget:

Boarding

Boarding a horse can cost from $100 to $1,000 per month depending on the barn you choose and your location. This covers hay, grain, and stall cleaning.

Hay: 7 tons per horse per year, if pasture is provided during spring and summer. Hay costs $80 to $250 per ton, for a minimum cost per year of  $560

• Grain: 50 pounds per month minimum. Grain costs $15 to $25 per 50-pound sack, for a minimum cost per year of $180.
• Stall cleaning requires a minimum of 30 minutes per day. If you pay the $7.25-per-hour minimum wage, the minimum cost per year would be $1,325.

Board may not include enough hay or grain for your horse if he is a hard-keeper or if pasture is slim. Board sometimes does not include stall cleaning, which you may be expected to do. The more you pay for board, the more services will be covered.

Health care and maintenance

• Farrier $60 to $200 per visit. A farrier typically visits every 6 to 8 weeks for a minimum cost of $360 per year -- only if your horse can go barefoot, which is almost impossible for horses which live on rocky ground or which get ridden extensively.
• Veterinarian
• Vaccines: $60 per year minimum.
• Teeth floating: $100 per time, 1 to 3 times per year.
• Sheath cleaning: $20 to $50.
• Lameness exams: $100 minimum.
• Health certificates: $30 minimum.
• Coggins test: $30 minimum.
• Farm call $30 minimum.

Veterinary costs can be significantly higher if your horse has health or lameness issues,  which all horses will have during their lifetime.

Total minimum annual costs for veterinary care would be $2,705 -- and that's if you are keeping your horse at your own place, which means you have added labor and time costs.

Remember, this cost is for just one horse. Horses are herd animals and need to have at least one other horse with which to live.

Remember also that these are merely basic costs of care. To really enjoy having a horse around, many other costs should be considered:

• Tack
• Halter and lead rope
• Saddle
• Bridle
• Riding clothes
• Protective gear for both horse and rider
• Treats
• Horse cookies
• Carrots
• Apples
• Toys for the stall or pasture
• Transportation
• At minimum, the costs of gasoline or other hauling fees
• You may have to purchase a truck and trailer if you want to be able to:
• Go trail riding
• Compete at costly horse shows
• Class fees
• Stall fees
• Vet costs
• Show clothes
• Move your horse to a new barn

Horse ownership is a huge step that should not be taken lightly. These are live animals with many needs. Horses should be under the care of someone experienced and knowledgeable who has the time to really care for the animal.

Enjoy the idyllic scenery of a group of horses grazing in other pastures. Leave the care to professionals.

Eventers do it 3 ways in 3 days :)

I volunteered this past weekend at the Windy Wyoming Horse Trials in Laramie, Wyo. -- an amazing annual event which is fun for both competitors and spectators.

Horse trials are known by many names: 3-day eventing, Combined Training, Horse Trials or just Eventing. The sport is not well known, not even in the horse community, but I believe it's the ultimate test of horse and rider.

The format varies depending on the level of competition, but there are 3 basic tests of horse and rider in eventing: Communication, endurance and precision.

Communication

The communication between rider and horse is evaluated during the Dressage test, which always comes first. This test proves that the rider has sufficient control over the horse to attempt the next two phases.

Dressage is the French word for training and emphasizes the relationship between the rider and horse. A well-done dressage test should look like a dance between horse and rider. The cues a rider gives a horse should be imperceptible, and the horse’s response should be willing and fluid.

Great dressage takes years to master for both the rider and horse -- but there are many levels of tests to master before reaching the top level.

Endurance

In the next phase, cross country, the horse and rider are asked to gallop across fields and through trees and water, while jumping over solid obstacles.

Considered the most exciting part of eventing, this phase tests endurance. The courses are up to 4 miles long with up to 40 obstacles for horse and rider to navigate. The list of obstacles is long, but usually includes logs, water, banks and a wide variety of shapes of jumps.

The endurance phase is sometimes supplemented with the “Roads and Tracks” and steeplechase phases. In these timed events, riders are expected to keep to a set pace and are penalized if they go too fast or too slowly. 

Precision

The final phase, show jumping, tests the precision of the horse and rider. The jumps in this phase will fall if the horse hits the fence, and the pair will be penalized for every jump that falls and for extra time around the course. This phase’s difficulty is increased by having completed the cross-country phase and therefore being tired and used to a longer stride at a faster pace.

 

The winner

At the end of the event, the total penalties from all 3 phases are tallied and the rider with the lowest penalty score wins.

This sport is great for competitors and spectators alike. The dressage phase shows the grace of the horse and the expertise of the ride. The cross-country phase is full of excitement and potentially danger to both horse and rider. The show-jumping phase is a fast-paced and exciting end to the event.

If you get a chance, go see a local event. The United States Eventing Association tracks all registered events and can help you find your local eventing association, which can lead you to schooling shows and other related competitions. In the Rocky Mountains, the Mountain State Eventing Association tracks all the local shows in its region and hosts the regional championships.