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!