Horse trailers and saddles are considered basic equipment. We’ll take a quick look at horse trailers, and what to look for in highly effective hauling equipment, first. Trailers are perhaps one of the more essential functional pieces of equipment for any sort of equestrian show, competition or gathering, and are obviously necessary for transporting the animals themselves. The best guide to discovering the right trailer may be the function you’re attending, and also the number of horses you intend to handle. If you are merely moving one horse at any given time, you ought to consider first the health and safety needs of your creature. As an example, more mature horses need to be transported on trailers which have a smooth ramp, and not a challenging step down. Dutch doors are not always your best option for more mature horses, unless of course a ramp is connected. Keep in mind to purchase horse trailers which are effective at providing easy access to the maintenance equipment necessary for the ride or event. Plenty of room is good to have, but a well-organised broad area with shelves, compartments, and provisions for gear is crucial unless of course you are packing a different trailer.

Saddles themselves are crucial elements for riding, and the best saddle is dependent upon the specific job it’s needed for. Saddles are easy to exchange while riding in close proximity to a horse trailer, based on distance, competition rules and a horse’s special requirements. Think about the proportions of your horse to start with, and how weight is going to be distributed through the saddle to the back. Secondly look at the requirements of the event. Is the event a competitive sport or show? Always put aside a particular saddle that is comfortable and broken-in, one that also allows your horse and rider to shine in a specific show. Saddles can make the difference between disappointment and success, creating probably the most direct connection between horse and rider. For a day to day saddle, make sure that it’s well-fixed and responsive, so that communication is evident between the rider and horse. Some saddles can be very uncomfortable for the animal, when attached or broken in improperly. Typically, the same saddle should be employed for daily wear and training. Having said that, it’s important to gain access to equipment that is broken-in independently for each and every type of activity. One contest riding product and a dependable utility version will cover the bases for most amateur riders.

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Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

The shining star in the prime running events at the 2008 USATF National Masters Meet in Spokane (WA) was Kathryn (Kathy) Martin, who won 5 national titles in the 800, 1500, 5000 and 10,000-meter races, and set an American record in the 2000-meter steeplechase. The 56-year-old from Northport (NY) was virtually unstoppable in the 55-59 age-group competition.

The United States Track & Field-sanctioned meet was held Aug. 7-10 at the Spokane Falls Community College track, one of the finestif not the finestdedicated track venues among community colleges in the nation. Most tracks are built around a more popular sporting venue, such as football. At Spokane Falls Community College it is clear that track and field competition is a prime concern.

Kathy Martin won the 5 titles in 4 days battling 90-degree-plus temperatures at Spokane’s 2,000-plus-foot elevation with dry heat and no humidity.

Her closest race was the 800 which she won in 2:38.56 with runner-up Coreen Steinbach of Pompey (NY) less than a second behind. Martin’s biggest margin of victory came in the 5000, which she won in 19:09.20, nearly 2 minutes ahead of her nearest competitor.

Martin’s two signature racesthe 1500 and 10,000left little doubt about who was in charge on the track. She won the 10,000 in 41:13.60, slower than her American age-group record of 39:37.78 set last year. She also holds the current national record of 37:12.23 set in 2004 in the 50-54 age-group.

Martin, who resembles a very fast perpetual motion machine, ran away from her competition in the 1500, winning in 5:13.49 by more than 12+ seconds and with a time less than a second slower than her current American record of 5:12.62 set last year. She also holds the current national record of 4:52.55 set in 2002 in the 50-54 age-group.

The icing on her 5-layer cake came in her apparent first-time try at the 2000-meter steeplechase as she set a national record in 8:23.20, demolishing Marie Michelsohn’s 7-year-old mark of 8:37.7 set in 2001. Kathy Martin is an inspiring running machine who continues to rank as one of America’s top middle-distance runners in masters competition.

Three other competitors, including two American-record holders, were double winners in the prime running events at the meet.

Stephen Robbins of Seattle won the 65-69 age-group 100 in 12.56 and set a new American record in the 200 in 25.36, breaking Paul Johnson’s mark of 25.76 set in 2001. Robbins set the current 100 American record (pending) of 12.37 earlier in August.

Nolan Shaheed of Pasadena, CA (55-59) won the 1500 in 4:44.38 and the 5000 in 17:00.60. Shaheed holds the same age-group American record of 4:20.76 set in 2004. Nolan Shaheed also holds the world masters record of 4:27.9 in the mile for the 50-54 age-group, which he set in 2000.

Don Coffman of Stamping Ground, KY (65-69) was the third double-winner, taking the 5000 in 19:10.26 and the 10,000 in 39:16.00, a full 6+ minutes faster than his nearest competitor.

Other notable age-group performances included:

Aaron Thigpen of Brentwood, CA (40-44) with a 11.00 in the 100. Renee Henderson of Merchantville, NJ (40-44) with a 12.31 in the 100. Lonnie Hooker of Upper Marlboro, MD (45-49) with a 22.58 in the 200. Jai Black of San Diego, CA (45-49) with a 1:02.15 in the 400. Courtney Muhammad of Mesa, AZ (45-49) with a 51.41 in the 400. Neil Fitzgerald of New York, NY (40-44) with a 1:59.51 in the 800.

James Morton of Springfield, MA (50-54) with a 2:04.89 in the 800. Lisa Valle of Albuquerque, NM (40-44) with a 2:20.35 in the 800. Jim Selby of Fallbrook, CA (80-84) with a 3:19.10 in the 800. Kevin Forde of Philadelphia, PA (40-44) with a 4:10.78 in the 1500. Christine Olen of Boise, ID (40-44) with a 4:53.50 in the 1500. Mike Stickley of Winchester, VA (45-49) with a 16:10.70 in the 5000. Susan Empey of Mercer Island, WA (40-44) with an 18:17.47 in the 5000.

Richard Becker of Selah, WA (50-54) with a 34:22.94 in the 10,000. Alyssa Tower of Vancouver, WA (45-49) with a 38:21.83 in the 10,000. Karen Steen of Olympia, WA (40-44) with a 7:24.59 in the 2000 steeplechase. Ronald Pate of Honolulu, HI (60-64) with an 8:44.84 in the 2000 steeplechase. Essie Faria of Miami, FL (70-74) with a 14:37.24 in the 2000 steeplechase. Kevin Stover of York, PA (40-44) with a 10:45.96 in the 3000 steeplechase.

Crowd sourcing isn’t simply a very good way of gathering details when you are working to make a determination, but it’s additionally a great way to warn certain communities should anything unusual be happening. Specifically, when a community is at risk from an individual or an organisation that may have unfavourable objectives, any method of warning the community could be very useful. A very good example – the National Horsewatch Alliance, a countrywide agency, has recently started to set up county by county initiatives, directed at warning the horse riding community of a ring of horse and horse equipment burglars on the hunt.

These particular horse burglars seem to be concentrating on a variety of equipment, including horse trailers, certain kinds of horse and a selection of tack. Whenever horse owners and horse riding groups join the initiative that’s been set up, they’re instantly alerted to any criminal activity in the community and they are asked to alert their friends and acquaintances, accordingly.

Among the tips being passed along is the importance of crime prevention measures. For instance, it’s important to tag your trailers and horse boxes in a very unique way, so that you can effortlessly identify and lay claim to the exact property if and when it’s recovered. Certainly your marking should be known only to you and be positioned in such a spot that it is imperceptible to the thief.

These kinds of projects have the full support of the local constabulary and are particularly useful in really rural communities where neighbours do not regularly talk to neighbours. It goes without saying that horse trailers are very pricey possessions, to say nothing of the other horse riding equipment and tack that is being targeted. The burglars are not just looking for saddles, but will also do whatever they can to get a hold of your rugs and even clothes for instance a riding hat, if left in a careless place. Being conscious and in communication might well help you to hold on to your expensive possessions.

There is no doubt that whenever it comes to riding, the most important pieces of equipment are horse saddles. Together with the helmet, it’s necessary that each and every rider gets the perfect saddle for them – both for safety reasons and for the comfort of both the rider and horse. There are various saddles that can be bought across the nation and on the Internet, but how should one go about choosing the one that is best for them?

The very first thing to consider ought to be the dimensions of the saddle that one needs, that will be related to the type of riding being completed. For those that jump routinely and compete in equestrian contests, a sizable saddle is best since it will give you much more security. Those that compete in dressage or more sedate sports will find a smaller sized saddle more comfortable though, since they don’t require the level of hold that the larger saddles have.

Yet another issue is whether you ought to buy a new or perhaps a used saddle, primarily because of the financial implications. Obviously used saddles will likely be a lot less expensive, nevertheless they arrive having previously been broken in by somebody else and for that reason created to their shape. Brand new saddles will give the chance to the rider to break their very own saddle in, but will surely cost much more. Lots of people decide to buy a new saddle though because it means it will likely be suitable for them and will ensure they don’t have to look for a different one for a good number of years.

The last essential aspect to think about is the dimensions of the horse, because an incorrect saddle could be uncomfortable for them and is considered by some people to be quite cruel. Before going to purchase a saddle you ought to get the dimensions of the horse and make certain that every one of the details are known – mainly regarding the horse’s withers and back shape.

Obviously on top of these, there are numerous other factors that one must consider when buying a saddle, however the ones in the above list are without a doubt the most crucial.

Almost all horse injuries and illnesses (excluding sports injuries and mistreatment) are due to a small number of mistakes in the way horses are kept and treated. Here are the top 10 tips to avoiding these errors and protecting your horse’s health (in rough order of importance, beginning with the most important).

1. Start with a healthy horse

Our number one tip is to make sure when getting a new horse that it is healthy to begin with. There are a lot of horses which are cheap, or even free, because they have health issues; avoid them as you are likely to spend more in veterinary costs and tears than you will save on the purchase price. Also, beware of sellers passing off a sick horse as a healthy one. Before buying a horse, put it through a thorough health check (see our website for guidance).

2. Food type and quality

Try to feed the horse as natural a diet as possible. This should be grass whenever possible, otherwise hay. There are cases when a horse may need other types of horse feed (e.g. an old horse with dental issues, a weak horse that needs extra energy), but for a healthy horse a natural diet is best for its physical health and mental wellbeing.

Aside from the type of food, one needs to ensure that it is of good quality. In particular, a horse should NEVER be given food that has mold or fungus (visible by sight or smell). If food becomes damp or wet, it should be used immediately or disposed of, since food that has gone off can cause a variety of illnesses such as colic or laminitis (founder).

It is advisable that the horse has a mineral stone and salt lick, to compensate for any elements which may be missing from its food.

3. Natural environment (pasture & herd)

Just as a horse should have natural food, it should spend as much time as possible in a natural environment. The two most important parts of this is that it should be on pasture as much as possible and that it should be part of a herd (i.e. with other horses or horse equivalents). Time on pasture gives the horse a natural diet (grass), a natural feeding regime (many small feeds throughout the day rather than a couple large and short feeds), exercise and mental stimulation. Being with other horses gives a sense of safety (horses have a very strong herd instinct) and the social interactions gives it mental stimulation.

A horse which spends much of its day in this type of environment is not only happier, but is far less likely to develop bad habits (e.g. cribbing) due to stress or boredom. Horses which are kept in a natural environment also tend to be physically healthier.

4. Healthy stall

Especially if a horse spends a lot of time in its stall, the stall environment should be healthy.
- It should have enough ventilation that there is not a build up of ammonia (the harsh burning smell which is produced when bacteria break down horse urine on the stall floor).
- It should be big enough that the horse has a bit of room to move, say 4 yards by 4.
- It should have clean and suitable bedding. In particular, bedding which has gone off (mold or fungus) should never be used.

5. Safe pasture

The pasture should be free of any items which could injure the horse.

One of the most common causes of serious horse injuries is inappropriate fencing wire. One should never use barbed wire, as it can puncture the horse, resulting not only in injuries (which can be fatal if it happens to hit a main artery) but also abscesses and other serious infections. One should not use high-tension wire, since if it breaks and tangles around a horse’s leg, it can cut through flesh and tendon down to the bone. If one uses wire, it should be a type which breaks before causing serious injury and should probably be under electrical current to discourage horses from pushing against it.

If one is using a field which has not been previously cleaned, every bit of it should be closely examined for items which could injure a horse and such items removed. I’ve seen enough horses seriously injured from being put on an old farming field which had bits of fencing wire or pieces of machinery lying about. Likewise, holes (e.g. from burrowing animals) can result in a broken leg so should be filled in promptly. Similarly, broken branches or other objects lying around can result in injuries (especially if the horses are spooked at night, when they may not see the objects and consequently run into them).

There are a number of poisonous plants, which can make a horse ill or even kill it. Learn what types of plants are on your horse’s pasture and check if any of them are poisonous to horses. Most horses will avoid the majority of poisonous plants (unless there is nothing else to eat) so if you see a type of plant which the horses are not eating, one should in particular check that it is safe.

6. Preventative routine medical

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. One should worm a horse regularly, give it the required inoculations, and have a regular (e.g. once a year) dental check. Worming requirements depend partly on where you live (parasite types and severity vary by region). Likewise the inoculations which should be given depend not only on the local areas (what diseases are present) but also on how you use the horse (e.g. if it is transported off your property and comes into contact with strange horses). Consequently, one should discuss requirements with a local veterinarian.

7. Watch and regularly inspect the horse

Horses, like people, will naturally become ill occasionally and may suffer accidents from time to time. In most cases, one starts with a minor problem which is easily (and inexpensively) treated if spotted early, but may become a major issue if left untreated.

One should watch a horse each day, and preferably twice a day, even if it is just for a few minutes. Learn what is normal behavior for that particular horse (e.g. running about or quietly grazing) and if there is a change to its normal behavior one needs to inspect the horse more closely. In particular, any signs of the horse appearing unwell (e.g. head hanging, inactive, stopped eating) or unhappy should be checked and monitored until the cause is found and corrected, with veterinary assistance if the situation becomes worse or is already serious.

Certain illness (e.g. impaction colic, laminitis) can often be treated successfully if done so promptly, whereas waiting less than a day after the first visible symptoms can result in a maimed or dead horse. Regular observation and prompt treatment are the key to so many illnesses.

One should clean and examine the sole of the hooves each day. In part this is to remove stones, ice chunks or other items which can damage a hoof. However, an equally important part of this daily routine is that it enables one to spot hoof issues early. Likewise, regular grooming is important not only because a clean horse looks better but also because it provides an opportunity to closely examine all parts of the horse for injuries or other abnormalities.

8. Shelter

Horses should have shelter from excessive cold, rain or wind. A simple shelter, open on one side facing away from the prevailing wind, can greatly increases the horse’s comfort. Alternatively, when the weather is very bad, it may be necessary to remove the horses from pasture and paddock and put them into their stalls.

The amount of shelter a horse requires depends on the local environment (how extreme the temperature gets locally) but also on the horse. A strong and healthy horse, which is neither very old or very young, will be much more resistant to weather extremes. Likewise, certain breeds (especially if they have a long coat, which has not been trimmed or had the coat oils removed by frequent washing) are more resistant than others. One needs to provide a level of shelter which is appropriate to the individual horse and the current weather. One should also consider a horse rug for horses which are very old, very young, sick, weak or prone to illness. One may also consider a fly sheet which not only increases the horses comfort but also reduces the risk of sweet itch, eye infections (if a fly mask is used) and other illnesses which can be transmitted by biting or blood sucking insects.

9. Consider breed and individual requirements

Each breed has its own special requirements. For examples, many breeds are prone to laminitis and consequently should have only limited access to spring grass. Other breeds may have specific issues and require special treatment (e.g. many Appaloosa are night blind and consequently are more likely to run into fencing if left out at night). Learning about your breed’s strengths and weaknesses from a medical perspective will allow you to respond accordingly.

Likewise, each horse is an individual. Some are more weather resistant than others. Some are more prone to colic or other illnesses. As you watch and live with your horse, learn about its special needs and treat it accordingly. For example, if it is allergic to dust, one may need to soak its hay in water or buy low-dust feed. If it looks unhappy and uncomfortable in cold weather, one should consider taking it under shelter or providing it with a rug, as you may be looking at an early warning for a potential illness (e.g. cold-induced colic or a cold-induced lung infection). Taking account of your horse’s medical history and behavior as part of your horse management program will help keep it healthy and happy.

10. Continue to learn

Nobody knows everything about horses and everyone started out knowing nothing. However, if you educate yourself and continue to learn, you will be able to take better care of your horse, avoiding problems when possible and otherwise treating them promptly and correctly.

Riding Dressage Tests  with Skill

I am a dressage rider.I have been a consistent good scorer in all my tests. I know this is because i am able to ride with a good upright posture and strong clean aids. My horses are well trained forward moving and obedient.

I have spent many hours in the saddle and on my big physio ball developing my deep core muscles to achieve the results I have achieved. I didnt spend $100s on riding lessons I taught myself good posture and watched the top riders apply it.

Horse riding dressage competitions are stress full and always subjective in their judging. To score well a rider must ride well. A strong stable upright rider who is able to apply  consistent well defined aids will always score well.
A rider who is sloppy bent over and weak through the seat and legs will have a horse that resists and does not go on the bit.

Riding Dressage With Skill

This is easy with a strong deep core area and strong posture muscles. A rider with round shoulders and sitting forward in the saddle will not have strong deep seat. They will fiddle with the reins and have a leg wobble and poor contact. This leaves the horse to do his own thing mostly. The horse will either plod around or fight back. The picture is not good and stress levels rise.

Riding Dressage Made Easy

I teach core stability and. I teach this topics in my work as well as too my horse riding dressage pupils. The ability to hold the abdominals tight will stabilize the trunk. This allows the dressage rider to sit upright and stable. The application of aids is independent and easy. I teach these movement patterns  out of the saddle. Once learned they can be practiced over and over in the lounge room floor and become perfect.

Applying Movement Patterns to The Dressage Rider in the Saddle

If a dressage rider has been working at increasing their lower back and pelvic mobility on the ball then they will have more flexibility in the saddle. The ability to stay in the saddle and not bounce will be achieved. If the dressage rider has been learning and practicing pilates based movement patterns with some resistance then strength will be built up and tone will be good so the riding aids will come efficient and precise. This can only be done if taught properly though.

If you as a dressage rider want to ride your tests better and train your horse with precision and skill then look at the Applied Posture Riding program.