Ready for Inspection: December '09's Horse & Rider

Horse & Rider's December '09 issue is now out in circulation, and here's a little bit of what's behind this action cover. (The rider is top barrel racer Sherry Cervi on MP Haylook Mike.)

Sherry provides the article behind Never Go Lame, explaining how ground conditions affect soundness, and how to care for a horse's legs after a ride or run. Great photos go along with this one.

Bob Avila gives examples of what he terms "horse buyers from hell," and gives insights into how they're their own worst enemies when it comes to making a satisfactory purchase. Bet this one raises a few eyebrows.

7 Signs helps you determine whether it's time to change boarding barns. (Any of you facing that very problem right now? It's a common source of angst.)

We also bring you another installment of "In Your Area," this time focusing on the horse scene in the Denver area. 

Enjoy, and please share any thoughts or reactions.

 

Wow--last issue of the year, last issue of the DECADE. (But never fear, we're right back on it--the first issue of 2010 is going to press this very hour!)

Here's Another Chip Off the Ol' Block

I received another look-alike Smitty-sibling picture this morning, this one of a colt that resides in Brazil. Amazing (in more ways than one).

For the reader who asked to see what the sire of these babies looks like, here he is, An Awesome Secret. Thanks to Gail Smith for sharing these photos.

Happy Friday, Dear Readers, and Remember, It's a 13th

I have our de-dustified living room put back together again now, and was just having a cup of coffee there, catching up on the weekend weather forecast (snow!), and admiring the silver fog visible outside.

Before I get to work on my last writing duties for the January 2010 issue of H&R, I'll wish you all a Happy Friday (a tradition in our household, seeing as how Ed and I met and later married on Fridays).

And then, just in case you decide to follow my 'minder sign's advice (FEELING DOWN? SADDLE UP!), keep in mind that today's Friday is a 13th. Maybe not the best day to push your luck--so ride safe!

First Entry in the Smitty Look-a-Like Contest

OK, kids, would you not say that these two horses look alike?!

One is our weanling Appaloosa, Smitty. One is--well, just wait until you hear this story. (And, hint: Smitty's the one in the halter.)

A picture of Smitty, and my account of his background, appears in my column for November '09 issue of Horse & Rider. Cindy Clapsaddle, a reader in North Fort Meyers, Florida, saw the picture and thought, "Hey--that Appaloosa looks a lot like ours!"

Then Cindy recognized a name in the column, that of Gail Smith--my sister-in-law. And at that point, she realized that her Appaloosa, a filly named Dorie, and our Appaloosa, Smitty, are half-siblings!

They both were sired by An Awesome Secret, a stallion raised by Gail, my brother Mark, and their partner Dave.

It's too bad that Cindy and I are at opposite corners of the country, because I do believe we have a matched pair. Imagine them as a driving pair--now THAT would be fancy!

WOW--Check Out This Helmet-Cam Ride!

What it's like to be aboard the race mare Zenyatta, as recorded by her jockey's helmet-cam. This, you gotta try!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv49V2RzgHw

The Truth About The Pile (Good Job, Caption Writers!)

As anticipated, I got a kick out of your inspired suggestions for the latest installment of You Write the Caption.

You're good. Very, very good!

Now, for the truth about the pile: It was an element in my living room last week, after I took a notion to strip every wall and surface for a deep dusting. (Note the dust on the back of that poor green hat! It had been up on a wall for a LONG time.)

I am calling this part of the "2010 Effect." At H&R, we are in the fourth and final week of producing the January 2010 edition of the magazine. That means I've already moved, mentally, into a new year (new DECADE!), and I really find myself craving a fresh start--in lots of areas, but the living room will do for starters.

Dust was dealt with, display items got freshly rearranged or edited out, and lot of general clutter-busting took place. The effort produced a real sweet "ahhh" feeling, that I have a hard time describing, but that was palpable--and motivating, to repeat. (Look out, dust bunnies, and maybe even life clutter in general.)

I realize I've gotten something of a forced head start in getting into the 2010 mode. But having noticed the psychologic effects of decade-change ever since I was a child,  I think it's going to be very interesting to see how the 2010 Effect plays out in the culture at large. 

It's Tiffany's Turn to Get on the Bus

Most of us can connect, in some way, to the scenario of the child about to get on the schoolbus for the first time.

Put a young horse into the picture, and swap schoolhouse for a training barn, and you have the current status of what's up with Tiffany, the gray filly in the picture. She's gone from being the newborn foal of an '07 blog post, to being of riding age.

 

And while I take my hat off to all of you who start your own horses under saddle, I'm no longer within your ranks. At 50+, I am content to be a good article-starter and leave the colt-starting to a pro. So, off Miss T. goes for some professional education in that regard.

It's a little nerve-wracking, but also exciting to be at this next stage of directionalizing a horse's life, with one that I bred and raised. For me, it's a first. All my other young-horse prospects, save for Tiffany's full brother, have been ones I purchased, and he was sold before he got to riding age.

I'm told that for pre-schoolers, it's a big deal to get to pick out your own backpack with theme character. (My grandson Jacob, who's 3 tomorrow, went for Thomas the Train for his pre-school backpack.)

Any suggestions for Tiffany's theme character as she gets ready to go to St. Hilaire Ranch in Yamhill, Oregon? I know about Hannah Montana--is there also a Hannah Idaho?

You Write the Caption, Weekend Edition

I can't wait to read what you come up with for this one.

Calm Before the Storm

Yesterday afternoon did not feel like a November day. It was shirt-sleeve warm just before sunset, and so calm that not a twig was stirring.

But the three horses in the pasture--LB, Corky, and Tiffany--were not out grazing on grass that's started growing again. They were up as close to the house as they could get, clustered near the gate to the barn. They made it pretty clear that they wanted someone to let them come inside.

I'm glad I gave in, because a major "wind-icane" blasted in during the night, slamming the side of the house and threatening to lift the roof right off. That first gust must have been at 60 mph, and the big blow has been hard and steady ever since. Anything not nailed down has been blown east to the next county.

Isn't it amazing what animals know before we do?

What's Going on in This Picture

Here's a picture from a training walk with Smitty that will be best understood with some context added to it.

We're headed across a parking area, toward the barn, and Smitty's been doing an excellent job of walking straight, on a slack lead, at my speed and pace (note that we even have matching "front legs" here.)

Suddenly, over to the right of the frame, where Smitty's left ear is pointed, are some of the other horses, freshly up from the pasture. He's got his left eye rolled over in that direction too, and he's raised his head to take in a better look.

Not the prettiest picture.

But here's the great thing:  Smitty is maintaining enough emotional control to watch the distraction, and still "stick with the program."

 Yes, his attention is leaking out over to his left, and the unexpected sight of other horses ("the herd!").  Yes, he has "come out of frame" (put his head up) to deal with it. Ideally, we would not want this.

But this, of course, is a baby, so even though he's being "looky," he's keeping his cool about it, and remembering his lessons about leading. Within another stride, Smitty's head comes back down,  his ear is tipped back toward me, and we are on to the next thing. The diversion is more like a blip on the screen, and Smitty ultimately stays more mentally hooked to me than than he does to those other horses.

Yes.

This is one of my best training moments with Smitty so far. It tells me a lot about his mind, and ultimate trainability. It tells me that he's developing an ability to deal with distractions--certainly a good thing if he's ever going to go off our place and be OK with the unfamiliar.

(And somehow, I sense that he may be traveling.)

 

An H&R Visit to Highpoint Performance Horses

Here's a link to a neat story and set of photos from an H&R visit to Highpoint Performance Horses in Texas. This is the operation of Team H&R's Charlie Cole, and it packs a few surprises--like his tortoises and other exotic critters.

Charlie lives within driving distance of our Texas mag-staffers, and has let us use his facility as a photo location on several occasions.

Thanks, Charlie!

Those Other H&R Gals--They've Been Busy!

Have you had a chance lately to visit the On Staff at Horse&Rider blog? It's written by two of our other mag-staffers, Erin Sullivan Haynes and Alana Harrison, and they have been busily out and about and blogging all about it.

Just lately, they've done a photo shoot with world champion trainer Charlie Cole--visited the All American Quarter Horse Congress--attended a Breyer Creations party at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame--and dropped by the Appaloosa World Show in Ft. Worth.

Along the way, Alana modeled for the cover of EquiShopper magazine, and Erin modeled for an upcoming feature in H&R. (Modeling was removed from my resume some time ago, due to the march of years. Luckily, these two still have plenty of pulchritude to use for this purpose.)

Anyway, it's fun to read about the adventures of A&E, so pay 'em a call when you get the chance!