Duchess was a queen around our place.

Duchess in October 2009

I stroked her supine burgundy-bay neck, gently running my hand over the haircoat that lay the wrong way, running from withers to poll. No one had ever told her it was supposed to go the other way.

Just like no one had ever told her that horses weren’t supposed to live to be 40. Or that they weren’t supposed to die the day after Valentine’s Day, with three children peering out the window and preemptively mourning the loss of their “grandma horse.”

She had been my mom’s horse, having outlived her owner by almost 14 years. Taking care of her — with three meals a day of senior feed gruel, a pink blanket to stave off the cold, a fan in the summertime and plenty of wither scritches in between — had been a way to honor my mom, to say thanks for all she had done for me. After all, it was she who bequeathed to me my love of horses, the thing that has become my therapy and my life.

Duchess was one of our first horses, the one we bought nearly 30 years ago from a low-end auction before we knew you weren’t really supposed to do that. If I remember correctly, we paid $650 for her, at a time when “good” horses were going for much more than that. She turned out to be golden. She was a gaited horse of unknown origin, and when our 4-H horse club went trail riding, Duchess and my mom were right there, gliding over the ground beside me and my Quarter Horse.

She was sound right up to the end, although her eyesight had begun to fail, and she could no longer eat hay or solid grain. The first time she went down was also her last; she was unable to get up, and our vet came over quickly and confirmed what I already knew: It was time.

Examining her gum color, he marveled at her teeth. The lower incisors, which slant forward as a horse ages, were laying straight ahead, almost parallel with her jaw bone. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a horse that old,” he said, stroking her on her cheek.

Today, it’s noontime as I write this – time for Duchess’ lunch — and I almost got up to go soak her food. But she doesn’t need it today. Last night, I talked to the kids about how heaven has wonderful, lush green pastures where she can eat all she wants. She can run again, maybe even buck if she wants to. And if she misses her senior feed, I know my mom will take care of that.

Vaya con dios,

Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

It’s the end of The Great Horse Hunt but the beginning of a new adventure.

We’ve been horse hunting for a while, checking out some horses through word of mouth but mostly shopping online. I’ve met some horses who didn’t quite fill our bill for one reason or another, but I also got to visit with some really nice horse people, making the whole thing a positive experience.

More than anything, I got verrry familiar with the advanced search function for classified ads on AQHA’s Web site, because we had a lot of variables to plug in. We were looking for a easygoing horse for my husband, Chad, to learn to ride on, and which could double as a kid horse for our nieces and nephew when they come to visit. We wanted a stocky horse shorter than 15 hands for ease of mounting, and we preferred a gelding to fit in our herd situation. Bonus points if he’s low in the pecking order and won’t fight with our other horses. Color didn’t matter so much, but he obviously had to have a heart of gold and be comfortable trail riding and checking cattle. We wanted a horse that was somewhat older and experienced, but with no soundness or other health issues. Oh, and we didn’t exactly have an unlimited budget, either, and we couldn’t travel cross-country to try out horses.  Like I said … a lot of variables.

We e-mailed one seller on the site to ask about a black gelding she had listed. She responded with her Web site address, which had more information and also listed a few other horses. Among them was a cute flaxen-maned sorrel gelding who was doing light ranch work and trail riding. “Val” sounded promising enough to merit a two-hour drive, so I went to try him out, taking a spin in the arena and then heading out on the trails of the northwest Oklahoma ranch.

In the arena, well, let’s just say he won’t be winning any world championships any time soon. But on the trails, the little gelding’s ears went forward, and I’m pretty sure he started smiling. We went “off road,” going up hills and through brush, scaring up some birds from their groundcover. He enjoyed all of it, and I did, too. He was safe, responsive and happy to do his job.

His bloodlines intrigued me. On the top (sire side), he’s a grandson of Easy Jet (a racing world champion and member of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame). His bottom (dam) line traces to Me Quick To, a gray stallion who earned a Register of Merit on the racetrack, then scored AQHA Superiors in halter and western pleasure. He also had some National Cutting Horse Association earnings. Most importantly, my last “kid horse with a heart of gold” was one of his descendants. “Blue” had to be put down in fall 2008, and I miss her dearly.

But despite the racing blood, this gelding — like Blue — prefers to keep it in a lower gear.

It got more interesting when the seller’s trainer gave me the phone number for Val’s breeder. (Sidenote: this wouldn’t have been possible without the AQHA transfer reports … a definite benefit to buying registered horses.)

The breeder had had “Val” from birth to 5 years old, and as it turns out, she called him “Everest” because he was strong, solid and as stable as the mountain. She had given him special nutritional supplements and didn’t actually start him under saddle until he was 5, so that his joints were all fully closed. “He’ll last you longer than 10 horses,” she said.

We had a pre-purchase exam done just to make sure.

And interestingly, Everest/Val is featured in a book the breeder wrote called “Promises Lost and Found” about Native American philosophies and their relationship with animals. I haven’t read it yet, but she offered to send me one if I ended up buying him.

And you know I wouldn’t be writing this much about him if he weren’t standing outside in my pasture right now. Except that the poor horse has undergone yet another name change. Chad wanted to give him a fresh start … so his nickname is now “Ochocinco.” (Cincinnati Bengals fans will understand my husband’s attempt at humor … it’s a reference to the football player who changed his name to Chad Ochocinco to match his jersey number, 85.) I’ve made the executive decision to shorten that to “Ocho.”

Already, it has been an interesting journey just getting him here. As the weather turns into trail-riding temps, I can’t wait to see how his story continues to unfold. Hope to see some of you guys out on the trails!

Happy riding!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

Some horsey groups keep the spirit of giving alive all year long.

Holly Clanahan

In these last few days before Christmas, it’s easy to get caught up in the hubbub of the season. Did I leave anybody off my list? (In my case … yes, I forgot our wonderful rural mailman and the feed-store owner to whom I usually send a tin of homemade goodies!) Do I have all the fixings for a big family dinner? Are all the presents wrapped? (Again, in my case, that’s a “no!”)

The spirit of giving and generosity sometimes gets lost in the midst of the “ACK!!!!” But then, sometimes, you meet someone who helps you get it back in perspective.

For me this year, that someone was Bill Shackelford, a longtime AQHA member from Sheridan, Wyoming, and president of Westrust, a charitable organization that originated from the Western and English Sales Association (WESA), which is a market group at the Denver Merchandise Market. Their target audience, obviously, is horse people, and they never seem to lose that magical spirit of Christmas.

“So far, we’ve helped over 15 individuals and spent over $30,000,” Bill says. And it’s been just as much of a gift to the Westrust managers when they see the effect they have on people.

“We give some financial and psychological help to the recipients. They feel like nobody’s there to help them, and when we do help them, it’s amazing how much their attitudes change. It’s not only the financial help, but the fact that there are people out there that are concerned about them,” Bill says.

He mentions one person who thought he was going to lose his house and was despondent. After receiving help from Westrust and getting that “shot in the arm,” his life seemed to turn around. A job offer soon followed, bringing with it a return to financial stability.

“It makes us feel really good about what we’re doing,” Bill says.

To learn more about Westrust — either as a donor or recipient — call (800) 513-4005.

Fortunately, Westrust isn’t the only group out there helping horse people in need. What follows isn’t a comprehensive list, by any means, but it’s a good sampling. If you know of other charitable groups targeting horse people, please list them in the comments section.

AQHA Professional Horsemen’s Crisis Fund — Provides assistance to members of the Professional Horsemen’s Association, based on proven financial need arising from sudden and demonstrable hardship or disaster of a severe and unexpected nature or from serious physical illness. To donate or learn more, contact the American Quarter Horse Foundation at (806) 378-5029.

Working Ranch Cowboys Foundation Crisis Fund — Provides assistance to working ranch cowboys or their families after a serious injury or illness. Contact the Working Ranch Cowboys Association to learn more.

Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund — With each ride, rodeo athletes can lose the ability to meet the mortgage payments or the ability to feed and care for his or her family. Recognizing that serious injuries can be traumatic enough in themselves, without the additional burden of financial worries, the Justin Boot Company formed a partnership with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association in 1989 to establish the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.

Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund — Riding racehorses is one of the most dangerous jobs in sports, and this non-profit provides financial assistance to jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries. The Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund was established in 2006.

And as a fun addendum … some horsey help coming from a place you wouldn’t necessarily expect: Rock star Kid Rock has offered to pay a year’s worth of board for two Michigan women. “I’ve always tried to help out where I can locally; I do a lot of things nationally and worldwide, too, but if I can’t start out by helping in my hometown, then why bother?” he told the Chicago Tribune.

Thanks to all those out there who are keeping the spirit of Christmas alive year round.

Happy riding, and happy holidays!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

Christmas shopping can wait; we’ve got horses to ride!

Amount of house-cleaning done this weekend: Zilch.

Number of holiday errands crossed off my list this weekend: Zero.

Amount of training put in on the young horse (in beautiful riding weather, I might add): Zip.

Regrets: Nada.

Our place was bombarded this weekend by three small children – my nieces and nephew, ages 4, 6 and 7. The middle child, in particular, is a horse kid.

If the weather’s not cooperative when she comes to visit, we usually hole up in the house and watch horse movies. Anybody out there need to know a line from “Flicka” or “Virgina’s Run” (the two current favorites)? Just ask; I’ve got most of them memorized.

“Flicka” is such a fave, in fact, that one of my horses has been tagged with that nickname. Never mind that Junior is a tall gray gelding, rather than a wild black mustang mare. Mere details.

So, this weekend – when the cold weather decided to leave us be for a while – we saddled up Flicka. Thankfully, there were no mountain lions to contend with, nor was there a wild-horse-breaking contest. (If that doesn’t make sense, then you obviously haven’t watched the movie enough times.) There was a little Oklahoma wind, and two siblings who were probably more enthralled by the barn cats. But for the Horse Kid, it was heaven.

She sympathizes with Junior, er, Flicka, when he’s startled by a darting barn kitty. (I’m pretty sure his heart melted when he got a few pats on his withers and was told, “It’s OK, Flicka,” in that tiny voice. I know mine did.) She knows what supplements he gets to help his joints and how much grain he eats. She always throws a horse treat in with his grain, just so he feels special. And she knows how to brush out his red-dirt-stained tail the correct way, gently, from the bottom up – although there’s only so far up she can reach.

She’s definitely a horse kid, in that semi-obsessive way that only a fellow (grownup) horse kid would understand.

I don’t know if she’ll outgrow her passion (although I doubt it). And I don’t know where it’ll lead her. But I know that for right now, she has found a place where all her daily struggles melt away, where everything is calm and right.

Flicka’s saddle is a pretty good place to be. All the other stuff on my to-do list, well, it’ll just have to wait.

Happy riding!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

A whole herd of Quarter Horse enthusiasts rode into the recent United States Dressage Federation convention.

Carla Wennberg riding Larks Chaos.

Stereotypes are never a good thing, but it can be easy to fall prey to them. For instance, when I conjure up an image of a typical dressage horse, I visualize an elegant 17-hand warmblood with a name and pedigree that I can hardly pronounce. I expect that many people think of American Quarter Horses as wearing nothing but western saddles. In reality, both of those ideas deserve a good stick of dynamite.

This past weekend, my friend and co-worker Andrea Caudill and I attended the United States Dressage Federation convention in Austin, Texas. Both of us ride dressage (on our Quarter Horses) and were excited about the chance to learn more about it through the educational offerings at the convention. Plus, we were taking with us some educational materials of our own, about the new AQHA program that allows Quarter Horse riders at USDF/United States Equestrian Federation shows to earn AQHA points and other awards.

And last but certainly not least, Andrea was on hand at the awards banquet to receive an all-breeds medal for having the high-point American Quarter Horse in Training Level dressage. Major congrats to Andrea and the other Quarter Horse award winners!

Andrea and I both love the sport of dressage, and we love our American Quarter Horses, but going into the USDF convention, we really thought we’d be in the minority. See the stereotype above.

But when U.S. Equestrian Team member and best-selling author Jane Savoie began her motivational talk at the convention, she opened by asking how many people in the audience rode Thoroughbreds. A few hands popped up. Next, she asked about warmbloods. A forest of arms went in the air. Then she asked how many people rode Quarter Horses, and the response was very similar. Apparently, there’s a lot of us out there!

I can’t tell you how many people approached either me or Andrea when they found out we were with AQHA. Everybody, it seems, has a story about a past or present Quarter Horse who excelled in dressage and had a fun personality to boot. Joy, Linda, Karen, Beth … all those whose names I can’t remember … thank you for sharing your stories with us! You made us feel very much welcomed into the USDF culture, and it’s so wonderful to see how many folks are benefitting from the Quarter Horse’s versatility and kind, user-friendly temperament.

It’s also exciting to see AQHA and USDF working together on the new recognition and points program, and I hope it will encourage even more people to try putting a dressage saddle on their American Quarter Horses.

As more encouragement, America’s Horse magazine is starting a series in the January-February issue on Training Level dressage. The series is written by Andrea and AQHA Professional Horsewoman Carla Wennberg. As Carla points out, dressage is just good training, with an emphasis on a strong foundation, and it can help your horse no matter what kind of saddle you ride him in, and no matter whether you show or just ride for fun.

All this talk of Quarter Horses, dressage and how well they go together … well, there’s just one bad thing about it, and that’s the fact that I was sitting in a convention hall in Austin, Texas, miles away from my own Quarter Horse, instead of tacking him up and going for a ride. That, I’ll have to remedy ASAP!

Happy riding!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

Taming the dragon by staying one step ahead of her.

Riding at home. Can't see the scales and wings here, can you?

More on Buster McLaury’s colt-starting clinic …

On Day 1 of the clinic, Zen quickly showed her stripes by asserting her dominance over the nine other colts as they were turned loose in the arena wearing their saddles. She had kicked, dive-bombed and generally taken on the role of Ms. Alpha Mare. She owned that role.

And now, Day 2, I was astride the dragon with only a rope halter and lead rope to prevent any playground fights. I had talked to Buster about how to handle the situation, should she show aggression toward another horse while I was on her back. The key, he said, was to be ahead of the problem. Pay attention to her (she’ll tell you with her ears and body what she’s thinking about) and when she puts her focus on another colt, move her feet and bring her mind back to her rider. Even with a halter and lead rope, you can ask for soft lateral flexions.

Bear in mind, though, that none of these colts had very good steering yet. You know how bumper cars clumsily maneuver? Kind of like that.  But we didn’t need to be in these colts’ mouths yet. Buster wanted them to get accustomed to having a rider on their back (which is no small thing) and being directed with broad strokes.

As expected, Zen made ugly faces at the colts who crossed her path, but she tried no physical violence. Using just the single lead rope and swinging it over her head to change direction, I tried to direct her feet away from oncoming colts and keep her focus on me. It wasn’t the smoothest thing I’ve ever done, but we did stay out of trouble. The maneuvering got easier on Day 3, when we put the colts in snaffle bits and I had the benefit of two reins. Still, though, there were ugly faces.

My concern — aside from everyone’s safety, of course — was what was causing Zen to act that way, when she didn’t normally show aggression toward other horses at home. I suspected it was insecurity. You know people who, when they get fearful, end up sniping at everyone around them?

If Zen was going to come out of her shell and be Miss All That, that’s fine … but I didn’t want it to be rooted in fear.

When we got home, I called my friend, AQHA Professional Horseman Brent Graef. He knew me, and he knew Zen, and I was eager to hear his take on the situation. He agreed with Buster’s suggestions, but he expanded on them a little bit.

If I can stay just a little bit farther ahead of Zen … let’s say a horse is walking behind her on her right side. The instant she flicks her right ear around, if I can be there — maybe just by stroking the right side of her neck — to say, “I see what’s bothering you. Don’t worry. I’ve got it covered.” — that should help allay her fears and help her gain confidence.

Horses, after all, are born either to lead or follow. They’re happy to follow the lead of a clear, confident handler. But if they’re not given adequate direction, they’re equally happy to take the reins themselves, so to speak. In Zen’s case, I needed to let her know, “I’ll handle those other colts; you don’t have to.”

We’ve been working on that at home. It’s not that often that I have someone to ride with here, but when I do, I ask the other rider to circle us at varying distances, ride up beside us, etc., while I keep close track of where Zen’s mind is. The real test, I know, will be when I take her somewhere again.

We’re trying to organize a clinic with Brent in Amarillo in December, though the details are not worked out yet. When that comes together, that’ll be my target for Zen. Another strange place, more strange horses … how will she handle it? How will I be able to help her?

That all remains to be seen, but if the dragon rears its ugly head again, at least it will have better steering this time!

Happy riding!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

My little girl? A bully? Oh yes, indeed!

Buster McLaury

As promised, more on the colt-starting clinic with Buster McLaury.

It was early October when “Zen” and I took a five-hour jaunt into the Flint Hills of Kansas, where Rex Buchman, a friend of America’s Horse and a good cowboy in his own right, was hosting the clinic for Buster. Rex had invited me to come cover the clinic (watch upcoming issues of the print edition of America’s Horse!) and had said he could probably find me a lightly started colt to ride if I wanted to.

“Or,” I said, the wheels spinning in my head, ”I could bring my own.” I’ve long thought Buster was someone I wanted to ride with, and it sure would be nice to start riding Zen again under some expert supervision. Buster is a lifelong ranch cowboy and a student of Ray Hunt; he has got an unbelievable amount of experience to share.

The colt-starting portion of the clinic began with Buster working with colts who had never been saddled before. (The clinic horses were fairly evenly split, with some first-timers and others, like Zen, who had been ridden only a little.) It’s so interesting to watch someone who really speaks “horse.” It sure was worth standing out in the rain for. It wasn’t long before Buster and the colts’ handlers had introduced flapping ropes, saddle blankets and the saddle.

As the rain continued, we decided to haul all the colts to a nearby indoor arena to continue working. Once there, all the handlers saddled their colts, and Buster instructed us to turn them loose in the spacious arena. He was on his trusty saddle horse, and he’d move the colts around to help them get accustomed to the things on their backs.

The herd of 10 colts were at times like cats — one meandering here, one there — and at other times were a packed school of sardines, galloping madly around and throwing in an occasional buck. The common denominator, no matter the configuration: one filly quickly asserted herself as alpha mare. Make no mistake about it, she was boss. Anyone who doubted it got a double-barrel kick in their direction, or maybe a ears-pinned-snaky-head dive bomb.

This was my little dumpling … the sweethearted peacenik named Zen.

When we repeated the scenario the next day, Zen repeated hers, too — really to the point of embarrassment. She’d run across the arena to assert her dominance over a couple of colts who were trying their best to stay away from her. She even marched smartly up to Buster’s saddle horse, wondering if she could cow him. Buster shooed her away with his flag; she wasn’t bigger and badder than that noisy, scary plastic.

“No,” I told the other horse owners, “she really isn’t like this at home.” Willow, my other 3-year-old, is much higher on the pecking order than Zen is. She’ll steal Zen’s food if given a chance, and she likes to move Zen out of her way sometimes “just because.” But, nevertheless, I felt like the mom whose kid just shoved a playmate off the swing set at day care.

By Day 2 of the clinic, when even the newbies had gotten more used to wearing a saddle, it was time for us to mount up. Now normally, that wouldn’t have been an issue with Zen. She’s good about saddling, and she’s not bothered anymore by someone on her back. We had walked and trotted a little; we just hadn’t progressed much past that. So getting up on her back, not a problem. Walking around nine targets, er, colts — all of whom had limited steering — without Zen dive-bombing anybody … I wasn’t so sure about that.

At this point, we were riding in rope halters, and Buster recommended that we not tie the lead rope around to make one connected rein (which is what I’d done at home). It was better, he said, to flip the lead rope over the horse’s head, from one side to the other, because it helped prepare the horse for a lot of things, such as roping — or just anything passing over their head.

It’s my goal to prepare Zen for as many things as possible in life … so sure, we’ll give it a try! Unfortunately, though, my rope-handling skills aren’t quite up to snuff, and more often than not, I hung the lead rope on an ear and then had to flip it off. (My apologies and thanks go out to Zen for her tolerance.) It certainly did desensitize her to things passing over her head. But steering left and right? We weren’t going to make any quick changes of direction — at least none that were my idea.

Stay tuned for the next installment…

Happy riding!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

“Cowboy pinch-rolled jeans” are about function, not fashion.

This past weekend was about all about the future. I attended a Buster McLaury clinic in the Kansas Flint Hills and had brought Zen for the colt-starting portion of the clinic. (I promise to write more about the phenomenal colt clinic later.) But as she and I worked to build our partnership, preparing for years of good rides and steady progress, I got a blast of nostalgia from the past. Read on and see if you do, too.

The afternoons were filled with cow work for older horses. Buster, who has spent his life as a ranch cowboy and as a student of Ray Hunt, has lots of experience starting horses on cattle. Look for a story in an upcoming print edition of America’s Horse magazine on this topic.

The horses’ amazing progress and the knowledge that was freely shared … well, those were the silver linings to a very literal dark cloud that hung over the clinic, pelting us with rain on Thursday, the first day, and chilling us with unseasonably cold temperatures and howling wind on the days that followed. We sought shelter at an indoor arena 30 minutes away and continued to haul over there for the remainder of the weekend.

You’ve got to love the resiliance of horse people; all the participants took the cold and dampness in stride, making adaptations as needed.

For me, it required a little wardrobe change. I normally wear my jeans on the outside of my boots, even though I have some neat boots with high pale-turquoise tops. But sloshing through mud with the pants legs out would have resulted in cold, soggy denim — a perfect prescription for misery and mess. So, I opted to stick them inside my boots. And as I made that decision, some long-forgotten muscle memory kicked in.

Sitting in the mud room of the Buchman family home (our gracious clinic hosts), I thoughtlessly grabbed my jeans, cuffed them and then wrapped the boot-cut legs tightly around my ankles so they’d fit neatly inside the boot shafts. I saw other riders — including cowboys who habitually wear their jeans that way — do the same thing. I had to laugh — we were doing a cowboy version of the pinch-roll.

Those of you who were around during the 1980s know just what I’m talking about. We wore our tight-rolled jeans with high-top Reeboks and big hair. And we were cool.

Now, I doubt any of these ranch cowboys partook in such embarrassing fads. So is it the collective unconscious at work when two unconnected cultures come up with the same idea? And, if so, does that mean that — like eating utensils and campfires — the pinch-roll is a universal good thing?

I’m not sure I’ll buy into that idea … After all, the cowboy’s version is rooted in function, not fashion. It’s not about being cool. In our case this weekend, it was about not being cold.

I will say, though, I do like those turquoise-topped buckaroo boots, so maybe the cowboy pinch-roll technique can stay in my reportoire.  But the high-top Reeboks and big hair? Those are definitely not getting a resurrection!

Happy riding!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

How Twitter helped the October 9-11 AQHA Trail Ride in Alabama.

Emily Peak and the multi-talented Islehava Mocha Latte. Photo by Amy Boddie

Lots of people (yep, myself included) have scoffed at Twitter as being, well, not very useful. Its founder, Evan Williams, famously replied: “Whoever said that things have to be useful?”

But I bet even Evan is surprised by just how useful this service is becoming. Mashable, a social media guide, has detailed the charity fundraisers that have gone great guns on Twitter. “Twestival,” a collection of Twitter-organized festivals all over the world, raised more than $250,000 to provide clean drinking water. “Tweetsgiving” raised more than $11,000 to build a school in Tanzania. And a private effort to help pay for a heart transplant for the brother of a CNN Internet correspondent raised nearly a million dollars.

Emily Jo Peak isn’t shooting quite that high, but this Alabama AQHA member is using Twitter to help raise funds for a therapeutic riding center. She’s gathering items for a silent auction that will be held during the October 9-11 AQHA trail ride in Tuscumbia, Alabama, at Seven Springs Lodge. Proceeds from the ride and auction will benefit Storybook Farm, which is in Emily’s college hometown of Auburn, Alabama. The way she describes it, it sounds like a cool place.

Sororities and fraternities from Auburn University volunteer there, and everything from the landscaping to the horses’ names has a storybook theme. Children with disabilities find refuge on the horses’ backs there, as do children whose parents are deployed in the armed forces or kids dealing with grief.

So when Emily needed help gathering auction items, she turned to her friends on Twitter – known as “Tweeps.” Tena Bastian, another AQHA member, author and all-around good gal, helped rally her Twitter friends, too.

“You know how Tena operates,” Emily says, laughing. “People just said, ‘Yes, ma’am!’ ”

But Tena had a good point: She said this was a great chance for people to promote their products, themselves as artists – whatever they’d like to generate publicity for.

From Arizona, artist Karen McLain sent a framed oil painting of a wild horse. From California, Buckaroo Leather contributed a nice bronc halter. Lone Wolf Media donated some fun cowgirl art. Cowgirl Oasis kicked in some western décor items. And of course, Tena is sending autographed copies of her books, “The Foal Is the Goal,” “Tips and Tidbits for the Horse Lover” and “The Horses We Love, The Lessons We Learn.” Tena, who became friends with Emily through Twitter, also made a connection with Tootie Bland, founder and organizer of the Road to the Horse colt-starting challenge, and Tootie contributed two tickets to the 2010 event and a DVD. The list goes on …

Now I’m wishing that I could be in Alabama to bid on some of this stuff!

“It’s clear that Twitter really does work,” Emily says. “It’s not going to work just to promote yourself but also to help charities, and down the road, the kids” at Storybook Farm.

Emily, who will be at the AQHA ride on her cow-horse-in-training Islehava Mocha Latte, says she has been amazed at the Tweeps’ generosity.

“I’m just tickled to death with everything. I can’t wait to see who it goes to. I can’t wait to see who gets Tena’s book so I can tell them Chapter 7’s going to make you bawl your eyes out,” she says.

Some of the items may also be given away as door prizes. So seriously, if you’re anywhere within driving distance of Tuscumbia, I’d head that way. And, uh, you wanna make some proxy bids for me?

Happy riding!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

Facebook helped tell this tale of a reunited racehorse.

Pies Royal Request with Wayne Brasher's great-grandson, Lelton Wayne Morse. Photo courtesy of the Morse family.

Often, when people ask me about my job, they want to know where we find our story ideas — do I get assignments from some higher-up, or do I come up with the ideas myself, and if so, where do I get them? There’s not one set answer to that, but one thing that has held true, even in my previous jobs at newspapers, is that the best stories just seem to organically appear, as though they’re asking to be told.

That’s what happened with the tale of Pies Royal Request. You can read his full story in the October issue of America’s Horse, but the short version is that this incredible, record-setting racehorse, who was much-loved by his owner, went missing while serving in his second career as a steer-wrestling mount. About three years of searching passed before Wayne Brasher, who had trained “Pie” while he was on the track, was able to locate his horse.

“It was quite a little emotional homecoming,” says Wayne’s wife, Loretta. And Pie is now being doted on by members of the family who’ll always keep him safe.

I learned of his story when Andrea Caudill, editor of The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal, featured Pie on her magazine’s Facebook page. The post read: “This day in Quarter history… July 9, 1995 … Pies Royal Request wins his 14th consecutive race at Prescott, Arizona, tying the record set by world champion Josie’s Bar (53-54) and Destiny Drummer (80-81). Instead of ducking competition to seek the record in an easy spot, owners Howard and Wanda Lanus announce they will next race him in the World’s Championship Classic (G2) at Ruidoso.” (Note: Pie didn’t win that race; his record stood at 14 consecutive wins.)

Amy Owens, a former editor of the Racing Journal and current contributor, replied in a comment: ” ‘Pie’ and his connections are among my all-time favorites. I just learned from Loretta Brasher (via Facebook) that Wayne turned 80 last December. After his remarkable racing career, Pie became a rodeo horse, and the Brashers lost track of him. They spent three years looking for him and tracking down leads; through an anonymous call, they found the gelding was living just 7 miles from them. Wayne and his famous horse have been reunited. About Pie, Loretta says, ‘He’s loving life right now and so are we.’ ”

So thanks, Facebook! A little technology, a little help from Racing Journal colleagues … and a great interview with Loretta combined to make a heart-warming story.

And a postscript: Another racing superstar — two-time champion Snowbound Superstar – tied the record for 14 consecutive wins in May. And on Sunday, Snowbound Superstar won his 15th consecutive race, putting him in a class by himself. Thanks, Andrea, for the YouTube link! Look at how many chances this horse had to not win this race, but he manages to overcome in the final stride. It was a tough trip, and it took the heart of a champion American Quarter Horse.

Happy riding (or racing!)
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

Young horses give us a sense of renewal, hope and purpose.

Willow, left, and Zen are the apples of my eye.

There’s such a sense of hope and renewal that comes with a new crop of prospects. I’m feeling it myself right now; I think that’s a big part of why I love working with young horses: They could do anything. They could be anything. They’re a blank slate, waiting for us to write their stories upon.

I’ve got two 3-year-olds whose futures are about to start unfolding. I actually like to start my young horses in their 3-year-old year to make sure their joints are closed and their bodies are ready for the physical demands of being ridden. This year, there were also some personal dynamics that put us in the fall of their 3-year-old year before serious work could start, but hey … it’ll work. And I’m excited.

By the time you’re reading this, Willow should be on her way to a very well-respected horseman who will start her for me. I adore that sweet girl, but I also know that she’s quick and catty enough to put me on the ground. (Which thankfully isn’t too far away; she’s short!) So he’ll put a great foundation on her … and maybe even keep her beyond that. We’ll have to see where her talents lie. Either way, it’ll be a wonderful learning experience for me and her both. I’m struggling to keep the exclamation points (!!!!) to a minimum. Suffice to say, I can’t wait to see the next few months unfold.

Zen is the other young-horse project. With the help of AQHA Professional  Horseman Brent Graef, she got her first ride and several thereafter back in February, but I’m just now starting to work her again. When I heard about a colt-starting clinic put on by ranch cowboy and respected horseman Buster McLaury in early October, I thought that would be a great way for us to make some progress. Plus, it gave me a set deadline. (I am a journalist, after all.) I’d have just a couple of weeks to firm up our foundation and see what more progress I could make. I won’t try to rush her into anything for the sake of the impending clinic … but it is an incentive for me to work with her every day and just see where we get.

It’s amazing what a sense of pride I get when I see Zen standing tied, hip cocked, as I fly spray her, toss a saddle pad and saddle across her back, and then step aboard. I know, that sounds incredibly basic … but there was a lot of work put into each of those elements, and I’m so grateful for her sweet disposition and tractable mind. She’s such a joy to work with.

So what will their futures hold? World championships? Wreaths of roses? Dunno. Probably not. Don’t care, really. For me — for us — it’s the journey that matters most. As I work with these young horses, I’m expanding both my mind and theirs. I’m learning tricks that will help with other horses down the road. I’m meeting new mentors. And I’m helping them become equine good citizens, well-rounded ponies that I’ll be proud to own. (Not that I’m not proud already …)

And truth be told, I’m eyeballing the yearling out in the pasture, who’s oblivious to the dreams pinned to his chestnut coat. Already, I’m wishing that it was time to start him, too. There’s a lot of years of hope still out there.

Happy riding!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

A near-disaster is a good reminder: Be safe on the trail.

Ready to ride: The Randall County (Texas) Sheriff's Posse Search and Rescue Unit. Photo by Lynda Harris.

I got an e-mail last week from a friend who rides on the local mounted search and rescue unit. She and her husband, with other members of the unit, participated in a search for a horse who had gotten loose in Palo Duro Canyon, which is the country’s second-largest canyon and is just south of Amarillo, Texas.

This horse and rider had gone riding by themselves, and apparently it began raining upstream while they were in the canyon. The creeks swelled, and in order to get back to base camp, the rider was faced with a deep, difficult crossing. The horse did not come out the other side. The rider was able to pull off his bridle, and he began swimming upstream. Now on foot, she wasn’t able to catch him, and help – in the form of the Randall County Sheriff’s Posse Search and Rescue Unit – had to be called in.

Fortunately, they located the horse, and this case ended with both horse and rider safe. But it doesn’t take much imagination to think how easily it could have been disastrous or fatal for either one of them.

After skipping through a few doomsday scenarios, my thoughts then settled on our outlet here at America’s Horse Daily. Although we’ve mentioned safety tips numerous times, there are some things you can never say too often. If it keeps even one horse and rider safe, well, we hope the rest of you will forgive us for the nagging!

Our friends, AQHA Professional Horsemen Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard, agreed to let us borrow some safe-trail-riding tips from their Web site, www.twoasonehorsemanship.com.

Photo by Lynda Harris.

Their first tip is particularly relevant in this case:

• The first thing you can do is to let someone know how long you expect to be gone and, if possible, what route you’ll be following. If you have a map, bring it with you. If not, and you’re riding in an unfamiliar area, stop and turn around every once in a while to take note of what the scenery should look like when you’re returning home.

More tips worth remembering from Bob and Suz:

• Always take along a halter and lead rope. We prefer a rope halter and a 10- to 12-foot lead rope, which can be rolled up in a hangman’s knot and hooked over the saddle horn. This will allow you to remove the bridle and bit if you chose to stop and rest. Should you tie your horse to a tree, make your knot at wither height or above and allow only about 2 feet of rope length between knot and buckle to prevent your horse from getting tangled. Your lead rope/halter can also double as a bridle and reins should you break a rein or a bridle piece. We all know those Chicago screws can come loose at the most inappropriate times (you can fix this by applying nail polish into the hole before inserting the screw).
• If you ride with friends, have a prearranged meeting place should something unforeseen occur, forcing you to scatter in different directions (bee or wasp attacks, for instance). Anyone who is allergic to insect bites or stings should carry the appropriate medication.

Get more tips before you head out on your next ride!

Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!