August 2023 Saddle Up! Magazine

sq ft on

entry level and additional 2400 sq ft in the finished walkout basement. On 4.5 acres with a pole barn/workshop that has concrete floor, drywall, electric and wall heaters. Every bedroom has a full bath attached and there are places in this home that could be converted to additional bedrooms. Close to Latson Rd., exit on 96. Pole barn is divided into two workrooms with heat and electric and has additional built in lean to on back that is not heated. Americas Preferred One Year Buyers Premier Coverage Plan. Extra appliances, gun safe and pool table included with sale. Call Susie today for more information!

receive points on how well they work together to navigate the obstacles.

CONGRATULATIONS to Kimber Sharp and her dad, Jerry Kunkel on the purchase of the beautiful farm at 3145 Seven Mile Rd. in South Lyon! Contact Kimber at ENCORE STABLES for any of your boarding, training and/or lesson needs. Thank you Kimber and Jerry for letting me be a part of your Real Estate Horse Farm Dream!

39+ ACRES – LAND CONTRACT TERMS!

HOLLY, MI (ROSE TWP.): VACANT LAND! 39+ acres with frontage on two roads! Gently rolling, currently used for hay. Build your own home and horse farm. Located on corner of Rose Center Rd., and Buckhorn Lake Rd., just west of Milford Rd. Mature trees on perimeter for privacy MLS# 20221033494.

Price Improvement $450,000!

HORSE FARM: SALEM TWP. PLYMOUTH/ANN ARBOR, MI

HOME, VETERINARY CLINIC AND INDOOR ARENA ALL ON 27 ACRES!

Beautiful Cape Cod home with remodeled custom kitchen and bathrooms

Veterinary clinic. 27 acres with some hayelds. Indoor arena, stalls, run-in sheds, pastures. Land Contract Terms. Offered at $1,400,000.

Contact KATHIE CROWLEY for details!

NEW – ONAWAY, MI: VACANT LAND! Cheboygan County, Waverly Twp. 20 acres of privacy not far from Black Lake. Call for details!

NEW – KALKASKA, MI: 10 great acres just off M-72. Nice 2200 sq. ft. ranch home, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. 30x56 garage with storage. 40x60 barn with 6 box stalls and 6 tie stalls. Offered at $379,900. Call Kathie for more details!

Saturday Night Pizza Party Added Money Sweepstakes Classes

MI Apple Blossom Prize Drawings

Daily & Year End High Point Awards

2023 MICHIGAN APPLE BLOSSOM CLASSIC OPEN SHOWSS

MAY 12-14 JULY 7-9

Judges: Jeff Moody & Brian Craig

Judges: Tim Abler & Kara Gerard

SEPTEMBER 22-24 MSU Agriculture Pavilion, East Lansing, MI

Judges: Keith Carey & Kathy Motycka

Stalls Reservations: mabcstalls@gmail.com or 517-655-4712

• Find Us On Facebook: Michigan Apple Blossom Classic

7 PM Friday Trail Classes 57-62 • 8 AM Saturday/Sunday Classes 1-56 • Arrival Starting Noon Friday – NO EARLY ARRIVALS

1) Sweepstakes Halter Open

2) Mares at Halter All Ages

3) Geldings & Stallions at Halter All Ages

4) Quarter Horse Halter

5) Stock Horse Color Breed/Other Halter

6) Ranch Horse Conformation (Ineligible for Grand/Reserve) Grand and Reserve Champion Halter

7) Two-Year-Old & Under Longe Line**

8) Peewee Showmanship 11 & Under**

9) Walk/Trot Showmanship 12 & Over**

10) Sweepstakes Showmanship - $100 ADDED

11) Showmanship 13 & Under 12) Showmanship 14-18 13) Showmanship 19-34

33) Hunt Seat Pleasure 50 & Over

34) Sweepstakes SR Hunt Seat Pleasure & Over - $100 ADDED

35) Peewee Western Pleasure 11 & Under**

36) Peewee Western Horsemanship 11 & Under**

37) Walk/Trot Western Horsemanship 12 & Over**

38) Sweepstakes Western Horsemanship OPEN - $100 ADDED

39)

NOHSA Horsemanship Medal Class (tentative) %

44)

45)

and 12 & Over W/T Pleasure - $100 ADDED

# May not show in any other classes.

** Walk/Trot rider or Novice horse may not show in any canter/lope classes. @ May cross enter pleasure age group classes. % MUST be NOHSA member Trail Classes 57-62 run Friday Evening ONLY. Trail counts for Saturday High Pt.

Classes entered at the gate instead of the office will be subject to an entry fee of 1 ½ class fee.

MUST BE PRESENT to win random drawing awards.

Year End High Point eligibility requires min. of 4 shows & High Point Fees.

CLASS FEES

$7 All Ages ($10 if entered @ gate) All Stalls $50 (all horses must be stalled)

$10 Sweepstakes ($15 if @ gate) Camping – $30/Night

Daily High Point Fee $5 Office Fee for EACH Horse/Rider $10

* Valid driver’s license MUST accompany ALL checks & credit cards *

Returned/NSF check or credit card will incur a $35 fee in addition to bill. Major credit cards accepted: 3.75% Convenience Fee • NO REFUNDS for dropped/missed classes or early pullouts – PLEASE plan accordingly

* NO SMOKING ALLOWED * ALL DOGS MUST BE LEASHED *

Show management reserves the right to cancel, combine, divide classes or shows, or refuse any entry, check, or tab. Fees are subject to change without notification. Judge’s decision is final. WARNING: Russell Training Center LLC and/or individuals assisting at these events shall not be individually or collectively responsible for any loss, damage, or injury to any person(s), horses (s) or property in connection with this event. Michigan Equine Activity Liability Act 1994 PA 351; An equine professional is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in an equine activity resulting from an inherent risk of the equine activity Completion of the Entry Forms for these events or entering the show grounds at the time of the event constitutes waiver of liability beyond the provisions of this act and such waiver shall be valid and binding.

Fort Custer Horse FriendsAssociation

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Getting A Horse Used To Water

A Beginners Guide

Water can be very frightening to a horse that doesn’t have much experience with it. Because of this, I’ve learned that it’s very important to exercise caution as you’re introducing a horse to water for the first time. Whether you want to ride your horse through water, or just give them a bath, this guide may help.

So, how can you get a horse used to water?

You can get your horse used to water by helping them create positive associations with water, desensitizing them to any aspects of water that frighten them, and being patient as you work with them. As your horse becomes more comfortable with water, you can gradually increase their exposure to it.

Getting a horse used to water with a bath If a horse has never been bathed before, they may not like the idea of being sprayed with a hose. I have seen horses truly terrified of water spraying them; if your horse reacts as such, then desensitizing them to this will be very helpful.

Get the horse used to the water with a wet rag. If your horse is particularly afraid of water coming out of a hose, I would first introduce them to water via a wet rag or sponge. All I would do is take the rag and squeeze the water out over the horse’s coat. If the horse tries to step away, I’m going to move with the horse and keep squeezing the water out until the horse stands still. Use the wet rag or sponge all over the horse’s body in order to properly desensitize them to the feeling of water running over their coat.

Get a horse used to water by holding the hose at their feet. Now that you’ve gotten your horse used to the feeling of water running over their coat, it’s time to try it with the hose. When I first go to do this with a wary horse, I’ll simply turn the hose on and hold the stream of water at the horse’s feet. This will allow them to get used to the feeling of the water hitting them as well as the temperature of the water.

Like I did with the wet rag, if the horse steps away from the stream of water at its feet, I’ll move with the horse, keeping the water at their feet. If the horse were to move away and you automatically take the water off of them, you’re teaching them that they can escape it by stepping away. This is why it’s important to be consistent with keeping the water on the horse even if they start moving

Get a horse used to water by slowly moving the stream of water over their body. Once you see that the horse can stand still with the water at its feet, you can move the hose up towards the horse’s body. As you’re doing this, you’ll probably reach points on the horse’s body where the horse wants to step away In these instances, move with the horse as it steps away as you continue to hold the stream of water at the point that made the horse move.

Once you have done these steps and your horse can stand still as it receives a bath, then you have properly desensitized your horse to water being sprayed over them. Desensitizing is an important part of the training process when it comes to horses.

Getting a horse used to riding through water. For some reason, it seems as horses form a disconnect between water being sprayed over them, like in a bath, and simply walking through water. I’ve seen horses have a meltdown at having to walk through a shallow puddle; unfortunately, this isn’t uncommon in the horse world. Going through water is still one of the biggest fears most horses have.

Get your horse used to riding through water by starting with a tarp. If your horse is scared to walk through water then it is most likely scared to walk over most foreign objects. My first goal in dealing with a horse that won’t ride through water is to get the horse to walk over a tarp. A tarp is just as scary as water, it’s bright blue, crunches when the horse walks over it, and it can move in the breeze.

When you train your horse over a tarp, you can do it in a friendly family environment like an arena they’re used to, and you don’t have to worry about falling into the water and getting wet if your horse has a cow. This makes this exercise less daunting for both you and the horse.

I always like to start on the ground before I get in the saddle. I’ll lay the tarp on the ground and lead the horse over to it. In order to approach this assertively with confidence, keep your eyes pointed to where you want to go and apply pressure to the lead rope if the horse balks.

Sometimes horses can pick up on your confidence and they’ll see that there’s no need to worry about an obstacle. If the horse stops and refuses to go over the tarp, keep the pressure on your horse. As soon as the horse steps towards or on the tarp, release the pressure and praise the horse.

By doing this, you’re teaching the horse that the tarp means relaxation and no pressure. Keep this method up until your horse can effectively walk over the tarp.

Getting a horse used to water by going through a puddle. Once your horse can confidently walk over a tarp, it’s time to reintroduce your horse to water Approach the puddle of water the same way you approached the tarp; with assertiveness and confidence. If your horse balks or refuses to go over the puddle, keep the pressure on them.

As soon as the horse makes a step towards the puddle or into the water, then relax the pressure and praise the horse. Walk your horse back and forth through the puddle to help build their confidence going through the water.

Once you have this exercise down, you are ready to face bigger and deeper water obstacles; just keep in mind the method that you used to get the horse over the tarp and through the puddle. I’ve had this method work countless times with many horses.

Things to remember when training your horse through water

Try to stay relaxed and calm

It can be stressful to deal with your horse when they are wary of a certain obstacle. I’ve spent many rides simply working on desensitizing my horse to some random object we came across that they were afraid of In these instances, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and wear your frustrations on your sleeve.

It’s important to remember that horses can pick up on emotions, and they usually tend to mirror the vibe that they sense. If you’re giving off a frustrating vibe, you can make your horse get more nervous and stressed about the obstacle. Staying calm, relaxed, and reassuring, even if you end up working with the obstacle for a while will help you and your horse in the long run.

Check your riding position

If you’re ever on your horse and trying to get them to go through water, it can be easy to focus more on the problem than on your position. However, your position may help you get out of the problem!

Many times, when a rider gets up to an object that their horse is afraid of or refusing to go near, the rider will subconsciously look directly at the obstruction, pull on the reins, and tilt their upper body forward. I’m just as guilty as anyone! This does no good to encourage the horse forward; rather, it communicates to the horse that you’re afraid of the object as well.

Once I noticed the negative effect my position had on the situation, I made a point to correct it the next time my horse faced a scary object. I looked up, sat straight, and held steady soft hands to encourage my horse forward.

https://www.youtube.com/@EquineHelper

Remember to praise your horse

When it comes to horse training, it’s important to recognize even the smallest improvements. If at the start of the training session your horse wouldn’t get two feet from the water, but by the time you end your session your horse can stand at the water’s edge, that’s an improvement!

Praise your horse for even the smallest try, like shifting their weight forward. If that’s the best you can get at that moment, recognize it and let your horse take a breather This will help the horse to see that the situation isn’t as bad as they’re making it out to be in their heads.

As mentioned above, not a lot of horses are fans of water; it takes training and consistency for them to get used to it.

Hi, I’m Carmella. My husband and I started Equine Helper to share what we’ve learned about owning and caring for horses. I’ve spent my whole life around horses, and I currently own a POA named Tucker You can learn more on our website at https://equinehelper.com/

https://www.pinterest.com/equinehelper/ https://www.instagram.com/equinehelper/

“People say it’s just a horse. That horse is a best friend, a teacher and one of the best things that had ever happened to me. That horse is my life, my love and my soul mate. No matter what, it’s not just a horse. It’s a part of me and made me who I am today.” ~ Stevie B, American Singer & Song Writer

The Scores are In: American Horse Council Congressional Scorecard for the First Half of 2023

Having support in Washington, D.C., is vital for any industry, but especially the horse industry Wouldn’t it be easy if you had a simple way to see if your Congressional representative is one of those that supported your lifelong passion?

Enter the American Horse Council’s Congressional Scorecard. “It’s imperative that horse owners and those active within the industry are familiar with their political representatives—locally and in Congress,” says Julie Broadway, president of the AHC. “We hope that by providing a tool such as the Congressional Scorecard it makes it easier for our members to know who they can look into supporting when election time rolls around.”

The American Horse Council (AHC) regularly identifies legislation that supports the U.S. equine industry. Bills are evaluated that draw consensus among the AHC’s diverse membership in issue areas such as federal resources for equine-assisted services, animal welfare issues arising under the Horse Protection Act, labor flexibility, tax reform, public trails access, USDA resources to promote equine programs and others that may emerge as the legislative process moves forward. In addition to the legislation, points are awarded to members of the U.S. Congress who support AHC through their membership in the Congressional Horse Caucus, participate at AHC events and whether they are accessible and responsive to AHC members and staff

While reviewing the legislative record for the 118th Congress, which has reached the midpoint of its first session, the AHC analyzed pro-industry bills, which is also referred to as “priority legislation,” and identified the bills’ congressional champions. From this board list of “champions,” the AHC then assigned points based on a lawmaker’s degree of support for priority bills, among other factors. The point system then makes a smaller pool of “industry champions” emerge to inform members of the horse industry which incumbents should be recognized and acknowledged for their support.

The following are the top ranking five members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives:

SENATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia)

2. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas)

3. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)

4. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi)

5. Sen. John Brasso (R-Wyoming)

1. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska-2)

2. Rep. Andy Barr (R-Kentucky-6)

3. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-California-19)

4. Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pennsylvania-9)

5. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minnesota-2)

Those interested in viewing the Congressional Scorecard can visit the AHC website and look under “Election Center” (https://horsecouncil.org/election-center/congressional-scorecard/).

Because the AHC is bipartisan, party affiliation is not a factor in the scorecard. “The scorecard reflects those that support bills that help the equine industry, no matter what party they represent,” says Broadway

Some of the bills from the first half of the 118th Congress include:

• H.R. 1582 – Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2023 (PHIT Act of 2023). Sponsor: Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA-16)

• H.R. 3090 – Prevent All Soring Tactics Act of 2023 (PAST Act of 2023). Sponsor: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1)

• H.R. 1839 – Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. Sponsor: Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19)

• H.R. 2927 – Racehorse Tax Parity Act. Sponsor: Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-6)

• H.R. 2296 – Racehorse Cost Recovery Act of 2023. Sponsor: Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY-6)

• H.R. 1250 – Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act. Sponsor: Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS-1)

• H.R. 237 – Recognizing the Importance of Stepped-Up Basis under Section 1014 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in preserving family-owned farms and small businesses. Sponsor: Rep. Tracey Man (R-KS-1)

• S. 1108 – Death Tax Repeal Act of 2023. Sponsor: Sen. John Thune (R-SD)

• S. 786 – Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2023 (PHIT Act of 2023). Sponsor: Sen. John Thune (R-SD)

• S. 993 – Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. Sponsor: Sen. Catherine Cortez Mastro (D-NV)

• S. America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023 (serves as an omnibus for related bills, additional co-sponsors will be added). Sponsor: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)

For more information, or to see the top ten, visit the AHC website: https://horsecouncil.org/election-center/congressional-scorecard/

About the American Horse Council: As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and opportunities.

10 Questions: Protein, Amino Acids, and Exercising Horses

Though muscle is recognized and appreciated for its importance in the physical prowess of horses, the role of muscle in maintaining normal protein metabolism throughout the body is likely undervalued. The horse’s body is composed of thousands of proteins that are in a constant state of turnover, breaking down and synthesizing simultaneously.

Because muscle is the main reservoir of amino acids in the body, and amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, basic knowledge of protein and amino acids is essential for all horse owners interested in nutrition. Using a simple Q&A format, here’s your chance to learn more about protein in equine nutrition.

What’s the difference in protein needs between a horse at maintenance and a horse involved in exercise? The difference can be substantial depending on the amount of exercise. Horses asked to perform intense exercise require much more daily protein compared to those asked to do little or no exercise. A 1,100-lb (500-kg) horse, for example, needs 630 g of crude protein daily at maintenance but requires 1,004 g when in intense work. The additional protein required by exercising horses is usually met when feed is increased to meet energy demands.

Why do exercised horses need more protein? Exercise induces an increased need for protein due to maintenance of new muscle mass, repair of existing muscle mass, and replacement of nitrogen lost in sweat.

Is feeding elevated protein to exercising horses advantageous?

Yes, researchers have found that feeding protein promotes muscle protein synthesis after exercise, but some specific amino acids are thought to be particularly beneficial.

Which amino acids are most advantageous? Leucine, isoleucine, and valine, collectively referred to as branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), increase muscle protein synthesis after exercise by providing building blocks and influencing metabolic pathways, acting as a fuel source, and stimulating cell signaling. Leucine is especially important in activating muscle protein synthesis.

What about lysine and threonine? Lysine and threonine have long been considered the most limiting amino acids in typical horse diets, and they are frequently supplemented as crystalline forms in feeds to improve body protein synthesis. When supplemented together to mature horses, lysine and threonine improved muscle mass scores and lowered body condition scores with no decrease in body weight, suggesting improved 1 lean tissue accretion.

What is a crystalline amino acid? Crystalline amino acids are synthetic, though they are exactly like naturally occurring amino acids and are digested completely.

What is a limiting amino acid? Amino acids must be present within the body in certain ratios to support protein synthesis. A limiting amino acid is an essential (or indispensable) amino acid that is provided the most below its requirement, thus obstruc-

ting (or limiting) protein synthesis. If an amino acid is not used for protein synthesis because another amino acid is limiting, it is 2 catabolized to carbon dioxide and urea for excretion.

Why is pinpointing specific amino acids important? Can we feed a high-protein ration instead? While practical, feeding a highprotein diet results in an elevated nitrogen concentration of the urine and feces. Excretion of excess nitrogen raises ecological concerns. When horses are stalled, increased nitrogen secretion can irritate eyes and respiratory tissues. Furthermore, protein is an expensive ingredient in rations.

Instead of focusing on the amount of protein offered, the quality of protein should be considered. Quality refers to the ratios of specific amino acids in a protein source. Soybean meal, for example, is often used as a protein source in horse feeds because of the desirable amino acid composition. Whey protein contains a full complement of amino acids, too, but it is expensive and not useful for all types of horses.

Does a high-protein ration have any negative influence on performance? Exercising horses fed 160% of their crude protein requirement showed increased water intake, nitrogen excretion, and urine volume compared to exercising horses that received the recommended crude protein requirement. Carrying additional water weight may hamper performance. Moreover, a lower blood pH resulted from feeding a high-protein diet to exercising horses. Intense exercise reduces pH through lactic acid production. Additional decreases in blood pH created by a highprotein diet could lead to body-wide acidosis.

What is N-acetyl cysteine? An amino acid analog, N-acetyl cysteine acts as a precursor for the potent antioxidant glutathione, which is vital for many biological processes, including recovery of skeletal muscle after injury Specifically, N-acetyl cysteine is an especially important dietary component for horses with a muscle disease known as myofibrillar myopathy (MFM). Horses diagnosed with this disorder should be supple3 mented a high-quality source of N-acetyl cysteine.

1 Graham-Thiers, P.M., and D.S Kronfeld. 2005. Amino acid supplementation improves muscle mass in aged and young horses. Journal of Animal Science 83:2783-2788.

2 Mok, C.H., and K.L Urschel. 2020. Amino acid requirements in horses. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 33(5):679-695.

3 Valberg, S.J., S Perumbakkam, E.C. McKenzie, and C.J Finno. 2018. Proteome and transcriptome profiling of equine myofibrillar myopathy identifies diminished peroxidation 6 and altered cysteine metabolic pathways. Physiological Genomics 50:1036-1050.

Horses and Emotions

Kim

The subject of emotions, especially when being around horses, can be a hot topic. For many of us, we have our horses because of an emotional connection to them. Not only do we love them, but we know that there's something about horses that help us feel better.

Usually If we're not faced with a tough situation where they are unable to honor our invitations.

Or if we're not afraid. Then we can be warned that we need to have our emotions under control.

There is truth in that. And, there isn't always guidance in support in how to maneuver through what we feel.

We humans have a tendency to move towards what feels good, and away from what feels bad. Including our own feelings. Deciding not to label emotions good or bad is a good starting point. Just consider it for a moment. Or two...or a million. I know it can be quite ingrained, but just for fun, give the idea a try.

Our emotions serve an important function. They, along with our experience and intuition, help us navigate through life authentically They are important and we can harness the power of them with practice.

Awareness is the first step. You might have heard that somewhere before? Being able to detect changes in our emotions will give us more leverage in being able to guide them. This is really what allows emotional regulation, which is our ability to effectively manage and respond to experiences and triggers.

Responding rather than reacting is key A simple concept, not always easy. Again, practice helps. How do we practice? First, by being aware of what we're experiencing Around our horses, when we deviate from calm, getting that back is such an effective step. Giving ourselves credit for catching that our calm is slipping is important. Not beating ourselves up because we've slipped. We offer patience and time to our horses. We owe it to them to extend the same grace to our own selves.

We can also practice being calm. Whatever soothes your mind and your body, do more of that. It could be meditating, crafting, walking, etc. The more time we spend in an emotional state, the easier it is to get into that state at will.

To help with frustration, we can ask questions For example, if our horse won't step over a pole, we could ask if they could walk alongside of it. Not taking our horses' choices personally can help alleviate frustration as well. Remember that our horses aren't giving us a hard time, they are having a hard time. The more curious we are about how we can make things easier for them, the less disappointed we will be. Like we mentioned before, catching the feelings in the early stage will allow us to respond instead of react and support our horse through our ask.

Our horses give us so much, including opportunities to grow. Accepting our emotions will help us be able to accept what is happening with our horses. Then, we can choose our perspective, brainstorm, and compassionately lead the interactions with our horses with purpose.

You will feel better, and your horse will, too. Practicing emotional regulation always pays off.

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Mid-Summer Pasture Check-Up

It's hard to believe that we are already halfway through the summer Time flies between horse shows, county fairs, and summer vacations. While there are so many fun things to do in the summer, when it comes to maintaining grazing pastures, mid-summer is a good time for a close evaluation. Taking the time to do some upkeep now will help ensure ample grazing for your herd into the fall.

Here are some tips for checking in on the health of your pastures:

Pay Attention to Dry Weather - Most horse people are aware of how damaging wet ground can be to growing grass. Putting horses out on wet ground that hasn't been amended will surely cause mud to occur. It tends to be easier to recognize that after a hard rainfall or melting snow, it is an important time to protect pastures from the hooves of horses in order to prevent destruction from mud. But in the summer, if there is considerable dry weather, it can have just as much of a negative impact on the health of the pasture. Dry conditions can cause compaction of the earth which can halt healthy grass growth. When dry weather occurs, it may be time to take action and move horses to different pastures or a sacrifice area.

Keep an Eye on Growth Patterns - Inspecting pastures regularly to see what grazing patterns the horses are developing can help provide clues where attention might be needed. Horses will select the best and overgraze in those areas if they are left out on the pasture for too long If horses overgraze, the roots are not protected, and the areas become barren. Once that happens, it can allow for weeds to take hold. Similarly, areas where the grazing isn't as tasty for horses can become manure piles and encourage weeds to grow, choking out the chance for palatable grass. These are often only noticed when you take time to walk around in the pasture to really see what is going on.

Enlist Rotational Grazing – Having one large pasture can be a time saver when it comes to maintenance, but it doesn't really help if the grass in the field doesn't provide horses with enough nourishment. Well managed pastures allow for the greatest savings in feed costs, but pastures that are left to their own devices will generally become void of quality grass by the end of August. You can build separate smaller pastures, or if you have a large perimeter fence, you can break it up into smaller pastures with electric rope fencing to make it more economical and mobile. Horses should be moved off grass when it gets down to 2” to 3”. Horses should be allowed to graze in sections that have at least 6” to 8” in growth.

Utilize a Sacrifice Area – One of the sections in rotation can be made into a sacrifice lot which will allow the horses to be out in conditions that are not conducive to the ground. Improving the area of the sacrifice lot by adding Mud Grids, Paddock Slabs, or other substrate material, allows a safe and healthy space for the horses to be when the conditions aren't right for grazing This is generally placed in an area that is closest to the barn. If you are using rotational grazing and one of the sections hasn't grown enough for the horses to go out and graze, the sacrifice area can

be utilized. A sacrifice area can be one of the most multifunctional spaces on a farm.

Mow & Harrow – After the horses have been removed from a pasture area, it may be a good idea to mow Mowing helps to keep weeds from crowding out new grass growth. Just make sure not to mow any lower than the current grass length to ensure that fall grasses can grow through. Mowing for growth should be done on an as needed basis, not just for aesthetics. After mowing, harrowing allows manure clumps to be broken down to a point where they can be useful to the soil and health of the grass rather than impeding it. Regular harrowing can help stimulate grass growth.

Re-evaluate the Situation – Now that the area has been mowed and harrowed, walk around and assess what the pasture growth looks like as well as the ground beneath the grass. This will help determine what next steps need to be made to remedy any issues in the pasture. Are there certain types of weeds that are especially pervasive? Are there areas of bare patches where the grass may have been the horses' first choice? This is a great time to sample the soil and see what you might be working with. Midsummer is a great time to fertilize, and re-seed as needed. Bonus points if you can plan on re-seeding before it rains. Well timed seeding can get you the most growth potential.

Try Something Completely New – Traditional rotational grazing is a great way to maximize the growth potential of the pastures on your farm. Who doesn't want to utilize the grass they have to cut down on hay bills during the summer and fall? However, you can not only add rotational grazing to your farm plan, but there is also an opportunity to get your horse moving and enrich their way of life by creating a set up that is much more similar to the way that they would live out in the wild. Consider implementing a track system for your horses that adds options in rotational grazing and elevate the way you care for your horses.

Next month, we will review some of the ways you can build a track system on your property and reap the benefits of a style of horse keeping that is much closer to nature.

If you have any questions about how to set up an area on your farm for rotational grazing, contact Cashmans Horse Equipment or check out Cashmans.com where you can plan your next fencing project with our handy fencing calculator.

(740) 363-6073

https://www.cashmans.com/

About the author: Lisa Kiley is a horse enthusiast and a proud member of the Cashman’s Horse Equipment Team in Delaware, OH.

Things To Put On Wounds

Some things, like breathing, are completely involuntary – we don’t even think about them. Others, like deciding which movie that we’re going to see, take a bit more effort. Personally, I think that the impulse to put “something” on a horse’s wound is an involuntary response.

People have been putting things on wounds since, well, since there were wounds. The history books are full of wound treatments such as otter feces (a 6th century Chinese favorite), or various herbal plasters, or urine (yes, urine – it’s been used for millenia, it’s readily available, and it’s not obviously harmful to a wound). And, often, after stuff got put on them, wounds healed. We know a lot more about wounds now than we did then – the treatments have sure changed – but the impulse to put something on them hasn’t changed a bit. And, if they heal with some of the stuff that people have put on them, you can pretty safely conclude that wounds have a pretty powerful urge to heal. Wounds are generally divided into two types. They are:

Type 1. Wounds that can be sewn up. This would include wounds created at surgery, as well as wounds that occur from such equine-assisted endeavors as running into feeders, fences, or the occasional screw head that protrudes 1/16 of an inch from the corner of the stall, a screw head that would seem to require a concerted effort on the part of the horse to find, much less on which to become lacerated.

Type 2. That is, all of the wounds that, for one reason or another aren’t included in #1.

Based on current knowledge about wound healing, here’s what you need to know putting stuff on category #1. It’s short, sweet, and probably contrary to your immediate impulses. If a category #1 wound has been properly cared for and sutured shut, putting some liquid, ointment, or cream on the wound is unlikely to help, and may hurt. That’s right; putting some this or that sort of muck on a properly sutured wound pretty much does nothing to help healing

And it’s not just that it doesn’t help – it might hurt. Take commonly used antibiotic ointments, such as “Triple Antibiotic” ointment, or Neosporin®. A number of studies in human medicine have shown that, when compared to products that contain antibiotics, wounds treated with a simple petrolatum-based ointment heal more quickly. Plus, using antibiotics willy-nilly helps cause bacterial resistance to antibiotics – we don’t want to create a species of superbacteria that can’t be killed.

BOTTOM LINE? If your horse has a wound that’s been sutured, you generally don’t need to spray it, soak it, or glop it up with antibiotic-containing ointments, or much of anything else. It’ll be fine, assuming that there’s not some other problem (like a splinter in the wound, or something). And, if there is some other sort of problem in the wound itself, such as in infection or a piece of the stall or corral, putting an antibiotic on top of the wound won’t help anyway.

Now, for the other wounds, category #2, the wounds that can’t be sewn up: the ones that you’ll worry yourself to death about.*

If your horse cuts itself, and it can’t be sewn up, it’s going to have to heal on its own. And, best of all, it’s going to try to heal on its own. And, as has likely been the case for eternity, you’re going to want to put something on it (whether it needs it, or not).

There are quite literally dozens of products that you can apply to category #2 wounds, all neatly arranged at your local tack store. This mere fact should sound alarm bells. When there are dozens of possible treatments for something, all of which can be obtained without a prescription, or even a glance from your veterinarian, this means that one of two things is likely to be true.

1. None of them works very well.

2. Even if they work (to some extent), none of them really makes much difference.

If you’re confused as to what the vast array of wound care products all do, here’s one useful way to break them down: by color. Wound dressings are typically either red, brown, silver, violet, blue, white, or yellow Nitrofurazone, an antibiotic, which starts yellow, turns orange if it is exposed to sunlight. I cannot remember having seen wound dressings in the green spectrum. Black also seems under represented, perhaps because black would seem morbid, and pessimistic.

If you’re conservative, you’ll probably find that silver (aluminum sprays) are hidden fairly well by the color of a dappled grey –dark blue or violet sprays or liquids nearly disappear in the darker areas of a bay, or on a black. On the other hand, if you like drawing attention to things, silver and yellow (nitrofurazone) sprays stand out dramatically from the coat of a dark horse, while a dark blue or violet spray will make your grey horse or a palomino look like he’s just been marked down at the garage sale. Use any of them according to your preference or color aesthetic – things will probably end up just fine no matter which color you choose.

Most all of these products will work on category #2 wounds because they won’t get in the way of what the body wants to do anyway: heal. However, there are some things out there that you should just stay away from.

Products that have caustic chemicals in them just burn the wound surface, although freely available, are not a great thing to put on wounds. In fact, one popular product that you can buy is mostly soda lime – that’s right, the stuff you throw on the

Things To Put On Wounds, cont.

bottom of your horse’s stall to soak up urine. One of my professors said that you should never put anything on a horse’s wound that you wouldn’t put in your own eye. Frankly, I think that’s a great rule to follow. If you don’t know if a product is caustic, ask your veterinarian.

Lots of wound care products say that they’re “natural.” If you didn’t know, I pretty much hate the word “natural” when it comes to medicine; that includes wound care, too. I suppose one could argue that wounds themselves are “natural,” and the fact of the matter is that if you leave many wounds alone so that they can heal “naturally,” things will be fine. Of course, sometimes, you can end up with a big mess on your hands – if you don’t like how things are going, call your veterinarian.

“Natural” wound products usually include stuff like aloes, antioxidants, oils (tea tree is one that has some effect, and can also really irritate the skin of some horses), and anti-bacterials and all sorts of other anti-anything-bad compounds that Mother Nature has apparently so graciously provided. You can also dress category #2 wounds with substances like honey (which, honestly, has some underlying medical support, but its usefulness has absolutely nothing to do with its naturalness), or sugar (usually mixed with a dilute povidone-iodine** solution, which makes the sugar not only brown, but also easier to apply). I even had a client accidentally dress her horse’s wound with a combination of povidone-iodine and salt (instead of sugar), which went on for about two days, until the horse made it clear that he was not going to tolerate having salt rubbed into his wound any more. The wound did great, however.

Often, wonder-wound-products are even accompanied by photos, such as a gruesome montage, which shows a wound that, over time, miraculously healed, leaving a not-entirely-toobad, terrific conversation starter of a scar And, of course, you’re left with the understanding that this sensational wound probably would not have healed had it not been for the wonderful powers of the product. Of course, if you read the label, you’ll find out that they contain not much of anything – one currently popular “miracle” treatment is 99.something percent water, with a very small amount of bleach, for only about $30 per 8 oz. And the fact is, the gruesome wound would have healed anyway and just as quickly – like I said, wounds love to heal. In fact, when it comes to wounds, there are two very simple rules to keep in mind.

RULE wounds want to heal. If the wound is healing with what you’re doing, don’t change anything, even if what you’re doing doesn’t make much difference, because you’ll probably just mess things up if you start changing them. As long as it’s going well, leave well enough alone.

RULE TWO = If a wound isn’t healing right, something is wrong That’s when you need to call your veterinarian.

Mostly, it doesn’t matter too much what you put on your horse’s wound. But, if you’re wondering or worried, call your veterinarian. There are some very basic principles of wound healing, and your veterinarian knows them very well. He or she would love to hear from you.

* There are all sorts of reasons that horse wounds can’t be sewn up. For example, you might have found the wound a day after it happened, in which case the wound is likely to be infected. If you try to sew infection into the horse’s body, the horse’s body will object, and the sewn wound will open up. Or, maybe there’s been tissue lost, and the edges of the wound can’t be brought back together – this is a particular problem on the lower limbs, where the skin is pretty much shrink-wrapped onto the bones. After such a wound, there’s may not be enough skin left to pull back together

** The most well-known brand of povidone-iodine solution is Betadine.®

DAVID RAMEY, DVM: Dr Ramey began veterinary practice in 1984 in southern California. He has been providing outstanding care to horses ever since. He specializes in the care and treatment of pleasure and performance horses. His clients particularly value his no nonsense approach, focused on providing services instead of selling products, his compassion for horses, and his ethical approach to the practice of veterinary medicine. https://www.doctorramey.com/

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2023 ISHA Spring & Fall Open All Breed Horse Show

Hoosier Horse Park, Edinburgh, Indiana (rain or shine: covered arena)

Saturday/Sunday Classes Start Time: 8am | Sunday Jumping Classes Start Time: 8am

70% Paybacks

Spring Dates: May 20 & 21, 2023 – Judge: Kara Miller, LaGrange, KY

Fall Dates: August 19 & 20, 2023 – Judge: Duane Stutzman, Fresno, OH

Sport Horse In Hand Judges – SPRING: TBA

FALL: Cynthia Bellis-Jones, Paris, KY | Jumping Judge: Bobbi Milan, Greenwood, IN

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SATURDAY, MAY 20 & AUGUST 19, 2023

1 Sport Horse In Hand: All Breeds (open card) 8 AM-11 AM

2 English Type Halter: Geldings

3 Youth Stock Type Halter: Mares

4 Arabian Halter: Mares

5 Dra/Dra Cross Halter

6 Youth English Type Halter: Geldings

7 Thoroughbred Halter: Mares & Geldings

8 Half Arabian Halter: Mares

9 Color Horse-Pony Halter: All Breeds

10 Rescue Horse-Pony Halter: All Breeds

11 Stock Type Halter: Geldings

12 English Type Halter: Mares

13 *Youth Pony Halter: Mares & Geldings

14 Gaited Horse Model Halter: Mares

15 Youth English Type Halter: Mares

16 Hunt/Saddle Seat Type Showmanship: All Ages

17 Sck Horse (NO ENTRY FEE)

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18 Roselyn A. Faut Memorial Class: W/T or W/J, 12 & Under Halter, Paern, Rail – no cross entry with class #19.

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19 Roselyn A. Faut Memorial Class: W/T/C or W/J/L, All Ages Halter, Paern, Rail – no cross entry with class #18.

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Aernoon Classes not to begin before 11:00 AM

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21 Beginner Hunt/Saddle Seat Pleasure: W/T/C, 13 Yrs & Up 22

Questions or Stall Reservations: Donna Skatrud: 317-418-6381 or skatrudarabians@gmail.com

STALLS: Weekend Stalls $40 | Tie Outs $15 per day | ENTRY FEES: $8 Per Class | $10 for $100 Added Money Classes. OFFICE FEE: $10 Per Horse/Exhibitor Combination for Weekend

2023 ISHA Spring & Fall Open All Breed Horse Show

Hoosier Horse Park, Edinburgh, Indiana (rain or shine: covered arena)

Saturday/Sunday Classes Start Time: 8am | Sunday Jumping Classes Start Time: 8am

70% Paybacks

$100 Added

Money Payback

Spring Dates: May 20 & 21, 2023 – Judge: Kara Miller, LaGrange, KY

Fall Dates: August 19 & 20, 2023 – Judge: Duane Stutzman, Fresno, OH

Sport Horse In Hand Judges – SPRING: TBA

FALL: Cynthia Bellis-Jones, Paris, KY | Jumping Judge – Bobbi Milan, Greenwood, IN

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SUNDAY, MAY 21 & AUGUST 20, 2023

66 Youth Stock Type Halter: Geldings

67 *Pony Halter: All Breeds

68 Arabian Halter: Geldings & Stallions

69 Stallion Halter: All Breeds

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72 Gaited Horse Model: Geldings & Stallions

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75 Western Showmanship: All Ages

76 Lead Line

77 **RESTRICTED 10 & Under Equitaon: Walk

HELPER REQUIRED

78 Dra/Dra Cross Pleasure Driving: W/T

79 Light Horse Pleasure Driving: W/Pleasure Trot/Road Trot

80 Pleasure Driving: All Breeds

81 Beginner Hunt/Saddle Seat Pleasure: 10 & Under W/T

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82 Beginner Hunt/Saddle Seat Equitaon: 10 & Under W/T

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Point Compeons

98 Hunt/Non-Gaited Saddle Seat Equitaon: W/T/C

15 Minute Break

99 **RESTRICTED Western Pleasure W/J

100 Stock Type Western Equitaon: W/J/L

101 Western Pleasure: W/J/L

102 TWH Open All Day Pleasure Youth – Oponal Tack (19 Yrs & Under as of 1/23)

103 **RESTRICTED Hunt/Saddle Seat Pleasure: W/T

104 KMH/RMH Trail Pleasure Youth – Oponal Tack (19 Yrs & Under as of 1/23)

105 **RESTRICTED Equitaon: W/T or W/J

106 Youth Hunt/Saddle Seat Equitaon: W/T/C

107 Open All Gaited Breeds Equitaon

108 Youth Pleasure: W/T or W/J

109 Youth Western Equitaon: W/J/L 110

112 KMH/RMH Youth Western Pleasure – Oponal Tack (19 Yrs & Under as of 1/23)

97 Adults 19 & Over, Horse-Pony Pleasure: W/T/C or W/T/J JUMPING

115

113 Ground Poles US (W/T)

114 Ground Poles OP

115 Ground Poles OP

X-RAILS DIVISION Classes 116, 117 & 118

116 X-Rails US (W/T/C)

117 X-Rails OF (12-18" height)

118 X-Rails OF (12-18" height) BEGINNER HUNTER DIVISION Classes 119, 120 &121

119 Beginner Hunter US (W/T/C)

120 Beginner Hunter OF (24" max height)

121 Beginner Hunter OF (24" max height)

HOPEFUL HUNTER DIVISION Classes 122, 123 & 124

122 Hopeful Hunter US (W/T/C)

123 Hunter OF (2'3" – 2’6” height)

124 Hunter OF (2'3" – 2’6” height)

hps://www.indianasaddlehorse.org/ Facebook: Indiana Saddle Horse Associaon

Questions or Stall Reservations: Donna Skatrud: 317-418-6381 or skatrudarabians@gmail.com

STALLS: Weekend Stalls $40 | Tie Outs $15 per day | ENTRY FEES: $8 Per Class | $10 for $100 Added Money Classes. OFFICE FEE: $10 Per Horse/Exhibitor Combination for Weekend

Therearecurrentlyapproximately155,000horses inMichigan,basedonthe last Equine Survey (2007). While these numbers may have decreased somewhat based on the recession, the use of horses in the state has not decreased,andinfactmaybeincreasing(personalobservation).Eachofthese animalsisinneedofregularhoofcare,withtrimmingrequiredevery6-8weeks andshoes(forthosewhoareshod)requiredonasimilarschedule.

Theoldadage“nofoot,nohorse”holds,inthatahorsewithoutregularhoof carebyaknowledgeableprofessional,isunlikelytobeofusetoitshumancaretakers.Further,mosthorsemenandwomenwouldratherhiresomeoneknowledgeabletodothisworkthantodoitthemselves.Finally,well-trainedfarriershavethepotentialtomakea decent living, as evidenced by “An American Farriers Journal survey in 2012 found that the national average annual salary for full-time farriers in the U.S. was reported to be $92,623 per year and for parttimers, $21,153. This amount is an average and varies according to experience level, training, etc.” (TheFarriersGuide.com)

TheproblemcurrentlyfacingthehorseindustryintheMidwestisthatthereiscurrentlynoreputablemeans by which to consistently produce well-trained farriers. Michigan residents wishing to pursue this line of work,haveneededtoleavethestateforextendedperiodsoftime.Untilnow.

Michigan State University offers the MSU Farrier School: Thisisa12or24-weekprogram,housedon theMSUHorseTeachingandResearchCenter,andwillbeledbyMSUalum,DavidHallock,CJF,ASF Students in the program will receive both hands-on and classroom-based instruction in hoof and farrier science, equine anatomy and physiology, basic welding, and business. The class runs8hoursperday,withtheintentionofproducingindividualspoisedtobewell trained,professionalfarrierstoservetheequineindustry

Show Sponsor:

Advertise ALL your EQUINE EVENTS in Saddle Up! Magazine’s ONLINE editions for only $240 a year!

1 NO LIMIT to FULL COLOR flyers/showbill(s) added to our online monthly editions. All events will be listed in our advertisers directory (always on page 4) of the magazine.

2. INDIVIDUAL EVENT POSTS on both our Facebook pages: Tri-State Horse Shows and Saddle Up! Magazine (5.9K+ followers) multiple times before the event.

3. EVENTS added to our printed show & event date listings within the center of our magazine.

4. EVENT FLYERS/SHOWBILLS posted to our online calendar: https://saddleupmag.com/online-calendar

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START ANYTIME YOU WISH, WE’LL KEEP TRACK OF YOUR ANNUAL EQUINE EVENT SUBSCRIPTION.

There is NO LIMIT to the number of events/showbills that can be placed in Saddle Up! Magazine’s online editions in the 12 month period, provided that they are equine related. All artwork must be submitted camera ready, as either a .jpg or a PDF in full color Design services available for $20.00 per hour, if needed.

• Full page flyers: 8.5”w x 11”h

• Half page flyers: 8.5”w x 5.5”h

DEADLINE FOR ONLINE SUBMISSIONS: the 21st of the month for the following issue.

Email to Cindy Couturier at: saddleupmag@gmail.com

Saddle Up! Magazine’s online editions are viewed by 5,000+ readers per month.

We print 5,000+ copies of Saddle Up! Magazine monthly and mail to Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana equestrians.

All distributor copies are mailed to equine related businesses for free.

STILL NOT SURE? CHECK US OUT ONLINE!

Facebook Page – Saddle Up! Magazine

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ADVERTISING DEADLINE: The 21st of the month for the following month’s issue.

Monly Equine Show

BRINGING AWARENESS & EDUCATION TO MICHIGAN'S EQUINE COMMUNITIES

BRINGING AWARENESS & EDUCATION TO MICHIGAN'S EQUINE COMMUNITIES

THIRD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH @ 7PM

Join us for a fun and educational exploration of an equine topic every month.

Don’t miss out on our monthly prize giveaways!

Co-hostedby:BrandtClarkandTammyTyler

Sponsorship Opportunities

A show sponsorship is $300 each which includes a maximum one minute video ad. We will send the upload directions. Shows are produced monthly with four sponsor ads included. Advertising deadline is the second Monday of each month.

Prize Donation Acceptance

Audience Reach~ 20,000+

Our show attenders love to win prizes! Donating products and services from your equine related business is a great way to directly advertise to the equine community. Prizes can be awarded in one of three ways:

1. The winners name will be sent to you for follow up.

2. You can mail the items to Tammy at the address below

3. Drop off items or gift cards at Tom’s Western Store, Ovid, MI with a MIEN label.

Each monthly show will be presented live on the Michigan Equine Network Facebook page. All sponsors, product donators, speakers and hosts will be tagged in the show which will increase audience reach. Shows will be recorded and will be able to be watched at a later date via the Michigan Equine Network Facebook page. Links to all shows will be available on YouTube, Instagram and the Michigan Equine Network website. A monthly shows audience reach should likely be 20,000 people with the potential to reach more individuals directly in the equestrian, livestock and agricultural communities.

For more information or episode suggestions, contact:

Brandt Clark (989) 506-9643

Email: brandt@michiganequinenetwork.com

Tammy Tyler (989) 213-7817

Email: tammy@michiganequinenetwork.com

Please make checks payable to: Tammy Tyler (add MI Equine Network in the memo line)

Mailing address: 1004 Hollister Rd., Ovid, MI 48866

A receipt will be emailed to you.

https://www.michiganequinenetwork.com/

PALM PARTNERSHIP TRAINING™ BUILDING A PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUR HORSE

The Importance of the Walk

It probably comes as no surprise that a good walk is important in a trail horse. However, a horse with a comfortable, ground-covering walk is one that will be appreciated by real working cowboys, dressage riders, endurance and competitive trail riders, as well as weekend trail riders. That is because the walk is one of the hardest gaits to improve in a horse, and yet it is the gait most commonly used by most riders outside of speed events.

Although it is difficult to improve the quality of a horse's walk, there are some exercises you can practice to teach your horse to walk at a comfortable, controlled speed in a straight line. When your horse is in a controlled walk, it is much easier for him to stay balanced when he is going up and down hills. If a horse is balanced and moving in a straight line, he can better transfer his weight to his hind end when going downhill as well as negotiate rough terrain much more easily.

Practice the following exercise in your regular tack in an enclosed area at first before you take it out on the trail. Make sure you are sitting balanced in the center of your horse's back and that your cues are clear so that your horse understands them.

The Basic Walk

Many riders create problems unintentionally when they either kick or grip the horse's side to get him to walk forward, but these two actions actually make the horse resist. Try pounding your ribs with your fist to get an idea of what your horse feels if you do this. Remember that a horse is sensitive enough to feel a fly land on his skin so he does not need much of a leg aid when you ask him to move forward.

Use your calves, and not your heels, in as light a touch as necessary to ask your horse to walk forward. If your horse does not step forward immediately into a walk, slide your calves slightly backward and ask again. If that doesn't work, use a “clucking” sound with your leg aid or touch his side with your crop or the end of our reins just behind your leg or on his rump to give him even more encouragement to move away from the touch.

As your horse walks, practice staying balanced and let your hips move back and forth naturally as they follow his motion at the walk. This will synchronize you with the horse, and both you and he will be more comfortable. It also will encourage him to relax his back and use his hind legs more. You keep the horse moving straight and maintaining speed by using light support with your legs and reins.

You can tell if your horse is comfortable and relaxed in the walk if his ears are forward and he is moving along without resistance. If your horse is relaxed, clearly understands what you are asking of him, and trusts you, then he will be easier to work with and enjoy the ride too. If you are unbalanced or heavyhanded, however, your horse will be frustrated and anxious for the ride to be over with and may challenge you in some way

There is less momentum at the walk to help your horse stay straight. If he is having trouble staying straight at the walk, practice transitions between the walk and the trot. Walk straight and at a steady pace – without slowing or speeding up. Next, practice varying your speed at the walk.

After practicing walking in a straight line, walk in circles at a steady pace. Remember, that when you circle your horse, he should have a slight bend or curve to his body and not have just his head turned to the inside.

Always be aware of your position in the saddle. Your spine should be centered over your horse and an observer should be able to draw a straight line from your ear to your shoulder to the middle of your hip, to the back of your heel, and down to the ground. Your eyes should always be looking ahead to where you want to go and not down at your horse.

Remember, if you have trouble controlling your horse's speed at any gait, bring him into a turn because bending will auto-matically slow him down. At a walk, initiate the turn by using an upward motion with your outside rein only This will shorten the horse's stride at the walk. Think of your outside rein as your “brake.”

Cyril and Lynn offer clinics throughout the country and abroad as well as online coaching. Join them on their teaching tours or their Palm Equestrian Academy European Journeys.

Palm Equestrian Academy

email: generalinfo@ lynnpalm.com

352-362-7847

Best Advice from Small Businesses

Are you ready to turn your horse hobby into an equine small business? Do you have what it takes to turn your passion into a career? Whether your dream business is a tack shop, freelance photography, a boarding barn, or anything else, it's crucial to learn how to set your business up for success before launching and learn from those who've already made the leap. The goal of this Equine Small Business Series is to guide you through the process of becoming a small business, be a resource for growing and maintaining your small business, and give real-life advice from equine professionals with an established small business. Read on and let's get to business!

The Customer Comes First

Just outside of Mansfield, Ohio, Custom Conchos and Tack LLC was officially launched as a small business in 2012. The familyrun business purchased their current building, roughly between Cleveland and Columbus, in 2014 and recently acquired two mobile tack store trailers. Now, Custom Conchos and Tack is known for their wide saddle selection, flashy custom tack, fairlypriced show rental clothes, and stellar customer service.

Tammy Cox, the founder and owner of Custom Conchos and Tack, was quick to impart some wisdom for any new equine small business owners. “We go the extra mile for our customers,” she emphasized, “And they can see we truly care about our customers and their equine friends! They depend on us to help them not kill the bank. Because of this, our customers come back and are very loyal to us. We are not at all pushy; we talk with our customers and help figure out what is best for them in the long run. We can spend up to an hour or so helping out a customer and taking the time to figure out what is best!”

According to Tammy, another vital part of maintaining a strong relationship with your customers is to share your appreciation of their support and give back to the community whenever possible. Yes, it's great to make money but it's also great to meet the “ needs of our customers, as they mean everything to us.” She explained, “We offer flexible layaway, we give a discount to 4H/FFA members, and have a rewards program for shopping with us. Every year, on the third Saturday of October, we do a customer appreciation day We give away about $2,000 worth of tack and merchandise and we provide a full dinner This is our way of saying thank you to all our customers!”

Strategies for Successful Networking

Other key aspects to establishing or growing your small business are marketing and advertising. Without a proper marketing strategy, your equine business may struggle to stay afloat during these challenging economic times. Marketing is an ongoing process where a business owner defines their product and discovers their audience through design, research, and analysis. Technically a step of marketing, advertising is the specific way you communicate your businesses' product or service to your audience. While a business card might have worked wonders in

the past, nowadays advertising campaigns use multiple media platforms to spread the word of their business far and wide.

“Networking is so important! Don't wait for work to come to you, go out and find it. Work on the local level, make contact with barns, 4-H groups, trail rides, rescues.” Equine photographer Carien Schippers continued, “Be active on social media, network with other photographers, join area art groups to share and discuss work, even if it isn't equine related. It's all about word of mouth, the horse industry is so small, everybody knows everybody.” Schippers is the founder and owner of the Equine Photographers Network, a global community and platform of equine photographers who promote and share their work as well as participate in members-only networking and career development events.

Apart from joining her equine photographers' platform, Carien had a few wise words for anyone who is hesitant to use social media as a marketing tool for building their equine small business. “I don't think you will succeed without some form of social media,” She counseled, “that's where everyone is and people love to see and share horse images. While you do run the risk of people taking your work without permission, keep your social media images low resolution with a visible watermark so if your work does get taken your credit line will still be visible wherever it goes.”

Balancing Business and Personal Life

A full-time equine photographer, Renae Parsons specializes in equestrian portraiture and is a member of the Professional Photographers Alliance as well as the official track photographer at Northville Downs, a harness racing track in metro-Detroit. She's also proud to be the only approved photographer in the state to be partnered with the Equestrian of Color Photography Project (EOCP), which was created to raise awareness and support diversity within the equestrian world by linking the artistry of photographers with horse lovers of color ready to share their story.

As with any business venture, Renae soon discovered that equine photography comes with its challenges and can be especially demanding of your time. “It's hard to manage your personal life when you have emails [and] phone calls coming in 24/7.” She warned, “It's really tough to set boundaries when you

know you also want to make your clients happy and get back to them as soon as possible.” In scenarios where a client has undervalued her work, Renae admitted “…it's hard to remember what my worth is as a photographer and an artist.”

While the time investment can be steep, after a few months of owning and operating her own equine small business, Ranae Mona Photography, the benefits began to reveal themselves to Renae. When asked what her favorite part of her business is, Renae was quick to confirm that it's the experiences she's had, not the money, that keep her coming back for more. Renae gushed, “I love being able to build my own schedule, but the absolute best thing about being an equine photographer is meeting new people. I leave my photoshoots with a new friend every time!”

For anyone still uncertain if they should make the leap to starting their own equine small business, Renae had one final piece of advice. “Know your worth– it's a really hard aspect to business ownership but it is a really important one.” She encouraged, “I hope to make this a long-term career I think it's very sustainableso long as you don't burn yourself out and keep to your core values.”

Lisa Skylis graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Animal Science. She is a professional freelance writer Lisa’s work largely focuses on the equine industry When she’s not writing, Lisa can be found doting on the horses at her local therapeutic riding barn or entertaining her mischievous Golden Retriever, Roy Freelance inquiries can be sent to skylisli@msu.edu

Sources:

Thank you to Tammy Cox from Custom Conchos and Tack, LLC for her advice about all things equine small business. If you live in Ohio and would like to see their saddlery in person, please stop by 2074 Ashland Road in Mansfield, Ohio 44905 or keep an eye out at your next horse show for their mobile store.

Thank you to Carien Schippers from Equine Photographers Network for her insightful tips to up-and-coming equine businesspeople. Visit EPN online at: https://www.equinephotographers.org/

Thank you to Renae Parsons from Renae Mona Photography for allowing me to interview her and for the wonderful photos. If you live in Michigan and would like to book an equine photography session with Renae Parsons, please reach out to her via email at info@renaemonaphotography.com

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