This is completly off Topic but i did it!!! i got into college! This school is my #2 choice named cazenovia. There equestrian team almost made it to nationals last year and there equine major program had a waiting list of 30+ but besides all those factors i got in. Now my only problem is that my #1 school is the Smallest public in the U.S it was based off of Outward bound Program and you can guess that it is all outdoors oriented. My Dream was to be a Mounted Backcountry Ranger and my #1 Sterling has horses but they are draft. I order to really succed with my major there i would have to bring one of my own horses up. Cazenovia on the other hand has a Equine Buiss major and a a biology minor so i could kind of be doing a outdoor oriented prgram. But also Cazenovia has an equestrian team. ANd they are also recruiting me for swimming. I plan to do an overnight at Cazenovia and i don't find out till January 15th if i get into Sterling but if i did i would do an overnight there. It is a hard descion becasue Cazenovia has more to offer but Sterling Has the resources that i want.
Here are the links to both colleges.
http://sterlingcollege.edu/
http://cazenovia.edu/
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Why to Retrain the Pacey Horse
It seems that the majority of gaited horses you will meet do not do their natural gaits. Most will pace or do a stepping gait. In this article I will why it is important to retrain your horse to do there natural gaits.
A horse that paces is moving one set of lateral, or same side, legs in perfect unison, creating an even 2-beat gait, with a moment of suspension between one set of feet picking up and the opposite set striking the ground. The motion of the pace is from side to side, and because of the suspension, there’s also some up and down movement. Neither of these gaits are a smooth ride. If your horse is doing something incredibly bumpy when you are riding and you not knowing anything about gaited horses bought this horse from a person who said this bumpy gait is its special gait your where told wrong. No fun for the rider!
The stepping pace is nearly identical to the pace, except that the hind foot sets down a split second before the same side forefoot. This eliminates suspension, and the resultant concussion, that occurs in a straight pace. I typically see this in Missouri fox trotters more often than Tennessee Walkers and Rockys.
Sometimes a step pace is a smooth gait for the rider. But any horse performing this gait is normally strung out, is holding a high head and is hollow in the back. The stepping pace causes hyper extension of the legs and puts a lot of stress on the joints. This is common in gaited horses to occur because it is easier to perform than the running walk or Fox Trot. This frequently results in problems with the soundness of these structures. It also encourages a ventroflexed – hollow backed – frame, making the horse hard to fit for saddle, and weakened throughout its topline. Since the horse’s back muscle (the longissimus dorsi) is the largest muscle in its body, you want to keep it strong and healthy for as long as possible.
The Pace isn’t only bad for the horse, however. The most common complaint, by far, is from people who have horses with extremely uncomfortable pace gaits under saddle. Many of these people despair of ever being able to retrain these horses, yet are emotionally attached to them.
Many people do not realize there is a problem with the pace or step pace, and believe it is a correct saddle gait. One highly respected mainstream equestrian magazine ran a feature article on the subject of gaited horses, and every photo in the article showed horses, with widely grinning riders, performing fast pace or step pace gaits. Shows how much people know about gaited horses.
Look out for next months article on how to solve these gait problems!
~ Ariel Kent
A horse that paces is moving one set of lateral, or same side, legs in perfect unison, creating an even 2-beat gait, with a moment of suspension between one set of feet picking up and the opposite set striking the ground. The motion of the pace is from side to side, and because of the suspension, there’s also some up and down movement. Neither of these gaits are a smooth ride. If your horse is doing something incredibly bumpy when you are riding and you not knowing anything about gaited horses bought this horse from a person who said this bumpy gait is its special gait your where told wrong. No fun for the rider!
The stepping pace is nearly identical to the pace, except that the hind foot sets down a split second before the same side forefoot. This eliminates suspension, and the resultant concussion, that occurs in a straight pace. I typically see this in Missouri fox trotters more often than Tennessee Walkers and Rockys.
Sometimes a step pace is a smooth gait for the rider. But any horse performing this gait is normally strung out, is holding a high head and is hollow in the back. The stepping pace causes hyper extension of the legs and puts a lot of stress on the joints. This is common in gaited horses to occur because it is easier to perform than the running walk or Fox Trot. This frequently results in problems with the soundness of these structures. It also encourages a ventroflexed – hollow backed – frame, making the horse hard to fit for saddle, and weakened throughout its topline. Since the horse’s back muscle (the longissimus dorsi) is the largest muscle in its body, you want to keep it strong and healthy for as long as possible.
The Pace isn’t only bad for the horse, however. The most common complaint, by far, is from people who have horses with extremely uncomfortable pace gaits under saddle. Many of these people despair of ever being able to retrain these horses, yet are emotionally attached to them.
Many people do not realize there is a problem with the pace or step pace, and believe it is a correct saddle gait. One highly respected mainstream equestrian magazine ran a feature article on the subject of gaited horses, and every photo in the article showed horses, with widely grinning riders, performing fast pace or step pace gaits. Shows how much people know about gaited horses.
Look out for next months article on how to solve these gait problems!
~ Ariel Kent
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Horse Safety During Trail Rides
For a horse owner, few things are better than taking a leisurely trail ride with your equine companion. Taking in the surroundings… breathing the fresh air… gently swaying back and forth in the saddle… combined they can make the hours slip away like seconds. But as peaceful as trail rides with your horse are, there are certain "rules" a horse rider should follow to ensure that a foul surprise doesn't interrupt the experience. The first key to a safe trail ride is a sense of comfort with your partner, and that goes for both you AND your horse. Trail rides often have many surprises in store, ranging from birds suddenly darting out from trees overhead to cars zooming on by too quickly. Such incidents can easily startle your horse, and when this occurs it is essential that you convey a sense of ease to your partner lest he bolt or rear, possibly throwing you in the process. It's also essential to keep in mind that a trail ride is NOT the time to introduce your horse to new experiences unless the trail ride itself is a planned and controlled lesson. Horses may often be required to backup, perform 180 turns in tight quarters, cross pools of water, maneuver over fallen trees or debris and much, much more. Make sure your horse can perform these necessary moves and/or requests, because if they cannot you might find yourself in a bit of a pickle on the trail. Unless the trail ride is a training lesson, you should use a horse that is already comfortable being a leader and a follower. During most trail rides the horses will ride in a formation, but if for whatever reason that formation breaks up you don't want a one-trick pony that will panic being placed in a new role. Never ride alone! It's one thing to ride alone in a controlled atmosphere such as a round pen, but it's almost foolhardy to do so on trails or roads. Even the best horse can panic and do something silly when you least expect it. Even the best rider can lose his balance and fall. And although riding helmets do offer good head protection, I've seen many injuries ranging from badly sprained ankles to broken necks. Remember, a helmet can only offer so much protection. Know your horse. The more familiar you are with horses and their body language, the better you can recognize potential trouble signs such as tensed muscles, pinned ears, etc. By knowing your horse, you can help take his mind off potential "boogey men" every time his attention floats away from the task at hand. It also helps to be aware of your surroundings such that you can anticipate potential trouble spots. For example, if you know that around the bend resides a dog that charges towards the fence and barks up a storm every time a horse approaches, you can start reassuring your horse the moment the commotion begins. Although your horse might be initially spooked, if he sees that you're aware of the "problem" and have dismissed it as a non-threat, chances are he will relax. Be careful not to take this too far. A great rider is constantly alert, but he's also in complete control of his movement and emotional state. For example if you hear a car approaching from the rear, it's NOT a good idea to hold your breath and tense up like many riders unknowingly do. Those are nervous reactions that have a high probability of convincing your horse that the car is a threat… after all, if YOU fear it then HE should too! An alert rider predicts threats and reassures their horses upon exposure. A nervous rider predicts threats and only makes matters worse. Food and water are controversial topics when it comes to trail rides, and for most of us they never really enter the equation during the rides themselves since many of us don't ride more than a couple hours at a time. If you do undergo a strenuous or extended trail ride though you will want to be aware of your horse's food and water needs. Some riders will never allow their horses to drink water during a trail ride, fearful that cool water from a pond can cause colic. This is a semi-accurate concern – you definitely do not want to allow your horse to drink too much water in the midst of that work or he can colic. But by the same token if your horse becomes too dehydrated he can still colic, this time due to waste compaction caused by a lack of liquids required by the digestive system. I personally feel it's safe to allow your horse to drink for approximately one minute – you want to allow him enough liquids to function, but not so much as to cause ill health. As far as food goes, the trail is no place for a grain-only diet. Sometimes horse owners are tempted to bring nothing but grain since grain is easy to transport, but horses require a majority diet of hay, grass and other forms of forage. There are a multitude of considerations that go into safe horsemanship, so clearly this article was not to be an all-inclusive look at trail riding. But as long as you keep the above horse safety tips in mind at all times, you'll already be one step ahead of many.
Friday, October 31, 2008
The Concept of Soring
i found this awsome article online about sring and wanted to share it.
More Than Sore
Compiled by Rhonda Hart Poe
Many gaited horse trainers have built solid careers training sound horses, the old fashioned way - lots of wet saddle blankets, time and skill. Plenty of exhibitors know some competitors sore their horses, but nothing could compel them to do it. Most owners would clobber anyone who hurt their horse. In fact, the vast majority of gaited horses are trained, shown and owned by people who would never stoop to soring. But when they compete, they never know when they might be up against those who don't mind taking the low road when it comes to getting a competitive edge. Soring is cheating. But it is also, inhumane, and illegal. Grab a flashlight. We're going over to the dark side.
A Sore Subject
THE CONCEPT OF SORING - or fixing, or burning - is enough to make any decent horseman cringe. According to the USDA, "The application of any chemical or mechanical agent applied to the lower leg or hoof of any horse that causes pain, or, can be expected to cause pain, for the purpose of "enhancing" the horse's gait for show purposes is strictly prohibited under The Horse Protection Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. SS 1821 - 1831)."
There are many ways to sore horses. In some barns, those secrets are as closely guarded as a Grandma's Pecan Pie recipe. But in short, it's hurting the horse to alter his gait.
Admittedly, the effect is dramatic. As a sore horse tries to escape the pain in his front feet and lower legs, he snatches them up quickly, which gives the "desired effect" of tremendous lift in the front. Meanwhile, he tries to take as much weight as possible off his front feet by shifting his weight to his back feet, squatting down in the rear as he reaches beneath himself with his hind legs. The resulting gait has been described as "the praying mantis crawl."
It All Started When...
THE ORIGIN OF SORING dates back to the early heyday of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed. Not long after the breed association was formed in 1935, Walking Horses shot to fame. Prices skyrocketed as the horses became an all American symbol for the media. But with recession in the 1950s, the Walking Horse industry hit a slump.
Stories differ, but it was around this time that a showman discovered that either mustard oil, being used to treat a hoof ailment, or kerosene used to clean some road tar off the lower legs, caused his horse to step livelier. Come the regular Saturday night show, this horse snapped his feet off the ground like they were on fire. Wild-eyed, he all but flew around the ring, barely setting a foot on the ground before snatching it back up again. The crowd loved it. Experimentation followed. Then imitation. Before long, "the fix" was in.
The spectators loved the action, the judges pinned the flinging feet, the show managers hired the judges that kept the spectators coming and a vicious cycle was established.
False Impression
"THE THING TO REMEMBER here is that a horse's foot moves toward weight, and away from pain. So make 'em hurt a little, and add a little heavier shoe, and Voila! He steps a little higher and quicker than a natural, unsored horse! That's the sore advantage," says one veteran of the show scene. Pain combined with long toes, heavy shoes, extreme bits, a rider sitting far back on the horse, and - never forget the heart and substance at the center of it all - a horse that keeps on trying despite all of that, creates the spectacle of the sored show horse.
According to USDA statistics, the highest percentage of abusers is among those who show "padded" or "Big Lick" horses. But before we cast all of our stones at those who train and show the horses in big shoes, be aware - they are not alone.
Soring of one type or another has infiltrated horseshows from the Big Lick/padded to Flat Shod (smaller, lighter weight shoes) in Walking Horses, to other breeds, including Racking Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses and Missouri Fox Trotters, and the Paso breeds. This is not just a Tennessee Walking Horse problem.
Soring happens just about anywhere horseshows are held. And that's why it is a problem for all gaited horse enthusiasts, even those who work so hard to put an end to it. It has spread to so many breeds and regions that, to the general public, gaited horses and soring go hand in hand. People not familiar with naturally gaited horses often assume that gait is trained in, nailed on or forced on.
...soring is a problem for all gaited horse enthusiasts, to the general public, gaited horses and soring go hand in hand.
Says a prominent horseshow judge, "It is important that violators be recognized and punished severely enough to make change an attractive option for them. But media attention leaves the public impression that it (soring) is part and parcel of the industry. The truth is that most people who show their horses do not sore, even though violators can be found at any show. They are aberrations of the gaited horse community, not representatives of it."
Behind the Shadows
A FORMER INSIDER describes a typical scene. "The first thing you might notice about a sore horse barn is a strange smell. That is, if you're not distracted by a smooth talking barn employee or just run off altogether. Though the barn might have a "public area" much of it is off limits. The barn may seem dark because stalls are kept shut up, to keep horses from view and to muffle the sound of groaning. Horses are down a lot. If you get close enough to look at the horses, look in their eyes. That pain shows through."
Training often starts young. In the padded ranks, yearlings are fitted with a colt "package" - a pad, wedge pad and a keg shoe - to get them used to the shoes, or to compete in conformation classes. Horses are often under saddle before the age of two, years before their bodies have completely formed, before vulnerable bones have fused and before young minds have developed. "Training" may consist only of saddling and a quick lap up and down the barn aisle, then "fixing" to adjust the gait. But conditioning and regular riding are not always part of the program. Rather than spend hours a week over a period of years to develop the classic running walk gait of the breed, some settle for soring. The rationale is simple: "Time is money. Why take months to train a horse, when you can fix them in a fraction of the time?"
One outraged sound trainer put it bluntly, ". these trainers are only gimmick men, the real trainers died out a long time ago. The owners are as much to blame as the trainers. Everyone wants things done quick. They have no understanding that time, consistency, and patience are the real trainers."
A Little Dab'll Do Ya
METHODS TO THE MADNESS are plentiful, but because chemicals are the quickest and most predictable, they are the most common form of soring.
Probably the most popular soring agent is mustard oil, or allyl isothicocyanate. Unlike the mild spice you ooze over hotdogs, this yellow liquid is nasty stuff. It is a highly toxic carcinogenic (cancer causing) mutagen (agent that causes inheritable genetic alterations). It absorbs through the skin and into the tissue beneath almost instantly, causing blistering and severe burning. Clever "trainers" combine it with Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO, an absorption enhancer) to help it absorb through the skin even more quickly, and then wrap the area with plastic wrap covered with leg wraps to let it "cook", usually overnight. Exposure can cause convulsion, muscle contractions, gastrointestinal changes, rapid heartbeat to heart attack, fertility problems and fetal death. In people, a good whiff can cause coughing, pulmonary edema, headache, nausea, vomiting and worsen asthma. When a package of mustard oil was accidentally dropped in a post office, after having been illegally mailed by a trainer to farm, the building had to be evacuated and postal employees hospitalized.
Another soring agent is crotonal or croton oil, properly known as crotonaldehyde. Like mustard oil it is corrosive, toxic and mutagenic. Inhaling the vapor can cause severe mucous membrane irritation, sore throat, coughing, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, collapse or unconsciousness. Contact with the liquid can cause severe irritation with redness, pain and possible 2nd degree burns. Toxic if ingested, it can cause systemic poisoning, damage to the central nervous system and internal tumors and scarring when absorbed through the skin. A clear liquid, with a "tarry" odor, it turns yellow when exposed to air and water.
Crotonal is so strong that it is diluted with kerosene before being applied to horse's legs and can dissolve away tissue to the bone when mixed with DMSO. Like mustard oil, it is quickly absorbed into the horse's system, which can cause severe colic. What makes it so attractive as a soring agent is that it does its dirty work in the deeper layers of tissue, instead of the epidermis. Horses can pass through palpation at inspection, but still jerk their feet up in gait from the pain of inflamed tissue around the coffin bone. Since it generally takes a day or two to take effect, horses don't even know what is happening to them as it is applied.
Salicylic Acid or 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid causes skin irritation and may permeate skin in sufficient amounts to cause systemic toxicity. Ingestion in people causes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, black, tarry diarrhea and kidney damage. White or beige in color, the substance is odorless and soluble in turpentine.
Weak dilutions cause the skin to slough off, which is the preferred method of removing or reducing scar tissue on sored horses, with minimal affect to the re-growth of hair to the area. Since the "scar rule" went into effect, elimination (rather than prevention) of soring scars has become a prime concern of sore horse "trainers". Horse's lower legs are subjected to a soaking bath with salicylic acid in order to remove scars. The horse then lies, often for days at a time, in extreme pain while their skin disintegrates. The cycle of soring and de-scarring continues for the show life of the horse. Not all survive this scar cure.
Diesel Oil is a mixture of many chemical compounds. Overexposure can lead to weakness, headache, nausea, confusion, blurred vision and various effects on the nervous system. Inhalation may cause those symptoms plus rapid breathing, impaired judgment, personality change, memory impairment, convulsions, unconsciousness and death. An aromatic liquid that is clear or light yellow in color, this is the oil of choice when soring with chains.
Fairly new on the soring scene is collodion, a mixture of Proxylin 5-10%, Ethanol 20-30% and Diethyl Ether 60-70%, also known as Proxlyin Solution, Nitrocellulose Solution and Nitrocotton Solution. It can be absorbed into the body via skin contact, through the eyes, or by inhalation. So serious a skin irritant, it must be handled with rubber gloves, safety glasses complete with side shields and, when possible, a respirator. Prolonged use in horses has caused nausea, colic, dizziness, narcosis (stupor, coma, then death), suffocation due to lack of oxygen, lowering of the blood pressure and damage to central nervous system. It is a light yellow, syrup-like liquid.
Not soluble in water it is applied to a horse's legs, after the deeper burning chemicals, to form an airtight seal to keep the heat of the burning agents in the skin and tissue. It takes the place of plastic wrap now banned at so many shows. Rolls and rolls of plastic wrap in a barn are a dead give away of a sore trainer, but since collodion is not easily visible, clever sorers have found yet another way to cheat and continue to do harm. Labeled as a Hazardous Material (EPA Hazardous Waste Number D001), it can explode and release Nitrogen Oxides Hydrogen Cyanide into the air when improperly stored.
Long-term effects are yet to be studied, but those who apply these chemicals may not even be aware of the risks. Learning just when, how, and how much to apply is an ongoing science of experimentation. Not enough results in a lack of the "flash", too much, can leave a horse lame, unmanageable, sick, colicky or worse. "Not surprisingly," one industry insider confides, "many sored show horses, if they live through the "training/stewarding" phase of their lives, wind up with severe, often fatal colic between the ages of 10-12."
But despite all this, there are still those who believe the ribbons are worth the risks.
What to look for
It is crucial to understand that there are different levels of "sore" - from sensitivity to agony. Here are some telltale signs:
Tenderness or swelling on both front feet, or even the hinds. Soring is always bilateral.
Scars or granulated bumps along the pasterns or near coronet band.
Abnormal, wavy hair growth (following acid treatment) in pastern area.
Horse resists handling of feet.
Horse lies down frequently for extended periods
Horse shifts weight to hind feet, stands with all fours together, as if "on a quarter"
Exaggerated gait with characteristic pause at breakover (highest point of stride) as horse hesitates before returning sore foot to ground.
Oozing of blood or serum from pasterns
Drags front toes, because of the pain on the concussion upon set down
Hocks carried low to the ground and twisting towards the outside when moving
Horse has difficulty walking, falling, resistant to get up
Mechanical Soring
OTHER METHODS OF SORING show just how creative animal abusers can be.
Known as "action devices," chains worn around the pasterns can range from the mildly annoying to the extremely painful. Alone, the six-ounce chains accepted in the show ring may not harm the horse, but horses sored with heavy chains or chemicals prior to the show date can suffer intense pain in the ring as the lighter chains repeatedly bang against the sore area.
Thankfully, one old standby is falling out of favor with sorers. Though driving nails or inserting screws into the hoof wall (up against the sensitive white line) then covering them with pads was once considered an undetectable means of soring, inspectors can now use a fluoroscope to detect the metal through living tissue. Unfortunately, cheaters know that fluoroscopes are not yet in common use and that there are still plenty of ways to get through the DQP exams undetected. At one show, it was discovered that screws were inserted into the hoof wall under the band used to keep the heavy shoe on, backed off to get through the DQP inspection, then quickly screwed back into the hoof just before going in to the ring!
Other tricks include placing ball bearings or golf balls cut in half between the pad and the hoof, and placing "V" springs, wrapped with a wad of black electrical tape, over the tip of the frogs to bruise the soles, and removing them just prior to the show.
Unfortunately, pressure shoeing is a harder to identify, yet effective, method of torture. The hoof wall is filed down near the quick, which causes the sole to come into direct contact with the metal shoe, causing excruciating pain each time the horse puts weight on the foot. Another technique is to add a welded bead of metal to the under side of the shoe so that it digs into the hoof at each step. Pressure shoeing was actually abetted by at least one shoe manufacturer that made plantation shoes higher on the inside than on the outside, causing uneven pressure and resulting soreness.
Similar to the above is road foundering. The hoof wall may be rasped away nearly to the quick and the shoe nailed on. The horse is then ridden up and down a hard surface, like the roadways on or near showgrounds, until its feet are sore. The next time you see an exhibitor "warming up" on the roadway, take note.
Stewarding
UNFORTUNATELY, SORERS think up deeds even more heinous than the original sins to avoid getting caught.
When a horse goes through the DQP inspection he is subject to visual and physical examination. Horses that flinch at palpation (firm handling of the feet and legs) raise red flags and may be disqualified from competition. So after enduring the pain of soring, horses are taught to deny it.
Techniques defy even the most sick and brutal imaginations. While one "trainer" palpates the painful area, another stands in the ready to steward the animal. The slightest flinch may result in anything from a severe blow to the head, jerking of a cord attached to a metal "alligator clip" clamped to the genitals or anus, a cigarette burn to the tongue or other ingenious method of inflicting even more pain than that of the palpation. The result is that the horse learns to stand still for the lesser of the two punishments.
By contrast, it is almost a blessing that topical anesthetics containing Lidocaine and Benzocaine (known as Hurricane Spray) and temporary freezing agents that numb the pain of inspection have become popular with sorers. Developed for the human dental industry, some of these sprays were "improved" with cherry flavoring and coloring, which shows up strikingly on white legs. Non-flavored varieties are the obvious choices for stewarding.
Sour Grapes
ONE OF THE SADDEST things to hear in response the question of soring is the pat answer that "all breeds have their issues". Another common dodge is that those who oppose soring are just losers who can't cut it in competition. Don't be distracted. Soring is still cruel, wrong, cheating and illegal - no matter what the Quarter Horse people do (or don't do), no matter what the Thoroughbred people do (or don't do) and no matter who wins or loses.
A former sore horse exhibitor confesses, "I used to show in the sore horse world and have recently "changed over". I just couldn't tolerate another day of seeing what goes on. I actually left a large Championship show last year after seeing a horse I had shown amateur (and loved) so sore he could barely walk on his own. This horse was turned down and not allowed to show, but the trainer and owner put on an "exhibition" in the warm-up ring to many cheers from the crowd that gathered. They actually enjoyed seeing this poor horse, obviously in pain, perform a "wildly exaggerated walk." It is very sad that people will put a blue ribbon over the well-being of an animal...but to some winning is everything. I prefer to remain anonymous; as my goal is not to hurt any of the people I've been acquainted with in the past. I have told them why I quit showing and that I disagree with their methods of training and hope they someday will see the reality of what they are doing. I, however, am not out to "ruin them personally" just out to stop the abuse. I just let them know I'd be on the other side working just as hard at making things right as I did at doing things the wrong way. This is an industry where I grew up, lot of friends and family involved. I supported the industry for many years... advertising, showing, buying. I plan to work just as hard to promote the sound horse and end the abuse!
It may be prudent to remember that overwhelmingly, those who abuse children or partners often start out abusing animals.
Violation List
WANT NAMES? The USDA keeps records of violators, but experts admonish that only a small percentage of sorers are caught. Says a DQP, "At shows where the USDA shows up as many as 60% or more of the exhibitors suddenly remember they had a dentist appointment that day. The showgrounds clear out in 20 minutes." Enforcement funding is a curious problem. According to the USDA, even though only \$500,000 was allotted to enforce a Federal Law, nationwide, at over 600 shows each year, the most implemented in one year was $300,000. The result is that only between 10 and 15% of the shows are attended by VMOs, which means that most violators are handled within the industry itself by DQPs and never become Federal Cases. For more information on violators contact the USDA or visit www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/hpainfo.html To learn more about HIO violations (those that never make it to the Federal level) contact SHO (see page 30) or visit www.walkinghorse.org/
The Horse Protection Act
FED UP BY THE INHUMANE treatment of horses, activists managed to get the Horse Protection Act (HPA) passed in 1970. This Federal law prohibits sored horses from participating in exhibitions, sales, shows, or auctions and prohibits drivers from hauling sored horses across State lines to compete. It does not prevent soring.
The responsibility to enforce the law fell to the Veterinary Medical Officers (VMOs) of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). But Congress failed to fund the USDA to carry out its duty and instead amended the law in 1976, allowing the very industry for which the law was written to train its own inspectors. People trained to detect soring, called Designated Qualified Persons (DQPs), are certified by the USDA to inspect horses at the shows and write tickets. They look for scars, swelling, tenderness, abrasions, bleeding, or oozing serum particularly around the coronet band, the area above the hoof, the front and rear pasterns, and the bulb of the heel. Some are more dedicated than others.
An attempt to alter the Act in 1999 called for an Operating Plan (OP) to clarify procedures and penalties. And another in 2000, and 2001. Each time the OP was opposed by the majority of Horse Industry Organizations (HIOs) that put on the shows, and the government repeatedly negotiated. One hot issue in the OP is the "scar rule" which eliminates horses from competition that show obvious signs of having been sored in the past, regardless of whether or not they are sore at the time of exhibition.
The law threatens violators with criminal or civil charges, up to two years in prison, fines of up to \$5,000 and disqualification from showing, exhibiting or selling horses for a year or more. Trainers could be disqualified for life. In addition, the HIOs can impose their own sanctions. In reality, many violators find loopholes and keep right on soring, the proof of which lies in the widespread practice with which we are faced today - more than 30 years after the HPA was enacted.
The Damned and the Damaged
THE SUFFERING caused by soring is multi-layered, beginning with horses that endure great pain from their caretakers. Beyond the physical pain, the emotional effects must be devastating. The accumulative effects of chemical exposure leave many horses damaged for life or dead. The same may some day prove to be true for those who apply these substances, day after day, to horse after horse.
Horses that are "culled" from show barns are often sold to the general public. Some go on to thrive, but others never transcend their nightmarish experiences and prove to be poor examples of the breed at best, or dangerous ones at worst. And, as opponents of the scar rule often decry, a horse that has been sored is denied any future show career under a sound trainer because of the scars of the past.
Among those unfairly hurt by the practice of soring are the sound trainers, exhibitors and owners.
Others unfairly hurt by the practice of soring are the sound trainers, exhibitors and owners. People whose lives and livelihoods are deeply entwined with the horses they love and respect. People who love their retired show horses. Even people who go out of their way to rescue abused horses and provide them a safe haven. In the eyes of the public, the stigma of soring taints the entire gaited horse industry, with the beautiful, big-hearted Tennessee Walking Horse bearing the brunt of it.
Long-term effects on the breed include the change in character of the horses over time, both in terms of structure and gait brought on by the spectator demand for the sore version of the running walk. According to both USDA figures and recent reports from the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, entries in such classes have dropped.
Those who have led the fight against soring have been harassed, threatened and intimidated by those with the money and influence to do so. But their ranks are growing everyday. Many people have committed to great personal sacrifice to abolish a practice that was outlawed by Federal law long ago. At the core of the problem is money. Those that support soring have more money to fight the law than the USDA has to enforce it.
What YOU Can Do
YOU CAN COPY THIS ARTICLE and share it. Seek out likeminded individuals and organizations. Encourage show groups to bring civil suits against proven offenders. Encourage your community to boycott sore shows, or invite your local news media to cover them - after explaining the facts of soring. Media attention may inspire your local elected public officials.
Educate children in your area, as soring has now passed through at least three generations. Support sound horse organizations. There is a tremendous grass roots effort promoting the sound horse and educating the public about soring, but they need your support. Don't turn away if you don't show. Join your breed association and vote for change in elections.
But first and foremost, write your Congressman and demand that the law is enforced and that the USDA is granted, and required to use, adequate funding to eradicate the rewards of soring.
More Than Sore
Compiled by Rhonda Hart Poe
Many gaited horse trainers have built solid careers training sound horses, the old fashioned way - lots of wet saddle blankets, time and skill. Plenty of exhibitors know some competitors sore their horses, but nothing could compel them to do it. Most owners would clobber anyone who hurt their horse. In fact, the vast majority of gaited horses are trained, shown and owned by people who would never stoop to soring. But when they compete, they never know when they might be up against those who don't mind taking the low road when it comes to getting a competitive edge. Soring is cheating. But it is also, inhumane, and illegal. Grab a flashlight. We're going over to the dark side.
A Sore Subject
THE CONCEPT OF SORING - or fixing, or burning - is enough to make any decent horseman cringe. According to the USDA, "The application of any chemical or mechanical agent applied to the lower leg or hoof of any horse that causes pain, or, can be expected to cause pain, for the purpose of "enhancing" the horse's gait for show purposes is strictly prohibited under The Horse Protection Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. SS 1821 - 1831)."
There are many ways to sore horses. In some barns, those secrets are as closely guarded as a Grandma's Pecan Pie recipe. But in short, it's hurting the horse to alter his gait.
Admittedly, the effect is dramatic. As a sore horse tries to escape the pain in his front feet and lower legs, he snatches them up quickly, which gives the "desired effect" of tremendous lift in the front. Meanwhile, he tries to take as much weight as possible off his front feet by shifting his weight to his back feet, squatting down in the rear as he reaches beneath himself with his hind legs. The resulting gait has been described as "the praying mantis crawl."
It All Started When...
THE ORIGIN OF SORING dates back to the early heyday of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed. Not long after the breed association was formed in 1935, Walking Horses shot to fame. Prices skyrocketed as the horses became an all American symbol for the media. But with recession in the 1950s, the Walking Horse industry hit a slump.
Stories differ, but it was around this time that a showman discovered that either mustard oil, being used to treat a hoof ailment, or kerosene used to clean some road tar off the lower legs, caused his horse to step livelier. Come the regular Saturday night show, this horse snapped his feet off the ground like they were on fire. Wild-eyed, he all but flew around the ring, barely setting a foot on the ground before snatching it back up again. The crowd loved it. Experimentation followed. Then imitation. Before long, "the fix" was in.
The spectators loved the action, the judges pinned the flinging feet, the show managers hired the judges that kept the spectators coming and a vicious cycle was established.
False Impression
"THE THING TO REMEMBER here is that a horse's foot moves toward weight, and away from pain. So make 'em hurt a little, and add a little heavier shoe, and Voila! He steps a little higher and quicker than a natural, unsored horse! That's the sore advantage," says one veteran of the show scene. Pain combined with long toes, heavy shoes, extreme bits, a rider sitting far back on the horse, and - never forget the heart and substance at the center of it all - a horse that keeps on trying despite all of that, creates the spectacle of the sored show horse.
According to USDA statistics, the highest percentage of abusers is among those who show "padded" or "Big Lick" horses. But before we cast all of our stones at those who train and show the horses in big shoes, be aware - they are not alone.
Soring of one type or another has infiltrated horseshows from the Big Lick/padded to Flat Shod (smaller, lighter weight shoes) in Walking Horses, to other breeds, including Racking Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses and Missouri Fox Trotters, and the Paso breeds. This is not just a Tennessee Walking Horse problem.
Soring happens just about anywhere horseshows are held. And that's why it is a problem for all gaited horse enthusiasts, even those who work so hard to put an end to it. It has spread to so many breeds and regions that, to the general public, gaited horses and soring go hand in hand. People not familiar with naturally gaited horses often assume that gait is trained in, nailed on or forced on.
...soring is a problem for all gaited horse enthusiasts, to the general public, gaited horses and soring go hand in hand.
Says a prominent horseshow judge, "It is important that violators be recognized and punished severely enough to make change an attractive option for them. But media attention leaves the public impression that it (soring) is part and parcel of the industry. The truth is that most people who show their horses do not sore, even though violators can be found at any show. They are aberrations of the gaited horse community, not representatives of it."
Behind the Shadows
A FORMER INSIDER describes a typical scene. "The first thing you might notice about a sore horse barn is a strange smell. That is, if you're not distracted by a smooth talking barn employee or just run off altogether. Though the barn might have a "public area" much of it is off limits. The barn may seem dark because stalls are kept shut up, to keep horses from view and to muffle the sound of groaning. Horses are down a lot. If you get close enough to look at the horses, look in their eyes. That pain shows through."
Training often starts young. In the padded ranks, yearlings are fitted with a colt "package" - a pad, wedge pad and a keg shoe - to get them used to the shoes, or to compete in conformation classes. Horses are often under saddle before the age of two, years before their bodies have completely formed, before vulnerable bones have fused and before young minds have developed. "Training" may consist only of saddling and a quick lap up and down the barn aisle, then "fixing" to adjust the gait. But conditioning and regular riding are not always part of the program. Rather than spend hours a week over a period of years to develop the classic running walk gait of the breed, some settle for soring. The rationale is simple: "Time is money. Why take months to train a horse, when you can fix them in a fraction of the time?"
One outraged sound trainer put it bluntly, ". these trainers are only gimmick men, the real trainers died out a long time ago. The owners are as much to blame as the trainers. Everyone wants things done quick. They have no understanding that time, consistency, and patience are the real trainers."
A Little Dab'll Do Ya
METHODS TO THE MADNESS are plentiful, but because chemicals are the quickest and most predictable, they are the most common form of soring.
Probably the most popular soring agent is mustard oil, or allyl isothicocyanate. Unlike the mild spice you ooze over hotdogs, this yellow liquid is nasty stuff. It is a highly toxic carcinogenic (cancer causing) mutagen (agent that causes inheritable genetic alterations). It absorbs through the skin and into the tissue beneath almost instantly, causing blistering and severe burning. Clever "trainers" combine it with Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO, an absorption enhancer) to help it absorb through the skin even more quickly, and then wrap the area with plastic wrap covered with leg wraps to let it "cook", usually overnight. Exposure can cause convulsion, muscle contractions, gastrointestinal changes, rapid heartbeat to heart attack, fertility problems and fetal death. In people, a good whiff can cause coughing, pulmonary edema, headache, nausea, vomiting and worsen asthma. When a package of mustard oil was accidentally dropped in a post office, after having been illegally mailed by a trainer to farm, the building had to be evacuated and postal employees hospitalized.
Another soring agent is crotonal or croton oil, properly known as crotonaldehyde. Like mustard oil it is corrosive, toxic and mutagenic. Inhaling the vapor can cause severe mucous membrane irritation, sore throat, coughing, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, collapse or unconsciousness. Contact with the liquid can cause severe irritation with redness, pain and possible 2nd degree burns. Toxic if ingested, it can cause systemic poisoning, damage to the central nervous system and internal tumors and scarring when absorbed through the skin. A clear liquid, with a "tarry" odor, it turns yellow when exposed to air and water.
Crotonal is so strong that it is diluted with kerosene before being applied to horse's legs and can dissolve away tissue to the bone when mixed with DMSO. Like mustard oil, it is quickly absorbed into the horse's system, which can cause severe colic. What makes it so attractive as a soring agent is that it does its dirty work in the deeper layers of tissue, instead of the epidermis. Horses can pass through palpation at inspection, but still jerk their feet up in gait from the pain of inflamed tissue around the coffin bone. Since it generally takes a day or two to take effect, horses don't even know what is happening to them as it is applied.
Salicylic Acid or 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid causes skin irritation and may permeate skin in sufficient amounts to cause systemic toxicity. Ingestion in people causes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, black, tarry diarrhea and kidney damage. White or beige in color, the substance is odorless and soluble in turpentine.
Weak dilutions cause the skin to slough off, which is the preferred method of removing or reducing scar tissue on sored horses, with minimal affect to the re-growth of hair to the area. Since the "scar rule" went into effect, elimination (rather than prevention) of soring scars has become a prime concern of sore horse "trainers". Horse's lower legs are subjected to a soaking bath with salicylic acid in order to remove scars. The horse then lies, often for days at a time, in extreme pain while their skin disintegrates. The cycle of soring and de-scarring continues for the show life of the horse. Not all survive this scar cure.
Diesel Oil is a mixture of many chemical compounds. Overexposure can lead to weakness, headache, nausea, confusion, blurred vision and various effects on the nervous system. Inhalation may cause those symptoms plus rapid breathing, impaired judgment, personality change, memory impairment, convulsions, unconsciousness and death. An aromatic liquid that is clear or light yellow in color, this is the oil of choice when soring with chains.
Fairly new on the soring scene is collodion, a mixture of Proxylin 5-10%, Ethanol 20-30% and Diethyl Ether 60-70%, also known as Proxlyin Solution, Nitrocellulose Solution and Nitrocotton Solution. It can be absorbed into the body via skin contact, through the eyes, or by inhalation. So serious a skin irritant, it must be handled with rubber gloves, safety glasses complete with side shields and, when possible, a respirator. Prolonged use in horses has caused nausea, colic, dizziness, narcosis (stupor, coma, then death), suffocation due to lack of oxygen, lowering of the blood pressure and damage to central nervous system. It is a light yellow, syrup-like liquid.
Not soluble in water it is applied to a horse's legs, after the deeper burning chemicals, to form an airtight seal to keep the heat of the burning agents in the skin and tissue. It takes the place of plastic wrap now banned at so many shows. Rolls and rolls of plastic wrap in a barn are a dead give away of a sore trainer, but since collodion is not easily visible, clever sorers have found yet another way to cheat and continue to do harm. Labeled as a Hazardous Material (EPA Hazardous Waste Number D001), it can explode and release Nitrogen Oxides Hydrogen Cyanide into the air when improperly stored.
Long-term effects are yet to be studied, but those who apply these chemicals may not even be aware of the risks. Learning just when, how, and how much to apply is an ongoing science of experimentation. Not enough results in a lack of the "flash", too much, can leave a horse lame, unmanageable, sick, colicky or worse. "Not surprisingly," one industry insider confides, "many sored show horses, if they live through the "training/stewarding" phase of their lives, wind up with severe, often fatal colic between the ages of 10-12."
But despite all this, there are still those who believe the ribbons are worth the risks.
What to look for
It is crucial to understand that there are different levels of "sore" - from sensitivity to agony. Here are some telltale signs:
Tenderness or swelling on both front feet, or even the hinds. Soring is always bilateral.
Scars or granulated bumps along the pasterns or near coronet band.
Abnormal, wavy hair growth (following acid treatment) in pastern area.
Horse resists handling of feet.
Horse lies down frequently for extended periods
Horse shifts weight to hind feet, stands with all fours together, as if "on a quarter"
Exaggerated gait with characteristic pause at breakover (highest point of stride) as horse hesitates before returning sore foot to ground.
Oozing of blood or serum from pasterns
Drags front toes, because of the pain on the concussion upon set down
Hocks carried low to the ground and twisting towards the outside when moving
Horse has difficulty walking, falling, resistant to get up
Mechanical Soring
OTHER METHODS OF SORING show just how creative animal abusers can be.
Known as "action devices," chains worn around the pasterns can range from the mildly annoying to the extremely painful. Alone, the six-ounce chains accepted in the show ring may not harm the horse, but horses sored with heavy chains or chemicals prior to the show date can suffer intense pain in the ring as the lighter chains repeatedly bang against the sore area.
Thankfully, one old standby is falling out of favor with sorers. Though driving nails or inserting screws into the hoof wall (up against the sensitive white line) then covering them with pads was once considered an undetectable means of soring, inspectors can now use a fluoroscope to detect the metal through living tissue. Unfortunately, cheaters know that fluoroscopes are not yet in common use and that there are still plenty of ways to get through the DQP exams undetected. At one show, it was discovered that screws were inserted into the hoof wall under the band used to keep the heavy shoe on, backed off to get through the DQP inspection, then quickly screwed back into the hoof just before going in to the ring!
Other tricks include placing ball bearings or golf balls cut in half between the pad and the hoof, and placing "V" springs, wrapped with a wad of black electrical tape, over the tip of the frogs to bruise the soles, and removing them just prior to the show.
Unfortunately, pressure shoeing is a harder to identify, yet effective, method of torture. The hoof wall is filed down near the quick, which causes the sole to come into direct contact with the metal shoe, causing excruciating pain each time the horse puts weight on the foot. Another technique is to add a welded bead of metal to the under side of the shoe so that it digs into the hoof at each step. Pressure shoeing was actually abetted by at least one shoe manufacturer that made plantation shoes higher on the inside than on the outside, causing uneven pressure and resulting soreness.
Similar to the above is road foundering. The hoof wall may be rasped away nearly to the quick and the shoe nailed on. The horse is then ridden up and down a hard surface, like the roadways on or near showgrounds, until its feet are sore. The next time you see an exhibitor "warming up" on the roadway, take note.
Stewarding
UNFORTUNATELY, SORERS think up deeds even more heinous than the original sins to avoid getting caught.
When a horse goes through the DQP inspection he is subject to visual and physical examination. Horses that flinch at palpation (firm handling of the feet and legs) raise red flags and may be disqualified from competition. So after enduring the pain of soring, horses are taught to deny it.
Techniques defy even the most sick and brutal imaginations. While one "trainer" palpates the painful area, another stands in the ready to steward the animal. The slightest flinch may result in anything from a severe blow to the head, jerking of a cord attached to a metal "alligator clip" clamped to the genitals or anus, a cigarette burn to the tongue or other ingenious method of inflicting even more pain than that of the palpation. The result is that the horse learns to stand still for the lesser of the two punishments.
By contrast, it is almost a blessing that topical anesthetics containing Lidocaine and Benzocaine (known as Hurricane Spray) and temporary freezing agents that numb the pain of inspection have become popular with sorers. Developed for the human dental industry, some of these sprays were "improved" with cherry flavoring and coloring, which shows up strikingly on white legs. Non-flavored varieties are the obvious choices for stewarding.
Sour Grapes
ONE OF THE SADDEST things to hear in response the question of soring is the pat answer that "all breeds have their issues". Another common dodge is that those who oppose soring are just losers who can't cut it in competition. Don't be distracted. Soring is still cruel, wrong, cheating and illegal - no matter what the Quarter Horse people do (or don't do), no matter what the Thoroughbred people do (or don't do) and no matter who wins or loses.
A former sore horse exhibitor confesses, "I used to show in the sore horse world and have recently "changed over". I just couldn't tolerate another day of seeing what goes on. I actually left a large Championship show last year after seeing a horse I had shown amateur (and loved) so sore he could barely walk on his own. This horse was turned down and not allowed to show, but the trainer and owner put on an "exhibition" in the warm-up ring to many cheers from the crowd that gathered. They actually enjoyed seeing this poor horse, obviously in pain, perform a "wildly exaggerated walk." It is very sad that people will put a blue ribbon over the well-being of an animal...but to some winning is everything. I prefer to remain anonymous; as my goal is not to hurt any of the people I've been acquainted with in the past. I have told them why I quit showing and that I disagree with their methods of training and hope they someday will see the reality of what they are doing. I, however, am not out to "ruin them personally" just out to stop the abuse. I just let them know I'd be on the other side working just as hard at making things right as I did at doing things the wrong way. This is an industry where I grew up, lot of friends and family involved. I supported the industry for many years... advertising, showing, buying. I plan to work just as hard to promote the sound horse and end the abuse!
It may be prudent to remember that overwhelmingly, those who abuse children or partners often start out abusing animals.
Violation List
WANT NAMES? The USDA keeps records of violators, but experts admonish that only a small percentage of sorers are caught. Says a DQP, "At shows where the USDA shows up as many as 60% or more of the exhibitors suddenly remember they had a dentist appointment that day. The showgrounds clear out in 20 minutes." Enforcement funding is a curious problem. According to the USDA, even though only \$500,000 was allotted to enforce a Federal Law, nationwide, at over 600 shows each year, the most implemented in one year was $300,000. The result is that only between 10 and 15% of the shows are attended by VMOs, which means that most violators are handled within the industry itself by DQPs and never become Federal Cases. For more information on violators contact the USDA or visit www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/hpainfo.html To learn more about HIO violations (those that never make it to the Federal level) contact SHO (see page 30) or visit www.walkinghorse.org/
The Horse Protection Act
FED UP BY THE INHUMANE treatment of horses, activists managed to get the Horse Protection Act (HPA) passed in 1970. This Federal law prohibits sored horses from participating in exhibitions, sales, shows, or auctions and prohibits drivers from hauling sored horses across State lines to compete. It does not prevent soring.
The responsibility to enforce the law fell to the Veterinary Medical Officers (VMOs) of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). But Congress failed to fund the USDA to carry out its duty and instead amended the law in 1976, allowing the very industry for which the law was written to train its own inspectors. People trained to detect soring, called Designated Qualified Persons (DQPs), are certified by the USDA to inspect horses at the shows and write tickets. They look for scars, swelling, tenderness, abrasions, bleeding, or oozing serum particularly around the coronet band, the area above the hoof, the front and rear pasterns, and the bulb of the heel. Some are more dedicated than others.
An attempt to alter the Act in 1999 called for an Operating Plan (OP) to clarify procedures and penalties. And another in 2000, and 2001. Each time the OP was opposed by the majority of Horse Industry Organizations (HIOs) that put on the shows, and the government repeatedly negotiated. One hot issue in the OP is the "scar rule" which eliminates horses from competition that show obvious signs of having been sored in the past, regardless of whether or not they are sore at the time of exhibition.
The law threatens violators with criminal or civil charges, up to two years in prison, fines of up to \$5,000 and disqualification from showing, exhibiting or selling horses for a year or more. Trainers could be disqualified for life. In addition, the HIOs can impose their own sanctions. In reality, many violators find loopholes and keep right on soring, the proof of which lies in the widespread practice with which we are faced today - more than 30 years after the HPA was enacted.
The Damned and the Damaged
THE SUFFERING caused by soring is multi-layered, beginning with horses that endure great pain from their caretakers. Beyond the physical pain, the emotional effects must be devastating. The accumulative effects of chemical exposure leave many horses damaged for life or dead. The same may some day prove to be true for those who apply these substances, day after day, to horse after horse.
Horses that are "culled" from show barns are often sold to the general public. Some go on to thrive, but others never transcend their nightmarish experiences and prove to be poor examples of the breed at best, or dangerous ones at worst. And, as opponents of the scar rule often decry, a horse that has been sored is denied any future show career under a sound trainer because of the scars of the past.
Among those unfairly hurt by the practice of soring are the sound trainers, exhibitors and owners.
Others unfairly hurt by the practice of soring are the sound trainers, exhibitors and owners. People whose lives and livelihoods are deeply entwined with the horses they love and respect. People who love their retired show horses. Even people who go out of their way to rescue abused horses and provide them a safe haven. In the eyes of the public, the stigma of soring taints the entire gaited horse industry, with the beautiful, big-hearted Tennessee Walking Horse bearing the brunt of it.
Long-term effects on the breed include the change in character of the horses over time, both in terms of structure and gait brought on by the spectator demand for the sore version of the running walk. According to both USDA figures and recent reports from the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, entries in such classes have dropped.
Those who have led the fight against soring have been harassed, threatened and intimidated by those with the money and influence to do so. But their ranks are growing everyday. Many people have committed to great personal sacrifice to abolish a practice that was outlawed by Federal law long ago. At the core of the problem is money. Those that support soring have more money to fight the law than the USDA has to enforce it.
What YOU Can Do
YOU CAN COPY THIS ARTICLE and share it. Seek out likeminded individuals and organizations. Encourage show groups to bring civil suits against proven offenders. Encourage your community to boycott sore shows, or invite your local news media to cover them - after explaining the facts of soring. Media attention may inspire your local elected public officials.
Educate children in your area, as soring has now passed through at least three generations. Support sound horse organizations. There is a tremendous grass roots effort promoting the sound horse and educating the public about soring, but they need your support. Don't turn away if you don't show. Join your breed association and vote for change in elections.
But first and foremost, write your Congressman and demand that the law is enforced and that the USDA is granted, and required to use, adequate funding to eradicate the rewards of soring.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
October Newsletter ~ equitation for gaited horse riders
Equitation for Gaited Horse Riders
Ariel Kent
Good equitation is based, not on a set of arbitrary "handed down" rules, but on time- tested effective methods riders have discovered work best to stay in balance with a horse to accomplish whatever job the two of them must do. For most gaited horses riders they are riding “on the flat” What most people don’t understand is that when you ride a trotting horse you have a very forward seat and your heels and back are vertical with each other. In gaited horses when you ride you still want to have a vertical line but you can sit about 5 to 10 degrees back. When you ride a trotting horse you should be leaning your torso forward slightly; when riding gaited horses you relax your torso and sit deeper in the saddle.
It was described by Xenophon on how to have an ideal seat was to have a vertical line running through your back but with a slight curve at the torso and a upright straight chest. Xenophon wrote this at a time when most ridden horses were gaited. While staying on is a "good thing," staying in balance with your horse, with your weight over the strongest part of his back is even more important. This position, if used in a well-designed saddle that is placed correctly on the horse's back, puts the rider's weight just behind the withers at the strongest part of the horse's back, the place where he is most able to carry weight without effort, and it also aligns the rider's center of gravity with that of the horse, so that the two can work together as one unit. With your weight and body carried in this "equitation sweet spot" you can stay with your horse, and influence the way he carries himself and uses his back, critical aspects of helping him work at his best in gait.
What you will often see on gaited horse riders is the “chair seat” The chair seat is exactly what the name implies, the sort of seat you have when you are sitting on a chair, knees bent, feet well in front of your hips. If the chair vanished, you would fall on your behind on the floor! This unbalanced seat can happen for several reasons - the rider does not have enough elasticity in her hip sockets to reach down and back with her upper leg, her saddle throws her into that position, her stirrups are a tad short, she is trying to force her heels down, or she is sitting that way on purpose in the mistaken belief that she must do so to get her horse to work in gait. People use the “chair seat” because its easy. A person with poor body condition, tight leg muscles, and stiff hips will find it much easier to sit in a chair seat than to stretch his legs down around his horse's back. - It makes it easy to put your heels down, a precept that is often pounded into rider's heads with explanation other than it is just "done that way". - Many saddles are built to encourage this seat and are often bought because they are comfortable for the rider. Lane Fox cut back saddles, western saddles with build up pommels, some plantation style saddles, some "all purpose" English saddles are designed to put the rider's legs in front of his hips, feet on the "dashboard" and practically guarantee a chair seat. - It throws the rider's weight toward the loin of the horse's back, encouraging ventroflexion and making a horse more likely to work in one of the ventroflexed gaits, such as the rack, saddle rack or stepping pace, or incline him to high action in the front legs in other gaits, a desirable trait in some trotting horses.
You can sometimes see people riding in "equitation" classes, on horses with relatively low head carriage, madly "equitating" with their hands held high, well above belt level. You will also often see this high hand position in performance classes, for all breeds, not just those shown in saddle seat style. Sometimes you see the "begging puppy" look, where the hands are dropped down from a high held wrist, further interfering with the straight line from elbow to mouth. This is wrong because it breaks the straight line of communication between the horse's mouth and the rider's hand, puts stress on the rider's elbow and wrist, and can encourage the horse to lug on the rein or become heavy in hand. In addition, frankly, it looks ridiculous, and is not much use in asking the horse to raise his head (if that is the goal) or in presenting a finished appearance for the rider on a low headed horse. A hand and forearm, held in a straight line between the elbow and the horse's mouth, offers the best alternative. Again, this position provides a direct, simple, and less fatiguing means of communication with the horse's mouth. If the horse's head and neck need to be held higher to enhance his gait, the better method for achieving that position is not by trying to lift them somehow with exaggeratedly high hands, but through light upward vibrations of the fingers on the reins, while pushing the horse's entire body into a position that favors a higher head carriage. The head and neck will rise as the hindquarters lower and the front legs become lighter.
Hope you enjoyed this months article!
I have started a channel on YouTube. You can find me as HorseReprt and I have start making videos on gaited horse training and handling.
http://www.youtube.com/user/HorseReport
http://gaitedrides.blogspot.com/
Ariel Kent
Good equitation is based, not on a set of arbitrary "handed down" rules, but on time- tested effective methods riders have discovered work best to stay in balance with a horse to accomplish whatever job the two of them must do. For most gaited horses riders they are riding “on the flat” What most people don’t understand is that when you ride a trotting horse you have a very forward seat and your heels and back are vertical with each other. In gaited horses when you ride you still want to have a vertical line but you can sit about 5 to 10 degrees back. When you ride a trotting horse you should be leaning your torso forward slightly; when riding gaited horses you relax your torso and sit deeper in the saddle.
It was described by Xenophon on how to have an ideal seat was to have a vertical line running through your back but with a slight curve at the torso and a upright straight chest. Xenophon wrote this at a time when most ridden horses were gaited. While staying on is a "good thing," staying in balance with your horse, with your weight over the strongest part of his back is even more important. This position, if used in a well-designed saddle that is placed correctly on the horse's back, puts the rider's weight just behind the withers at the strongest part of the horse's back, the place where he is most able to carry weight without effort, and it also aligns the rider's center of gravity with that of the horse, so that the two can work together as one unit. With your weight and body carried in this "equitation sweet spot" you can stay with your horse, and influence the way he carries himself and uses his back, critical aspects of helping him work at his best in gait.
What you will often see on gaited horse riders is the “chair seat” The chair seat is exactly what the name implies, the sort of seat you have when you are sitting on a chair, knees bent, feet well in front of your hips. If the chair vanished, you would fall on your behind on the floor! This unbalanced seat can happen for several reasons - the rider does not have enough elasticity in her hip sockets to reach down and back with her upper leg, her saddle throws her into that position, her stirrups are a tad short, she is trying to force her heels down, or she is sitting that way on purpose in the mistaken belief that she must do so to get her horse to work in gait. People use the “chair seat” because its easy. A person with poor body condition, tight leg muscles, and stiff hips will find it much easier to sit in a chair seat than to stretch his legs down around his horse's back. - It makes it easy to put your heels down, a precept that is often pounded into rider's heads with explanation other than it is just "done that way". - Many saddles are built to encourage this seat and are often bought because they are comfortable for the rider. Lane Fox cut back saddles, western saddles with build up pommels, some plantation style saddles, some "all purpose" English saddles are designed to put the rider's legs in front of his hips, feet on the "dashboard" and practically guarantee a chair seat. - It throws the rider's weight toward the loin of the horse's back, encouraging ventroflexion and making a horse more likely to work in one of the ventroflexed gaits, such as the rack, saddle rack or stepping pace, or incline him to high action in the front legs in other gaits, a desirable trait in some trotting horses.
You can sometimes see people riding in "equitation" classes, on horses with relatively low head carriage, madly "equitating" with their hands held high, well above belt level. You will also often see this high hand position in performance classes, for all breeds, not just those shown in saddle seat style. Sometimes you see the "begging puppy" look, where the hands are dropped down from a high held wrist, further interfering with the straight line from elbow to mouth. This is wrong because it breaks the straight line of communication between the horse's mouth and the rider's hand, puts stress on the rider's elbow and wrist, and can encourage the horse to lug on the rein or become heavy in hand. In addition, frankly, it looks ridiculous, and is not much use in asking the horse to raise his head (if that is the goal) or in presenting a finished appearance for the rider on a low headed horse. A hand and forearm, held in a straight line between the elbow and the horse's mouth, offers the best alternative. Again, this position provides a direct, simple, and less fatiguing means of communication with the horse's mouth. If the horse's head and neck need to be held higher to enhance his gait, the better method for achieving that position is not by trying to lift them somehow with exaggeratedly high hands, but through light upward vibrations of the fingers on the reins, while pushing the horse's entire body into a position that favors a higher head carriage. The head and neck will rise as the hindquarters lower and the front legs become lighter.
Hope you enjoyed this months article!
I have started a channel on YouTube. You can find me as HorseReprt and I have start making videos on gaited horse training and handling.
http://www.youtube.com/user/HorseReport
http://gaitedrides.blogspot.com/
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Wow its been a while
So i finally got a Camera(camecorder)! so i will now be regularly posting videos on Youtube on horse training tips and advice. I put the link up above of my first video which is basicly a intro to the channel and showing you my farm but enough about that here is my latest Newsletter intro on fitting saddles for Gaited Horses.
September Newsletter- Saddle Fitting for Gaited Horses.
Due to the many different shapes of gaited horses one of the hardest things to do with them is find a comfortable fitting saddle. Just because the saddles says it’s a gaited horse saddle doesn’t mean that it will fit a gaited horse. The horse’s gaits transfer shock through the loins and back into the saddle which while the saddle may look like it fits while its standing could be pinching the horses back and be causing soring.
A rigid tree rarely is a good fit. When a horse is gaiting, every hoof moves opposite of the other. This calls for lots of flexibility in the back and shoulders. A rigid tree restricts the horses amount of flexibility and can cause not only discomfort as well as restrictions of there gait. Another problem of a ill- fitting saddle is that it can cause pressure points on the horses back. Fat Saddle pads can make the fit to tight and blankets really should never be used without a good cushion beneath.
Since few saddles ever fit perfectly it is apparent that some type of cushioning is needed to prevent pressure points. I suggest the Bob Marshall Skito pad which provides a gel cushioning that is much like the memory foam mattresses. The pad absorbs most of the shock from the horse before it enters the saddle allowing for a smoother ride.
Another good type of saddle for gaited horses is a flex tree saddle. These saddles are nice because they form to the horses back after time. The cons of these saddles are that it takes a few months of solid riding to get them to fit well on the horse. An example of this is that if you buy a flex tree saddle with a very narrow tree for a wide horse the horse will be riding uncomfortably for a few months.
Your best bet when shopping for a saddle for your gaited horse is a treeless Saddle. I own a Bob Marshall Deluxe Trail Treeless Saddle which I can use on all three of my Tennessee Walking horses. One of my horses is built with a long back and high shoulders. The other is very stocky and is built like a quarter horses and fits in a wide English saddle. And my last one is a 16.2Hh with massive shoulders a short high set back and long sloping quarters. All of these horse use the same saddle and have been for the past 3 years. The saddle is extremely comfortable and I have used it in 4+ hour trail rides.
If you do happen to buy a rigid tree saddle I would suggest a paragon endurance saddle. The saddle is more of an all- around style saddle and I have gone on trail rides as well as jumped in it.
Hope this has helped you in your long search for the perfect saddle. I have links below that you can use for references. Also I bought my Bob Marshall on eBay but at the website you can get a custom built saddle.
http://www.treelesssaddle.com/
http://www.treelesssaddle.com/trailsaddles.html
http://www.treelesssaddle.com/skitopads.html
September Newsletter- Saddle Fitting for Gaited Horses.
Due to the many different shapes of gaited horses one of the hardest things to do with them is find a comfortable fitting saddle. Just because the saddles says it’s a gaited horse saddle doesn’t mean that it will fit a gaited horse. The horse’s gaits transfer shock through the loins and back into the saddle which while the saddle may look like it fits while its standing could be pinching the horses back and be causing soring.
A rigid tree rarely is a good fit. When a horse is gaiting, every hoof moves opposite of the other. This calls for lots of flexibility in the back and shoulders. A rigid tree restricts the horses amount of flexibility and can cause not only discomfort as well as restrictions of there gait. Another problem of a ill- fitting saddle is that it can cause pressure points on the horses back. Fat Saddle pads can make the fit to tight and blankets really should never be used without a good cushion beneath.
Since few saddles ever fit perfectly it is apparent that some type of cushioning is needed to prevent pressure points. I suggest the Bob Marshall Skito pad which provides a gel cushioning that is much like the memory foam mattresses. The pad absorbs most of the shock from the horse before it enters the saddle allowing for a smoother ride.
Another good type of saddle for gaited horses is a flex tree saddle. These saddles are nice because they form to the horses back after time. The cons of these saddles are that it takes a few months of solid riding to get them to fit well on the horse. An example of this is that if you buy a flex tree saddle with a very narrow tree for a wide horse the horse will be riding uncomfortably for a few months.
Your best bet when shopping for a saddle for your gaited horse is a treeless Saddle. I own a Bob Marshall Deluxe Trail Treeless Saddle which I can use on all three of my Tennessee Walking horses. One of my horses is built with a long back and high shoulders. The other is very stocky and is built like a quarter horses and fits in a wide English saddle. And my last one is a 16.2Hh with massive shoulders a short high set back and long sloping quarters. All of these horse use the same saddle and have been for the past 3 years. The saddle is extremely comfortable and I have used it in 4+ hour trail rides.
If you do happen to buy a rigid tree saddle I would suggest a paragon endurance saddle. The saddle is more of an all- around style saddle and I have gone on trail rides as well as jumped in it.
Hope this has helped you in your long search for the perfect saddle. I have links below that you can use for references. Also I bought my Bob Marshall on eBay but at the website you can get a custom built saddle.
http://www.treelesssaddle.com/
http://www.treelesssaddle.com/trailsaddles.html
http://www.treelesssaddle.com/skitopads.html
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Finding hte right saddle for your hrose
September Newsletter- Saddle Fitting for Gaited Horses.
Due to the many different shapes of gaited horses one of the hardest things to do with them is find a comfortable fitting saddle. Just because the saddles says it’s a gaited horse saddle doesn’t mean that it will fit a gaited horse. The horse’s gaits transfer shock through the loins and back into the saddle which while the saddle may look like it fits while its standing could be pinching the horses back and be causing soring.
A rigid tree rarely is a good fit. When a horse is gaiting, every hoof moves opposite of the other. This calls for lots of flexibility in the back and shoulders. A rigid tree restricts the horses amount of flexibility and can cause not only discomfort as well as restrictions of there gait. Another problem of a ill- fitting saddle is that it can cause pressure points on the horses back. Fat Saddle pads can make the fit to tight and blankets really should never be used without a good cushion beneath.
Since few saddles ever fit perfectly it is apparent that some type of cushioning is needed to prevent pressure points. I suggest the Bob Marshall Skito pad which provides a gel cushioning that is much like the memory foam mattresses. The pad absorbs most of the shock from the horse before it enters the saddle allowing for a smoother ride.
Another good type of saddle for gaited horses is a flex tree saddle. These saddles are nice because they form to the horses back after time. The cons of these saddles are that it takes a few months of solid riding to get them to fit well on the horse. An example of this is that if you buy a flex tree saddle with a very narrow tree for a wide horse the horse will be riding uncomfortably for a few months.
Your best bet when shopping for a saddle for your gaited horse is a treeless Saddle. I own a Bob Marshall Deluxe Trail Treeless Saddle which I can use on all three of my Tennessee Walking horses. One of my horses is built with a long back and high shoulders. The other is very stocky and is built like a quarter horses and fits in a wide English saddle. And my last one is a 16.2Hh with massive shoulders a short high set back and long sloping quarters. All of these horse use the same saddle and have been for the past 3 years. The saddle is extremely comfortable and I have used it in 4+ hour trail rides.
If you do happen to buy a rigid tree saddle I would suggest a paragon endurance saddle. The saddle is more of an all- around style saddle and I have gone on trail rides as well as jumped in it.
Hope this has helped you in your long search for the perfect saddle. I have links below that you can use for references. Also I bought my Bob Marshall on eBay but at the website you can get a custom built saddle.
http://www.treelesssaddle.com/
http://www.treelesssaddle.com/trailsaddles.html
http://www.treelesssaddle.com/skitopads.html
Due to the many different shapes of gaited horses one of the hardest things to do with them is find a comfortable fitting saddle. Just because the saddles says it’s a gaited horse saddle doesn’t mean that it will fit a gaited horse. The horse’s gaits transfer shock through the loins and back into the saddle which while the saddle may look like it fits while its standing could be pinching the horses back and be causing soring.
A rigid tree rarely is a good fit. When a horse is gaiting, every hoof moves opposite of the other. This calls for lots of flexibility in the back and shoulders. A rigid tree restricts the horses amount of flexibility and can cause not only discomfort as well as restrictions of there gait. Another problem of a ill- fitting saddle is that it can cause pressure points on the horses back. Fat Saddle pads can make the fit to tight and blankets really should never be used without a good cushion beneath.
Since few saddles ever fit perfectly it is apparent that some type of cushioning is needed to prevent pressure points. I suggest the Bob Marshall Skito pad which provides a gel cushioning that is much like the memory foam mattresses. The pad absorbs most of the shock from the horse before it enters the saddle allowing for a smoother ride.
Another good type of saddle for gaited horses is a flex tree saddle. These saddles are nice because they form to the horses back after time. The cons of these saddles are that it takes a few months of solid riding to get them to fit well on the horse. An example of this is that if you buy a flex tree saddle with a very narrow tree for a wide horse the horse will be riding uncomfortably for a few months.
Your best bet when shopping for a saddle for your gaited horse is a treeless Saddle. I own a Bob Marshall Deluxe Trail Treeless Saddle which I can use on all three of my Tennessee Walking horses. One of my horses is built with a long back and high shoulders. The other is very stocky and is built like a quarter horses and fits in a wide English saddle. And my last one is a 16.2Hh with massive shoulders a short high set back and long sloping quarters. All of these horse use the same saddle and have been for the past 3 years. The saddle is extremely comfortable and I have used it in 4+ hour trail rides.
If you do happen to buy a rigid tree saddle I would suggest a paragon endurance saddle. The saddle is more of an all- around style saddle and I have gone on trail rides as well as jumped in it.
Hope this has helped you in your long search for the perfect saddle. I have links below that you can use for references. Also I bought my Bob Marshall on eBay but at the website you can get a custom built saddle.
http://www.treelesssaddle.com/
http://www.treelesssaddle.com/trailsaddles.html
http://www.treelesssaddle.com/skitopads.html
Thursday, August 14, 2008
God i feel sick
I really need to start doing more breed demos with my walkers! I am amazed at how un- informed people are when it comes to gaited horses. There was a few questions i saw on yahoo answers today. One was on can TWH's jump. well first off any horse can jump. Secondly its caled Versatility horse of America. Yeah you may think the quarter horse but i sure as hell don't see any QH going 20MPH at a trot! TWH's can jump any horse can jump if there trained to do it. the second question was can i gallop my gaited hrose or will it spoil its gaits. That is the biggest myth of them all. Yes you can gallop your horse but as long as you know how to gait them in the correct gait or otherwise they will want to canter becasue it is easier. And lastly, which is faster a gaited horse or a non-gaited horse. Now we are talkign at a trot Vs a running walk and yes gaited horses are faster. They where breed to be fast and smooth so they will obvioulsy be faster. a gaited hrose can get up to 25 miles an hour at what non gaited horse peopel would think of as a trot. lets see your TB, QH, or Arab do that!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Gaited Horses Cantering
Last saturday i went with a friend to look at a posible first hrose for her. She is in her 40's and she was raised in Arizona where the mexican Cowboys taught her how to ride. She now lives in Connecticut where she rides at a dressage barn. She wants to get a Tennessee Walking Horse for a pleasure hrose but also to do dresage for gaited horse. So the horse was located in New York and was beautiful his only problem was his owner did not know what the runnign walk was so she let him do whatever. And in order to make him do a running walk she would push him into a canter then pull him back. Right when i got on this horse right when i asked it to do a running walk it went into the canter. So todays training tip is how to gait the broken gaited horse.
i will give you a few scenarios, the first you have already heard so i will explain my advice on how to fix this.
First i find a hill or a sloop it dosn't have to be insanly steep or almost flat. I worked this horse on a 20ft hill with about a 45 degree angle. So i turned him towards the hill and asked him to do a runnign walk, he enters a canter and i pull him back. But while going up the hill i start half- halting him to round him around.( half- halt is holding with one rein and giving and taking with the other.) once we reached the crest i could feel the horse tense up and put pressure against the bit to try and canter, but becasue he was tucked under and rounded ahout he coudn't canter. i have noticed with my own horses that this can take a very long time to learn( a few days of riding) but liek the hrose i rode it can also only take a few minutes to catch on. I was able to get the horse to do a beautiful running walk and allowed my frined to gait him more eaisly without having to deal with his canter issue. So my tip for this issue is to work your horse on a hill and really try to get the horse rounded. A hollow backed horse is more likley to pace than do its gaits.
My next scenario is a horse that gaits with its head up( Icelandics, some TWH's and MFT's) these horses are able to do a smooth gait while having its head up. one thing about these horses is that they have to have tremendous back muscle strength. THe reason behind this is becasue even though gaited hroses are smooth they still have shock absorbtion going through there back and a hollow back acts like a giant spring and everyone knows that after a while the spring has to be replaced. Many old retired swaybacked hroses are like they are because of improper riding style. Now granted some people will say i am worng here becasue i know in some breeds it is prefered. But the on the trail it is jsut silly. So to help heave a smother gait with high headed horses i suggest that yo uwork on pressure cues. One thing ive seen with high headed horses is that they are not always that responsive an tend to fight the bit. For this when they do there runnign walk, fox trot, tolt.... lean back and lower your reins even down past your hips if neccassary this will encourguge the hrose to concentrate on its feet rather than its mouth. I have not always tryed to lower a horse that has a high head set because they can sometimes pace while rounded jsut becasue there not use to it.
hope this helps!
August looks to be a great month for riding so enjoy it!
i will give you a few scenarios, the first you have already heard so i will explain my advice on how to fix this.
First i find a hill or a sloop it dosn't have to be insanly steep or almost flat. I worked this horse on a 20ft hill with about a 45 degree angle. So i turned him towards the hill and asked him to do a runnign walk, he enters a canter and i pull him back. But while going up the hill i start half- halting him to round him around.( half- halt is holding with one rein and giving and taking with the other.) once we reached the crest i could feel the horse tense up and put pressure against the bit to try and canter, but becasue he was tucked under and rounded ahout he coudn't canter. i have noticed with my own horses that this can take a very long time to learn( a few days of riding) but liek the hrose i rode it can also only take a few minutes to catch on. I was able to get the horse to do a beautiful running walk and allowed my frined to gait him more eaisly without having to deal with his canter issue. So my tip for this issue is to work your horse on a hill and really try to get the horse rounded. A hollow backed horse is more likley to pace than do its gaits.
My next scenario is a horse that gaits with its head up( Icelandics, some TWH's and MFT's) these horses are able to do a smooth gait while having its head up. one thing about these horses is that they have to have tremendous back muscle strength. THe reason behind this is becasue even though gaited hroses are smooth they still have shock absorbtion going through there back and a hollow back acts like a giant spring and everyone knows that after a while the spring has to be replaced. Many old retired swaybacked hroses are like they are because of improper riding style. Now granted some people will say i am worng here becasue i know in some breeds it is prefered. But the on the trail it is jsut silly. So to help heave a smother gait with high headed horses i suggest that yo uwork on pressure cues. One thing ive seen with high headed horses is that they are not always that responsive an tend to fight the bit. For this when they do there runnign walk, fox trot, tolt.... lean back and lower your reins even down past your hips if neccassary this will encourguge the hrose to concentrate on its feet rather than its mouth. I have not always tryed to lower a horse that has a high head set because they can sometimes pace while rounded jsut becasue there not use to it.
hope this helps!
August looks to be a great month for riding so enjoy it!
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