A look back at the year’s Horsetrader highlights

From Horsetrader staff

Faster than a speeding bullet, 2024 is approaching its end. Here’s is a look back at a year’s worth of Horsetrader headlines (and some links to entire articles if you missed them the first time!)

Holiday gift-giving starts with local stores and barns!

From the Horsetrader sales staff

Horse people find the best holiday gifts not on Amazon but at your local feed and tack stores — and even your training barn!

One example is Hooves & Paws in Apple Valley, which not only has a huge inventory (both in-store and online), but they have a fun way to go about the season: the 12 Days of Christmas! For 12 days, from Dec. 8 through Dec. 19, Hooves & Paws will be giving away apparel and products from top manufacturers like Professional’s Choice, Shires, Troxel, Breyer, Weaver Leather and more. It costs nothing to participate; starting Dec. 8, just (1) visit the Hooves & Paws Facebook page , (2) follow them, and then (3) tag three friends and share the post. Winners will be randomly selected and announced the next day — right up to the 12th Day of Christmas (a $100 Hooves & Paws gift card!). You can check out 12 items and the days they are the prizes by clicking here.

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The gift of lessons…

Another local gift-giving option for the horse people in your life are training barns, many of which offer lesson gift packages. One such barn is King Performance Horses in Chino Hills featuring trainer Joline King-Pebley. KPH is now accepting reining and ranch horse riding horses for training for 2025, and it also has excellent youth, non-pro and primetime programs (and 2024 buckles and ribbons to show for it!). For more information, see the King Performance Horses full-page ad on page 7, or click here.

Also, be sure to check out the variety of disciplines and locations of all the top trainers listed in the Horsetrader Trainer’s Directory by clicking here!

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Healthy and wise…

One more gift idea you won’t find on an Amazon search: a healthy “spa” treatment for you, your horse and dog — or all of the above! Helping horses, humans and hounds, The Spoiled Pony has three different holiday gift packages for therapy and restoration using PEMF, massage and cryotherapy — for you, your beloved animals, or both. Explore the line-up of therapeutic services that The Spoiled Pony provides on their website, https://thespoiledpony.com, and check out their full page ad on page 2 this issue.

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More than top training…

Poway Equestrian Center in North San Diego County offers top training in a variety of levels and disciplines — and it also has remarkable, scenic trail access for boarders and visitors. What’s more, the beautiful facility atop the Poway hills offers special events, so those interested should stay tuned at the facilities website, https://powayequestriancenter.com/ for its calendar of upcoming events. In addition, the venue offers its facilities to outside groups, too, including weddings and corporate events. Long known for its top-level trainers and boarding amenities as well as its riding lessons and trail rides, the Poway Equestrian Center earns rave reviews. For more information on the horse side of things, or about the wedding and corporate event info, see the ad on page 24, or call (858) 748-6441. Overlooking the City of San Diego, Poway Equestrian Center takes pride in its high standards and it strives to provide all its trainers with everything it can to support the trainers’ businesses.

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The ‘Get Ready Blanket’…

Ready for real results in the show ring? RevitaVet, an industry leader of equine preventative maintenance and rehabilitation devices, just announced release of a new generation of infrared therapy blanket. Considered the next level of pre-competition blanket, the Get Ready Blanket has undergone real-time testing with top riders — and it’s a game-changer. It works with 1,600 LED lights that penetrate deeply to relax muscles and increase blood circulation. Just 20 minutes of use before the show ring is all that is required. Riders feel a smoother, happier horse who is ready to perform at its best — truly a competitive advantage! The Get Ready Blanket is lightweight, adjustable to fit most horses up to 18 hands, and operates on a rechargeable battery with AC adapter and a 20-minute automatic shut-off. A two-year warranty, 30-day money back, and technical support is included. For more info, please visit https://revitavet.com and see the ad on page 35. You can check out other quality RevitaVet products on horsetrader.com by clicking here.

When dealing with bad behavior, consider all possible factors

By Sheryl Lynde / Horsetrader columnist

“No-go” is a common complaint. The behavior ranges from slow walking — always lagging behind others in a group — to breaking gait once asked to transition to a trot or lope. The most extreme defiance is refusing to move forward altogether, or flying backwards once urged with leg. The more extreme refusals could culminate into rearing or bucking once coerced to move their feet.

A gentleman had a 9-year old gelding, newly purchased at auction. The information given on the gelding was that he had been used to take dudes out for rides to see the countryside. When the owner got him home, he saddled him up and asked him to move out. The horse refused to take a step forward. He had tried on a couple of occasions, but his efforts proved fruitless.

When I worked with the gelding on the ground, I noticed that he moved forward with plenty of energy. When I rode the gelding, he moved out, but he was unsure and didn’t travel in a straight path. When a horse has been used in a rental string, they are typically ridden in nose-to-tail formation. If they are carrying inexperienced riders, the riders become passengers and their horse is simply following the horse in front of him. Without another horse in front of this gelding — or for that matter, anywhere close by — his feet were pretty sticky. A horse with little or no motivation to go forward generally needs a new and safe environment to entice him to move forward, such as trail with trees and brush and hills to maneuver. But without knowing the full history of this gelding, I preferred to put him through my program to eliminate possible holes in his training.

I offered to work with the gelding for a couple of weeks just to ensure the new owner would be safe taking him out and about. He brought him back the following week. I saddled him and, while in a halter and lead, I urged him forward to do a couple of exercises on the ground. He took one step and he broke in two like a colt who had never been saddled. I had a hold of him with the lead rope so I could redirect his feet, but with each step, he sucked up and bucked. As I observed his movements, it didn’t look as though he was objecting to the saddle itself as much as he was offended by the girth. I worked with him until he was calm. Once he relaxed, I hopped up in the saddle. I was able to get him moving forward but he wasn’t completely freed up. The next day, same thing — he broke in two as soon as he took a step forward.

I observed his movements. He could be cold-backed, which by definition is a horse with a sensitive or painful back. A cold-backed horse needs to be worked on the ground to warm up his muscles prior to riding. Warming up allows him time to adjust to the feel of the saddle on his back. Once warmed up properly and allowed to get out his bucks, he is good to go.

But the way this gelding sucked up and exploded on the first step made me suspect it could be an ulcer. I considered his most recent circumstances. Being in an auction environment with a variance in diet were both plausible indicators of a stressful change in his routine. I asked the owner to give him a dose of Ulcergard in the morning prior to his training session.

Mid-afternoon, I saddled him and moved him out, asking him to complete the same exercises that produced the buck in the previous days. There was no buck. He moved out willingly. We repeated the same dosage of Ulcergard the next day and again there was no buck. He also didn’t suck up as though he was objecting to the cinch — he was extending himself and moving more fluidly. Visually, there was a huge difference in how he traveled. When I rode him, he felt more comfortable accepting leg pressure.

The gelding’s progression increased rapidly. We were able to move safely around the property and ride by his pasturemate who had been calling to him. He still had objections which we met with corrections, but each day he improved. By the third week, the owner was riding a horse that had all the forward movement that he was looking for.

If the owner had insisted on forward energy when he first brought him home by delivering a kick out of frustration, he may have found himself riding a bronc, rodeo style. When dealing with bad behavior, consider all possible contributing factors. It’s important to rule out pain. Be safe!
— Sheryl

WCRH celebrates Ranch Horse; 5th Annual ‘Rendezvous’ best yet

Special to the Horsetrader

TEMECULA — The Fifth Annual West Coast Ranch Horse Ranch Horse Rendezvous, held Oct. 10-13 at the California Ranch Company, was well-attended by seasoned ranch horse exhibitors and newcomers alike.

The four-day ranch horse extravaganza featured an array of clinics, futurities, maturities, weekend show, a catered dinner and live entertainment.

Region 7, CDS Championships enliven LAEC

Special to the Horsetrader

BURBANK — As the sun set on the Great American Insurance Group / USDF Region 7 Dressage Championships and the 57th Annual California Dressage Society State Championship Show Sept. 26-29 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, memorable experiences traveled home with USDF and CDS members across the state and beyond.

One horse, two friends and champions

Two USDF champions are connected by a special horse, and on Sunday they shared the honor round for the Great American/USDF Region 7 Intermediaire 1 Adult Amateur Championship, with Champion Susan Walker on her own Don Amour N, a 10-year-old, 17 hand bay Oldenburg gelding, and Reserve Champion Kristina Huff on her own Winzer 207, an 18-year-old, 17.2 hand bay Hanoverian gelding.

Fred DeBoer Friesian Estate Carriage Auction is Nov. 16

From the Horsetrader sales staff

The immaculate carriage collection of Fred De Boer Royal Friesians will be at auction Saturday, Nov. 16. A dispersal of coaches, carriages, harness, livery and stable equipment will take place in an online and live auction in Tulare managed by Martin Auctioneers, in conjunction with the Martella & Black Auction Company of Hanford. An estate preview is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. on auction day, with auction start time at 11. Absentee and phone bids will be accepted.

In this month’s article, we are going to take a little turn. I have been asked for a Top 10 list of traits in a perfect client. Some may find they feel they are lacking in some areas. This list is not to make anyone feel bad, it is more about enlightening you as to what helps make an equine veterinarian’s job easier in my opinion. The list is in no particular order. Let’s get to it!

These keys open doors to equine-inclusive communities

By Danielle Bolte / courtesy elcr.org

Horses bring many benefits to our local communities — including economic, ecological, and aesthetic — and they enhance our general health and well-being. Plus, horses can be local economic drivers; according to the American Horse Council 2005 National Economic Impact of the U.S. Horse Industry Study, the equine industry accounted for 460,000 full-time jobs with an annual impact of $39 billion annually to our economy, generating $1.9 billion in taxes.

SCRCHA wraps up 2024 season with September Classic

By SUE CARTER / for the Horsetrader

TEMECULA — The September Classic was the last show of 2024 for Southern California Reined Cow Horse Association. Soaring temperatures did not deter the hardy competitors from vying for the year-end points and coveted Doug Williamson Memorial Buckle, sponsored by Molly’s Custom Silver. The start time was moved up by an hour in an effort to save the horses and competitors from the heat.

Tina Lattanzio aboard her own Smooth Moves won both the Open and Non Pro Cutting, with Craig Cowley aboard Peppys Autumn Cat coming in second in Open Cutting.

San Marcos horse group introduces new parks head to equestrian community

From Horsetrader staff reports

SAN MARCOS — It was a postcard-perfect afternoon on Sept. 23 at Walnut Grove Equestrian Center — excellent for introducing the facility and its supporters to Mark Olson, who became Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of San Marcos last January. Patty Morton, President of the Twin Oaks Valley Equestrian Association, along with other board members, led Mark on a tour of the grounds. The walk-and-talk ended in a meeting hall where additional local equestrians engaged in a town hall meeting that included a Powerpoint presentation on TOVEA, some area equestrian history, and the value of an equestrian lifestyle in a community. They also invited him to the Horse Heritage Festival and the 18th Annual Ride & Stride fund-raiser Oct. 20 at the park.