Meet the fam, Part 2: “Willow” is a huge blessing in a tiny body.

During the young-horse handling class, the first time Willow was caught, Brent had to rope her. It was the gentlest way to catch what was essentially a wild horse. But look at that trot ... is it not cute?

Maybe in a past life, “Willow” was a journalist, too. This 3-year-old sure has a lot of stories to tell … but for now, let’s start with the story of how she came into my life.

Her background: She traces to Doc Bar on top and bottom, is closely related to National Cutting Horse Association money-earners, and to Baileys Copper Doc, the two-time AQHA-Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association heeling horse of the year, who was bred by the same longtime breeder as Willow.

But I knew none of that when I first saw her. I just saw a scraggly, scared little filly with a huge distrust of humans.   Read the rest of this entry »

Tips for deciding which colts aren’t ideal stallion prospects.

Don’t forget to watch highlights from the 2008 AQHA World Championship Show TODAY at 3 p.m. Eastern/ 12 p.m. Pacific on the Universal Sports Network.

Originally published in the September, 2002 American Quarter Horse Journal

Each year, colt crops are carefully scrutinized, sized up from head to toe and painstakingly critiqued to find the select few, extra special colts that are worthy of carrying on a bloodline. But, what makes a stallion stand out from his gelded brothers?

In 2002, breeders Stan Weaver, Pete Becker and Billy Cogdell told The American Quarter Horse Journal how they made their gelding decisions. Here’s what they had to say:

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What exactly is a barefoot trim?

By Tom Moates, with contributions from Kristin Syverson

In theory, a “barefoot trim” gives a domestic horse’s hoof the same shape as a wild horse’s hoof. Supporters of the barefoot trim believe that if it happens in nature, it must be the best thing for the horse. So, it would be reasonable to associate a ‘barefoot trim’ with ‘natural.’

This ‘natural’ design is based largely on a study of mustang hoof wear in some specific western North American environments. Sometimes, you will also hear a barefoot trim referred to as a “mustang trim” for this reason. Read the rest of this entry »

Teach your horse the basics of flexion by using soft hands and smart techniques.

Objectives:

• To ask my horse for vertical flexion and to have him respond positively and lightly, rather than resisting or opposing

• To understand “soft feel” as a fundamental ingredient of vertical flexion and collection

• To ask for vertical flexion using only light pressure

How Will This Help Me?

It will be quicker and easier to teach the horse the all-important basics of flexion if I start on the ground before attempting to do it mounted. My hands must learn to take, to wait and to release.

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Follow this advice for a budget-friendly horse showing experience.

Get big success on a small budget.

By The Journal’s Holly Clanahan

Tom McBeath, an AQHA Professional Horseman from Union, Mississippi, says that people showing on a shoestring – if they have talent and lots of dedication – can be just as successful as those for whom money is no object.

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Manage your horse better by understanding his behavior.

From our friends at eXtension.org

Horse owners who have a sound understanding of horse behavior can use their knowledge to help prevent behavioral problems. Listed below are a few management tips related to horse behavior:

• Design horse housing so horses can see other horses.

• Feeding horses individually will reduce aggression and allow slow eaters to get their full ration.

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Take care of – but don’t coddle – those early foals.

By The Journal’s Christine Hamilton

Breeding experts Dr. Joe Carter, D.V.M, of Oklahoma Equine Hospital, and Barbara Helland, owner of Helland Ranch in Hutchinson, Minnesota, have years of experience in the horse-breeding industry. They foal out both ranch-owned and client mares in the winter.

Here, they offer their advice on the specific management needs of early foals. What they had to say centered around four major areas of concern.

Concern No. 1: Foaling

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Keep your horse at a healthy weight during the cold months.

By Thomas R. Lenz, D.V.M., M.S.

Temperatures between 15 and 60 degrees F are considered energy neutral for horses. This means that within that temperature range, horses don’t require extra energy or calories to stay warm or cool. However, this assumes that the wind is not blowing and the horse’s hair coat is not wet, because both conditions increase the horse’s caloric needs

Horses instinctively know when they need extra calories to increase body temperature and maintain weight. Unfortunately, most horses are on a fixed diet and when additional calories are required to keep them warm or to maintain body weight, they are at the mercy of their owner’s ability to adjust the feed ration. Read the rest of this entry »

What you can do to stay in shape when you can’t ride.

In some places, the winter weather becomes so inclement that horse owners are unable to ride for weeks, maybe months, so how do you stay in shape when you’re unable to ride?

Two-time amateur hunter hack world champion and certified professional trainer Emily Harrington of Aubrey, Texas, explains what riders should focus on when staying in shape during the off-season. Read the rest of this entry »

Our expert explains an uncomfortable ear problem horses can face.

An America’s Horse Daily reader submitted a question about a horse who she thinks has ear mites.

Tom R. Lenz, D.V.M., M.S., Dipl. A.C.T., offers some sound advice. Dr. Lenz is an American Association of Equine Practitioners member veterinarian and a regular columnist in The American Quarter Horse Journal.

Question:

I am pretty sure my 14 year old mare has ear mites in her left ear (her right ear is fine). She will not let me touch her ear and it is a challenge to get the bridle on ( I had to take the bridle apart the other day when I rode her, and she was fine). I do not see any swelling or any kind of abrasions around the ear.

How do I get the mite medicine in her ear? Her ear must be very sore. She normally will put her head down for me to put the bridle on. She has already broken her lead rope twice by sitting back when I approach the ear. I do not have a stock to put her in. I have tried treats, showing her the bottle, rubbing the bottle around her face and she is fine with all that but the minute I get near the ear, she throws her head or sits back. Any suggestions?

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How to train your horse for rollbacks that really roll.

Craig Schmersal

By Craig Schmersal, with The Journal’s Tonya Ratliff-Garrison

The rollback consists of three separate maneuvers – a stop, a 180-degree turn and a lead departure. The rollback should be one continuous, fluid motion. However, this is easier said than done. With the help of his stallion Mister Montana Nic, National Reining Horse Association million-dollar rider Craig Schmersal describes some of the techniques he uses at home to ensure precise rollbacks.

Getting Started

1. The first thing you need on a horse before teaching the rollback is suppleness. He must be willing to give his face. Using two hands, if I pull his head to the right, I only want him to move his head. I do not want his body to move to the right until I add the left neck rein.
2. The horse needs to know how to yield to leg pressure
3. The horse has to know how to back up. When I take hold of him and back him up, I don’t want to be pulling him back. I want him to back up on a fairly loose rein. Read the rest of this entry »

Five steps to starting the new year at the horse races off right.

Resolve to have more fun at the races!

By C. Reid McLellan

If you are a horseplayer you might have already made some “resolutions” for this year. Here are five for you to consider for 2009.

Some time ago I had an insightful Cherokee female friend. She made me a choker necklace (amethyst beads and bone – purple and white, of course) that she told me was used to protect a warrior’s neck from a knife wound in battle. She told me, before I make a decision that might be life changing I should “recharge” the choker and wear it.

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