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Bits (and pieces) about horses and other
critters
MY HORSE IS A VIDEO STAR September 18 I shoot a weekly video for The Daily Sentinel called
"Over the Top." This week, I needed some extra help, so I called on my little gelding Turk, pictured here, as well
as my dog, Lila, for assistances. Click on the link below to watch the video. Over the Top at GJSentinel.com Sept. 14 Moose and I had a great time Sunday, schooling cross-country jumps with about a dozen members of the Grand Valley Pony Club. It was Moose's first time on a cross-country course, and I wasn't sure how well he would take to it. But he did great, splashing through the water and going over most of the Beginner Novice jumpes. So did all the other horses, whether they were ridden by young riders or well-aged ones. Thanks to Diana Vagneur for allowing us to train at her ranch near Rifle. KEARSLEY'S CRASH June 27 Many of you may remember Dave Kearsley from last year's election. He challenged Janet Rowland in the Republican primary for Mesa County Commissioners. He lives in Mesa. Here's what he had to say about his wreck: "This was a
rough trail and the horse had his front feet on a low rock ledge. He froze and reared when I tried to turn him to the right.
What I should have done is dismount and help him out of the jam. He'd have been fine. It was my fault. All that was injured
(occurred with) the saddle horn to my groin, which means I moved forward as the horse fell backwards. Otherwise I was fine.
"The horse was fine (landed on a fat guy). I was able to mount and ride the two miles down the trail, get my horse in the trailer and drive the 60 miles home, put the horse and trailer away. It was only when I went to shower that I could see the extent of the injury (I was black) and I was peeing blood. It's amazing what the body is able to do when in flight mode. "The doctors told me it would take at least 24 hours before the internal bleeding would stop...they were right. I could barely move by then. Even now I can't imaging climbing onto the saddle. That will take at least another month of healing. "It was the fear that my friend Joe would call in the helicopter that got me going. I'm only half joking about that. Basically it was denial. I'm not big on patience. It got me into the mess, not being patient with the horse. I couldn't wait to move so I sucked it up and rode out. "The lesson to learn is the value of patience. If I were a more experience rider I would have known this." Dave's well enough now that he is traveling with his wife, Donna, to the Midwest. But it isn't only inexperienced riders who get in trouble. I have been riding horses for 50 years, and have had my share of wrecks. But only once has a horse reared up and come over backward on me. And that, too, was entirely pilot error. My old jumping horse,
Dash, was speeding up and charging the jumps badly as we schooled in a friend's arena. I decided to teach him a lesson. When
he charged one fence, I halted him -- hard. Then I yanked on the reins to get him to back up. Instead, he launched himself
up and over backward. I didn't know 1,200 pounds of horseflesh could do that so quickly. Fortunately, he sort of rolled as
he landed on me, and we were in a sandy arena. I had a pretty good bruise for a few days, but it was my pride that was hurt
worst. I never had a wreck that bad, or got so scared, when I used to ride bareback broncs as a young man. Incidentally, I know of a trainer with far more experience than me, who broke his pelvis when a horse went over backward on him. He had done almost the same thing as I did -- yanked hard on the reins of a young horse who wasn't doing what he wanted. I don't want to sound like a preacher, but it's true: Patience is not just important, but critical when working with horses. Get well soon, Dave
DOMINGUEZ PHOTO SHOOT May 31 With the Dominguez-Escalante
National Conservation Area recently receiving its official designation from Congress, photographer (and retired BLM staff
member) Jerry Sintz was in from Salt Lake City for a week of shooting of different parts of the new NCA. The photos will likely
appear in a forthcoming brochure and other materials related to the NCA. We were asked by the BLM if we could saddle up Sunday morning and have some pictures taken at Dominguez Creek, beginning
at the Bridgeport Bridge over the Gunnison River west of U.S. Highway 50. I took my trail gelding, Turk, because he had been
over the bridge once before, and I wasn't sure how Moose, my young jumper, would react. Alan Moore was on his ever-trusty
mustang-Morgan mare, Rita. Below are some of the photos I shot Sunday. Jerry promised to send some of the ones he took once he gets back to his studio. When he does, I'll post some of them, as well.
Little Britches action from the Delta County Fairgrounds in Delta May 22.
INMATES AND HORSES May 20,2009 Inmates in Illinois state prisons are finding solace and training in helping to rehabilitate retired race horses. A number of inmates in Colorado have found there own comfort for years by helping the Bureau of Land Management break mustangs before they are put up for adoption. For more on the Illinois story, click the link below.
For more on this story click here. McCarty Trail May
11, 2009 The McCarty Trail enters the new Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area from the south side, along Escalante Creek. You take the Escalante Creek Road west from U.S. Highway 50, cross the Gunnison River, and the trail head is about three miles west on your right.
There's a small parking area, big enough for a couple of vehicles with two or three-horse trailers, but not much more.
There's also a working ranch right across the road, with cows wandering by and around the parking area, so if your horses
are cattle-shy or you brought a cow-chasing dog, be aware. My friend, Alan Moore, and I made the trip to the trail Saturday afternoon. It was a little bit spur of the moment, and we didn't prepare for a long trip. I even forgot my camera, so no pictures, unfortunately. The trail begins as a two-track -- an old Jeep or wagon road -- but narrows into single track after a couple of miles. It starts very steep and rocky, and we encountered several places like that along the trail sections we were on. It wouldn't be good for inexperienced riders or very green horses, although it was the roughest trail I have been on with Moose to date, and he handled it without problems. We rode about two hours,
mostly in sagebrush and cactus country, and didn't encounter any water. The trail continues climbing toward the Uncompahgre
Plateau, and there is probably water at higher elevations. We had wonderful views of the country below. We also explored several side trails, that appear to have been used to look for uranium or other minerals long ago. They dead-ended after a few miles. It was an enjoyable ride for a few hours, but to really explore this trail in our region's newest National Conservation Area, you should probably set aside the better part of a day, take plenty of water and grub, and be prepared for any sort of weather.
ONLY HORSE PEOPLE: * Believe in the 11th Commandment: Inside leg to outside rein. * Know that all topical medications come in either indelible blue or neon yellow. * Fail to associate whips, chains and leather with sexual deviancy. * Can magically lower their voices five octaves to bellow at a pawing horse. * Have a language all their own ("If he pops his shoulder, I have to close that hand and keep pushing with my seat in case he sucks back".) * Will end relationships over their hobby. * Cluck to their cars to help them up hills. * Insure their horses for more than their cars. * Will give you 20 names and reasons for that bump on your horse. * Know more about their horse's nutrition than their own. * Have neatsfoot oil stains on the carpet right next to the TV. * Have a vocabulary that can make a sailor blush. * Have less wardrobe than their horse. * Engage in a hobby that is more work than their day job. * Know that mucking stalls
is better then Zoloft any day
Riding with Chris Woodall May 3, 2009 It's been at least four years, possibly five, since I've attended a clinic with a professional trainer. And this was my first clinic since acquiring Moose back in February. I arrived early enough to watch Chris work with several Grand Valley Pony Club members, the young ladies in most of these pictures. I must admit, I was a little intimidated initially. Chris didn't seem to cut the girls much slack, and he let them know quickly when they were making mistakes. But he was also quick to tell them when they had a good jump or series of jumps, and he had all of them riding better by the end of the session. We didn't do any jumping, but worked entirely on the flat. And Chris was great. He did a wonderful job of explaining technique, along with horse-and-human mechanics. And he did just as well explaining when my leg was out of position or my hands were wrong. Much of it I had heard before from other trainers, but it had been a while, and I quickly fall back into bad habits without someone to remind me. We worked on slowing and extending at the trot, and on me trying to maintain hand and leg contact without continually pulling or squeezing. By the end of the session Moose was going relaxed, and semi-collected, carrying his head about where I wanted it. And he had a rider who was staying mostly relaxed but giving reasonably clear commands. It was one of the most satisfying days of riding I've had in a long time. I look forward to going back tomorrow evening for another session. Thanks Chris. And thanks Renee Cowan for hosting the clinic.
A Senior Competitor: Silent Cash Dasher finished seventh in a 250-yard sprint at Remington Park, Oklahoma, Sunday. So what? You might rightfully asked. What's the big deal about a horse finishing seventh in a nine-horse field? Only this. According to several different news accounts, Silent Cash Dasher is 16 years old and the oldest Quarter Horse to ever start a sanctioned race. And he is no plug, stuck in the race for novelty's sake. The gelding won three races as a 15-year-old. He already held the record as the oldest Quarter Horse to win a race. And he has been raced continuously since 1997. This caught my eye, not just because of Silent Cash's
age, but his name. Although the stories didn't give much information on his bloodlines, he is clearly a descendant of
the great Dash for Cash, who for a long time was the winningest Quarter Horse ever. My old jumper, Tazmania Cash, was a Dash for Cash grandson. He raced as a three-and foour-year-old, and had only a couple of victories to his credit. But he was still the fastest horse I've ever ridden. When he died last year, he was 16, same age as Silent Cash now, and still ready to run at every opportunity. So, way to go, Silent Cash Dasher. Make all of us old geezers proud
Rabbit Valley Ride (continued) May 18 The trails aren't too strenuous or difficult, although both of our horses did work up a sweat, and Lila the black lab need lots of water, both to drink and have poured over her. South and a little east of the horse corrals parking area is a trail (Trail No. 4, if I remember right, but don't hold me to it) that drops off the top ridge on a fairly steep two-track road to a bench just above the Colorado River. The trail is not especially technical or dangerous, but there is little room to get out of the way if you meet a motorcyclist, mountain biker or ATV rider. We saw several of those Sunday, but not when we were on that particular part of the trail. It was a pretty day, still very green for that area, with lots of flowers in bloom, but warming up enough to remind us it's time to start looking for trails in the higher country.
Moose, Monster and Me That's me and my companions at the entrance to the Little Bookcliffs Wild Horse Area Saturday, March 19. Moose is the big red guy with the inquisitive face. Monster is actually named Lila, but we fondly refer to her as the Lila Monster. She's part Lab, part Mastiff, about 80 pounds of puppy (she just turned a year old). Mostly she's a great dog and a wonderful trail companion who obeys me well. But there was so much activity at the parking lot Saturday that she had a hard time paying attention. And I forgot to bring a leash. True to her Monster nickname, she almost got in a fight with one of the many other dogs there. But we got her straightened out, and she had a great time on our trail ride, splashing through the waters of Main Canyon. Moose, much to my amazement, also loved the water. This was the longest trail ride I've been on with him, and the first where we had to cross water. Alan took his very experienced trail horse, Rita (who is half mustang) into the creek first, and Moose followed with little hesitation. He seemed to enjoy splashing in the dirty water as well as walking in it. He only made one attempt to lie down. Moose was also pretty jazzed by all the commotion -- the different people and horses, not to mention the wild horses -- but he stayed calm and listened well to me. He was just eager to get out and explore this new territory. Can't ask for a much better young horse than that on our second big trail ride.
Working Moose
I've now had several
good arena rides on Moose -- walk, trot, canter -- over trot poles and even some very low cross rails, which he just trotted
over. He's been very good. He doesn't get too excited or worried and he tries hard to figure out what I want. Patience,
pressure and release are the keys, as far as I'm concerned. Yesterday was the first time I took him on an extended ride outside of the arena. We went with Alan and his mare, Rita, who are pictured below in an earlier ride. Again, he was very good. The only time he did something close to spooking was when he spotted a hole in the ground right in front of him, and he jumped sideways to avoid it. I'm glad to know he's looking to see where his feet go. Other things caught his interest -- sheep in a field, a flag
snapping in a good breeze, yapping dogs -- but nothing worried him much. I think he will become a very good trail horse.
New Pony Last weekend i purchased Moose in Colorado Springs. His former name was Commander, but I think Moose fits him better. He's a four-year-old Thoroughbred-Percheron cross. He stands about 17 hands, but needs to put some more weight and muscle on him. It was chilly the morning I rode him for the first time, then put him in my friend's horse trailer and sent him home. So I look pretty bundled up here. Not to mention a little tense. But Moose was fine and we settled in to a good working relationship with each other. Moose is green, but he seems very well grounded. He doesn't spook easily, and little things don't bother him. He tries hard to figure out what you want him to do. He was started very well by Nicole Ackerman of Inside Track Training in Colorado Springs, who is an eventer. I hope I can keep him going the way she started him. Moose replaces my old jumper and best buddy, Dash, a 16.3 Quarter Horse who died last summer at
the age of 16. |
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