Safety Vests- a danger you should know about

Safety Vest - A danger you should know

How many people do you know that wear a safety vest? what about yourself?

Well here is an interesting story you should know - before you pick up that vest and put it on.

I've had the same safety vest for about 10 years now. My parents bought me one when I started eventing in Pony Club. Since then I wear it when I am training green or unpredictable horses, or when trail riding. It's always given me a sense of safety. I've worn it over top and underneath clothing, in western and in English. I find it comfortable.

Little did I know that this safety vest could actually be a safety hazard. One of my clients has the same type of safety vest as I have - the Tipperary Eventer Vest (http://www.greenhawk.net/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/scstore/p-DRC0391.html?L+scstore+msdb7587ffea35ea+1327964345 ). It is designed for event riders, riders in English saddles. You would think it is safe for western riders too - but this past week I learned it is not.

My client had been riding and decided to wear her vest. After her ride, she decided to dismount and call it a day. As she dismounted she lost her balance and tipped forward a little extra - which caught her vest on the horn. The zipper didn't budge so she was left hanging on the side of her horse.

Luckily her horse was being really quiet and stood patiently while the rider scrambled free after a few minutes of fighting with the zipper.

This safety vest wasn't designed with the Western saddle and horn in mind - there is no safety release, or double zipper to easily undo yourself if you get caught on the horn.

What makes matter worse, is that the momentum of dismounting and then being caught by the safety vest, my client actually broke her 9th rib. The very thing that was meant to protect her ribs and body, is the very thing that caused her to break a rib.

I have experienced myself splitting the zipper a few times when barrel racing - just from leaning forward and getting my vest caught on the horn.

Are safety vests still safe? I still choose to wear a safety vest, but usually when I am riding English, otherwise I am very careful about staying away from the horn.

If you know of a safety vest that is better for western riding - please share!!

Trimming a Mustang - not easy as pie

Trimming a Mustang - Not quite as easy as pie

Cimmaron is a rescued wild mustang that I have been working with over the last couple months. I have been working to tame her so that I can help her.

Cimmaron has lived a comfortable life for many years, until the last year or two when her hooves began to grow and grow without chipping off. Wild horses don't have farrier treatments - instead their hooves chip away and wear naturally because they travel over rocks and hard ground during their travels from grazing space to water and beyond.

It is when horses don't travel on hard ground to wear away their hooves that they need us to step in with a rasp and nippers to clip and file their hooves. Horses hooves are just like our nails - each is different and some of have soft, others have really hard, but if we don't keep them short, they can grow, and grow until they get super long, twisted, and even deformed at extreme lengths.

That's what happened to Cimmaron. Her hooves weren't wearing down naturally, so they just kept growing and growing until her hooves started to twist and become deformed. She had an 'emergency' trimming done in the fall. The veterinarian used a tranquilizer gun to sedate Cimmaron enough that she went to sleep for a few minutes so the farrier could quickly trim at her hooves. Her owner described it as traumatizing for Cimmrron because she was shot with the tranquilizer a couple times before it was a enough to get her quiet, and then she was flipped on her side and tied up so she couldn't injure the vet or farrier. Her hooves were so awful, that the owner considered it an 'emergency' trim to help Cimmaron because she had become lame from her hooves being so overgrown. There wasn't time to get her tamed - she needed her hooves done asap.

Getting her feet done in the fall gave me some time to get Cimmaron's trust before she needed a trim again.
On Monday January 16th, I cam prepared to trim. I had been working on poking Cimmaron's neck, touching her legs and body, and building some basic trust. I have put a halter on Cimmaron before and done some basic leading, but she tends to get more panicky with a halter on because she feels trapped - so to help keep Cimmaron relaxed I wanted to trim her hooves without needing to put a halter on and trying to hold her still.

I made huge progress with Cimmaron - now her owner can even brush her with a curry comb - but her hooves needed a trim. I knew Cimmaron wouldn't be 100% relaxed with the idea. We also didn't want to call in the vet because we didn't want Cimmaron to go through the same experience of getting shot with the tranquilizer gun.

Instead I had the owner pick up a tranquilizer needle. I didn't need Cimmarron to be sleeping, but I wanted to give her something to help her relax, to keep us both safe, so I could help her before her hooves got worse.

I arrived at the farm, with my farrier equipment with me (I am not a farrier, but I have learnt to trim my own horse's, and because Cimmaron likely wouldn't trust a different farrier I planned on trimming her hooves). I met up with owner, and took the tranquilizer.

Cimmaron was waiting for me in the large indoor shelter. I approached Cimmaron and started rubbing and pinching her neck to prepare her for getting a needle. Once I felt she was ready, I poked her with the needle - before I could inject the needle she moved away. She didn't run away or get frantic, but she twisted her neck away from the poke and took a couple steps away before I could inject. This wasn't great because now she was a bit nervous about me approaching her neck, because she was worried I would poke her again.

I decided to call the vet and ask if I could inject in any muscle. Luckily the vet was available and told me I can inject in any muscle - usually they do the neck because if it abscess's later it won't make the horse go lame, and usually it is an easy place to give. It is always good to check with a vet for any medical advice if you are unsure.

Knowing that I can give the needle in any muscle, I decided to inject Cimmaron in the rump (bum) - this is because she can twist away as easily, but mainly because she was nervous about me poking her neck, so the last thing I wanted to do is gain her trust and then poke her there again.

I prepared Cimmaron by rubbing and poking her rump, and when I was ready I quickly injected the tranquilizer. She did step away, but it was easier to keep the needle in and inject the fluid. Cimmaron wasn't horribly upset by it - she moved away, but she didn't run, and she still allowed me to rub her afterward.

I spent the next 20 minutes waiting for the tranquilizer to take effect. In the meantime I rubbed her rump and neck to make sure she still trusted me, and then I started rubbing her legs to get her comfortable with that.

Once she seemed really relaxed I brought my farrier equipment in and began with one of her front hooves. I slowly asked her to lift her hoof, and then rewarded her by putting it back down. Each time I would hold her hoof a little bit longer, until I was able to hold it up long enough to trim some of the hoof. I would put the hoof down to reward her, pick it up, trim some more and put it down.

Amazingly she was completely trusting and relaxed - she wasn't tied up at all, didn't have a halter on, and had only gotten enough tranquilzer to relax her, not completely 'knock her out'. There were a couple times when her balance would shift or she would get worried because I dropped a tool so she would walk away, and then allow me to approach her again. I know that if she really didn't trust me she was definitely able to move and get away - but she didn't.

I was able to trim all four hooves - the back hooves were the easiest because they are in the best shape. The front hooves are quite misshapen and were very difficult to trim. I did the best I could, and 2 hours later from when we began, Cimmaron had hooves that looked more like hooves.

It was a very exciting night for both me and Cimmaron's owner - Cimmaron wasn't traumatized and I was able to trim all four hooves. It just goes to show that if you give natural horsemanship a chance, you can make life better for your horse.

Cimmaron is going to need regular trims, so I will continue to work on taming her and then training her so that any farrier can do her feet and so she can get any other care she needs. I visit Cimmaron once a week, and last week I was able to pick up all four feet - no tranquilizer to help relax her. She is continuing to make huge progress in the little time we've had together (about 10 hours over the last few months).

New Farm Going Well - New Pictures posted :)

We have really been enjoying our new farm - thank you to everyone that have helped to get us to this point. We are thrilled to have this dream come true.

Now we have 9 out or 13 of our horses at home. We still have a few boarded at Chestnut Hill Stables so we have use of their indoor arena to continue lessons this winter. We look forward to bringing everyone home and starting lessons at the new facility in Pontypool.

We just posted new pictures from this past weekend - check them out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lfequestrian/sets/72157628432662965/

We just posted a bunch of new exciting events - take a look at:
http://www.lfequestrian.com/events.html

If you are wanting to register for a clinic or summer camp, contact us to reserve your spot!

We look forward to seeing everyone a the new farm - you can look out our services at:
http://www.lfequestrian.com/boarding.html

Winter Riding - Tips for you & Your Horse - and a neat video!!

Winter Riding

This past weekend was the coldest so far for this winter. As much as I wanted to bundle up indoors and avoid the super chilly conditions, I ventured outside for some winter riding and teaching.

Being active all year is important for ourselves and our horses. Being active is really good for our health – this really neat video on youtube makes a good case for being active:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo&sns=fb

So I bundled up and went to visit the horses – because what is better than spending time with horses for your ‘active time’?

We saddled up and explored around our property. We had some friends visiting so we all rode together – and even took some pictures, check them out at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lfequestrian/sets/72157628432662965/

In the chilly weather you do need to keep some precautions in mind, so remember these helpful tips:
- Take Care of your Horse: when we ride in the winter we need to remember to do some extra little things to take care of our horses.
o Quarter Sheets: If you horse is used to being blanketed, it is a chilly change to have just a saddle. Using a fleece quarter sheet over their hind quarters will help them stay warm during your warm up and cool down. Even if your horse isn’t blanketed, you may want to consider a quarter sheet to help your horse’s muscles stay warm, and to help your horse dry from any sweat.
o Coolers: using a fleece cooler over your horse while tacking up and untacking can help your horse stay warm if they are used to wearing blankets. Using a cooler to help a horse dry is important too.
o Easier Breathing: in the winter the colder air makes hard work less comfortable for the horses. Take it easier on your horse and allow more warm up and cool down time so you can make breathing easier. If your horse starts coughing, allow them to walk and catch their breath before you start going again.
- Dress warm! This may seem like a no brainer, but it can be really surprising how under prepared – and under dressed – people can be when they show up to ride in the winter. Here are my tips on dressing warm for riding – without being expensive:
o Boots: You should really get some very insulated winter boots, that are roomy enough for some wool socks. If your boots are too tight with the extra socks, you will actually make your feet colder! My winter boots are rated to -40 degrees Celcius – they have a heel, but are just winter rubber boots from Walmart. I bought them 1 size too big, so when I wear my thick socks they are perfect. I do have a pair of Mountain Horse tall winter riding boots which I will use for jumping or when I ride and need a better leg position, but for basic pleasure/winter riding I use my Walmart boots that only cost $40.
o Long Underwear: Getting some winter long underwear and long sleeve shirts is important too. This past weekend I wore 2 pairs of long underwear under my winter fleece riding pants. I wore 2 long sleeve shirts under my fleece sweater. Find clothes that are comfortable for you. I like the warm stuff from Mark’s Work Warehouse. They wick away sweat but keep you warm. Getting the basic cotton pants/shirts will work too and you can pick them up at Walmart, Superstores, and even some dollar stores. Remember to get something thin so it fits under your other pants.
o Pants: Winter riding pants can be really helpful – or fleece lined jeans. Just make sure you buy them large enough that you can fit extra layers underneath if you want to. If I am riding outside, I wear snow pants because half the battle to keeping warm is to block the wind, and snow pants do a great job of that.
o Winter jacket: You can’t skimp on a winter jacket. Make sure you get something with a zipper that can open from both ends (so you don’t accidentally split your zipper when riding) – and something short enough so it doesn’t make riding awkward.
o Winter Gloves: I don’t bother with the winter riding gloves – I don’t find any of them warm enough, so I use the Wind River ski gloves – they work perfectly because they are super warm and they have grips (since they are still a glove for sports). The winter riding gloves at most tack shops are pretty expensive, and if they are leather they aren’t machine washable. The Wind River Ski Glove (from Mark’s Work Warehouse) cost about $35-45 and are machine washable, super warm, and very gripy. I feel really comfortable riding with them.
o The Extras: Remember to also wear a hat. I also use the fleece cover for my helmet with the fleece chin strap – I find this really helpful. I also wear a scarf.

So don’t be intimidated by the cold weather – being active is a good thing… just stay smart for you and your horse… keep warm!