USRider® Equestrian Traveler's Companion-Spring 2019

Equestrian Traveler’s

COMPANION

Your Essential Horse-Trailering Resource Spring 2019

Enhance Your Horse’s Travel Comfort

Trailer-Tying Guidelines

Brush Up Your Hauling Skills

6 Ways to Detect Lameness

Equestrian Getaway: Canyons of the Ancients

An AIM Equine Network Publication

Equestrian Traveler’s COMPANION Spring 2019

Your Essential HorseTrailering Resource

FEATURES 10 Safe Travels Trailer-Tying Guidelines

14 Hauling Hints The Ride Inside

18 Your Healthy Horse 6 Ways to Detect Lameness

22 USRider Member Story Stuck & Alone

DEPARTMENTS 4 Trip Tips Expert Travel Help

6 Skill Set Spring Brush-Ups

8 Handy Checklist Long-Distance Hauling

24 Road Gear Spring Travels

26 Winner’s Circle Advantage USRider® Member Benefit Spotlight

28 Getaways Canyons of the Ancients COVER PHOTO BY BY HEIDI MELOCCO

USRider General Manager: Bill Riss Editor: René E. Riley Art Director: Abby McDougall Contact USRider: (800) 844-1409 P.O. Box 20634, Boulder, CO 80308 memberservice@usrider.org • www.usrider.org USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

AIM Equine Network is a division of Active Interest Media. Its stable of award-winning magazines includes EQUUS, Dressage Today, Horse&Rider, Practical Horseman, and The Team Roping Journal.

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TripTips USRIDER MEMBERTIP----------------------------

Know the Health Requirements

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Well before your trip, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to complete the required health requirements for your travels.

For those who travel with horses, USRider provides contact information for each state veterinarian in the United States. To find this information, log on to the USRider website, and click on Travel Safety. From there, click on Transportation Info, then State Equine Info.

Well before your trip, contact the state veterinarian for every state you plan to travel through, as well as your destination state. The state veterinarian’s office can provide you with up-to-date information on vaccination and testing requirements, such as those you’ll need for a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate).

Then schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to get your horse tested and vaccinated, and to complete the paperwork.

TRAILERINGTIP-------------------------------------

Check Tire Tread Check the tires on your tow vehicle and trailer once per month; tires can lose traction long before they’re worn out. Testing by Consumer Reports® shows that tread can give up a significant amount of grip when it’s still at the halfway point.

A new tire has a groove depth of about 10/32nds of an inch.

When the grooves reach 2/32nds of an inch deep, they’re considered bald. With diminished tread comes the augmented risk for an accident.

If you don’t have a depth gauge, use coins to check tire tread.

Consumer Reports offers the following guidelines: • Place a penny into several tread grooves across the tire. If the PHOTO BY CATE LAMM tread always covers part of Lincoln’s head, there’s more than Check the tires on your tow vehicle and trailer 2/32nds of an inch depth remaining. once per month; tires can lose traction long • Place a quarter into several tread grooves across the tire. If the before they’re worn out. tread always covers a part of Washington’s head, there’s more than 4/32nds of an inch depth remaining.

• Place a penny into several tread grooves across the tire. If the tread always covers the top of the Lincoln Memorial, there’s more than 6/32nds of an inch depth remaining.

• Complete the measurement by placing the coin into additional locations at least 15 inches apart around the each tire’s central circumferential groove, as well as in its inner and outer grooves. This will help detect uneven wear caused by mechanical or service conditions.

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HEALTHTIP------------------------------------------------------

Manage Thrush

If your horse gets thrush, pick out your horse’s feet every day, paying particular attention to the frog crevices, until the thrush has cleared up.

It’s spring—but wet ground conditions alone won’t cause thrush. Here’s what you need to know.

• Causes: Thrush is caused by an anaerobic bacterium, meaning that it can live without oxygen. Poorly cleaned stalls, urine-soaked and manure-packed footing, and wet, muddy conditions are major factors that predispose your horse’s hoof to thrush. Additionally, poorly trimmed feet—hooves with contracted heels or overly high heels that trap debris inside the foot and around the frog—also contribute to your horse’s chances of contracting thrush. But the primary cause of thrush is inadequately cleaning your horse’s feet. Anaerobic bacteria can’t live and multiply in air and light, but if you allow your horse’s foot to become a dark, wet, unsanitary sanctuary for these bacteria, they’ll move in.

• Symptoms: Thrush is characterized by a dark, sticky discharge and a foul, rotting smell. The frog may be covered with this discharge, or it may build up only deep in the frog’s grooves. Thrush is usually associated with poor frog growth and disintegration of the frog tissue.

• Treatment: If your horse gets thrush, first ask you farrier to trim your horse’s hooves. Your farrier can leave the crevices beside the frog wide open, while paring away any obviously infected tissue. Then, pick out your horse’s feet every day, paying particular attention to the frog crevices. If thrush persists, treat it with a 50:50 bleach/water mixture.

If you use a commercial application, consult your veterinarian— chemicals in these preparations can be harsh on hoof tissues.

— Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD

SEASONALTIP----------------------------------------------------

Watch Spring Footing This spring, your horse might be the first to trudge through neglected trails. Mud might abound due to spring rains. Surfaces that appear hard and dry might mask gripping, sticky mud. New grass might lack the necessary roots to keep the ground in place under the weight of you and your horse. Your horse’s feet could sink in, causing him to slide and spook. Worse, he could lose a shoe, pull a muscle, or fall in the sucking ground.

To be safe, hike your favorite trails on foot to check the footing in advance of your ride.

Work with the land owner or manager to mitigate any footing issues.

— Bonnie Davis USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

PHOTO BY CATE LAMM

Spring trails might not be in top shape as soon as the weather warms.

Mud might abound due to spring rains.

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------------ SKILLSET------------

Spring Brush-Ups

Spring is here! If your trailer has sat idle over the winter, you might need to brush up on your hauling skills. Here’s a quick guide.

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Spring is here! You’re looking forward to longer and warmer days—but if you’re in the snow belt, your trailer has likely sat idle for weeks, or even months, since you last used it. You’ve performed annual maintenance on your tow vehicle and trailer, but you might also need to brush up on your hauling skills. Here’s a quick guide.

tailor it to suit your particular trailering needs.

Hitch up. Using your list, hitch up your trailer. As you go, make sure that everything on the list is in the correct order and that it makes sense to you.

Take a photo. Take a photo of the hitch configuration, so you have a record of what it’s supposed to look like when the process is complete. Then you can use the photo as a guide in the future.

Hauling Skill #1: Hitching Up

Hauling Skill #2: Backing Up

Practice hitching up on non-riding days or after a weekend ride when you’re relaxed and have time to focus.

Make a list. Make a list of the things you need to do to hitch up your particular truck and trailer. Print out the pre-trip safety checklist on the USRider® website, then USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

While your trailer is hitched up, but without your horse, find a level, paved area, and practice your backing skills. When you know how to back your trailer, you won’t have to worry about finding pull-through parking spaces. >>

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Set up cones. Cones give you a target and a way to judge your true skills. Set the cones far apart, and practice basic backing skills.

Increase the difficulty level. Set up the cones so that you can back through an L, a serpentine, and into a small space. Then practice a three-point backup turn.

Back without your trailer. At every opportunity, practice backing your tow vehicle without your trailer into parking spaces. The trick is to practice using only your mirrors, without turning your head. As you get the hang of it, backing your trailer will seem more natural. At first, find a parking space away from other vehicles. As you gain confidence, start parking between other vehicles. Go slow, and enlist the help of a ground guide if you need to.

Hauling Skill #3: Driving Gently As you haul your horse, keep in mind he’s essentially a huge barrel of water standing on toothpicks, so you need to drive smoothly and easily to allow him to adjust to changes of speed and direction.

Check your brakes. Without your horse, on a smooth, level area, make sure your braking system is working correctly by driving straight, then applying a hard brake.

Drive a serpentine. Set up a serpentine with cones, then drive around it slowly. Your goal is precision: Without hitting the cones, make smooth, consistent transitions around corners. Avoid jerky braking and acceleration.

Measure your braking distance. Measure the length of your truck and trailer. Behind the wheel, accelerate to 30 miles per hour, then apply the brakes as you pass a marked cone. Press the brakes hard but consistently to come to a full stop. Measure how far it took to stop. Repeat this measurement at 50 and 60 miles per hour. You’ll see how much your braking distance will increase as you speed up—and this is without your horse’s weight. You’ll also become more confident that you can stop your rig without sliding or jackknifing.

Do a road test. With your trailer, but without your horse, practice merging onto interstate traffic, stopping at lights, and making turns on local routes.

Practice driving at different times, such as twilight and night. That way, you’ll be more confident when you do haul your horse.

— Rebecca Gimenez, PhD USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

PHOTOS BY HEIDI MELOCCO

From top to bottom: Practice hitching up on non-riding days or after a weekend ride when you’re relaxed and have time to focus. Practice hauling your trailer without your horse at different times, such as twilight and night. Practice backing your tow vehicle without your trailer using only your mirrors, without turning your head.

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------------HANDYCHECKLIST------------

Long-Distance Hauling Hauling your trail horse long distance is stressful for him; good trailering practices will enhance his physical and mental comfort. Here’s a checklist to use as you prepare your rig and your horse, pack your trailer, and head onto the open road.

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Will you be hauling your horse long distances this spring? Use this checklist to prepare for your trip.

Prepare Your Rig First, make sure your trailer has adequate ventilation and ample space to accommodate your horse’s size. Well in advance of your trip, have your tow vehicle and trailer serviced. Two weeks before your trip, check: ■ Lights. Check that all lights are in working order.

■ Brakes. Check that all brakes are fully operational. Test the emergency trailer-brake box.

■ Doors. Make sure doors will fully open and properly latch.

■ Vents. Make sure vents fully open and close.

■ Windows. Make sure windows fully open and close.

■ Trailer floor. Thoroughly check the trailer floor.

■ Tires. Check tire tread and pressure. Adjust tire pressure

according to the manufacturer’s suggested levels. Make sure spare tires are accessible and properly inflated.

■ Tire-changing supplies.

Stock an appropriate trailer and truck jack, as well as tire chocks.

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Well in advance of your trip, check tire pressure.

Prepare Your Horse ■ Train your horse. Make sure your horse safely and calmly loads and unloads from

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the trailer.

■ Obtain travel documents.

Have proof that your horse has the proper testing and vaccinations, and meets the health requirements for your destination state(s). For specific travel requirements, contact the state veterinarian for your destination state(s).

■ Flavor your horse’s water.

Consider acclimating your horse to flavored water in advance. A flavor he’s used to will disguise unfamiliar-tasting water on the road to encourage him to drink. Add a flavored drink, such as Gatorade, daily to your horse’s water for a week prior to the trip. As you travel, simply continue to add the flavoring at the same ratio.

■ Talk to your veterinarian.

Talk to your vet about vi-

Spring 2019

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Pack Your Trailer ■ Water supply.

■ Water flavoring (if used).

■ Good-quality forage.

■ Supplements (if used).

■ Buckets.

■ Bedding.

■ Equine first-aid kit.

■ Blanket or sheet.

■ Spare halters.

■ Spare lead ropes.

■ Spare trailer ties.

■ Fire extinguisher. tal-signs assessment; hydration and feeding during transport; preventing respiratory illnesses; using electrolytes; health documentation; your equine firstaid kit; additional long-distance-transport strategies.

On the Road ■ Arrange overnight stabling. If you’ll be traveling more than 24 hours, make arrangements for overnight stabling for your horse.

■ Reduce grain. On the day of travel, prior to loading, follow your horse’s normal routine with one exception: Reduce or eliminate his grain intake immediately prior to and during transport.

■ Provide bedding. Make and maintain a good layer of bedding in the horse compartment throughout travel.

This will help absorb moisture from urine and manure as well as reduce the likelihood of slipping.

■ Provide hay. Allow your horse to eat his normal hay as he travels. The act of chewing will help keep him occupied

PHOTO BY KENT AND CHARLENE KRONE

During overnight offloads, monitor your horse’s health, allow him free-choice access to water, and allow him to eat ample amounts of hay from home. and digesting with help maintain gut function. If hanging a hay net, hay bag, or feeder make sure it’s at chest height or higher.

■ Use a breakaway halter.

Your horse should wear a leather halter (which will break under pressure) or a nylon halter with a breakaway feature during transport. Consider adding fleece halter tubes to prevent rubbing and sores.

■ Avoid shipping boots.

While shipping boots or wraps are beneficial during shorter trips to protect your horse’s lower legs, the risk of use can outweigh the benefit during lengthy transport. Extended wear can decrease blood flow, increase heat, and cause sores.

■ Drive with care. Standing in a horse trailer takes a lot of effort. It’s a constant balancing act for your horse, as you increase and decrease speed, and maneuver into and out of traffic.

Gradually increase and decrease your speed, and slowly change lanes and turn corners.

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■ Take breaks. Take a parking break of 20 minutes or more roughly every four hours to allow your horse to relax and “unlock” his legs in the trailer. On warm days, park in a well-shaded area. If it’s safe, increase ventilation by opening the drop-down windows and upper doors. Keep him in the trailer, for his own safety.

■ Check him over. During breaks, check your horse’s overall health and demeanor.

Carefully check him for signs of colic, heat/cold stress, and dehydration. Offer water. Refill the hay supply. Adjust your trailer’s ventilation, as necessary.

■ Stop for the night. During overnight offloads, monitor your horse’s health, and allow him free-choice access to water. Continue to reduce or eliminate his grain intake, but allow him to eat ample amounts of hay from home.

Article reprinted with permission from the Kentucky Horse Council.

Spring 2019

------------SAFETRAVELS-----------

Trailer-Tying Guidelines Should you tie your horse in the trailer?

Here are the pros and cons, plus seven safety tips.

By Rebecca Gimenez, PhD

PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM

Tying controls the head of a fractious or aggressive horse in the trailer, preventing him from turning around and/or disturbing a neighboring horse.

Horse owners from all over the country tell me about tragic trailer-related accidents. Far too many of those injuries occur when a tied horse pulls back and tries to escape through an open trailer door.

Should you tie your horse in the trailer? You’ll need to decide for yourself, based on your horse’s behavior and your particular trailering situation. Here, I’ll give you several trailer-tying pros and cons, plus seven safety tips. (For how to tie a quick-release knot, see next page.)

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Tie a Quick-Release Knot

By Michelle Anderson If you choose to tie your horse in the trailer, or need to tie him outside of the trailer, be sure to use a quick-release knot. Here’s one that’s fast to tie, easy to undo, and safe. In an emergency situation,

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a firm tug on the end of the lead rope will untie the knot and free a panicked or trapped horse. Practice these five steps until tying a quick-release knot becomes second nature to you.

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5 PHOTOS BY MICHELLE ANDERSON

1. Loop the tail end of the lead rope over a hitching rail, around a sturdy post, or through a tie ring. Think of the end of the rope hooked to the halter as “A” and the tail end of the rope “B.”

Tying Pros & Cons Here are several trailer-tying pros and cons.

• Trailer-tying pros: Tying controls the head of a fractious or aggressive horse in the trailer, preventing him from turning around and/or disturbing a neighboring horse. A loose horse can attack and hurt another horse that can’t defend himself.

Such an attack can cause a wreck as the injured horse seeks to escape. Tying a horse can also prevent him from hurting himself. It prevents him from lying down, crawling under a divider, and putting his head under a barrier, then panicking when he raises and bumps his head.

• Trailer-tying cons: The biggest

2. Pinch A and B together in your right hand.

3. With your left hand, make a loop with B. 4. Push the tail end of B around the pinched-together portions

trailer-tying con is that your horse can catch a foot or a trailer part in the tie rope, then panic and injure himself. Tie him tightly enough to prevent him from catching a foot (and annoying his traveling buddy), while still giving him enough slack to balance himself. Another con is the one described earlier—a tied horse may injure himself pulling back to try to escape through an open trailer door. It’s extremely important to untie your horse before unsnapping the butt bar and opening the trailer door.

Trailering-Safety Tips Here are seven safety tips, should you choose to tie your horse in the trailer.

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of A and B. Creating a second loop with the tail end of B. Pull the new loop through the original loop.

5. Tighten the knot by pulling on A.

1. Train your horse. You can help stop your horse from pulling back on the tie rope by teaching him to yield to pressure and to exit the trailer only when given a specific cue.

Train your horse to safely load and unload with the help of a reputable trainer. Practice loading your horse not only for routine trips but also so he’ll learn this essential evacuation skill. He’ll then load regardless of inclement weather and other adverse conditions.

2. Avoid bungee cords. Never use a bungee-type stretch cord.

This type of product, used in this manner, is dangerous to horses and humans. I know of one horse that was able to >> Spring 2019

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

You can help stop your horse from pulling back on the tie rope by teaching him to yield to pressure and to exit the trailer only when given a specific cue.

get out of the trailer while still attached to the cord—then it broke! The consequences can be severe. I know a number of horses and humans who’ve lost eyes and had faces cut open using a bungee cord.

3. Use a breakaway tie rope.

To avoid a trailer-tying tragedy, tie a safety knot, or use a tie rope that will break under pressure, such as one made from leather or a high-tech model. High-tech options include Davis Turtle Snap Cross Ties, available from Davis Manufacturing, and the safety-release trailer-tie products from Jemal Escape Mechanisms. Attach the breakaway tie rope directly to the trailer’s attachment or ring so it’ll function properly.

4. Leave some slack. One trailer-tying myth is that the tie rope helps a horse balance and

PHOTO BY REBECCA GIMENEZ

To avoid a trailer-tying tragedy, use a tie rope that will break under pressure, such as one made from leather or a high-tech model. will even keep him from falling down. This is false. To see how your horse balances in the trailer, get a trailer camera, and watch how he balances during turns, stops, and acceleration.

He needs some slack in the rope so he can use his head and neck for balance. Standing up inside the trailer while it’s in motion requires constant minor adjustments of his musculature, even on the interstate at a constant speed. Short ties in particular make it almost impossible for your horse to balance with his own weight and normal methods. They also make it impossible him to get back up after a fall.

5. Watch the rope ends. Make absolutely sure that the tierope’s loose end can’t get outside the trailer. Trapped outside the trailer, a rope’s loose end could become wrapped

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PHOTO BY REBECCA GIMENEZ

A safety knot is one you can untie with a simple pull, should your horse pull back.

around the axle or another object. This scenario will likely lead to a tragic death.

6. Invest in a slow-feed hay net or bag. In the wild, a horse eats for 18 to 20 hours per day. Anything you can do to simulate these conditions will enhance your horse’s >> Spring 2019

health. A slow-feed hay net or bag has small holes to slow down your horse’s feeding pace, which will help keep him busy while tied.

7. Feed carefully. If your horse is tied, provide hay in a net or bag that he can’t get his feet into or that could wrap around his head as he’s pushing and pulling to get the hay. If he isn’t tied, place the hay on the floor so he’ll be able to maintain a more natural head-and-neck position. By putting his head down, he can drain debris from his respiratory system, which helps to prevent respiratory issues. USR Rebecca Gimenez, PhD (animal physiology), is president and a primary instructor for Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue.

A Major in the United States Army Reserve, she’s a decorated Iraq War veteran and a past Logistics Officer for the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinary Medical Assistance Team. She’s an invited lecturer on animal-rescue topics around the world and a noted equine journalist.

PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM

A slow-feed hay net or bag has small holes to slow down your horse’s feeding pace, which will help keep him busy while tied.

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------------ HAULINGHINTS------------

The Ride Inside Here are seven ways to control your trailer’s interior environment to enhance your horse’s safety, comfort, and wellbeing.

By Tom Scheve and Neva Kittrell Scheve A light-colored, well-vented, comfortable trailer not only will invite your horse in and enhance his well-being on the road but also can help keep him healthy and safe.

PHOTO BY NEVA KITTRELL SCHEVE

As you shop for a trailer, consider the interior environment. Get inside.

Close the doors and windows. Is it quiet? Is it too hot? Too drafty? Is it dark?

Can you change the environment for the better? Can you open vents and windows if it’s too hot? Can you easily keep out drafts without limiting ventilation?

Your trailer’s interior environment matters to your horse. A light-colored, well-vented, comfortable trailer will not only invite him in and enhance his well-being on the road but also can help keep him healthy and safe.

Here, we’ll give you seven ways you can control your trailer’s interior environment: (1) insulate your trailer; (2) evaluate the vents; (3) install safe windows; (4) consider interior color; (5) consider exterior color; (6) add interior lighting; (7) add a fan. Here’s a closer look.

1. Insulate Your Trailer Insulation keeps the outside out and the inside in. An insulated trailer will be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Outside noise will be USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

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deadened, and your horse will be more protected from highway sounds. All these factors will enhance his experience inside the trailer.

Insulation is highly recommended for extreme temperatures, hot or cold. If your trailer has a dual wall, the insulation between the walls helps to keep out the heat, so the inner wall stays cool. Note that if the walls are insulated, it could be overkill to insulate the roof. The vents, windows, and doors will allow a nice airflow to keep your horse happy.

In cold weather, insulation will help keep your horse warm. However, in cold weather, you need to manage an insulated trailer differently than you would a non-insulated one, or the benefits of insulation can be neutralized. Insulation allows heat to build up from your horse’s body heat, unless it can escape through a vent or window.

If your trailer is highly insulated and fairly airtight, closing all the windows and vents in cold weather can cause the environment to become hot and steamy, and even damage your horse’s respiratory system. Even if the weather is very cold, it’s better to open the vents and some windows to allow airflow, then blanket your horse to keep him warm.

2. Evaluate the Vents Your trailer’s ventilation system should be adequate enough to provide your horse with the cleanest environment possible. Vents are designed for this purpose, but they can’t do the job alone. Even if your trailer has lots of windows or open stock sides, roof vents serve a twofold purpose: They allow air flow to come into the trailer from

above, and they allow heat to escape out the vents when the trailer isn’t moving. An overhead vent for every horse in the trailer is the best option. The most efficient vents are two-directional. They can be opened toward the front to bring in more air or toward the back to bring in less air. This allows you to regulate the airflow that comes in from the top. Adjust the vents according to your speed and climate.

PHOTO BY CLIXPHOTO.COM

Bar guards protect your horse if he loses his balance and hits the window with his head, or rears and strikes the window with his hooves. Make sure the bars have no sharp edges.

PHOTO BY KENT AND CHARLENE KRONE

Windows can enhance your horse’s comfort and health by providing light and temperature control. Windows also add more ventilation control, especially in insulated trailers.

3. Install Safe Windows Windows can enhance your horse’s comfort and health by providing light and temperature control.

Light is important. A dark trailer is intimidating to your horse. As a prey animal, he fears he may become trapped by a predator. When your trailer allows light to enter, it becomes more inviting to him. An open stock trailer, with slats is also more inviting. Some enclosed trailers have optional extra side windows that light the trailer interior all the way around to the front.

Windows also add more ventila-

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tion control, especially in insulated trailers. You can adjust the windows in relation to the stall’s interior climate to get the optimum interior temperature. Most windows are made from either Plexiglas or tempered safety glass. Plexiglas windows tend to expand and contract, so they might not easily open and close in extreme heat. Bus-type windows are most common. However, in the trailer’s nose of a trailer, a crank-out window is more watertight against driving rain. Windows in the horse area should close from the outside so you don’t have to squeeze into your trailer with your horse to close them.

Bar guards protect your horse if he loses his balance and hits the window with his head, or rears and strikes the window with his hooves.

Make sure the bars have no sharp edges. Look for round bars that are recessed into or placed flat against the window opening. Bars should be spaced closely enough that your horse can’t catch a hoof in them.

Make sure the windows are sealed around the frame to keep excess >> Spring 2019

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

In our experience, when horses are loaded into a trailer with a light-colored interior, no matter what size or style, they walk in by themselves without balking.

moisture out of the inner walls and to keep leakage at a minimum.

Screens keep outside debris from blowing into a moving trailer; road debris can harm your horse’s eyes and lungs. Screens also discourage wasps and bees from making nests inside your trailer when it’s stored with the windows open.

4. Consider Interior Color A trailer with a light-colored interior (and lots of windows) is inviting to your horse. Horses have very good night vision, but their eyes take longer than ours to adjust to light changes. A dark trailer looks like a dark, hollow cave to him.

There could be a mountain lion in there! In our experience, when horses are loaded into a trailer with a light-colored interior, no matter what size or style, they walk in by themselves without balking. Horses seem to especially like light gray.

Light gray is probably calming because it’s light, but not glaring.

We’ve found that white is an inviting color, too.

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

Light exterior colors reflect light and heat, which makes the surface cool. Your horse will appreciate a light exterior color, especially on hot, sunny days.

5. Consider Exterior Color It looks good to have a matching truck and trailer. Your personality shows through your choice of color and design for your rig. Upscale, matching rigs have a look of success and prosperity. But there’s more to consider than how your trailer looks on the outside. You need to consider how your trailer’s exterior affects your horse’s comfort.

Dark exterior colors absorb light and heat, which makes the surface hot. If your trailer isn’t insulated, the hot metal greatly affects interior temperature. If your trailer is insulated, the insulation will help protect the inside wall from the outside wall, but still, the temperature will be compromised.

Light exterior colors reflect light and heat, which makes the surface cool. White is the most reflective and coolest exterior color but silver and pewter work as well.

Your horse will appreciate a light exterior color, especially on hot, sunny days. If you’d like to match your trailer to your dark-colored truck, you can add custom striping.

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A light-colored roof is extremely important, no matter what color the rest of your trailer may be.

Again, white is more reflective than any other color, including bare aluminum. Most new trailers have light-colored roofs, but not all, so be discriminating.

When buying a used trailer, you’ll have to shop carefully to find a light-colored or white roof.

Note that some trailers have a color stripe between the top edge of the exterior walls and the bottom edge of the roof, but the roof itself is a light color. You might not be able to see this from the ground.

6. Add Interior Lighting

There are no disadvantages to interior trailer lighting, and the advantages are many. Interior trailer lights can be helpful when you load your horse on dark mornings before leaving for a trail-riding destination or horse show. They’re also great for packing your trailer the night before. Interior trailer lighting is good for your horse, too. By turning on interior lights, Spring 2019

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the passing outside lights, such as traffic lights, are less disturbing to sensitive horses.

Interior lighting makes is easier to check on your horse at night.

If your trailer doesn’t have living quarters or a dressing room, you might even be able to glance in your rearview mirror into your trailer’s front windows to keep an eye on your horse while driving.

Interior lamps should be flat against the wall or ceiling, where your horse can’t bump into them.

A light over each door is best. Each

light will have its own switch. It’s convenient to have a master switch on the outside of your trailer that will turn the lights off and on together.

You’ll need to plug your trailer into your tow vehicle for the trailer lights to work unless you have an optional recreational-vehicle style battery to run the interior lights when the trailer isn’t hitched. Be careful—if you accidentally leave on your trailer lights, you can drain your tow vehicle’s battery and/or the RV battery.

7. Add a Fan Oscillating interior fans can improve your trailer’s airflow. Fans are becoming more important as many parts of the country experience hotter climates. They can especially enhance equine comfort when your trailer carries four horses or more, all producing body heat and warm breath. Fans are most useful when you’re moving slowly or stopped in traffic on a hot day. Locate the fans high enough to be out of harm’s way.

Install bars or screens to protect the fans from the horses and vice versa.

Tom Scheve and Neva Kittrell Scheve are the authors of the nationally recognized textbook, The Complete Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Servicing a Horse Trailer. Neva has also written two other horse-trailer books, including Equine Emergencies On The Road with Jim Hamilton, DVM. The Scheves present clinics at equine expos and promote trailer safety through articles in national magazines.

They’ve designed and developed the EquiSpirit, EquiBreeze, and ThoroSport lines of trailers.

Perfect THE

WAY TO BUY AND

SELL HORSES

GUARANTEED SATISFACTION “Great site. Very user friendly, very honest about the AQHA verification. I will always use this site.

Thank you for having such a great Web page.”

Zahl, North Dakota Equine.com is the fast and secure way to buy and sell horses, trailers and more. As one of the largest equine marketplaces, we sell an average of one horse every half hour. * The testimonial in this ad is an actual testimonial from Equine.com. The photo may not be a photo from the same ad as the testimonial.

FOLLOW US: http://equine.com/ www.Facebook.com/equine.com @equine_com

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------------YOURHEALTHYHORSE------------

6 Ways to Detect Lameness

Use these six vet-tested ways to detect lameness in your horse at home and on the road.

By Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD Photos by Heidi Melocco When it comes to lameness, a prognosis for a full and speedy recovery often corresponds with diagnosing problems as soon as possible, so the ability to spot problems early on is crucial.

Lameness can be definitively diagnosed only by your veterinarian, but the detective work of the diagnosis is best performed as a team. A prognosis for a full and speedy recovery often corresponds with diagnosing problems as soon as possible, so the ability to spot problems early on is crucial.

Here, I’ll give you six ways to detect lameness at home and on the road: (1) Look for nonspecific signs (physical and attitudinal changes); (2) look at the whole horse; (3) watch your horse move; (4) listen to your horse’s USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

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footfalls; (5) feel for under-saddle clues; (6) observe your horse’s feet.

You can use these techniques both at home and on the road.

1. Look for Nonspecific Signs Nonspecific signs don’t tell you what’s wrong with your horse, or even if it’s a lameness issue. They do tell you that it’s time to take action to figure things out. These nonspecific signs include: • Personality changes. When something bothers your horse, his behavior may change. You may see grumpiness or irritability, a more >> Spring 2019

subdued or withdrawn temperament, and even aggression.

Any horse can have a bad day, but if these personality changes persist, take steps to figure out what’s bothering him.

• Decreased play and/or movement. Showing resistance or reluctance to move as usual is your horse’s way of telling you something’s wrong.

• Isolation from the other horses. If you notice your horse hanging off alone rather than with the rest of the herd, try to figure out what’s going on. Bring him in from the group for further checking.

• More or less lying-down time. If your horse is experiencing foot pain, you’ll see him perhaps spend more time off his feet and lying down. If the painful area is under more stress when he has to get up, then you may notice him not lying down as much.

• Change in appetite. Nagging pain may make your horse less enthusiastic about eating.

• Change in work ethic. Most horses look forward to being ex-

When you groom your horse, watch his back—especially his lumbar area as shown here—for skin flickers or muscle flinches. These may indicate back pain of some type, which could translate to lameness.

Feel for tension or rigidity in your horse’s neck muscles. Neck pain can easily cause him to travel differently. ercised. Always take any change in your horse’s attitude about work seriously. They’re not machines and may vary a bit from day to day, but any obvious and persistent change is your horse’s way of telling you something is wrong.

• Changes in sweating, breathing, or pulse. If your horse sweats more than normal for the weather and level of work, suspect pain as the cause. He may also be breathing harder and have a higher pulse.

• Passing more manure or urine than normal. This can be a sign of stress and pain.

Horses with back pain or muscular hind end pain may want to defecate or urinate more frequently than normal under saddle.

2. Look at the Whole Horse When you decide something is bothering your horse, take time to look him over closely from head to

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toe. Observe him at rest in his stall and on turnout. Does he habitually point one front leg forward, or rest one hind leg more than the other? Does he stand with his elbows turned out? Does he stand with his toes or stifles rotated out behind? Does he stand with all four legs squarely perpendicular to the ground?

Starting at your horse’s head and ears, run your hands over his whole body and down each leg. When you run your hands over certain areas, note if he shrinks away, flicks his skin, pins his ears, kicks, etc. Check for any obvious swelling or heat.

Observe your horse from the front, sides, and back when someone is at his head and he’s standing squarely. Look for any differences in how well your horse is muscled from side to side. You’ll often see smaller, less-well-defined muscles if there’s pain in the associated leg.

Localized areas of muscle tension (muscles will feel hard) are also commonly found when a horse is >> Spring 2019

Your veterinarian will likely palpate the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your horses legs to check for heat and/or pain. hurting somewhere.

Check your horse’s feet. When there are longstanding painful conditions in a front leg, the hoof on the painful side will often be smaller than the opposite front. When painful conditions involve the front or back legs, you may see shoes/hoof walls wear more quickly on the comfortable side than the sore one, and wear patterns may be different.

3. Watch Your Horse Move Watch your horse move in a circle, going both directions, first free of tack, then with tack but no rider, and finally tacked up with a rider.

Lameness tends to be exaggerated when a horse is moving in a circle and is easiest to spot at the trot.

If the tack itself is bothering your horse, you may be able to see this difference in how nicely he moves with and without tack, especially if you’re careful to tightly USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

cinch the saddle.

Carrying a rider’s weight can worsen a horse’s lameness for several reasons: a saddle-fit problem may be made worse; more weight is put on the horse’s front legs; the hind end has to work harder to move weight forward; it’s difficult for the horse to make subtle changes in how he carries his weight.

First, observe your horse at the walk. Does he look relaxed? Is he swinging freely through his back, shoulders, and haunches, and is he taking smooth, generous strides? Are his head and neck moving in rhythm with the walk? Are his ears pricked? Does he bend smoothly on the circle in both directions? Does he move the same in both directions? Observe the same things at the trot in both directions.

Then tack up your horse, and note any differences with and without a rider. Horses that move in a stiff, wooden way are uncomfortable somewhere. After observing your horse move on a circle, watch him from directly in front, directly behind, and from the side at both the walk and trot. Watch him on both a soft and a hard surface. From the front, check to see if he has normal head movements and if he’s landing evenly with his feet. Is he flexing his knees as high on both sides? Is he dragging a toe or stumbling?

From behind, watch your horse’s rump to see if it rises and falls equally from left to right. Check to see if his back legs move forward in a straight line, swing in before the foot lands, or swing outward before landing. Does the hock flex smoothly or with an obvious “wobble”?

Watch from both sides. Does your horse bring his hind legs forward so the hooves land in (or even beyond) the print of his front hooves? If not, he’s short striding behind. If only one leg is doing this, that’s usually the painful one. If both legs are doing it, then he may be painful in both hind legs, or his pelvis, rump, or back.

Does your horse flex all joints evenly? Watch his fetlocks when each foot contacts the ground. Are they dropping the same amount on both sides? If not, he’s not carrying his weight evenly from side to side.

The fetlock that drops the most is taking more of the weight.

Compare the diagonal legs. A horse with a problem will often distribute more weight to the diagonal front or back leg. For example, a horse with pain in the left front may drop his ankle more in the right front and the right hind. >>

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and shifting weight to another leg.

5. Feel for Under-Saddle Clues You can pick up important lameness clues when you’re in the saddle. Do you feel a relaxed sway at the walk or does your horse’s back feel rigid? If rigid, there’s pain somewhere. When you post the trot, does your horse throw you evenly on both diagonals? If not, the side with the weak thrust may be hurting. Does he take both canter leads evenly? If he’s resisting a lead, suspect the hind leg on that side. Reluctance to turn to either direction suggests pain in a leg to the inside of that turn.

6. Observe Your Horse’s Feet

Lameness can be definitively diagnosed only by your veterinarian, but the detective work of the diagnosis is best performed as a team. Your vet will likely use flexion tests to check for joint pain in your horse.

4. Listen to Your Horse’s Footfalls Learn to “see with your ears.” When moving your horse on a hard surface, you’ll be able to hear subtle differences in how hard he’s landing. Close your eyes, and concentrate on listening to the sound of his feet striking the ground. Each footfall should be as loud as the others, and you should hear an even rhythm.

You can hear many changes long before they can be seen. A softer sound will be heard when your horse isn’t putting full weight on a leg, and the sound that follows will often be louder. If the rhythm—that is, the interval between footfalls—has a “skip” in it, with a loud ground contact following quickly after a softer sounding one, that’s your horse hopping off a sore leg more quickly USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

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Watch how your horse stands and whether he habitually points a front foot. Also watch for frequent weight-shifting up front. Look at the feet themselves.

When one foot hurts more than the other, it’ll often be smaller. It’s also often more prone to thrush because the horse will try to avoid putting full weight on that foot. Bearing full weight on a foot forces manure and bedding out of the foot, keeping it cleaner. A narrower heel and frog are other signs of decreased weight bearing.

The back of the pastern should be smooth and tight, not puffy. Filling or edema can be caused either by inflammation in the foot or problems with the deep flexor tendon or the ligaments that insert on the back of the pastern.

Look for both diffuse swelling and defined pockets of swelling or fluid as you travel up each leg. Also pay attention to any areas that feel warmer than the rest of the leg and warmer than the same area on the opposite leg.

When you pick up your horse’s legs for routine tasks, such as cleaning hooves, pay attention to whether he objects to lifting a particular leg for you. How well your horse stands for the farrier is an even better test of the same thing. When a horse doesn’t want to pick up a leg, it’s often because either the opposite one hurts to stand on, or the one you’re asking for hurts when you flex a joint. USR Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD, is a staff veterinarian for Uckele Health and Nutrition, Inc., and is the owner of Equine Nutritional Solutions, a nutritional consulting firm. Dr. Kellon completed her internship and residency in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at the renowned University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center. She’s the author of Horse Journal Guide to Equine Supplements and Nutraceuticals.

Spring 2019

------------ USRIDERMEMBERSTORY------------

Stuck & Alone

This lone traveler was stuck in the dark with her three horses. Then she remembered to call USRider.

By Lauren Sargent Photos Courtesy of Lauren Sargent

Lauren Sargent was stuck alone in the dark a thousand miles from home, with her three horses. Then she remembered she had coverage from USRider Equestrian Motor Plan, which sent help immediately. Shown is Sargent’s Missouri Fox Trotter, Salty Dog. I first heard about USRider Equestrian Motor Plan when I stopped overnight at the A and B Horse Hostelry near Redding, California, en route from my home in Oregon to the ranch in Blythe, California, where I spend my winters.

I thought USRider sounded like a wonderful program, especially for someone like me who often travels alone with three horses, so I signed up. I completely forgot about my coverage until almost a year later when I was again traveling from Oregon to Southern California with my three Missouri Fox Trotters, Boots, Salty Dog, and Sunny.

Out of Fuel I try to plan my trips so that I’m not on the road more than five or six hours per day. On the last day of my trip to California, I’d planned to get an early start and USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

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drive a little longer than I usually do to arrive at my destination before dark.

South of Bakersfield, California, I turned east on Interstate 10 toward Blythe, eager to be off the road. I was between Palm Springs and Indio when I realized my pickup was low on fuel.

I took the next exit. I’d just made it to the gas-station entrance when my truck ran out of fuel and abruptly died. My rig was partially blocking the entrance and partially on the road, where we were in danger of being hit by other vehicles.

I went to the station and filled a gas can with diesel fuel. I poured the fuel into the tank, but my truck still wouldn’t start. I didn’t know at the time that some diesel trucks can be hard to start if they run out of fuel.

Some trucks have hand pumps to pump fuel to the >> Spring 2019

carburetor; unfortunately, my truck isn’t one of them. With my truck, it’s sometimes necessary to bleed the air out of the fuel lines to get the engine running again.

Helpless Feeling As my truck was blocking the road, I called 911 and explained to the operator that I was pulling a horse trailer with three horses. She called a tow truck, but either she didn’t explain the situation fully or the tow-company dispatcher didn’t listen very well. The dispatcher sent out a tow truck that could haul my pickup, but didn’t help at all with the trailer and horses.

A couple of people stopped and tried to help, but didn’t know how to get my truck running. It was almost dark. I was worried, because I knew my horses were tired, hungry, and thirsty, but there was no place to safely unload them.

I was feeling very much alone and desperate. I didn’t have any idea how to find a mechanic to get the truck running. I didn’t even know where I was when I exited the freeway.

A California Highway Patrol officer tried to help, but he couldn’t get the truck started, either. He did put traffic cones around the truck and offered to stay with me until help was on the way.

I can’t think of a more helpless feeling than standing there in the dark, a thousand miles from home and not being able to get my three horses to safety.

A Friendly Voice The situation looked pretty dismal. Then I remembered my USRider membership! I called and immediately there was a friendly voice on the other end of the line. I spoke with a woman who understood my problem and had the resources to help me.

She offered to have my horses taken to a nearby stable and have my truck towed to a repair facility. Since I was fairly close to my destination, I opted instead to have both my rig and my horses taken to the ranch in Blythe. I had to pay part of the towing bill because of the distance involved, but I was just glad to be on my way to a place where my animals and I would all be safe.

I can’t say enough good things about the service I received from USRider. Without their help, I don’t know how I would’ve gotten my horses to safety.

I’ll never again venture out on the road pulling a horse trailer without the protection of USRider Equestrian Motor Plan. I tell every horseperson I meet about my positive experience. USR

USRider Member Lauren Sargent thought USRider Equestrian Motor Plan sounded like a wonderful program, especially for someone like her who often travels alone with three horses. From top to bottom: Lauren Sargent’s three Missouri Fox Trotters, Boots, Salty Dog, and Sunny.

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USRider® Equestrian Traveler’s Companion

------------ROADGEAR------------

Spring Travels

Top products for the equestrian traveler.

Protective Travel Gear The Woof Wear line from Toklat Originals offers gear designed to help keep your traveling horse protected from injury. Sold in sets of four, the fleece-lined Woof Wear Travel Boots help protect your horse’s legs from his coronet to just above his knees and hocks. Made from tough, 1000-denier nylon, the boots feature a reinforced-vinyl strike pad for extra protection around the heel/coronet area. The Woof Wear Tail Guard is made from soft, flexible neoprene and features an ergonomic design that allows for easy positioning and a secure fit to help keep your horse’s tail protected while trailering. Woof Wear’s Poll Guard protects your horse’s head with an ergonomic design that provides a close, comfortable fit. Thermoformed EVA padding offers a high level of impact protection to his delicate poll area.

Water on the Go The H2Go Bag from the Horse Tack Company is a handy problem solver if you need to haul water during your trip away from the barn.

Anytime there’s no hose available and you need water, this handy bag can hold up to 20 gallons, and fits neatly into any wheelbarrow. Its uniquely designed spout is designed for easy pouring.

An anti-slide mat stops the bag from slipping out. The H2Go Bag folds away for easy storage.

Healing Solutions Help heal your horse’s skin and pamper his haircoat with Equiderma’s equine grooming and skin-care products. Neem Shampoo is designed to improve skin condition without stripping natural oils. After shampooing, strengthen, soften, and soothe your horse’s skin, haircoat, mane, and tail with Equiderma’s Neem Conditioner. The company’s antifungal, antibacterial Skin Lotion helps remedy scratches, sweet itch, ringworm, mane and tail rubbing, and other skin issues. Use the Zinc Oxide Paste as sun protection, as well as to treat scratches, greasy heel, dew poisoning, and mud fever.

Grooming Gloves These HandsOn Gloves make spring grooming and bathing your horse as natural as petting. These gloves won’t slip or fall off and can be used wet or dry, so they’re effective for both grooming and bathing, at home and on the road. Scrubbing nodules on the fingers provide a deep clean, while increasing circulation and promoting natural oils for healthy skin and coat. Shedding hair comes out easily with the flick of a wrist. You’ll stay clean while grooming your horse to his best!

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Spring 2019

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Spring 2019

------------ WINNER’S CIRCLEADVANTAGE------------

USRider Member-Benefit Spotlight As a USRider Member, you can enjoy money-saving discounts through Winner’s Circle Advantage tailored to the active horse owner.

You may access these benefits directly through the Members Area of the USRider website; plus, a brochure you’ll find enclosed in membership kits and renewal mailings provides codes to

give you quick access to all Winner’s Circle Partners. With so many discounts, you can easily save the cost of your annual membership fee, and more! This issue, we spotlight Health Care items. For more information on each of these companies, and for more Member discounts, click here.

USRider Prescription Drug Savings Card The USRider Prescription Drug Savings Card is available at no cost to Members and accepted at more than 54,000 pharmacies nationwide. The card provides savings of up to 15% on brand-name drugs and 40% or more on generics. The card may also provide discounts on drugs not covered by insurance plans. When traveling, USRider Members can access On the Go to find participating pharmacies across the country. Go to www.usrider.org to find the best deals.

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

StepnSoak Hoof Soaking Boots

PHOTO BY HEIDI MELOCCO

For hoof and lower-leg treatments, StepnSoak now offers a new-and-improved generation of boots. StepnSoak Hoof Soaking Boots can be used for hoof soaking, leg cooling, and vapor treatments. The slip-on design and side tie allow for easy use, and a widened base ensures a better fit. The waterproof canvas and tarpaulin is flexible, reusable, and virtually puncture proof. USRider Members receive free shipping via Priority Mail® anywhere in the United States.

Arenus Animal Health Developed by veterinarians and nutritionists and supported by a team of animal health specialists, Arenus Animal Health products deliver what your animal needs, whether healthy or ill. This is because Arenus is centered on the core belief of supporting complete animal-care solutions with deep passion and exact science. The natural, herbal Equilite Sore No-More Liniment (shown) uses arnica and witch hazel to soothe your horse’s muscles while being gentle to his skin.

USRider Members receive a 10% discount on the Sore No-More line of products.

RevitaVet™ Made in the USA, RevitaVet Infrared Therapy is an outcomes-based product that accelerates the healing process by better than 50%. The noninvasive, safe, easy-to-use, portable, affordable technology (seven pulsating Nogier frequencies) keeps your equine athlete happy, sound, and in top performing condition. USRider Members receive a 25% discount and free shipping in the Continental United States.

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Spring 2019

There are approximately 170,000 unwanted horses in the United States. Through A Home for Every Horse and the over 600 rescues involved, horses are given a second chance.

Meet Cactus...

Cactus was one of 59 malnourished and mistreated horses rescued from hardship and brought to Colorado in 2015. Thanks to the help of rescue workers and volunteers, Cactus and his friends all were given a second chance at a happy life. Cactus is now thriving in his new home, where not only is he a great riding horse, but a wonderful new member to their family.

Horses in transition, like Cactus, deserve a second chance.

FIND OUT HOW TO

Heart the Cause Today WWW.AHOMEFOREVERYHORSE.COM

A Home For Every Horse is brought to you by the Equine Network and sponsored by: ÂŽ

------------ GETAWAYS------------

Canyons of the Ancients

This spring, discover the beauty of Colorado’s Four Corners region.

Story and Photos by Kent & Charlene Krone

The Krones’ rig at Canyon Trails Ranch campground, located about a mile from the Canyons of the Ancients boundary, 15 miles southwest of Cortez, Colorado. Each campsite has water, electricity, and a corral.

Canyons of the Ancients. The very name conjures visions of ghostly figures gazing from cliff dwellings in high, shady alcoves.

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, located in Colorado’s Four Corners region, is an enchanting place to bring your equine partner. The area not only is a visual feast but also feeds the soul. Peak season is May 1 through September 30. We explored the area aboard our Missouri Fox Trotter geldings, Cowboy and Nate.

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Canyon Trails Ranch Canyon Trails Ranch—located about a mile from the Canyons of the Ancients boundary, 15 miles southwest of Cortez—offers an equine-friendly campground situated on a gentle rise overlooking an emerald field framed in the sun-kissed cliffs of McElmo Canyon.

Sagebrush, pinyon pine, and prickly pear cactus adorn the campground. Each campsite has water, electricity, and a cor- >> Spring 2019

ral. Ranch owners Kristie and Rodney Carriker are both horsepeople. Kristie is also an amateur archeologist and Native American historian.

Kristie took us on a guided horseback tour of six ruins: two towers and four cliff dwellings. We were able to explore two of the cliff dwellings, which are between 800 to 1,200 years old. We then rode past white-andpink cliffs splashed with greenery and colorful wildflowers.

Sand Canyon Trail The next day, we rode from our camp to County Rd. G and turned right. Within a mile, we were at the trailhead to Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. Trailhead parking is severely limited, so riding along the road is a good option.

At the trailhead, Castle Rock, a noted landmark, is on the right. Continue on, riding carefully on the slab rock, and follow the Sand Canyon Trail markers. You can ride up this trail about 4 miles before it’s closed to horses due to narrow, steep switchbacks. This makes for a 10mile loop ride.

Sand Canyon Trail is extraordinarily beautiful. In places, the trail is rocky, but safe. The trail’s edges are scalloped with pinyon pines; their fragrance fills the air, and their greenery provides a rich contrast to the redand-cream-colored rock.

As we rode along, we saw huge walls of rock honeycombed with nooks, crannies, and alcoves. Over eons, Mother Nature carved, scraped, and hollowed out these mammoth, sandstone ridges, creating sheltered homesites for the ancient Puebloans.

East Rock Creek Trail On our third and final ride, we eagerly saddled up to ride the East Rock Creek Trail. The cedar trees and pinyon pines were varying shades of green; the sandstone walls changed color with the course of the sun. Under the sun’s harsh scrutiny, the walls were white and gray. As the sun aged, the cliffs warmed, blushed, and turned gold as though brushed with melted butter.

Again, we rode along the road a mile to the trailhead, but this time we took the third trail to the left. After a mile, this trail connects with a 10-mile loop trail. (The second trail is a non-equestrian trail.) We rode down and around a narrow canyon. USR Adapted from an article that originally appeared in the September 2017 issue of Horse&Rider.

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From top to bottom: Kent Krone, aboard Cowboy, and Charlene Krone, aboard Nate, stand in front of a tower of McElmo, built more than 1,000 years ago by ancestral Puebloans. Kristie Carriker shares her knowledge of the area’s ruins with Charlene Krone in an alcove above McElmo Canyon. Alcoves protected the ancestral Puebloans from enemies and harsh weather. Charlene Krone rides Nate into Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

Spring 2019