NEW MEXICO HORSES
RIDES
TRAINING
PEOPLE
PLACES
New Mexico MAY/JUNE 2018
BEST EVER GETAWAYS GLAMPING AT
THE FORT HOW TO ACHIEVE A NATURAL GAIT
HEAD HEART BODY HOW TO ALIGN THEM FOR A GREAT RIDE
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PERFECT
BED & BARNS
&
HOW HORSES THINK VACATION DIRECTORY TRAILER BUYING TIPS LA GARROCHA
FREE! / VACATION & TRAVEL ISSUE / WHERE TO STAY & RIDE / VACATION DIRECTORY
Positive solutions. Positive motivation. Positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement training creates extraordinary communication between you and your equine partner. Shawna Karrasch EVALYN BEMIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Now there’s a special place you can go to learn these concepts and skills based on proven science and practical application. Terra Nova Equestrian Training Center in Santa Fe, NM, is proud to be the new home of legendary positive-reinforcement trainer, Shawna Karrasch. A pioneer in using reward-based methods to train horses, Shawna can unlock joy and enthusiasm on both sides of the partnership, turning “problems” into fun, and horses into willing participants. Dressage and eventing trainer, and barn manager, Gilly Slayter brings her years of coaching and competitive experience to create the perfect combination of positive equestrian pursuits with outstanding boarding care at Terra Nova. For clinic, training and facility information, visit our website and sign up for our newsletter at www.terranovatrainingcenter.com!
Gilly Slayter
terranovatrainingcenter.com info@terranovatrainingcenter.com 47 Ranch Road, Santa Fe, NM, USA Mailing Address: 7 Avenida Grande, #B7-504, Santa Fe, NM 87508 EVALYN BEMIS PHOTOGRAPHY
VACATION & TRAVEL ISSUE
BED & BARNS / HORSE CAMPING / TRAILER BUYING TIPS
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FEATURES
20 Try A Horse Staycation
These four fabulous bed and barns will give you and your horse a close-to-home vacation
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27 Rest & Ride
Three corrals that will give you easy access to great trails
28 Glamping At The Fort
With its new corrals, Fort Stanton is the perfect place to try horse camping, in style!
32 4 Common Trailer-Buying Mistakes
A trailer expert tells what they are and how to avoid them
34 Head Heart Body
How to align them and ride with greater ease
38 La Garrocha
Working with this ancient tool has benefits for horse and rider
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40 Why Does Rio Run?
PLUS
44 Achieving A Natural Gait
43 Vacation Directory
Understanding the"why" of horse behavior is the first step to getting the behavior you want A new look at how to encourage your gaited horse to do what he does naturally
42 Horse Services Directory 46 Upcoming Events
Horse Around New Mexico is printed five times per year: Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec. Submissions of articles and photos from all around NM are welcome! See our website or email/call for submission standards/deadlines: www.horsearoundnm.com, HorseNewMexico@gmail. com, 505-570-7377. Horse Around New MexicoŠ2018. All rights reserved. Horse Around New Mexico and Horsearoundnm.com are copyrighted, trademarked, and the sole property of Cecilia Kayano. Individual content copyright belongs to the author. 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, advertisers, or other contributors.
I don’t know if there has been an upsurge in conversations of being an aging horsewoman, or if I have become more aware because I am an aging horsewoman. This riding season will be the first as I enter my 60s, and I am more than ever aware of my horse-shelf-life years dwindling away. And I perk up whenever I hear a horse person talk about aging and horses, or not aging and horses. Some women talk about being more careful, taking fewer risks, and even the horrible possibility of giving up riding completely. I could hear the lament in Madeline’s voice when she whispered, “I miss riding so.” Aaaaach! I don’t ever want to say that, yet I sometimes video tape my cantering sessions, as a gift to my future, possibly chair-bound, self. I imagine watching the firstperson viewpoint, hearing the rhythm of the hoof beats, feeling the moment of suspension. I will use these videos as a replacement (or a booster) to Valium. I do the math: fifteen more good riding years left, possibly twenty if I quit eating butter. My life is not planned according to grandchildren or ocean cruises – It is planned according to those fifteen riding seasons. When I moved to New Mexico from rainy western Washington state, I figured I increased my riding days by three times due to the sunny New Mexico weather. At the time, I had 20 good riding years left, each with three Washington riding months, or nine New Mexico riding months. That meant, by moving to New Mexico, I gained six riding months per year, or a total of 180 riding months. In horseback riding years, I actually got younger by moving to New Mexico! To further calm myself down whenever I hear, “I miss riding so,” I think about, well, ageless Sally Fish. I rode with her four years ago at Bonito Canyon, where she was breaking a new Morgan as she trained for endurance. She wore a stack of bracelets when she rode. She verbally reprimanded her horse and made him go forward and quit squirreling around, then took off up the canyon trail. Her bracelets jangled. If you are reading this Sally, know that you are my hero. Many other 60+ riders are also my heroes. Rick is getting his second ankle replaced so he can go horse camping and trail riding again. Horse Around’s photojournalist Evalyn Bemis has never once mentioned age or an ache or pain. One early morning horse camping at Fort Stanton she literally jumped out of her trailer, and was delighted to report she put on her breeches, turtleneck, and vest while still inside her sleeping bag. She twisted her torso, arms around herself, to give me an idea of what she had just accomplished. Amazing. But then, Evalyn does not eat butter. Then there is MaryAnne Maynard, whom I recently started riding with. She had a work conflict, and suggested we go on an “afternoon ride,” one that started at 3 PM. I hadn’t ridden with her for several weeks and forgot how she rides. I thought we would be walking through the forest, chatting, getting caught up. But, she was tacked up in five minutes, and in six minutes we were trotting, then cantering. Three hours later we had completed her afternoon ride of 15 miles. I actually love being middle age or older. Because the hormonal veil is long past, I view myself as a 12-year-old, horse-crazy girl, one who has a driver’s license and a credit card. That’s why I am driving all over the state, in search of more perfect horse camping and trail riding adventures. Daylight’s burning. Get out and ride.
Cecilia Kayano
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To thoroughly enjoy horse camping, all you need is a dependable rig and a trail savvy horse. Bringing a tube of Loreal 860 Spice lipstick also adds to the fun.
New Mexico Editor/Publisher CECILIA KAYANO Associate Editor PEGGY CONGER Facebook/Events SUSIE SPICER Manager Contributing Writers LYNN CLIFFORD & Photographers RANDALL DAVIS GINGER GAFFNEY RUDY LARA, JR. MOREY LIEBLING LISA WESTFALL Photojournalist EVALYN BEMIS Graphic Design/Layout MARIE ANTHONY Advertising & Sales FREE Events Listing
HORSENEWMEXICO@GMAIL.COM EVENTSHORSEAROUND@GMAIL.COM
Subscriptions $30/YR MAIL CHECK TO:
HANM * PO BOX 367* PECOS * NM 87552 OR PURCHASE ONLINE AT:
www.horsearoundnm.com YOUR PHOTO IN THE TRAIL RIDING ISSUE! Want your photo published in Horse Around Magazine? Submit your photo of trail riding in beautiful New Mexico (at least 2.7MB) and details of the photo to HorseNewMexico@ gmail.com by May 20. If chosen, you will receive a subscription to Horse Around Magazine for yourself or out-ofstate friend. Vertical photos (9X12 300 DPI) will be considered for the cover. Well-written, informative articles and high-resolution photos are welcome. Submissions will be considered and are subject to editing. The next issue, the Trail Riding Issue, will appear at New Mexico outlets on July 1, 2018. The deadline for submissions is May 15, 2018. The deadline for ads is June 1, 2018. For information contact Cecilia Kayano, HANM Editor, 505-570-7377, HorseNewMexico@ gmail.com, www.horsearoundnm.com
Need more trail riding details, horsey events and equine inspiration? Check out our expanded Facebook page. Make sure to like us! COVER PHOTO: Joe Weaver rests with Red on the White Mountain Wilderness Crest Trail. See information about corrals to access this area on page 27. Photo by Cecilia Kayano.
www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND
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The Horse Shelter’s
Horse Show & Adoption Event July 20 th & 21st 2018 Santa Fe Rodeo Grounds July 20: Meet Trainers & Horses–4:30-6:00 PM July 21: Main Event, Competition & Adoptions–Doors Open at 10:00AM
Free to the Public!
Food & Merchandise Vendors
Photos courtesy of Matt Timmons / mtmstudios.com
For more details call (505) 471-6179 or go to: thehorseshelter.org
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HORSE AROUND | May/June 2018 | www.horsearoundnm.com
RUDY LARA, JR. HORSE TRAINER
INSTRUCTED BY BUCK BRANNAMAN GLOBAL EQUUS, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL PRESENTER 2016 2ND PLACE GIMME SHELTER TRAINERS COMPETITION 2017 3RD PLACE GIMME SHELTER TRAINERS COMPETITION 12 ENDORSEMENTS FROM DENNIS REIS
SOON TO BE LOCATED IN TAOS, NEW MEXICO Rudy Lara, Jr. was born and raised in New Mexico and has been involved with horses his entire life. He started training horses for the public in 2009. He specializes in colt starting, Doma Vaquera, ranch roping and working with problem horses. Rudy and his family will be moving to a Taos horse training facility this summer. Staring June 1st he will be accepting horses for training. The facility offers indoor/outdoor arenas, and a horse barn and covered stalls for boarding. If you are looking to start your horse, or fine tune its movements, Rudy can help. He will put a solid foundation on your horse that will help it excel in any discipline.
COLT STARTING u FINE-TUNING u PROBLEM HORSES u CLINICS u BOARDING www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND 575-404-5410 l 575-404-6302 l rudylarahorsemanship@gmail.com
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CAMPING WITH YOUR HORSE? COME STAY WITH US AT 4 WINDS!
Park your rig at 4 Winds Equestrian Center and trail ride at nearby Red Canyon and Fourth of July Canyon. Or just kick back and enjoy riding on our 360 acres, indoor/outdoor arenas, and large horse runs. Stay a few days or a few weeks! CONTACT 4 WINDS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, NEAR ESTANCIA, NM:
505-384-1831
4WINDS@QUESTOFFICE.NETu 4 WINDSEQUESTRIANCENTER.COM
BRING YOUR LQ TRAILER OR TENT!
ELECTRIC HOOKUPSu WATER uSHOWERS uKITCHENuTRANSPORT TO MOUNTAIN TRAILS
Custom Saddles by McCall
10 HORSE AROUND | May/June 2018 | www.horsearoundnm.com
Custom Saddles by County of England
TIME TO GET OFF THE FENCE - PRICES ARE RISING! IF IT’S A HORSE PROPERTY YOU NEED TO BUY OR SELL - CALL ME!
PRO-TRAINER’S HOME, HORSE FACILITY IN EL RANCHO 15 Calle Otra Banda, Santa Fe. Professional horse trainer’s property in El Rancho! A large pipe rail arena, tack room w/AC, 5 covered stalls, hay storage, shop building and more on this 1.1 acre property with a beautiful 3/2 Karsten home. Convenient to Santa Fe, Los Alamos and the Espanola Valley. At this price, you can still afford hay! Offered at $239,000. mls #201702680
Dave Mead
Cell: 505.470.2917 Off: 505.982.4466 david.mead@sfprops.com
Experience counts when it comes to your realtor. I’ve been helping clients with their purchase and sales decisions for 18 years with a specialty in equestrian properties. Considering selling? Call me for a free, no-obligation market evaluation. Want to buy? Call for a list of available properties. Call or visit me today on Facebook at frebrand.com
ROOM FOR YOUR HORSES NEAR RIO CHAMA 1617-A CR 141, House #9, Medanales. A stone’s throw from the Rio Chama! Spacious expanded manufactured home, 2 car garage/workshop, pasture, fruit trees, chicken coop and irrigation ditch rights on this 1.7 acre property. Bring your horses, goats, alpacas or kangaroos! Convenient to Los Alamos, Espanola Valley and Abiquiu Reservoir. Offered at $175,000. mls#201800449
MD BARN PLUS INDOOR ARENA All 95B Ranch Road, Lamy needs is your house! 10 stall MD barn and 50x100 indoor arena on 12.5 acres. Big-view building sites for your custom or modular home. 20 minutes from Santa Fe. An indoor arena is better than Farmers.com for making new friends! Offered at $324,000. mls #201702353
LUXURY HOME AND DREAM BARN WITH ARENA 60 Vaquero Road, Santa Fe. Live your dream on this 10-acre pleasure ranch in a 3,000 square foot luxury home plus 4-stall barn with arena. Located in the horsey community of Los Vaqueros. Big views, blue skies and plenty of riding awaits! Only 15 minutes from Santa Fe. Offered at $725,000. mls#201801285
www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND
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RANCH VERSATILITY BUCKLE SERIES Ranch Riding, Trail, Reining, Cow Horse uJUNE
9 & 10 uJULY 14 & 15 uAUGUST 18 & 19 WORKING CATTLE CLINIC u OCTOBER 27 & 28 Loal Tucker and Josh Armstrong Trainers & Judges JOIN US! EMAIL AT
Loal@LoalTucker.com WendyW@LoalTucker.com
Alto Road, 505-466-3961 48 Cerro LOALTUCKER.COM Lamy, NM
be ready to go with a healthy horse Western Trails Veterinary Hospital is the best choice for excellent pet, horse, and cattle care in the East Mountains. Schedule your Coggins test and health certificate exam:
505-286-4604
OUR TEAM
Stacey Thornton, DVM Krystle Hutsel, DVM Crystal Clark, DVM
Western Trails Veterinary Hospital 2126 Old Route 66 Edgewood, New Mexico www.WesternTrailsVet.com
large & small animals 24/7 emergency care 12 HORSE AROUND | May/June 2018 | www.horsearoundnm.com
505-286-4604
Pet cremation keeps them close to the heart ...so the memories never fade. When your beloved horse or pet dies, it is a traumatic time. Let Albuquerque Pet Memorial Service be there for you and your pet. We are the only family owned and operated animal cremation service in New Mexico. We are animal lovers, and promise to treat your pet with the dignity and respect it deserves. THIS MEANS:
We empathize
with you at this difficult time, and will explain options for cremation according to your budget and special wishes. when we pick up your horse or pet at your home, boarding facility or veterinary office.
We are respectful We understand
your need to keep your pet’s remains close by, or scatter them at a meaningful place. We offer a wide selection of urns, and can engrave them with words of comfort. Albuquerque Pet Memorial Service is owned by Kelly and Dave Gifford. Pictured here are Kelly and Dave’s grandchildren Paige and Jaxon being cared for by equine pal Velvet, who passed away in 2017.
ALBUQUERQUE PET MEMORIAL SERVICE 132 Mountain Park Place NW Suite A, Albuquerque, New Mexico
PHONE:
505-550-4793 / PAGER: 505-790-5596 www.AlbuquerquePetMemorial.com
Dream Home, Dream Life Annette Wood
ASSOCIATE BROKER 575-808-9000 “I am a buyer and seller’s realtor.”
annettewood54@gmail.com www.joinreal.com/annette/wood
EXP REALTY, LLC 888-506-1228
www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND
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EQUINE BODY BALANCE Informed by Equine Ortho-Bionomy, Equine Positional Release: a non-force bodywork approach – addresses acute and chronic injury patterns, structural, visceral, fluids, soft tissue, circulation that may manifest in lameness, illness and behavioral patterns. MOUNTED BODY BALANCE The application of Equine Body Balance techniques for the horse coupled with Ortho-Bionomy for the human, mounted or unmounted sessions. Focus on deriving the best possible outcome for horse and rider by working with the strengths in each. ORTHO-BIONOMY Non-force bodywork for the human, based on Osteopathy, that addresses all body systems: acute and chronic injury patterns, structural, visceral, fluids, soft tissue, circulation – with focus on self-correction.
Professional certifications: Associate Instructor & Advanced Practitioner – Ortho-Bionomy & Equine Ortho-Bionomy, Practitioner – Equine Positional Release (EPR). Member ABMP; Society of Ortho-Bionomy International; Independent Liberty Trainers Network. . Located in Santa Fe. info@susansmithsantafe.com www.susansmithsantafe.com 505-501-2478
Connecting the lives of horses and people since 2002
Upcoming Fundraisers Fun Horse Show, June 2 - Edgewood Equestrian Center Walkin N Circles Ranch Jamboree, June 9 Family-friendly event at the ranch, 9 miles north of Edgewood on NM 344
DONATE. VOLUNTEER. ADOPT. SPONSOR.
Call or visit our website for details.
(505) 286-0779 | WNCR.org Supporting the ASPCA Help a Horse Day 2018
14 HORSE AROUND | May/June 2018 | www.horsearoundnm.com
Sedona and Willow
www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND
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YOUR HORSE IS READY TO GO! IS YOUR TRUCK READY TO GO? CUMMINS / POWERSTROKE / DURAMAX COMPLETE LIGHT DUTY DIESEL MAINTENANCE AND DIAGNOSTICS PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE & SAFETY CHECKS PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTIONS
505-299-O591
3700 MORRIS ST. NE ALBUQUERQUE OPEN M-F, 7:30-5:30
16 HORSE AROUND | May/June 2018 | www.horsearoundnm.com
THREE HORSE EXPERTS
TWO PONYZ RANCH far-away feel close to home
MEANS MORE CARE WHEN YOU MOST NEED IT Cameron Veterinary Clinic, in Eldorado, Santa Fe,
MOUNTAINAIR, NM
offers three veterinarians totaling over 50 years experience. All eight clinic staff are horse owners who participate in pleasure riding, rodeo, race horse breeding, and training. Quick appointment scheduling, mobile care, in-office care and hospital, 24/7 emergency care. Andy Cameron, DVM, owns 3 horses for mounted search and rescue and wilderness packing.
Stuart McCall, DVM, owns 3 horses for cow work and fox hunting.
Allison Otis, DVM, owns 2 horses for trail riding and ranch work.
Get away with your horse to star-filled nights and wide-open spaces! l 40-acre
fully-fenced property solar grid-tie casita l Ride to Abรณ Ruins & Cibola Nat. Forest l Restaurants and art galleries nearby l 1-bedroom,
l Sweeping
vistas of Manzano Mountains camping for up to 2 rigs l Pipe-rail runs with enclosed stalls l 1/2 acre corral l Dry
twoponyzranch.com l (505) 847-0245
505.466.1540
CAMERONVETERINARYCLINIC.COM
TEMPLE DANIELS Associate Broker
Cowgirl YogaFull Moon Retreat
c: 505-620-7558 o: 505-910-4663 tmdaniels9@icloud.com 1400 Main St NW, Suite J, Los Lunas, NM 87031
www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND
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calm, confident, clear
lessons and training
g inger gaffney PRIVATE AND GROUP LESSONS AVAILABLE ALL BREEDS & DISCIPLINES
18 HORSE AROUND | May/June 2018 | www.horsearoundnm.com
EQUINE RESCUE RESCUING HORSES FROM PERILOUS SITUATIONS Four Corners Equine Rescue, located in Aztec, NM, has been giving horses second chances for over 13 years. Please come visit us to see our herd of adoptable horses. Check out our website to find out how you can make life better for horses by volunteering, adopting, sponsoring, or making a taxdeductible donation.
FourCornersEquineRescue.org
505-334-7220
www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND
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Define your path
Lynn Clifford, LMHC, EAGALA 505.231.5353 lynn@lynnclifford.com pHonE, SkypE or in pErSon
20 HORSE AROUND | May/June 2018 | www.horsearoundnm.com
Photo © tonystromberg.com
Therapies for The inner equesTrian
Claim your ride
The Ride of Your Life
Balance your life
HAL BURNS
IMPROVE THE CONNECTION
BETWEEN YOU YOUR HORSE
&
KATRIN SILVA OFFERS:
Training / Lessons Clinics–Classical & Western Dressage
“
I am a horse-human relationship counselor who will help you and your horse get along better, in the arena and on the trail.
Katrin Silva, Santa Fe
Hal Burns is the premier truck, RV and trailer specialist in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. FF GET 10% O ENTION
”
M WHEN YOU AD THIS
www.KatrinSilvaDressage.com
silvakatz@icloud.com / 505-429-7968 / Santa Fe
starrynight guest ranch
2018 summer
• Diesel and gas engines service, tune ups & repairs • Horse trailer repairs & safety checks
We will meet all of your mechanical needs with factory-trained personnel. 14 Camino Charro, Santa Fe
505-471-1671 www.halburns.com
camps
register now! space is limited l RIDE A GENTLE HORSE EVERY DAY! l EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS ON HORSEBACK l MAKE NEW FRIENDS l LEARN TEAMWORK
Fe orWyouth ages 7+ ,J 3-a 4 very eek une
ugust
LOCATED NEAR LLAVES, NM
Get outside! Have fun with horses! STARRYNIGHTRANCH.COM 575-638-5661 www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND
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TRY A
STAY
Mike Anaya is the owner of the newly-opened El Tanque Viejo horse motel in Galisteo. The facility offers a two bedroom house for rent, along with covered horse stalls, a round pen, and trail riding off the property.
HORSE
CATION BY CECILIA KAYANO AND PEGGY CONGER
N
o need to travel far in New Mexico when you have a hankering to get away. There are plenty of places near Albuquerque and Santa Fe that are perfect for mini horse vacations. You’ll get a change of scenery and discover different places to ride. Plus trailering your horse a short distance is good training for all! Here are some close by horse vacation destinations that range from luxurious to adventurous: El Tanque Viejo
Get the feeling of living 100 years ago in a Spanish village, complete with the intermittent sounds of chickens and horses neighing. Spend a weekend or more at the El Tanque Viejo bed and barn in picturesque Galisteo. The windmill, church, and cowboys offer plenty of photo ops so when friends see the pics, they will think you took a trip not to a village near Santa Fe, but into a Larry McMurtry novel.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Galisteo Basin Preserve is a 30-minute ride from El Tanque Viejo, or you can trailer to the Preserve. From 4 Winds Equestrian Center it's an easy drive to the Quarai Ruins. (Photo by Peggy Conger). Also a short haul away from 4 Winds is Red Canyon which leads you up to the crest of the Manzano Mountains. The covered arena at 4 Winds hosts clinics and fun days, and a protected place train. El Tanque Viejo bed and barn just opened and is located 20 minutes south of Santa Fe. Owner Mike Anaya was born and raised in Galisteo and comes from a ranching family. He continues to ranch, and also horse packs and hunts. He decided to build the horse facility so others could enjoy the land he loves. El Tanque Viejo offers four paddocks with runs and a large turnout pen. There are RV hookups, plenty of space to park and turn big rigs around, and a beautifully furnished 2-bedroom, 2-bath home for overnight stays.
Church (built in 1884) or follow the Galisteo River bed as far as the Galisteo Basin Preserve riding area, about a 30-minute ride. You can also trailer to the basin and ride out from there. Mike says he is happy to take you on a guided ride but be sure to call and schedule. Also, if you are thinking of booking the house, call ahead, as the secret is already out.
To do: If you want to eat a homemade enchilada, then top it off with a cinnamon roll that is (almost) bigger than your head, drive 20 miles to the San Marcos CafĂŠ and Feed Store in Lone Butte. Just a few miles further, check out Trail riding: You can ride off the Clint Mortenson's Silver and Saddles, property through the winding streets 96 Bonanza Creek Rd. You can buy a of the village, up to the Iglesia Nuestra custom-made saddle and pet Clyde, the rideable buffalo. 24 HORSE AROUND | May/June 2018 | www.horsearoundnm.com
Contact: See the listing on HorseMotel. com, find photos of the house on Airbnb. com, or call Mike at 505-490-3337.
4 Winds Equestrian Center
4 Winds Equestrian Center in Estancia can accommodate overnight guests, both equine and human. Located on scenic south 14 (Hwy 337) in Albuquerque’s East Mountains, the ranch offers breathtaking views of the Manzanos and the Estancia Basin. The facility is set up for all sorts of horse activities, with trails on the property's 360 fenced acres, a round pen, large indoor arena and large outdoor arena. All are available for guest use. Accommodations can be made for all
types of camping, from dry camping with access to bathrooms and showers, to big LQs and campers. 4 Winds’ owner Colleen Novotny loves sharing the ranch’s special location with guests. “We are so close to all the history and mysteries of the Manzanos,” she says. Trail riding: From 4 Winds, you can trailer to favorite Manzano trails, including Fourth of July Canyon, the Albuquerque Trail, the Bosque Trail and the Manzano Crest Trail. A little further away, you can access the Red Canyon Trail system in the Manzanos. To do: The ranch is close to one of New Mexico’s hidden treasures. The Quarai ruins is a national monument located on Rte 55 in Agua Punta, south of Torreon. This ancient pueblo is located in a serene valley lined with cottonwoods. The ruins are fascinating and there are hiking trails through the valley. You will be exploring on foot, however, because horses are not permitted. Contact: Visit 4windsequestriancenter. com or call 505-384-1831
Two Ponyz Ranch
This trail-riding and casita-staying ranch is located off the beaten path, but only about an hour drive from Albuquerque. The closest town is Mountainair, east of 1-25 on Highway 60. From the ranch you can see the southern slopes of the Manzano Mountains, trail ride miles into the Cibola National Forest, and take a short 3-mile ride to the Abó Ruins. Owner Karen Smith opened the ranch eleven years ago, after moving from Chicago. She wanted a quiet place for herself, two horses, and her guests. She wants guests to experience the beauty and healing power of the New Mexico landscape, and she sure chose a perfect spot. “Once you start opening yourself to the earth and sky, you become aware and whole,” she explains.
to sturdy junipers, and walk five minutes into the site. Remember to stay on the paved trails, as many of the hillsides have not been excavated.
The ranch occupies 40 fenced acres on a wide expanse that leads up to the Manzano Mountains. You can ride off the property along a dirt and sometimes rocky lane that leads to the Abó Ruins. You can’t ride into the National Monument, but you can tie your horse
Two Ponyz offers a 1-bedroom, fully furnished casita for rent, along with three horse runs and a corral. Karen will also accommodate up to two rigs at a time for dry camping. The road in from the highway is about four miles. There are two short sections that are rocky and
TOP: The Abó Ruins are only a 3-mile ride from Two Ponyz Ranch. BOTTOM: Karen Smith in front of the casita at the Two Ponyz. steep, so having a 4-wheel-drive truck is advised. Trail Riding: In addition to the ride to the ruins, you can ride from the ranch into the Cibola National Forest. There are many miles of riding on dirt roads and trails. For details, stop by the Forest Service office in Mountainair, 40 Ranger Station Road, or call 505-847-2990.
www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND
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of the rooms have lofts, one is pet friendly with its own adobe outdoor containment area that can be easily viewed from one of the windows. Owners Joe and Shirley Wilson purchased the 80-acre facility when they moved from Alaska (and hauled 16 animals, including their horses!) They know what it is like to travel cross-country with your beloved animals depending on you. “We’re in the hospitality business. If you get here late, and are tired and stressed, we will have a comfortable place for you and your horses.” Shirley says. “We will spoil you.” The couple provides hot breakfasts for overnight guests, and snacks and light meals if you come hungry. For those staying in their rigs, there is electricity and water, and plenty of room to turn around and park. TOP: The Hacienda De Caballo Overnight Stables sits at the base of South Mountain in Edgewood, and offers rooms with private bathrooms in a 10,000 square-foot home (Photo courtesy Hacienda De Caballo.) BOTTOM: Dana Bigler and her mare Fancy enjoy the views from the Kiwanis Cabin on the Sandia Crest. (Photo by Lisa Westfall.) To Do: The small town of Mountainair is just 30 minutes away. It has art galleries, and some excellent eateries. Contact: Visit twoponyzranch.com or call 505-847-0245.
Hacienda De Caballo Overnight Stables and Bed and Breakfast
A former race horse breeding/training facility, this lovely B & B opened a year ago. It’s located on Frost Road in Edgewood, 25 minutes east of Albuquerque and 45 minutes south of Santa Fe. To get an idea of what it will be like for you and your horse to stay there,
ask yourself these two questions: What would race horse stalls and turnout look like? What kind of house would an owner of a racehorse stables live in? The answer is predictably deluxe: The four stalls are large, built of brick, with overhead heaters and misters, and deep shavings. Each one has an attached 2-acre turnout, fenced with thick rubber fencing, with aisles between each. The four guest rooms in the 10,000 square-foot home each have their own private bathroom. They have horsethemed names, Golden Palomino, Secretariat, Black Stallion, and Painted Pony, and are decorated to match. Two
26 HORSE AROUND | May/June 2018 | www.horsearoundnm.com
Trail Riding: The Sandia Mountains trail system offers world class trail riding, with spectacular, heart-pounding views of Albuquerque and the Rio Grande Valley. It is a 45-minute trailer ride up the Crest Road. The 10-K Trail parking lot is the launching point to trails heading north and south. Most will take you up to the Crest Trail. To do: The art towns of Madrid and Cerrillos are 30 minutes away, and offer small art/tourist shops, and a few eateries, museums and a petting zoo. Contact: Call 505-204-9677, Facebook Hacienda De Caballo Ranch or see their listing on HorseMotel.com
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Cecilia Kayano is editor of Horse Around New Mexico magazine, HorseNewMexico@ gmail.com. Peggy Conger is the Associate Editor, P_Conger@yahoo.com
REST & RIDE When you're traveling with your horse, you can't rest until he is secure. Here are three places that offer safe, comfortable corrals. Caballos de las Estrellas
This all-things-horse destination is located in a far-off place, promising the feeling of solitude but offering you many comforts of home. It’s in the southwest corner of the state, a few miles north of Rodeo, and 23 miles south of Interstate 10. The setting is spectacular: a sparsely populated wide expanse of land that rises up to the Chiricahua mountains. Right now, there are 12 horse runs with cover, 12 stalls, two turnouts, an arena, round pen, water and full hook ups. Everything is neat and tidy and there is plenty of room for big rigs. The facility is in the midst of adding even more amenities: a community and sports center, swimming pool and scheduled activities for when you need a break from the saddle. You can ride off the property on quiet dirt roads, or trailer to the Chiricahua Mountains just across the Arizona border. If you do want to ride in the Chiricahuas, drive south then west to the town of Portal (about 30 minutes) and buy a map at the Portal store. There’s a ghost town called Paradise where you can park and ride out or you can go into the Coronado National Forest and ride some of the many Chiricahua Mountain trails. Make sure you stop by the Portal Ranger Station to find out the conditions of the trails and where to park. Some of the trail access roads are narrow and difficult to navigate with big rigs. Visit caballosresort.com or call 575-545-5426.
Socorro Rodeo & Sports Complex
This massive, state-of-the-art, horse (and other) facility opened in early 2017. Some say it is the best rodeo facility in the state, maybe the country, maybe the world.
Descriptors don’t do it justice: 98 covered stalls, RV park with full hookups, meticulous covered arena, and outdoor practice arena. Overnight visitors can use the outdoor arena. The covered arena can be reserved for special events for a fee. There is free wifi on site, and the grounds are neat and tidy. You can book online at socorronm.gov. At the time of going to press, stalls must be booked one at a time so if you have several horses, you might want a cool beverage by your laptop when making your reservations. (Changes may have already been made to make the booking process easier.) The complex is right on Hwy. 60, but you have to access it via Hwy. 1, which comes from the south. Staff are very accommodating, call 505-835-8927. After hours, call 575-418-5371.
Argentina Canyon Corrals
Many horseback riders took a hiatus from riding in the magnificent White Mountain Wilderness after the 2012 Little Bear Fire. Although the fire damaged Bonito Lake and The Southfork Campground, the horse corrals and trails up the canyon are still top-notch. On this issue's cover there's a photo of the Crest Trail you can access from the corrals.
FROM TOP: A turn-out with a view at Caballos de las Estrellas. Socorro Rodeo and Sports Complex offers almost 100 covered stalls. Your horse will enjoy rubber mats at the Argentina Canyon corrals. Canyon . There is also a vault toilet, and parking/camping space. The one draw back is that the only water source nearby is Little Bonito Creek, which is often dry. You can trailer to and camp near yearround Bear Creek, about 1.5 miles prior to the trail head. To get to the trailhead, get on NM 37 (in the Ruidoso area) then turn west onto FR 107. Go 8.5 miles to the end of the road.
There are four large corrals (with rubber mats!) at the main trail head to Argentina www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND
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GLAM M AT THE
Julie Phillips rides Lance past the old stables at Fort Stanton. (Photo by Cecilia Kayano.)
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ort Stanton, with its new horse corrals, miles of trails, and historic sites is the perfect place to ease into horse camping while keeping self and horse comfortable.
Do you like your trail rides with a side of Sumatra and a sprinkling of history? Consider glamping at Fort Stanton in the foothills of the Capitan Mountains, with over 60 miles of equestrian trails, picturesque historic buildings, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool built during WWII by German seamen being held at the fort. Throw in a few antelope sightings, the presence of elk, deer, and
coyote, and you’ll see why we highly recommend this place as the beginning of or addition to your horse glamping adventures.
Upgrades for horses
To enhance recreational use, the BLM maintains a campground with RV hookups, water, a restroom and picnic areas, and several horse corrals. The
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corrals are available on a first come, first served basis and water is provided for a nominal fee of $5 per night.
Perfect place for your first horse glamp
Here is where the glamping part comes in: after a long and thrilling ride up the Overlook Trail to view the snow fields of Sierra Blanca, climb into your cozy
MPING* FORT *Glamping - to camp in glamorous fashion. To me, that means not having to set up a tent or schlep buckets of water uphill to your horse.
It means eating your own delicious food prepared on a single burner stove, and having your horse at hand so you can make sure he is just as happy and comfortable as you are. BY EVALYN BEMIS
sleeping bag in the gooseneck or on a cot in your trailer, get out your Bordeaux, and read by the light of your headlamp while your horse contently munches on his hay in the corral nearby. Hang out in your nest until morning light awakens you and your horse nickers when he hears you rustle. Get out your French press and make a great cup of steaming hot coffee using your favorite grind while the stone-ground organic oatmeal cooks on the camp stove. Clean the corral after breakfast and then saddle
up for another glorious day of riding wherever your fancy dictates. Friends and I rode for three days and barely scratched the surface of all the places to explore. We loved the open vistas and variety of terrain, and especially enjoyed the opportunity to splash through the little Rio Bonito in several places.
How to get there
Access into the Fort Stanton equestrian campground is easy off Highway 220, just
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TOP: You don’t need a big, fancy rig to have a rocking’ good time with your horse – just a place out of the weather and your pony on a highline nearby. BOTTOM: Did anyone ask the horse if he needed to be bathed after a good, sweaty ride? Here is Tony’s answer, and if you can’t tell from this photo, he is a light gray under that murky layer of dirt in which he coated himself. Evalyn Bemis
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Not far from the campground is Rio Bonito, a crystal clear river that meanders through the grounds near the Fort. It is a perfect lace to practice water crossings. Our group did not need any practice and stepped right in. This photo shows one of the joys of exploring new country. Notice that even the dog is loving it! Evalyn Bemis
camping at Fort Stanton, call campground host Monroe Gaines, 575-322-0030.
a few miles from the turnoff of Highway 380 between Capitan and Lincoln. A late spring visit is ideal in terms of temperatures but, even in summer, the days and nights are pleasant due to the elevation. For more information about horse
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Evalyn Bemis is a photojournalist and lifelong equestrian. View Evalyn's photography online by searching Evalyn Bemis Photography.
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I've been living and riding in New Mexico for over six years, and still the vistas take my breath away. In New Mexico, you can see the earth, the rocks, the shape of the land. The sights are grand, yet up-close-and-personal. I took this photo to give the viewer a sample of the long-distance views you get at Fort Stanton. The mountain is Sierra Blanca, 40 miles away. Cecilia Kayano
Horse Glamping Yoga Try These Moves to Stay Fit
• Get dressed inside your sleeping bag. This is a good workout for your core, especially pulling on your underpants without letting any of the warm air inside the bag escape. • Clean your horse’s overnight area using both arms to fling the manure into the bucket or bushes – don’t just favor your dominant side. Tip – remember to face downwind.
• Squats on the side of the trail go without saying if you drank that second cup of coffee before climbing into the saddle.
• If you ride with a western saddle, try keeping it on the highest rack in your tack compartment. Breathe regularly while lifting. Using swear words are uncool, even if you stumble over the tangle of halters on the floor of your trailer and bark your shins.
• When loading/unloading bales of hay from the back of your pickup, remember to bend your knees and keep your back straight – this is not the time to practice “clean and jerk”. If you forget to zip up your jacket prior to shifting the bales, you will end up doing some stretches to remove those annoying bits that inevitably sift into the nether regions. • Giving your horse a thorough currying after your ride will tone your
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biceps and improve your core while making for a happy horse. You can get an extra boost to your own circulation by thumping yourself all over to remove the dirt and hair that you have just transferred from your horse to yourself. • Ultimately, the best overall exercise you can gain from horse glamping are the belly laughs that you share with your riding companions at their, and your, silly antics and misadventures while horsing around New Mexico.
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4 COMMON TRAILER-BUYING MISTAKES A trailer expert tells what they are, and how to avoid them BY MOREY LIEBLING Are you shopping for a new or used horse trailer? As owner of Sandia Trailer Sales and Service, I have assisted hundreds of people buying trailers, upgrading, downgrading, and trading in, and heard their stories. Let’s look at some common mistakes buyers make and maybe I can keep them from happening to you.
Choosing too big or too small
Size is the foremost consideration when buying a horse trailer, but many people buy the wrong size. If you are like the majority of horse owners, you probably have two or more horses. Either a bumper pull or a gooseneck trailer can easily haul a couple of horses but be sure to get the right size trailer for the intended use. Bumper pull If you are planning to haul only on day trips, or don’t mind sleeping in a tent or the horse compartment while camping, a bumper pull will work well. The most popular trailer we sell is a two-horse bumper pull. But make sure you get the right size for you.
Gooseneck If you are planning to do frequent overnight journeys and camp in your trailer, then consider a gooseneck, possibly with a weekender or living quarters package. A gooseneck will give you more room than a bumper pull to get out of bad weather, and a comfortable place to sleep. Our most popular is a 3-horse, as it allows you to haul two horses and feed/gear. But before you buy one, know that they usually require a larger truck than most bumper pulls. One common mistake, especially when buying a gooseneck, is to buy something with a living quarters that is too large. Many people find hauling a long, heavy trailer intimidating, so take that into consideration. Plus, having a big rig can limit where you can go. On the other hand, if you envision yourself usually camped in a spacious, easily-accessed area with full hookups, or for long periods of time, then a large living quarters trailer may be just right.
If you are not going to use the trailer for multiple-day trips or camping, then buying one that will fit your horses will suffice. If you are planning to go for a few days and may camp out, you’ll want a trailer large enough to accommodate not only your horses, but your feed and gear. Buying a trailer with an extra stall for your hay, tables and chairs, horse blankets, buckets and feeders will keep these items out of your vehicle and tack room. Buying over the internet Nothing is more irritating than having One mistake we’ve seen all too often is a jumble of stuff you need to step over blind Internet purchases. You research to get to your saddle or having hay and a your dream trailer and view hundreds muck bucket in your back seat. 32 HORSE AROUND | May/June 2018 | www.horsearoundnm.com
of photos on the web, find “the one,” and then drive half way across the country (calling it a “mini vacation”), only to find the trailer in question is not exactly as described. I’m sure there are readers out there right now who have experienced this situation themselves or know someone who has. Unfortunately, some people will buy a questionable trailer anyway because they said they would, or to justify making the trip.
Buying used but not asking the right questions
Especially when you buy a living quarters, make sure you ask questions about the things you cannot see. How often has it been serviced? When was the fresh water system last flushed? How many hours does the generator have on it? Are both the gray and black water systems fully operational? Any leaks? Toilet seal new? Does the air conditioner work? Do all the lights work? This list goes on…
Not doing a safety check
When buying used, either check the trailer thoroughly or take it to a trailer service shop for a safety check. This is what must be inspected:
Floor: Wood floors are easier to inspect than aluminum. Pull the mats out and look for large knots that a hoof can push through, for excessive cracking, warping or shrinking of the wood planks and for broken boards. Check the floor edges. Urine can eat away (rust) the metal support structure that holds up the wood flooring. Aluminum flooring is subject to more deterioration than wood. If left unmaintained, urine will quickly deteriorate it, making it unsafe and costly to repair. Pull the mats up. If the aluminum looks white and pitted, try poking through with an awl or Phillips-head screwdriver. If you can poke through easily, then it’s unsafe for horses and will cost a lot to repair. Especially check the outside skin where it looks like the floor meets the side skin. Is there any pitting showing through? That’s where the urine was allowed to sit at the edges of the floor and eat through the side skin. We’ve seen that more than once! Axles: Go to the back of the trailer and sight down the sides. Do the tires and wheels look straight and in line with each other? If one is out at the top or bottom, there’s real axle damage potential there. Horse area: Run your hands over any areas the horse can touch. Are there any sharp or rough spots? Are they rough enough to cut a horse’s nose? Don’t ignore these places, either fix them or pass on the trailer. Do the dividers latch easily with one hand? Are the light switches easy to get to while you have one hand holding your horse's lead? If the trailer has a ramp, inspect the gap between it and the trailer edge. That can
be a real hoof grabber! Some manufacturers provide a flap that will cover the gap. Inspect the ramp and lift it. They can be very heavy. Can you easily lift it by yourself ? We often re-design the springs so the ramp can be lifted by one person. Also check the entire ramp. We’ve made many repairs due to damage caused by horse weight.
EQUINE
Roof: Run water with a hose over the roof and check inside for leaks. Inspect the ceiling front to back, and side to side for any signs of leakage. Removing old seal material and replacing with new can get costly. It requires skill and is not something you want to do yourself. Conduct a similar inspection on all the windows and doors. Aluminum exterior: Cleaning aluminum has specific requirements. If it is dull, stained or showing finger prints, and you plan on cleaning it yourself, know that you will be using a compound or cleaner wax. It’s very laborious and once you start, you’re committed. Another option is an acid wash. It doesn’t clean the aluminum but takes a very small amount of aluminum off the surface, creating a new surface. Once that’s done, you may want to invest in a finish coat. Without that, even a finger print won’t come off without acid or rubbing compound. Buying the right horse trailer will not only increase horsehauling safety, but human enjoyment. Make the best, most informed decision, and have fun on the road with your horse.
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Morey Liebling is the owner of Sandia Trailer Sales & Service. Visit SandiaTrailer.com or call 505-281-9860.
“Pharm-Aloe is my go-to supplement. I see a big improvement in overall health and attitude in the horses I ride.”
Dennis Brazeal Horses Horse Trainer 505.508.8054
Durango, CO and Aztec, NM
www.pharmaloe.com
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HEAD HEART BODY
HOW TO ALIGN THEM AND RIDE WITH GREATER EASE
BY LYNN CLIFFORD
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Being calm and balanced is how to start really connecting to your horse. (Photo of Angelina Richardson.)
You can become that centered rider, the one who breathes through the scary moments, the one who can recognize tension and defuse it before it takes over.
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What if having a better relationship with your horse didn’t always start with ground schooling and impeccable timing? What if it started deep inside you: in your brain, emotions, body? Whether we consciously acknowledge it or not, it’s impossible to separate our brains from our bodies. The brain is also the control center for our emotions, so positively engaging with our thoughts is the starting point to having a mind-body connection, or a body-centered approach to riding. If we can teach ourselves to access, recognize and harness our inner lives—our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions—we will experience the benefits in our outer lives, including as they relate to our horses and performance.
Telltale signs of a mind-body disconnect
Here are signs you might have a mindbody disconnect: • You find yourself handling or riding your horse too actively—micromanaging, controlling every move, your mouth or your mind chattering away unproductively, your hands or seat fidgeting. • You enjoy being a passive passenger, “along for the ride” a bit too much. Your horse might literally and figuratively drag you around or walk over you, you aren’t pro-active when you need to be, or when it might serve you or your horse by preventing a spook or accident. When your mind and body begin to connect, you become like Goldilocks: you’ve found that “just right” spot with your equine partner—the place where the majority of the time there is a beautiful exchange of leadership and receptivity, guidance and acceptance. It’s what I like to call the “Awakened Still Point.”
(See page 36, image 1.)
The coping mechanisms that don’t work
Often there is a disconnect because we perceive the outside of ourselves as separate from the inside; in fact, we’ve been well trained to do so for most of our lives. And, our instructors and trainers may have also instilled these teachings as we embarked on a journey with horses. Not having a real connection between mind, emotions and body can result in these beliefs and behaviors: • We’ve heard that horses can sense if we’re afraid so we try to “fake it until we make it,” attempting to be the leader for the horse to follow. • If we are feeling timid at a show, we’ll try to project confidence so perhaps our horse will be respectful and cooperate to perform well. • We’re nervous, angry or upset – but we won’t let it show. After all, you might have to get back on that horse and “show them who’s boss.” I have heard countless stories of trainers pushing a student, insisting equestrians “over ride” their fear, often with detrimental consequences. Not only are these coping mechanisms difficult to master, it is almost impossible to fool the horse into thinking we are courageous, confident or calm when we are not. This is because we internalize these messages deep into our psyche and they start to run us without our awareness. Our trainer, the judges, or even we ourselves may not be aware of our masked beliefs and emotions, but our horse is. How to connect Having this mind-body disconnect, then trying to mask it, leads to feeling like you and your horse are just going in circles. The source of sabotaging thoughts and feelings that may be surfacing in your
equestrian world can stem back to an earlier age in life, or something present day, like aging and feeling less competent. It may even have nothing directly to do with horses! This is when it may serve you and your horse to ask yourself if your head, heart and body are present and aligned. (Page 36, image 2.)
Getting aligned is as simple as tracking, rating and choosing
A good place to start aligning your mind, emotions and body is to practice the principles of tracking, rating and choosing. The more you practice these, the easier it becomes to be that centered rider who breathes through both the good moments and the awkward moments, who can recognize when tension begins to build and take the action (or non-action) needed to defuse that tension before it goes too far. This method may also be used with great benefit outside the horse world, in our everyday life. Track: It all begins with being honest with ourselves about our current state of presence or lack thereof. What and how you are feeling on some or all of the following levels: physical, mental, emotional, and energetic—at any given moment in time. Rate: Image 3 shows a simple tool for rating your psychological/physiological state. On a scale from 0 to 10 as shown, 0 represents a state of snoozing calmness— this might also indicate a dissociated state where you feel “checked out” or shut down. You may not be aware enough to keep yourself or your horse safe; it may also indicate you simply need to rest rather than try to tackle too much that day. Ten represents the kind of strungout, frazzled state of escalation, or even panic, that can lead to a wreck. When you have aligned your mind, emotions and body, you can track and rate your state of being at any given interval – every few minutes, or each time you reach a certain point on a 20-meter circle, for example.
Choose: Choosing is the ultimate deal maker (or breaker). Should I keep riding with these crazy friends or that pushy trainer? Should I stick to ground schooling today rather than ride, or go ahead and work on those canter transitions under saddle? 35 www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND
How to have your ideal ride
Here are six simple ways to start using these principles. I suggest you start before you get to the barn, but you can also start using them: Upon arrival at the barn; before you get on; when you first mount up but before moving off; during your ride or session, or after your ride. 1. Check that you can actually feel your body! Start with a body scan, from the top of your head and working your way down, spending a moment of awareness at each area of your body. Sure, you can easily feel your fingers – but what about your elbow? Shoulder blades? Ankles?
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2. Take a moment before your “horse time” officially begins to check in with yourself. Can you track and rate your state of being? What’s your number on the 1-10 scale? What would you like it to be? What needs to change to get you there? 3. Repeat: Once you’re into “horse time,” take a moment to check in again. When you really become accustomed to tracking, you’ll do it automatically – just noticing where you are – making an adjustment – being where you want to be – noticing where you are again. (It can help a lot to actually name your number out loud and, silly as it may seem, simply identifying perceived complications can often render them powerless. “There’s a crow behind the bush. It’ll fly off when we pass.” Or, on the trail – “I’m holding my breath – that drop off on the left is really scary.”)
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4. 4. Re-frame: You can also add another thought to what concerns you: “There’s a crow behind that bush. It’ll fly off when we pass. And I am focusing beyond.” Or maybe: “I’m holding my breath – that drop off on the left is really scary. I am taking a deep breath, we are perfectly capable of staying on the trail, which becomes wider in just a few yards.”
3 1. When your mind and body begin to connect, there is an exchange of leadership between your horse and you. This is the "Awakened Still Point." This is a goal that can be reached with practice. 2. If you feel like you and your horse are just going around in circles, doing the same thing over and over, you are probably having a mindbody disconnect. Aligning your head, heart and body can lead you to new, exciting experiences. 3. Use this simple tool for rating your psychological/physiological state. 0 represents a state of snoozing calmness—this might also indicate a dissociated state where you feel “checked out” or shut down. 10 represents the kind of strung-out, frazzled state of escalation, or even panic, that can lead to a wreck. Knowing where you are psychologically will help you make decisions.
5. Re-direct: In the moment, as in the crow example above – instead of, “There’s a scary crow about to take off, my horse is going to spook and I will fall – again”, try reframing your thoughts as just noticing (information) and re-direct yourself and your horse by focusing beyond, or with a downward transition or a gymnastic movement like a circle or shoulder in. 6. Review: Once your ride is done, take time to remember what you loved, and what didn’t work so well. Identify what was going on in those moments and pro-actively select a couple things you might do the same or differently next time. Practice these principles in other areas of your life: it will translate to your ride and vice-versa. Remember this is a journey, an ongoing process, so have fun along the way! Be curious about how your mind works, and how your emotions are attached to your thoughts. Be compassionate with yourself. It will spread from you outward, to your horse, your riding partners and beyond.
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Lynn Clifford’s mission is to support both equestrians and nonequestrians in having the best possible relationships with themselves and other beings, especially horses. As a third generation professional equestrian, instructor, trainer, clinician and licensed therapist, Lynn is the founder of The Inner Equestrian: Life Coaching & Counseling for Equestrians. Find out more at www. lynnclifford.com or contact her directly lynn@lynnclifford.com or 505-231-5353.
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La
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he garrocha is a wooden pole that ranges from 12 to 14 feet. Its origin dates back to the 14th century when the garrocha was used for ballet and jousting. In Spain, vaqueros started using the garrocha as a tool to move cattle from one place to another. To do so, they had to master their horsemanship: Using the garrocha in one hand required them to ride with their seat and hold the reins in the other hand.
These days, in America and parts of Europe, la garrocha is developing into an art form that showcases the true unity of rider and horse. It is a beautiful and graceful dance on horseback with intricate turns and spins, lead changes and pirouettes. It takes a lot of patience and dedication to master la garrocha, but the end result is incredible. Before you know it, you will be dancing with your horse in a very elegant way. But long before you get to performance, garrocha training can bring lots of benefits to you as a rider and to your horse. While authentic garrochas can be
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expensive, you can make your own: Go to a local hardware store and look for a wooden pole 12-14 feet long and 1 5/8� thick in diameter.
Using the garrocha in training
You can use the garrocha on the ground and in the saddle to desensitize your horse to its blind side and to movement, and to help him work better in circles and straight lines. For me, working the blind side of a horse is the most important part of training. I have started over 100 colts in my life and it didn’t take very long to figure out that when they are not prepared correctly and your leg suddenly goes from one side of the horse and magically appears on the other
Garrocha Rudy Lara demonstrates La Garrocha aboard Captain Call at last year's Gimme Shelter: Trainers' Rally for Rescues event in Santa Fe. (Photo by Evalyn Bemis.) side, unready horses will fall apart. The garrocha is an excellent tool to help any horse get used to something appearing on their blind side. You simply calmly slide part of the pole from one side to the other over the horse’s back, until the horse gets comfortable with the idea. In terms of movement, getting your horse used to walking around the garrocha on the ground, dragging it behind him or moving it from one side of him to the other builds confidence. Once your horse can tolerate the garrocha on the ground, it’s time to saddle up and work on your horsemanship skills. The
Working with this ancient equine tool has benefits for horse and rider BY RUDY LARA, JR.
most important thing you develop in la garrocha is your seat. In order to handle both the horse and the pole, you need to be able to send your horse clear signals by using your legs and the way you sit on the saddle. You will typically hold the garrocha in your right hand, while the reins are in the left. You’ll need to master how to move the garrocha up and over your head either behind or in front of your horse as you switch directions.
immediately see where your horse is leaning in or drifting away. Working on straight lines with the garrocha is very simple. Drag the garrocha and check to see how straight the line is behind you. Garrocha work is definitely worth the time you put in mastering it. You’ll learn a new skill and improve your horsemanship by making your horse more responsive to your seat and soft hands.
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Rudy Lara, Jr. is a full time horse trainer with 10 years of experience, who will be be moving to Taos in June. He will be offering a garrocha clinic in Santa Fe May 26-27. rudylarahorsemanship@gmail.com. Phone: 575-404-5410
When you first start off with the garrocha, work at a walk. I like to work on my small circles by placing one end of the garrocha on the ground and riding slow circles around it. You will www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND
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WHY DOES RIO RUN? Understanding the "why" of horse behavior is the first step to getting the behavior you want.
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Getting out on the trail with your horse is a highlight of owning one. But for many riders, it often turns into a battle that robs them of the enjoyment of the experience. They find themselves mentally and physically exhausted when they finally step down -happy just to have survived and relieved that it’s over. It’s only natural for a rider to want to fix the “issues” they face, but they have little success with how they try to go about it. It’s perplexing, because they know the information or technique they are using is sound, but it’s just not working. Oftentimes, it seems things are actually getting worse!
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to walk?” Fix the reason behind the why, and the problem will go away.
The need for control verses the need for movement
Understanding why a horse behaves as it does is always the starting point in developing the horse and human relationship. And there are just two aspects about that to be concerned with: the mental side and the physical side. The mental side will always dictate the physical side. Both humans and horses share that characteristic, but we react in completely opposite ways. Humans feel comfortable and safe being in control. When we get mentally stressed on a horse, we tend to get stiff, squeeze, or cling with our bodies, and pull on the reins. We try to contain and stop everything. Our defense mechanism is to fold up, and shut down to gain control. While that is our natural instinct, it is not leadership to the horse. Horses care little about control. They just want things to work out. Mental anxiety on their part causes them to get nervous, spooky, and hot. They are wired for flight. Instinctively, they move their feet and go.
What happens when control meets movement
BY RANDALL DAVIS
Ask why, not what
The frequent reason behind this disconnect is that what we see as the problem is not the actual problem, but only a symptom. You cannot fix a symptom. For example, suppose your horse gets hot and will not walk when you ride out on the trail. Your desire is to have him walk, so naturally, you ask yourself, “What do I need to do to get him to walk?” This leads you to trying maneuvers, exercises, new bits, etc. But the question is not the right one. The question shouldn’t be, “What do I need to do to get my horse to relax and walk,” but “Why does my horse get hot and refuse
This is a big problem for riders as we find ourselves on the back of a large, powerful, animal that seems to be working counterintuitively to us. It seems logical to us, therefore, to work harder at containment to keep or gain control. But that response is counter-intuitive to the horse. From his perspective, he is stuck underneath all our clinging and pulling. We’re needing to stop while he’s needing to go. Neither party is helping the other. It becomes an every-man-for-himself situation. Not a lot of fun for human or horse.
It begins with leadership
But somebody has to be in charge. It should be the human, but if we lack leadership, the horse will fill in. This is not because the horse is always contesting our authority, trying to usurp us. He has to fill in because of his natural herd instinct. In a herd, there is structure. There are boundaries to his behavior, security so he can relax and gain confidence, leadership to look to when he
gets troubled, and discipline to glue it all together. It allows the horse a way to “be” in his surroundings and under authority.
What happens when there is inconsistent leadership
In working with people and their horses, one of the biggest problems I encounter is that the human is inconsistent with their leadership. We often have one set of boundaries/rules for our horse on the ground and something much different once we get on their back. Our leadership doesn’t carry through from the ground to the saddle. The horse cannot understand both. If we don’t have things right on the ground, we are setting things up so that the horse has to figure his own way through an interaction with us when he gets troubled. We’ve set ourselves and our horse up for failure. We’ve taught our horse to not be with us mentally. To be successfully in charge, the human has to consistently demonstrate more leadership than his/her horse naturally has. As that begins to happen, the horse will naturally begin to look to the human for help and security just as he would look to the leadership in a herd. We are then taking better care of his natural needs, thereby taking care of his mental side. This is our responsibility to the horse, but also heads the relationship in a direction that will benefit us as we will be in charge, which takes care of our mental side. We grow in being confident in our abilities and in our horse.
Practicing theory on the trail
So what can you do when issues arise on the trail? If the leadership hasn’t been where it needed to be in the first place, well, survive it as best and safely as you can. You’re not going to affect a lot of change in the middle of a bad situation. But there are some things that you can begin to work on: 1. First, remain as calm as you can and control your emotions. Don’t panic and don’t get angry. Concentrate on offering your horse leadership.
2. Second, blend in with him. If he needs to move, go with him some. I’m not saying let him have his way and allow him to be unsafe and run off, but realize he needs to move and vent that energy (life) that is coming out of him due to his anxiety. You cannot stop that life. 41 www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND
3. Third, operate with that life that is coming out of the horse. Direct that movement in a safer way. By blending in and allowing the horse his instinctive right to movement, which helps alleviate his mental stress, you can begin to operate his feet in a way that gives you more control, thus relieving your stress. He needs to move his feet, you’ll tell him where to put them. Hopefully, this will get you home safely. There are a couple of more things that you can do once you’re home and before your next big ride. • Look at the whole picture, the interaction, of you and your horse from the ground to the saddle to the trail. Are you consistent in what you allow with your horse? Is your horse responding attentively? Respectfully? Or are you just the nice feed person/ stall cleaner? • Check the respect parameters of your relationship. Without respect from the horse, you’re not going anywhere. Begin to make changes as needed. • Seek professional advice. While there are many techniques to go about establishing leadership and control, one really needs to understand and
have the skill to apply them. If you’ve been doing some proven technique over and over and making no headway, you may not be applying it correctly or the horse is not responding the way he should. Having someone more knowledgeable than you can help you find a feel that will work. Having a good relationship does not mean you will not have any problems when out on the trail. It does mean that as a rider, you will have a better, more secure and confident authority to actually offer help and direction to the horse, instead of just trying to contain and survive the situation. The horse will then have some place to look to, put his trust and confidence, and gain help and security, instead of just needing to save himself. The two sides are then in partnership working towards that unity. It may take some time to establish a good relationship, but it is always worth it. It isn’t the answer to every problem, but without it, there really is no answer to any problem.
HORSE SERVICES DIRECTORY
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Evalyn Bemis allows Booker T to move when he is excited. After he has moved a bit, she encourages him to further relax. Randall Davis trains out of Crownpoint, NM. Contact him at (505) 330-5468, Randall@LongviewRanchHorse.com or visit longviewranchhorse.com
Listed here are horse-related services provided by the May/June 2018 issue advertisers. They are experts in their fields. Many of the business owners are also horse owners and enthusiasts. They are the reason Horse Around New Mexico magazine exists and why the magazine is growing. If you enjoy this free publication, please show your support by supporting our advertisers. BARNS/CORRALS Ironhorse Pipe & Steel, page 18 Morton Buildings, page 15 BOARDING Dancing Bear Ranch, page 20 COMPETITIVE RIDES North American Trail Ride Conference, page 20 EVENTS Eventing X Games Series, page 7 NM Center for Therapeutic Riding, Horses to Heal Benefit, page 47 The Horse Shelter’s Horse Show & Adoption Event, page 8 Walkin N Circles Ranch Horse Show and Jamboree, page 14 CLINICS Buckaroo Balance, Cowgirl Yoga Weekend Retreat, page 17
Loal Tucker Horsemanship, Inc., Buckle Series, Working Cattle Clinic, page 12
SADDLES Mortenson Silver & Saddles, page 19
FEED Standlee Premium Western Forage, page 2
SHOEING AND TRIMMING Thilo Hoffmann, page 18
GATES AND IRON WORK The Iron Anvil, page 19 NATURAL PRODUCTS Pharm-Aloe, Dennis Brazeal, page 33 Pharm-Aloe, locations, page 37 REAL ESTATE Annette Wood, page 13 Dave Mead, page 11 Marie-Claire Turner, page 19 Temple Daniels, page 17 RESCUE/ADOPTION Four Corners Equine Rescue, page 19
SPECIALTY SERVICES Albuquerque Pet Memorial Service, page 13 TACK AND FEED STORES Horsemen’s, page 20 Miller’s Feed, page 18 Paul’s Veterinary Supply, page 15 Taos Tack and Pet Supply, page 10 Village Mercantile, page 3 TRAINING Ginger Gaffney, page 18 Katrin Silva, page 21 Loal Tucker Horsemanship, Inc., page 13 Lynn Clifford, The Ride of Your Life, page 20
Susan Smith, page 14 Rudy Lara, Jr., page 9 Terra Nova Training Center, page 4 VACATIONS 4 Winds Equestrian Center, page 10 Starrynight Kids’ Camps, page 21 Two Ponyz Ranch, page 17 U-Trail Pack Trip, page 11 VEHICLE/TRAILERS American Diesel Service, page 16 Hal Burns Truck & Equipment, page 21 Sandia Trailer Sales and Service, page 40 VETERINARIAN Cameron Veterinary Clinic, page 17 Jeannette M. Kelly, page 16 Western Trails, page 12
HORSE VACATION/TRAVEL DIRECTORY Guest Ranches/Outfitting/
Riding Vacations Bluewater Lake Lodge, Prewitt: trails, full hookups, small cabins, 505-290-2699, bluewaterlake-lodge.com Burnt Well Guest Ranch, Roswell: working cattle ranch, large ranch house, cattle round ups, 575-347-2668, burntwellguestranch.com Chaco Lodge Hacienda, Cuba: bed and breakfast, lodge and suite, horse corrals and trails, 505-252-7488, chacolodgehacienda.com Copper Penny Ranch, Alamagordo: RV hookups, arena, round pen, ride out, 575-439-0276, copperpennyranch.com Concho Hills Guest Ranch, Magdalena: trail riding, ranch activities, cowboy shooting, historical tours, award-winning accommodations, 575-772-5757, conchohillsranch.com Cow Creek Ranch, Pecos: fly fishing,horseback riding in the Sangre de Cristos, 505-757-2107, cowcreekranch.com Creek Ranch, Santa Rosa: all-inclusive horseback vacations on 82,000 acres, genuine working cattle and guest ranch, creek-ranch.com Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch, Winston: all-inclusive guest ranch in the Gila Nat. Forest, ride spectacular canyons, 575-772-5157, geronimoranch.com Gila Hot Springs Ranch, Gila Hot Springs, outfitting, rental horses, 3 apartments, hot springs, corrals, hookups,(575) 536-9314, gilahotspringsranch.com
Double Y Ranch, Santa Fe: hot Quinlan Ranch, Chama: RV hookups, guided rides, lodge and meals, 575-209- walker, RV hookup, 602-320-7136, amazcowboy@cox.net 1618, www,quinlanranch.com
D S Horse Motel, Grants: next to an RV park with full hookups, 505-240-2544, Socorro Rodeo & Sports Complex, Socorro, darinsimpson2003@yahoo.com full hookups, 98 covered stalls, arenas, big rigsn OK, socorronm.gov, 575-835-8927 El Tanque Viejo, Galisteo, paddocks with sheds, trails, round pen, water, Tuli Horse Hotel, Tularosa: 3 RV hookups, electric, guest house, 505-490-3337 Taos Horse Getaways, Tres Piedras: 25 stalls, round pen, arena, BYOH; houses, cabins, RV space; 16 acres to ride, 575-921-1105 575-758-3628, taoshorsegetaways.com Hacienda De Caballo Ranch, Edgewood, bed & breakfast, full Western Drive Stables, Tucumcari: 575Twin Willows Guest Ranch, Ocate, near hookups, large pens w/2-acre turnouts, 461-0274, 575-403-8824, 15 amp power/water, large rigs OK, Angel Fire: log house for 8 for rent, hallerstable@plateautel.net 505-204-9677 BYOH, 575-666-2028 Trail Riding Operations J Bar C Horse Motel, Roswell: arena, Two Ponyz Ranch, Mountainair: Acacia Riding Adventures, San Acacia: 2 RV hookups, 575-347-2742, guest house, BYOH, 505-847-0245, 575-517-0477, acaciaridingadventures.com 575-626-5296, 575-626-5294, twoponyzranch.com jbarchorsemotel.com Bishop’s Lodge Stables, Santa Fe: U-Trail’s Horseback Adventures, bishopslodge.com J.P.'s Horse Motel, Mentmore (Gallup): Glenwood: guided pack trips to cliff arena, 505-979-1192 dwellings, day rides, lodge, gourmet Broken Saddle Riding Company, Cerrillos: meals, 575-519-8569, utrail.com gaited horses, 505-424-772, Kiss the Moon Equestrian Center, brokensaddle.com Moriarty: easy I-40 access, indoor Vermejo Park Ranch, Raton: Ted Turner-owned luxury resort offers guided arena, easy access for bigger rigs/ Cedar Crest Stables & Country Cottage, horseback rides, vermejoparkranch.com haulers, 505-975-3567 Cedar Crest: mountain riding, cottage for rent, 505-281-5197, cedarcreststables.com Kiva RV Park and Horse Motel, Wolfhorse Outfitters, Gila/Aldo Leopold Wilderness: Native American Bernardo: 14 stalls, large pens, Cieneguilla Stables, near Taos: trail rides round pen, trails, 505-861-0693, guide service, 575-534-1379, and “saddle and paddle” combo trips, kivarvparkandhorsemotel.com wolfhorseoutfitters.com 575-751-2815 Starrynight Ranch, Llaves: all-inclusive, children’s camps, guided rides, guest cottage and rooms, BYOH or ours, 575-554-0577, 575-638-5661, starrynightranch.com
Overnight Stabling/ B&B 4 Winds Equestrian Center, Estancia: RV/trailer sites with electrical hookups, small travel trailer, arenas, nearby riding in the Manzanos & Sandias, 505-384-1831 Arrowhead Ranch, Santa Fe: multiple arenas and trail access, 505-424-8888, arrowheadsantafe@aol.com
Gillespie Ranch, Mayhill: large pens, gift shop, cozy cottage, RV hookups, 575687-3732, gillespieranchulazy2.com
Broken M Ranch, Albuquerque: large arena w/lights, barrels, round pen, wash rack, dry camping, 505-877-9433, broken-m-ranch.com
Justyn Brynn Enchantment Equitreks, Edgewood: all-inclusive horseback riding adventures offering day rides, weekend, 5-day, 7-day and 8-day packages, 575430-7514; enchantmentequitreks.com
Caballos de los Estrellas, Rodeo, 12 runs with cover, 12 stalls, two turn outs, arena, round pen, riding out on dirt roads, caballosdelasestrellas.com, 575-545-5426
Los Pinos Guest Ranch, Cowles: lodge and gourmet meals, 505-757-6213, lospinosranch.com
Caballo Lake State Park, Caballo: four large pipe corrals with cover, tack room, water, trails, 575-743-3942
N Bar Ranch, Reserve: surrounded by Gila National Forest, BYOH or ours, rent entire ranch, cabins, corrals, trails, 575-533-6253, nbarranch@hughes.net
Carter’s Stables, Farmington: guest house, one full hookup, 505-330-3066, cartersstablesfarmington.com
NAN Ranch, Faywood; rent rooms/ cabins in the HQ of national registered historic 1870s ranch in the Mimbres River Valley, corrals, BYOH, campers welcome, 575-288-5368, elranchonan.com Nancy Burch’s Roadrunner Tours, Angel Fire: overnight camping/packing excursions, trail riding, 575-377-6416, nancyburch.com
Slash M Slash Ranch, Grants: horse motel, indoor riding arena, roping arena, bunkhouse, 505-290-7836, 505-290-2645; jodiepalmermirabal@hotmail.com
Cassetta Critter Care, Tucumcari: horse motel, roping arena, trailer hook up, 575-403-6227, 603-798-5033, cassettacrittercare.com Crossroads Ranch, Anthony: 60-acre race horse training facility with track, round pen, stalls, turnout, RV parks nearby, dry camping OK, 575-882-5533 Diamond Arrow Ranch, Deming: 5 RV hookups, ride out on BLM land, big rig friendly, 575-546-1115, 480-332-8265, gregsandy03@hotmail.com
Las Cruces Horse Motel, Las Cruces: Corralitos Trail Rides, near Las Cruces: 5 minute trail ride to Rio Grande, RV working ranch riding, 575-640-8184, hookups, roping arena with cattle, 575- corraltostrailrides.com 644-3518, www.lascruceshorsemotel.com Enchanted Gaits, Tijeras: smooth, LazyKo Ranch. Deming: horse motel, gaited horses, 505-281-2226 hookups with open range for riding, 575-202-2876, www.chickentracks.biz Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu: 505-685-1000 Linda Vista Stables, Galisteo, easy access to Galisteo Preserve, Santa Fe and Madrid, nearby B&Bs. Covered pens, secure facility. 505-466-8930
Grindstone Stables, Ruidoso: guided trail rides, sleigh and carriage rides, 575-257-2241, grindstonestables.com
Inn of the Mountain Gods Riding Stable, Loal Tucker Horsemanship, Inc. Stables, Mescalero: 575-464-7424 Santa Fe/Eldorado, huge indoor arena, outdoor arena, ride out, 505-466-3961, New Mexico Horse Adventures, loal@loaltucker.com Albuquerque: BYOH or rent, 505-3010917, newmexicohorseadventures.com MacArthur Quarter Horses Boarding Stables, Taos: 1 covered and 2 outdoor Red River Stables, Red River: ride, fish, arenas, close to Taos, 575-758-8366 or view wildlife, 575-747-1700, redriverstables. 575-613-5347, jmac@laplaza.org com Open Heart G Farms, Anthony: located Rio Grande Stables, Taos & Questa: on 25-acre pecan orchard, indoor box hourly plus multi-day rides, 888-259-8267, stalls, hookups, bunkhouse, 915-920575-776-5913, lajitasstables.com 5169, openheartgfarms@gmail.com Runnels Bonita Stables, Nogal: Ride near Rancho de la Angostura, Algodones: Bonito Lake, no reservations needed, easy trail access, power available, 575-354-2778 arena and round pen, 505-280-4849, katylindberg.com Santa Fe Western Adventures, Santa Fe: ride on private ranch and Lone Butte Rancho Siesta, Edgewood:dry camping, Mountain, 505-473-9384, santafewest.com spacious corrals, 505-450-3165 Stables at Tamaya Resort, Bernalillo: Rocking Horse Ranch, Moriarty: huge 505-771-6060 indoor arena, 505-832-6619, 505-301-3772; rockinghorseranch.net Vision Quest, Las Vegas: private, catered rides, family activities, 505-469-8130, Roy-El Horse Hotel , Espanola: visionquesthorsebackride.com 505-603-6016, www.roy-elmorgans.com
ACHIEVING A NATURAL GAIT A NEW LOOK AT HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOUR GAITED HORSE TO DO WHAT HE DOES NATURALLY... BY GINGER GAFFNEY Many gaited horse owners believe that, to help a horse move into gait, you need to hold the horse's head high. But a relaxed horse with a slightly lower head carriage is more apt to push himself into gait with the use of his hind legs. Here Baby is being ridden by Hannah Nedrud who is helping him hold a longitudinal balance. This is a balance where the head is raised to the level of the horse’s withers. Relaxed breathing is also a key to gaiting. Baby is swinging his hind legs under his torso, breathing out long slow blows, and no longer tripping over his forehand, which he used to do when not relaxed. classical training can improve any sometimes tripping on his or her front common question horse’s natural gait. He believes that is end and often losing their leads in the I get about gaited true for gaited horses as well. The first back. A balance that comes from the horses is “Is the gait step in the French classical style is to hind end and lifts the horse’s back and natural?” I can tell you emphasize relaxation. A calm horse is forehand into balance is elusive when a from 15 years of experience a horse who can think, be curious and horse travels in flight position with their working on a gaited horse ranch where trust his trainer. Relaxation is both a head too high, their back hollow, and the we bred 5-10 mares every year that our mental and physical state. Once relaxed, hind legs trailing behind. foals’ first running steps were almost a horse can move into balance, accessing always in gait. They could canter and all the muscle groups that propel a horse Get balance by working first trot just as well, but often they would forward, yet not onto the forehand. on being calm be seen floating across the pasture on Not being calm and balanced, and the first day of their life, flying along in Signs he’s out of balance therefore not gaiting well, is a common a four-beat gait. The gait of a Peruvian When horses are pulling themselves gaited horse problem. Calm means a horse, a Fox Trotter, Paso Finos, from the shoulders, their heads are horse is breathing. Many people believe Icelandics and other breeds is absolutely bobbing up and down and don’t hold a that a gaited horse must hold their head natural, given to them at birth. consistent carriage. The hindquarters high above their wither, where they can cannot engage under the torso when perform the gait. Horses, young horses Improving the natural gait starts a horse holds an artificially high head especially, hold their breath when held in with relaxation set. Most every horse owner knows this artificial carriage either by the rider’s Dominque Barbier, a French classical what it feels like when their horse is out hands or by the bit. trainer, has always said that good of balance. The horse shoots forward, 44 HORSE AROUND | May/June 2018 | www.horsearoundnm.com
A
In the French classical tradition, horses are initially encouraged to hold their heads either in a longitudinal balance or even lower, in a long and low frame. In this balance a horse can breathe into relaxation, open their backs, and allow their hind legs to do the work of balancing their bodies. The goal is to allow the horse to learn to balance itself.
Examples of retraining gaited horses
Recently I retrained two Missouri Fox Trotters, both older horses whose gaits were natural but interfered with by their lack of relaxation and balance. Each of these horses were pulling forward from their shoulders, their heads raised too high from anxiety and nervousness.
At first, Moon could not walk
Moon is 19 years old. When I first sat on her, she could not walk. We raced around the arena snorting and tripping. She barely knew I was on top of her. For the first three months, my only goal was to get her to walk, to breathe, and to notice me. Eventually she did. I noticed the difference between her swinging walk and her marching walk. A marching walk sounds like a rushed staccato of a marching band. A swinging walk is smooth, swinging the rider’s back side to side in a slow rhythmic dance. Gaited horses have more than one walk. Recognizing the relaxed rhythm of a swinging walk is the first step to helping your horse develop balance. Moon has found that balance, and she is finally breathing – blowing long breaths of air out her dripping nostrils almost every ten strides. This low position goes against almost every training guide for the gaited horse. But if we believe the gait is natural, which we know it is, then why not train a gaited horse just like any other horse, using the classical methods handed down to all of us through the French classical tradition?
Baby was labeled as “dangerous”
Baby is also a Missouri Fox Trotter. He is 10 years old. He too was highly nervous, never blowing out and tripping over his front legs on a regular basis. He could not work inside an arena unless there was another horse with him. He held his head high above his withers as he dropped his
hind legs out behind him in a jarring re-figuring that left him unsettled and worried. Baby had been to plenty of clinics and plenty of trainers. No one could get Baby to relax. He was like many horses I receive calls about. He fell between the cracks of “difficult” and “dangerous.” He could not relax. He could not breathe. He could not drop his head. His muscles were set in one solid structure and therefore his mind was cemented there as well. We have all known misunderstood horses. Baby fell into that category. Sometimes it just takes consistency, time and knowledge to get there. That is exactly what Baby needed. His rider spent months riding him at a walk and slow gait in the long and lower position. Baby now can raise himself up from the strength in his hind legs. He is no longer in flight mode. Sweet, sensitive, smart Baby learned to ride in the arena alone, as well as go out on TOP: Moon is in a stretched, long and low position. The arch of the trail alone.
her body from nose to tail is rounded. Her hind legs are coming under and learning to reach. The reach from the hind leg is And finally, the classical contracting the abdominal muscle, this shortens the length of uphill balance Moon’s bottom line. The contraction of the abdominal muscles When I retrained Moon and lifts and stretches the top line of her back, from the lumbar sacral Baby, it started with letting junction all the way through the poll. BOTTOM: After a period them breathe, relax and balance. of time gaiting in a long and low posture, Moon can now raise This was the foundation for her forehand, neck and head carriage in relaxation with her hindquarters still pushing from behind. them learning to travel off
the forehand with engaged hindquarters, and gaiting with ease. This doesn’t start because we as riders desire it to be so. We must give our horse a good start, to encourage relaxation and deep breathing. We must take the time to strengthen the horse’s hind end. We must have enough patience to see our horse as an individual and not simply a tool for our own goals. And we must ask for help when we need it. Look at the photo of Moon traveling in an uphill balance, photo right bottom. Her hind legs are pushing underneath her body and traveling her forward into gait. But what you can’t hear is how she
is blowing out regularly. You can’t hear the steadiness in her mind and her desire to listen and trust me. This photo was taken at the seventh month of our riding together. I waited and waited for her to trust me, to get stronger, to enjoy doing the work we do together. Moon can now travel in her own natural balance, built from months of consistent, relaxed work. The natural gait may not come easy, but when it does, it's magic.
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Ginger Gaffney is a horse trainer who lives and trains horses in Velarde, NM. For over 20 years Ginger has taught students and horses her unique blend of lassical and natural horsemanship. Visit gingergaffney.com
www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND
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UPCOMING EVENTS May 4-6 Tucumcari Rawhide Days 3-Day Family Friendly FUN Tucumcarirawhidedays.com Tucumcari May 5-6 Beyond Horse Massage Workshop The Masterson Method® seminars@mastersonmethod.com Starrynight Ranch Llaves May 5-7 Centered Riding Clinic Instructor Lucile Bump with Lynn Clifford Christina@BuckarooBalance.com Cherry Tree Farm Albuquerque May 12 Tack Swap hosted by NNMHA & Santa Fe Pony Club Northern New Mexico Horsemen's Association Grounds www.NNMHA.net Santa Fe May 12-13 44th Annual Navajo Lake Competitive Trail Ride San Juan Valley Trail Riders kbingham630@msn.com Aztec....See ad page 20 May 19 Horses to Heal FUN Benefit NM Center for Therapeutic Riding www.NMCTR.org Santa Fe...See ad page 47
May 19-20 Natural Horsemanship with Tim Hayes ~ Fundraiser for NM Center for Therapeutic Riding; Shelley 505-577-1895 Santa Fe...See ad page 47
May 26-28 Horsemanship Clinic with Lee Smith @ 4 Winds Equestrian Ctr. Leiah Atchison: 505-507-0424 Estancia....See ad page 10
June 23-24 NATRC Region 3 Ride Rush to the Brett Gray Ranch natrc3.org Rush, CO....See ad page 20
June 2 Summer Fun Open Horse Show Walkin N Circles Ranch www.wncr.org 505-269-6164 Edgewood....See ad page 14
June 30 - July 1 Fundamentals Clinic with Carson James
June 9 Jamboree Community Event Walkin N Circles Ranch www.wncr.org 505-269-6164 Edgewood....See ad page 14
July 8-12/July 15-19/July 22-26 Horse Pack Trips of a Lifetime!!! with U-Trail Outfitters www.utrail.com Pecos Wilderness.See ad page 11
Santa Fe....See ad page 9
June 9 Bosal Clinic with Christina Savitsky Nizhoni Ranch & Stables www.buckaroobalance.com Cerrillos....See ad page 17
July 20-21 5th Annual Gimme Shelter: Trainers’ Rally for Rescues The Horse Shelter.org Santa Fe...See ad page 8
May 26-27 Caja del Rio AERC Endurance Ride & Run for NM Center for Therapeutic Riding www.ridecaja2018.weebly.com Santa Fe
June 9-10 & July 14-15 Ranch Versatility Buckle Series Loal Tucker & Josh Armstrong Trainers/Judges wendyw@loaltucker.com Lamy....See ad page 12
May 26-27 NATRC Region 3 Ride Gen. Albert P. Clark Memorial Air Force Academy natrc3.org Colorado SpringsSee ad page 20
June 9-10 & July 28-29 The Art of Trail Riding with Ta Willow Romero www.4windsequestriancenter.com Estancia....See ad page 10
May 19...June 23...July 28 Riding Club Trail Rides Loal Tucker Horsemanship, Inc. wendyw@loaltucker.com www.loaltucker.com Lamy....See ad page 12 May 20 Auction & Luncheon FUNdraiser The Horse Shelter.org Santa Fe...See ad page 8 May 26-27 Garrocha Clinic / Rudy Lara, Jr. rudylarahorsemanship@gmail.com
May 26-27 Working with the Equine Limbs Susan Smith Workshop www.susansmithsantafe.com Santa Fe....See ad page 14
June 16-17 & July 28-29 Eventing X Games Series www.goosedownsfarm.com Goose Downs Farm Galisteo....See ad page 7
www.carsonjameshorsemanship.com
Socorro
July 21-22 NATRC Region 3 Ride Chicken Creek natrc3.org Mancos, CO....See ad page 20 July 27-29 Positive Reinforcement-Basics with Shawna Karrasch Terra Nova Training Center info@terranovatrainingcenter.com Santa Fe/Lamy....See ad page 4 July 27-30 Buckaroo Balance Full Moon Cowgirl Yoga Retreat with Christina Savitsky Black Willow Ranch www.buckaroobalance.com Las Vegas, NM....See ad page 17
YOUR PHOTO
IN HORSE AROUND NEW MEXICO Submit your photo of trail riding in beautiful New Mexico (at least 2.7MB) and details of the photo to HorseNewMexico@gmail.com by May 20. If chosen, you will receive a subscription to Horse Around Magazine for yourself or out-of-state friend. Vertical photos (9X12 300 DPI) will be considered for the cover. QUESTIONS? CALL 505-570-7377
46 HORSE AROUND | May/June 2018 | www.horsearoundnm.com
MAY
19
6 P.M.
HORSES TO HEAL BENEFIT Join us for an evening of discussion, dinner and live entertainment to benefit the Children, Youth, and Adults at New Mexico Center for Therapeutic Riding.
$75
HIPICO Santa Fe, 100 S. Polo Dr.
per person
Visit NMCTR.ORG To Buy Tickets
Meet Tim Hayes, author of “Riding Home: The Power of Horses to Heal.” Dinner Catered by Cowgirl Live Music by Syd Masters and the Swing Riders www.horsearoundnm.com | May/June 2018 | HORSE AROUND Door prizes, raffles, and much more!
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