The End of Summer

by Karen Pickering

Can you believe it’s nearly October? This summer has flown by! It seems that the amount of time I've spent in the saddle has been next to none. It certainly affects my creativity, enthusiasm and drive. There’s just nothing like spending time with your horse, connecting at a level that takes hours in the saddle to understand.

Both April and I are making our way back to health (see earlier posts on this blog about April's health issues and my own), and I'm learning that healing comes from within. Horses have a way of reaching your very soul and touching you. It seems that conflict and tragedy can bring you even closer, and that we learn more than when things are going well. I value the summer lessons, but look forward to getting back in the saddle!

This past weekend I had the pleasure of riding in a very secluded, quiet place in Birch Bay. With ocean views and good company, I felt I was on the journey back to good health and restored energy.

Reader Photo (And Local News!): WWU Equestrian Team

Tryouts for the 2009 WWU Equestrian Team were held at Cowgirl Cattle Co. on Sat, Sept 26th. The team will be comprised of 35 girls, from walk trot to open caliber, that will be competing in both english and western equitation. The team will be competing in IHSA events in the Northwest throughout the year, and then will hopefully sending girls to both regionals and nationals. This is a club sport at WWU, so there is little funding that comes from the college. There will be a great need for sponsors to help cover their practice costs and travel expenses. They will be doing a number of fundraisers throughout the year, but they offer some year long sponsorship options.

They also will be needing donations of good quality english and western tack. The team will be auctioning off a raffle colt that has been donated to the team, as well as having a silent auction. If you have anything you would be willing to donate to the silent auction, it would be much appreciated. These girls are some of the finest, and they are the future of our great equine industry. Anything you can do to help them along the way will be greatly appreciated! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, or in donating tack, please contact me for more information! coastalequine@aol.comThanks!Allison TrimbleWWUET Coach

Reader Story of the Week: Ginny the Chincoteague Pony

What a delight to be able to write a little about my adventures in the horse world with my Chincoteague Pony,Virginia Island Rose, aka Ginny Rose. What a journey it has been. I have never owned a horse before and really never had horses in my world. Just too busy being a mom to 4 very active now grown children and working in the world of nursing as an RN with a speciality in Hospice Nursing. As the years progressed... grandchildren arrived and one in particular, Chrissy, began to show a real interest in horses and so as a special 8 year old Christmas gift, I gave to Chrissy riding lessons at our local stable. When I arrived at the stable to sign her up, I mentioned to the barn manager that I had recently been to Assateaque Island and had seen the wild ponies... such an awesome sight! As fate will have it, a Chincoteague Pony, at that time, was there... only 5 mos old. Can I say, it was love at first sight...and I knew I had to have her. What I learned was that Ginny Rose had been born in June of 2004 and had participated in Pony Penning that July, just shy of being 2 mos old. She was brought to Michigan, to this stable, wild, scared, and really quite afraid of people. Little by little she warmed up to those around her, but the owner remained distant and really wasn't able to care for her, so when she came up for sale in April (10 mos old) I was right there...

...and our story began. Not knowing anything, but understanding the need to connect and bond, I spent an hour a day just being with her and walking her about on a lead line. We did this for months and months, just getting to know each other. As time progressed I knew I had to begin some sort of training and with the assistance of the wonderful people at this stable, little by little we introduced Ginny to ground work, the saddle and eventually at age two and a half to riding. What progressed after that was truly amazing. Ginny proved to be so smart and picked up all that she was being taught, the ground work for dressage. Just for fun, only months into training and not quite three, we entered her in a dressage show there at the stable and Ginny ended up winning all blue ribbons, being ridden by the trainer/friend. The emotions flowed, it was so overwhelming and continues to be. Ginny is now into her third year of dressage and has really impressed the judges.. She has won high percentage ribbons, high point ribbons and most recently even Dressage Show Champion. Our little Chincoteague Pony proved that she could compete with some pretty impressive dressage horses. This spring we entered her in two USDF shows, just to see how the judges would score her. She won 1st and second places and even at one she received the Reserve Point Champion all at the Training Level. The judges' comments were so good, most describing her as a wonderful horse.. wow... our little Ginny Rose! Through all this her delightful spirit remains intact, she is a social butterfly, loves people and even other horses. She lives in an old barn being able to go in and out at will and her best peer friends are a miniature horse named Elliot and a Clysdale named Stanley. Even Connie the cat keeps a close watch on her.. often follows us when I take her for walks on the lead line.

Her training has only progressed at a speed she would accept, she is still so young, but her willingness and acceptance of all that she is being taught has shown us that she truly enjoys what she is doing. During the course of the last two years too, I have been learning to ride, something I had never thought I would ever do. The experience is awesome and Ginny is a wonderful horse to learn on.. so patient and understanding as I try to sort out all the special moves the body has to make.

Want to see more of Ginny? If you missed this week's reader photo, click here.

Learn more about Chincoteague Ponies in the upcoming October issue Breed Profile!

Take a Walk on the Wild Side for National Wild Horse Adoption Day

by Brandon Enyeart

What will you be doing this Saturday? Perhaps you will have your final barbeque of the season. Maybe you will take the boat out to enjoy the last of the summer weather. There may even be those of you who are preparing for the fall weather – it has to show up some time, right?

Many of us involved with horses will be celebrating the first ever National Wild Horse Adoption Day. This brand new event, which will take place at 25 sites around the country, aims to get 1,000 horses or burros adopted in one day. If successful, this could save the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and taxpayers $1.5 million.

Over 30,000 mustangs roam federal lands across the western United States. In order to manage the herds and keep both the land and animals in good health, the BLM oversees the adoption of wild horses and burros through public adoptions across the United States. More than 220,000 animals have been adopted since 1973.

Here are a few spots in the northwest where you can learn more and celebrate:

Mustang U will be holding an event at BB Stables in Bellingham, WA.

The American Mustang & Burro Association (AMBA) will host their event at Vetter Farms in Buckley, WA, where there will also be demonstrations, including barefoot hoof trimming and equine massage.

In Dallas, OR, the Pacific Wild Horse Club will be celebrating National Wild Horse Adoption Day at Double D Ranch.


Click here for a list of participating venues in the Northwest.

The weather forecast looks great and the cause is even better, so why not push off preparing for the fall and winter and start a new tradition with this fantastic event?

Happy fall everyone, and Happy National Wild Horse Adoption Day!

Getting Healthy, Getting Committed

I'm sure the readers of this blog know that both my horse and I have had some health issues. A daily regime of exercise for my horse has made it pretty clear that she’s not the only one on her way back to getting healthy. I, too, am making the slow road to recovery.

I’m pictured here with my other mare, Dawn, who is 24 years old, on a trail ride at Bridle Trails State Park in Kirkland, WA early this year. While Dawn has been relatively free from lameness and health issues, she, like me, is getting older. We don’t bounce back like we once did. Conditioning has become more important and more necessary.

It isn't just the physical activity that improves with a healthier body. The magazine business is down and morale is more of a challenge. It’s unfair to expect my faithful steed to carry me all day without any condition, so I guess it’s unfair to expect that I can work at 100% capacity without taking care of myself as well.

I’m committing to getting both my horses and myself back in shape. Will you join me? I can’t wait to experience renewed vitality and health. Let me know how you plan on getting both you and your horses healthy, and maybe we can share the trials and successes together!

Reader Photo of the Week: Chincoteague Pony!

Photo of Ginny, a Chincoteague Pony

by Judy Haglund

See the Reader Story of the Week this coming Friday for more about Ginny!

Reader Story Fridays: Sandy's Story

Name

Sandy

How long have you had horses?

30 Years

When you're worn out, what motivates you do get out and spend time with your horses?

Even when I"m exhausted I go to my horses.No matter what, they help me to relax. Even if the only thing I do is sit and listen to them chewing their food or watch them interact with each other in the field. I just love the smell of my horses and the barn, the freedom I have there is amazing and unlike anythinmg else in the world. With them is where I belong.

Describe your dream horse

My dream horse wouldn't necessarily be what most people think. It doesn't have to be some amazing mystical creature that arises from the pages of a fairy tale. Just a Horse that is wonderful in it's self. One with an excellent personality and willingness to do the things I enjoy. A true Companion.

Have you ever had to say goodbye to a beloved horse? Tell us about it.

Several. With as many horses as we have had over the yearsin my family, we have lost many wonderful horses that could never be replaced. From the very first horse I was ever on (at 7 1/2 months old), to my first pony. Our beloved little mini mare and most recently our best broodmare. Not to mention several others along they way. No matter how many you lose or don't lose, it never gets any easier and will always tear at your heart strings.

Sometimes horse owners have to improvise. Whether it's homemade halters to catch a runaway or making trail obstacles out of whatever's handy, what have you done that's creative with your horse?

Improvision seems to be the ONLY way I am able to do anything! Hahaha. From tying fences together with twine, using a belt or dog leash for a halter, to melting snow for water. Or maybe using a hog panel and a tire to drag the arena and fields. Or being broke down along side the road in someones drive way having to pull your horse out of the trailer for the tow truck to take your truck and having to wait for a ride. All the while not wanting to leave a mess for the people who live there, so when your horse poo's & you realize you forgot your pick or shovel or even a rake! A bucket and several paper plates just have to get the job done!

How have you shared your love of horses with others?

As much as possible! WE have had several school classes take field trips to our barn where they spend the whole day learning as much as they can. I also have a bartering program (for teenage girls mostly) where they can come work a little to get as much time with horses and riding lessons or even just saddle time as they want. Especially in todays economy, it gives people an opportunity to experience something that they otherwise may never be able to.

The NWHS staff would like to thank Sandy for sharing her story with the NWHS community!

Want to share your own story with NWHS? Fill in our Reader Story Submission Form if you need inspiration, or simply write about the time you've spent with an equine companion and send it to editor@nwhorsesource.com.

West Nile Virus Update: Cause for Concern, Not for Panic

by Brandon Enyeart

We are all probably a little tired of hearing about West Nile Virus (WNV) by now. It seems like ages ago when we all feared the human race would be wiped out in a matter of hours once the disease hit our state. Okay, maybe I was the only one. However, even though the disease has not turned out to be the next black plague for humans, it has become very troublesome for horse owners--especially for those who live in Washington state.

For the second year in a row, Washington leads the nation in confirmed cases of WNV. As of August 25th, 35 cases had been reported nationwide, and 20 of those were in Washington State. So far, there are no confirmed cases in western Washington. However, in eastern Washington, Adams, Benton, Grant, Franklin, Kittitas and Yakima counties have all been hit by WNV. Although WNV is a very serious and potentially fatal disease for its equine victims, thankfully only 2 of the 25 cases (a Quarter Horse gelding in Pasco and a 16-year-old Paint mare in Benton City) have ended in death so far. Most of the other cases appear to be on the mend.

West Nile Virus continues to spread across the rest of the Northwest. British Columbia reported their first ever equine case this month in the Okanagan Valley, and the disease has now been reported in Fraser Valley as well. British Columbia was one of the few areas of North America without a reported case until now. Both horses are expected to make a full recovery.

With ages of infected horses ranging from a yearling to a 20-year-old mare, and breeds ranging from an Arabian to a Tennessee Walking Horse/Appaloosa cross, the only common bond between all of these cases is a lack of (or out of date) vaccinations for WNV. Just because there have only been two fatalities so far doesn’t mean this isn’t a very serious equine disease. Discussing the WNV vaccination and how to keep your animals up to date with your veterinarian can save you and your horse a lot of heartache in the long run.

All that said, this is cause for concern, not for panic. Even with numbers in Washington steadily higher than other parts of North America and the spread into British Columbia, this is a preventable disease if handled in the right way. Experts agree that the last thing we want from these developments is a renewed hysteria. Remember to check back with www.nwhorsesource.com for the latest in WNV news, and talk to your veterinarian about the best course of action for you and your horses.

Getting Back in the Saddle – Technology Time

by Karen Pickering

I guess that would be figuratively speaking, but after losing some quality work and horse time between the car accident and surgery, I’m more than ready for life to return to normal. I’ve read a couple of books, jumped into Twitter (reading “Twitter Power” – find us at www.twitter.com/nwhorsesource) and am focusing on all of this new technology. Honestly,

I’d rather be riding up in the hills in this beautiful weather, but my second favorite thing to do is connect with horse people; that's where the technology comes in.

The team here at NWHS has worked very hard to redesign and bring you more resources and reasons to visit our website, www.nwhorsesource.com, on a regular basis. The ever-popular events calendar and articles section attract readers on a regular basis, but we’d like to make sure you're aware of all the resources we have! Soon we will be adding more video, a trainer tip of the day, and a horse care tip of the day. In the meantime, explore the links on our home page and the left-hand menu. You might find something you haven't seen before!

Recently, two of our clients and columnists have launched their own new interactive websites. I highly recommend visiting these resources for training tips and information:

Raye Lochert of Raye Lochert Horsemanship focuses on Natural Horsemanship and has new live options for his audience. Learn more about his offerings at www.RLHorsemanship.com. Raye brings a soft approach to working with your horse, both on the ground and in the saddle. He has been a guest columnist for NWHS and a great resource for those wanting to improve their relationships with their horses.

Allison Trimble of Coastal Equine Performance Horses has also launched a new website at www.coastalequine.com. Allison has been a columnist (On The Plus Side) for NWHS for over two years. Her expertise in reining and cow horse makes this a great destination to improve your horsemanship skills!

Both of these new resources are well worth the time it takes to visit. Let us know what you think! Send your comments to info@nwhorsesource.com.

Reader Photo of the Week: Reined Cow Horse!

"Hailey"

Submitted by Linda Diehl, Square Diehl Ranch

Linda says...

Here is a photo of our three-year-old filly: Hailey (Sheza Haillion). Dean McCann (our trainer) will be showing her in less than one month at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno. We are very excited and will keep you posted on her progress! A special “Thank You” to our friend Roxanne Peters, who really knows how to capture an image!

Reader Story Friday: Cast Your Cares

Cast Your Cares

by Emily Gibson

BriarCroft Haflingers

http://www.briarcroft.com/weblog.htm

In late May, on our farm, there is only a brief period of utter silence during the dark of the night. Up until about 2 AM, the spring peepers are croaking and chorusing vigorously in our ponds and wetlands, and around 4 AM the diverse bird song begins in the many tall trees surrounding the house and barnyard.

In between those bookend symphonies is stillness–usually.

I woke too early this morning aware of something being unstill. It was an intermittent banging, coming from the barn. I lay in bed, trying to discern the middle of the night noise that could be a sign of a major problem, like a horse stuck up against a stall wall or “cast” in horseman’s parlance, or simply one of my water-bucket-banging youngsters who enjoys nocturnal percussion.

This was not sounding like a bucket drum set. It was emphatic hooves frantically banging against metal walls.

Throwing on sweats and boots, I head out the back door into the mere light of pre-dawn, dewy, with the birds just starting to rouse from sleep, the floral perfume of lingering apple blossoms heavy in the air. Entering the barn, I throw on the lights and start to count the noses I can see in the stalls as I walk down the aisle~all present and accounted for until I get to the very end of the row. No nose. Down in the corner is our eleven year old mare on her side, too close to the wall, her feet askew up against the boards and metal siding. She nickered low to me, and my entering the stall sent her into a renewed effort to right herself, but all she could do was scrabble against the wall, digging an even bigger hole beneath her body.

This has happened infrequently over our 25 years of owning horses, usually when a horse is rolling to scratch their back and rolls too close to the wall, and becomes lodged there. Haflingers, who have a fairly round conformation, are a bit prone to being cast. Our older barn, with dirt floors, is particularly likely to having this happen, as depressions in the floor where horses have been digging end up becoming deeper and trap a hapless horse that was nonchalantly rolling. The horse literally is trapped like a turtle on its back.

Righting a 1000 lb. horse that is frantically flailing and struggling is not a particularly easy or safe task. Thankfully Haflingers tend to be pretty sensible in this situation and will calm when spoken to and reassured. I looped a rope around each lower leg, and with my tall strong son’s help, we were able to pull her back over and then jump out of the way quickly. She got up, shook herself off and immediately asked for breakfast–a good sign this was not a horse in distress or colicking with abdominal pain.

So my day started early.

I hope when I find myself trapped in a hole of my own making, when I’ve been careless about watching where I’m heading and find myself helpless and hopeless with no where to turn, someone will hear my struggles and come rescue me. I promise not to kick out or bite, but to wait patiently, in gratitude, for such gracious liberation. My cares will be cast upon my rescuer.

And then please, feed me breakfast.

September 26th is Coming Fast!

If you missed it in our news section, we at The Northwest Horse Source would like to remind you that September 26th is National Wild Horse Adoption Day. BLM groups, trainers, and other horse folks have scheduled events throughout the nation to educate the public on the issues surrounding wild horses, including training, safety, and herd management. Adopting a wild horse helps not only to ensure that the horse you adopt receives a good home and the care it deserves, but it also helps to maintain the health of the horses that remain in the wild by keeping the wild herd sizes sustainable on the amount of land left to them.

A listing of select Northwest Wild Horse Adoption Day events can be found here.

If you're a mustang owner and want to share your experiences with this incredible breed of horse, please feel free to do so in the comments on this post or send an email to editor@nwhorsesource.com with "Wild Horses" in the subject line.

A weekend full of events

by Karen Pickering

The weekend of August 29th was a fun-filled, educational weekend around here. It started off with Cowboy Campsite’s annual YeeHaw event in

Sedro Woolley, WA. I heard rumor that nearly 500 people attended this year. From horse games to pie eating contests, there was something for

everyone. Trail rides, horse soccer and many other equine events took place throughout the day, plus there were vendors selling products and equipment, great barbeque food, and the evening finished off with music from a live band. I think we scared the wildlife off for the

weekend (other than the "wild" ones in the camp)!

On Sunday, Cowboy Campsite hosted a Raye Lochert clinic for the second year in a row. The clinic was packed full and attendees really seemed to have a great time. The morning was spent

working horses on the ground, then riding over obstacles. The day finished off with a two-hour

trail ride, where riders were able to work through the trail obstacles in a safe environment with Raye's watchful eye and instruction.

If anyone else who attended either of these events would like to share their comments or send photos, we’d love to see them. We look forward to having Raye back next year...and I look forward to being able to ride in the clinic next year!

Happy September!

Yes, we took a brief break from the Cyber Saddle for the Labor Day holiday, but now the NWHS staff is refreshed and ready to run! We're putting together the October issue, which this year carries the theme of Equine Wellness.

We're also planning ahead our editorial columns for next year, so speaking of wellness, if there is a topic you would like to see covered in our monthly Equine Wellness column, drop by the weekly poll on our home page and let us know in the fill-in-the-blank answer at the bottom of the poll. You ask the questions, we'll find the experts and bring you the scoop!

We hope everyone's long weekend was a good one...

And now back to your regularly scheduled Cyber Saddle posts for the rest of the week!

Taking the sting out of winning

by Brandon Enyeart

It seems like you can’t get away from the battle between those who want to make progress in the sport of horse racing and those who are still living in the past these days. Several issues have caused great conflict, such as changing to synthetic track surfaces, the amount of rest time a horse should have between races, the use of blood thinners before a race, and the list goes on.

The latest in a long line of arguments is the nicer, gentler whip. Now required at Del Mar Raceway, Delaware Park and Philadelphia Park, the "soft whip" is slowly making headway in the sport of kings, but Northwest tracks have yet to adopt the requirement. Designed with more contact area, along with some extra padding, this relatively new addition to the sport has met with mixed reactions from the jockey world. The Jockey Guild has embraced the new technology, saying that trainers and jockeys should get used to it, because it is only a short time before use of the soft whip becomes a nationwide rule. The Jockey Club--among other organizations--is actually pushing for the soft whip to become mandatory.

Then there is the opposition.

Many jockeys and trainers don’t believe conventional whips actually hurt a horse to begin with; others say they are afraid that the soft whip won’t get the attention of a cranky horse.

The soft whip is designed to make more noise than a conventional whip. When the horse hears the whip, it should react to the noise the same way it would to the sting of a conventional whip. Different horses have different levels of sensitivity; some are affected greatly by the sting of a whip, and others may not feel it much at all. Some users believe the soft whip will prove more useful than conventional whips overall, since most horses will react to it in a similar manner.

With many jockeys following in the footsteps steps of Pat Day and using the whip less frequently already, the issue may be moot. However, with the racing industry as divided as it has been lately between tradition and progression, the results of such debates as soft vs. conventional whips serve as key indicators of whether the industry as a whole will stagnate and falter or progress and thrive.

Summer Fun(draiser)

by Karen Pickering

I always look forward to participating in the Double S Country Horse Fair. This fundraiser benefits the AQHA Professional Horsemen through the AQHA Foundation. It’s a worthwhile cause, but also a great opportunity for horse people to take part in several clinics and demonstrations—from hoofball to working cattle, branding to horseshoeing and more!

The event is held at a beautiful location in Bow, WA. With an ocean view and the sight of the tips of the Cascade Mountains, it doesn’t get more beautiful. This year we added a trail ride along the ocean, which was very enjoyable for the riders. We had BBQ burgers, donated by Nutrena feeds and prepared by Jerry Keizer of Elenbaas Country Store and his crew, followed by a live auction.

Watch for details about the funds raised and those vendors, sponsors and clinicians who helped make this a great event for the AQHA Professional Horsemen’s Crisis Fund. If you want more information or perhaps to attend next year’s event, send me an email at Karen@nwhorsesource.com.

Check out our photo gallery for this event by clicking the photo below!