Special Travel Section • Events Calendar • Trainer Directory
July / August 2014
FREE
New Mexico
Horseback Adventures in Norway, Spain... and beyond
Trainers' Rally for Rescues Who will take the prize?
Horse or Harley?
The Biker & the Equestrienne
...plus lots more!
• Building Barns for over thirty years
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• Commercial training facilities, Breeding facilities, Boarding facilities and personal barns • One stall or hundreds • Mare motels to fully customized show barns • High quality corral panels with or without Welded Wire Mesh • Round Pens • Design assistance and/or complete construction services
Many options, almost limitless possibilites! MADE IN USA For more information, contact: Pine River Construction Company Authorized Dealer
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ARTICLES:
06 Norway: Horse Heaven
A native New Mexican moves northward
10 Travel Journal
Horseback in Cape Cod, Spain and Africa
13 Place Your Bets
The Gimme Shelter Rally for Rescues
16 Horse, or Harley? Biker Chick & Dressage Queen: BFFs. 4-ever? 22 Shoo Fly!
Free Yourself of Winged Pests
28 Lessons Learned ...From a Life's End - Hard Truths about Euthanasia
PLUS: 06 Special Section: Travel 20 Events Calendar July & August
24 Directory
Trainers, Clubs and Associations
25 From the Horse's Mouth Humor from Lynne Maguire
30 The Tail End photo by Ozana Sturgeon All the opinions expressed herein are the sole opinions of the writer and do not necessarily reflect bias or belief on the part of the editor, publisher, distributors, printer or other contributors.
Submissions are Welcome
See our web site for submission standards www.horsearoundnm.com
For horse lovers, travel is rarely as simple as throwing a change of clothes in a backpack and catching a train, but that doesn't mean we don't get the itch. From the hour-or-two trailer ride to a show or clinic, to the days-long ride out into the wilderness, horse lovers are on the move throughout New Mexico and beyond. We've dedicated our summer issue to travelers -armchair and otherwise - with an equestrian twist. A peek into Holly Casman's travel journal gives the rest of us a taste of her far-flung adventures; and we've put together a special travel section with resources for those intrepid folks interested in continuing their journeys here in New Mexico. Our old friend Jennifer Strand writes from Norway, where unrestricted opportunites for horsin' around are many. Closer to home, Cecilia Kayano caught up with nine NM trainers, all vying for the top spot in the Gimme Shelter Trainers' Rally for Rescues competition to take place on July 26th in Santa Fe. Vikki Chavez details strategies to handle those winged pests who follow us wherever we go; while Peggy Conger's essay on the end of the life for horses, and how their people can help or hinder that inevitable process, brings home the truth about another kind of travel altogether. Ever wonder what's going in in the heads of the motorcycle riders you see while you're out for a nice, quiet Sunday ride? Well, they've got their reasons - a few of which Kimberly McClintock points out in her essay on a couple of best friends who have different ideas about "riding". Can the Biker Chick and the Dressage Queen find common ground?
May all your rides be safe ones! -Karen
Editor KAREN LEHMANN Publisher HORSE AROUND USA Cover Design KAREN LEHMANN Cover Image OZANA PHOTOGRAPHY Contributing Writers HOLLY CASMAN KIMBERLY MCCLINTOCK JENNIFER STRAND Staff Writers & VIKKI CHAVEZ Photographers PEGGY CONGER CECILIA KAYANO OZANA STURGEON Graphic Designer KAREN LEHMANN Advertising & Sales DENNIS SHARTZ
ADS@HORSEAROUNDNM.COM
505-926-1555 Subscriptions $24/YR MAIL REQUEST TO: HANM * PO BOX 202* SANDIA PARK * NM 87047
www.horsearoundnm.com ON THE COVER Hold on to your hat! Good advice for this Santa Fe Rodeo bronc rider. This gorgeous piece of photographic art is by Ozana Sturgeon of Ozana Photography; find more of her work at www.ozanaphotography.com. (On second thought: never mind the hat, a simple "hold on!" will do...) Horse Around New Mexico©2014 All rights reserved. Horse Around New Mexico is a publication of Horse Around USA™. Horsearoundnm.com™ and horsearoundusa.com™ are also copyrighted, trademarked, and the sole property of Karen Lehmann,. All rights reserved. Individual content copyright belongs to the author or artist.
Bring in your saddles to sell. I have been selling them like hotcakes! Come in to see what’s new. 525A Airport Road, Santa Fe, NM 87507 505-474-7795 www.desertwindsaddlery.com
Norway: Horse Heaven!
San Juan Valley Trail Riders
We’re in the middle of the ride season now! Where have you been? Purgatory CTR
Story & photos by New Mexico native Jennifer Strand, now living (and riding) in the "Land of the Midnight Sun"
June 27-29, 2014 - Near Durango, CO
Choose a one-day or a two-day competition and compete in the lush San Juan National Forest. Kerry Bingham 505-215-0080
Whether you come to ride or volunteer, please come enjoy the San Juan forest with us. Ride camp is behind Durango Mountin Resort along beautiful Hermosa Creek. Many new trails abound for this years ride.
...and don’t forget
Chokecherry Canyon CTR Sept. 19-21, 2014 - Farmington, NM
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Choose a one-day or a two-day competition in the most varied of all our rides. From the top of the Piñon Mesa to the clay hill bad lands below. A-A
MONTH FEB 11
Chuck Smith 505-215-2625 BUILT BY VSA
IN HOUSE PROOF
You’re gonna learn something!
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AMERICAN DIESEL SERVICE Over 50 Years of Experience
Your horse is ready to go . . .
Is your truck ready to tow? Cummins / Powerstroke / Duramax Complete Light Duty Diesel Truck Maintenance and Diagnostics Preventative Maintenance Pre-purchase Inspections
505.299.0591
3700 Morris St. NE • Albuquerque, NM 87111 located on the NE corner of Morris & Comanche
Hours: M-F 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 6
| July / August 2014 | www.horsearoundnm.com
CRX’D
wning a horse in Norway is actually very similar to owning a horse in the USA. A nice barn and a good field, hay and grain, shots and worming, horse shoes and tack - spending your money in all the same places! The breed of horses you might have is slightly different - an Icelandic Horse or a Fjord Horse.
What's different in Norway is the riding. A huge part of Norway is unpopulated. Even when an area is populated, there are laws that allow the public to access any lands - provided you stay away from buildings and planted crops. It's a horseback riders paradise! (continues on pg. 9)
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Special
Travel
Section
At Starrynight Ranch, near Llaves, New Mexico
Become the Rider of Your Dreams
On Your Dream Horse or Ours
At Starrynight Ranch, we cater to you, the horse lover! You will improve your riding and relationship with your horse. Individuals, couples, families, and small groups are welcome! Ride through stunningly gorgeous private and BLM land Stay in a charming cabin, private room with bath, or your own rig Bring your horse-crazy family members or friends (limit 8 people) Enjoy home-cooked meals with all the fixin’s Bring your own horse or ride one of our expertly-trained mounts Get on-the-trail lessons from expert horse trainer Julie Phillips Check out our special youth and family camps, and ladies retreats You will return home with the confidence and skills to ride better. Both you and your horse will be happy you visited Starrynight Ranch.
www. starrynightranch.com, 575-638-5661, 505-554-0577 www.horsearoundnm.com | July / August 2014
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Gaited Homozygous Tobiano
Riders of the Sage equine assisted healing
Are you stressed or grieving a loss? Call Jane today to learn how equine therapy can help you.
jane davis, lmsw
eagala certified gestalt equine psychotherapy
505-983-6677 jane@ridersofthesage-nm.com www.ridersofthesage-nm.com
A black and white homozygous tobiano stallion. Registered: Tennessee Walking Horse, Spotted Saddle Horse and Pinto Horse Assoc. of America. Outstanding gait, temperament and bone. 15.3 H. Live Spotted Foal Guaranteed from solid mares. $350/$300 More pictures and pedigree at http://www.skiesrblue.com Tim Beckmon SkiesRBlue Stables Santa Fe, New Mexico 505-470-6345 TBeckmon@SkiesRBlue.com
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| July / August 2014 | www.horsearoundnm.com
Anywhere you start from, you can ride. You can ride for hours... days if you want. Pack a lunch, start off and explore. You won't hit fences, no trespassing signs, areas blocked off by humans - it's all open and accessible. I own two Icelandic Horses. They are short, chunky, thick-set, muscular animals - with a wonderfully calm disposition. They are "go-anywhere, mountain and deep forest horses", which is great for the rocky wilderness of Norway. My horse will go wherever I point her - up steep embankments or through streams and large mud puddles. Thick bushes, large branches hanging over the trail, a tree down in the path - no problem! Icelandic horses also have 5 gaits - walk, trot and canter - the basics - plus two more: a tölt and a pass (pace). My horses are "natural tölters" - meaning that, when they get the chance, they fall into a smooth tölt and like to stay there. The tölt is wonderful to ride! It's a smooth gait, but moves very quickly. I recommend if you have a chance to try a tölting horse, you take it. It's an experience you won't soon forget!
Editor's note: the tölt is a very smooth, fast, 4-beat gait; while the pass, or pace - sometimes called the Flying Pace - is a pacing gait in which the two hooves on the same side of the horse touch the ground at the same time. It can be very fast, sometimes reaching the speed of a full gallop!
Jennifer Strand has owned and ridden horses for 18 years - getting her first horse - an Arabian - in exchange for barn work at the age of 23. She moved from New Mexico to Norway in 2008, where she lives with her husband and 4 kids.
4 Winds Equestrian Center is Celebrating 2014 - The Year of the Horse
with Boarding Specials
Offering a Summer Boarding Special One Horse: With a one year Boarding contract you will receive the first and last month free Two or more horses: With a one year Boarding contract you will receive the first and last month free plus the 6th month at half price! Boarding fee is $400 per month includes hay 2x a day.
*Call for more details and availability 505-384-1831 www.horsearoundnm.com | July / August 2014
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horseback Travel in ~
Spain, cape co •••••••••••••••••••••••••• article and photos: Holly Casman its owner left me hopelessly in love with these horses and I dreamed about owning one someday.
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hree years ago I finally decided to meet Harriet, the woman who’s lived across our Cape Cod salt marsh, since we were both children. I thought, “She’s right over there, has horses and rides on the beach—I want to meet her.” So I walked over and introduced myself. As easy as that, we became the best of friends. Now in the summers when I vacation at our old family cottage, Harriet and I saddle up her horses and ride on the beach early every morning before the National Seashore wardens start their patrols. It is pristine and cool and we only have to share the beach with the occasional dog walker, jogger or seal. Harriet loves to travel and so do I. She had been on many riding vacations, and convinced me I needed to go too. So in 2012 we went to Spain and in 2013, South Africa. The following are excerpts from my travel journal.
April 2012, Trail Ride Catalonia Coast, Spain This morning, the second day of the trip, we arose tired and sore after yesterday’s seven hour ride. Wind and torrential rain kept us awake most of the night and it was still coming down lightly in the early morning darkness. But we were excited for the day so we downed some coffee, donned rain jackets and headed out to
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the small paddock to feed, groom and tack up our horses, mostly gray Andalusian/ Arabian crosses. These horses were extremely fit, very forward and practically bomb proof. Soon we were riding out through the sleepy town and the sound of hooves on cobblestone brought several people to their windows to smile and wave at us. As we reached the beach, the sun came out and the landscape glistened in the early morning mist. We took off on several long gallops, splashing in the waves and kicking up sand… what a blast! We rode on the beach for about two hours, making our way up the coast until we finally turned off through the dunes and onto a dirt road. After some flooded rice paddies and wheat fields we arrived at the beautiful Yeguada Senillosa, a P.R.E. stud farm. P.R.E. stands for Pura Raza Española, the Pure Spanish Horse, and these were the most beautiful I had ever seen. As far as you could see were field after field of grazing horses: mares with young foals, yearling colts, yearling fillies, 2 year olds and 3 year olds. All bays, blacks and chestnuts—no grays, which is the most common color for these horses.The stallions, about 20 of them, had their own barn with separate turn-outs. They were absolutely magnificent, as timeless as a Renaissance painting. An afternoon tour of the farm by
| July / August 2014 | www.horsearoundnm.com
After a fantastic dinner of paella, tomatoes, strawberries and buffalo mozzarella with basil—and a good Spanish wine, of course—I left our hacienda and went to visit with the stallions. There was one particularly tall, dark and handsome guy who loved my attention, stretching his neck and quivering his lips as I scratched his chest and shoulder.
The next morning I was up at dawn visiting with the stallions again, then off to the yearling colt barn where about 15 rowdy youngsters eyed me curiously. When I heard a group of horses trotting by I rounded the corner of the barn in time to see the mares with their foals heading out to a pasture of thick green grass. I watched as group after group trotted out from their nighttime barns to their fields. What a beautiful sight! I could happily live here the rest of my life!
cod & africa! •••••••••••••••••••••••• August 2013 “Wait-a-Little” Horse Safari South Africa We awoke at 6:15 am, dressed and hurried to the lodge for coffee and biscuits before riding out. The air was cold at first and full of smoke from prescribed burns. It became hotter as we rode through thick, thorny bush. After a while we crossed a wide but shallow river and on the opposite bank came up a hill to a grassy clearing. Suddenly all the horses became tense. Several snorted and pranced and I could feel Beamish’s heart beating through the saddle. All these horses were well accustomed to the sudden appearance of wild animals and were impeccably trained, but lions frightened them tremendously. Horses smell a lot like zebras and they knew it!
Photo: malawiproject.org
Rusty took out his bull whip and we rode on, when suddenly the woman riding next to me exclaimed, “Look, there he is, Rusty, a lion!” To my right and crouched in the grass about 15 feet away, almost invisible, was a lion - sizing me up. My adrenaline surged and all I could muster was “Oh s%*#!”. The horses all spooked at once. Rusty, on a brave Friesian cross, trotted forward and cracked his whip authoritatively. The young male lion turned and ran off like a scared kitty. We re-grouped and kept going; tentatively, hearts pounding and senses heightened, to say the least. You sure know you’re alive after you’ve been stalked by a lion.
Later that afternoon it was very hot and we were getting stiff after 5 hours in the saddle. Rusty stopped us and signaled for us to be quiet. “There’s elephants down there,” he said, pointing to the river. We moved together and approached slowly. I could see large gray backs and an occasional raised trunk. We snuck in as close as we dared when a large bull came up the bank. He raised his trunk and flapped his huge ears at us. We backed up and turned our horses away. Then some others came up to look at us and we retreated. These elephants were not used to people, were very shy but could be dangerous if they felt threatened. We walked slowly along, paralleling the herd as it moved in the river below us. Then they came up the bank and stopped briefly to assess the situation. Deciding we were no threat, they crossed in front of us and entered the woods. It was a very powerful and moving sight, this herd of about thirty animals; cows, little calves, sub-adults led by a magnificent bull—a cohesive family unit of intelligent and sentient beings. How anyone could shoot such an animal for an ivory trinket is beyond me. I know I was not the only teary-eyed rider as we moved on.
www.horsearoundnm.com | July / August 2014
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Balance + Being Horses & Living... The Ride of Your Life Clinics Balance as a Foundation | July 19 Ground Driving 101 | August 9 Got Seat? | October 25
The Inner Equestrian Tele-Classes FEAR: A 4-week Coaching Series | July 8, 15, 22, 29 Time Management for Busy Equestrians | September 30
Horses. Healing. Being. Women’s Mini-Retreats Unmounted for both equestrians and non-equestrians. No horse experience needed. July 5, 26 | August 2, 16
...from the inside
Photo Tony Stromberg
Questions or to register call 505.231.5353 or email lynn@lynnclifford.com.
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| July / August 2014 | www.horsearoundnm.com
Story and Photos by Cecilia Kayano
On theTrainer... On theHorse... In the End, All Will Win as Eight Horses Go from Unbroke to Pro-Trained in 100 Days
It’s no secret that getting a well-trained horse starts with choosing the right horse. Nine top trainers (two are a team) from the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area know that all too well. They gathered at The Horse Shelter horse rescue near Cerrillos to choose an unbroke horse from a group of 16. Some of these horses had been haltered, but none had been saddled or ridden. Some had very little human contact. Others were used to people. Some were stand-offish. Others were like big puppy dogs. The trainers had about an hour to observe the horses and make their choices on April 5. They were given 100 days to train their horses to walk, trot, and canter. On July 26 at the Gimme Shelter Trainers Rally for Rescues competition they will demonstrate how far they have come. The winner will take home $2000. There will be other prizes for each trainer. The horses too, will win. Each will have 100 days of training by a pro. They will be offered for adoption at the event, and will most likely be loaded up, and taken to new, caring homes. Which trainer chose the winning horse? What training approach did they use? Read about what has happened so far, then show up on July 26 to witness the rest of this story with a happy horse ending.
Michelle DeCanditis, 15 years as a pro trainer, specializing in the movement of horses and humans. Known for riding in a very light manner, with almost indiscernible cues. Who She Chose/ Why: Blue, 8-year-old gray mare, 14 hands. Her first choice was Jackie O, but she was already taken. Blue was her second choice. “I wanted a horse that was balanced in feet and body.” Why Michelle May Win: She believes in going at the horse’s pace. Yet Michelle is aware that she has only 100 days. If Blue agrees, and Michelle can move her along in the training, they will put on a beautiful show of trust and light riding.
www.horsearoundnm.com | July / August 2014
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Day 50: Blue could possibly be older, maybe 13 years old. Her age makes Michelle respect her even more. “She’s getting her education later in life!” Michelle has been on her back about five times. Blue has a strong flight response, but it has diminished. Kirsten Clegg, 3 years pro trainer, known for establishing very close relationships with her horses.
interesting and not nervous. Why Rogelio May Win: He says he talks to the horse, which is his secret to winning. Has experience training a wild stallion, and producing a relaxed, compliant mount. Day 14: He has saddled and ridden Athena on short rides. She is very calm and there have been no issues. Day 50: Rogelio has been riding her at a walk, trot, and canter in an arena, and on the trail. His two daughters and son have been grooming her. Karen Evans, 30 years pro training, known for producing horses that have a solid base of training that makes them comfortable and peaceful.
Who She Chose/Why: Hope, 4-yearold bay mare, 15 hands. She was a little standoffish and started to walk away, then turned around and came back. She seemed open, willing to work, and showed potential. Why Kirsten May Win: Last year, Kirsten was the winner of the Walkin N Circles horse rescue training and adoption event, proving that she can produce an adoptable horse.
Who She Chose/Why: Black Rose, a 14-year-old black registered Appaloosa mare, 14.2 hands. Karen loves the Appaloosa breed, knew Rose was a PMU mare, but wanted to improve her life.
Day 14: “She’s getting easier to catch. She’s very smart and learns quickly. She’s better than I thought.” Kirsten has done groundwork and put weight across Hope’s back.
Why Karen may win: Karen has a lot of passion for this horse. She has compassion for any underdog, any creature that has been misunderstood. Karen has invested her heart and feels she has already won.
Day 50: Kirsten continues to be surprised by Hope. “She hasn’t been spooky at all. She only bucked with me once, because her balance was off.” Kirsten has ridden Hope about eight times. “I wish I could keep her.”
Day 14: Black Rose was hard to catch and was disinterested in humans. After two weeks, she willingly interacts with Karen. She walks right up to Karen and lets her pick up her front feet, but not her rear.
Rogelio Enriquez, 20 years pro training, known for having a quiet confidence that quickly gains the trust of fearful horses. Who He Chose/Why: Athena, 6-year-old bay mare, 14 hands. She is noble,
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Day 50: Rose’s feet have been trimmed! She lets anyone halter her, and lead her around. She had a saddle on once and went into a “bucking frenzy.” She will be ridden “soon.” Ginger Gaffney, 25 years pro trainer, know for teaching natural horsemanship, and getting the horse to think, learn, and trust.
| July / August 2014 | www.horsearoundnm.com
photo courtesy Ginger Gaffney
Day 14: “I love her! She is more tentative than Jackie O, but she is interested.” Blue has been saddled, ground worked, and trailered. “She’s a clean slate.”
Who She Chose/ Why: Root Beer, 5-year-old bay mare, 14.2 hands.Wanted a completely untrained horse that had been handled minimally.
Why Ginger May Win: Great karma going on here. Ginger is not directly training: She is guiding a group of clients in a recovery center to train the horse. By doing this, the clients can give back -- to the horse, to society. Day 14: The recovery center clients are doing all the training. “They love this little horse!” They have worked on desensitizing her, have ponied and saddled her. When she gets frightened, she rears. “She’s sweet, but has that self-preservation reaction.” Day 50: Root Beer has quit rearing. “It started out sketchy,” says Ginger. “But they have gained her trust.” She has been ridden about 15 times at the walk and trot. She’s not spooky; she's very confident. But most of all, Root Beer gets a lot of attention because of her looks. “She is awesomely cute and I’m not even biased!”
Joost Lammers and Erica Hess, 20 years combined pro training, known for their team training including liberty training. Joost will be riding in the competition. Who They Chose/Why: Pipi Longstocking, 5-year-old sorrel mare,15 hands. “She chose us. She said, ‘I want to go with you.’” Later, she walked right into the trailer. Plus, she was one of the taller horses. (Joost is six feet tall.) Why They May Win: They have worked with rescue horses before and regard some of them as having Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Erica will use liberty training,
which will require Pipi to trust. Perfect method for a rescue horse. Day 14: An apprentice has ridden her bareback with a halter at a walk, trot, and lope. She has also been ridden with a saddle. Day 50: Pipi has become more confident. Erica does liberty training with her twice and week and Joost is riding her twice a week. Clint Mortenson, 35 years of pro training, known for developing calm, consistent horses from the ground and from the saddle. Who He Chose/Why: Jackie O, 7-year-old sorrel mare, 14.2 hands.Small size, quiet, a littler older than he wanted, but she seemed nice. Why Clint May Win: Exposes the horse to many situations and disciplines, such as roping, polo, and trail riding. This horse will have a wide variety of experiences, and be a horse you can have fun on. Day 14: ”She’s a lot spookier than I anticipated.” Jackie O has been saddled and ridden once. She’s athletic. Day 50: Jackie O is not as spooky. “She has improved a lot.” Clint is riding her at the walk, trot, and canter. She is working off his leg cues and starting to neck rein. “She will have a big stop and will be super athletic.” Loal Tucker, 15 years of pro training, known for having a style that makes everything he does on a horse look so easy. Who He Chose/Why: Guerro , 3-year-old palomino gelding, 14 hands.“He came over and put his head in my lap.” And Loal thinks he will be adoptable.
Why Loal May Win: Guerro was wanted by two other trainers, but Loal got him. Trainers could see Guerro’s easygoing personality. This matches Loal’s personality. On July 26, they will both make everything look easy! Day 14: Guerro has shown a lot of “try.” Loal has ridden him about six times, over various terrain, including in a river. Guero was a little nervous at first and did common spooks, but he is quickly overcoming his fear. Day 50: Guerro has developed into a trustworthy, quiet horse. Loal continues to trail ride him and has followed cattle. He’s been riding him 4-5 times a week, on trails and cross country.
They move in...
...they breed...
Cowboy Up!
Attend the Gimme Shelter Trainers Rally for Rescues July 26; 3 pm (approx.) Part of the
...then they take over!
National Day of the Cowboy 10AM -4PM
Mortenson Arena 96 Bonanza Creek Rd. Santa Fe
info: 505-471-6179 www.TheHorseShelter.org Unable to attend? Find results at
www.horsearoundnm.com Cecilia Kayano is a writer and photographer. She trail rides her gaited horses in New Mexico and Washington. She can be reached at kayanocecilia@gmail.com
Let us help you win the Battle of the Moscas we have feed thru to sprays to baits to fly masks to fly sheets to fly traps.
Celebrating 30 Years of being in business in Roswell and Albuquerque 3825 Osuna NE Albuquerque, NM 87109
505-341-9401
2005 SE Main Roswell, NM 88203
575-624-2123
www.horsearoundnm.com | July / August 2014
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Image courtesy of Steel Cowgirl, www.steelcowgirl.com
You're Going to do What in those Boots? personal essay / by Kimberly McClintock
Biker Chick & Dressage Queen...best friends forever? At my best friend Kate’s baby shower, her mother told a charming story about the time the mother-to-be stole a neighbor’s horse. Barely more than a toddler, Kate unhooked the neighbor’s paddock gate, and led the horse by its halter down a Massachusetts country lane to her own backyard where, she declared, he would much prefer to live. Imagining my good pal as a horse thief was not a stretch. The few dark threads in our respective back stories, those that would disqualify us for public office, were early common ground. Imagining her as a horse person was an entirely different thing. Kate is a writer, arty and elegant in cute skirts and high heels. She can name the poet laureate, subscribes to The New Yorker. My conception of desirable lives for her did not include the horses she adopted when she moved to New Mexico a few years ago, but the beasts were a dream apparently nurtured since toddlerhood. I could tell you a lot about her, but I had no idea about this, and I could hardly approve. Horses stink, for starters. And they turn benign grass into a stunning volume of waste which someone must clean up. Most importantly, they’re dangerous: living things, weighing upwards of 1000 pounds, capable of kicking and biting, spooking and dashing to the ground even very talented riders. Did she know this? I presumed she did, and didn’t mention any of it when I visited. I slathered on sunscreen and a pair of down-at-the-heel thrift store Frye boots and joined her in a trip “to the barn,” a place as new to me in this new life of hers as her new house and state. I didn’t balk or whine or pinch my face in disgust as I swatted flies. I gamely hung my 150 lbs.
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from the side of an animal I could barely see over, and clambered up. Katie led us ploddingly around the paddock, and, after a few turns, her soft mutter calming the horse and me, I took in New Mexico’s dry gorgeousness opening all around us. For a moment, I wished deeply for the skill to leap the fence, gallop out into the hills. But only for a moment. At least with regard to horses. Riding out into the hills alone, though, had a precedent in my own life, and riding Kate’s horse awoke fresh in me an old dream of my own. “You’re scared to death of Jessie, walking, but you’ll strap a rocket to your ass and head out in traffic?” This was Kate’s response when I sent her a picture of me astride my silver and white Harley-Davidson Softail.
“I wasn’t scared of Jessie,” I said. “Oh, please,” she said. “I know you.” And I know you, I thought, but I didn’t know this about you, this horse thing. “Except I didn’t know this about you, this motorcyle thing,” she said. Irritated, both of us, and maybe a little afraid, as can happen when the people we love take us by surprise. We listed the differences cold. Horseback riding is nobler, quieter; has a long, distinguished history. It’s a relationship with another living being. Motorcycles are a “guy thing,” and low-brow, less about relationship than about adrenaline. The only common ground we found at first was aesthetics: we each felt our “mounts” were gorgeous, and each readily saw gorgeousness in the other’s. Aesthetics seemed the only point of connection until we talked about safety. Kate insisted that my motorcycle was infinitely more dangerous than her horse, and I’d have liked to argue, except that on the surface statistics corroborated that intuition. About 7 million Americans ride horses, coincidentally there are the same number of registered motorcycles. While the number of emergency room visits each year is also roughly equivalent, a biker is almost fifty times as likely to die as a result of injuries (riders4helmets.com and Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), respectively). Can’t argue with that, but dig a little deeper and there’s a surprise: injuries per riding hour are higher for horseback riders than for bikers—from four to twenty times higher, depending on the resource. When we talked this through, we began to see meaningful commonalities between the sports. Both involve “equipment” outweighing the athlete by a factor of at least three, up to and exceeding ten. Both are sports executed fundamentally alone—no team for support. And both include, we conceded, an element of caprice. In Kate’s case, the passing whim
of a living thing, however well established the relationship. In mine, the possibility of mechanical failure at high speeds. Also common to both sports are unknowns like road or trail conditions, other riders or drivers, bad weather. Amazingly, the list of concerns went on, more overlap than not, each threat tied intimately to something we loved about our respective sports, about our lives - and in that, inextricable from what we love about each other. And each risk, we discovered, can be mitigated in the same way: proper gear, skill and attention training. Safety gear is very pricey, an inhibiting factor in both sports. Also ugly, which, to be frank, is an inhibiting factor for both Kate and I, and anecdotally, everyone we know. We came to refer to this as “aesthetics trumping safety,” which happens in the biker world in spades. Different types of motorcycles
Horseback riding is nobler, quieter; has a long, distinguished history. It’s a relationship with another living being. Motorcycles are a “guy thing,” and low-brow, less about relationship than about adrenaline. The only common ground we found at first was aesthetics: we each felt our “mounts” were gorgeous, and each readily saw gorgeousness in the other’s.
have developed different costumes. In the Harley world of cruisers the look might be described as “as little clothing as possible,” especially for women. Kate and I both wear the minimum safety gear—long pants, boots, and helmets— wistfully forgoing the sensual pleasure of wind in the hair. Helmet hair can feel distinctly unsexy, but a little dry shampoo in combination with a healthy attitude, the memory of the ride and a few goodlooking hats goes a long way. We each have a few good-looking hats these days, and numerous pairs of very cool boots. Ultimately, though, safety is relative. No helmet or boots can stand in for skill, and Kate and I both leverage books and lessons and practice to enhance our skill sets. Even that knowledge, we’ve both discovered, is only so useful without calm attention. Kate practices natural horsemanship, and we’ve come to see one type of riding as a metaphor for the other. While any sort of riding a live being can be argued to be unnatural, horses, like dogs, are thought to have chosen us. In which case, they might be said to “want” to work with us, and have a say in the terms of that work.
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Which is how Kate answered the question I asked that first day out at the barn: “Why should I believe Jessie will allow me to sit on her?” In a similar vein, a vehicle moving at highway speeds and weighing about seven hundred pounds could be said to “not want” to fall over. A biker attentive to her surroundings can leverage countersteering, and the bike will move quickly and smoothly around and, if necessary, through or over obstacles that could otherwise cause problems. One significant difference we have happened upon is what we think of as qualities of fear. While a motorcycle may be touchy and the biker has an obligation to her own safety and the safety of those around her to know how to handle it, the situation is fundamentally she against herself in terms of fear. While on a horse, though, the rider has not only her own fear, but the awkwardness of another’s fear to consider as well. These permutations necessarily take the riders to different places, but they are places nonetheless where the practices of curiosity, generosity and calm are relevant. It’s a stretch to call motorcycle riding meditative, but just like a rider with an independent seat has a looser, and therefore more responsive, upper body whether for reins or handlebars - a rider who concerns herself with marshalling her attention will be surprised less frequently by a change in conditions. This is the precise territory of meditation,
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of which we have both long been practitioners.As meditators, Kate and I recommit regularly to a practice of dropping our stories, and being aware of what’s actually happening. As writers, though, we can’t help but appreciate a good story, which is partly why we continue to congratulate ourselves for being badass counter-culture outsiders even after we discover as part of this research that we land squarely in the typical rider/biker demographic: the median age of women riding motorcycles is 41 (BTS). According to horsenation.com, the median age of women in dressage is 38. Do the math, and that means we’ll be riding ‘til we’re sixty, or older. And there are great stories to support this: the one about the Olympian dressage rider, Lorna Johnston, who competed until she was 72. Or how about Gloria Tramontin Struck who, in 2011 at age 86, rode a Harley Softail from New Jersey to South Dakota, where she was inducted into the Sturgis Hall of Fame? Is that why we did it? Chose powerful mounts to counter the failing strength of our aging bodies? It’s an arguable point, but we prefer to think of it as each investing fully in a story in which we thrive as we age, flexible, independent and fierce. Which (sort of) brings us back to the question of why we held these obsessions - which each of us claim are fundamental so close, until we’d already acted on them.
...we’ve been led again and again to see that these seemingly disparate impulses arise from the same aspects of our lives that have connected us for years—an appreciation of beauty, meditation, independence, good stories, great shoes—and the mystery of our friendship has deepened.
It’s interesting and provocative to think about. As is the related question, why do we wait? Many of us, apparently. Why do we wait? We haven’t talked about that yet, but that’s okay. This conversation isn’t over. Even while we’ve been led again and again to see that these seemingly disparate impulses arise from the same aspects of our lives that have connected us for years—an appreciation of beauty, meditation, independence, good stories, great shoes—the mystery of our friendship has deepened. What more can a person reasonably hope for from a long relationship than that an early intuition be proved out year by year with a deeper connection, and enlivened by new questions? Speaking for myself, I’m grateful that here, in the middle of my life, there is still so much to surprise me. I rode my bike through the candy-colored cliffs of northern New Mexico just a few weeks ago, met Kate in Albuquerque. She’d just come from the barn. Behind each of us was a stinking, muddy, sweaty pile of gear and a nice hot shower. I hugged her first, then stepped back to take in her sun-kissed face, her helmet-flat hair, her gorgeous König dressage boots.
Kimberly McClintock writes and rides primarily on Colorado's Front Range.
Get out On the Trail with the next issue of Horse Around New Mexico, on shelves in September! Submissions deadline: July 26th Ad Submissions: August 4th www. horsearoundnm.com for more information on submissions, ad prices and specs... and lots more! Call: 505.926.1120
www.horsearoundnm.com | July / August 2014
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e ve n ts
5 5-6 10-13 13 13-19 19 19-20 20 19-26 26 26 26
P E T R A C H R I S T E N S E N
july
Women's Mini-Retreat with Lynn Clifford Horses. Healing. Being. Info: 505.231.5353 lynn@lynnclifford.com NMDA Show – Horses Unlimited Fiesta de Dressage, NMDS USEF/USDF Recognized Show. www.nmds.us www.nmdressage.net Philippe Karl Ecole de Legerete at The Trinity Ranch. Contact Terry Flanagan at 505231-5180 or terry@lajenciaconservation.org Educational Day with Petra Christensen 10-3 Arrowhead Ranch, Santa Fe www.redhorsecoaching.com 970.731.2200 Ft. Stanton Pioneer I & II Endurance Rides AERC sanctioned www.aerconline.org Balance as a Foundation Clinic with Lynn Clifford; Santa Fe Info: 505.231.5353 or lynn@lynnclifford.com NM Paint Horse Club: Green Chile Classic info at www.nmpainthorse.org EDS Summer Fun Arena Driving Trial Edgewood Arena Contact Linda for info:505-832-0803 iamequi@nmol.com or enchantmentds.com Arabian Youth Nationals; Expo NM www.arabianhorses.org Women's Mini-Retreat with Lynn Clifford Horses. Healing. Being. Info: 505.231.5353 lynn@lynnclifford.com National Day of the Cowboy 10 AM - 5 PM at Clint Mortenson Ranch
august
96 Bonanza Creek Rd. Santa Fe Gimme Shelter Trainers' Rally for Rescues approx. 3 pm @ Day of the Cowboy event Mortenson Ranch 96 Bonanza Creek Rd. Santa Fe www.thehorseshelter.org
2 2-3 9 9-10 10 15-17 16 16-17 16-17 24 29-30
Women's Mini-Retreat with Lynn Clifford Horses. Healing. Being. Info: 505.231.5353 lynn@lynnclifford.com Peruvian Horses at Las Golondrinas Summer Festival, Santa Fe www.golondrinas.org Ground Driving 101 Clinic with Lynn Clifford; Santa Fe Info: 505.231.5353 or lynn@lynnclifford.com Chama Days Rodeo, Chama info: nmrodeo.org NMDA Schooling Show: location TBA Info:www.nmdressage.net The Event at Santa Fe Info: xcountry@GooseDowns.com Women's Mini-Retreat with Lynn Clifford Horses. Healing. Being. Info: 505.231.5353 lynn@lynnclifford.com EDS Driving Clinic w/ Craig Kellogg Bernalillo Cty Sheriff 's Posse Arena ksodrive706@gmail.com www.enchantmentds.com NM Paint Horse Club: Red Chile Fiesta info at www.nmpainthorse.org NMDA Schooling Show to benefit Juna Tomas Hounds: TopForm Arena, Corrales Info: Penny Giller: foxhntr@unm.edu Socorro County Fair & Rodeo info: nmrodeo.org
Preview: September Events 9/5 - 9/21 Ass't. Shows at the NM State Fair Info: exponm.com 9/7 NMDA Schooling Show at Bosque Farms Rodeo Arena, Bosque Farms 9/12 - 9/14 * Mark Rashid Clinic ForTheHeartofTheHorse.com 505.474.5480 9/19-9/21 Chokecherry Canyon CTR 1 or 2 day trail competition, Farmington NM Info: Chuck Smith 505.215.2625 www.NATRC.org 9/19-9/21 Zen Horse, Zen Mind author Allan Hamilton at Riders of the Sage in Santa Fe
JMHA OFFERS FOR ADOPTION GENTLE MUSTANGS. These are beautiful, loving , good minded and good sized.
Horsemanship Clinic Santa Fe - Sept. 12 - 14, 2014
Capable of cart work, endurance, family horse or ? Jicarilla Carson mustangs. Call us at 505-360-5996 or go to our website. ADOPTION DAY TACK SALE 8/16/14.
Jicarillamustangs.org
FOR INFORMATION: 505.474.5480 9:00 am ~ 5:00 pm 3 day clinic ~ auditors welcome $40 at the gate
ForTheHeartofTheHorse.com
Sale on S&H Trailers
2013 S&H Duster 6’ x 14’ 2H Slant
$5,585! See the New All Aluminum S&H Now in Stock 1435 Route 66 Edgewood, NM 87015
Stock # SH009775
www.sandiatrailer.com
Driving Clinic with Craig Kellogg August 16 & 17
National Day of the Cowboy, Saturday July 26th at Clint Mortenson’s Ranch, 96 Bonanza Creek Rd, Santa Fe, NM 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eight trainers took a Horse Shelter horse into training for 100 days and will be showing them at this event! All horses will be up for auction (adoption requirements apply, please get pre-screened if you want to take a horse.)
(505) 281-9860 (800) 832-0603
Horse Shelter horses will be shown starting at 3 p.m. More fun events, such as roping, jumping, music, chuck wagon, kids horse show and more… Free to the public. More information on our website. Event Sponsors:
The Horse Shelter
505-471-6179 • info@thehorseshelter.org • www.thehorseshelter.org
www.horsearoundnm.com | July / August 2014
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Shoo Fly!
by Vikki Chavez
Are you ready for the fly invasion? If you have inhaled or swallowed your share of flies, or watched your horses stomp, swish, twitch and itch; here are some options to help ease the pain of fly season.
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Fly Masks
Fly Sheets
A fly mask is a summer must-have for horses. A fly mask with ears is a great choice for gnat protection. Make sure the style you choose is long enough for your horse’s ears; the tips can get rubbed and raw quickly. A fly mask with a long nose is perfect for white faced horses in the blazing sun, or horses that get muzzle area bites while grazing. Catch-masks are perfect for leading your horse to turnout and back, with a secure area for a lead rope snap. Keeping a mask on can be challenging for some horses, but the good news is there are plenty of styles to choose from with double locking straps and velcro. Look for a well-fitting mask that offers good visibility, keep it clean and check it daily to make sure there are no rubs. Masks that allow the forelock to pull through (instead of being trapped under mask) are preferred by many horses. Fleece around the edges offers additional comfort. It may take some trial and error to find the right mask for your horse, but it is well worth the effort.
Pros: Fly sheets can prevent sunburn on light colored horses and paints, fading on dark horses and offer UV protection from the sun. They can help reduce sweet itch, tail rubbing and side biting. Fly boots can help with stomping and the leg and hoof impact of doing so repeatedly. Most fly sheets have satin lined shoulders to prevent rubbing, maximum air flow and a huge variety of styles that include belly bands, tail covers, neck covers and super light fabrics; they can help your horses survive fly season more comfortably.
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Cons: Fly sheets can rub, tear, twist and shred. A horse with high withers may have the sheet pull back and cause pressure, a stocky confirmation may get shoulder rubs and an active horse may end up tangled up in the straps and get injured. Herd mates and fly sheets can be an unsuccessful combination; it depends on how hard your horses are on them.
Fly sheets can be too hot to wear. In 90+ degree heat or direct afternoon sun, those satin lined shoulders will be drenched and uncomfortable. Sweating under a fly sheet can fade black horses instead of protecting their color. Fly boots can slip down and bunch up around hooves, and are easy for a horse to tear off if they are so inclined. For some horses (and owners!), fly sheets are more trouble than benefit, which leads us to the next option.
Topical Products
24-hour mobile emergency service Serving Albuquerque and Central New Mexico
DR. ANDRES ESTRADA, DVM (505) 363-5063 www.santasofiaequine.com
New Mexico’s only board-certified specialist in animal reproduction, Dr. Estrada offers the full array of veterinary services, including Coggins, health certificates, dog and horse vaccinations, dentistry, lameness, trimming and shoeing consultations, plus emergencies such as colic, lacerations, and dystocias
Fly spray is great for legs and belly area, or an overall light misting. Despite the ‘Lasts for 17 days!’ and other similar claims, I have yet to find one that does not require another application by evening. The oilbased sprays last longer, although they will fade dark coats and attract dust and dirt. Some sprays contain sunscreen, others have coat conditioners. Water-based sprays are not as long lasting but may be easier on sensitive skin. Some sprays are designed to last through sweat and wet conditions. Natural sprays are better for you, the horse and the environment, however, they may not work as long as some others do. Neck bands and spot-on treatments work but may irritate the skin. Fly Armor reduces risk of skin irritation while offering a variety of bands and products to keep flies at bay. Swat and similar wound treatment products are excellent for keeping flies out of scrapes, cuts and sores. They can be rubbed on noses, ears and around the eyes for horses that do not keep masks on well.
Premise Control For those lucky enough to have a fly spray system installed, or breezy barn aisles with fans going 24/7, flies are probably not a problem. For the rest of us, fly predators can help control fly population. They eat fly larvae, and work best when placed around heaviest fly gathering areas. They need to be covered lightly and sheltered from contact with birds, horses and fly spray (it can kill them).
Se habla español
Fly bags really work, just keep in mind they attract flies, so place them far away from your barns and tack rooms or you will be pulling tons of flies to you! Fly tape attracts and traps flies in a specific location; fly repellant strips keep flies away from a specific location. Premise sprays work well for stall floors, tack rooms and around the barn. Take precautions for dogs, hummingbirds (they can get caught in fly tape) and other critters when you use any premise fly control products, and make sure water tanks, hay stacks and feeders are not in contact with chemical sprays.
Feed-Through Supplements There is some debate whether feed-through products are safe to use long term. They often contain garlic, vinegar, yeast or diatomaceous earth. Some horses do attract more flies than others and some are more bothered by flies than others. Feedthrough products aim to make horses less attractive to flies, or work to prevent insect breeding in manure of the horse taking the supplement. Some do both. There are horse owners who swear by feed-through products, and others see no difference at all when using them.
On-The-Go Protection While there is no way to avoid being bugged by bugs, there are plenty of options to help ease the irritation for both you and your horse so you can get out and enjoy the great riding weather. Try fly spray, ear nets, riding fly masks and fly bands to keep you and your horse happier in the saddle. Don’t forget to spray yourself with mosquito protection when heading out down the trail, and have a wonderful ride!
www.horsearoundnm.com | July / August 2014
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TrainerDIRECTORY Dennis Brazeal * Bosque Farms 505.400.5492 www.dennisbrazeal.com Eric Bravo * ABQ+ surrounding areas 505.293.4652 * gnhbravo@msn.com Michelle DeCanditis * 505.615.7016 www.3HIntegrated.webs.com JT Jones * 314.686.1754 Corrales, ABQ & surrounding areas jamestylerjones@gmail.com John & Cat Parks * Santa Fe 505.466.3849 * www.johnandcatparks. com Erlene Seybold-Smythe * Espanola 505.603.6016 erlene@roy-elmorgans. com Total Horse Training * East Mountains Laurie Boultinghouse 505.974.7317 & Kirsten Clegg 505.250.3185 Toby Orona *Albuquerque * 505-5739440
Clubs&ASSOCIATIONS Arabian Horse Association of New Mexico www.nmarab.com
New Mexico Paint Horse Club www.nmpainthorse.org
Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico www.bchnm.org
NM Palomino Exhibitors Association www.nmpea.com
Buffalo Range Riders Mounted www.brrmounted.com
New Mexico Quarter Horse Association www.nmqha.com
CHAMP - Corrales Horse & Mule People www.champnm.com
Northern NM Horsemen’s Association nnmha@live.com
Enchantment Driving Society www.enchantmentds.com
Rio Grande Mule and Donkey Association www.rgmda.com
Equine Protection Fund www.equineprotectionfund.org
San Juan Valley Trail Riders www.NATRC.org
High Desert Riders www.highdesertriders.com
Santa Fe County Horse Coalition www.santafehorse.com/
Jicarilla Mustang Heritage Alliance jicarillamustangs.org
Santa Fe County Sheriff's Posse https://www.facebook.com/pages/Santa-FeCounty-Sheriffs-Posse/112123912184660
Listening Horse Therapeutic Riding 505-424-9924 www.listeninghorse.org New Mexico Bucksin Horse Association www.nmbha.com 505-869-9198
Petra Christensen Red Horse Coaching
505-384-1831 www.redhorsecoaching.com
Lynn Clifford
The Ride of Your Life Life Coaching, Clinics and Consulting
Santa Fe & by arrangement 505.231.5353 www.lynnclifford.com
Jane Davis, lmsw ***The horse is our guide***
Combining humans and horses, on the ground, for experiential work in communication, contact, congruency and authenticity. Meditation practice, team building, stress management, trauma/grief
505.983.6677 jane@ridersofthesage-nm.com
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New Mexico Dressage Association www.nmdressage.net New Mexico Gay Rodeo Association www.nmgra.org New Mexico Horse Council 505-603-6016 nmhorsecouncil.org NM Mustang and Burro Association nmmustangs@gmail.com
For the Heart of the Horse Sanctuary Connecting Horses and Humans through the Arts of Liberty Training, Horsemanship and Dressage
Erica Hess and Joost Lammers
Please visit our website or call us for info
www.fortheheartofthehorse.com 505-474-5480 Santa Fe, NM
| July / August 2014 | www.horsearoundnm.com
Santa Fe Pony Club www.SantaFePonyClub.org Single Action Shooting Society www.sassnet.com The Horse Shelter 505-471-6179 www.thehorseshelter.org Tularosa Nat’l Horsemanship Fellowship facebook.com/TularosaHorsemenFellowship Walkin in Circles NM Horse Rescue www.wncr.org
From the Horse's Mouth by Lynne Maguire
www.lynnemaguire.com
SAN MARCOS
FEED STORE HayHardwareFeed We stock the area’s largest selection of Farrier Supplies tel: 505-471-9298 fax: 505-471-3426 3877 State Rd 14 Santa Fe NM 87508
2014 SHOWS Fiesta of Fun Training Show Series next show - May 17th final show - October 4th
Green Chile Classic July 19th & 20th approved Paint
Speed Events Year End High Point
Spring Salsa Sensation April 26th & 27th approved Paint & Appaloosa
Red Chile Fiesta August 16th & 17th approved Paint & Palomino
Youth Classes are FREE for ALL SHOWS!
All shows are APHA approved with full slate of All Breed Classes
For further details - www.nmpainthorse.org www.horsearoundnm.com | July / August 2014
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Let's Hear it for Hearts for Horses!
Peruvian Horses at Las Golondrinas (for the last time) - So many have enjoyed the Peruvian Horse shows at Las Golondrinas in Santa Fe
photo by Ozana Photography
over the years; if you haven't seen them you might want to make the trip this August. Barbara Windom of La Estancia Alegre, along with trainer Roberto Quijandria, are planning a lovely finale, as they wrap up 18 years of spectacular Peruvian Horse displays at LG's Summer Festival. Saturday & Sunday, August 2nd & 3rd.
Stall Barn | Riding Arena | Equine Facility | Pasture Shelter | Hay Storage
Join Generations of Horse Enthusiasts For over a century Morton Buildings has provided exceptional quality and service to our customers. From stall barns and riding arenas to storage buildings and shelters, Morton Buildings are constructed to keep both you and your horses safe and comfortable.
806-358-9756
7621 Canyon Dr. • Amarillo, TX J. Craig Shanks 806-922-4449 Brandt Delaney 806-382-0027
To learn more and to get started on your project, contact Morton Buildings today. Š2014 Morton Buildings, Inc. A listing of GC licenses available at mortonbuildings.com/licenses. NM License #016516 Reference Code 043
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| July / August 2014 | www.horsearoundnm.com
mortonbuildings.com
photo by Ozana Photography
Local kids with Down Syndrome, their siblings and parents took part in a Blue Ribbon Rodeo event staged by Hearts for Horses, organized by John Colangelo, and held April 12 at Triple Threat Feed in Carnuel. The kids rode a barrel course and weave poles. Members of New Mexico Mounted Search & Rescue provided horses and assistance.There were also some minis on hand for kids to work with on the ground. It was the 10th anniversary of Hearts for Horses, and some of the kids riding have attended all 10 years!
www.horsearoundnm.com | July / August 2014
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Lessons Learned by Peggy Conger
...from a Life's End
The mare couldn't get up. The man who fed in the morning said she was down then. Now it was 11 am, and it was clear she was never getting up again. She'd been kicked hard the day before, but looked okay after and ate that night. Now it appeared the 27 year old horse had been fatally hurt in the confrontation. Her owner sighed, and went to get his pistol.
and had been retired for a couple of years. There was no way, I told her, I was putting that old horse through a tough surgery and recovery. So she laid him down in the corral, gave him the shot, and I watched the life fade from his eyes. I saved my tears til later, when I wailed on the phone to my best friend as the killer truck came to haul his body away.
When my Missouri Foxtrotter Jake stepped on a pipe shard left by drillers working in my pasture, an infection shot up his tendon. Recovery, the vet said, was not I have had to put down four horses in my likely. This time, and I am not proud to life, three that were mine, and another who say it, I was a coward. The vet warned me was mine in spirit. I wish I could say I have Jake might break a leg going down after gotten better about it with experience, but the shot. I turned and left. "Don't you want that is actually very far from the case. to say goodbye?' the vet called after me. "I already did," I said, without looking back. When I lived outside Denver, my horse But that wasn't the truth. I knew I was Coco twisted his gut in a colic. The vet was failing Jake, that I hadn't said goodbye, young, pulling holiday duty on Memorial that I hadn't even done right by this horse. Day weekend, and she was game to take In those days, I was a horse owner, not Coco up to Fort Collins and see what they a horse person. If I had been watching could do about it. I told her no. Coco was closer, known more, educated myself on my first horse, but he was 25 years old, horse care, I might have seen that wound
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before it festered. That is when I learned that guilt makes this decision feel like murder. I made a deal with the third horse in this story, and I truly believe he held up his end of it. Missouri was a rescue horse. I didn't adopt him, but I lavished love on him. He had arrived at the rescue ranch with hips and ribs and spine showing, his eyes dull and his nose running. Don't fall in love with him, the ranch manager warned. He won't last the week. But I did fall in love with him, he did last the week, and when he recovered, he was a huge favorite at the ranch. One day years later I found him bloated and miserable. Esophageal cancer, the vet said. Zouri recovered from that episode, and another, but ranch management said the third would be his last. I had a talk with Missouri. "Don't you die on any day but a Thursday," I told him. "I want to be here." One day I got a call. On a Thursday. Zouri was sick again and the vet was coming at 4. Could I be there?
As I said, Zouri held up his side of the deal. He was standing in a corral surrounded by weeping volunteers when I got there. I wrapped my arms around his neck and cried. The vet seemed to take forever getting there. Missouri looked alone and, to our eyes, sad in the corral. We kept cycling back to hug him and cry. When the vet did arrive, he did a kindness for us mourners. He doesn't let horses fall; he gives them the shot and makes them move so they sort of glide to the ground as the drug takes effect. That's what happened with Missouri. In a moment he was gone. No broken legs. And not too many regrets. He had had a good second act, well cared for and surrounded by love.
between his legs. A rupture, they said. I became hysterical. Here I took this horse on a long ride, to impress people, and myself, with my newbie trail skills. And I ruined him. I wasn't a horse person. I was a hack who had killed her horse. The vet told me the rupture had been inevitable, that Cisco had far outlived his prognosis, and it was good he'd had a chance to be out and about on a big adventure before he died. But it would be months before I let myself believe any of that.
The last horse I put down was a wonderful trail horse named Cisco. This is the parting I regret the most, both for the way it happened and for the way I behaved. Cisco was a great old gelding with a problem. He’d had cancer and, though it was in remission, his continued health depended on constant vigilance and regular, sometimes messy, aftercare. It was a pain in the neck. But Cisco was a rock solid old trail horse, and I was a beginner trail rider, a match made in heaven. I learned so much in one summer on Cisco. He was my favorite kind of horse, smart, confident, non-reactive, the word spook not in his vocabulary. He wasn't a lover of people, he was a tolerator, and he tolerated me pretty well.
I regret it still. The fact is, a lot more than this horse dying was going on. My personal life was in a mess, my marriage splitting apart. As I said, guilt makes this decision feel like murder. So do unresolved feelings about other things.
We ended the summer on the Lincoln County Sheriff 's Posse Pony Express ride. I won a talent contest singing a comic little ditty I wrote about my horse’s idiosyncracies. After the last day of riding, Cisco passed blood. I was worried, but it stopped. We went home. A week later, I got a call from where he was boarded: Come right now, there is something wrong with Cisco. It was a horror to arrive at the barn and see Cisco, my dear Cisco, eating hay unconcernedly while his gut drooped
Even worse was the way I acted that day, screaming and crying hysterically in the barn, in front of my horse, who, whether he knew it or not, was dying.
But it's a decision we should not shrink from making. While I regret my behaviour and lack of savvy with some of these horses, I don't regret their euthanasias. Where we fail our animals is in being afraid to let go, afraid to face loss, afraid to accept our failures, or at least to accept reality. And we really fail when, in the face of tragedy, we stop being the leader our horse expects and needs us to be. A friend told me about a woman who had her dying horse kept alive for two days so she could drive home and say goodbye. Two days of equine suffering to satisfy a human need. I think of a woman I knew in Denver who refused to put her weakening horse down. "I want him to die on his own," she'd say. Meaning, I'd feel too guilty to put him down. We take horses, we keep them in pens, we restrict their nature in every way we can dream up. And if we are going to do all that, the very least we can do is release
them, without hysterics or drama or selfishness, when the time comes. The best we can do is be their leaders to the end. If I could unspool time back to that day with Cisco, I would thank him for all he taught me, tell him goodbye, and take my guilt and hysterical self-recriminations home, where they belonged. I would feed Zouri cookies, smile at him and pet him just how I knew he loved to be petted. I would stifle the tears. If I could go back to Jake, I would stand there until he fell and pay tribute to a good horse. The other day, the guy who owned the dying horse had us move her companions out of the pen. I went to get hold of my own horse in case the shot spooked him. When it rang out, all the horses flinched just a second, then when back to whatever they'd been doing. I walked to the pen where the owner stood quietly over the mare. The shot was expert, clean, right where it should have been. Blood gushed from her mouth and nose in a fast stream. We stood there watching. After a few seconds, her legs thrashed in a mighty paroxysm and then she was still. "That's the heart stopping," he said. We walked away. Later, I asked him why he'd stood there after the shot. "It's important not to walk away while the soul is leaving," he said. "That way they know that you cared." Whether you believe in your horse's soul or not, we all need to remember this at the end: Show that you cared, not with hysterics or human drama, but with all the leadership and dignity you can muster.
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www.horsearoundnm.com | July / August 2014
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The Tail End
Photo: Ozana Photography Looks like Bo Alcott and his mount have a pretty good chance of roping that calf. Wherever you and your horse gallop off to this summer, we hope you'll be safe and have as much fnn as he is!
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