HORSE NEWS Summer/Fall 2015

Rocky Springs Ranch, LLC

HORSE NEWS

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Summer/Fall 2014 - Vol. 2, No. 3

Before You Buy…Do Your Homework

By Kimberley Meyers Ever hear the saying, “Be careful what you wish for”?

When I was a little girl, my wish was to own a horse and ride it every day. I begged for a horse for my birthday. I prayed for one at Christmas, but my wish never came true. At the age of 6, it was just a disappointment that was soon replaced with other wishes and growing up. I got married, had children of my own and pursued a teaching career. My husband and I bought some property and built a house, and the desire for a horse was as strong as when I was 6.

It has taken me 10 years of owning horses and caring for their daily needs – feeding, watering, grooming, watching them get their feet trimmed and their teeth floated, deworming them, identifying good hay, preparing the pasture, designing their stalls, and keeping their fields in good shape – to finally be ready for having them at my home. Obviously, I had done my homework, right? WRONG! All I started with were a dream and ideas

before jumping in, with both feet, to owning horses. I had no idea what I did not know.

It is so important to understand what it means to be a horse owner before you have invested thousands of dollars.

The best place to start is by taking lessons from a reputable instructor.

Knowing whether you really like horses, what it means to actually ride a 1,000-1,500 pound animal, and care for it are things an instructor can help with.

A horse is a living, breathing farm animal, not a house pet. They need daily care and attention. If you do not know the ins and outs of being a good rider and of being the leader in the relationship, then you have no business buying a horse. If it is your children who want a horse, not only should they take lessons, but so should you. Do your homework. Know what it takes to own a horse.

My journey into the world of horses has been one I would not trade for

anything. I found my good instructor and have been her steady sidekick since the beginning. I own two horses that she actually bought first and then sold to me. For 10 years, I have boarded them at my instructor’s ranch.

This ranch is the best for learning to be a hands-on horse owner.

By working alongside my instructor, I have learned the necessary requirements for caring for a horse. I have learned to be a decent rider without getting hurt, and I am knowledgeable enough to care for them on my own. The difference between now and 10 years ago is that now I know what I didn’t know.

My advice to prospective horse owners is to take lessons and soak up all the knowledge you can. Plan to board at first so that you can be sure how a horse impacts your time and pocketbook. Mirror the instructor as far as chores, feeding, and cleaning up the barn. Find out what you don’t know before you buy.

Horse Ownership 101 Cover Story: Before You Buy…Do Your Homework Page 8: Horse Ownership…A Guide for the First-time Buyer Page 10: Getting Started with a New Horse

Kimberley Meyers owns Ridge View Stables in Frederick County, Virginia, and is an elementary school teacher.

2/HORSE NEWS Contents

Rocky Springs HORSE NEWS

Page 1

Before You Buy

Summer/Fall 2015

3

LB Ranch and Tack Shop

Publisher/Designer … Claudia Swisher

4

Riding Schools

Editor ………………. Joan Kibler

6

Talking with Dr. Detamore about Equine Issues

8

First-time Buyer’s Guide

Rocky Springs HORSE NEWS is published four times a year and is distributed on Issuu, Facebook and Twitter. Copies are free to the public. Contact the Publisher to have copies available at your place of business.

Vol. 2, No. 3

10 Getting Started with a New Horse 12 Eagle’ Wings 13 Classified Ads 14 Therapeutic Riding 15

Directory listings

16

Calendar

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Views and opinions of contributors or advertisers are not necessary those of HORSE NEWS or the Rocky Spring Ranch, LLC. Copyright© by Rocky Springs Ranch, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced or copied without written permission of the Editor. HORSE NEWS assumes no financial responsibility for errors in or the omission of copy.

HORSE NEWS Rocky Springs Ranch, LLC, 116 Pinetop Road, Gore, Va. 22637 540-858-3090 rsr.cswisher@gmail.com Contact the Editor: jfkibler150@gmail.com 540-722-2581

Dear Readers, With this issue, we are changing the name of our publication to HORSE NEWS, instead of its previous name, HORSE NEWS QUARTERLY. Its content will not change. Many thanks for your support!

Claudia Swisher, Publisher

HORSE NEWS /3 Celebrating customer service: Introducing L B Ranch and Tack Shop

By Joan Kibler, Editor From our family to yours…

Helping our customers the best we can While Linda Saville doesn’t have that motto displayed in the L B Ranch and Tack Shop, customers sense her customer service ethic as soon as they meet her, her husband Bill and their son Adam.

If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for feed, tack and grooming supplies, L B Ranch and Tack Shop just might be your place.

“We are a family-based business that focuses on meeting the feeding needs of farmers,” Saville said. “We’re farmers, too, and we know the trials that go with farming. For that reason, our goal is to conveniently sell quality products at affordable prices. At our store, you’ll find most of what you need to feed your cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, birds and even cats and dogs.”

L B Ranch and Tack Shop, located on Route 29 North in August, West Va., celebrated its 10-year anniversary of being in business in April. Its customers primarily come from Augusta, Romney, Moorefield, and Petersburg, West Va., and western Frederick County, Va. “We sell Blue Seal Feed, with shipments arriving every week, freshly made, from Hagerstown (Md.),” Saville said. “We’ve sold Blue Seal Feed for about seven years now, and the quality is great. In fact, that’s the only feed brand we sell.”

Blue Seal Feeds are part of the Kent Nutrition Group, and Saville said the feed is particularly good for show animals.

“Many of our customers have 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) animals.”

The results of quality feed can be seen across their ranch.

“We started out with one horse and a goat, Saville said. Now we have quite a menagerie with six horses and upwards to 100 goats on our premises at any one time. We’ve raised Longhorn cattle for more than 12 years – all of which are grass fed and not given hormones. We sell Longhorn burger, which is very lean, in one-pound packs in the store.

“We also have a two alpacas to guard the goat herd,” she continued, “and a potbelly pig. Having these animals puts us in a position to know what our customers need to take care of their animals.”

The business also sells a variety of chicken feed. “We have complete starters for chicks, and customers can buy it medicated or not medicated, and without corn or soy feed,” Saville said. “We also have multi-flock starter feeds for turkeys and quails. And if you need organic feed, we can special order that.”

In addition to feed, L B Ranch and Tack Shop sells new and used western saddles, bridles and other tack; grooming supplies; show supplies such as halters and leads; Smokey Mountain boots; and even some glassware, jewelry and home goods.

You won’t find veterinary supplies, but you will find dewormers and over-the-counter medications for cuts and conditions such as thrush.

Saville said the tack shop, with a broad customer base, has blessed her with the ability to earn a living and to work from home, and that’s especially important for their disabled adult son Adam.

“Adam has learned about animals on the ranch, and he puts this knowledge to use in the shop where he helps out regularly,” she said. “He has learned about horses and benefitted from therapeutic riding on our horses. We have a 20-yearold Arabian stallion named Eclipse, and Adam and Eclipse have been close companions for years.”

Since the tack shop is located at the ranch, Saville said they can adjust work hours as needed, especially to accommodate customers who work outside standard business hours.

“If customers need products or feed beyond our posted hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., they just need to let us know, and we’ll work with them for pick up,” she said.

“We operate this business as a family, and we have developed good friendships with many of our customers over the years.

It’s just a little store, but we try to put as much stuff as we can fit into it,” she said, “all aimed at providing our customers with most anything they need for their animals.”

Contact information: lbranchandtack@yahoo.com 304-496-9888 or 304-496-8776 Like them on Facebook.

4/ HORSE NEWS When is a riding school not a school?

About the Instructors

By Claudia Swisher

The facility owner should be in charge of instructions or have an experienced head instructor.

You want to learn to ride – but where to start?

You get out a phone book or go online to find riding lessons in your area. You’ve found many places offering lessons and now need to figure out which one to use. You have many considerations:  What kind of riding do you want to do?  Have you ridden before?  What experience do you have at riding? How recent is your experience?  What depth of instruction do you need to meet your riding goals?

The first thing you want to examine when looking for a good and safe facility is whether the school offers a good instructional plan or whether it offers lessons to draw in clients for its bigger business of selling horses. Watch out for any sale barn that masquerades as a school or camp. That type of facility may not have your best interest at heart. If there are lots of horses constantly coming in to the facility and being sold, then you can consider the facility to be a sale barn. Most instructional schools will at times have a horse available for sale, or they may have a student’s horse or a boarder’s horse for sale, but usually those sales are by the owner. Some instructional facilities may have a breeding operation with a trainer and young horses being trained and for sale. But again, you must examine the facility’s business to see if it offers what you need in riding instruction.

If you are looking at a trail barn, examine the instructional plan. If you primarily want to trail ride and the barn is reputable, it may be a good fit. If you want riding beyond trails, the barn may or may not have the skills to give lessons in the type riding you want to do. You must do your homework to find out what the facility does well. I do not think most people should be out of an arena until they master the skills of riding and controlling a horse well.

How much experience do the instructors have? Do they know how to help a person of the age and experience and discipline you need instruction for? Someone who knows how to get children started may not be as effective for an adult beginner.

Does the instructor focus on the safety of you and the horse?

Is the instructor knowledgeable about the type of riding you desire? For example, if you want to learn to jump, then you need someone who can teach you basic flat riding until you are accomplished and then start you over fences when your riding skills are at the appropriate level.

Beware of inexperienced or incompetent instructors! I do not like to see riders falling off. You are there to learn to ride and stay on the horse – not to fall off every time you ride. If riders are constantly falling, then something is wrong!

My instructors were experienced in what they were teaching and had many years in doing so. Young instructors may be fine so long as an experienced instructor can step in to guide them if necessary. Good instructors learn to meet the needs of each of their students; they know when to push them and when to be patient. Each student is an individual and needs to be treated that way.

If you have a physical issue, you will need closer attention.

Can the instructor meet your needs? They need to be familiar with human as well as equine anatomy and biomechanics.

You need to feel confident in the instructor and not be intimidated. The instructor should explain what you will learn and the structure of the lessons.

About the Horse The horse should be suitable to your needs and the saddle should be comfortable.

A horse needs to have more experience than the rider so that the rider can learn from the horse. For that reason, I do not like using young horses for lessons. Most horses under 8 years old are still learning, but there are exceptions to any rule. I have had horses that have had more riding time at 7 than others at 20. It depends on the barn and the horse.

I also like to see horses that have been at the barn for a number of years. The instructor needs to have ridden the horse and know what the animal is likely to do in all experiences that might happen in order to keep the rider safe. New horses that have only been at the barn for a short time will not have this experience, and they may not be safe for inexperienced riders.

HORSE NEWS/5 Getting References The best way to find the best school for your situation is to research and study. Read about the different types of riding and breeds that are best for the type riding you are interested in. After you find a place, take a few lessons and see how it goes.

Your horse should be quiet and mannerly as you are taught to groom and saddle it up. The instructor should be patient and helpful, giving you time to understand everything you are expected to do. Your instructor should give you confidence and make you feel as if you can accomplish everything and not move on until you can master each task.

If you feel in danger or do not feel comfortable at any time, you need to tell the instructor. If the instructor cannot help you work through it, then stop and leave! Always be safe; never let yourself be put at risk.

If after the first lesson, the school tells you they have a horse for sale, or the horse you were riding is for sale, you should become a little suspicious. If it is a good school of instruction and has an ethical business, no one should suggest that you buy a horse right away.

Get references from students that have used a school for years; from veterinarians; from neighbors; from equine professionals and anyone who knows the business. Call your local county or city officials to see if the school or barn has a business license to teach. However, this does not mean that an experienced teacher with only a few students cannot meet your needs; sometimes the less prominent “backyard” teachers are your best. They don’t have a big business, but they may have your best interest at heart.

Visit the School or Barn The best way to judge a school to see if it is right for you is to set up an appointment to watch a lesson and visit the barn. Watch for these things while you are there.

1. Does the place look clean and orderly?

2. Does the school have an arena and round pen or a designated place to take the lessons in?

3. If there is a lesson area, is it level, clear of debris, have safe fence made of boards or pipe panels, and have good footing? Is the area in disrepair or junked up?

4. Does the instructor take time to check the horse’s bridle and saddle for proper fitting?

5. Does the instructor spend time with the rider to make sure he or she understands the instructions? Is the instructor patient or loud and sarcastic?

6. Are the horses and ponies in good health and in clean stalls and paddocks? Or are they skinny and unhealthy looking, with dirty stalls and no clean hay or water?

7. Does the animal giving the lesson seem pleasant and alert or is it dull and impersonal or have its ears pinned back?

8. If they are doing a group lesson, does the instructor take time to give each one individual help or does the instructor ignore the riders who aren’t as progressed?

9. Do the other clients seem happy and satisfied with the barn?

10. Ask yourself if this is the kind of place you will be happy at.

Good luck finding the right place!

Claudia Swisher is the founder of Balanced Awareness Horsemanship and owner of Rocky Springs Ranch, LLC. She was a 4-H leader for over 15 years and is now returning to 4-H with the Gore Spirits as the equine leader.

6/HORSE NEWS Dry poop, lost weight and flipping the palate: Talking with Dr. Detamore

By Cheryl L. Detamore, DVM Q: My horse has very dry poop. Can I add salt and oil to his daily ration to help?

A: Oil adds lubrication and helps fecal matter pass easier, but I cannot recommend it for dry feces unless your horse is constipated. It sounds like your horse is dehydrated - what it really needs is more water content in his manure.

The average horse requires a half to one gallon of water per 100 pounds of body weight each day. Water consumption naturally decreases during colder weather and periods of inactivity. Another common cause of decreased consumption is dental abnormalities.

Offer your horse an abundant supply of fresh water at all times, and ensure you can approximate how much he consumes on a daily basis. Familiarize yourself with indicators of dehydration, like skin elasticity and moisture content of mucous membranes.

As far as salt and minerals go, they should be available at all times, but adding them to feed is not necessary or effective.

If you determine your horse is drinking an adequate amount of water and isn't dehydrated but still has dry stools, please consult your veterinarian.

Q: Our horse lost a lot of weight last winter. His worm count was very high, despite regular deworming. What can we do to prevent this in the future?

A: The simple answer is make sure your horse doesn't harbor any parasites going into cold weather. Yes, that's easier said than done, but it's achievable with a bit of planning.

Half the battle is using the right dewormer. After years of use, older formulations like fenbendazole and pyrantel hardly work at all. And while ivermectin is still fairly effective, moxidectin is the modern anthelmic of choice. It kills every type of roundworm.

Each product has its own niche, so focus on the kind(s) of eggs in a fecal, instead of just the number – then gear your deworming protocol from there. And, of course, rotate between effective products to avoid resistance. Also, follow label directions for weight; in general, dewormers have a wide safety margin, so it's better to give a little extra than not enough.

For heavy burdens, I recommend a complete purge, just before the first frost. Complete the process in a "dirty" (contaminated) paddock area, and when done move the horse to a "clean" (uncontaminated) area and follow with a winter and spring maintenance protocol – but don't overdo it since that contributes to resistance too.

Note: A slow purge is necessary with a large worm load to avoid complications from a rapid kill – this is the only time I recommend fenbendazole. (I never recommend pyrantel.) It works on a limited basis but is effective for a slow kill at the start of a purge. I generally recommend three consecutive days of fenbendazole, followed by ivermectin in two weeks, and lastly moxidectin with praziquantel four weeks later (six weeks total). Please consult your veterinarian for detailed instructions because every horse is different.

HORSE NEWS/7 Q: My gelding has sudden coughing fits under saddle. I read about "flipping the palate." What is this, and how can I prevent it?

the trachea (windpipe). Essentially, this arrangement is responsible for shuffling food towards the stomach instead of the lungs.

A. If your veterinarian ruled out allergies or any other infectious cause, there's a good chance it's mechanical.

Now for the cause.

Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP), also known as flipping the palate, is most common in racehorses, but also occurs in other performance horses. It's an intermittent condition that generally only results when the head is in a flexed position or during heavy exercise.

Normally, swallowing replaces the epiglottis in its normal position; however, if this doesn't happen, it results in DDSP. As a result, the soft palate partially covers the epiglottis and moves around when air passes over it, causing a choking noise.

And its treatment.

Let's look at the anatomy of DDSP. The epiglottis is a funnel-like structure in the back of the throat positioned slightly above the back edge of the soft palate (the soft palate is an extension of the hard palate, or roof of the mouth). When a horse swallows, the soft palate shifts upwards while the epiglottis flips backwards to cover

Conservative treatment consists of rest and anti-inflammatory measures. And since this anomaly occurs during exertion, extra conditioning is necessary to avoid fatigue. A tongue tie or figure eight noseband is also helpful, as well as alternating the set of the head during exercise. These adjustments help about half of those with intermittent DDSP. In more severe cases, corrective surgery is necessary.

Cheryl L. Detamore, DVM, has practiced equine medicine in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia for more than 17 years. She now resides in Kansas. Learn more about her honey-based healing salve at MeliHeal.com and follow her blog at horsedoctales.wordpress.com..

8/HORSE NEWS What, really, is horse ownership?

A Guide for the First-time Buyer Horse Ownership 101

By Claudia Swisher If you are planning to buy your first horse, many important considerations make for a successful purchase.

First, don’t rush into it. If you’re inexperienced, you need to learn to ride and care for a horse. Horse ownership involves many factors beyond the riding lessons at your favorite stable.

Some instructors will let you gain this valuable experience by allowing you to school their horses or lease an animal. This gives you, or your children, experience without the full expense of horse ownership. During this trial period, you may discover that you can’t live without a horse, or you may find it’s too expensive, too time consuming and too much work.

Going to a barn and having a horse or pony already tacked up and waiting for you for lessons is not the best idea. With this approach, you do not get to know all the other aspects – of which there are many – of owning a horse. If you go to a good stable, you will learn how to groom your horse, tack up, lead, and handle your horse. The instructors should also teach you how to care and feed each individual, how to clean stalls, and how to clean your tack.

Horsemanship also involves learning to know when your horse is healthy and when the horse needs the veterinarian. You need to know how to care for your horse and what good care is even if you are planning on boarding it at a stable. You are the one truly responsible for its care, even if someone else does the work. If you don’t know these things, how will you know if your horse is being cared for properly?

Here are some things to think about before you make a purchase.

Where are you going to keep your horse? Are you going to keep it at your riding school, at another stable, at your farm, or at a friend’s? If you are boarding at your instructor’s stable, you may be able to continue lessons on your new horse and get help when you need it. You should be able to more fully participate in its care, spending more time with your new animal.

Cover Story: Before You Buy…Do Your Homework Horse Ownership…A Guide for the First-time Buyer Getting Started with a New Horse If you must take the horse to a stable you are unfamiliar with, you will need to see if your instructor can come there, or if you need to transport your horse to your instructor. Do you have a trailer and know how to drive it safely? Or do you need to find someone who is dependable to transport your horse, recognizing that cost as well?

There are many benefits for keeping your horse at your own place, but the advantages come with much more responsibility and education to keep the horse healthy and safe. Do you have safe fencing, a good barn or shed, a place to store hay, grain, tack and other horse care items? Is your storage area mouse proof? Do you have the right type of grass in your pasture to sustain your horse? Do you have someone to care for your horse when you’re unavailable? Are you able to care for it when it gets sick? What about a companion since horses are herd animals? A horse can be kept by itself, but you will need to be more available since your horse wants to be part of a herd; you must become the herd leader in that case. Some horses do not do well alone, so you may need to have a second horse or a pony as a companion.

If you are planning to keep the horse at a friend’s place, are they knowledgeable? Will they take care of it or will you go there to provide care at least daily? What about winter weather? Can you get to your horse if there is a big snow storm? Will your horse have water that is not frozen? Will your horse have accessible, clean hay?

HORSE NEWS/9 You will need to have a veterinarian and a farrier. If you already know veterinarians and farriers in the region, choose the ones you can talk to and get along with the best. If not, check with your instructor and other responsible horse owners for recommendations. Communication between you and your service providers is a must for the horse’s best interest.

Care of the horse may be simple or have many requirements, depending on what the veterinarian and farrier discover about the horse. You will need to estimate and anticipate the expense of horse care on your pocketbook!

You will need to understand the body structure of your horse and how the conformation of each horse lends it to the best type of riding for it. This is important before you buy. What kind of riding are you going to do? Are you going to pleasure ride or show? Some breeds may be more suitable for you and what you want to do than others, so study the type riding you want to do and the breed most suitable. As you start your search, ask lots of questions. Don’t give up and learn something every time you look at a horse. (For more information on buying a horse, see Tips on Buying a New Horse, April 2015 issue of HORSE NEWS QUARTERLY.) After reading this, you might think I am trying to discourage you from owning a horse, but I am only trying to help you think about what this decision means. I love horses and want them to have a well-informed owner. And I want you to be knowledgeable and safe.

Claudia Swisher is the founder of Balanced Awareness Horsemanship and owner of Rocky Springs Ranch, LLC. She was a 4-H leader for over 15 years and is now returning to 4-H with the Gore Spirits as the equine leader.

If you want to learn more about our certification course to be a horse trainer or an instructor, or if you would like to advance your skills using our methods of Balanced Awareness, please contact us.

10/HORSE NEWS Getting Started with a New Horse

By Beverly Ashcraft How do you define “a new horse”?

Horse Ownership 101

Cover Story: Before You Some of you may think of Buy…Do Your Homework a new horse as a yearling or a 2 year old with no Horse Ownership…A Guide handling or training for the First-time Buyer experience. A new horse can be defined that way; Getting Started with a New however, it can also be a Horse 4-year-old, off-the-track Thoroughbred that you adopted for use as an eventing horse. Or the Tennessee Walker from the show arena that you now want to acquire for a trail horse. Or the beautiful Saddlebred that you rescued that you want to start learning dressage. In short, a new horse is any horse that is new to you, no matter how much or little training it has had.

Some horses will have tons of training in the area it is used for (hopefully, correct training), but they will be lacking in ground schooling and manners. Some have great basics in manners, leading, and ground schooling, but no training in any discipline. Most horses have some of each, but you may discover some of their training must be redone.

Here are two examples.

First, there is the 12-year-old Tennessee Walker gelding. He is desensitized to dogs, all-terrain vehicles, tractors and cars; he rides out on trails like it's second nature; nothing bothers him; he has smooth gaits and a great calm disposition. His issue was poor ground manners. He wouldn't pay attention to where I was when leading him and would walk up on me. He did not know how to properly lunge, either, on a lead or at liberty. Also, he didn't have good knowledge of body position or having his attention focused on me on the ground.

Having the ability to learn horse training through certification, I have found that there are three basic things you need to do when you acquire a new horse. It does not matter the discipline the horse will be used for, how much history you have acquired on the horse (although more is better), its age, etc.

The three things that are necessary are first, to start your assessment of the horse from scratch. Second, body position is critical. Third, timing of your training is important.

Anytime a new horse is acquired, start from scratch with assessing what the horse knows. This not only means the skills the horse will need for the job or discipline that it will do, but it also means the basics of training, such as manners and respect for the person handling the horse.

A horse should always have solid ground schooling of leading, lunging, respect and manners before further training is started.

Many times trainers skip ground schooling because of time constraints put on them to get the horse ready. Or, the horse may pick up instruction rather quickly so the items are hurried through with little reinforcement to make sure the horse has really learned the concept.

The second example is a 2-year-old gelding acquired from a lady in dire straits who wanted him placed in a good home. She had informed me that he could lunge, lead, load, had been wormed and vaccinated, and had been sat on with a saddle. So, I figured he was a really big 2 year old and that he was pretty good for getting ready under saddle. The initial evaluation showed that he could not lead and had no ground manners. If he had been wormed, it was not a good experience. In fact, he had very little desensitization done with his mouth, was very resentful with being touched in the mouth, and was sore from his adult teeth coming in.

The second aspect of dealing with a new horse is to be aware of your body position. For example, when leading your horse, don't walk in front of it. Stand to the side at the area of the shoulder. That allows you to keep a safe position and also mimics your body position when you are riding your horse.

This position will transfer the ground school cues to under saddle. If you walk in front of the horse, you are cueing the horse to stop. Learning this is very interesting because there is a universal language that horses can understand: body language.

HORSE NEWS/11 The third aspect to keep in mind when working with a new horse is that of proper timing with your corrections and training. Learning to anticipate, for example, that the horse kicks out every time when you ask it to canter will help you to give a correction when the horse is thinking about doing the bad behavior. This helps the horse to learn that the bad behavior is not acceptable.

Also be able to recognize when the horse is making an attempt to do what is asked. Rewarding the "try" is just as important, if not more important, as rewarding the correct behavior. This shows the horse that it is moving toward the desired behavior.

An example would be the 2 year old above. He didn't know anything about having his feet picked up for cleaning. The process would be to stand at the shoulder with lead rope in hand. Then run your hand down the leg while using a verbal word to associate what you want the horse to do. I use the term "foot"; and while applying slight pressure on the fetlock, gently try to get the horse to pick up his foot. As soon as the horse starts to give his foot, release the pressure and say “good boy” or “good girl.” Repeat this a couple times on this leg and then repeat on each of the other legs. Do not let the horse pull its foot away from you.

These are just three initial things to do with your new horse.

The most important thing to remember, however, is that if you get yourself in a situation where you are unsure of how to handle the issue, seek out a reputable trainer to help. That person can give you techniques to use, as well as how to use your tools appropriately.

Beverly Ashcraft is studying with Claudia Swisher to obtain her Balanced Awareness certification for Trainer/Instructor Level 1.

She is also an operating room nurse.

Visit the Double J Stables and like them on Facebook at > www.facebook.com/doublejstablesllc

12/HORSE NEWS Horse Passion Summer Camps and Overnight Camps at Eagles’ Wings Story and photos by Jeannie Ramsey What an incredible summer we are experiencing at Eagles’ Wings. It’s what we call “crazy love.” Girls have come from all over the four-state area as well as internationally from Namibia and South Africa to experience Eagles’ Wings. Our motto – girls learning about life, themselves and God through the love of horses – barely describes the beauty and excitement of each camp experience.

Each program brings its own sense of awareness to any girl who attends – from who she is to where she is going. We stand in awe at how God arranges these camps to speak to his young ladies through the love of horses. Although each camp is designed with purpose, it is totally orchestrated by God. Our horses teach the beauty of coming under submission to authority and at the same time becoming alpha of their lives and destiny. Girls learn the art of communication through horse whispering techniques coupled with the Word of God. They learn how to read body language of both horses and people.

Camps include round pen work, learning to join up with a horse (a trust-building activity), becoming alpha, and herd dynamics. We incorporate Parelli Horsemanship as well as Buck Brannaman techniques. Horse demonstrations teach on various life challenges such as fear, anxiety, insecurity, boundaries and healing from trauma. Body language and voice tones each become a new awareness for each girl as she navigates through the camp and the long journey of her life. Riding lessons include walk, trot and canter and going over poles and cavalettis, along with swimming on horses, obstacle courses, and trail riding on several levels.

All programs are meant to bring our youth to a place of healing and restoration through horses and are of little or no cost to low-income families. Students have the ability to come to a variety of programs that teach different levels of communication, disciplines, respect and awareness that are not

necessarily taught in the home or public school. We have so many different ways to meet the needs of any girl in a safe, exciting and yet challenging environment. We understand today’s youth and the problems and challenges they face. We understand the changing facets of the family unit and its dynamic economic challenges as well as negative behavior patterns that have been established.

Our programs are not just learning about horses. Our camps are designed to teach life and comprehensive communication skills through various channels – horses and their herd and human behavior and interactions, while incorporating the Word of God. Girls are taught from the first day their importance in this world and their uniqueness as being “one of a kind, original and rare.” They are challenged to embrace their age and its demands with an aspect of awe as they take responsibility for each stage of middle and high school. From making their bed to doing chores without the hassle often given to parents, they are challenged to go above and beyond what is expected of them at home and in school.

We teach girls how the ranks of the herd are ever changing, reflecting those changes to life in all its forms. Good and bad.

Life is not easy for any of us – and to equip them to become all that God has for them is a necessity.

Please check out what we have to offer and consider sending your daughter to any of our programs or consider sponsoring a girl through a donation. We are a faith-based nonprofit, and all donations are tax deductible.

Contact: Eagles’ Wings, 385 Butterfly Lane, Hedgesville, West Va. 25427; 304-754-4414 http://eagleswingsgirls.org Facebook: Eagles’ Wings Girls & Horses

Jeannie Ramsey is Founder and Director of Eagles’ Wings, a ministry focused on preparing girls for adulthood through horses and horse whispering techniques.

HORSE NEWS/13 Equine Classified Ads Horses Offered For Sale: Electric Lady of Pride "Lexie" 12 yo (foal date 4/2003) TWH mare, Registered. Best suited for trails, very willing, no spook, goes front, middle, or behind with no issues. Learning to neck rein. Very light mouth, goes off seat and legs. Current Coggins. Farrier every 5-6 weeks.

No health issues. $4000 Call – 616-690-9512 Saddles English jumping saddle - NICE brand, in very good condition.

17 ½” wide bars. $225 or BO. 540-858-3090 For Sale Stubben English saddle, good condition - $550 Big Horn 15” Western saddle, good condition - $400 Western bridle in excellent condition - $75 2011 Ford Expedition, excellent condition - $25,000 2002 Big Valley 2 horse trailer, good condition - $1,550 For more information on the above items: Call Kay Hallett: 703- 795-0740

14/HORSE NEWS Busy Spring and Summer for Therapeutic Riding Students

By Marjorie Youngs Both Spring Session and our Fun with Horses Day Camps were all-around successes at the Blue Ridge Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship (BRCTH) in Berryville. Our Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) certified instructors, dedicated volunteers and remarkable equines all worked (and played) hard to make every lesson and activity fun as well as therapeutic.  We served 24 students this spring – 21 children and three adults – with conditions that included attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, brain injury, and intellectual and learning disabilities. Students participated in our Therapeutic Riding and Equine Assisted Learning (EFL) programs. Therapeutic riding instruction includes grooming, handling and knowledge, and mounted activities. EFL emphasizes psycho-social learning through observation of and interaction with horses in mostly unmounted ground activities. 

In July, BRCTH hosted a benefit PaintNite event at Valerie Hill Winery and Vineyards. The 29 attendees had fun painting, under the guidance of Master Artist Carol Erickson, and enjoying each other’s company. In October, BRCTH we sponsored a Used Tack and Equipment Sale in Berryville.

Ten young campers participated in our adaptive, recreational week-long day camps, one in June and the other in early July. Camp was held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day and included grooming, basic horse handling and behavior, riding skills, mounted and unmounted games, and an art component.

Early in the summer, BRCTH received a generous donation of $5,000 from Jerry and Molly Pritchett who were introduced to BRCTH by one of our long-time volunteers, Gene Fisher. This gift made it possible for BRCTH to offer scholarships to children attending camp and will fund scholarships for the fall session as well.

BRCTH was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $2,200 by the American Woodmark Foundation. The grant will be used to purchase supportive software, provide scholarships for students and help cover expenses related to our participation in the annual Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia (TRAV) horse show at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington this October.

Also in July, BRCTH hosted nine clients and their staff from NW Works Inc. in Winchester. Participants toured our farm and had the opportunity to pet and groom our Belgian, CJ, and watch him being ridden around and over obstacles. This was our second visit from NW Works Inc., and we hope to make it an annual event.

Our eight-week fall session began Sept. 8 and continued through early November. We also had six students participate, and perform very well, in the annual horse show sponsored by the Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia (TRAV) held Oct. 10-11 in Lexington. In mid-November we hosted a successful bingo fundraiser with Silpada jewelry and ThirtyOne products as prizes. We have several fundraisers and other major activities planned into 2016. For more information, call 540-533-2777 or email brcthinc@hotmail.com.

BRCTH is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization that relies heavily on volunteers to help, not only with lessons but in many other roles. If you want to contribute, please contact us.

We would love to hear from you. For more information about our programs and upcoming events, visit our website, www.brcth.org, and like our Facebook page.

Marjorie Youngs, M.Ed., is Executive Director of BRCTH. She has been involved with therapeutic riding since 1987. She served as president of TRAV from 1998-2005 and started BRCTH in 2006.

HORSE NEWS/15 Directory for Services and Businesses Blanket Cleaning & Repairs Rocky Springs Blanket repairs & cleaning Boarding Double J Stables – Full care boarding 388 Vaucluse Rd. Stephens City, VA 22655 www.facebook.com/doublejstablesllc Rocky Springs Ranch, LLC. Full care boarding 116 Pinetop Rd. Gore, VA www.facebook.com/RockySpringsRanch

540-858-3090 540-869-7770

540-858-3090

Clubs &Non Profit Organizations Golden Horseshoe 4-H Frederick County,VA www.goldenhorseshoe4h.com

540-877-4935

Gore Spirits 4-H Club

540-336-2561

Gore, VA Aneta Swisher

Stars and Spurs 4-H Club

Warren County, VA

Shenandoah Valley Equine Rescue Network 501-c3 nonprofit assisting equines in the area www.svern.org

540-622-0390 540-247-2747

Farriers Sue's Farrier Service – BWFA Certified Farrier 703-401-7683 Correct shoeing & trimming for balance and performance.

HappyHorses1@comcast.net Feed & Supply Stores Southern States -Winchester Cooperative 447 Amherst Street, Winchester, VA 22601 Hay Suppliers James Michaels - Timothy hay square bales Delivery available/ear corn for sale as well.

Horse and Barn Sitter services Horsey Helpers- Cathy Schultz www.horseyhelpers.com Heating * Cooling * Water Services Kangen Water Units – Making your water better www.wateriam.com The Gas Store - Your Hearth Connection 234 Weems Lane, Winchester, VA 22601 www.Gasstoreinc.com

540-662-0375

304-258-5277 540-533-2777 703-314-4961

540-335-1919 540-325-9756 540-665-1833

Instruction/Riding Lessons/Academies Rocky Springs Ranch, LLC Balanced Awareness TM 540-858-3090 Lessons- Western, English, Dressage, Hunter – beginners/advanced 116 Pinetop Rd. Gore,VA 22637 www.facebook.com/RockySpringsRanch Massage Therapy Hope O'Toole-Certified Equine/Canine Massage PO Box 40 Baker,WV 26801 donkeymomhope@gmail.com

304-897-7073 540-878-8060

Physicians / Chiropractors /Physical TherapyCheff Chiropratic Care 118 Fairground Rd Woodstock, VA 22664 540-459-3900 www.cheffchiro.com Saddle Fitting and Repairs Rocky Springs Tack Shop - Claudia Swisher 116 Pinetop Rd. Gore, VA www.facebook.com/RockySpringsRanch Tack Shops & Saddlery Rocky Springs Tack Shop – Repairs/fitting/sales 116 Pinetop Rd. Gore, VA www.facebook.com/RockySpringsRanch

540- 858-3090

540-858-3090

Wild Bill’s Western & English Things 540-869-4430 Western and English tack and horse care, boots, accessories and clothing for the whole family. 4541 Valley Pike, Stephens City, VA Tack Repairs Rocky Springs Tack Shop/ 20 years experience 116 Pinetop Rd. Gore, VA 22637 Therapeutic Riding Blue Ridge Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship BRCTH www.brcth.org Trailer Sales and Services W. F. Artrip & Son Trailers 1726 Front Royal Pike, Winchester VA 22602 www.artriptrailers.com Training Team Barlow www.teambarlowperformancehorses.com Veterinary Services Cheryl Detamore, DVM - Phone Consultations Meliheal creator-Healing Salve for Equines/Canines www.meliheal.com

540-858-3090

540-533-2777

540-662-5028

540-869-7271

785-846-7404

Hackwood Equine, Inc- Valerie L. Babcock, DVM Equine Veterinary Services Mobile www.hackwoodequine.com

540-662-1662

Mountain State Equine & Large Animal, PLLC Fred D. Minazzoli, MS, DVM www.msequine.com

304-856-3010

Schay Swope DVM – Mobile Equine Veterinary Services schswope@gmail.com www.facebook.com/schswope

304-283-7421

__________________________________________________ If you are interested in being listed in the Directory, please contact us at 540-858-3090 or email rsr.cswisher@gmail.com

16/HORSE NEWS Shenandoah Community Calendar If you have a 4H club or horseback riding club and want to reach your members or maybe find some new ones, then you need to let us know when your meeting dates and times are with contact information. We will be happy to post them for you and add your shows and events to our calendar. Please send us your activity or event. We are happy to add it to the calendar, but you MUST let us know by sending an email to rsr.cswisher@gmail.com or you can mail it to Claudia Swisher, Rocky Springs Ranch, 116 Pinetop Rd., Gore VA 22637.

November 2015 Kids section: Color me

21st Rockin’ M Acres Barrel Jackpot Series 11 a.m. Contact Megan Magaha 540-931-4560 21-22 Ride Rank for a Cure 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days (Bull riding/bull fighting school) Look us up on Facebook December 5th Rockin’ M Acres Barrel Jackpot Series 11 a.m. Contact Megan Magaha 540-931-4560 12th All-day Annual Christmas Party and Open House, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Rocky Springs Ranch.

Join us for snacks then dinner at 6 p.m. for members, clients, friends and family. For more information and directions, call 540-858-3090 20th 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Free Seminar on Balanced Awareness. How it came about and how it can help your horse and you. Call for reserved seating and for more information 540-858-3090

January 2016 1st

Rocky Springs Membership renewals due

17th Rocky Springs Members meeting 1 pm contact us at 540-858-3090 23rd Rockin’ M Acres Barrel Jackpot Series 11 am Contact Megan Magaha 540-931-4560

Draw an original artwork of a horse and send it to us, and you might get published in the next issue. Be sure to include your name, town, and age.

Write a horse or pony story and submit it to us for the next issue. Also provide a phone number in case we have follow-up questions.

Send to: Rocky Springs Ranch 116 Pinetop Rd. Gore VA 22637 or you can email it to us at rsr.cswisher@gmail.com