Tips for a Great Trail Ride

HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU

Tips for a great Trail Ride

Whether it’s your first trail ride or your 51st, here are some rules hard core riders say you should follow.

Discover the Classic Elegance of the World’s Largest Saddlebred Show!

Stock photo.

• Helmets save lives – wear yours! • Wear pants, and boots with short heels. • Tell someone at home where you are going and when you expect to be back. • Take water, a cell phone, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a hoof pick. Keep your cell phone in your pocket in case your horse takes off without you. • Pick strong riders for the front and back of the group. • Go the speed of the greenest horse or the least experienced rider. • Wait until all riders are mounted to move off. • Keep a horse’s length between riders to avoid kicking. • Warn the rider behind you of low branches, stumps, holes, hornets’ nests or other hazards. • If caught in a lightening storm, find low ground and get off your horse! Take tack with lots of metal on it off your horse, too. • Stick to the trail and stay with the group. • Stay focused, and have fun!

worLd’s championship horse show / august 19-25

Don’t miss the largest Saddlebred horse show in the world, which attracts more than 2,000 award-winning horses to Freedom Hall during the Kentucky State Fair. With more than $1.2 million in premiums on the line, these world-class athletes compete for their share of the largest purse in the Saddlebred industry and the title of Grand Champion at this internationally renowned competition. KentucKy state fair at the KentucKy exposition center 937 phillips Lane • Louisville, Kentucky 40209 • kystatefair.org

STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH Waiting for My Hay...

Goldie introduces readers to the humans working in the barn.

Aby Christy Chajon, Staff Writer s I was standing and ager. He is in charge of the whole if they are naughty. She is firm and waiting for my hay, I suddenly re- barn! He has a huge job — he or- yet gentle. She rode me one day alized that I’ve never talked to you ders hay and grain, manages the when I had been going to the cenabout my human friends here at the stable hands, keeps the tractors in ter of the arena when I shouldn’t. barn! I’ve told you about the other good shape, and pays the bills. He She reminded me that my job is horses, but not the people. I think spends a lot of time at the barn and to stay on the rail, and now I do. introducing you to all my people works hard. He doesn’t even get to I try to be good... most of the time, would be a good way to pass the go to shows unless one is in town. anyway. The trainer also breaks ”“ time while I wait for my hay. First and most important to me is the stable hand. Why do I think he is so important? Well, I’m a horse and I like to eat. I like to have a clean stall to lie down in, too. I like my water bucket kept fresh and full all the time. That’s what the stable hand does all day long: takes care of my basic needs. That is why I love him. I also have a groom. She takes care of me and does things like giving me a thorough grooming every day before and after my workout. She puts hoof grease on my feet to keep them soft and gives me a Then he takes his family to cheer and support the riders. When we go to out of town shows, the barn manager stays home to make sure everything runs smoothly while we are gone. Another person at the barn all the time is the riding instructor. She gives early morning lessons, and some late night lessons as well, so everyone can ride when they want. Because she uses me for lots of riding lessons, she oversees my care. I’m her favorite (just don’t tell my horse friends!) She makes sure I don’t work too hard. She gives me a day off sometimes so my groom can the colts. That means she teaches young horses to be led, ridden and to have manners. The trainer goes to the shows during the summer. She is in charge of managing the grooms, too. Did you know I have my feet trimmed regularly? My hooves grow just like your fingernails, so the farrier comes to take care of my hooves. He comes about once a month and it is always nice to see him. He gives me peppermints if I stand very still while he trims my feet and puts my shoes back on. The veterinarian is another person who comes to see me. She gives me Everyone takes such good care of me here at the barn. good, strong brushing so my coat is take me out and let me play in the vaccinations to make sure I stay healthy and shiny. My groom goes pasture. That is so much fun! When healthy. Once, she came in the midwith me to horse shows and sleeps we go to shows, the riding instruc- dle of the night when I had a stomin a stall, just to watch over me! She tor keeps everyone organized and achache! I really appreciated that. braids my tail and talks to me. I ready to go in the ring on time. Everyone takes such good care of love my groom. Then there is the trainer, who me here at the barn. Both the stable hand and the doesn’t ride me much, since I al- Now here comes my most fagroom are my most special people, ready know my stuff. Her job is to vorite person — the stable hand, of but there are many other humans train the green show horses and course — because he is bringing my in the barn. One is the barn man- maybe school a few lesson horses hay! I’ll talk to you later. n