However, execution of this exercise can be either very beneficial or very detrimental to the horse, depending on “how” it is done. How a horse carries its body as it travels on the circle is of much greater value to developing the horse than is how many times it is circled, how fast it is going or what equipment used.

The design of the circle itself presents the greatest gymnastic challenge for a horse moving around on a circle. The natural tendency of a horse as it moves in a circle is to lean inward and fall onto its inside shoulder. The amount of lean increases as the circle becomes smaller and the horse’s speed increases. As the horse leans, it is placed in an unstable position, a position it would not willingly maintain for many strides under usual circumstances.

Ideally a gentle curvature of the spinal column, mirroring the circle, while the horse holds an upright body carriage is sought. When the horse’s body is in this position, its back preferentially becomes rounded, and its posture improves. This proper body carriage is a powerful gymnastic exercise for the horse as it develops new core muscles through correct, nourishing movement.

A horse does not automatically bend at the end of a longe line. Although it might bend the neck under restraint or side reins, it does not follow that it will correctly bend the remainder of its spinal column and back.

• More ‘Horse Health’ with Carol Shwetz: Reducing risk of injury or sickness when trailering horses

Without proper, gentle schooling most horses will lean inward. Another common fault is the horses that drop their croup and turn their body outwards/opposite to the circle’s line, resisting their handler.

Either way, the kinematics of the limbs are no longer aligned symmetrically with the ground surface and as the “leaning” hooves impact the ground surface, they turn flat, inducing compressive and torquing forces on the surfaces of the articular cartilage, soft tissues, and ligaments.

Travelling in circles in improper posture for any length of time, especially with speed can cause severe damage to the joints and soft tissue of a horse’s leg. Young horses and larger horses are especially vulnerable to injury from improper techniques. Longeing a horse on a small circle for half an hour or more can place enormous stress and strain on tissues, doing irreparable harm, especially to young horses whose legs are not yet fully developed.

Done properly, longeing is a highly advanced and effective tool for developing and educating a horse. Practising proper alignment, correct form and posture, and rhythmic cadence are key elements critical to capturing the value of this practice. Safety for both the horse and handler are inherent in such a practice. The horse learns to organize its body in relation to the handler’s position and body language. Although voice commands, hand gestures, and whips may provide tools to guide the horse, it will ultimately be the human’s body language to which the horse connects and responds.

Since the longeing horse is acquiring physical prowess, much like a dancer, slow movements and careful practice at the horse’s natural cadence are necessary to set muscle patterns and memory. In the beginning, it is best to move the horse on the straight, and on very gentle curves.

Any system restricting or modifying the normal cycle of head and neck movements is going to modify limbs kinematics and vertebral column mechanism. Horses with restricted head and neck movement contract their backs and heavily weight their forehand. In doing so the horse overuses tissues ill prepared for such weighting and is more likely to become unsound over time.

When longed correctly horses become more physically and mentally engaged in this simple exercise, actively participating in their own well-being.

The post The art of longeing horses appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

The appearance of girth itch is variable. Early on, the hair pattern in the axilla becomes disrupted, no longer laying flat against the horse’s body. As the ailment progresses, hair and skin structures become involved with groupings of small raised plaques, wheals and hives with scaling, crusting, and hair loss becoming increasingly evident. This condition may or may not be itchy.

Unless halted, it can become deep seated in the skin layer, causing inflammation and creating an ever-widening weepy, crusty, raw, bald spot. Continued girthing worsens the skin damage and the horse’s attitude about being ridden.

The causative agent for girth itch is a close cousin to ringworm in the fungal family. These soil-borne fungi proliferate whenever and wherever conditions become favourable. Ill-fitting tack plays a significant role in the advent of this condition. Friction and pressure from an ill-fitting girth blister the skin, setting up the environment for infection and inflammation. Skin repeatedly softened by moisture from sweating, or hosing without adequate drying, also weaken the skin’s natural resistance to infection. As expected, younger horses with naive immune systems are more prone to infection.

Management of girth itch depends upon the severity of the condition. Iodine or chlorohexidine-based shampoos can be used to bathe the affected areas removing scales, crusts and dirt. Topical application of soothing salve containing aloe vera or calendula will further facilitate healing. When the skin is broken or inflamed it will be necessary to spare the horse being girthed for the period of time necessary to heal the ailment, typically a minimum of two weeks.

Prevention

The longer the period of girthing, the more important girth fit and quality become to the horse’s comfort. The tender folds of skin in the axilla easily become distressed by an ill-fitting, soiled or overtightened girth. A poor-fitting girth will also disrupt your horse’s movement and focus. It is important that a girth fit snuggly but not tightly, keeping a well-fit saddle securely in place. Excessively tightening a girth will not compensate for a poor-fitting saddle.

Cinches can be made from leather or cotton webbing. These natural products, when kept soft and clean easily mould to the horse’s body shape and act as a wick to pull moisture, dirt and heat away from the body. Cinches can also be made from synthetic materials such as neoprenes, nylons and foam rubbers. Many synthetic materials tend to keep heat and moisture against the horse’s body, furthering excessive sweating and contact irritation.

Mindful care to girthing a horse includes soft, clean, well-fitting girth equipment and appropriate hygiene of the girth region in horses. Attention to such detail can have a surprisingly pleasant influence on your horse’s attitude to being ridden or driven.

The post Prevention and care of girth itch in horses appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Bennett, one of the premier saddle makers in North America, hasn’t taken on large orders in decades, preferring to produce his celebrated creations one at a time. But when folks from the Calgary Stampede’s Western Performance Horse Committee approached the sublime craftsman over the winter, with a certain centennial celebration in mind, well…you might say Bennett’s foot was already in the stirrup.

“That’s the tantalizing thing. It’s very hard to say no, when you’re selected to be involved in the Calgary Stampede’s 100-year anniversary,” says Bennett, whose company, Vic Bennett Saddles, is based just outside Sherwood Park, Alta. “It’s something to think about…an easy decision to make, really.”

With Bennett and his two-man crew taking up awls, rasps, and stamping tools for the next several months, the Stampede’s Western Performance Horse Committee is commissioning the production of up to 100 identical Vic Bennett Custom All-Round Saddles – handcrafted exclusively for the 2012 Calgary Stampede Centennial, and available for sale to the general public.

Never to be reproduced again, these so-called “century saddles” promise meticulous craftsmanship, right down to the Calgary Stampede brand lasered on the stirrup. The limited-edition saddles will be numbered, signed by Stampede President and Chairman of the Board Mike Casey and Bennett, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

They’ll be presented during a Centennial Saddle Celebration in July 2012.

“One of our (WPH) committee members, David Palmer, has said for a long time that we should have a special project that involves saddles. And when the Stampede started asking for ideas to be submitted for Centennial, everything just clicked,” says Karen Mix, a member of the Stampede’s Western Performance Horse Committee.

“Even to be part of this whole adventure, I’m just thrilled to death. We’ve got quite a few sold already…a couple of these saddles will also be auctioned off, as well, and we expect a huge response.

More than 20 of the century saddles have already been pre-purchased – sight unseen, and purely by word of mouth to this point.

“As soon as we explain the Centennial saddles program to people, the reaction has been amazing,” says Mix. “One lady ordered one for each of her children as an inheritance. A couple of energy companies have already bought them.

“And one fellow told us: ‘If I’m going to buy a saddle anyway, I’m going to buy a Centennial Saddle, because it’s a keepsake.’”

The Western Performance Horse Committee plans to use proceeds from the Centennial saddle program to reward various champions at the 2012 Stampede. Another 25 saddles, with a different design, are expected to be built and presented to the various division winners of the Stampede’s three Western Performance Horse events – the Team Cattle Penning Competition, the Cutting Horse Competition, and the Working Cow Horse Classic.

———

“Oneladyorderedoneforeach ofherchildrenasaninheritance. Acoupleofenergycompanies havealreadyboughtthem.

– karen mix, stampede’s western performance horse commitee member

The post Calgary Stampede Celebrates 100 Years Of Ridin’ High appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Jennifer let the mare choose her own pace as they set out but when they got to the driveway she urged the horse into a gentle canter. Settling into an easy rhythm they quickly reached the road and without slowing they made the turn and headed west. Jennifer rode a quarter-mile in that direction, enjoying the familiar beat of the horse’s hooves on the road, and the creaking of the saddle beneath her. The pleasant, quiet ride around the pasture was something she had come to look forward to every day. Andrew kept asking about lost lambs, but so far she had seen no sign.

When they reached the woods where the fence veered away from the road Jennifer steered the horse down through the ditch and into the trees reaching back to pull the rifle from the scabbard attached to the saddle behind her.

Checking to make sure the rifle’s safety was on she turned her attention to scanning the woods around her. Through openings in the trees she could see the fence, and beyond that perhaps half a mile in the distance, the flock of sheep she was trying to protect. The dark shapes of the guard donkeys stood out among the flock and Jennifer found herself wondering wryly whether the donkeys were earning their keep.

Looking ahead Jennifer saw the break in the trees that opened into the clearing where she sometimes stopped to dismount for a while and sit in the shade of the big oak tree that grew there, a little apart from the other trees.

Her attention wandered momentarily but her peaceful reverie was broken as her horse stopped suddenly, and stood motionless, ears cocked toward the clearing up ahead. Jennifer sat stock still for a second. “What do you hear up there?” she wondered, her eyes searching for some clue as to what might have caught the horse’s attention. She eased the safety of her rifle off and a slight breeze blew the hair back from her face as she did so. That breeze would work in her favour.

Jennifer gave a soft command and her horse moved forward. Peering through the trees she saw movement on the far side of the clearing, and again the horse stopped in its tracks. Jennifer slowly raised the rifle and aimed the scope at the spot where she had seen the movement. The underbrush prevented her from getting a clear look but she could see a blur of greyish-brown-fur through the rustling leaves.

Lowering the rifle Jennifer urged Diamond forward, and suddenly she had a clear view of what was there in the clearing. A canine form crouched over something she couldn’t see, but when the animal lifted its head Jennifer recognized the unmistakable profile of a coyote. The animal seemed unaware of them, its attention fully engaged with whatever it was that lay hidden in the deep grass.

Jennifer raised the rifle to her shoulder once more and centred the cross-hairs of the telescope on the shoulders of the coyote. The animal raised its head for a moment and Jennifer caught her breath. She had expected a fiercer-looking creature.

For a moment the coyote looked not like a predator at all, but rather like a large and not particularly threatening dog. Jennifer hesitated and again the coyote raised its head but this time there was something white dangling from its jaws. Wool. Jennifer was sure that’s what it was. Taking a deep breath she took aim once more and gently squeezed the trigger.

The loud crack of the rifle echoed through the woods. The horse shuddered but stood in place, and through the telescope Jennifer saw the coyote lurch upright momentarily and then collapse in a heap.

Jennifer lowered her rifle slowly, suddenly aware of her heart pounding in her chest. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself and then gave Diamond the signal to move ahead.

She rode slowly into the clearing and reined the mare to a stop beside the limp body of the coyote which lay motionless amid the remains of what had clearly been one of the Jacksons’ missing lambs. Jennifer sat for a long time, staring.

At length she stirred in the saddle, turned the mare around and headed her briskly back the way they had come. Dinner would be ready and for once, she would have a story to tell.

The post The Jacksons – for Jul. 22, 2010 appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

ALL ABOUT LEATHER LTD., Peter Schueler. Harness Leather: Custom Work, Repair, Adjustments. Rapid City MB, 475 3rd-Ave. Open Thursday and Friday 9-4, Saturday 9-1. Phone: cell 204-868-5808, email: allaboutleather@gmail.com

CROCUS COW HORSE ASSOCIATION presents the 2010 Spring Cow Horse Clinic sponsored by NAERIC, May 1st & 2nd, Keystone Centre, Brandon. Clinician Lance Johnston of Lindsay, California. For info call Mark (204)637-2104.

GRAY 15.3HH STOCKY THOROUGHBRED mare born 1996. Raced as a 3/4 yr old w/over $21,000 winnings. She’s sound, in good health, w/no vices & caught first try by AI for last 2 yrs. Approved for breeding w/Canadian Trakehner, $500. kirovets@mts.net(204)738-4440.

HARNESS, EASY ENTRY CARTS, collars & more at TnT Harness & Tack from Mini-Draft work, pleasure & show. Catalogues available. Call (204)526-2549, www.tntharness.com

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If you were to ask any horseman riding performance horses in a wide variety of disciplines, one thing he or she would probably agree on is the base of the arena; it must be good footing and good drainage. If the base isn’t there, it won’t really matter what you cover it with, it simply will not work.

Ground with good footing has to have give when the hoof lands on it, but must also keep the foot stable. Landing in hard ground sends the shock back up the horse’s leg. Sometimes finding the right combination can be tricky.

The soil in your arena must be considered also. Now depending on what discipline the arena will most often be used for will also help in knowing the kind of material you will need for good preparation of ground.

Sand in the pen gives more grip and yes even sand comes in different forms. Coarse grains are often used in outdoor pens and are less likely to blow in strong winds. The finer sand works well indoors. Angulated granules are better than round granules for both types of arenas because they make the footing more solid. The depth of the sand again depends on the discipline, but generally a depth of six to 10 inches will give your horse the proper cushion.

Materials like topsoil, wood chips, and rubber products, such as shredded tires, offer more of a cushion base and are popular for events such as jumping.

Check out what is available in your area and what materials or combinations would work best for your arena. Proper preparation of ground means safety for yourself and your horse, and less chance of being grounded.

Till next time, stay in the saddle, and never say whoa in a bad spot!

The post Let’s Go Ridin’ – for Apr. 16, 2009 appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

“Right now I’m paying more for the hide on the cow than they’re getting for the whole cow.”

– BILL MADSEN, HARNESS MAKER

Harness making is a passion for 86-year-old Bill Madsen of Decker, Manitoba.

Even though this quiet, modest man lives and keeps to himself, his business is a hub of activity for many in the horse industry, partly due to his history of showing Clydesdale horses for 25 years. He even sold a gelding to the famed Budweiser hitch back in the 1960s.

The craftsmanship in the harness he makes is another source of pride. Unfortunately, harness making is becoming a dying art.

With only a handful of harness-makers left in the province, some of the regulars are concerned about where they will go for repairs in the future. “There used to be a harness maker in every town back in the day,” said Madsen. “Now there aren’t that many of us left around. If we were pipers, we wouldn’t hear each other.”

“My dad was the harness maker in Decker in the ’20s and ’30s; that is where I learned to sew harness. My dad got me stitchin’ breeching when I was 10 years old, and boy, was he particular. I’ve never seen anyone sew as straight as he did. He could sew just as good as the machines today, and it was a lot stronger, too.

“The reason it was better and stronger was because the stitches overlapped each other instead of interlocking like the machines do,” he held up his fingers in an“X” and then with his index fingers interlocked. “The machine stitching rubs back and forth and eventually wears through, whereas the other doesn’t.

“It’s a good thing they came out with these sewing machines as I couldn’t begin to hand stitch, it would take me forever. Nor can I stitch straight enough to suit me,” he said.

With the speed and efficiency that the introduction of tractors provided beginning in the 1940s, live horsepower became a hobby instead of a necessity. This resulted in a recession in the harness-making industry. A lot of the harness makers took up other occupations, including Madsen, who farmed for years until he retired in 1978, renting his land to his nephew. He needed something to do to help pass the time and started back at his craft. Little did he know it would be a full-time job.

“If anybody had told me the year I started it that I would be this busy, I would have told them they were crazy,” he laughed.

“A big part of my business is with the PMU (pregnant mare urine) ranchers in the area. During the expansion years of PMU, I was fixing 600 to 1,000 halters a year, as well as all the other usual harness repairs. I was busy year round,” said Madsen.

“I’ve sewn harness for people from the Lakehead (Thunder Bay) to British Columbia,” he notes.

Although his focus is in providing services to the draft horse community, he has also made and repaired harness for miniature horses, as well as light horses and ponies. He prefers to work with the draft horse harness as this is what he knows the best, but he will apply his self-taught craft to attempt anything that people want.

“I made a set of six-up harness for a miniature hitch in B. C. It wasn’t my cup of tea, but I did ’er. It was so small, it was hard to work with,” said Madsen. “I like the draft harness. It is bigger and easier to stitch.”

Madsen’s preference is still with the leather harness, although he is seeing the trend move toward nylon and biothane.

“Personally, I don’t like biothane harness. I know the guys like it because it is lighter and cheaper to buy, but it is hard to fix. Someone brought me a piece of biothane harness to have spots replaced on, and I spent more time and spots fixing one than I would have doing a whole set of leather,” he said in disgust.

“Occasionally I work with the nylon, but it is strong and hardly ever breaks,” said Madsen.

But it is leather that reflects his true craftsmanship and skill.

Madsen feels that one of his greatest accomplishments as a harness maker was to complete a set of John Deere harness two years ago for Richard Bilinsky of Rossburn. Bilinsky wanted his horses to carry the Deere trademark colours and had Madsen custom sew a set of harness complete with yellow and green trim and the John Deere logos he had specially ordered.

He uses his team of Belgian horses in their custom harness to proudly pull the various pieces of John Deere horse-drawn equipment he owns. Each year the Bilinsky family hosts a threshing bee, with the horses – wearing their custom harness – helping to bring the sheaves to the John Deere threshing machine.

Madsen thinks it would be very difficult for a young person starting out in the business. “When I started out it was strictly going to be a hobby, something to help pass the time. I fixed harness because I wanted to, I never really charged for my time, just my supplies and materials. If someone truly wanted it to be their business, they would have to charge a lot more than what I’m charging to make a livin’.”

When he started in the business, he was paying $100 for a side of leather. That price has since quadrupled.

“Right now I’m paying more for the hide on the cow than they’re getting for the whole cow,” he said shaking his head. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

In the 30 years that Madsen has been the resident harness maker in the area, he has accumulated over $160,000 in stock alone, not to mention his equipment.

The biggest change that he has noticed in the industry is the move from brass fittings and decorations to chrome.

He has also noticed that the size of the horses has gotten much larger.

“I like ’em small so I can get the harness on myself,” he chuckled. “I like to keep a pair of horses here to help keep me outta trouble. I like the real quiet ones that I can hitch up myself and go for a ride whenever I want. Trouble is, usually when I decide to go for a drive, someone will come by with some harness to fix, and I have to stop and go do business.”

With his eyesight deteriorating and the recent sale of his farmland, Madsen is talking of selling out.

“I don’t want to go,” he confessed. But my farm is sold, and I don’t want to live on land I don’t own.”

He’s hoping there’ll be someone ready to take up the harness-making reins.

Madsen has noticed an upswing in the number of people who are opting for live horsepower instead of tractors. He attributes this to the economy and the cost of operating the equipment, as well as the desire for some folks to return to simpler times.

“A few fellows I’ve talked to jokingly say they can’t afford the price of fuel to run their tractor for chores, so they are using their horses to help earn their keep. A horse will always start in cold weather,” he joked.

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