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ello, Saddle Up readers and riders! We hope you and your horses are enjoying this wonderful fall weather! This month's issue is packed full of great treats: horse health, hoof tips, training thoughts, as well as some chilling truths about fall feeding. We have included some IPE photos on our Out & About page and will follow up with more on our website from all the September shows and events Saddle Up attended.
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This month's cover feature is SLIDE Joint Care. Pages 6 and 7 have more information on the product SLIDE, and don’t forget to check out their website at SlideJointCare.com There are still lots of events and shows happening in October, so we hope to see you all Out & About!
Publications Mail Reg. No. 40045521
GST Reg. No. 751444159RT0001
Reproduction of any materials without written permission from the editor is prohibited. Opinions and statements expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor.
ISSN No. 1701-6002
© All Rights Reserved
SUBSCRIPTIONS
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Reproduction of any materials without
Hoof Geeks, Amber Zierath, Laureen James, Becky Denny, Sarah Southwell, Britain MillsDawes, Patricia E. Skinner, and all of our Club News authors –thank you!
Beats
ISix Parts Of The Whole
n the next few issues, we are going to be looking at the horse's hoof piece by piece. During our studies in equine podiatry, it was fascinating to see and understand that the horse’s hoof capsule is actually a combination of different horn structures that all fit together like a puzzle piece and are held together by different horn structures.
They all have their own independent functions yet work together to develop, nourish, protect, and rejuvenate the internal soft tissues and structures inside. When we look at a hoof capsule, what looks like one solid piece is actually six different independent structures. In our wet lab training, we were able to dismantle the hoof into its six separate parts.
THESE SIX
STRUCTURES ARE
1 Hoof Walls / Bars 2 White Line 3 Sole
5 Coronet Band
6 Heel Bulbs
Having an understanding of anatomy, biology, geometry, and physics and the function of the form and how the hoof performs is critical when maintaining a horse barefoot. Horses rely on these structures to stay strong and sound for a lifetime. As horse owners, we must ensure the horse has a very healthy lifestyle, diet, healthy digestive system, sufficient movement, and lives with minimal stress. Lack of any of these components will start to take a toll on the hoof capsule, and having an awareness of detail, we will be able to identify and prevent problems as they arise.
Christine and Francine offer amazing clinics and are heading east next year to expand their reach. Watch for updates online for Western Canadian learning opportunities in 2025 and more Hoof Geek monthly tips in Saddle Up! Learn more at hoofgeeks.ca facebook.com/hoofgeeks
As the developer of Equi-Block® and LaKOTA®, as well as the codeveloper of Magic Cushion®, SLIDE™ founder Rick Stewart knows a thing or two about treating joint problems. “I grew up in horse racing”, states Stewart. “We were one of top harness racing stables in BC, Alberta and California”. Like all racehorse trainers, Stewart has dealt with his share of joint, ligament and tendon injuries in his horses. “Lameness is the biggest thing that racehorse trainers deal with. It’s a never ending battle”, he says.
In the early 1990’s, Stewart began feeding hyaluronic acid to his horses hoping to prevent joint problems from occurring. “I was probably the first to feed hyaluronic acid back then. It wasn’t in any equine joint supplements yet, but veterinarians were injecting damaged joints with it and it seemed to work pretty good. I started feeding my sore horses 200 mg a day of hyaluronic acid. I did that for a couple of months and then gauged the results”.
According to Stewart, 200 mg a day of hyaluronic acid didn’t produce any noticeable benefits in his horses; neither did feeding 500 mg or even 1,000 mg of hyaluronic acid per day. “It wasn’t until I starting feeding my horses 2,500 mg of hyaluronic acid a day that I began to see some really good results”, he says. “I finally settled on 2,500 mg of hyaluronic acid twice a day for a total of 5,000 mg daily and I’ve been feeding those dosages to my horses for over two decades now. I put all my young horses on SLIDE™ and I’ve never had any of them develop joint problems as they got older. And it seems to stop the degeneration of cartilage in older horses with existing joint problems. I’ve seen some very profound improvements in horses that were already suffering from joint pain after feeding them SLIDE™ for a month or two”.
Feeding that amount of hyaluronic acid was expensive, but those higher doses were the difference maker when it came to fighting back against equine cartilage degeneration, Stewart points out. “A preventative approach is the key to keeping your horse’s joints healthy and pain free. It’s all about maintaining or increasing lubrication inside joints; especially in race and performance horses as their joints need more lubrication and joint support due to the heavy workloads placed on them. And hyaluronic acid is the major compound that creates that lubrication. The goal of every trainer should be to PREVENT articular cartilage degeneration because once that cartilage is damaged you can’t fix it. Some really good horses have had their careers ended prematurely due to joint problems”.
A palatable powder that horses love, SLIDE™ isn’t just hyaluronic acid, it’s a joint supplement unlike anything ever put on the market for horses. The two recommended daily servings not only provide your horse with an incredible 5,000 mg of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid per day, but also 5,000 mg of N-acetyl glucosamine (a precursor for hyaluronic acid synthesis), 5,000 mg of glucosamine HCL, 5,000 mg of hydrolyzed collagen and 2,000 mg of collagen type II (the major collagen found in articular cartilage and intervertebral discs of the spine. SLIDE™ is the only equine hyaluronic acid supplement that currently contains this important form of collagen). None of the ingredients are banned substances for equine competition.
SLIDE™ also provides many other great health benefits for horses besides joint support, including helping heal and prevent ulcers. We encourage you to read the SLIDE™ equine eBook online at slidejointcare. com as it describes in detail what makes SLIDE™ the premier equine joint supplement in the world today. It’s well worth the read and full of great information that many people don’t know about hyaluronic acid.
SLIDE™ is now affordably priced so equine owners and trainers can reap its incredible benefits on their own horses. Available in 2 kg and 10 kg sizes, the larger size is a great value and treats 5 horses for 30 to 60 days for just $50.00 to $100.00 CAD per horse depending on whether it’s fed once or twice daily. Even with just a single daily serving, SLIDE™ still provides far more hyaluronic acid (2,500 mg) than any other equine supplement containing this important and vital compound for equine health and well being.
SLIDE™ is available at select tack stores and online at www.SlideJointCare.com
Creek Vet Clinic
Photographer Shellie Scott
RJ BENNETT
EQUINE INFLUENCER AND ICON
In 1937, at the age of eight, Russell James “R.J.” Bennett approached the starting line of a course that would shape his life and influence an industry. Most eight-year-olds are likely to spend their money on candy and toys, but R.J. closed his first horse acquisition - a pony for just five dollars, including a saddle. This purchase wasn’t influenced by his family, as their only connection to horses was those used strictly for working purposes. Rather, buying a horse for pleasure was entirely of R.J.’s own volition. This five-buck-pony, whom R.J. named Flame, was the spark to ignite a lifelong passion and renowned career with horses.
R.J. had an adoration for equines most of his life. He bought many different horses in his teens, all of which gave him a run for his money as he took risks with them, a characteristic that proved to stick with R.J. throughout his life and career. Eventually, his attention was gripped by one specific breed of horse, the Thoroughbred. When R.J. was a young man, he went on a trip with his dad to California, and they took in racing at Santa Anita. This father-son excursion was pivotal. Beyond the trip serving as a precious bonding experience, it ushered R.J. into an industry in which he would eventually become an icon.
The love of horses from a young age guided R.J. along many paths, and eventually, it led him to the greatest love of his life, his leading lady and wife, Lois. The pair married in 1961 and enhanced the Bennett family bloodlines by welcoming four children. R.J. and Lois raised their own children and their large brood of horses in West Kelowna. Along the picturesque shores of Okanagan Lake, framed by lushly vegetated mountains and valleys, is the Bennett family’s piece of paradise, Flying Horse Farm. This property has welcomed humans and horses from distances near and far. Its population swells and recedes with the roll of the horse breeding tides.
R.J.’s first Thoroughbred acquisition was a mare named Rodo purchased from Talbot Creek Farm in the late 1950’s. The original intention was to train Rodo for jumping. However, plans were thwarted
once they discovered she was in foal to a Thoroughbred stallion. After the foal arrived, R.J. registered Rodo’s colt as R.J. Ladd to be his first racehorse. Lois recalls that horse racing was the only place to be at this time, and it was all very fun and exciting.
From this point forward, the trajectory for Flying Horse Farms set on the path it is best known for today, an award-winning Thoroughbred racing and breeding farm. It met its peak in horses in the 1990’s, standing several stallions at that time – including Maudlin and Dixieland Brass – resulting in well over one hundred visiting mares. Lois says, “Years ago, we stopped counting our stakes winners when they surpassed forty. It has been said that Flying Horse Farms has known over sixty stakes winners, but we would have to revisit that count to be certain.” Their most recent success was due to acquiring Sungold, a stallion by A.P. Indy who was part of a dispersal of 22 horses.
Hands down, the most famous horse of Flying Horse Farms was Travelling Victor. The colt they bred made history in 1983 when he became the first horse not raced in Ontario to win Horse of the Year honours in Canada as well as a Sovereign Award for the Older Horse category. In 1983, the Bennetts also won a Sovereign Award as Breeder of the Year.
As horse breeders, both R.J. and Lois are frontrunners within British Columbia, Canada, and beyond. With such success, one may wonder if there is a formula they follow or specific attributes within the horses sought by R.J. and Lois. Lois said they paid a lot of attention to bloodlines. R.J. and Lois were some of the first from British Columbia to go to Kentucky to buy mares in foal to bring back. They made many trips to Kentucky breeding stock sales to find mares in foal to improve the bloodlines at Flying Horse Farm. Lois says that she and R.J. agreed you must examine a horse's race record, conformation, and breeding for optimal results. It was the broodmares they pursued with all three of these traits as well as her produce record.
“DON’T MISTAKE LUCK FOR GENIUS.” R.J.
R.J. & Lois Bennett were inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2016, they were recognized with the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit. They are considered the most successful horse breeders in British Columbia’s history. R.J. and Lois Bennet were immersed in the breeding and racing industry for more than five decades.
R.J. BENNETT
Horse racing wasn’t the only thrill R.J. had with horses. From his horse Flame, which he trained to rear like Trigger, to his celebrated showjumping Cleveland bay named Stockbroker, who together they won many awards in the showjumping world. In a myriad of ways, horses were a big part of the Bennett’s family life, too. As members of the Kelowna Riding Club, the Bennett family were some of the original members responsible for purchasing the land for the club. Three of their four children enjoyed riding and competing with horses, and all four had been involved with the horses on the farm. Lois states the family traveled a lot, met many interesting people, and made lifelong friends - all because of horses.
The Bennett family competed at many local clubs, including Kelowna, Vernon, Peachland, Salmon Arm, IPE Armstrong, Penticton, Kamloops, south Okanagan, the Pacific National Exhibition, and several areas of Alberta, Washington, and Oregon. In the earliest years before the highways were set, the Bennetts sent their horses to events by train, and one person would always travel with them. Eventually, R.J. and Lois became one of the first to own a horse trailer in the Okanagan, which was built locally by their friend Bill Cameron.
Rosanne is the daughter of R.J. and Lois, and she fondly remembers the family traveling together and participating in equine-related sports. At the time of Rosanne’s youth, tent pegging was popular with the local clubs, the Vernon Riding Club and the Kelowna Riding Club, and a Bennett family favourite. Tent pegging was a race and a great spectator event - usually the last competition of the day. The premise was this: tent pegs were evenly placed in a row in the ground. Riders raced with a spear in hand, galloped towards the tent peg, and speared it - it was about speed and accuracy. Riders raced two abreast, sometimes four teams also comprised of two or four riders.
Horses were the reason the Bennett family traveled widely. Their many adventures introduced them to countless interesting people and saw them forging lifelong friendships. Mention the Bennett family name in any equine circles, and you’re likely to find their admirers.
R.J. crossed the finish line for a final time on July 5, 2024. He is survived by his wife and four children. He greatly impacted the Thoroughbred breeding, racing, and jumping industries in ways difficult to quantify. However, R.J. and Lois created a life that can easily be described as iconic and legendary. It is safe to say that R.J. Bennett created a legacy to last many decades to come.
Article by Amber Zierath, a Calgary-based, equine-focused writer and the author of the best-selling fiction novel Horse Karma. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her with the horses; riding bareback in the mountains or spending time with the 60 geldings that inspire her. Learn more at: amberzierath.com
VOLUNTEERING IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR
Husbands and family members, beware; you are about to take a journey into the world of horse showing. Standing on the side of the arena watching your kids, wives, and husbands throw a rope, run down a cow, or ride a trail class with your hands in your pockets is a thing of the past. Now it’s your time to shine! How? By volunteering. My husband and sister have always been at shows to support my efforts and dreams. Hours of waiting around so I can have minutes in the competition ring seems like a great deal for me. But is it a good deal for them? This year we have discovered how, as volunteers, at shows, and other equine-related events we can play an important role in the success of the horse industry.
MY PERSONAL FAMILY VOLUNTEERING STORIES 2024
Maureen Neubeker
My sister Maureen, who no longer has a horse, has renewed her interest in going to events by being more than just a spectator. “This is the first year I have volunteered at horse shows. Volunteering at events has made me feel like I belong and that I’m still a part of the horse industry. As a spectator, I enjoy watching, but volunteering has opened up a new way to not only enjoy events but be a part of the action and learn more about what the classes are about.”
Craig James
My husband Craig has spent countless hours trailering me around the countryside from show to show, never complaining. He was a little shocked when I signed him up to volunteer. He wasn’t sure he would be able to help since he has some physical limitations and no real horse experience. Well, he discovered he loves volunteering! “It’s a chance to learn so much, especially since I don’t ride. I get the opportunity to learn more about what my wife does, and that helps me understand more when I’m watching her train and she’s talking her way through a ride. I feel more in tune at a show when I volunteer. I get a better understanding of what is happening at the shows. I feel that I am more helpful to my wife since I’m more in the know. I even feel pretty connected to the other competitors, and they are so encouraging and let me know I’m doing a great job.”
Laureen James
For me, I am thrilled that I signed these two up to help at some shows. I knew they’d be a bit apprehensive, but I was hopeful that it would give them something to do other than be at my beck and call. Yup, I’m a horse show Diva, I think they were glad to have a solid reason to ditch me. The three of us volunteered for the Alberta Ranch Horse Versatility Show in Didsbury, AB. I noticed that they had a call for volunteers on their Web site. It turned out none of us had to be association members to help out. They were just so happy to have us at the show. We arrived early, and they put us to work. We liked that the shifts were short and that we could watch the classes while volunteering.
Zack Straker
Matt Gingras
Zack Straker Alberta Ranch Horse Versatility Vice President and Volunteer Coordinator. I interviewed Zack a few days after the show about his position as the volunteer coordinator.
Q Are there particular activities where volunteers need specialized experience?
A “Yes. In our sport, we need some volunteers who can help with organizing cattle and holding cattle for the cow classes. For safety reasons, these volunteers need prior cattle handling experience. We also need volunteers to run the in and out gates and other tasks that do not require any experience. We take a few minutes to train the volunteers, and we keep their shifts to one and a half hours so they can also enjoy the show. We really appreciate our volunteers.”
Weighing in - author and volunteer Laureen James, “I really did feel valued! The announcer did a great job of thanking all the volunteers for their help in putting on a great show. Even the competitors thanked the volunteers. Zack not only organized the volunteer efforts but competed at the event in all the classes. Talk about organized!” Back to Zack Straker.
Q Is there anything else you’d like to add?
A “I think volunteering is a great opportunity for youth to become more involved in the running of shows and to learn more about setup, running classes, and teardown. Youth are the future of sport, and we need to be able to pass the torch to them. I’d also like to say that it’s important for show committees to always give many thanks to volunteers throughout the show. Let them know they are valued. This is the first year that we have had a volunteer coordinator. It has helped us to organize and coordinate volunteer efforts.
Matt Gingras Gingras Performance Horses, Alberta Reined Cow Horse Director. Matt specializes in reined cow horse and cutting training, rope horse training, and colt starting. He offers lessons and extensive non-pro and show horse programs. His facility is located east of Strathmore, AB. I had a quick phone conversation with Matt about volunteering and how important it is for the future of horse sport.
Q What are some of the perks for volunteering at horse shows?
A “One of the greatest perks I can think of is volunteers being in a position to listen to trainers coaching clients and even discuss their own show strategies. At our shows, we offer volunteer members free stabling. You volunteer for a said amount of time, and your horse’s stall is free. That’s a winning situation.”
It seems that volunteers get lots of great opportunities at horse shows and events. Here’s a recap.
VOLUNTEERING ALLOWS US TO
» Learn about an equine event we are thinking of competing in
» To feel a part of something
» Gives non-riders a chance to participate
» Free education about a sport of interest
» Making new friends
» Be valued
TIPS TO RETAIN VOLUNTEERS
» Feed them well
» Have one person as a point of contact (volunteer coordinator)
» Keep shifts short
» Make sure volunteers have the tools, information, and knowledge to do the job
» Written job descriptions
» Sign-up sheets
» Treat people like they matter; the success of your show depends on happy volunteers
» Clear communication is key
There you have it! My family has really enjoyed volunteering this year, and we plan to continue next year. I hope you will volunteer at the shows you go to. It’s so worth the experience!
Article by Laureen James BCom, Journalist, EC/NCCP Coach Certification IOB. Laureen is an equine journalist who writes for many publications. She also writes for the pet industry and is a columnist for Unison 50+ News. She has covered rodeos and related events over the past few years as a journalist and photographer.
Photographer Mary Reimers, Okotoks
Horse Health Introduction to Equine Kinesiology Taping
You have seen it on Olympic athletes, at your physiotherapist’s office, maybe even had it applied to you, and now you may be seeing it applied to horses! Kinesiology tape, what is it, why is it being used, and can it really help us or our horses?
Kinesiology tape has been around since the 1970s, when it was developed by Japanese chiropractor Dr. Kenzo Kase, who was looking for a modality that would help to support and improve his treatments. Before the introduction of kinesiology tape, the tapes being used were thick and rigid without any elasticity, which was great for stabilizing joints but did not provide any flexibility or range of motion.
Kinesiology is the study of motion. How can motion be studied and/or helped if the tape being used is restricting movement? Enter in kinesiology tape, a flexible tape made up of a stretchy weaved fabric that has a heat-activated adhesive. This innovative combination allows for a variation of light, moderate, or controlled movement of tendons, ligaments, and muscles, which allows for better healing and support of the soft tissue.
As with most things that see success in human therapies, kinesiology tape slowly made its way into the world of horses in the early 2000’s. Our equine partners have similar anatomy to humans and are hardworking athletes who could also derive the same benefits of kinesiology tape as the humans using it. But how does it work with all that hair? This is a question that I often hear, but the tape may work even better on horses than humans! When we think about horses, we know that they can control their individual hairs. They have the ability to raise and lower them to help keep themselves warm or cool off as needed. What this tells us is that each of those hairs is attached to a nerve, and when the tape lifts the hair, it starts to send information into those nerves and throughout the body. This communicates with the healing and feel-good nerve cells called mechanoreceptors and helps to block the pain receptors called nociceptors.
Tape can be applied in a variety of ways that create different reactions in the horse’s soft tissue. When it is applied, the stretch on the tape creates a recoil effect that lifts the hair, which in turn lifts the skin and continues lifting through the layers of the soft tissue. This lift creates a multitude of reactions, including creating space and providing relief in areas of tightness, congestion, and swelling. It can reduce swelling and pain without the use of compression, which can further damage already injured soft tissue. By varying the amount of stretch placed on the tape as well as the direction of the application, we can help to support damaged tendons and muscles while still allowing for full range of motion.
Other applications can help to relax sore and tight muscles by helping to lengthen the muscle fibres as the horse moves. Kinesiology tape can decrease recovery time from a hard workout or sporting event, reducing the possibility of injury the next time you head out to the arena, fields, or trails. A high-quality kinesiology tape can stay on a horse for up to a week, at which time it should be re-assessed to ensure that the application is still being effective, even if the horse is out in their regular paddock just doing all the horse things!
Some of the ways that applying kinesiology tape to a horse can help include
- Relieving pressure
- Pain relief
- Improving circulation
- Supporting joints and tendons (including limb deformities in foals!)
- Assisting in muscle activity
- Relieving tight muscles and fascia
- Proprioception
- Scar tissue release
What about the colours? There is a large variety of bright colours, and you may have wondered if there is a significance to them. While there are not technically any kinesiological differences in the colours of the tapes, there are many practitioners and owners that strongly believe in colour therapy. Colour therapy is thought to influence
the healing process. This is a great holistic addition to the use of kinesiology tape and has actually been practiced since ancient times! The bright colours are an excellent help for therapists, and owners can see at a quick glance in the field that the tape application is still on the horse without having to catch them and bring them in.
The use of kinesiology tape can be beneficial for horses at all stages of life and levels of athleticism, both on its own or as an extension of another modality like massage or chiropractic work. Equine kinesiology tape is currently being used by professional therapists and owners in countries around the world and on horses in many sports. Although widely accepted, there are some restrictions being placed on the when and where of the use of tape is allowed in certain sports by governing organizations such as the International Federation for Equine Sports (FEI), making it important to be aware of all the rules when using kinesiology tape during competitions.
Since the inception of the use of kinesiology tape on horses in the early 2000's, there have been few changes, but recently, there have been some great developments in the equine kinesiology tape industry. Where previously the main difference in the available tapes was the strength of the adhesive, recently a new line of tapes has come to market created by a Canadian therapist that is taking the taping world by storm. This new line is a collection of equine kinesiology tapes that includes three types of tape that are meant for use in different applications, making it the only equine kinesiology tape company in the world with these options. The Hestaband collection includes a basic cotton tape in two sizes and a satin tape, which has a stronger weave and adhesive and was created mainly for joint support and tendon support. This tape is a game changer when working with limb deformities in foals and when supporting injured joints and ligaments. There is also the newest addition of a lymphatic tape, which is made to
mimic the lymphatic system and helps to evacuate fluid from areas of swelling. For example, taping chronic windpuffs and swelling around injuries with the ease of applying a single strip of tape removes the need for time-consuming and complicated basket weave applications that were previously the industry standard.
With these exciting developments, it is important to say that equine kinesiology taping knowledge can be passed along to owners, who can then continue to help their own horses between visits with their equine wellness team members. An owner or trainer wanting to apply kinesiology tape to their horses can take a variety of either online or in-person courses learning how, when, and when not to apply tape. I always suggest taking an in-person course so that you have a chance to get familiar with the tape as well as having a chance to practice applying it to the horse. Once you learn the correct theory and technique for taping applications, the options become almost endless in the ways you can apply the tape to help your equine partners.
It is also important to note that the use of kinesiology taping does not replace the advice or services of a veterinarian. In the event of an injury or limb deformity, kinesiology tape should be applied by a competent professional with knowledge of equine anatomy and used under the close supervision of your veterinary professional. Photography credits Myra Hencher Photography
Article by Becky Denny EEBW, EEMFR, Whispering Equine Bodyworks Inc. Established in 2019, Becky Denny, owner of Whispering Equine Bodyworks Inc., provides equine massage therapy in southern Alberta and beyond. She is a certified Equinology bodyworker specializing in myofascial release with over 2000 hours of education and training. Becky is also a kinesiology taping instructor, teaching owners the ins and outs of taping their own horses. To work with Becky contact her at whisperingbodyworks@ gmail.com or visit her website at whisperingequinebodyworks.com
AN UNPOPULAR OPINION
OHere are some examples of common equine behaviours, they all have something in common; the horse tosses their head under saddle, difficulty picking up a lead, unexplained lameness, random bucking or bolting, spooking, refusals, herd boundness, uncharacteristic behaviour.
ften the comment or advice I hear for most of those problems is “you need to push them through it,” “they need more wet saddle pads,” or “get a cowboy to ride them out." The unexplained lameness doesn’t fit with that dialogue but is almost always associated with each and every problem. I disagree with the “wisdom” of these statements. I have never once seen them work with lasting or long-term success. Why? Because they don’t take into account the fact that the horse is trying to communicate. Now if communication with the horse is not a priority, then pushing them through will establish you as a dominant predator; the horse will go along to get along and begin hiding symptoms of pain, just like they would in the wild. If the communication has been so one-sided that the horse has resorted to extremes, that is on the rider for ignoring the warning signs or quieter please from the horse. Sometimes we miss the signs; it is when we ignore them completely or pass them off as a naughty horse that we end up in trouble later on. What do each of these problems have in common? Pain, either chronic or acute. What will not solve the problem? Pushing through it. What is my unpopular opinion? Sometimes the horse needs a break to heal. Sometimes they need quiet, consistent rehabilitation work to heal. What they don’t need is an ego pushing them and wet saddle pads.
There will always be an exception to the rule. What if the horse has been taught to do something to avoid work? In my experience, they began avoiding work either due to pain or the rider making it difficult. It is up to the horse person to determine what the root cause was and help the horse move forward in a functional way, or to work on their own awareness to stay out of the way and allow the horse to perform. There is one scenario where this does not apply, and that is the spoiled horse. If the horse has been led to believe that they are number one in the hierarchy, they may begin to take over under saddle in a dangerous way. Again, it is up to us to determine if the “no” is due to pain or due to the fact that the rider is number two.
Getting to the root cause is not always easy if we have ignored symptoms for any length of time. There are some common sources of discomfort that can be ruled out:
Dental, saddle fit, ulcers, headache - possibly from dental issues, management, feed, environment, health, feet, thrush, back pain, and yes back pain can be from Thrush too!
The bacteria that causes thrush and white line often causes an excruciating amount of pain, especially in the heel of the frog if it becomes deep enough. Wet pens are not the only culprit. There is also
desert thrush. A smell is not always present; have your farrier check for soft spots in the frog or pockets of infection. I have seen thrush become misdiagnosed as navicular, laminitis, front end lameness, hind end lameness, and a myriad of other ailments. In a desire to relieve the pain in the front, the horse will begin to compensate in other ways. This results in the pain appearing to be elsewhere. Even if the thrush has been treated, the muscle memory from the compensation can remain. Treat the root, alleviate the pain, and redevelop functional movement.
If you make it through that list and you and your horse are still experiencing difficulty, it is time to look deeper or change the movement patterns. What is needed more often than wet saddle pads is time and patience. When working with rehabilitation horses, either due to physical or behavioural problems, I always find the most success in letting them rest and heal. Environment and nutrition will also play largely with a horse feeling better. There is far more success to be found with a horse by slowing down, listening, and building functional movement patterns that help the horse do their job. What they need from us is a sense of awareness and accountability.
What is the number one cause of movement dysfunction? Us, how we ride, our misalignments, our dominant hand, our emotions, our inconsistencies, and our lack of awareness and accountability. This, more than anything else, is what causes our horse problems. So while we learn about how the horse can move more functionally, and while we let them heal, we can take the time to tune into ourselves and our own healing. Working with professionals that help us work towards our own functional movement and awareness will be far more beneficial than finding bandaids that mask the real issues. This is the journey of becoming a responsible rider. By being accountable for the ways we prevent the horse from doing their job, we are able to find solutions that allow the freedom of the movement to happen. The result is a horse that is forward in relaxation. By no means is this an easy journey; it is however simple in the fact that we often need to do less, mindfully, to have a rewarding connection with our horse.
I started this article by looking at common reactions horses have to pain. A diagnosis of a problem can often dishearten riders, and a reactive horse can cause us to become uncomfortable (for good reason!). A horse in pain with a fearful rider is not a recipe for any success. My challenge to you is to look at every obstacle with your horse as an invitation to go deeper into your own awareness and selfdiscovery, be safe, work with professionals you trust, and experiment with letting go.
Article by Sarah Southwell, Sarah is an advocate for positive horse-and-rider relationships. Her experience covers multiple disciplines across most breeds. She is a clinician, coach, trainer, judge, competitor, and breeder located in southern Alberta. To work with Sarah, contact her at canadianequestrianartsacademy@gmail.com or visit her website at canadianequestrianartsacademy. com and sarahsouthwell.com
RESONANT Equine Messages
Horses certainly have opinions and a mind of their own. Often, they’ll use communicative cues to relay their amenability or disdain. They may use signals, visible ways of relaying messages to us; gestures with the tilt of an ear, the swish of a tail, nudging or nipping. Each horse typically has idiosyncrasies unique to them, which might offer a viewpoint understood by those humans closest to them. What if there were a tangible tool we could use to potentially enhance some of the transmissions we receive from our horses?
Sandra Wallin, M.A., an equine artist, author, educator, and psychotherapist, and Kim McElroy, a renowned equine artist and author, have created the publication The Council of Horses Oracle, published by Bear & Company. It consists of a deck of cards curating original artwork and an accompanying guidebook of essays with enlightening passages for humankind and horse kind. It is designed with the potential of deepening our bond with horses and to observe them in different ways, if we are open to it. It is intended to be an instrument of guidance that may offer insights from a horse’s perspective.
People sharing their lives with horses can pull a card either for themselves or on behalf of their horse, and The Council of Horses Oracle gifts insight for a circumstance. If you’re seeking a message from your own horse, stand with them and ask the cards a question - your horse can communicate with you via the cards. Unique to this publication is the distinctive voice of the messages. The horse showcased on the drawn card speaks directly to the reader by telling them a story, one that will resonate with the reader either for themselves, their horse, or as a collective. Sandra and Kim wish for those feeling drawn to work with and explore this publication and for those who fall in love with these horses to be moved to think differently, more deeply and expansively about themselves, their place in the world, and the benevolence and grace of horses.
Kim and Sandra are both avid horsewomen. Each has shared their lives with herds of equines, all of which impacted their lives profoundly as companions, muses, and mentors. Horses have intricately woven themselves into the lives of Sandra and Kim, both professionally and personally. Each of them has lost great equine loves; some they’ve described as great teachers and healers. Several of their own horses appear within the publication, offering words of wisdom for humans and horses.
Sandra recalls a life-altering moment with her horse, Chiron, which prompted her to further seek ways of understanding horses means of communication and deeply listen to them. An instance that resulted in a riding accident that left her unconscious and broken. The accident injured her physically, but it prompted her to ask herself, what was my horse attempting to communicate with me prior to the accident? Sandra wondered if there were a deeper way to listen to horses and better understand potential messages they hoped to convey. Her life’s work is dedicated to just this.
Aside from this project, Sandra extends her wisdom for assisting humans within several life
circumstances by utilizing horses’s therapeutic attributes. She is a sought-after speaker and workshop leader, and she teaches equine and nature-guided wellness worldwide. Sandra stated, “I’ve had the great honour of working with horses in beautiful places around the world, including Ireland, Australia, and in the deserts of Jordan.” Currently, she is writing her doctoral thesis on the healing power of horses.
Sandra has witnessed profound and touching moments within her workshops and wellness sessions. “I’ve seen my own horses, Grace and Chiron (both appearing in the publication), whiffle the crowns of children who are living with autism, breathing warm, slow breaths into their heads while they rest quietly against the body of the horse. I’ve seen horses touch their noses to hearts that have been shattered by grief, to the feet or stomachs of people who yearn to stand in their power. Every gesture is meaningful. Every gesture communicates,” says Sandra.
The other dynamo to this duo is Kim, an award-winning equine artist renowned for her visionary artistic and written creations. She says, “I live, dream about, think about, write about, and draw horses every day. I believe that everything a horse does invites us to listen.” Kim believes a horse’s communication can be transparent or elusive, depending on the moment. The mood of a horse may shift rapidly and often, requiring us to always be on our toes. Kim believes horses have the capacity to teach humanity: unity, trust, collaboration, respect, empathy, humility, and peace.
Sandra and Kim are passionate about the depth of which horses can communicate and guide humans. They’ve made it their life’s work to showcase the myriads of ways we can receive guidance from equines. It is Sandra and Kim’s hope The Council of Horses Oracle gallops into the arms of many.
Article by Amber Zierath, a Calgary-based, equine-focused writer and the author of the best-selling fiction novel Horse Karma. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her with the horses; riding bareback in the mountains or spending time with the 60 geldings that inspire her. Learn more at: amberzierath.com
I DISCOVERED MY LOVE OF HORSES WAS LESS ABOUT WHERE THEY COULD TAKE ME PHYSICALLY THAN THE WAY I FELT WHEN I WAS WITH THEM.
Kim McElroy
Sandra & Xenophon
To learn more about Kim, please visit her website: Official Home of Equine Artist, Kim McElroy | Spirit of Horse Gallery. To learn more about Sandra, please visit her website: Transformation | British Columbia | Chiron’s Way (sandrawallin.com). Bear & Company: Books for Mind, Body & Spirit | Inner Traditions Online Bookstore.
THE CHILLING TRUTH
OF FALL FEEDING
As the leaves change colour and a crisp chill fills the air, fall can seem like a magical time. But for horse owners, it’s also a season that brings unique nutritional challenges, some of which can turn your horse’s diet into a downright fright! Fall feeding mistakes can sneak up on you, leading to serious health issues like colic, laminitis, and metabolic imbalances. Let’s explore how to navigate the spooky season and keep your horse’s nutrition a treat and not a trick.
Eerie Facts & Metabolic Nightmares
As temperatures plummet and days shorten, the nutrient content in pasture grass and hay can drastically change. These changes can lead to nutritional deficiencies, sugar spikes, and caloric distortion, which in turn can lead to digestive disturbances. Colic has also been known to have a much higher prevalence in the fall months, but why is this the case? The answer lies in the combination of weather changes, fluctuating mobility/exercise, and shifts in forage quality causing stress on the horses metabolic systems. The chilly weather can deter your horse from drinking while also forcing them to eat drier, less digestible forage. The combination of these factors creates the perfect storm for colic. If you’d like to learn the signs and facts about colic more in depth, head to my website and read, “Beat the Bellyache: Reducing Colic in Horses.”
As if colic weren’t spooky enough, fall likes to bring a host of other metabolic challenges that can haunt your horse’s health! As previously touched on, fluctuations in nutrient and caloric value are a major contributor to gut issues in horses!
Here are a couple problems to watch out forthis Halloween season:
Equine Metabolic Syndrome, or EMS for short, is another condition that tends to rear its ugly head during fall. This condition occurs due to insulin resistance, which can be exacerbated by high sugar levels in fall forage. What makes this an issue is that it can lead to being susceptible to another condition that can be life-altering and can cause permanent damage, laminitis. While the little ghosts and goblins knocking at your door are excited for sugary treats, as horse owners we want to avoid the sugar high!
Laminitis is a condition that horses can develop that causes inflammation and subsequent separation of the hoof’s laminae, which brings about pain and lameness. This condition can be recurring and cause the rotation and/or sinking of the bone in a horse’s hoof. While the exact sequence of events that leads to laminitis is largely unknown, research does link higher ingestion of NSC’s (non-structural carbohydrates), rapid diet changes, and
nutrient fluctuations as predominant triggers for this condition in susceptible horses. During fall, grass and hay consumption patterns can be altered rapidly, especially in areas with drastic weather changes! Fall grass often has increased sugar content caused by cooler temperatures, which contributed to higher levels of NSC consumption. It also often has a lower nutrient value as it begins to die off, requiring horses to eat larger volumes of other food sources (i.e., hay) in a short period of time.
Dehydration may seem like a summer issue due to excessive heat, especially like the record-breaking heatwaves in Alberta this year; however, it lurks in the shadows during the fall months too. As explained in the September issue article “The Hidden Dangers of Dehydration,” dehydration occurs when there is an excessive loss of body fluids. Cooler weather patterns in the fall mean horses might not feel as thirsty, contributing to reduced intake. This fact, combined with lower moisture content in the forage due to the need to supplement hay instead of fresh grass, can lead to higher risks of dehydration, which is a key factor in many digestive issues such as impaction colic and ulcers.
How to limit the risk:
One of the hardest parts about the weather transition for horse owners is the transitioning of their horses diet! Improper transition increases the chances of metabolic distress, weight loss, or other health issues throughout the colder months. During the summer months your horse likely relies significantly on fresh pasture for their caloric and nutritional value in their diet; however, as the summer moves into fall, the once fresh greens start to die off, forcing the transition to a more hay-forward diet. This can lead to weight loss (more common) or weight gain depending on the hay quality!
Bonus: Halloween Treat Special!
For readers to celebrate the spooky season, treat your horse to something special, pumpkin pie cookies! Use code YUM20 to get 20% off 750g bags of pumpkin pie treats with OrganicG’s. Your horse will love the taste, and you’ll love knowing they’re getting a fun snack from a Canadian-based business!
To reduce the risks of metabolic distress and undesired weight changes in your horse, here are some summer to winter feeding tips:
1 Monitor Water Intake: Ensure your horse has 24/7 access to clean water. Consider adding a water heater to encourage drinking during cooler days.
2 Limit Morning Pasture Grazing: As temps drop and mornings get frosty, try to limit your horses grazing ability within the pastures during the early morning. This is often when sugar levels in the grasses are at their peak.
3
Gradual Change: Slowly transition your horse from pasture to hay over a period of weeks (between 14 and 21 days) to avoid shocking their digestive system. Start by offering hay in small amounts while pasture is still lush and gradually increase as pasture grazing ability decreases. **This goes for any changes in their diet; if you are introducing forage, grains, or new supplements, always do it gradually to avoid digestive upset!
4 Monitor Body Condition: Regularly check your horse’s weight and where they would score on the body condition scale. This helps you better determine if your horse is losing or gaining weight or muscle.
5 Adjust Caloric Intake: Most Canadian horses’s activity levels decrease with the cooler months; it’s important to adjust their caloric intake accordingly. Additionally, hay cut later in the season may have lower nutrient levels, making it less satisfying and nutritious for your horse. Make sure they are getting high fibre and protein to stay warm, but watch their NSC and caloric intake depending on their body condition and metabolic history. **Consider supplementing concentrates or grains with a higher caloric value if weight is dropping or, conversely, cutting back on those if weight is being gained.
and cozy up in a blanket, don’t forget to exercise your horse! If you are transitioning your horse into a stall for the winter, make sure you are keeping a regular workout routine for them to keep their digestive system moving and grooving.
Fall can be a very ominous time for equine metabolic troubles, but with careful feed management, you can help reduce the risk factors that lead to health issues like colic, laminitis, or extreme weight changes. In this article, I hope you learned some new tricks to help make the fall season feeding a treat.
Article by Britain Mills-Dawes, the owner of Stable Instincts, an equine business dedicated to equine wellness. In addition to her practice, Britain has been a speaker and demoist at some of the largest equine events in western Canada, including Horse Expo and Calgary Stampede. To work with Britain or book a clinic, contact her at stableinstincts@gmail.com or visit her website at stableinstincts.ca
Dog Tip of the Month
Just Hanging Out With your Doggo!
Imeet many dogs - shall we call the ones I am writing about… ‘city dogs’. Dogs that really haven’t been exposed to many common life places, people, changes, or things. (Especially changes with all of those!) When a dog that hasn’t seen or experienced things outside of their own regular day to day predictable life, new to them exposures can be traumatic for them. More often than not, there just isn’t warning or awareness to allow dogs to observe long enough to make good decisions rather than just reacting instantly to the new stimulus. This reaction can easily become a lifelong pattern of how dogs cope with unknowns. ‘Processing’ rarely happens, being replaced with anxiety, trauma, and oftentimes aggression (the best offence is a good defence, right?).
Places like forests, open space pastures, creeks, and narrow trails; different people, as in people of different ethnic backgrounds having different skin colour, clothing (especially uniforms and hats!), speaking different languages, that have different diets (different smell), and then there are all those scary dog eating things’ like big rocks, fallen trees, tall grass, tarps, loud children, vehicles, bicycles, or even different types of footing like gravel, mud, puddles, fallen autumn branches, and dry crunchy leaves can take many dogs by surprise! Oh, it’s a big, colourful, scary world out there, for dogs too! What is ‘common’ for one dog’s experience can be totally uncommon and even downright terrifying for others!
Do your dog a giant favour and help them experience as many varieties of environments, noises, people, places, and things that you can think of! Use your imagination and have fun educating your canine buddy. Get creative and look for different experiences to help your dog grow emotionally and mentally. A stressed, fearful dog can’t think, and often, dogs will associate their scared emotions with their exposure to things they don’t understand. If they are pressured (or worse, reprimanded) at a time when they are reactive to a stimulus, they can also associate that fear with the person closest to them, which makes your dog’s life all the more complicated. Take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself for your dogs to become calmer, smarter, braver, and evermore grateful for your reliable leadership.
EVERYTHING PETS (Princeton BC) 250-295-7381
Quality Foods & Supplies for all your Pets! See us on FB
When your leadership is calm and consistent, they can just be happy followers without having to react. Simply, a calm dog can think – a calm dog can process. A calm, thinking dog makes better decisions.
Take the time it takes to help your dog relax and have the ability to connect the dots when exposing them to new life experiences. Both you and your dog will enjoy life so much more extensively without fear or stress when your dog can develop selfconfidence and a higher level of emotional fitness quietly and gradually. It’s a simple process really; just hang out with your dog in different places! Just hang out with your dog in all kinds of different scenarios, where new environments and objects can be observed, smelled, seen, heard, and… calmly accepted. (With Halloween just around the corner, opportunities will be everywhere!) Give your dog the time and the safe space they need, without expectations. Please note that when your dog is scared or anxious, this is not the time to pet them and love on them! Stay calm yourself and maintain a relaxed stance (calking a leg and yawning will help) so that your dog can sense how unthreatening and acceptable the stimulus is. If you are nervous for or with your dog, your dog will follow your lead, and it will definitely take much longer (if ever) for them to figure out what is totally okay and what could be a dog eating threat!
Sitting at a distance on the grass or a park bench is a great place to start. Start from a distance, and as your dog processes (note their licking, yawning, and relaxed body language when things become more acceptable), just shorten the space between you and the stimulus you are exposing them to until it’s all no big deal for them at all. Your dog’s behaviour will tell you if you have shortened the distance too much at once, and if so, just retreat a little. Have your dog on leash and let them just watch and observe. You could choose playgrounds, swimming parks, beaches, parking lots, coffee shops, and dog-friendlymshops, construction sites, outside the fence of a farm yard, farmer’s market, water parks, malls, even dog parks (especially if other dogs are your dog’s fear).
For your pet needs contact:
Farm Dog of the Month
You can gradually expose them to all kinds of scary ‘life stuff’ like loud children playing, bicycles, skate boards, cows, goats, pigs, sheep, llamas, donkeys, horses, chipmunks, obstacles, loud equipment, cars, etc etc…The more exposure, the more confident and brave your dog will become! Bottom line: the calmer and smarter your dog is, the more enjoyable your outings will be, and the more often you’ll want to spend time with your best buddy, doggo! Enjoy the process!
My name is Morgan, and I’m an Anatolian shepherd cross. These are my rat-terrier friends. We love rides on the side by side; we help ranch 90 acres in Quesnel. Our favourite things to do are move cows and check fences with Sandrine and John, and of course keep them safe from squirrels and bears.
Send us a photo of your favourite pooch! Tell us the dog’s name, breed, and up to 50 words about him/her. We will print your first name (or initials) and your city/province.
E-mail to hello@saddleup.ca and put in subject line: TOP DOG OF THE MONTH. Photos will be printed on a first come first serve basis.
Article by Patricia Skinner-Porter, Patricia is the owner and operator of Harmony Farm Kennel & Lamb at Monte Lake BC. Offering custom care boarding (non-dog park style). Patricia provides personal care, attention and daily exercise for ALL dog types, breeds, and doganalities! She also offers one-on-one dog owner training, helping individuals to create healthy happy relationships with their dogs. Monthly she shares her vast array of experience with beneficial tips for you and your pooch to enjoy!
HARMONY FARM KENNEL AND LAMB.com, Monte Lake, BC, 250-375-2528. “Cutsom Care” boarding welcomes ALL dogs!
OUT About Saddle Up
The 123 rd Interior Provincial Exhibition, Armstrong BC Armstrong, BC Light and Heavy Horse competitors put on a spectacular show in all disciplines
For 5 days of packed events, all ages came out to participate in their discipline, showing off their horses and skill set. Come participate, spectate, & enjoy next year's 124th IPE. Hope to see you there!
Events + Club HUB
Vernon riding club vernonridingclub.com
Hunter Derby, October 19-20
Kelowna Riding Club kelownaridingclub.ca
Fall Hunter Jumper Show, Oct 4-6
Dustin Drader Intro to Colt Starting & Horsemanship Clinic, Oct 18-20
Working Equitation Clinic & Schooling Show
Oct 25-27
BC Carriage Driving Society (BCCDS) bccarriagedriving.com
Cherry Hill Driving Event, Oct 26
The Alberta Carriage Driving Association Fun Drive, October 5, Winfield Ranch
Tack Sale, Oct 19, Stony Plain, AB Miniature Horse & Pony Driving Clinic, Oct 19-20, Didsbury, AB
Chilliwack Riding Club - crchorse.ca
The longest running horse club in BC Gymkhana, Heritage Park Arena Oct 27
Maple Ridge Equi-Sports Centre mrec.ca MREC Fall Schooling Shows
Dressage/Jump, Oct 20 Hunter Jumper & Flat Classes Oct 27
Thinking of joining a club or association, here are a variety of to choose from
Southlands Riding Club southlandsridingclub.com
Schooling and Halloween show Oct 27
Thunderbird Show Park - tbird.ca
Pacific Regional Dressage Championships Oct 4-6
Spruce Meadows sprucemeadows.com
Oktoberfest, Oct 2-6, welcomes horses and riders to the Spruce Meadows Equi-Plex.
Special Events!
Look for Saddle Up Out & About or read about the event coverage in our magazine! Email us at Hello@SadddleUp.ca to have your event published and check out Events + Club Hub on SADDLEUP.CA
SEPTEMBER NEWS
Moving into October, we begin to reset our expectations of horse activities. I hope that everyone is content with their accomplishments throughout the summer. Remember, even falling flat on your face is moving forward. Looking ahead to fall, as the days get shorter and the rain begins, we often cannot do as we planned with our riding on that day. Be comfortable with knowing your horse is fed, warm, and has water and shelter. These are the things that are important to him. Don’t be put off by not doing the things that are part of your program. It only makes you anxious. Pause and be grateful for your life with horses. Be ready to move on. The Vintage Riders Working Equitation series of practice rides was appreciated. Starting in late September, there will be three drop-in ground-pole events. We applaud Rita R for the use of her arena. Summer memories were supplied by Sandy L.; she and her husband hosted a Vintage Riders Working Equitation sleepover retreat. As well as coaching and companionship, pizza was supplied from an on-site outdoor pizza oven. With everyone a little tired and dirty, that went down a treat. Thank you for your hospitality!
The highlight of the summer was the South Langley Campout. Friday was set up day. After making sure the horses were settled in their pens, the afternoon and evening passed pleasantly. People snoozing in their chairs, happy chatter, and food preparation. Simply laying back, looking at the trees, absorbing the beauty of the outdoor surroundings, and deciding what tomorrow would bring. Saturday there were
• BC Therapeutic Riding Association - bctherapeuticriding.com
• Vintage Riders Equestrian club FB page
• BC Paint Horse Club - bcphc.com
• Wild Rose Draft Horse Association - wrdha.com
• BCEA Eventing Association - bceventing.ca
• Alberta Horse Trials Association - albertahorsetrials.com
• British Columbia Hunter Jumper Association - bchja.com
• Jump Alberta - jumpalberta.com
• B.C. Ranch Cutting Horse Assoc. bcrcha.com
• Canadian Cowboy Challenge - canadiancowboychallenge.com
• Alberta Donkey and Mule Club - albertadonkeyandmule.ca
• 100 Mile & District Outriders - facebook.com/100MileOutriders
• Endurance Riders enduranceridersassocofbc.wildapricot.org
• Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association - cantra.ca
• Working Equitation Canada - workingeq.ca
• Backcountry Horseman of British Columbia - bchorsemen.org
• Alberta Backcountry Horseman - abhorseman.org
• BC Team Roping Association - ropebc.ca
• JP Ranch Arena - facebook.com/jprancharena
• Interior Cutting Horse Association - ichacutting.com
• Ranch Horse Revolution Club - FB ranchhorserevolution
• Northern Saddle Club - northernsaddleclub.com
• Canadian Pony Club -canadianponyclub.org
• 4-H Canada - 4-h-canada.ca
• British Columbia Quarter Horse Association www.bcqha.com
• Vancouver Island -North and South Is. - nviha.com & vihja.ca
Lets get out & support our local shows!
Vintage Riders Equestrian Club
different groups that rode out in all directions. Horses and people making good social connections. That evening was the potluck supper, open to all members. The food offerings were amazing. A “get rid of it” gift exchange brought lots of laughter. As the saying goes, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. The soft summer breezes took an abrupt U-turn Saturday night. A wind and rain storm blew in with gusto. Damped the Sunday plans for sure. Though the weekend was cut short, those who attended came away with the shared satisfaction of overcoming the elements. And great story to share with friends and family. Summing up this time of the turning of the seasons, do what is right for you and your horse. Slow it down a bit and be sure your horse knows that all is well between you. Have a quick sniff of the second blooming of the roses! They will be gone soon.
Slow it down a bit and be sure your horse knows that all is well between you. Have a quick sniff of the second blooming of the roses! They will be gone soon.
Regards, Kendra K
The Canadian Cowboy Challenge
CHALLANGE CATEGORIES:
Shooting Sprouts (SS)
Older Than Dirt (OTD)
Novice (N)
Rookie (R) NonPro (NP)
Bucking Crazies (BC) Youth (Y)
Open (O)
Aug 3, Thorsby Haymakers Double Header, Alberta, judged by Leane Buxton
SS; Bailey Black riding Red, Y; 1: Peyton Nowicki riding, Rip, 2: Kinley Hewlett riding Coffee, OTD; 1: Murray Buxton riding Ross, 2: Alana Eaton riding George, N; Sue Ambron riding Hank, R ; 1: Kerry Salomons riding Jazz, 2: Kinley Hewlett riding Coffee, NP; 1: Angela Spear riding Molson, 2: Sarah Schumann riding Midas Touch, O; 1: Angela Spear riding Molson, 2: Alana Eaton riding George, BC; 1: Lynn Boake riding Remi, 2: Murray Buxton riding Frosty
Aug 4, Thorsby Haymakers Double Header, Alberta, judged by Leane Buxton SS; Bailey Black riding Red, Y: Peyton Nowicki riding Rip, 2: Kinley Hewlett riding Coffee, OTD; 1: Murray Buxton riding Ross, 2: Alana Eaton riding George, N; 1: Sue Ambron riding Hank, 2: Paula McGinnis riding Phantom, R ; 1: Geri Zimmel riding Emmy, 2: Bailey Black riding Red, NP; 1: Sarah Schumann riding Midas Touch, 2: Eric Frogley riding Archie, O; 1: Sarah Schumann riding Midas Touch, 2: Angela Spear riding Molson, BC; 1: Lynn Boake riding Remi, 2: Murray Buxton riding Frosty
Aug 4, Halcyonia Farms, Saskatchewan, judged by Melissa Zarubiak (waiting for Aug 3rd results)
Y; 1: P Ella Wall riding Tuff, 2: Colter Kubin riding Magnum, OTD; Louise Saunders riding Dancer, N; 1: Wanda Marie Semeniuk riding Jackson, 2: Wanda Marie Semeniuk riding Skip, R; 1: Lucy Davey riding Dancer, 2: Ella Wall riding Tuff, NP; 1: Lucy Davey riding Halcyonian Sweet Pea, 2: Crystal Johnson riding Pollux, O; 1: Breanna Sikorski riding Banner, 2: Crystal Johnson riding Pollux, BC; 1: Breanna Sikorski riding Zahara (Zippy Do Da), 2: Hayley Andreen riding Snuffs
As of this writing, the results of the CCC Finals held on September 21 were not available. Results will be posted next month. But at this time I would like to refer to the CCC Rules that “it is the responsibility of each member to be acquainted with and adhere to these rules.” The CCC “Mission Statement” focuses on the team per se, but also it should be understood that members keep in mind to have fun, enjoy their horses, learn, and help fellow competitors. General rule number 1.3 states, “Members are to demonstrate excellence in the ambassadorship of the sport of the Canadian Cowboy Challenge”. Rule 1.3 is general, but CCC members should be promoting the positive aspects and possibilities in an environment that the CCC was created in and intended to be. Until next month, ride safe.
Submitted by Hans Kollewyn
Aug 17, YKnott Double Header, Alberta, judged by Leane Buxton
Y; 1: Peyton Nowicki riding Rip, 2: Kinley Hewlett riding Coffee, OTD; 1: Alana Eaton riding George, 2: Murray Buxton riding Ross, N; 1: Kaitlyn Marsh riding Daisy, 2: Rolanda Eadie riding Jed, R ; 1: Geri Zimmel riding Emmy, 2: Ian Scully riding Charlie NP; 1: Murray Buxton riding Ross, 2: Angela Spear riding Midas Touch, O; 1: Murray Buxton riding Ross, 2: Alana Eaton riding George, BC; 1: Murray Buxton riding Frosty 2: Heather Moss riding Reese
Aug 18, YKnott Double Header, Alberta, judged by Leane Buxton
Y; 1: Peyton Nowicki riding Rip, 2: Kinley Hewlett riding Coffee, OTD; 1: Murray Buxton riding Ross, 2: Alana Eaton riding George, N; 1: Kaitly Marsh riding Daisy, 2: Rolanda Eadie riding Jed, R ; 1: Kerry Salomons riding Jazz, 2: Shelly Knott riding Jose NP; 1: Koren LeVoir riding Shadow, 2: Sarah Schumann riding Midas Touch, O; 1: Angela Spear riding Molson, 2: Denton Keith riding Louis, BC; 1: April Hall riding Willy, 2: Joanne Card riding Holly
Aug 24, Halcyonia Farms, Challenges 3 & 4, Saskatchewan, judged by Melissa Zarubiak
Y; Ella Wall riding Tuff, OTD; 1: Louise Saunders riding Dancer, 2: Shelly Johnson riding Jewel, N; 1: Wanda Marie Semeniuk riding Jackson, 2: Wanda Marie Semeniuk riding Skip, R ; 1: Lucy Davey riding Dancer, 2: Crystal Johnson riding Pollux, NP; 1: Shelly Johnson riding Jewel and Vanessa Cote riding Doc, O; 1: Vanessa Cote riding Doc, 2: Shelly Johnson riding Jewel, BC; 1: Breanna Sikorski riding Zahara (Zippy Do Da), 2: Anja Slinde riding Voodo
Aug 25, Halcyonia Farms, Challenges 3 & 4, Saskatchewan, judged by Melissa Zarubiak
Y; Ella Wall riding Tuff, OTD; Louise Saunders riding Dancer, N; 1: Wanda Marie Semeniuk riding Jackson, 2: Wanda Marie Saunders riding Skip, R; 1: Lucy Davey riding Dancer, 2: Ella Wall riding Tuff, NP; 1: Vanessa Cote riding Doc , 2: Crystal Johnson riding Pollex, O; 1: Vanessa Cote riding Doc, 2: Breanna Sikorski riding Banner, BC; 1: Breanna Sikorski riding Zahara (Zippy Do Da), 2: Vanessa Cote riding Titan
Alberta Donkey and Mule Club
August has flown by, with much of the membership participating in various events and shows throughout the province. Congratulations go out to Melissa Glowinski and her mule Jessica Rabbit for 3 fantastic runs at this year’s Calgary Stampede Cowboy-Up Challenge! On September 15th, our club members participated in the Green/Ground Driving Clinic with Jed Howlett and Parkland Equestrian. Then on September 28-29th, we had a great time at the Third Annual Long Ears Play Weekend in Didsbury; all activities were open to all equines, not just long ears (although we’re pretty sure they have more fun!). Watch next month for pictures from our adventures! And don’t forget to check out the
Alberta Donkey and Mule Club: Cheer for the Ears!
By Amanda Enmark
Pictures are with permission and were taken by Luke Clarke-Davey.
The Back Country Horsemen of BC
TUNKWA PROVINCIAL PARK EQUESTRIAN CAMPS
#5 IN A SERIES ON HORSE CAMPS
It is rustic-style camping with picnic tables, fire rings, outhouses, garbage bins, and corrals for equines (horses/ mules). The camp host keeps water tanks filled with non-potable water (equine use). There is a camp host and a fee for camping during the recreation season. For more information on fees, directions, and potable water availability, check the BC Parks website at https://bcparks.ca
Back Country Horsemen of BC members built both equestrian camp sets of corrals. They were built many years ago and offer some outstanding riding and camping with horses. The Tunkwa site is the newer of the two and was not touched by the wildfire three years ago. It did not need any repairs, but in May of this year (2024), three chapters came together and did upgrades to each site. Seventeen able and enthusiastic volunteers showed up. At both the Tunkwa and Leighton sites, we added poles to attach either a tarp or shade cloth to, as the corrals are out in the open with no trees to offer shade in the heat of summer. Bring your own tarp or shade cloth. Set up for 10’x10’, but any size can work.
Leighton was the site that needed the repairs. Many of the posts were either broken, rotten, or burned off underground. The entire east and north sides of the perimeter fence had been burned in the fire but have since been replaced by BC Parks. So, what our BCHBC volunteers had to focus on was the inside of the corrals. They are now repaired and ready for equestrian campers.
Campers with ATVs and dirt bikes are allowed to camp at Leighton but not Tunkwa. They idle in and out only within the park, a very short distance to get to trails outside the park. All trails inside the park are hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding only. So far, it is rare to see a pedal bike on the trails. This is also a very popular fishing destination.
All trails are open again, but the impacts of the wildfire are still very evident. There are a host of trails, some that are shared with motorized and some that are hiking and horseback riding only. The unfortunate thing about the wildfire is that the signage for the most part was burned and has not been replaced as of yet. There is a hand-drawn map at each equestrian campground and a georeferenced map for the Avenza app listed in the Horse Council Trails database. You will need the Avenza app. “Use it or lose”it”—hope to see you out equestrian camping at Tunkwa Provincial Park!
Article by Rose Schroeder, BCHBC Shuswap Chapter
Riding the Lake Loop
Fixing the Leighton equestrian site corrals
View of the Leighton equestrian camp
View of the Tunkwa Equestrian Camp
Relaxing after lunch on the Big Meadow Loop
Promoting equine activities and knowledge in the south Cariboo with Shows, Clinics, Gymkhanas and more. President: Danita McLaren
Alberta Donkey and Mule Club
ARMSTRONG ENDERBY RIDING CLUB
Schooling Shows (Eng/West/Games), Amstrong Fairgrounds, April to Sept. www.armstrongenderbyridingclub.ca 325
BC CARRIAGE DRIVING SOCIETY
Pleasure, Combined, Recreation from Minis to Drafts, www.bccarriagedriving.com 824
BC INTERIOR ARABIAN HORSE ASSOC.
Pres: Wally Goertz 250-546-6004 325 asmarawg@telus.net, clinics, Recreational riding programs, Awards/Social Activ. 325
Play Days • Clinics • Shows • Trail Rides • Community Events • Knowledge Sharing High Point in Competitive and Recreational Categories albertadonkeyandmule.ca 325 625
bctherapeuticriding.com Promoting therapeutic riding, equine-based therapeutic services, and para-equestrian activities throughout BC through networking, educational programming, and outreach activities.
Canadian Cowboy Challenge A SPORT for the whole Family! Seven Divisions to accommodate all! For more info please call 403-828-2044 or visit www.canadiancowboychallenge.com 325
Visit us online: cantra.ca
Email: ctra@golden.net
Phone: (519) 767-0700 Since 1980, Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association has been the leader in Canada for therapeutic riding and is recognized as such by HETI (Horses in Education & Therapy International).
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Welcoming a diverse equestrian community by fostering an environment of enjoyment, development, and competition. Introducing the 2023 Interior Desert Hunter/Jumper Circuit Show Series More details and dates available at kelownaridingclub.ca 3745 Gordon Drive, Kelowna BC
Watson, President • 403-378-4323 cbwatson@cciwireless.ca equinefoundationofcanada.com
BC INTERIOR MORGAN HORSE CLUB
See our FB page. Pres: Bev Routledge email: bcimhcinfo@gmail.com Activities: trail rides, obstacle fun day, barn tour/pot luck. 724
BC PAINT HORSE CLUB
www.bcphc.com, Open Show & Competition Program, award sponsorships for local clubs, youth scholarship. cathyglover@telus.net 425
BC QUARTER HORSE ASSOCATION
bcqha.com Contact Carolyn Farris, email cfarris@telus.net 325
BOUNDARY HORSE ASSOCIATION
(Grand Forks BC), Offering shows, gymkhanas,clinics & more. See us on Facebook, 250-443-3191, kmespenhain@telus.net 624
CHILLIWACK RIDING CLUB
Drill Team, Horse Shows (Heritage Qualifiers), Gymkhana, Trail Rides, Clinics, Open Ride, Socials, www.crchorse.ca 325
INTERIOR CUTTING HORSE ASSOCIATION
www.ichacutting.com. New cutters always welcome. email ichacutting@hotmail.com 1124
LANGLEY RIDERS SOCIETY
www.langleyriders.com. English/Western, Games, Jumping, Drill Team, Rodeo. 604-530-5981 325
LOWER MAINLAND QUARTER HORSE ASSOC. Pres: Tamara Jameson, tamarajameson@hotmail.com, http://bcqha.com/index.php/LMQHA 325
NORTHERN SADDLE CLUB
Smithers BC. Check out our website at northernsaddleclub.com and follow us on Facebook 425
SOUTH CENTRAL QUARTER HORSE ASSOC.
Host of April Fuzzy Horse Show and September AQHA Circuit Show, http://bcqha.com/index.php/scqha 325
VERNON DISTRICT RIDING CLUB
(Vernon BC), check out our website at vernonridingclub.com or visit our Facebook & Instagram pages 325
VINTAGE RIDERS EQUESTRIAN CLUB
(Fraser Valley BC), English/Western, lectures, clinics, socials, safe and fun, vintageriders@mail.ca, on Facebook 625
WILD ROSE DRAFT HORSE ASSOCIATION
www.wrdha.com. Barb Stephenson (Secretary) phone 403-933-5765 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) 825
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ASHCROFT HOME BUILDING
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HORSE BLANKET & SADDLE PAD
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TRAILER REPAIRS
PETERSEN TRAILERS LTD. (Langley) 604-533-4209 Service and Repairs. All makes. www.petersentrailers.ca 924
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KITT EQUIPMENT TRAILER SALES, (Chilliwack & Aldergrove), 1-877-823-7199, Horse ~ Stock ~ Utility ~ Dump ~ Flatdecks, Kittequipment.com 625
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APPALOOSACENTRE.COM
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ANIMAL CARE HOSPITAL Williams Lake 250-392-5510 / Quesnel 250-747-3053 Drs. Magnowski, Scheidt, Thompson, Jordan, Deitrick, Johnston, Wurzer 625
CONNECT VETERINARY SERVICES (Okanagan) 250-212-3513 Mobile Equine, Dr. Savannah Beavers, connectvetservices.com 325
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Alberta Backcountry Horsemen We’re planning for educational programs in 2025—we welcome your feedback. Cold weather and shorter days bring a shift in focus to the stalwart organizers of Alberta Backcountry Horsemen. Our newly minted organization is laying the groundwork to create a network of members and volunteers who share a desire to preserve and enhance equestrian trails.
Educating people and encouraging active participation in wise and sustainable use of equine trail resources is a supporting pillar of our organization’s mission statement. And we look forward to engaging with the trail riding community in 2025 to share knowledge and experiences. Please send your ideas for educational programs you’d like to see by email to admin@abhorsemen.org, comment on our Facebook page (Alberta Backcountry Horsemen – Provincial), or visit our website to fill out the Contact Us Form.
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