October 31, 2008
No one would step onto a basketball court to compete wearing sneakers that don’t fit. That’s a sure way to guarantee defeat. A major part of any competitive sport is having the proper equipment. Finding the right size of saddle to fit you and your horse is no different.
AQHA Corporate Partner Tex Tan offers this advice on finding the perfect fit for your next saddle:
October 30, 2008
By Dr. Thomas R. Lenz
Today’s mare owner has more breeding options than ever before. One of the options is artificial insemination with cooled/shipped semen, making it possible to breed your mare to any stallion in the country, without her leaving your property.
Shipping cooled semen from the stud farm to the mare allows owners to control mare care and reduce transportation costs. Because the mare (and her foal) remains at home, there is less danger of injury or illness that might be encountered on a broodmare farm. In addition, mares in training or competition can be bred without interrupting their schedule.
October 30, 2008
Make an appointment with an equine dentist!
Have you ever paid much attention to your horse’s teeth?
Dr. Jack Easley, D.V.M., and equine dentist, recommends that you do.
By evolutionary design, horses are grazing machines. Their long heads and necks allow for continuous grazing, increasing the height and complexity of the tooth shape. The forward teeth, or incisors, function as grass trimmers. The cheek teeth, including the molars and premolars, have wide, flat, grooved surfaces to easily grind feed into mash before it is swallowed.
Dr. Easley says the domestication of horses is one reason they require dental care. Read the rest of this entry »
October 29, 2008
By Christine Hamilton
The All American Quarter Horse Congress at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, wrapped up last week with an estimated 8,500 horses shown during the three-week event. Be sure to read The American Quarter Horse Journal’s full Congress coverage in the December issue.
Here are some of the latest big moments: Read the rest of this entry »
October 28, 2008
1. Bit Grunge
One of my pet peeves is when riders put away a bridle without cleaning the bit off. When the bit comes out of the horse’s mouth it frequently has slobber and food particles, combining together to form a lovely green slime. The slime will come off the bit quite easily when you first take it out of the horse’s mouth, by rinsing the bit and wiping it off. If the slime is left on the bit, it will dry and crack and cause significant discomfort to the horse the next time it is used. Take a few extra seconds when unbridling to clean the bit before hanging up the bridle.
Christy Landwehr
CHA Clinician - Denver, Colorado Read the rest of this entry »
October 28, 2008
Pamela Higginbotham and Skipas Gold Star
Pamela Higginbotham of Meadville, Mississippi, bought Skipas Gold Star in 2003, shortly after the death of her father. The yearling filly was in poor body condition when Pamela purchased her, but she poured her time and love into the mare, doing hours of groundwork each day.
“I needed this mare, because my dad had died,” Pamela says. “I had a rough time. It was the first death in the family, and we were very close.
“Then my mom got breast cancer, and my husband, Derrell, fell and shattered several bones in his leg. Three days later, my little sister, who had taken my dad’s death pretty hard, overdosed.” Read the rest of this entry »
October 27, 2008
Sassys Tuffy. Photo by Coady Photography.
On November 8, one of the top contenders for the $350,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1) is Sassys Tuffy, a 4-year-old gelding owned by C. Dawn Ivey of Dennis, Texas, bred by her grandfather and trained by her father, C. Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath.
Sassys Tuffy earned a neck victory in the July 12, $114,660 Bank of America Texas Challenge (G1) at Sam Houston Race Park to earn his ticket into the top-flight race at Evangeline Downs. He went 440 yards in :21.645 for his fifth win in 15 starts.
“After the first hundred yards, this horse really likes to pick up the pace and run fast,” said jockey Jose Alvarez, who also rode Sassys Tuffy to a half length victory in the second of two trials June 28. “I’m so happy about this win. I feel truly blessed.”
October 24, 2008
Take care of your leather, and your tack will be sturdy and safe for years to come.
As the weather turns cooler, now’s the perfect time to clean your tack for winter storage.
After months of summer riding, your tack has accumulated layers of grimy dirt from your horse’s sweat. And, unfortunately, you can’t just throw it in the washing machine.
It’s recommended that all tack that comes into direct contact with your horse - fenders on a western saddle, headstalls and breast collars, for example - be wiped off with a clean, wet sponge or rag after each ride. If sweat is allowed to dry on the leather, the tack becomes stiff and brittle over time. The germy environment is also conducive to mold spores. Read the rest of this entry »