China hosts a rodeo!

In browsing across the numerous Colorado-related websites, I stumbled across this neat little piece of news: the PRCA will hold an 8-day rodeo in Beijing, China, at the site of the 2008 Olympic Games. The event will take place in May 2012.

So, what's the Colorado link? Twenty Colorado 4-H'ers have been selected to travel to China to help the rodeo education effort. How cool is that?! Here's the lucky team:

Katelyn Ann McRee Archuleta County 

Re’ahna Ray Archuleta County 

Jessica Mullin Boulder County 

Kasey Miles Delta County 

Clay Adams Douglas County 

Kimberly Talbert Douglas County 

Sydney Anderson Elbert County 

Cody Chambers Elbert County 

Cade Christensen El Paso County 

Stormy Rose Havens Garfield County 

Taylor Vagneur Garfield County 

Jade Gutierrez La Plata County 

Hannah Mei Xu Turner La Plata County 

Zach Hooker Larimer County 

Kyle Moncrief Larimer County 

Shea Lynn Johnson Las Animas County 

Shawn Haas Mesa County 

Jake Cruzan Montezuma County 

Ryan Vargas Pueblo County 

Emily Hartman Sedgwick County

Also involved is the Colorado FFA and the National Little Britches Rodeo Association, who also selected youths to help teach the art and sport of rodeo to Chinese youths. What an amazing opportunity to share a deeply American tradition with kids from another country!

In other news, there's another attempt to ban all types of transport of horses intended for slaughter. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) is quoted here:
"Horses transported across our borders for slaughter continue to be treated inhumanely. The Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011 will make sure that these majestic creatures are treated with the respect they deserve."
So let me get on my soapbox. How, exactly, does this legislation ensure that these "majestic creatures" are treated humanely? Does anyone believe that horses will really no longer be shipped across the border for slaughter? Wouldn't it be more efficient for us to re-open and properly regulate slaughter in the U.S. so those horses are treated humanely?
Also on thehorse.com is this article that shows a real situation of a horses being treated inhumanely. Now, I'm not going to contend that anyone could try to send such an emaciated animal for slaughter for human consumption, but I will say that slaughter would have been a humane end to this horse's life instead of starving slowly to death.

Finally, does anyone ever get tired of seeing cutting horses at their best? Quarter Horse News posted a great video of Dont Look Twice with Phil Rapp on their homepage. Check it out!

Respecting the powerful horse

Just last night, a lady I know passed away, potentially from an incident involving a horse. Her family doesn't know what happened, only that her husband and son arrived home to find her unconscious. CT scans showed that her skull had been fractured and her brain was badly swollen.
The family doesn't know exactly what happened, but she had been out to do groundwork with her horse. We'll never know what happened, but this is more than enough to remind that horses are powerful, potentially dangerous animals. Even the horses we hold dear can inadvertently cause harm.
A 1,200-pound animal is more than a match for a human, which is why everyone who rides horses should be respected for that ability. To be able to work with a horse, whether in the saddle, in a cart or on the ground, is a gift and a blessing, but clearly it can be hazardous.
Do we, as riders, take the time to remember that these animals can kill us when we saddle up? I doubt it, because I rarely think about it. When I saddle Lena, I'm thinking about what we might do today: Do we do some arena work, and practice maneuvers and collection? Or do we ride out just for fun in the pasture, just to enjoy ourselves?
It rarely occurs to me to that Lena, as well as I know her, could hurt me. Perhaps the thought sits comfortably in my subconscious, hidden by my confidence in her and in my riding abilities. When I think about it, there are numerous times I could've been hurt by her.
I've had Lena on a longe line a number of times when she's been too hyperactive or worked up to wait until she's away from me to start bucking—I've come awfully close to having a hoof strike me. She's reared a few times on the line, another moment I could've been struck. She's had a few big spooks—the enormous German Shepherd down the road likes to come off his property to bark at her, and there's an occasional spook for no good reason.
She's also the type of horse that liked to try a crow hop or two when we lope, although that tendency has dimmed with age (thank God!). I'm sure I could think of a few other times Lena has posed a potential hazard for me. The photo below shows Lena getting her energy out on the longe line—and let me tell you, she bucks like a rodeo bronc when she feels good, and gets in a good jump or two when the border collie (Rascal) gets too close.

So I'm incredibly thankful at this moment that I've never been seriously injured by my horse, or any horse I've ridden.
I met Trudy Shaw on the 2009 Chief Joseph Trail Ride, a week-long trail ride sponsored by the Appaloosa Horse Club. I had the privilege of attending when I wrote for Appaloosa Journal, and Trudy was kind enough to let me ride her horse on the first day of the ride.
It was such a fabulous experience, I'm forever grateful for her for allowing me the pleasure. It's interesting to realize that even that horse could've hurt me. Many horses are extremely excited on the first day of the ride, and Trudy's horse was no different. (I'm a little ashamed I don't remember the horse's name, only that he was a certifiable Appaloosa.) As I rode out with the group and Trudy's daughter-in-law Bethany, the horse gave me a bit of trouble, trying to crow hop and generally express his excitement at being surrounded by so many horses in motion.
It wasn't a big deal for me, he was easy enough to contain. But there was at least one rider that parted unceremoniously with his saddle that morning. I'm more thankful now that I was unhurt on that ride than I ever was during the course of it!
In light of the loss of Trudy, I intend to acknowledge the mighty power of my equine companions when I ride, to always respect them and remember that the time I get to spend with them is something to be treasured and something to do carefully.
Next time you ride, I hope you'll take a moment to reflect on the power of the animal you're interacting with, and above all, be as safe as you can!

How much is too much?

How much is too much, when it's stuff for your horse?

Yes, there are six different containers in the photo, and yes, they are all filled with horse equipment. That's a bareback pad and a stable blanket in the truck bed, and I didn't drag out the two trash can containers that have more blankets or include the saddles and saddle blankets/pads that I have. Oh, and there were three more horse blankets hanging on the arena fence drying from being washed.
Is it too much?
After going through all of this stuff, I came home and put three items on craigslist for sale: an English saddle, a western saddle and a stable blanket. I can't justify keeping any of these items, because I have a better English saddle that I ride in; the western saddle has a 14-inch seat that my rear won't fit in; and I purchased a stable blanket with a belly band last fall that I like better then the plain old stable blanket with straps. Might I mention, I put the "old" one on my horse perhaps 6 times? It's in brand new condition so hopefully someone out there can jump on getting a great blanket for a $20 discount.
That purple tote on the pickup's tailgate is full of first aid and health supplies, like wraps, hoof ointment and weight builder.
The silver tote on the ground is what I call the "show tote." It contains the things I use for the horse when I show, like clean Sleazies, towels, a separate grooming kit with all the essentials, and a clean halter for show day travel.
The blue tote has numerous cinches, a helmet, saddle blankets, about six bridles, and several sets of reins. The box sitting on the gray tote has two sheets; the container next to it has leg gear (think polo wraps, splint boots) and extraneous bits; the similar container on the ground has halters (so many halters!!).
Not pictured is my beloved western saddle, my husband's saddle, my English saddle, the bridles I do use, and those blankets I mentioned. Now, here's the kicker: I OWN ONLY ONE HORSE.
To excuse some of my horse clutter, I was given many saddle & horse blankets by my trainer, who retired at age 86 from riding. But the rest of it? All came home under my purchasing premises that I'd need it some day.
Of course, my mother and I share stuff, but she's horseless at the time. So, do I try to get rid of the stuff I'm not using? My immediate answer, of course, is no! Because I might someday need those halters for the herd of horses I'll own when I'm rich.
I do find solace in the thought that now that my daughter will one day have her own horse, I can find a use for those bits and blankets. Maybe then I can also convince my husband to start riding again, too, so I'll keep that saddle around.
In the meantime, I'll be honest: I'm not getting rid of any of my horse clutter, because there's not such a thing as too much horse stuff. :)

Baby's second ride

My daughter, Meira, was on a horse with me at 13 days old, and here she is at a little over 5 weeks for her second horsey experience. These "rides" consisted of posing for the photos and then taking a few steps with Dad or Grandma hovering protectively with a hand near a rein, but they count! I like to think I'm starting what will be a lifelong enjoyment of our equine companions.
{The horse above is Jo, my mother-in-law's 6-year-old Paint gelding.}
And when I think of a life spent with horses, I pray that it means she will always get to enjoy horses from the saddle. I write this because today my husband's fire station responded to a medical call of a 58-year-old woman who was thrown from a horse.
I can't say whether the lady who was injured will or won't get back onto a horse, but I've known other older women whose confidence in the saddle was severely diminished after being thrown. Even at 28, I know I wouldn't do things that I would've when I was 18 horseback, because every year I age, a little bit of fear, or maybe just a bit more sense, changes me as a rider.
Now, when I think of my daughter horseback, I'm sure I'm experiencing the same apprehension my own mother probably felt—but that certainly won't stop me from letting her ride. It also won't stop me from hovering when she starts learning to ride independently, or insisting on a helmet, or worrying when she heads out on a ride that I won't be on. However, I've got a few years to go before I'll need to start worrying!

APHA's baby toys!

Thank you, APHA, for not posting anything about these items on Facebook before I actually had my daughter, because I might've purchased every single (girl) baby item available!!


APHA General store

I really love the rattle, and I actually have a large paint stuffed horse, if only I could get it back from my mother!!

How would you move your horse if...

My husband, Matt, is a volunteer firefighter, and he gave me some food for thought regarding a potential article topic. But as a start, I thought it might be valuable to talk about it here. That topic is what to do with your horse in an emergency?
Matt told me about two horses that had been near a brush fire that his department had handled just a few days ago. They had been running around in the smoke, not quite knowing what to do. So I'm going to look at this from my perspective if I needed to move my horse (which, by the way, is the stunning American Paint named Docs Gold Olena, Lena for short, in the photo below). 

First, I'd ask myself, "Is my horse trailer broke?" There would be nothing more frustrating than needing to move her in an emergency and finding out that when push came to shove, I couldn't get her in the trailer (because I certainly can't push her into it!). This actually brought up a concern, because the last time I loaded Lena, she stubbornly refused to load the way I know she can and should.
Lena was last trailered out to have her feet trimmed at my in-law's place. She loaded that first time beautifully, stepping onto the trailer exactly the way I expect her to. She stayed a few days there, then when I went to return her home, suddenly, my perfectly behaved mare decided that she did not want to leave her pals, Jo and Soxs, and that getting on that trailer was not her priority.
This would be a huge problem if I needed to load her in a hurry!
So after she finally loaded and we returned home, Lena was subjected to several more practice rounds, getting into and out of my trailer. And I promised her more practice sessions until she never refuses, ever again (and I am that serious about it!). If there were a fire and she had to move immediately, I could not have her refusing to load.
Next, would I know where to go with my horse? Often, I see horses being taken to the nearest fairgrounds for temporary housing, so do I know where the nearest fairgrounds that can accommodate my horse are? Considering the size of the Denver metro area, I would actually have several choices. Even at this moment, I don't actually have addresses or specific directions to any of the nearby fairgrounds, so I guess I have my own homework!
Or, if I decide not to take her to the fairgrounds, what's the next option? I would have my in-laws place to take her to, which honestly would be my first choice because it would limit her exposure to other horses that may carry contagious diseases. I also have friends that have property where I could house her, so that would be another option.
The idea of communicable diseases leads me to this: Are Lena's vaccinations up to date? This is an easy "Yes" because I am religious about her shot schedule. She sees the vet twice a year, no questions asked. However, since I'm not showing or using her on a regular basis, her Coggins is not up-to-date, so I guess that gives me something to think about!
{As a side note, my mare also gets a yearly visit from Dr. Scott Marx, an equine dentist who I highly recommend!}
In my humble horse-owning opinion, those three things would be the first things I'd want taken care of in an emergency. And since I now hear my daughter waking up from her nap, I think I'd better leave it at that!
Happy trails, horse lovers, and have you hugged your horse today?