The National Cowgirl Hall of Fame celebrates strong spirits.

Isora Young ropes a calf. Photo courtesy of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

We’re working now on the July issue of America’s Horse, and it’s always easy to get excited about each new issue. Each one is full of interesting people and amazing horses. Case in point, I got the chance recently to interview three members of the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame — very strong, intelligent women. They work in different facets of the horse industry and seem to have very different personalities, but their foundations are the same — amazing work ethics, fierce independence and something that can only be summed up as that cowgirl spirit.

You won’t want to miss our July issue, when these women define what “cowgirl” means to them, talk about the biggest risks they’ve ever taken and more.

But for now, we’ll leave you with this story, sent to us by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. It’s a look at another cowgirl hall of famer who has that same strength of character:

When Isora DeRacy Young saw her first day of life in 1904, it was without the fanfare that she has since experienced as an independent woman who developed a national reputation in the rodeo arena, as well as a rancher and business woman. Read the rest of this entry »

You’ll find trail-riding tips, scenic photography … and maybe some inspiration to go blaze your own trail!

A friend of mine and I recently hit the trails of Palo Duro Canyon State Park near Amarillo for a great ride, sharing the trail with hikers and bikers of all stripes. It was one of the best Saturday afternoons I’ve had in a long time … and it made me yearn to do more of it!

We’re hoping the May issue of America’s Horse magazine will inspire that same feeling in all of you. Spring’s here … saddle up! Our annual recreational riding-themed issue has certainly gotten me in the spirit.

Andrea Caudill, an editor of The American Quarter Horse Journal and my trail-riding buddy, has written a piece on preparing for a horse camping trip. She found lots of great tidbits about how to manage your horse at a campground, as well as safety advice we should all heed.

There’s also a feature story on folks who have logged 5,000 hours in the saddle in AQHA’s Horseback Riding Program. This is one of those great programs we can’t say enough about. It’s simple: Ride your horse. Log your hours. Earn rewards! To celebrate the program’s 20th anniversary, if you sign up for the Horseback Riding Program by May 15, you’ll receive 25 free hours and be entered in a great prize drawing! Here’s details. Read the rest of this entry »

Talk about a rude awakening … that could have been so much worse.

The leading edge of the fire.

About 11:30 Friday night, the doorbell rang. A couple of times, in fact, since I was soundly asleep on the couch, while Chad was in the back of the house, talking on the phone to his night-owl brother. Barely rousing, I heard Chad say, “It’s the neighbors” before he swung the door open. The next thing I heard — “Your field’s on fire” — shot enough adrenaline through me that I was out the back door before my feet hit the ground.

Three of our horses were in that field.

I grabbed halters and a bucket of grain with my heart in my throat. A line of fire was racing across the kindling-dry pasture, chased by wind gusts of more than 50 mph. It would hit the horses, then the barns and house next.

Thankfully, the horses were up near the gate and were calmer than I would’ve expected. We got them out in short order, taking them inside the horse barn, which was farther away from the fire and better protected. Chad, meanwhile, had called for help from the local police and the volunteer fire department. I couldn’t believe how quickly they responded. Read the rest of this entry »

Experience can be the best teacher, but it’s sometimes a painful one.

My good friend and mentor, Brent Graef, an AQHA Professional Horseman from Canyon, Texas, likes to say that horsemanship can be as deep — or as superficial — as you want it to be. Meaning that some folks get by just learning simple physical cues: stop, go, turn. Or you can delve deeper into horses’ psychology, learning as you do that there’s a lot of applicability to human psychology. There are lots of truths that are ripe for analogies, and some lessons learned on horseback even apply better to people than they do to horses.

Scars are a good example. It’s hard to go very far along in life without collecting at least a few scars – some that are visible signs of a physical wound, and others, of a more emotional nature, that are buried deeper inside. My good horse Ocho, who’s been here just more than a year, came with wire-cut scars on a hind leg. His previous owner said the cuts happened with the horse’s owner before him, so there’s not much way of knowing exactly what happened — there’s just the record left by hairless hash marks encircling that leg.

In humans, at least, it’s nice to think that we learn lessons from our scars. As children, we learn quickly what “hot” or “sharp” means, sometimes the hard way. And as adults, we still sometimes take our lumps – on jobs, health, relationships, finances — hoping that we come out the other side a little smarter. Those life lessons can be tough, but they do bring the kind of wisdom that only comes with experience. Read the rest of this entry »

Learn more about this emerging discipline that is in the pages of the March-April America’s Horse magazine.

Allison Lake of California rides her horse in a leg yield during a Jack Brainard clinic.

As featured in the March-April America’s Horse, western dressage is an emerging discipline that marries western traditions (such as tack, attire and smooth, supple stock horses) with the principles of classical dressage. The idea is to create a uniquely American horse strong, athletic and responsive enough to move any given body part this way or that — skills that are handy in working cattle, safely navigating trails or smoothly negotiating a dressage test.

It’s not a new idea, certainly, to have a western horse that handy. But western dressage ensures that training is done according to a centuries-old “training pyramid” that ensures a broad, sound foundation before any fancy, flashy moves are taught. And western dressage also provides a competitive framework, allowing for horses in western tack to perform dressage tests and be scored on their softness, manueverability and flexibility.

At a recent western dressage clinic put on by Jack Brainard (also featured in the March-April America’s Horse), we caught up with a few participants to find out their impressions. Read the rest of this entry »

Nobody likes to talk about it … but what will happen to your horses after you’re gone?

It’s something no one likes to think about, but yet (allowing for tax evaders), death is the one thing that’s certain in all of our lives. And odds are, we’ll leave behind things that will need to be cared for — children, perhaps; property; … and most likely animals. We discussed the latter — what happens to your horses after you’re gone? — on AQHA’s Facebook page last week. That discussion was sparked by news of a group of horses whose owner had passed away and who were needing homes.

It set me thinking about my guys: Junior, who’s got so darned many quirks that I wouldn’t trust many people with him; Willow, who’s got such a bright future ahead of her that I’d hate to see her sit in a pasture; Ocho, who’s got a nagging old injury that needs proper care … and on and on. I have thought about where I’d like to see each of them go, but I haven’t put anything to paper, nor have I talked to any of my friends about either providing a home or helping find an appropriate one if need be. It’s time.

One option, of course, is making provisions in a will, although a quick Google search reveals that this isn’t as simple as it seems, especially if you want to leave money for the horses’ care. (Because horses are considered property, you can’t leave money to them; it has to go to a person.) A few Facebookers say they’d want to have their horses euthanized at their death, believing that to be preferable to an uncertain future, but again Google points out that courts can rule that request invalid if the animal in question is young and in good health. I’m no attorney, and you certainly shouldn’t look here for legal advice, but I can tell you this: It’s complicated. Read the rest of this entry »

A South Dakota sale has a good report. What’s the news in your part of the country?

As I visit with folks across the country, I’m often asked: “So, do you think the horse market’s turning around?” My reply is usually along the lines of “Boy, I sure hope so!” but it’s always hard to say for certain.

That’s why I’m happy to hear reports like this one from South Dakota’s Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo (where AQHA is on hand with an on-site services booth). The average price was almost $5,000 a horse, an increase of $600 from the year before. And averages at the 2010 sale had increased $1,000 over 2009 … so a horse that sold for $3,400 in 2008 would have gone for $5,000 this year.

The American Quarter Horse Journal is a good resource, with frequent tips on surviving in a tough environment. In February, the Journal offers ideas on how to slash your horse business’ budget wisely. And in May 2010, the Journal examined the economics in all facets of the horse world.

I’m not in the business of buying or selling horses, though (mine are mostly “lifers” once they get here), so I’d love to hear your experiences. Please use the comment function to let us know how things are looking this year in your part of the country and your segment of the industry. Are we starting on an upswing? Or do you think things still have a long way to go?

Happy riding!

Holly Clanahan
Editor, America's Horse magazine

Luke Perry stars in this Hallmark Channel original Western

Luke Perry in "Goodnight for Justice." Photo courtesy of the Hallmark Channel

If you were a “Beverly Hills, 90210″ fan, you’ll want to be sure to catch this new Western, which premieres January 29 on the Hallmark Channel (8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific; 7 p.m. Central). Luke Perry stars as a kind-hearted circuit judge who is haunted by his family’s violent death. “Goodnight for Justice” is directed by his fellow ”90210″ alum Jason Priestly. (Luke, who conceived the idea for the movie, serves as an executive producer.) And, yes, there are horses aplenty.

Danny Virtue was the horse wrangler, and he also hosted the filming at his British Columbia ranch, Virtue Studio Ranch. He says it was a joy to have Luke there with his enthusiasm for the project, and he says he saw the actor’s riding prowess grow.

“He was a good rider to begin with because of his background, but now he’s a real good rider,” Danny says. One particular scene called for Luke to be dragged by a horse down the town’s main street — and the actor did his own stuntwork. Read the rest of this entry »

A heart-warming contest entry.

Amos and Joe. Photo courtesy of Dana Jones.

AQHA Corporate Partners Tractor Supply Co. and Nutrena have been gathering “horse tales” from across the country, and now they’re having a contest, asking online readers to weigh in on their favorite one. All of the essays are about special horses, but as I was reading through them, one in particular caught my eye. Yes, it was the Quarter Horse of the bunch, but there’s more than just his breed that made this one stand out to me. See if you agree, as owner Dana Jones of Livingston, Texas, tells the story of “Joe”:

“Shortly after we married, my husband bought a blue-eyed snowy white cremello Quarter Horse gelding nicknamed “Joe.” He was calm and gentle, but spirited enough to take me for a good ride. When a child or a nervous non-rider was on his back, he slowly plodded along. His gentle nature and beauty made Joe everyone’s favorite.

“Our neighbor, Virgie, and her husband, went to Alabama to get her 89-year-old father, Amos. He bragged around his small town that his daughter was coming to get him and buy him a big white horse for him to ride from Texas to Alabama – a real cowboy. I stopped by one afternoon, and Virgie confided what her father had said. She said, “I would give anything if he could ride a horse.” I told her, “I’ll be back in an hour. Amos can ride Joe.” Virgie’s face lit up with a big smile. Read the rest of this entry »

We’ll be back next week with the best posts of 2011!

As we’re ringing in the new year — making plans for a fabulous and productive 2011 — we won’t be making daily updates to America’s Horse Daily. Those will resume Monday, January 10.

As we’re planning for the future, one of the best ways to do that is to see what has been successful in the past. Here on Daily, it’s clear: Our readers love free reports! We like them, too, as they’re a great way to educate readers, and we hope you’ll share the links with all of your horsey friends. It’s no surprise that many of the top posts from 2010 were free reports.

Here, in an easy-to-forward post, (hint, hint!) are the top 10 Daily posts of 2010:

10. A horse registration survival guide from our FAQ expert Kayla Randall.

9. In health news, learn about an innovative treatment for sarcoids in horses.

8. Another health update: Dr. Thomas Lenz weighs in on feeding flaxseed. Read the rest of this entry »

Find some New Year’s inspiration in the January-February America’s Horse.

‘Tis the season for New Year’s resolutions, and if you’re needing some inspiration, look no farther than the pages of the January-February America’s Horse magazine! Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find in our first issue of 2011:

• Don’t miss the first installment of our series with AQHA Professional Horseman Ken McNabb, who graces the cover with his horse, WR Turning Diamonds, or “Jericho.” Ken first met Jericho at the 2010 Road to the Horse colt-starting challenge, and he purchased him to continue his progress. This series follows their work, as Ken instills a strong foundation in the colt. Make 2011 the year you strengthen your own horse’s foundation, giving you something great to build on.
• AQHA Professional Horseman Brent Graef writes a contemplative piece about “baggage” and how dwelling on a horse’s problems in the past can pollute your future together. Brent challenges riders to start their year with their horses with open minds, no preconceived notions and a good dose of empathy.  
• Are you or your animals facing some health challenges as the new year dawns? Get some inspiration from the plucky mare Kings Lacey Jane, who is serving as a broodmare and showmanship horse with just three legs – or, actually, make that three legs and a high-tech prosthetic leg. The lower part of her right front leg had to be amputated after an injury, and she was fitted with a graphite and titanium prosthesis. Read the rest of this entry »

This AQHYA competitor was down for a while after a terrible accident … but not out.

Before the accident, Trey poses with Bar Dee Boy 036, aka "Scooby." Photo courtesy of Tow Pal Inc., which sponsors Trey.

When we last checked in with the Schwab family, theirs was a heartbreaking story. Fourteen-year-old Trey — a top competitor in roping and speed events — lay in a hospital bed in Cincinnati, Ohio, able to communicate only by blinking his eyes for “yes” and “no.” He had suffered a traumatic brain injury in a May 22 truck and trailer accident that also left his mother, Cindy, with near-fatal injuries. One of the family’s horses was killed in the crash, but Trey’s best horse, “Scooby,” survived.

But in talking to family members and their friends, it was clear that Trey was a fighter, and he had one of the best support systems you could get: a loving family and a network of horse-world friends who were rooting him on and helping raise money to cover his medical expenses.

I had hoped that all those things would come together to create a happy ending to the story. But still, when I recently heard that Trey, now 15, was to spend Christmas at home with his family, it gave me goosebumps. The Cinncinnati Enquirer wrote a story on his long-awaited release from a rehabilitation center, complete with a photo of Trey grinning hugely while roping another patient from his wheelchair. How’s that for a recovery?

Here’s how the story began: “A team of nurses, doctors and therapists helped teach traffic-crash survivor Trey Schwab how to talk, walk and eat again. He taught them a few things about determination and zest for life.” Read the rest of this entry »