My Favorite H&R Issue of the Year So Far!

Here's your sneak peek of the October 09 issue of Horse & Rider, which goes on sale and out into the mail next week. This one has many good things going for it--my favorite of the year so far.

Of course, you readers will be the ultimate judges, so here are some of the items you can evaluate/comment on if you so choose:

* Founder Factors: New findings on the link between founder (laminitis), Cushing's disease, and high-carbohydrate diets for horses. I was beginning to suspect Cushing's in Miss Rose before she passed on earlier this summer and could have used the article's information had she lived.

* Avila's Insights: Bob Avila weighs in on his thoughts for what the horse industry will be like after the breeding shakedown that's been underway with a vengeance the last two or three years.

* Grooming Goods: We tapped readers and members of Team H&R for their gotta-have grooming products and tools. This is full of good tip-offs on items you might not know about--all our editors learned a thing or two from this story, and I think you will too.

* How Training Works: This is a MOST informative story, excerpted from a new book by Sean Patrick, on how horses learn, and how we as trainers can influence their learning. It takes much of the mystery out of training a horse!

* Shoot A Horse: This story asks the question, could you do it if you HAD to--and would you know how? It provides information that I happen to believe every horse owner should have on hand....because you just never know when you might be called upon to relieve suffering RIGHT NOW, in a case where no vet were available to put a horse out of its misery.

There's a lot more in this issue, so be watching for it to arrive. And of course, feel free to comment on what you see so far!

QuarterFest Scenes & Moments

Yesterday, I was too busy doing other things at QuarterFest to be able to visit the vendor booths. But I made up for that this morning, and have two shopping bags of gifts and other goodies to show for it.

It wouldn't be hard to come home from this event as a completely glitzed-out "kowgirl." Or as a well-dressed cowGUY, for that matter. Thanks to such AQHA partners as Wrangler and Justin, the latest styles in jeans, shirts, and boots are just as much a part of the shopping experience as the statement-making bling for us gals.

One of the most interesting people at QuarterFest is Sgt. Josh Forbess. He's the blue-shirted rider on the left of the shot with the two mounted cowboys. A member of our armed forces, Josh is still following the long road to recovery after surviving a fiery helicopter crash in Iraq. He was on fire when pulled from the chopper and has undergone nearly 20 operations on his head and face since then. Now an advocate for therapeutic riding the U.S. Army's Ft. Campbell,  he was part of last night's Extravaganza show that helped raised money for America's Horse Cares (which supports therapeutic riding). Josh joined us for dinner the first night we were here and shared his story with us.

Hat's off to you, man.

The Walk of Fame houses horses from the Extravaganza--one of which is Blue Jeans, the gray horse Miley Cyrus rode in her "Hannah Montana" movie. He's had a steady stream of visitors.

If there were a Walk of Fame here for humans, Bob Avila (in coral shirt, next to palomino horse) would certainly be on it. The champion trainer and member of Team H&R was just getting ready to go in the arena for a clinic session this morning when I snapped the photo of him talking to one of the many folks eager to see him here.

A Breed Event That's NOT About The Points & Ribbons

I can't give you a review of AQHA's newest event, called QuarterFest, because it hasn't happened yet. It'll take place May 1-3 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

But I can say that I hope it's successful enough to inspire the powers-that-be in other breeds to get their thinking going in a similar direction.

QuarterFest is not planned as a horse show, with points and ribbons as the enticement, but as a pride-in-belonging festival. Sort of like "Sturgis for horse people." A party, to large extent.

This party's invitees are the home-based, non-competition-driven horse lovers looking for a good time, and maybe a little horsemanship education, over an extended weekend.

The event is set up to be something like a horse expo, with clinics, demonstrations, breed exhibits, vendor shopping, and plenty of chances to mingle with and hang out with other horse people. 

But here's what seem to me to be the two brilliant twists on the concept:

* Attendees have the option to bring their own horses--of any breed--then camp on the grounds, ride in the clinics (or ride out just for fun), to get R&R time as well as social and/or learning time. (You can attend without a horse, too.)

* The event sponsor's own breed gets to be the star of the show. QuarterFest will include a two-hour, choreographed showcase of Quarter Horses as its evening entertainment.

The clinician lineup happens to include two Team H&R members, Bob Avila and Julie Goodnight. Dunno know about you guys, but I'd jump at a chance to ride with either one of them.

In any case, I'm all for the idea of creating opportunities for horse people to be engaged and active. So, tip o' the hat to AQHA for thinking this one up.