equestrian travel

Transcription

equestrian travel

April 2008 • www.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US
www.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US • April 2008 trailBLAZER
April 2008 • volume 30 - number 4
founder & publisher
Susan E. Gibson
associate editor
Terri Folks
consulting editor
Wendy Lumbert
national sales manager
Chris Maedche
administrative assistant
circulation & distribution
S. Dianne Payton
art director
Susi Que
graphic designers
Frances Munoz
Robin Strelow
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www.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US • April 2008 table of contents
April, 2008
volume 30 number four
18
Lost & Found
by Sean Patrick
Keep your horse secure on the trail and
in camp.
Control: Riding at the 22 Speed
Speed YOU Choose
by Scot Hansen
These steps will help you maintain the right speed and gait on the trail.
26
Set Up a Great Backcountry Camp
by Sean Patrick
What are all the elements of a terrific
camp?
30
Heading Out On Your First Overnight Camping Trip
by Cheryl Dudley
This guide will help novice horse campers learn the ropes.
Features
Craggy Mountains of
40 The
Hells Canyon Wilderness
by Ashley Wakeman
This rugged wilderness in the northwest will enchant trail riders
44
Riding in the Redwoods at
Highland Ranch
by Wendy Lumbert
Visit this beautiful ranch in the heart of
California wine country.
IT OUT! Discover
48 CHECK
Waterfalls on the Trail
by Ashley Wakeman
Explore these scenic trails by horseback.
50
The Maah Daah Hey Trail System
in North Dakota
by Sonja Cassella
Follow Theodore Roosevelt’s Tracks to the
Time Management: Organize Your Badlands.
Home, Barn and Trailer
Multi-sport Family Vacations
by Doreen Shumpert
by Ashley Wakeman
How to spend less time working, so Wonderful
places to vacation, with riding
you can spend more time riding.
plus lots of other fun activities. 34
See one of the Seven Wonders of the World
by horseback.
Best Trails Across America
60 The
by Terri Folks
Experience 16 great public horse camps and
trails across the country..
Road with Mr. Truck
68 Onby Kentthe Sundling
Mr. Truck answers your questions about
trucks, towing, and horse trailers.
69 Spring Trail Fashion
Trail riders apparel for Spring.
54
74
how to PREVENT HEAT STRESS IN HORSES by Wendy Lumbert
78
twelve ways to KEEP YOUR COOL by Wendy Lumbert
82
with the Bedouins
58 Riding
by Wendy Lumbert
ten ways to KEEP YOUR TRUCK FROM OVERHEATING
by Wendy Lumbert
84
savvy tips about KEEPING YOUR CANINE COOL by Wendy Lumbert
PHOTO
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8.............. Trail Bits
86
8.............. Editor’s Trail Log
challenge your brain with the SUMMER SURVIVAL CROSSWORD
by Terri Folks
14............. The Lighter Side
16............. Mail Bag
64........... Cool Stuff
66............ Trail Savers
90............ Trails End
www.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US • April 2008 T R A I L B I TS
Trail Blazers Top Ten
Trail Riding Web sites
1. Horses & Stables State by State — find
a horseback riding stable near you; trail
rides, lessons, guest ranches, outfitters,
horse training, camps & more.
http://www.horserentals.com/horses.html
2. Directory of Trail Riding Organizations
http://dir.yahoo.com/Recreation/Outdoors/
Trail_Riding/Organizations/
3. Indiana Department of Natural Resources Horse Trails — listing of parks
that require a horse tag, mileage, facilities.
www.in.gov/dnr/outdoor/trails/documents/
horsetrails.html
4. American Trail Horse Association — register your trail horse and participate in ATHA
trail riding events.
www.trailhorse.com
5. Oregon Equestrian Trails — non-profit organization whose members are dedicated
to promoting, preserving, and maintaining
horse camps and trails in Oregon.
6. MidHudson Horse Trails — an organization formed to create, maintain and promote equine trails, facilities, and activities
in the Mid-Hudson region.
www.midhudsonhorsetrails.org
7. Horse Trail Riders — a virtual trail riding
club; the site lists trail rides and places to
ride in Nebraska.
horsetrailriders.com
8. Florida Trail Rides and Trails
www.flahorse.com/trailguide/index.html
9. Missouri Equestrian Trail Riding
www.motrailblazing.com
10. Oklahoma’s horse trails and trail rides
www.oklahomahorseonline.com
READER’S SHARE
I Never Leave Home Without…
I always keep a spare bridle in my trailer,
and should probably start keeping a girth there
as well, as those are the two big tack items that
seem to be forgotten the most.
Submitted via web - Myaj
www.oregonequestriantrails.org
Haertel Joins Back
Country Horsemen
of America
Kandee Haertel has joined its staff of the
Back Country Horsemen of America as the Director of Development. Her experience as past
Executive Director of the Equestrian Lands
Conservation Resource shows that Kandee
understands what it means to be a horseback
rider as well as her way up the trail. In this
position, Kandee will assist with strengthening the national’s programs and developing
new initiatives.
“The Back Country Horsemen of America
was formed as a service organization working
in the back country and educating the users of
the back country. We are determined to protect the heritage of back country stock use by
keeping the back country trails open to saddle
and pack stock. Kandee has the knowledge
and experience to take Back Country Horsemen of America to the next developmental
step. She knows the infrastructure that is
necessary and she is adept at working with a
board of directors and the general public,” said
Mike Reedy, chair of Back Country Horsemen of
America. “As the folks who get out and do over
Editor’s Log ... down the trail
by Terri Folks
Coming up in the next issue
(May) of Trail Blazer — everything
you ever needed to know about
trucks and trailers in the Ultimate
Guide. If you are like me, I HATE
problems and really try to travel as
safely as possible. Recently I was 3
hours from home when I had a truck
axle crack upon exiting the equestrian campground. After towing my
rig to the closest town and garage,
and an expensive repair, I had a
blowout on my truck as I drove
home. Talk about Murphy’s Law!
Our Ultimate Guide will be
loaded with information on spring
truck maintenance and trailer
safety. Before you head out for
your spring rides, we’ll give you
ten tips for safe driving when
hauling horses. Backing your rig
can be very challenging. How can
you use technology and new cool
gadgets to make your backing
perfect in one try? Trail Blazer will
show you how!
Are you a woman traveling
alone with your horse? Traveling in
groups is always optimal but there
are times you must be on your own.
How do you accomplish this in the
safest manner possible? Trail Blazer
offers you information on products,
stopovers and much more.
In each issue, Trail Blazer devotes an entire section to equestrian travel. Explore the rip-roaring
trails of those feuding West Virginia
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• www.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US
April
2008
relatives, the Hatfields and the McCoys in the May Trail Blazer. What
about the mystical trails in the Four
Corners of the Southwest? Would
you like to ride trails that offer a
crescendo of color? Our popular
feature — Best Trails Across the
United States — offers information on 16 great trails and horse
camps. We’ve done the research
for you, and the photos from this
section give you a real flavor of
the landscape.
Drought stricken areas over the
last few years have caused hay to
be scarce. What feeding options
are available to keep your horse’s
digestive system on the right track
when forage is hard to locate? Trail
Blazer examines this important
subject in May.
If you are used to riding in the
“flat lands,” how do you train your
horse to navigate rocks and boulders in rough terrain? We’ll explain
how to work as a team and when to
get off and lead your horse to safety.
You can see from just some
of the articles featured in the
May issue, the Trail Blazer staff is
dedicated to bringing you the best
trail riding magazine in the world!
Tell us what you think at editor@
trailblazermagazine.us.
terri
136,000 hours of trail work in America’s back
country annually, the Back Country Horsemen
of America is very pleased to have Kandee
Haertel on its team.”
“I’m excited about the potential of the Back
Country Horsemen,” Haertel said, “There’s a
lot to look forward to. These are really good
people and I want to get all the other horsemen to understand and support the trail that
we are blazing.”
Back Country Horsemen of America is an organization composed of over 16,000 members
on the local, state, and national level. Membership is open to all people who are interested
in perpetuating recreational stock use on virtually all public lands. Contact its national office
at www.backcountryhorse.com; 888-893-5161;
PO Box 1367, Graham WA 98338-1367.
The Dream Job
Careers for People Who
Like to Trail Ride
Debra Ratcheter,
owner and operator
of Crestridge Saddlery and Tall Pine
Resort near Mountain
View, Arkansas, has
always loved horses.
Originally from Michigan, Ratcheter was
drawn to the beauty
of Arkansas and also
wanted to be close to her great-grandparents
who lived there. In her 20s, she loaded up
two trucks; one towed a U-Haul and the other,
a horse trailer with her horse, to move to her
new forever home.
“I couldn’t make a living with horses so I
have done many types of driving jobs over the
years – trucks, school busses, etc. My daughter
and I started building homes,” she said. “By
the time I was 40, we were well set enough
financially to build a cabin on the White River.
I never got to use it and so we turned it into a
rental for fishermen. The weekends we wanted
to use the cabin – we asked the caretaker to
not rent it out.”
One cabin turned into two and Ratcheter
ended up moving to the beautiful resort area
now called Twin Pines that has more than 850
miles of unmarked trails. She began offering
professionally guided horse and fishing trips.
How did she end up in the saddle-making
business? Her 1945-era saddle that fit any
horse or mule she rode rubbed a hole in her
pants. She knew it was time for a new saddle.
She ordered a custom saddle and within seven
days of riding seven hours a day, both of her
Tennessee Walking Horses were sore and the
saddle company did not offer a return policy.
She tore apart her old worn out saddle, and
using the same concept, built a new saddle.
Crestridge Saddlery was born! She now offers
her own line of 18 different types of trees.
Crestridge’s motto, “This One Fits,” is one
she lives by. From the time she made her first
saddle, she thought her business would be
2-3 saddles sold per month, but her business
quickly grew into 30 saddles sold per month.
In addition to her saddle and resort business, she also raises gaited mules.
“I am living my dream job, but it is hard
work,” Racheter says.
During high season for her guide business,
she gets to the Crestridge office at 5 a.m. By 9
a.m., she is ready to ride with her customers.
Often, she returns late in the evening and goes
back to the office until 10 p.m.
“Who can say they can ride all day
and hold down a full time job?”
she says with a big smile.
Outdoor Trivia
Fire Safety
When you go camping, fire safety should
be top at the top of your list. Before leaving
home, make sure there is not a burn ban at
your camping destination.
If you are tent camping, do not cook inside
your tent. This is very dangerous due to flammability and fumes. Build your campfires
downwind and well away from your tent or
living quarters. Be sure to fully extinguish
campfires before leaving your campsite or
going to bed. Don’t operate fuel-powered
lanterns inside your tent. Instead, use batteryoperated equipment.
Refuel lamps, heaters or stoves outside
and away from the tent or living quarters.
Extinguish and turn off all fuel lanterns before
going to sleep. Store any flammable liquids far
away from your sleeping space.
While you are cooking outdoors, use an
electric starter, cake fire starter or charcoal
starter and match to start charcoal fires. Don’t
use gasoline nor add more charcoal starter
to an existing fire. Always light the match BEFORE you turn the gas on to ignite a propane
gas grill.
Rekindle a slow fire by tucking dry kindling
under the coals and adding more charcoal.
Supervise children at all times when fires
are burning or grills are in use.
continued on next page
• August
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2007 www.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US
• April
T R A I L B I TS
Riding the Australian
Horse Highway
Envision riding through one of the world’s
most diverse landscapes and wildlife on horseback. A dream to establish a horse highway
throughout Australia came about in 2000 by
John Brodie from Toowoomba in Queensland,
who was planning to ride the National Trail.
While raising money for a Bicentennial National Trail Ride in which he was going to film
a documentary, Brodie found the National
Trail Association had been facing tough economic times and was struggling to keep the
trail open.
Brodie set his sights on developing an
Australian network of trails using the National
Trail as part of the system. The horse highway
would be created from secondary dirt roads
with horses and horse drawn vehicles with
the right of way.
Now organized as the Australian Horse
Highway and Trails Network – the Longest
Ride, Brodie’s proposal is to build the longest,
most diversified wilderness horse trail network
in the world. The horse highway will run from
The Owyhee offers
the traditional horn
with optional
thigh blocks for
added support.
This saddle provides
western design and function
without the weight of a
traditional western saddle,
a benefit to both horse
and rider. Options include an
integrated pocket in the
western-style skirt.
We offer a variety of colors in the finest
leather. Choose from four popular seat sizes
- or you can provide your own dimensions and
we’ll build the right saddle size for you.
Cairns to tropical Queensland, 6,000 kilometers to the back of Melbourne in Victoria, and
6,000 kilometers to the Great Australian Blight,
to Albany in Western Australia.
Along the way, environmentally friendly
camps will be installed offering self composting, ultra-violet treated toilets, solar-powered
barbecue facilities and hot showers, and horse
corrals with automatic horse feed dispensers.
Showers and horse feed dispensers will be
accessed by special “tokens” purchased from
Ranger Stations.
Project organizers are currently fund raising
to begin work on the trail system. For more
information, visit www.horsehighway.org.au. Fighting the Good Fight
The Shawnee Trail Conservancy
The Shawnee Trail Conservancy is a
501(c)3 organization dedicated to preserving
trails in the Shawnee National Forest. These
volunteers, some of whom live in the area, and
others who have visited the area, are willing
to join the fight with money and man-hours.
Located in southern Illinois, the Shawnee is
a favorite among trail riders. The Shawnee
has sandstone cliffs interspersed with winding
valleys, creeks and open areas. The STC has been working to keep Shawnee trails open for the last 13 years. The
group has taken administrative or legal action when indicated, such as filing official
comments and appealing Forest Service
decisions to the Regional and National levels. “While we have not always received the full
results they hoped for, it would surely have
been much worse had we not been there to be
the squeaky wheel,” said Linda Granneman,
STC president.
STC members volunteer their time for trail
maintenance. For example, Ben and Patti
Laubscher, Hayes Canyon Campground, volunteered a total of 791 hours in 2007, including 43
hours of donated power equipment use (chain
saws, etc.), and 138 hours of heavy equipment
use (tractors).
“We work with private landowners — property owners who have connecting trails to
the Shawnee trail system,” Granneman said.
“There is no other funding source for working
on these trails, so our efforts are absolutely
necessary. Several of these landowners are elderly and don’t even use the trail themselves,
but leave it open to the public, for which we are
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very thankful. Without the efforts of the STC to
improve and maintain these trails, they would
be closed to all.”
For more information visit www.shawneetrailconservancy.com
Retirement Options
for Your Trail Horse
When my wonderful trail horse,
Ginger, became
too arthritic for
me to ride anymore, I wondered
if she still had potential for another
role in life. I knew
she would just stand around as a pasture ornament at my place. When I bought a new horse,
one of my friends asked what I was going to
do with Ginger.
“If I could find a good home for her, I would
be willing to give her away,” I answered. One
of her co-workers was interested in finding a
horse. I got her phone number and gave her
a call. She and her husband owned 10 acres,
just a few miles from me. I knew Ginger would
be fine for light riding, but nothing strenuous.
These folks sounded perfect. It was a match
made in heaven. They had bad experiences
in the past with misrepresented horses. They
wanted a horse safe enough to put grandchildren on, and Ginger had been ridden by my
children many times. I knew she was exactly
what they wanted.
We signed a free lease contract – she could
not be sold or given away to anyone else; she
had to come back to me. They rode her around
their property, up and down the road, and she
carted around grandchildren for several years.
Unfortunately, she developed cancer and had
to be euthanized. The family was brokenhearted but I knew she had the best retirement
home I could have ever found for her.
Wit and Wisdom in
the Wilderness
Robin Kohns, an experienced outfitter in
Idaho, shared his expertise for those entering
the backcountry on horseback.
“I always go with rain gear and jackets and
prepare for it to be cold and wet. The weather is
just the weather, you can’t change it. If you aren’t
ready for it – it will be a miserable time,” he said.
In Idaho, weather conditions can be extreme. From 80 degrees in the daytime to a
raging snowstorm the next minute. And dark
comes quickly at 4:15 p.m. Kohns advises trail
riders to purchase quality gear to protect you
from the elements.
And of course, he says, “be prepared for
any temperature.”
Submitted by Terri Folks
points are not awarded based on horsemanship. At a Trail Trial, you won’t lose points if
you lead your horse by the bridle reins without
first taking them over his head.
Participants can ride in a group, but each
rider is judged individually, based on how
well they pilot their mount over, through or
around it. Trail Trials are popular fund raisers for riding clubs, much like a play day or
schooling show.
Submitted by Sarah Christie
The Competitive Edge
Trail Trials are basically group trail rides that
include 10-12 judged obstacles over a course
that generally takes one or two hours to complete. In other words, it’s like a longer version
of a Trail Class out on the trail, but shorter than
a CTR. Trail Trials consist of natural obstacles
that you would expect to encounter in the real
world, such as creek crossings, fallen trees,
mountain bikers, etc. Most rides offer different divisions for junior riders, novices and
experienced riders. Trail Trials are not timed,
and riders proceed at their own pace, although
judges may limit the time at any given obstacle
to keep the rest of the ride flowing smoothly.
In case you are wondering what the difference is between this and a Competitive Trail
Ride, Trial Trials are much more informal.
Unlike CTR, there is no pre-ride judging, and
The Green Equestrian
Whether you live in a drought-prone area
or not, water is an important precious commodity. A great way to conserve water is to
harvest your rainwater. Put a rain barrel on your
downspouts and use this water for irrigation.
Rain cisterns are available in different shapes
and sizes, from large underground systems to
small, freestanding ones.
How about keeping the water you have?
Leaky faucets can waste 20 gallons of water a
day. A leaking toilet can use 90,000 gallons of
water in a month. Change the washers in your
faucets or replace them with new washerless
faucets. The easiest way to start saving water is to keep your existing equipment well
maintained.
Horsekeeping Tips
Spring temperatures can bring spring
storms. Be prepared by hanging halters and
lead ropes on your stall doors to keep them
easily accessible. Purchase an ID tag for your
horse with your name, address and phone
numbers for your halter (Pet ID tags will work
just fine). Purchase paint markers in case you
need to literally write your name and phone
numbers on your horse. If you have underground storage available such as a cellar, basement or storm shelter, keep some old halters,
lead ropes and horse medicines underground.
If your barn is leveled in a tornado, you will
have items readily available to catch your
horses and offer first aid. Keep an extra copy of
your registration papers, Coggins papers, and
photos of your horse in your storage place in
case you need to show proof of ownership.
Hot Topics in the
Horse Industry
National Identification
Animal System
The National Animal Identification System
(NAIS) is a voluntary federal program intended
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to identify animals and record their movements for the purpose of disease management
and control. (According to it’s proponents.)
The ultimate goal of this identification system
is to create an effective, uniform national
animal tracing system that will help maintain
the health of U.S. herds and flocks. When fully
operational, it is hoped that it will allow animal
tracing to be completed within 48 hours of disease detection, ensuring rapid containment of
the disease, protecting our country’s animals
and allowing for continued commerce.
Currently, there is no federal law requiring
horses be registered in the NAIS program.
The Equine Species Working Group, an independent coalition of over 30 National Equine
Organizations, has recommended that the
plan not apply to the horse industry until 2010.
Opponents of NAIS are concerned that
the program will become mandatory and
will provide another layer of governmental
interference and invade the privacy of horse
owners and farmers. Horse owners would be
wise to follow this program closely, as it is
quite possible that it will effect every horse
owner in the U.S.
Three Yellows Powder
Herbal First Aid for the Trail Rider
The Old Chinese
adage “Luck is when
opportunity meets
preparedness” is one
of my favorite sayings. As an avid trail
rider and horse owner
I have embraced this
wisdom. For me preparedness comes in
the form of a small herbal first aid kit tucked
in my saddle bag.
A key item in my first aid kit is a small packet
of the Chinese herbal formula Three Yellows
Powder or San Huang San, as it is known in
Chinese. Three Yellows Powder is well known
to martial artists for its ability to treat sprains,
strains and blunt force traumas. A small packet
fits easily into your pocket or saddlebag and
is a must-have for every stable and trailer first
aid kit.
Three Yellows Powder is based on a classical
Shaolin trauma formula, composed primarily of three cooling herbs all containing the
word “Huang” or yellow in Chinese. Huang qin
(Skullcap root), Huang bai (Phellodenron bark)
and Da huang (Rhubarb) combine to reduce
inflammation, disperse congealed blood, accumulated fluids and stop bleeding without
causing stagnation. Use it anytime you would
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12 April
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use ice. Think of Three Yellows Powder as an
ice cube in a bag. Three Yellows Powder is easy
to use. Simply mix it into a spreadable paste
with water, Vaseline or even cooking oil and
apply topically.
Many sports medicine specialists recommend ice packs for pulled muscles, sprains
and contusions, and even with fractures that
haven’t broken the skin. Unfortunately ice has
its drawbacks. For one thing ice isn’t always
available when you are in the stable, or on the
trail. Secondly, ice only temporarily reduces
inflammation. New research has show that
prolonged use of ice actually increases the
stagnation of blood and fluids, causes contraction of muscles and sinews, and can actually
slow healing.
Appropriate first aid management undertaken at the time of injury helps reduce the
pain and discomfort caused by damaged
tissue and inflammation, prevents further
injury, minimizes scar tissue formation, and
will ultimately speed up recovery.
Traditional uses of formulas like Three Yellows Powder go back to the wars and conflicts
of ancient China, evolving out of triage on the
battlefield. Battlefield medicine consisted of
powders, liniments and salves for stopping,
bleeding, preventing infections and healing
wounds.
The Shaolin monastery - a group of warriors,
monks, and doctors were the trusted preservers of these traditions. Remember David Carradine as “Kuai Chang Caine,” (Grasshopper) in
the Kung Fu television series from the 1970’s?
He was a Shaolin monk. Some of the oldest
writings from the Shaolin monastery include
secret formulas designed to treat all manner
of injuries from swords, arrows, blows, fractures
and sprains. Known as die da formulations, or
injury due to fall and strike, these prescriptions
predate what we now call Traditional Chinese
Medicine (TCM). These time-tested formulas
and concepts now directly benefit modern
horses and riders.
Ace is a modern horse who uses Three Yellows Powder. Recently, Ace and his rider took
a nasty spill during an endurance race. Ace
bruised his stifle and was tender and hot to
the touch that evening. A paste made of Three
Yellows Powder was applied to the entire area
and by morning all signs of heat and tenderness were resolved. Ace and his owner utilize
Chinese herbal formulas as part of their regular
training program.
Luckily, Chinese formulas like Three Yellows Powder can prepare us for the inevitable
kicks, bites, falls, sprains and strains that are a
part of everyday horse ownership. TB
By Gloria Garland L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. & CH.
www.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US • April 2008 13
the lighter side of the trail
by
angie mcghee
Illustration by
Jean abernethy
A
ll my life my mom has had one major
lament: “I just wish you had something
to show for all that money you’ve spent
on horses.” My mom, on the other hand, has
lots of stuff to show for her money. I’m talking
mountains of stuff! She has so much stuff to
show for her money that she’s looking for a
larger house at age 75.
14 April 2008 • www.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US
I guess we all want a little “something
to show” for our time on this earth. After
all, that’s how we keep score isn’t it? When
you play Monopoly the one with the most
houses and money at the end of the game
is declared the winner. Nobody cared that
my personal goal was to get to be the Scotty
dog and buy all the Railroads. They told me
that I had to put away the game, because
I “lost”. Fortunately for me, I kind of liked
putting away the game and I really hated
buying those houses, so who’s to say I “lost”?
This sort of logic was probably an accurate
predictor of what sort of endurance competitor I would later become.
The problem with counting the money
(and stuff) at the end of your life to see who
won, is that you’re never around to enjoy
the victory. You may know you’re ahead,
but third quarter leads aren’t that satisfying,
because we all know “It ain’t over till the
buzzer blows.” It’s also a difficult job for the
scorekeepers. Do you only count resale value or original purchase price? If one person
keeps an elderly uncle’s oil painting, which
seemed ugly and worthless at the time, but
turns out to be worth millions, (though still
ugly), do they beat the person with a 3,500
square foot house that was filled with top
of the line (at the time they bought them)
furniture and appliances… even if most of
it is on its way to the landfill soon after the
counting?
I’ve helped “count the points” at the end
of a few people’s games and decided that no
matter how great the stuff seemed to you at
the time you bought it, it’s a rare item that
is worth having when you’re ready to pass
it on. Since my instinctive urge is to enjoy
things today, use them up and wear them
out; I hadn’t given much thought to what
sort of things were permanent. However, my
mom’s comments got me thinking about it.
This inspired me to set out on a quest to find
what would really last; something that would
remind others that I had existed, because
I’d like to leave something behind that my
descendents could remember me by.
My mom is very practical; she thinks I
should invest in real estate. “You could have
paid for a rental house by now,” she says.
So, is a house something that will “last”?
Not really. I see what’s left of houses all the
time when I’m riding through the woods.
One leak in the roof and the rot sets in. A
beam rots through, the roof collapses, and in
what seems like no time at all the vines have
pulled down the walls and only the stone
chimney remains. Houses don’t last as long
as I want my memory to last. On the other
hand, daffodils do. I’ve ridden by spots in
the woods where daffodils that look as new
as the year they were planted come up with
the first hint of spring and surround what
used to be someone’s yard. All that’s left of
the house is the outline of the foundation,
but the daffodils are in excellent condition.
I contemplate these things as I ride, and
figure it’s got to mean something… probably
something about the futility of hard work.
What about wealth? Should we attempt
to build a fortune to pass on so our kids will
never know what it feels like to do an honest
day’s work? I think the Paris Hiltons of the
world have answered that question. So how
do we avoid accidentally making too much
money and ruining our offspring’s lives? We
must know how to recognize when we have
made “enough” money, then have the self
control to stop and go riding.
My brother is wealthy. He is a very hard
worker and loves every minute of it. Even his
recreational activities make money. Making
more money is his profession and his hobby.
If you asked him how much money he wants
to make the answer would be “more”. One
day he commented to me, “Do you ever
think about how much money you could
have made if you’d been doing something
where you got paid instead of riding?”
This seemed like a ridiculous question. I
hadn’t missed any meals and always paid
my bills, so I obviously hadn’t needed any
more money. Personally, I never understood
why he continued to work after he had covered all his financial commitments. To me
that was like continuing to drink when you
weren’t thirsty any more. I simply answered
his question with a question. “Have you ever
considered how many interesting things
you could have seen and done if you had
been riding with me instead of making more
money?”
I wonder how my brother and I will be
remembered by later generations. I know
from quizzing my grandmother about my
ancestors that most people do well to get
a one-word summary of their life. He was a
“teacher,” “fiddler,” or “tough,” was about all
she bothered to tell me when I asked about
a person on the family tree. But there were
a few she’d elaborate on simply because
there was a good story attached. Her favorite was my great-great-grandfather who
was murdered. The story went that he was
bragging and flashing a big wad of money
and the preacher’s son murdered him for
it. The money turned out to be Confederate
and worthless. So I suppose: “Be stupid and
die.” That’s one way to leave a legacy. There
were others my folks told me about; Aunt
Bird, who was born premature and slept in
a shoebox for a crib; my grandmother who
was so strong she could hold a chair at arm’s
length longer than any of the teenaged boys;
the second cousin who bought a mountain
and mounted huge theater speakers on the
roof of his cabin so he could listen to the
“Sons of the Pioneers” while he rode his
So, what do I have to
show for my life? What
have I done with the
money I made, with the
job that I got, with the
education I’ve been given?
horse through the woods. All these people
are referred to often in family conversations. What I gather from this is: be dumber,
tougher, or stronger than people expect, or
do what makes you happy whether it’s normal or not, and there will be something to
show for your life… a good story. At least in
my family, the farther you distanced yourself
from normal the more likely you were to be
remembered.
So, what do I have to show for my life?
What have I done with the money I made,
with the job that I got, with the education
I’ve been given? I got to thinking about
it and realized that most of it bought me
nothing but memories… and maybe some
character. I guess most of the memories are
about getting my character. As a matter of
fact, looking back at my riding career, I realize I have acquired so much character that
if there was a character bank my balance
would be staggering. I would love to be able
to leave some of it to others who haven’t had
the opportunity to go through some of the
things I’ve survived.
I think I’ve spent my money well. The
lack of tangible possessions is a blessing.
My mom and dad raised six children on my
dad’s one paycheck. Still, the stuff that she’s
got left to show for it is crowding them out
of their house. Considering we have only
two children and we have two paychecks,
it’s terribly lucky for me that I have my
horses to protect me from a much worse
fate. They take money that would clutter
up my life with possessions, and through
shoeing, hay, grain, vet bills, entry fees and
fuel spent going to rides, manage to make it
disappear into thin air. No need for storage
or maintenance, it’s gone for good!
What else should I have done with that
money? Buy 277 toaster ovens, 22 microwaves, 17 refrigerators, and dozens of
washer & dryer combinations? How many
bedroom suits and matching color-coordinated comforters can one person handle?
I’ve already got stereos, and computers everywhere, should I have bought even more?
There would be so much stuff we’d have to
add more rooms onto the house and those
would be full too. I can just see me now, I’d
be one of those old women whose house
has a tiny little path winding between her
mounds of possessions. It gives me chills
thinking about it. Thank goodness for the
horses!
So, instead of lots of material junk to sort
out when I go, I’m leaving my grandchildren
an eccentric grandma they reminisce about.
They can look up my AERC record if they
need to prove the stories are true. I can
write down enough interesting anecdotes
from those miles to let each descendent
pick a favorite for their own. As for my other
possessions, if I time things just right, the
money should be spent, the hay should all
be eaten, the horse should die, the saddle
should wear out, and I should expire pretty
much simultaneously. If handled properly
we should all compost very well, taking up
precious little landfill space. If someone
has to sum up my life very briefly I have
no doubt they’ll say, “She rode horses…
a lot.” I leave that along with a very large
mountain of rich manure behind the barn,
which I hope my family will scatter around
some daffodils. TB
Angie and her husband, Bill,
definitely live their lives on the
“lighter side” of the trail in
Wildwood, Georgia. Angie’s
Book:” The Lighter Side of
Endurance,” a collection of
her articles is available at
www.lightersideofendurance.
com
Hi Trail Blazer,
I got my first issue and I could not stop till I had gone thru the entire
issue! I am especially excited about your travel section, the “geology”
article in the last issue was a great idea to inspire me to realize I can
choose places to ride around the country that would have special features. How about an article on places with really cool waterfalls?
Submitted by Rochelle Mack, Oregon
Rochelle, we’re a stride ahead of you! This issue has a great article about
places to ride with waterfalls. Enjoy and let us know if you find some waterfalls
you want to share with our readers. TB
Dear Trail Blazer staff,
I’ve heard of people reading your mail, but you people are reading my mind! In the past two weeks I made the decision to sell my
property, take my horses and cats and hit the road. Yep, it may take
me a year to get things in order BUT today I opened the new issue of
Trail Blazer (January 2008) and there on page 30 you wrote my story!
No it’s not me, but it’s identical. Even the places she’s ridden are
where I’ve told my friends that I’m going. Is it possible to send this on
to Karen Forbes – I’d love to be in touch with her and if she’s out this
way... Anyway, I’m in Colville, Washington (NE corner above Spokane).
Thanks for a great magazine.
Submitted via the web - Donna Higgins
Donna, yes, we would be happy to forward your message to Karen. We think
she is living the dream life – something we as trail riders would all love to do!
We’ve had several e-mails from people who want to meet Karen and learn
how to retire on the road. This is obviously a very popular subject. We work
very hard at “reading your mind” to keep our magazine on point for exactly
what our readers want to learn. TB
August
15, •2007
16 April
2008
Dear Editor,
I am keeping all of your Ultimate Guide series in a binder and using
it as a resource for myself and for my friends. Your articles about tack
in the January 2008 issue were the best I have ever read! I wish you
would have more about what saddles would be the best for us and not
just general info, just a thought. Submitted by Mark Sumother, Illinois
Mark, thanks for the praise, we agree that UG series this year is valuable
info to keep! We believe it is best to give our readers the info and let you
make up your own mind . There are so many unique styles to choose,
hopefully the articles gives you the tools to know what would work best for
your particular horse. TB
We want to hear from you! Email your comments to:
editor@trailblazermagazine.us
Or mail them to:
Letters to the Editor Trail Blazer Magazine
4241 N. Covina Circle • Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
How to keep your horse secure on the
trail and find him if he escapes.
by Sean Patrick
photo by Sally Schindle
I usually enjoy watching horses run in a herd across a picturesque skyline while the sun fades slowly
away, except for one memorable time. It was moments before sunset as we stood beside the campfire,
when suddenly the sound of pounding hooves could be heard across the still lake. The horses were
supposed to be tucked away in an alpine meadow, contentedly munching on tall grass and happy
with each others company. Due to the time of day, distance from camp, and their direction of travel,
there was nothing that we could do until morning. Unless our mounts decided to turn back on their
own, which did not happen, they were heading for home, tails in the air and picking up speed.
During all my guiding years in British Columbia, my horses only left for home without me a few
times. It was those hard lessons that taught me the most. I realized the importance of keeping them
safe, secure and content in order to keep this situation from ever happening again.
Photo by Robbin Schindele
Personal Experience
Every situation is different, and there are
always exceptions to the rule, but I can share
with you what worked for me. On an averagesized mountain pack trip at Tsylos Park Lodge,
we would use about 18 horses. These horses
were accustomed to the terrain and routine
of our trips. They knew camp, meaning, these
were established temporary homes for them,
and they were comfortable staying there
overnight. Our horses were also a true herd.
They were ranged and worked together their
entire lives. We used this herd instinct to our
advantage a lot.
With a trip this size we would normally
“stake out” 12 horses at night. We would
hobble three, and allow three to be loose.
We would always put a bell on all of our free
ranging horses. We would only hobble horses
that were experienced grazing at night with
hobbles on. We knew these horses would be
safe and sound once left alone. We usually
only allowed our younger stock to be free that
may not be one hundred percent on a stake
rope yet, or a horse that was known to be very
herdbound and not a high risk for going home
on his own.
We tended to stake out all of the mares,
new horses, and any group leaders that may
have the bright idea of going on a road trip...
usually encouraging some of the others to tag
along. If the group size was smaller, we would
still stake out ten to twelve horses. We would
try to maximize the amount staked out, without overgrazing or running out of good stake
locations.
Usually at dinner time, we would take all of
our horses back to the meadow to be staked
out, with the exception of the hobbled and
loose horses. We would use a 5/8 inch doublebraided nylon rope about forty feet long. This
would be secured to the horse’s web nylon
halter under the chin with a bowline knot, and
attached to the stake with another bowline
knot, with a loose loop around the stake. A
tight knot usually resulted in more twisting of
the rope. Since the pressure on the rope would
come along the ground, this type of fastening
would keep the loop on the eighteen inch
wooden stake just fine.
After dinner, we would attach bells to the
loose horses and let them go. They would
then run to their friends in the meadow and
graze with them. If we let them go too early,
they would fill up on grass and be looking for
something to do before nightfall.
Before it was dark, we would head to the
meadow and check on ropes to make sure
that nobody was tangled or twisted. Since the
horses spent so much time on ropes, the lines
were usually straight, and the horses were
relaxed and munching away.
Have your horses and mules branded for quick identification.
Photo by Robbin Schindele
Since we were moving camp on a daily
basis, we would stop several times a day at a
meadow and allow the horses to have a good
amount of time to eat. We would also offer them
water at every safe creek and lake. We were
always looking for a place to graze. Keeping
our mounts happy and full was important for
many reasons. We used these times to take a
break ourselves; eat lunch, pour some coffee,
and take in the views.
Since our camps were not used by others, we
did not run the risk of overgrazing the meadows, as we moved our stake areas around. As
long as the horses were well fed and content,
they would not be inclined to head home.
We would offer grain to our horses at dinner,
prior to being staked out, and again at breakfast, always in camp where they were tied up
securely for saddling and packing. This would
also help bring in the loose horses that wanted
to bypass the group and head out early to the
next satellite camp.
Securing Your Horse
There are different ways to keep your horse
confined. Staking out on long ropes is a common one. We tie the rope to the horse’s nylon
web halter. A thin rope halter can be dangerous
for the horse if he gets caught up in the bush.
I knew of other outfitters that would tie the
rope to one of the horse’s front legs in order
to keep him in the stake circle. I am not sure
which is best. We never had any problems
using the halter method, and therefore did
not see any reason to change. It is important
to train your horses to be broke to ropes and
using a long line in such a fashion. Long lines
can be dangerous, as you can severely rope
burn your horse’s legs if they get caught up in
the line. Make sure to work on this at home
with qualified help before trying it for the first
time on the trail.
The best option would be to have a fencedin paddock or field. This was not an option in
the backcountry where we lived, but it may
be in some areas that have holding pens for
cattle in the high country. There is also the option of packing in an electric fence, powered
by a 12-volt battery and a solar panel. I have
never been able to use one, but think that it
would work well for a few horses that respected
this electric line at home first. A large group
Stake your horses out to graze using
hobbles. Practice at home first!
may blow right through a small line of electric
fencing.
If you have access to hay during your trip,
then you have it made. Whether you pack it
in or have road access, all you need is a good
secure tree, trailer or high line. If you do not
have a lot of hay or cubes to go around, you
can supplement the grass each day with your
feed from home.
Feeding Your Horse
Nose bags that slip over the poll of your
horse’s head are a great way to feed grain on
the trail. Buckets are impractical, unless you
have vehicle support. These small nylon bags
fit easily into your saddle bag and keep the
grain from spilling and picking up dirt. If you
are going to pack in grains, make sure to look
at the weight-to-calorie ratio. It’s best to feed
a high calorie feed that gives the most bang
for the weight. Usually feeds that are high in
fat content are best.
It is not good practice to tie a horse alongside a river or lake, for environmental reasons.
Since we want to protect the integrity of the
backcountry, work hard to take your horse to
the watering holes as often as you can without
tying along the water source. This is especially
important when you are feeding dry hays or
grains. Dehydration can set in quickly with long
work days, as well as impaction colic, which can
be caused by dry feeds.
Halters
I love rope halters. I think that they are the
best halter for training and everyday handling.
I also realize that they can be dangerous,
We were always looking for a place to graze. Keeping our
mounts happy and full was important for many reasons. We
used these times to take a break ourselves; eat lunch, pour
some coffee, and take in the views.
Photo by Rob Adams.
Professional horseman
Sean Patrick trains fulltime in Florida with his
wife Alisha. Sean’s first
book “The Voice of the
Modern Horse Trainer” is
due for release by Trafalgar Square Publishing in 2008. Visit Sean on
the web at www.seanpatricktraining.com His
favorite guilty pleasure food is chocolate chip
cookies straight from the oven.
This horse is secured on the picket
line with a quick release knot.
Photo by Rob Adams.
especially the thin, firm rope halters. When
staking horses out at night, we would use a
good quality nylon halter without the clip on
the left cheek (they tend to break if pulled on
at this spot). We would also leave this halter on
during the day and simply put our bridle setup
on over top. The lead rope would be fastened
to the saddle horn and used whenever we
would stop to rest or graze our horses.
I see nothing wrong with using a rope halter
under the bridle. I would just avoid using one
with horses unattended, where they could hurt
themselves. I also like having my bridle and
halter separate. When there is a bridle/halter
combo setup, if one breaks, so does the other.
Always carry spare leather lacing and a good
knife for tack repairs on the trail.
Finding Your Horse
Bell your loose horses. Not only can you
hear them coming into camp at night, but you
can find them in the bush if they are out of
sight. A bell can be a big time saver when you
are looking for a lost horse.
Our horses all had brands on them, as they
were on open range much of the time, and that
was law. This would help us identify the bay
horse dragging the forty foot line with a bell
on from the next one. If you are riding in areas
that are foreign to both you and your horse,
and you worry about him getting truly lost, then
microchips or dog tags might be useful. I know
that in areas such as Florida, that run the risk
of hurricanes, this is common practice.
Make sure to know the laws of the land and
ask for local advice when trail riding into new
territory. Practice at home first with your ropes,
bells, hay cubes and nose bags. You should
not try too many new things on the trail in new
country - surprises are best at home. Horses do
leave camp, and they will leave alone. I have
walked out of camp a few times, with my saddle
perched on top of a pack horse. tb
B
efore we discuss how to set
and adjust your horse’s speed,
it’s helpful to understand
what things have an affect on them.
There are seven main items that
radically affect a horse’s speed.
First, speed is determined by genetics.
No matter how hard you try to make it happen - a top Quarter Horse isn’t too likely to
outrun a top Thoroughbred in a mile-long
race.
Second is the physical limitations of a
horse, which are determined both by genetics, and overall health. If a horse has poor
conformation, or if a horse has any physical
injuries (past or present), they can certainly
affect his speed.
The third issue is their psychological and
emotional issues. If a horse is a bundle of
nerves and jumps at everything, he is generally apt to be one who will run very hard
once he gets started. On the other hand, a
horse suffering from adrenal burnout may
not want to run at all.
Fourth is the weather. For a horse the
weather is much more of an issue than it is
to humans. While most humans observe the
weather, a horse feels the weather. A cold
snap can affect your horse’s speed, and so
can a hot spell.
Fifth on our list is tack. If a horse has an
ill-fitting saddle it will definitely affect his
ability to perform. Saddles that dig into the
back, pinch the shoulder, bridge along the
spine, or create uneven weight distribution,
can all slow down a horse. In some cases
they may make them run harder from the
fear of pain. A pinching saddle at the walk
may be annoying and shorten the stride of
a horse by a small amount, but at the gallop
it can downright hurt them and make then
not want to run at all.
Sixth is feed. Great nutrition makes a
great horse. Poor nutrition makes a poor
horse. Without proper nutrition the muscles,
brain, and hormones do not work to full capacity. (The same is true in humans). Good
hay and vitamins are the most important
thing to feed, and grain is the least important
thing. I am well aware of the volume of grain
products sold in the U.S., and the amount
of grain that is fed to performance horses.
I am also well aware of the physical issues
and behavior issues many of those horses
have. The average backyard trail horse
needs almost no grain.
Seventh is the human riding on top of
the horse. Finally, we get to you. Of all of
the above, this is the one that is easiest to
change…well sort of.
Methods That Help You Control Your Horse
Out of all of the above there are really
only a handful of things you can do to help
your horse rate his speed.
Since you can not guarantee genetics,
can only change physical conformation and
mental issues slightly, and have no control
over the weather, you need to focus on the
other four issues that you can control.
Starting with number two; having a horse
seen by a professional is the first step to assure that a horse is healthy for a fast gallop.
Whether a horse needs to be slowed down,
or sped up, making sure they are healthy is
the first step.
Next is number five; checking their tack.
Make sure the bit, saddle pad and saddle
all fit correctly.
Number six – check your feed protocols.
If a horse is eating two scoops of sweet feed
a day, or even two large scoops of any grain,
and not being worked daily, he is in trouble.
If your horse is always hyper, get rid of the
grain, and if your horse is always slow, get
rid of the grain. I am sure you are aware of
the change in children and adults by feeding
Work with your
horse to get a
controlled
fast gallop.
them too much sugar - first hyper-activity
and then an energy crash. Remember that
feed changes take time to take effect.
Finally we get to number seven; you the
rider. Assuming that all other issues are out
of the way, then the rider is the final piece
to the puzzle. I give clinics all over the
United States and I see one very constant
issue between horse and rider; they are
out of sync.
When I see someone riding a horse and
their legs have to keep tapping the horse to
keep it moving, or the rider has to use spurs
to motivate their horse, then I know they are
out of sync with one another. Conversely
when I see a rider with a massive bit, twisted
wire snaffle, long shank hackamore, and a
horse that doesn’t want to stop, I know they
too are out of sync.
When riding a horse it is important that
our hips and body remain flexible and
free and in sync with the movement of the
horse. It is easier to understand if we think
of this as a speed determined by numbers.
If a horse is walking at 3mph, but a rider’s
body is moving at 2mph, then
the two are out of sync. When
a rider asks a horse to walk at
3mph but doesn’t allow his own
body to move in time with the
horse then the horse feels like
the brake is on and slows down.
Since many riders have never
been in sync with their horse
they do not understand that it
is their body telling the horse
to slow down, and they assume that the
horse needs to be cued again to keep moving because the horse is slowing down on
his own. Before long the rider is constantly
“bumping” the horse with legs or spurs, and
as soon as they stop “bumping” the horse it
slows or stops. For most riders this convinces them that the horse they are riding is dull
and needs to be prodded along. And until
a rider changes his body’s rhythm to match
a horse’s rhythm it will always be so. Ironi-
cally the same is true for a horse that goes
fast. The fact that a rider has never been in
sync with his horse makes it impossible for
that horse to understand a cue by the rider’s
body to slow him down.
Before a rider works on slowing their body
down to stop a horse they first must learn
to move with a horse. It isn’t the stop that
most riders need to work on, it is the go.
Since most riders are out of sync with their
horse to begin with, getting further out of
sync doesn’t change a horse’s speed. Simply
put, until a horse feels a rider get in sync
with them, they have nothing to compare
that feeling with. While most people would
say they ride in sync with their horse, quite
the opposite is true.
The easiest way to get in sync with a horse
is to ride at the walk and relax your body and
concentrate on even breathing. Breathe in at
a normal pace, and exhale the same way. As
you ride try to breathe a little deeper, and
exhale a little longer. Let your hips, not your
waist, follow the horse. Do not try to force
the horse to go faster by pumping your hips,
or swaying your body forward and back. Do
not sway from side to side. Concentrate on
the hips moving and on your breathing. Ideally you should feel your hips moving right
The white towel test is
always a good indicator to
check saddle fit. Put a white
towel directly under your
saddle and ride your horse
for at least 30 minutes
enough to work up a sweat.
Check the towel to see if
the dirt coverage is even.
and left in time with the horse’s right and
left hind feet. Once you have an even walk
going (regardless of the speed), think about
slowing your hips and wanting to sit still. As
you do this briefly hold your breath for just
one step, as this helps stop your body. Now
exhale slowly and see if your horse slows
down. At this point do not expect the horse
to stop. The horse is just beginning to learn
the new feel. If the horse slows but keeps
walking, start riding in time with the horse
again and concentrate on your breathing
and relaxation. Allow the horse to go twenty
steps and then think about slowing again.
If your horse slows his pace, even a little,
then both of you are on the right track. If he
doesn’t stop after three to five steps, start
riding again at the pace you were going before and you will feel him speed up. Follow
that rhythm and after another twenty steps
try asking for him to slow again. This time as
he slows, relax your stop cue and ride at the
new slower pace. Let him go about ten steps
and try it again. There is a good chance that
your horse will stop.
The ironic thing is this; you probably
won’t know exactly what you did to cause
it. In my clinics when someone gets this the
first time they suddenly smile, look around,
and then sit there stunned. Most can’t
believe that the horse would stop without
grabbing the reins. For horses that have a
tough time with this, it is OK to support them
by using the reins a little to help get the final
stop. But each time you try to do the stop,
try to use less rein and more of your body.
The motion is subtle and you can not expect
your horse to “slam” to a stop on his second
or third try. This is a learned skill. Do not try
to overuse your body by forcing yourself to
sit still as this only makes the horse go faster.
Quite honestly this is the same as walking,
you walk and naturally slow your body and
legs, you don’t tense every muscle in your
body and try to force yourself to a stop.
Once you have your horse stopping
pretty well at the walk, you can try it from
the trot. Do not try to stop from a trot in
“one move” when teaching this. Move up
to the trot and get in rhythm, then slow the
rhythm and feel the horse slow, then think
walk. Slow your body to a walk and the horse
will follow- ride a few steps in the walk and
then apply the stop cue by using your body.
Continue to practice and you will soon feel
that you can trot fast, slow the trot with your
body and then think stop and sit down, and
your horse will try and follow you down to
the walk and then the stop. Later you can
work from the canter. Do not try to stop
the horse hard “on a dime”. Simply canter
slowly, slow to the trot, then the walk and
then the stop. In no time you will be able
to stop from the canter.
Now when you ride and your horse starts
to walk fast you can control much of his
movement by keeping your body in a slower
walk rhythm. Naturally the horse will try and
do what he wants, but he will quickly figure
out that it is a lot of work, and will soon come
back to your pace. TB
Scot is a retired mounted
police officer who trained
officers and horses, purchased remounts, and
worked the streets. He
produced the award winning video, “Self Defense
for Trail Riders.” He performs his “Self Defense
for Trail Riders” and “Making of a Police Horse”
demonstrations at Horse Expos throughout the
nation. Read more about Scot’s products and clinics
at www.HorseThink.com .
For a horse, the weather
is much more of an issue
than it is to humans.
While most humans
observe the weather, a
horse feels the weather.
A cold snap can affect
your horse’s speed, and
so can a hot spell.
Photo by Robbin Schnidele
The perfect camp is usually dependent on one thing...location. Since a great camp needs
food for the horses, drinking water, tent sites, shelter, fire wood, and of course a stunning view,
where you decide to set up is very important. Camp chores can be fun, but you probably do
not want to overexert yourself too much, or spend all your time looking for firewood. Proper
equipment is definitely a factor, and there are some items you really want to bring along. In
order to have the best camp possible, it’s best to review all the basics before you set off.
Sleeping Arrangements
Choose a site that has ample room for the amount of tents and
equipment you have. Your tents should be on flat, high ground.
Don’t place them too close to each other, or near the fire. Once you
arrive in camp, set them up during daylight and place your duffel
bag inside to keep the tent secured if there is wind. I like to open
my sleeping bag up and throw it over the tent to air out and allow
the fill to expand from getting squashed the previous night.
Since you will have horses walking to and from camp, keep the
tents and their anchor strings away from horse trails and main pathways. With horse packing, the delicate lightweight tents meant for
hiking are not necessary - they are nice to have, but the graphite
rods will break. When packing horses with tight rope, such breakables do not survive. I recommend a 2-3 person dome tent at a
reasonable price.
High-country camping can be downright cold at night, so you will
want a good sleeping bag. There are many good bags to choose from
now. I use a synthetic mummy bag that is extra long. I also use an
extra long thermarest mattress, but horse blankets can make a nice
bed as well. If you do not have a small camp pillow, just bring a pillow
case and fill it each night with a sweater or extra clothing.
Water
Be sure to bring a reliable water filter if you will be getting your water
from any backcountry steam or lake.
You will need water
for both drinking and
washing. Hauling water
by hand for even a few
hundred yards can be
difficult in mountainous
terrain. Try setting up
your camp close to a
spring, creek, or small
lake. We would keep two
tin buckets always full in
camp with wash water, as well as a few juices mixed up. There are
canvas or nylon water containers that are easily found at an outfitter/camping store that are lightweight and easy to pack. If the water
source that you are camped near is not good for drinking, make sure
to filter, treat, or boil as needed. If you are lucky, you will be camping
near a spring or a glacial creek that is crystal clear and free of any
impurities. Check with locals to find out which water sources are good
and which ones are not.
(Practice Leave No Trace
Camping Principles: do
not camp with horses next
to a water source.)
Wood & Fire
Your campfire should
be safe and functional. If
you are not using an established pit, make sure
Your tents should be on flat,
to prepare an area that is
high ground.
safe and will not spread
Photo
by Robbin Schindele.
or start an unwanted fire.
Clear any and all grasses
and dry matter away from the pit area, and line with stones. Locate
your pit away from overhanging limbs or tarps. Double check with
local authorities on possible fire bans in the area.
I like to carry a small 55cc Husquvarna chainsaw with a 16” bar. This
will fit into a pannier bag on a pack horse with ease and makes life
a lot easier in camp. I would cut dead trees into 18 inch lengths and
pack them back to camp with a horse. I would then chop them with
a camp axe, (carried on a saddle), into 2x2 inch pieces. This size is
ideal for a cooking fire, as they are easy to handle and slip under the
metal grate. With so much work in getting good dry cooking wood, I
A tarp over your camping area can keep your saddles,
bridles, camping gear and YOU dry!
never use this wood for the evening fire. Once the cooking was
complete, we would gather loose limbs and junk wood to burn.
I would put mixed gas into a one quart containers with plastic
wrap under the lid. I then double bagged them in Ziplocs to ensure
that no fuel escaped the bags. Remember to carry extra chainsaw
wrenches with you in your saddle bags.
I like to have fire-starting sticks available to me, and place them
in Ziplocs in the kitchen supplies, as well as in my saddle bags. I
don’t use them if I don’t have to, but know that they’re there when
in a rush or having issues with weather.
Horses & Feed
A good camp location is close to a meadow where your horses
can graze with ample grass. Keep plenty of good rope on hand. I
like to have all of my ropes in 40’ lengths. This is an ideal length
for staking them out
as well as the perfect
length for the type of
packing hitches we
use. I would cut 5/8
inch double nylon
braided rope for the
Crest Ridge Saddlery has
stake ropes and ½
always been focused on
inch rope for the pack
providing you a hand
horses. This way, I
made, well built saddle
could use the other
that not only fits the
size if I needed to. I
horse but the rider as well
was always told that
without putting a huge
you could tell the
dent in your pocketbook.
wealth of an outfitter
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If you have a camp
located near timber,
then you have the ability to string rope between two trees. Tie the
rope about 12-16 feet above ground. Place your large tarp over the
rope so it is in two halves. Using a clover hitch knot on all four corners,
tie them down to anchor trees so that the tarp becomes tight. Taking
a 12-16 foot wood pole with a fork in one end, push the center of the
center rope upward until the bottom of the pole is on the ground,
standing perfectly upright. If you place a horse blanket above the
center line between the pole and the tarp, you will avoid any tears
in the material. This will give you an area to keep your kitchen and
sitting area out of the rain. Your fire should not be directly under the
tarp, but can be next to it. Be careful not to melt your tarp!
Organize your camp so that all of your saddles, pads, bridles and
chaps are together in one location, then tarp them as a whole. In
the high country always
keep your camp very
well organized, so you
can easily do this in
case of sudden rain. It
makes it easy to cover
your equipment, and
also to find it in the
morning when the rain
has turned into cold
white stuff.
When it is raining,
Don’t leave home without a quality
you must have shelter,
multi-tool
which can get you out of
or you and your camptrouble
in tricky situations.
ing party will be miserable. Be prepared with
a few good tarps, good
rope, and the knowledge how to set up a roof quickly.
I always ride in cowboy boots, but have a pair of rubber bottom
high top packer boots in my duffel bag. It’s best to have a heavy rain
jacket and pant set rolled and tied onto your saddle for inclement
weather.
Predators
In the true backcountry, most predators are pretty good about
staying away from the commotion in camp. I always traveled with two
dogs. If you own a horse, you probably own dogs. Get them used to
trail riding, and you’ll have the perfect helpers for predator detection and control.
I always packed a saddle gun, and luckily never had to use it. It
gave me a lot of extra rest though. With my dogs warning me of a curious bear, and then usually taking care of the chasing, I just drifted
back off into sleep.
There are other products on the market that make some pretty
good noises, such as
“bear bangers.” I have
never used one, but
it seems to be similar
to a fire cracker, and
it should work. The
jury is still out on bear
spray - we always had
it on hand, and it even
worked a few times. But,
I would rather have my
dogs with me than rely
Invest in quality sleeping bags to
on a spray.
keep you comfortable in camp.
Don’t Leave Home Without It
Your basic equipment is important. I always carry a Leatherman. That type of multi-use tool is invaluable. Wear comfortable
and durable leather on your legs. As a backcountry guide I would
never head out without my chaps. Find comfortable footwear that
you can walk and ride in. You do not want to be battling blisters or
cold feet on a trip. Wear durable and practical clothing in layers.
Invest in a good sleeping bag and take proper care of it. Carry good
quality flashlights in a couple of different sizes. Keep a nice pair
of binoculars with you - after all, you are there to enjoy the highcountry wildlife. Have a functional kitchen where you can prepare
you nutritious meals with lots of calories.
Make a list and check it twice. If you are not heading out with
a guide service, talk about camp chores and
your plan of attack once you arrive at your
destination. That way all the participants know
their role and can mentally plan ahead. Most
of all, stay positive and know that all of the
mishaps that may happen will only prepare
you better for your next excursion! tb
Professional horseman Sean Patrick
trains full-time in Florida with his
wife Alisha. Sean’s first book “The
Voice of the Modern Horse Trainer”
is due for release by Trafalgar Square
Publishing in 2008. Visit Sean on the
web at www.seanpatricktraining.com Bring your slicker.
There’s nothing to get you de-stressed and relaxed like a great horse camping trip.
Getting away from it all for a few days can help you gain a new appreciation for life. Have you considered horse
camping, but felt overwhelmed as you thought of all the details? If that’s the only reason you’ve never tried it, take
heart! We’ll show you how to prepare for your first overnight camping trip, along with lists of items you’ll need to
take. Once you realize how relaxing it is to horse camp, you’ll put it on your list of priorities as the one activity you
won’t miss. The easiest type of multi-day horse camps are sometimes called wagon wheel camps. That’s when you
go out riding each day but return to the same base camp each evening. Once you get your camp set up you’re free
to just ride. This is a very simple, easy kind of setup compared to a progressive camp, which requires taking your
camping gear with you and setting up a different site each night.
Preparation
There may be a few items you’ll need to
purchase. Be sure to look at the checklists at
the end of this article to double check. But don’t
worry—horse camping doesn’t need to be costly.
It’s up to you how elaborate you want to get. While
there are a myriad of gadgets you could purchase
if you wanted, you can keep your trip as simple
and budget-minded as wish.
Keep in mind that you’ll need some time to
prepare. Maintenance checks on your equipment
could require some repair time, and if your horse
hasn’t been ridden in awhile, it will take a few
weeks of riding to get him in good shape. You
should be sure your horse is used to the method
of containment you will be using, whether it is
a hi-tie, corrals, or hobbles. Make sure to bring
some water from home, and teach him to drink
from other water sources. Plan your feet maintenance or shoes to be in good shape for your
trip, as pulled shoes can put a big hitch in your
get-along. Get a hoof boot and practice putting
it on and you’ll be ahead of the game.
Other preparation tasks include meal planning, buying groceries, and checking over camping gear. To help you get organized, consider
the following tasks and checklists as the bare
Always check your tire air pressure in your
truck and trailer before you leave home.
Photo by Terri Folks.
necessities. You may have additional items to
add to your list, such as dog food, water bowl,
and leash. In other words, customize the lists
as needed.
Maintenance Checks
Performing maintenance on your vehicle,
track, camping gear and horse can prevent potential breakdowns while you’re in the wilderness
that could leave you stranded.
Truck and Trailer
To ensure that your transportation is reliable,
it’s always a good idea to check the following.
The level of concern, of course, depends on
where you’ll be traveling and how remote your
location will be.
Check your tires for wear and tire pressure,
keeping in mind the terrain you will be driving
on. Make sure your spare is aired up and in good
shape as well and that you know how to change
a flat tire and have all the equipment needed to
change a tire.
Check fluid levels, including antifreeze, oil,
transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and
windshield wiper fluid—or have your truck
completely serviced before leaving. Install new
wiper blades if needed, and make sure all lights
work. Also check the tires on your trailer for wear
and pressure, and don’t forget the spare. Inspect
the inside and outside of your trailer for insects
and other pests, particularly if you haven’t used
it in awhile.
Tack
Inspect your tack closely for wear and tear.
Look for thinning or torn leather, loosened stitches and stretched-out holes. Pay close attention
to your cinch, straps and billets, since they are
the most critical points. Make sure ropes are in
good shape and that halters fit securely.
It’s never a bad idea to waterproof your leather
tack before leaving. To do so, clean thoroughly,
let dry, and apply a conditioner before applying
the waterproofing. Glycerin soap is commonly
used for waterproofing because it leaves a waxy,
protective coating that blocks moisture.
Camping Gear
If you just bought a tent, set it up in your yard
to make sure you know how it fits together and
that all the pieces are there. The same goes for a
camp stove or any other new equipment you may
have purchased. It’s also a good idea to perform a
once-over with all your old camping gear as well.
Make certain the camp stove will light, the lantern
has workable wicks, and the sleeping bag zippers
are in good repair. If you use battery-operated
lights or other battery-operated equipment,
make sure they still work, and take along an
extra set of batteries, just in case. If you use an
air mattress, make sure it still holds air. Double
check and re-stock your first aid kit.
Horse
Make sure your horse is sound and conditioned for riding in the type of terrain where
you’ll be camping. If it’s steep and rocky, condition him ahead of time for that terrain, and pay
particular attention to the condition of his feet.
Work with your farrier to ensure your horse is
ready for serious riding. Rocky ground can make
your horse sore in no time, particularly if he’s
unshod. Hoof boots are always an option, but
hooves still need to be trimmed and in good
shape. A suitable mount for horse camping is
trail savvy, well-shod and legged up from conditioning. Your horse should have the stamina
and soundness to withstand the terrain and the
amount of riding you plan to do. You might also
consider teaching your horse to wear hobbles
and make sure he’s comfortable being tied for
long periods of time.
If your horse is due, immunize and have a Coggins test done on your horse well before leaving.
Most states require that horses moving through
the state have a Coggins test every year, and
Bring your highline equipment and use a
flat nylon halter to attach your horse. Use a
quick release knot with your lead rope on
the picket line. Photo by Rob Adams
some states require a test every six months. Have
any shots given at least two weeks before your
trip, as they can make horses sore and achy.
What to Take
Your list will include essential items, and
some personal items that you simply cannot live
without. You could spend all day at Cabelas looking at all the fun and interesting items that make
your campsite like a second home, or you might
toss in a few blankets and call it good. Keep in
mind that nights get cold in many areas, so better
to be over-prepared with extra blankets than to
spend freezing, sleepless nights. Remember the
essential elements of tent camping are: safety,
warmth, light, food and drinks.
Checklists will keep you from forgetting the
essentials, and can be reproduced each time you
go overnight camping.
Meal Planning
With plenty of leisure time in the evenings,
eating can be a great camping pastime. Planning
a menu ahead of time takes a lot of the work
out of the picture. If you like to cook, you can
be elaborate with your meal planning—or you
can be as simple and pre-prepared as you want.
Taking cans of stew and chili, instant oatmeal,
instant coffee, apples and plenty of s’mores ingredients doesn’t take a lot of work. Another thing
to consider is whether or not to take refrigerated
items, given the amount of time you’ll be gone.
Block ice in a cooler just lasts a few days, although
the five-day coolers work great, especially if you
freeze a lot of your ingredients.
A campfire pit is a nice plus. If fires are
allowed, keep a shovel and a bucket close
by. Extinguish the fire before retiring to
bed. Photo by Terri Folks.
Start your meal planning by listing on paper
the meals and snacks you’ll need each day, then
write under each meal what you plan to eat. Note
if any of the meals will be eaten on the trail, and
plan accordingly. Remember drinks, especially
water. Make your list detailed, including things
like butter, oil, salt, and condiments, then take
your list to the grocery store and check off the
items as they’re purchased.
If you’re traveling with a group, you might
divvy up the meal preparation by assigning certain meals to certain groups. While some people
enjoy cooking on a camp stove or over an open
fire or with a Dutch oven, others would rather
not bother. The nice thing is—it’s up to you. If
you take ten pounds of spuds, don’t forget the
grater, paring knife or tin foil for baking in the
campfire. If you take cans of chili, remember the
can opener. In other words, use your common
sense and modify your list according. Just make
sure you take more than you think you’ll need,
and carry out all items that you carry in.
Never use your camp stove or light your lantern inside your tent. A pickup tailgate works well
for a table if you don’t have a portable camping
table, and can also serve as a food preparation
place.
Setting Up Camp
When choosing your campsite, keep in mind
that the weather could change. Pitch your tent
on high ground so that rain will travel away from
the tent and not into it. Look for a site that has
protection from wind and weather, if possible. If
there’s water nearby, that’s a plus, since you’ll
need plenty of it for your horses and for cleaning
up. It’s also good to look for a spot with some
trees for shade and for securing your horses.
Don’t pitch your tent under a tree if there’s any
chance of high winds!
Be sure to keep garbage picked up and secured inside your trailer or pickup to ward off
foraging animals and insects. If you are in an
area where there are bears, make sure you tie
up your food in a bear-safe fashion and dispose
of all trash in bear-proof trash containers. Bears
can break into cars, don’t tempt them! A campfire pit is a nice plus, as long as fires
are safe in the area where you’ll be camping. Be
sure to read the rules and regulations for your
area, particularly for fire restrictions, and wild
animals you might encounter. If campfires are
allowed, keep a shovel and bucket close by and
be sure to extinguish it every night before retiring. You may consider keeping your dog in your
tent, pickup or trailer if there are bears, coyotes
or wolves in the area.
Taking Care of the Horses
There are several options for securing your
horse overnight, but the most important thing is
to choose a safe place. Don’t tie near something
he can trip on or get tangled in, and always tie to
something secure. Use a quick-release knot with a
O
vernight horse camping is
a recreation like no other.
While it requires more work than
a daylong trail ride, the rewards
can be far greater. And, once
you’ve figured out what it takes
to prepare and get organized
the first time, future trips will
be far easier and more fun.
halter that fits securely, and don’t tie with a rope
halter. Never tie with a bridle and reins. After
tying him, watch your horse closely for awhile to
see that he’s comfortable and calm. Food and
water should be within easy reach.
If you take more than one horse, you can hitie or use a tie-line with a safe distance between
horses. You might also tie to a tree, but keep in
mind that if your horse paws the ground, it could
damage the tree. Some areas require tree savers,
which are wide straps with rings attached that
can be secured to the tree. If your horse insists
on pawing, hobbling is a good option. You might
also tie your horse to your trailer, or bring along
corral panels. Another option is to stake him out
to graze, but make sure your horse has been
trained to stake and that your rope is at least
20 feet long.
Make sure you read any rules for the area
where you’ll be camping to make sure horses
are allowed and that you can bring hay along.
Some areas restrict hay because of potential
noxious weeds. If so, you will need to feed hay
pellets or stake your horse to graze. If you have
a water tank in your trailer, bringing water from
home will assure that your horse will drink plenty.
Some horses are picky about water, so keep that
in mind as you prepare for your trip. If there is no
water source near your campsite, you will need
to take plenty of containers of water with you.
Remember your grooming tools to let your horse
know how much you appreciate his kindness to
you during the day.
Overnight horse camping is a recreation like
no other. While it requires more work than a daylong trail ride, the rewards can be far greater. And,
once you’ve figured out what it takes to prepare
and get organized the first time, future trips will
be far easier and more fun. There is something
special about getting away from it all for an extended time. Try it out and see if you don’t come
back with a new perspective and new appreciation for life, nature, friends and family—and your
trusty trail mount. tb
Trail Blazer author Cheryl
Dudley lives in Washington and her favorite guilty
pleasure food is ice cream
– anytime, anywhere!
CAMPING CHECK LIST
Campsite
FOOD___
HORSE ITEMS
Items from your
planned menu
Buckets
Tarps for shade & underneath tent
Cooking oil
Hay or hay pellets
Extra Stakes
Salt, pepper
Grain & supplements
Drinks
Blankets, sheets
Snacks
Fly spray
Tent
Hammer
Entrance Mat
Rope for clothesline
Small whiskbroom
PERSONAL ITEMS_
Water
Electrolytes
Hoof boots
Lantern
Portable shower, wash
tub or bucket
Shoeing hammer, extra
shoes
Flashlight
Towels & washcloths
Rope for tying highline
Extra batteries
Soap, shampoo
Bute
Camp chairs
Toothpaste, toothbrush
Leg wraps & bandages
Corral panels
BEDDING
Sleeping bags
Extra warm blankets
Toilet paper
Lotions, razor, feminine
products
Pillow
Mirror
Sleeping mat, cot, or air
mattress
Sunglasses
Air pump & repair kit for
mattress
Canteen
COOKING SUPPLIES_
Prescription medications
Warm clothing & rain gear
Hay bags
Coggins tests
Health records
Halter & rope
Headstall
Saddle & blankets
Grooming equipment
Saddlebags
Clock
Camp stove, Dutch oven,
barbecue grill or campfire
grill
Water canteen
Fanny pack
Helmet
Matches, fire starters,
paper
Sunscreen
Potholders
Tablecloth
Plates, bowls, cups,
silverware/plasticware
Pots & frying pans/ lids
Mixing bowls
Bug spray
FIRST AID__
Ace Bandages
Roll bandages, square
bandages & Band-Aids
Hydrogen Peroxide
Antibiotic Cream
Knife, spatula, mixing
spoons, tongs, bottle
opener, can opener,
grater, flipper
Antacids
TRUCK & TRAILER
Tow strap
Antifreeze
Window Wash fluid
Jumper cables
Road flares
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
Fishing gear
Games
Burn ointment
Binoculars
Eye drops
Camera
Cutting board
Snakebite kit
Cell Phone
Plastic storage bags
Poison ivy cream
GPS
Aluminum foil
Antibacterial soap
Maps & trail guides
Pain relievers
Park & camp regulations
Paper towels
Plastic trash bags
Dish tub
Dish soap
Dish rag & dish towels
Skewers for roasting
marshmallows & hot dogs
Eye drops
Nail clippers
Thermometer
Small scissors
First aid tape
Pocket knife
Bungy cords
Walky Talky
Fire extinguisher
Duct tape
Journal
Tips To Manage Your Life
And Get You Out On The Trail
by Doreen Shumpert
illustration by shelle kennedy
D
o you ever find that day after day goes by and you can’t find the time to do the thing
you like best – ride your horse? Many horse owners have a dual existence; there’s the
“daily life” of families, school, work, appointments etc. Then we have a whole other section
of life, encompassing grooming, feeding, barn chores, riding, hauling, and training. The fact
is, there isn’t any more time – but you can structure your life differently in order to use the
time you have for the things you love, by practicing time management.
Organize Your Home
This may be the toughest for working moms
and dads who also enjoy riding. When the day
consists of early mornings, packing kids, taxidriving duties to and from school, plus work,
groceries, cooking, cleaning, laundry, appointments homework and more, there’s often little
time or energy left for the horses, aside from
essential care.
Here are a few ideas that will free up some
time for riding.
1
. Prepare meals ahead of time. If possible, take a half day or one evening, and prepare a week’s worth of meals that are freezable.
Then, they can be popped in the oven each
evening, saving quite a bit of preparation time
and clean up. Make sure the kids are doing
dishes, and if they aren’t thrilled with that, then
try adopting a “cook or clean” policy – where
someone does one or the other but never both. In many parts of the country, businesses like
Supper Solutions are available, where healthy,
balanced to-go suppers can be ordered online
and picked up, for another quick alternative.
In many cost comparisons, options like this
are actually more economical than a weekly
grocery bill—not to mention being a huge
time-saver.
2
. Babysitting and carpooling. If you
have kids, see if you have any friends, family
or neighbors who would be willing to rotate or
car-pool with you. Multiple trips to town per
day eat away at your schedule, and much time
can be saved if you share these duties with
another party. Or see if you can hire a nanny
or other responsible party to watch kids, cook
and help with after-school homework. If you
can find several families and a group place for
all the kids with just one nanny or sitter, this is
not as expensive as it seems.
3
. Utilize daylight. Try to organize your
in-home work so that you can get it done after
dark, and ride while it’s light. If you have an
arena at home, see about installing some lights
for night riding to keep your trail horse legged
up. Often, night time is the most quiet, peaceful, and low stress time of the entire day to ride.
If your kids are young and you have access to
a lighted arena anywhere, try leaving grandma
and grandpa with the kids after they are in bed
and go out for an evening ride.
4
. Organize! This is key to saving time.
Consider having one drawer or storage spot
for all of your necessary riding apparel like
gloves, socks, hats, clothing, boots, etc. so
you can “grab and go.” If things need washed
after a ride, do it immediately and replace the
items to prevent searching for them the next
day. It’s amazing how much time we all spend
looking for things – so start now to become
more organized and use that “searching” time
to ride!
5
. Prioritize! With our busy lives, it’s
essential to prioritize activities to get things
done. Experts recommend doing the hardest
and most time consuming things first each day.
Get them out of the way early, then the easier
things will fly quickly by
and leave you with time to
spare! Also, it helps to have
a schedule to follow closely;
have a designated grocery
shopping time, errand run-
ning time, and then of course—a designated
riding time. If riding is a major form of reward,
enjoyment, and stress relief...it should be a
designated priority! Put it on the schedule just
like any other appointment.
Organize Your Barn
Once you get home from work or dropping
off the kids, you often still aren’t free to climb
in the saddle and go. There are usually stalls
to clean, hay to haul, grain to buy, barn maintenance and fence fixing, general chores, grooming, and in some parts of the country—even
ice to chop in water tanks during the winter
Try these time-savers in your own barn:
1
. Re-configure your barn and pastures
to save time. (This can be a great summer
project!) Do you have to bring the horses in
by hand at night or in the morning? Why not
fence differently so you can open gates and
let them come in by themselves instead? Do
you haul hay around by wheelbarrow from
place to place? Consider getting a small 4
wheeler to drive around – and if that’s not in
If possible, take a half
day or one evening, and
prepare a week’s worth
of meals that are freezable. Then, they can be
popped in the oven each
evening, saving quite a
bit of preparation time
and clean up.
Try putting in automatic waterers like tis
Behlen’s uit. You can save time AND water
(unless you’re one of the very few riders
who never forget they left the water running…). www.behlens.com
2
. Do you stand around with a hose filling
water tanks? Try putting in automatic waterers.
You can save time AND water (unless you’re
one of the very few riders who never forget they
left the water running…) Stock tank heaters are
essential to save time in cold weather climates
by eliminating frozen hoses, ice chopping, and
often hand-bucketing water for days on end.
If you can’t get power out to your stock tanks,
there are solar tank defrosters on the market.
3
. Hire or trade-out for help. Are there
any kids who need extra money in your neighborhood? What about horse-lovers of any age
that might trade-out chores for riding privileges? Having part-time help to clean stalls,
do chores, and groom, will give you SO much
more time for riding.
4
the budget, look for a used golf cart; they carry
a lot of hay and grain also. Drop-down doors
and feed doors in stall fronts can save a lot of
door-opening. All these extra minutes can add
up to an hour’s ride. . Use good flooring materials in your
barn. If you keep your horses in stalls, there
are several types of stall flooring and mats that
are great time and money savers. Stalls without mats develop large wet areas, holes, and
heavy, wet dirt to remove each day. Stalls mats
prevent this, and greatly expedite cleaning
time. They also cut down on dust in the barn,
especially when covered with good quality
shavings or other available options—such as
Kenaf or pelleted shavings. Kenaf is a plant
related to cotton, and has shown to be 214percent more absorbent than pine,
with a 200-percent longer use time.
Pelleted beddings also work great and
typically need far less replacing than
shavings—a huge daily time saver all
in it’s own! Good mats and stall skins
will cut down your need for shavings
enough to pay for themselves over
time.
that fits into aisles or into turnout areas. The
four-wheeler can be quickly moved between
stalls, and when the trailer is full, conveniently
driven to the dump location. Usually one latch
releases the dump trailer, and the user can
drive around and handily spread the manure
as pasture fertilizer, or dump it in a specific
location. The same can be done with small
tractors or lawnmowers. If you are restricted to
doing things the old fashioned way, by hand,
arm yourself with carts or wheelbarrows that
have big rubber tires, push easily, (getting
stuck in the mud is a big time waster!), and are
easily dumped—saving more struggle time.
And, if you are really fortunate, use a Bobcat
or lawnmower with a blade to drive into runs
to quickly blade out manure and carry it away.
If you plan on constructing a new barn, allow
room in your aisles and runs to do so.
Organize Your Trailer
After the house and barn are ready, it still
takes time to load the trailer. These tips will
save you time in that area as well.
1. Keep your trailer packed and ready
to go. If the climate in your area allows it, use
your trailer’s tack compartment for a semipermanent tack room. Just make sure there
are no leaks, or too much heat or humidity to
damage your gear. Have a duplicate array of
equipment solely for the trailer, like brushes,
First Aid gear, replacement tack, blankets,
sheets, grooming equipment, fly sprays, and
possibly some feed. That way, you’re always
ready to go. Nifty little things like magnetized
hoof picks that stick to trailer walls can also
save you time.
5. Use time-friendly equipment.
An ideal manure removal “kit” is a
four-wheeler with a small dump trailer
2. Consider a hay pod to store feed. While
you may not wish to do it constantly, a hay pod
on top of your trailer is a great way to pre-pack
bales of hay and/or feed days before you leave.
It will keep feeds dry and provide one less
thing to do at the last minute. Be careful of
storing grains that may be heat sensitive, or
alfalfa hays, for very long in anything air tight
or too hot. But, a hay pod can let you pack the
night before to save time the day of the trail
ride. Feed may also be stored in containers or
bags and put in the tack room, much the same
way, but with the same considerations.
Try long-lasting grooming products like Eqyss Grooming Products. Regularly use mane and tail
detanglers. Many top trainers use
these for bathing their horses,
solely because they save time and
yield excellent results.
www.eqyss.com
3. Use a gear bag. If you aren’t comfortable
with turning your trailer tack room into permanent storage, consider using a gear bag. A big
Nylon bag with handles is one ideal option.
Fill it with brushes, sprays (be sure the lids are
tight!), leg gear, First Aid items, bridles, extra
tack, hoof picks—whatever you will need for
your horse. Keep that packed and updated at
all times, then just “grab and go” without load-
Organizing your tack room with everything in it’s place saves you time when
riding at home and also helps you when
it is time to pack for the road.
www.drycreektack.com
ing your trailer item by item. A good rule is to
clean tack, refill bottles, or replace anything
that needs it as soon as you return from your
ride; that way, all’s ready for next time. A human
gear bag is also a time-saver; keep a second set
of essentials in there ready to go, like riding
clothes, emergency items, or snacks.
4. Try long-lasting grooming products.
Regularly use mane and tail detanglers. Many
top trainers use these for bathing their horses,
solely because they save time and yield excellent results. The products involve a sprayer
and foam/soap application - rinse off the horse,
and you’re done in less than half the normal
bath time. Better yet, they leave a slick coat
that deters dust and a greatly reduced grooming time. 5. Pre-pack camping gear. If you camp or
attend a lot of overnight trail rides, camping
gear is easily pre-packed and stored in a trailer.
Things like tents, cooking gear, flashlights,
sleeping bags and other general necessities
can be ready to go far in advance. If you take
your dogs with you, have some food, water
bowls and other essentials stored in the trailer
and ready to go.
Making a real effort to become
organized will pay off with big
rewards, as you will finally find the
time to do what you love best – trail
riding! Your horse and your body will
thank you, as you reap the benefits of
becoming healthier, in better physical condition, and less stressed. Don’t
make a resolution to be more
organized- just do it! TB
Doreen Shumpert is an
award-winning
equine
freelance journalist and lifelong horsewoman. She lives in
Berthoud, Colorado, with her
family, where they own and
operate X2D Horses, specializing in ranch, roping
and using horses, www.x2dhorses.com.
AAEP Releases Updated Equine
Vaccination Guidelines
• SWING-OUT model for side AND back tack rooms
• Swings outside trailer- then lowers saddles for easy access
• Easy to install - FITS most back and side tack rooms
Motorized Saddle Rack by Eureka Specialty Products, LLC
NEW LOOK – NEW PRICES From $1400 - $1575 (plus S&H)
www.Saddlematic.com
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303-709-3198 or 303-775-8852 (cell)
The Infectious Disease Committee of the
American Association of Equine Practitioners
has issued revised guidelines for the vaccination of horses. The Committee, chaired by Mary
Scollay, DVM, has made recommendations
for the use of vaccines based on the age of
the horse and its previous vaccination history. The guidelines are intended to serve as
a reference for veterinarians as they employ
vaccines in their respective practices. The
committee is comprised of researchers, vaccine manufacturers and private practitioners,
updated guidelines that were established by
the AAEP in 2001.
Highlights of Guidelines for the Vaccination
of Horses include:
• The identification of tetanus, Eastern/
Western Equine Encephalomyelitis,
West Nile virus and rabies as core
vaccines. Core vaccines have clearly demonstrated efficacy and safety, and exhibit
a high enough level of patient benefit and
low enough level of risk to justify their use
in the majority of patients.
• The addition of a vaccination protocol
for anthrax.
• Recommendations for the storage and
handling of vaccines, as well as information on vaccine labeling and adverse
reactions.
• Inclusion of the AAEP’s Infectious Disease
Control Guidelines, which provide an action plan for the containment of infectious
disease during an outbreak.
The Committee stresses that veterinarians,
through an appropriate veterinarian-client-patient relationship, should use the vaccination
guidelines coupled with available products
to determine the best professional care for
their patients. Horse owners should consult
with a licensed veterinarian before initiating
a vaccination program.
“The goal of the guidelines is to provide current information that will enable veterinarians
and clients to make thoughtful and educated
decisions on vaccinating horses in their care,”
says Dr. Scollay. “The vaccination schedules
are complemented by supporting information on topics including vaccine technology
and disease risk-assessment, allowing veterinarians to customize vaccination programs
specific to the needs of an individual horse or
group of horses. The impact of infectious disease has been felt across the equine industry
in recent years, and the Committee hopes
that these guidelines will be a useful tool in
preventing or mitigating the effects of equine
infectious disease.”
The complete document, along with easy reference charts, is available on the AAEP Web site at
www.aaep.org/vaccination_guidelines.htm.
TB
E QUE S T RIAN T R AV E L
A guide to the best trails
Hither
&
Yon
for the Equestrian trail blazer
INSIDE
40
The Craggy Mountains of Hells Canyon
By Ashley Wakeman
Hells Canyon Wilderness is a serious trail rider’s
heaven. More than 350 miles of horse trails
traverse a rocky, beautiful area that is shared
between Oregon and Idaho .
in the Redwoods at Highland Ranch
44 Riding
By Wendy Lumbert
Where can you go in the heat of summer to
experience a cool breeze flowing over the ridge
and stirring up the spicy scent of giant redwood
trees?
the States One Waterfall At A Time
46 Exploring
By Ashley Wakeman
Our country is filled with extraordinary vistas
that are all the more exciting when enjoyed from
the back of a horse. Add a dramatic waterfall to
the scenery and you may feel like you are in
paradise.
the Maah Daah Hey Trail
50 Ride
By Sonja Cassella
The North Dakota Badlands is a land of mystery
and solitude, cut by deep ravines and scattered
with unique geologic formations. Riding the Maah
Daah Hey trail gives riders the opportunity to
explore an all-but-deserted country with a unique
history.
Amazing Multi-Sport Trail Riding
54 Three
Vacations
By Ashley Wakeman
Here are three multi-sport vacation spots where
you can bring the whole family, including your
horse.
with the Bedouins at Wadi Rum
58 Riding
By Wendy Lumbert
Imagine you’re in the company of a band of
Bedouins in colorful dress, who are riding horses
and camels that glide soundlessly across the
reddish sand.
the Best Trails Across America
61 Finding
By Terri Folks
The Craggy Mountains of
Hells Canyon
Wilderness
Just Nature, You, and Your Horse
By Ashley Wakeman
Photos by Jason Springston
Imagine riding along 9,300-foot mountains and then
descending 7,000 feet into desert-like terrain.
The trails range from flat, open, grassy trails to steep,
rocky, narrow passages through the rocky bluffs.
A horse and rider, accompanied by pack horses,
take a break from a long day of riding. With the
craggy peaks of Hells Canyon as a backdrop, this
is the picture of tranquility.
H
ells Canyon Wilderness is a serious trail
rider’s heaven. More than 350 miles of horse
trails traverse a rocky, beautiful area that is
shared between Oregon and Idaho. This is a place
where you will find adventurous, isolated trails that
are best enjoyed from the back of a horse.
How To Get To Hells Canyon
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest manages
Hells Canyon Wilderness. The area, spanning
213,993 acres of wilderness, is North America’s
deepest river gorge. It is cut by the Snake River, and more than a mile deep on Oregon’s west
rim. No roads cross the ten-mile expanse. Only
three roads are your ticket into the Snake River
area between Hells Canyon Dam and the Oregon-Washington boundary. From the Northeast
side, going through Spalding or Lewiston, you
can reach the canyon on Highway 95. Traveling
from east or west, you take Highway 12. From
the south, take Highway 3, which will change
to Highway 129 after you cross the Oregon
border. To find your way into this remote area,
please see the map included in the sidebar.
Places To Camp In Hells Canyon
More than thirty horse trails are available
within Hells Canyon Wilderness, and several
trailheads are found throughout the area. On
the Idaho side, trailheads are located at Black
Lake, Windy Saddle, and Pittsburg Landing.
Limited camping is available at or near each
of Idaho’s trailheads, but potable water is not
available. The Oregon side of Hells Canyon
Wilderness is even more expansive and isolated. Several more trailheads are located on
the Oregon side, dispersed widely throughout
the area, but camping is not available at each
one. Depending on the trailhead, campsites
may be few and facilities primitive, including lack of potable water. Before planning to
camp, make sure you thoroughly check Hells
Canyon’s website and know the details of each
trailhead. Understanding the area will help
you decide what trailhead is best, based on
your skill level and your primitive camping
experience.
The Trails of Hells Canyon
Many trails at Hells Canyon require solid
trail experience and proper condition of both
horse and rider. Imagine riding along 9,300-foot
mountains and then descending 7,000 feet into
desert-like terrain. The trails range from
flat, open, grassy trails to steep, rocky,
narrow passages through the rocky bluffs.
On the Idaho side, the trails in the lower
elevations consist of dry, steep slopes that line
the Snake River Canyon. The higher elevations
in Idaho include the towering peaks and alpine
lakes of the Seven Devils Mountain Range.
This range is a very popular highlight of the
area, historically named for a vision of seven
dancing devils that appeared to an Indian lost
in the mountains.
On the Oregon side, the lower elevations
include more bunchgrasses and shrubs, while
a higher climb through the trails will lead you
to Ponderosa Pines and Douglas firs, along with
many clear creeks.
While horses and riders need to be experienced and confident on the difficult trails to
scale the rocky cliffs and unpredictable obstacles that Hells Canyon offers, you have the
option of taking easier trails that wind along
the ridges, moderate slopes, and bench lands.
Thus, riders and horses with less experience
can also enjoy Hells Canyon.
The trail system caters to both those who
want short day rides or those who want grueling treks. The foot trails and horse trails are
consistently maintained but the trails at higher
elevations are inaccessible much of the year
due to snow. As a result, equestrians make the
most use of the Oregon side during the spring
and fall big game hunting seasons, but the
lower elevations are open year round.
Northwest Forest passes are required for
several designated trails and are for sale at all
Forest Service offices in the area. The passes
are thirty dollars for a year, or five dollars for
one day.
Camping Specifications
& Recommendations
at Hells Canyon
Since Hells Canyon Wilderness serves as a
refuge to get away from the hubbub of normal
life, management has implemented wilder-
ness regulations to assist visitors in preserving
the solitude and beauty of the area. These
regulations are referred to as “Leave No Trace”
techniques.
Group sizes are limited to eight people or
sixteen head of stock. All wheeled mechanisms
(such as wheelbarrows and motorized equipment, except wheelchairs) are prohibited.
Hitching or tethering a horse to a tree for a
reason other than saddling or unsaddling,
or loading or unloading, is prohibited. Only
certified weed-free hay is allowed on National
Forest lands in Idaho.
Hells Canyon Wilderness management
recommends that you plan your trip so that
you only need to bring the bare essentials,
including food and equipment. Check ahead
with management about the area you plan to
ride, so that you may obtain maps and become
familiar with the trails well in advance of your
visit. Map order forms are available on the
Hells Canyon website, and can be purchased
at various stores in surrounding towns. Also,
make sure you bring a GPS to help with navigation. Weather can also be very unpredictable,
including snowfall in September, and even in
July. Along with the GPS, maps, and a compass,
make sure you pack a survival kit, first aid kit
and clothing appropriate for unpredictable
weather conditions that can range from 30 degrees Fahrenheit at night in the alpine country
to 100 degrees in the lower elevations.
Management asks that you make camp at
least two hundred feet from water, and to erase
all signs of your presence when you are done;
called a No-Trace Camp. Water used for washing should be carried two hundred feet from
the water source and used with biodegradable
soap. Waste should be buried in catholes that
are six to eight feet deep.
Hells Canyon Wilderness management
recommends that you take horses that are fit,
experienced, and calm. They allow various
Elk hunters and trail riders stay at this primitive
camp in Hells Canyon. The wall tent and hitching
post holding the saddles and pads functions just
as well as any home and barn, while the campers
enjoy the country.
Horseman Jason Springston and horses, Pepper and Scooter, gazing out over a cliff on a
very cold, stormy day in September. Temperatures at this time were just twenty degrees in
the upper elevations.
methods of stock containment, but prefer that
stock spend as little time as possible in camp
to minimize environmental impact. For more
information on their regulations and recommendations, visit directly with Hells Canyon
Wilderness management or go to www.fs.fed.us/
hellscany on/things_to_see_and_do/hells_canyon_wilderness/wilderness_regulations.shtml.
Amenities Offered & Other
Things To Do At Hells Canyon
The local communities in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington that are near Hells
Canyon are very accommodating to visitors and campers. The surrounding communities can be your outlets for sup-
Looking down on Steamboat Trail. From this
precipice, down the rocky incline lies the
Snake River and Hells Canyon Dam.
plies and other general services. On the
Hells Canyon website, you can check out
individual outfitters and pack stations.
Aside from riding at Hells Canyon Wilderness, there are several non-horse activities
that you can enjoy. Directly in the Hells Canyon
National Recreation Area, you can hike the
trails, drive through the breathtaking landscape, or go boating down the Snake, Imnaha,
or Rapid Rivers.
Outside of the Recreation Area, you can
enjoy sights and activities within several
communities. The surrounding cities feature
unique historical districts, giving you a glimpse
of America at the turn of the century. Flagstaff
Hill, near Baker City, Oregon, has the National
Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. You
can take a jet boat ride at Lewiston or Hells
Canyon dam, or explore the Seven Devils
Mountains. While trail riding may be the main
draw to Hells Canyon Wilderness, the possibilities for adventure are endless. TB Hells Canyon has multiple horse trails for you
to enjoy. Going to http://www.fs.fed.us/hellscanyon/things_to_see_and_do/horseride.shtml
will help you further plan where to camp and
what to expect.
Trail Blazer regular contributor Ashley Wakeman hails
from South Dakota and her
favorite guilty pleasure food
is chocolate peanut butter
cookies!
Riding in the Redwoods at
Highland Ranch
W
By Wendy Lumbert
here can you go in the heat of summer to
experience a cool breeze flowing over the
ridge and stirring up the spicy scent of giant
redwood trees? Imagine riding in the shady forest with
huge ferns and fallen trees the size of small cars. The
scorching summer heat seems like a distant memory
as you ride through a silvery river, the horses happily
splashing through the cool water.
Highland Meadows seems to always have
that lovely afternoon breeze that makes a nap
in one of their many shaded hammocks oh
so pleasant. As the horses doze in the shade
of a massive redwood grove you can catnap
undisturbed until afternoon cocktails. Such is
life on the Gaine’s quiet guest ranch near the
California coast.
Jim and Suzie Gaines have a comfortable
old farmhouse and a sweeping expanse of lawn
where guests of the tiny kind run and play after
their morning and afternoon ride.
It’s an unusual kind of guest ranch, more
like visiting your grandma and grandpa out
on their farm. Guests treat the ranch like it’s
their own, often returning year after year with
entire families. The cabins are simple, and
set up to make it easy to have that kind of
family reunion.
When you arrive at Highland Meadows Jim
is there to greet you and make you feel right
at home. He shows you around the century
old farmhouse that his family has owned for
many years, and settles you in with a cool
glass of wine or one of his famous margaritas.
The front room is often filled with guests
lounging around the giant fireplace, playing
board games and munching on homemade
cookies or giant cashews. Highland Meadows
is in the heart of the California wine country,
and the Gaines keep an extensive variety of
wines in the living room and on the table. An
impromptu tasting is a frequent event.
The grounds are broad and sweeping, and
are filled with many varieties of fragrant fruit
trees. Guests are invited to indulge in a juicy
piece of tree-ripened fruit at any time, and fruit
is often featured at mealtime. The Gaines are
proud to offer excellent quality meats and produce at every meal, usually from local growers.
Dinner one night was a scrumptious roasted
pork loin with a fresh peach sauce, taken right
from tree to table. A creamy polenta combined
with fresh greens made a delicious and healthy
meal. There is always desert, and fine wines
are found on the table every evening.
Suzie Gaines has a passion for yoga, and
has discovered a wonderful way to improve
riding skills thru yoga. Since yoga is all about
flexibility and the ability to move your body
in extraordinary ways, and riding is vastly improved by body control, the two go absolutely
hand in hand. The Gaines feature riding clinics
at the ranch, and one of their favorites is the
yoga and riding clinic.
There are plenty of activities for the non-rider, so this is a good place to bring family members that aren’t thrilled about riding. Skeet
shooting, fishing, swimming, massage, and
simply sitting in a rocking chair on the porch
with a good book are favorite activities.
Suzie teaches yoga classes from beginning
to very advanced in a beautiful yurt nestled
in the trees. Highland Meadows has a definite
emphasis on healthy living, from the clean air,
to the wholesome food, and the chance to experience yoga with a very talented teacher.
Horse-crazy guests will find the ranch horses
quite agreeable – they are well trained and
in good shape. The trails thru the forest are
winding and up and down, and the horses are
happy and willing. They were quite pleased
to splash thru the river, and stood quietly and
obliging as we took photos of the magnificent
redwoods. There is a wide variety of breeds:
quarter, halfdraft and even an Arabian or two.
A couple of them are definitely “packers” and
are very careful with their small cargo. Visiting
children are up early, and down at the stable
first thing, anxious to get on and go! The guides
are careful to match up horse and rider and will
tailor the rides to the rider’s ability.
In the winter when things are a bit slower at
the ranch, beach rides are available.
Every season brings a different set of activities. Some things never change though,
like the official rules at Highland Meadows:
don’t hurry, and don’t scare the horses. Not
too hard to follow that set of criteria! So, the
next time you’re experiencing the sticky heat
of the Midwest, or the arid desert heat of the
southwest, remember there is a place you can
ride where the breeze blows in from the ocean
even on a hot August day. TB
Wendy Lumbert is the Trail
Blazer Consulting Editor.
She is an endurance rider
with 2,300 miles in competition, who rides worldwide.
Breathtaking, elegant, and famous; the final
waterfall on your tour is also one of two DuPont
waterfalls featured in the film, “The Last of the
Mohicans.”
Photo by Nolan Jones.
...From the Back of Your Horse
By Ashley Wakeman
ur country is filled with extraordinary vistas that are all the more exciting
when enjoyed from the back of a horse. Add a dramatic waterfall to the
scenery and you may feel like you are in paradise! Here are two sets of
horse trails with waterfalls that should be on your must-see list.
DuPont State Forest
Blue Ridge Mountains,
North Carolina
DuPont State Forest is nestled in the Blue
Ridge Mountains between Hendersonville and
Brevard, North Carolina. Within the 10,400 acres
are ninety miles of trails that were barely saved
from a real estate developer in 2000. DuPont
features many magnificent waterfalls, including
Bridal Veil Falls and Hooker Falls, both famous
in the film, “Last of the Mohicans.”
Location of DuPont State Forest: DuPont
State Forest is between US Highways 64 and
276. (See the map in the sidebar). Six access
areas are available. Guion Farm access area
will take you directly to the main waterfall trail.
For more details on how to get to these areas,
see DuPont’s website. Parking lots are open to
horse trailers, but the two best for trailer are
the Lake Imaging Parking Lot, and the Guion
Farm Parking Lot. Trails, Sights, and Expectations: Most of the
trails are sandy, single track, and old logging
roads. They are open to equestrians, hikers,
bikers, fishermen, and hunters (during hunting
season). Except for the Triple Falls trail past
the picnic shelter, and a couple other marked
trails, you can take your horse on the trail
anywhere in DuPont. Galax Trail is actually the
equestrian alternative to Triple Falls trail. Each
falls area either has a viewing area, or a place
for you to tie your horse so that you can walk
down to get a closer look.
The Waterfall Loop trail is the main trail
that features four of the major waterfalls. This
loop begins on the Lake Imaging Road and
goes to Grassy Creek Falls, High Falls, Triple
Falls, and Hooker Falls. The trail does require
you to cross Little River. Little River can be
two feet deep at times when rainfall has been
heavy, and the rocks can be slick. Also on this
trail are two wooden bridge crossings. The
Waterfall Loop takes approximately two hours,
and connects with the other trails. If you need
a map, rangers and volunteers always have
one handy. Large maps are also posted at
several kiosks.
Guidelines and Amenities:DuPont State
Forest has laid out some guidelines. First,
make sure you have your horse’s current negative coggins test. Trashcans are not available
so make sure you pack out what you pack in.
Potable water is not available so bring your
Falling Water Horse Camp has great trails and amazing scenery. Imagine watching
this spectacular falls from the back of your horse! Photo by David Brown.
own water. Camping is not available to trail
riders in DuPont, but there is camping specifically for horses at Ultimate Ride Campground,
which has direct access to DuPont’s Waterfall
Loop.
Riders are asked to keep their horses fifty
feet from picnic shelters and other structures,
but tie-outs are available near the waterfalls
and other significant sites so that you can enjoy
the scenery. Many lakes and streams are available so you can water your horse. However,
some clearly marked water areas are off limits
to horses, and DuPont State Forest asks that
you use bridges, when provided, to cross the
waterways. This way, the water quality of the
streams, lakes, and waterfalls is preserved.
No fees are necessary to ride at DuPont
State Forest.
For more information on directions and
trail conditions, please visit www.dupontforest.com.
Also, for information regarding camping with
your horses, see Ultimate Ride Campground at
www.ultimateridecampground.com or contact
them at 828-885-8287.
Falling Water Horse Camp
Ozark Mountains, Arkansas
Half way across the country, in the heart of
the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, are another
set of trails and some very impressive waterfalls. Brothers Glen and Joe Garrison have
converted their family’s old homestead into a
campground for trail riders, including showers,
stabling facilities, and electrical hook-ups. For
most of his life, Glen Garrison has hiked the
trails near his Ozark home, and is still finding
new trails to explore. Joe is the horseman, and
makes sure that you and your horse will be
happy, comfortable, and safe. Linda Garrison
is the owner of Falling Water Horse Camp, and
strives to keep the quiet wilderness environment ideal for horseback riding experiences.
Location of Falling Water Horse Camp: Falling Water Horse Camp is located in Pelsor,
Arkansas. The highway, AR-7, can get you there
from the North or South. For more detailed
directions, look at the sidebar or go to Falling
Water Horse Camp’s website at www.fallingwaterhorsecamp.com.
Trails, Sights, and Expectations: Along the
trail, you will find the beautiful expanse of
Falling Water Falls - thirty feet wide with an
eight-foot drop. The trail to Twin Falls is rather
challenging, but well worth it for the sight you
will behold. To get to the falls, your horse will
need to cross a creek twice. Twin Falls is actually comprised of two side-by-side falls from
two different creeks that converge in a pool
below. The left falls is a twenty-five foot drop
and appears almost fragile, while the right falls
drops fifteen feet and is cascading and playful
as it plunges down to meet its twin. The trails
are well marked, open year-round, and are
fairly easy to navigate for all levels of riders.
Amenities and Guidelines: In addition to
miles of 250 trails and extraordinary scenery,
Falling Water Horse Camp offers many amenities for the horse camper. For ten dollars a
night, you can camp in “unlimited” primitive
horse camping, meaning that you can pitch
your tent anywhere you choose in the park. There are also twenty electrical hook-ups for
RVs or horse trailers, with living quarters that
are widely spaced in an open area. Some water hook-ups are available. This costs twenty
dollars a night. Both camping options offer
access to a bathhouse with showers. There is
a restaurant in camp called Walker Wagon Café
where good food is served for those nights you
just do not feel like cooking over a fire. Most
important is the hospitality that Falling Water
Horse Camp provides for your horse – twentyfour outdoor “stalls,” a tie-out line, and ample
space for portable corrals.
All that Falling Water Horse Camp asks is
that you keep the area clean and family-oriented. Dogs are allowed if kept on a leash.
Something about a waterfall is so mystical
and timeless. If you have never witnessed a
waterfall from the back of your horse, then
don’t just read about it! Pack your trailer, load
your horse, and go see for yourself. TB
Directions For Falling Water Horse Camp
From Russellville
• Go North on AR-7 for 37.9 mi to Pelsor/Sand Gap
• Turn right on AR-16/SR 16 Hwy for 9.8
miles
• Turn left on Upper Falling Water Road
(Look for Sign)
• Camp entrance on the right ~1.7 miles
(Look for Gate)
From Harrison
• Go South on AR-7 for 47.3 miles to Pelsor/Sand Gap
• Turn left on AR-16/SR-16 Hwy for 9.8
miles
• Turn left on Upper Falling Water Road
(Look for Sign)
• Camp entrance on the right ~1.7 miles
(Look for Gate)
www.fallingwaterhorsecamp.com
Falling Water Horse Camp
1616 Upper Falling Water Road
Pelsor, Arkansas 72856
Trail Blazer regular
contributor Ashley
Wakeman hails from South
Dakota and her favorite
guilty pleasure food is
chocolate peanut butter
cookies!
Great Trails Do Not Just Happen
DuPont State Forest was saved from a private developer in 2000. Friends of the
Falls, a coalition of hikers, bikers, horseback riders, conservationists and waterfall lovers,
fought the private developer in order to preserve the forest and waterfalls that so many
enjoy today. For more information on the history about the fight for DuPont State
Forest, visit this link: www.dupontforest.com/history.asp. Friends of Dupont Forest (FODF) are a group whose goal is to make the trails of DuPont a 100% “sustainable” multi-user system. FODF, The Pisgah Trailblazers, and grants
from the NC Recreational Trails Program and other programs have funded the professional rehabilitation and/or relocation of many trails. For work in 2008, FODF has budgeted $25,000. They also have a committee that actively pursues grants wherever they
can obtain them. In addition, portions of DuPont Forest map sales, along with contributions to the “Trail Partners” campaign, are used to fund trail work. Both map sales and
contributions can be completed on the website (www.dupontforest.com). You can also
become a member and contribute to the preservation of DuPont State Forest. For more
information, visit the link: www.dupontforest.com/fodf.asp.
Ride the
Maah Daah Hey Trail
Follow Theodore Roosevelt’s Tracks to the North Dakota Badlands
By Sonja Cassella
Three riders enjoy the view of lands and
clouds from the top of a mesa.
Photo by Don Mayer.
Be ready for some steep up and down hills, although these
are fairly short. Photo by Don Mayer.
A rider encounters wild mustangs inside
Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Photo by Michelle Bohlander.
T
he North Dakota Badlands is a land of mystery
and solitude, cut by deep ravines and scattered
with unique geologic formations. Riding the
Maah Daah Hey trail gives riders the opportunity to
explore an all-but-deserted country with a unique
history. This is a place of strange rock formations,
wooded ravines, and cottonwood-shaded river bottoms.
The trail is a 96-mile long dirt single track,
shared by hikers, mountain bikers, and horses.
It’s has been open ten years, and was originally
designed to connect the North and South Units
of Teddy Roosevelt National Park, Ever since the first planners began to agitate for a trail to connect the two regions of the
park, the Maah Daah Hey trail project has been
a labor of love for trail advocates. Created by
a partnership of the North Dakota State Parks
and Recreation, Theodore Roosevelt National
Park, and the United States Forest Service, the
trail includes access to six campgrounds – one
on each end and four in the miles between.
The bulk of the trail outside the National
Park runs through the Little Missouri National
Grasslands, a National Forest Service holding.
It also passes through private and state-owned
land.
Origin and History of This Trail: The trail’s
name comes from the Mandan language.
Translations include “an area that has been
or will be around for a long time,” or perhaps
“Grandfather Country.” The Dakota Badlands
have been a prime hunting ground for Native
Americans for centuries.
Theodore Roosevelt credited his experience in this region, (which he first visited when
he was just 24 years old in 1883), with forming
him as an individual, giving him values and
character which later enabled him to lead the
country. In 1978, Theodore Roosevelt National
Park was founded on the site of the Roosevelt
ranch, the Elkhorn.
Location: The trail is located in southwest
North Dakota, the most temperate region of
the state. It is 560 miles from Minneapolis,
Minnesota; 300 from Billings, Montana; and
about 300 miles from the border of Saskatchewan, Canada. The trail travels through both
Badlands and prairie ecosystems. Description: The Maah Daah Hey trail
crosses hilly grasslands, passing over plateaus
and through shallow river valleys of the Little
Missouri (also known as the Little Muddy).
Footing is sod or clay. There is some riding
along cliffs, as well as hogbacks, where the
trail travels a ridgeline and terrain falls away
sharply on either side. The trail traverses
rugged tablelands and steep inclines with
many short ups and downs, as well as long
flat stretches suitable for a faster pace. River
crossings are usually not more than 18 inches
deep, over gravel and sand.
Special Features: The trail is well-marked
with the icon of a turtle. This animal was chosen
because of its firm determination, steadfast
character, long life, patience, and fortitude and
also, according to Indian tradition, loyalty. The
trail is marked frequently, with the turtle symbol mounted on a 4x4 post, frequently enough
so that riders can pretty much be in sight of
a trail marker at all times. There are also mile
posts to show how far you’ve traveled. The trail is an excellent place to observe
wildlife, including antelope, bighorn sheep,
golden eagles, prairie falcon, mule and white
tail deer, prairie dogs, and coyotes. Within the
Theodore Roosevelt National Park there are
large herds of mustangs and buffalo, as well
as elk. Check your map for the location of the
scenic ice caves.
Four campgrounds are spaced along the
trail at 20-25 mile intervals, offering hitching
posts, vault toilets (read: modern brick outhouses) and campfire rings. History/Geology: The Badlands evolved
with a course of events involving the geologic
upsurge, which created the Rocky Mountains,
volcanic activity during the same era, and much
later, a series of ice ages. Sixty-five million years ago, during the
Paleocene Epoch, the Rocky Mountains were
formed by the collision of tectonic plates.
Erosion from these raw new mountains was
rapid. Sand, silt and mud ran down into North
Dakota, coming to rest in standing water in
the region of the Badlands. Around the same
time, volcanoes belched forth huge quantities
The trail combines rocky hills, mesa lands and soft river
valley terrain. Photo by Don Mayer.
of ash, which fell into the standing water as
well. These deposits compacted and became
the layers of sandstone and other soft rocks
visible in the Badlands today. The Badland’s watershed originally drained
out through Canada to Hudson Bay. But about
two million years ago, ice sheets advanced
southward and blocked the northward flow of
the region’s rivers. As the waters were turned
back to flow southward, they churned through
the area’s deep sandstone and ash deposits,
cutting channels, valleys, and tablelands into
the soft rock. This created the region’s unusual
geological shapes and formations. Time of year to ride: Mid-March to midNovember is best, with summer being the
most popular. May and early June can have
heavy rains, and watch for snow as early as
late September. Fees: There are no fees to ride the trail.
Sully Creek State Park day use is $5, with
$5 additional per night to camp. The charge
is $6 per night for camping at the five other
campgrounds, which are managed by the Forest Service. Directions: Most enter at the south end of
the trail, the part closest to the Interstate. To
reach the south trailhead, take Interstate 94
to Medora, from either Fargo in the east or
Billings, Montana in the west. Two and a half
What To See in the Region
Medora is a well-promoted tourism area, and local trail riders say there are several
attractions worth visiting if you have time, including the Medora Cowboy Hall of
Fame, the nationally known Bully Pulpit Golf Course, the Medora Musical, Pitchfork
Steak Fondue and shopping. For more information:
Medora Cowboy Hall of Fame
Center of Western Heritage and
Cultures: Native American, Ranching, and Rodeo
250 Main St.
PO Box 137
Medora, ND 58645
Phone (701) 623-2000
Fax 701-623-2001
info@northdakotacowboy.com
www.northdakotacowboy.com
miles east of Medora, take exit 24 to Sully
Creek State Park. The trail starts from within
the park. If you want to reach the north end of the
trail, drive about 15 miles east from Medora
to the intersection with U.S. 85, then north on
U.S. 85 about 87 miles to the US Forest Service
CCC Campground in McKenzie County. The
trailhead starts from the campground. Advice, Restrictions and Cautions: Get
a map from the Watford City Visitor Center
or the Painted Canyon Visitor Center, and
Medora Visitor’s Guide
PO Box 198
301 5th Street
Medora, ND 58645
medora@medora.com
1-800-633-6721
1-701-623-4444
1-701-623-4494 (fax)
remember to bring plenty of water. Water is
available along the trail for horses but it is
not recommended for humans. Horsemen who
feed horses inside the park must use weedseed-free hay and feed in order to reduce the
risk of invasive or destructive plant introduction. Call the Theodore Roosevelt National
Park to locate suppliers. You are likely to see
rattlesnakes during the warm months, and
there have been sightings of mountain lions
as well. Also, flash floods are a risk in this
country. TB
For More Information
McKenzie Ranger District Office of the
U.S. Forest Service
1901 South Main Street
Watford City, ND 58854
(701) 842-2393
www.fs.fed.us/r1/dakotaprairie/mckenzie.htm
Maah Daah Hey Trail Association
www.mdhta.com Visit after March 1, 2008 for
maps and directions to the Maah Daah Hey
trail and connecting trails in the region.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
P.O. Box 7
Medora, ND 58645
South Unit: (701) 623-4466
North Unit: (701) 842-2333
www.nps.gov/archive/thro/tr_mdh.htm (Trail
map with links)
Sully Creek State Park
701-764-5256
http://www.ndparks.com/Parks/Little_Mo/
Home.htm
Painted Canyon Visitor Center
7 miles east of Medora on I-94
Phone 701-623-4466
Fax: 701-623-4840
E-Mail: Bruce_Kaye@nps.gov
Sonja Cassella of Texas is an
equine journalist and editor,
and a regular contributor to
Trail Blazer magazine. Her
favorite guilty pleasure food is
Russell Stover Caramels.
Rafting, tubing and canoeing are just a few of the sports you can enjoy with your family
while staying in the Franklin area. Photo courtesy of Franklin Chamber of Commerce.
g
n
i
z
a
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A
e
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r
h
TMulti-Sport Trail Riding Vacations
By Ashley Wakeman
Sheep Herders Bluff has an actual sheep
corral and is favorite destination for trail
riders staying at Huckleberry Stables.
Photo by Vickie Mitchell.
Far left: From leisurely scenic trails to the
challenging “Standing Indian Climb,” cyclists
will find Franklin to be a true biking paradise.
Even your kids won’t be able
to complain about being bored
when they get to go mining for
gems and actually keep the
gems they find.
A
by taking Interstate 44 East via Joplin, Missouri,
re you the only horse-lover in your family? or you can take Interstate 540 North, by way of
Bella Vista, Arkansas. For more detailed direcIs your idea of a great vacation one that
tions near the area and for more information
includes trail riding; but the rest of the family
concerning Huckleberry Stables, please visit
www.huckleberrystables.com
wants to do something completely different? Then
Franklin, North Carolina
you’ll be happy to hear there are campgrounds and
In the foothills of the Great Smokey Mounparks with all kinds of sports and recreation, set up
tains is a place that the Cherokee Nation used
so riders and non-riders alike will have fun. Here are
to call “Nikwasi” or “center of activity.” Today,
that place is called Franklin, and it still lives
three multi-sport vacation spots where you can bring
up to its early name. It’s rife with vacation acthe whole family, including your horse.
tivities to suit everyone’s interests. From trail
riding to gem mining, Franklin is the place to go
if you want endless variety any time of year.
Huckleberry Stables
Amenities and Requirements
Huckleberry Stables is open year-round for
trail riders and their families. It’s located in
Pineville, Missouri, in Huckleberry Ridge State
Forest. There are miles of trails to enjoy, and
lots of other attractions as well.
Huckleberry Stables offers clean, comfortable cabins for rent, along with several
RV hook-ups. Family reunion or saddle club
rides are welcome, but you are encouraged to
reserve time slots far in advance. There is a two-night minimum stay between
April 1st and November 1st. Three different
kinds of cabins are available. The Osage,
which includes an upstairs loft with a full size
bed and sofa-sleeper for two downstairs, runs
$45 per night for single or double occupancy
and then $7 per night per additional person.
Hillbilly cabins include a covered porch with
a double bed and a futon, and run $40 per
night with $7 per night per additional person.
The Bunkhouse is available at $55 per night
for up to three people, and $7 per additional
person. All cabins include coffee maker, fridge,
microwave, air conditioner, ceiling fans, and
bed linens. Grills and picnic tables come with
each cabin, and the shower and bath facilities
are available to all cabins.
Your horse is welcome at the Huckleberry
Stables. They furnish a barn with 10 x 10 stalls
for $20 per stay, or you can pay by the week per
horse. Uncovered 12 x 12 outdoor pens are $10,
for one horse per pen. The RV hook-ups are $20
per night, and are limited in number.
Huckleberry Stables also requires a negative coggins for all horses, and out-of-state
health papers. They recommend that horses
be shod, and ask that dogs be kept on a leash.
You can get to Huckleberry Stables either
Fun For You
The trails, part of the Forest Trail System,
are suitable for all riders, from novice to expert. Popular times to ride are autumn for fall foliage, and spring when the Dogwoods bloom.
Places you can ride include Green Hollow,
Cave Hollow, Overlook Point, and Little Sugar
Creek. A great time to visit is the Jesse James
Days festival and parade, held annually in
August, in Pineville.
The trails can be rough in places, so Huckleberry Stables recommends that you shoe your
horses. The terrain in the Ozarks is very rocky.
The trails consist both of logging roads, and
also some much more challenging trails.
Fun For Everyone
When you are not glued to the saddle, there
are many attractions in the area for your entire
family. You can go swimming, canoeing, and
fishing within four miles of the stables. Fishermen can catch fish for supper in nearby Big
Sugar Creek, Elk River or Beaver Lake; home
to white bass, bream crappie, black bass and
striped bass. For the avid golfer, Prairie Creek
Country Club is a public golf course nearby.
Fun For You
Nantahala National Forest of Franklin is
best enjoyed on horseback. You can camp
at Hurricane Creek Horse Camp, which has
stalls that are required for overnight lodging
of horses. If you can’t bring your horse, there
is a trail riding rental facility nearby.
Four trails are available out of Hurricane
Horse Creek Camp, located amidst the Nantahala and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Moderately difficult trails mix with roads to provide
various memorable riding experiences. The
Big Indian Loop is eight miles, crosses a river,
and parallels the Big Indian Creek. Blackwell
Gap Loop is 4.2 miles long and Hurricane Creek
Loop is four miles. Both trails cover grassy logging roads and gravel. Thomas Branch Loop
is three and a half miles long and consists of
grassy, wooded roads. The camp is located in the Standing Indian
basin and you can get there by taking FR 76
about three miles just south of the basin. This
camping is very primitive and is in a grassy
field. Horses must be kept in one of the
twenty-five stalls provided, and facilities also
include a pit toilet and a watering trough.
Fun For Everyone
There are plenty of activities for the whole
family to enjoy in Franklin. The children can
mine for gemstones. Family members who
enjoy water sports will enjoy canoeing, tubing,
rafting, and kayaking.
Local trails are not just enjoyed by trail riders. Hikers and cyclists can also find exciting
trails to explore around the area. The Appalachian Trail (Georgia to Maine) passes just a
few miles West of Franklin. The Bartram Trail
passes through Franklin, going east-west. It
offers many highlights, such as the Whiterock
Mountain lookout, showcasing spectacular
views into Tessentee valley and across the
Nantahala Mountains.
Crystal clear streams around Franklin make
for excellent trout fishing, and there are also
trout farms around the area. At these farms,
all you have to do is cast and catch - they will
clean the fish for you and provide you with a
skillet for frying.
For those who love golfing, the mild weather
in the area provides great golfing conditions,
and Franklin has excellent golf courses.
Also, in Nantahala Forest you can go mountain climbing on some very ancient mountains,
as well as enjoying abundant wildlife, waterfalls, wildflowers and endangered plants.
Remember to take your camera.
If you choose not to bring your horse, there
is developed camping in the Nantahala Forest. Also, in and around Franklin you can stay
in cabins, tents, or hotels. The city is very
historic and has many museums, shopping
opportunities, and restaurants. For information
on planning your trip, www.franklin-chamber.
com is your link.
If you do plan to camp with horses, North
Carolina National Forests have a few suggestions. Stay on the trail and plan your trip
Huckleberry Stables
For more ideas about what to do in Bentonville,
which is 10 miles from Huckleberry Stables, go
to: http://www.bentonvilleusa.org/index.asp
Reservations:
For reservations, call Rick and Mary Bousfield
at 417-223-2343 or email them at hucklebe@
huckleberrystables.com.
Rick and Mary Bousfield
4174 RTE K
Pineville, MO 64856
417-223-2343
E-mail: hucklebe@huckleberrystables.com
Franklin
For more information on horse trails and camping in Franklin, contact:
Forest Supervisor’s Office
National Forests in North Carolina
160A Zillicoa Street
Asheville, NC 28802
(828) 257-4200
Directions to Franklin and to Hurricane Creek
around the spring thaw and other wet weather
to prevent riding on excessively wet ground. Avoid tying your horse to a tree; always use a
high-line with tree-saver straps. Travel in small
groups that number six or less, and always
pack out what you pack in. They ask that you
high-line your horses 100 feet away from water
sources, and away from campfires and trails to
keep those areas manure-free. Make sure you
bring extra hay and grain because grazing is
limited in the camping areas. Horse Thief Campground and RV Resort, LLC.
Take a step back into history when you
visit Horse Thief Campground and RV Resort
in Hill City, South Dakota. For a night, a week,
or longer, you and your family can stay at this
scenic location and soak in the beauty that the
Black Hills are known for. For directions either
by way of Custer or Hill City, please see the
sidebar and map.
Fun For You
In the stillness of the morning, a fly fisherman canoes down Little Sugar Creek in
Pineville, Missouri.
From your campsite, you can ride directly
into the Black Hills National Forest, Norbeck
Wildlife Preserve, and Black Elk Wilderness.
A short trailer ride will also take you to the
Mickelson Trail.
Horse trails in the Black Hills cover around
800,000 acres of pine-covered mountains and
rolling prairies. Palmer Creek trailhead is a
short ride from the campground. Harney Peak
is also within riding distance or, for a longer
journey, you can ride to Mt. Rushmore. Horses
are allowed on most trails, except for Sylvan
Lake and the Grace-Coolidge Walk-In Fishing
Area. The difficulty level of the trails ranges
from moderate, (part of the trail follows steep
slopes and rocky trails), to strenuous (most of
the trail consists of very steep slopes and rocky
trails). In Custer State Park, you may see a considerable amount of bison, big horn sheep, and
other wildlife. Just be respectful of them.
The Mickelson Trail, a railroad bed turned
multi-purpose trail, is 109 miles in length, with
some strenuous portions. This is two miles
down from the campground on the highway,
and is a great way to tour the Black Hills.
From the campground, logging roads run
behind Crazy Horse and the Bear Gulch area,
leading to other riding adventures. For more
information on horse trails around Horse Thief
Campground, go to www.sdgfp.info/Parks/Rec-
Horse Camp:
For detailed directions to the area based on various ways you are driving from, see www.franklinchamber.com/visitorInformation/maps.asp.
To get to the Standing Indian Basin where
the horse trails are, head west on U.S. 64 from
Franklin. Turn south onto old U.S. 64. Then go
about 2 miles and turn right onto FR 67. Take
this road past the entrance to the Standing
Indian Campground. Parking is available in pulloffs along this road.
And finally, for more information on other
campgrounds and other sites in Nantahala Forest, visit:
www.franklin-chamber.com/visitorInformation/
nantahalaNationalForest.asp
Amenities and Rates:
Tents sites without electricity start at $18, and
RV sites with 30 AMP E/W start at $29.50.
Cabins range from a primitive cabin at $39, to a
two-room cabin that sleeps up to eight with an
air conditioner, electricity and refrigerator, priced
at $62. These rates are for the “on season” (May
26th to September 1st). “Off season” (April 15th
to May 25th and then from September 2nd to
October 10th, weather permitting) rates will be
lower.
Reservations and Information:
For reservations and other information about
the area, contact Horse Thief Campground at
1-800-657-5802 or visit their website at www.
horsethief.com.
Details For Riding In South Dakota:
Before planning to ride, please be aware of
the current feed and inspection requirements.
Contact the SD State Brand Board at (605) 7733324 for more information.
Horse Thief Campground
24391 Highway 87
Hill City, SD 57745
Horse Thief
For more information on gold mining and panning:
www.homestaketour.com
www.wadesgoldmill.com
For information on rock climbing:
www.sylvanrocks.com
For information on trails and recreation in
Custer State Park: www.custerstatepark.com
reation/Horseback.htm or contact the campground directly (see sidebar).
Fun For Everyone
Whatever activities you and your family
enjoy, you will certainly find them nearby during your stay at Horse Thief. You can explore
mines, caves, and old ghost towns. You can go
rock climbing, biking, and hiking. If you prefer
the water on a hot day, you can go fishing, skiing, swimming, and boating. Your family can
take part in adventures, or just sit back and
relax in serenity. The Black Hills offers it all.
Horse Thief Campground is open from April
15th to about October 15th. Horses are allowed
May 10 -June 8 and then August 21-September
30. The horse camp is secluded in a corner of
the campground and includes portable corrals
that can accommodate twelve to fifteen horses.
Half a dozen sites are located near the horse
corrals that have electricity and water for RVs
or horse trailers. Sewer is now available at
select sites. Fees for horses are $10 per night,
per horse.
Dogs are allowed if kept on a leash. Horse
Thief Campground requires that your horse has
proof of West Nile vaccinations and a negative
coggins test.
For humans, the campground offers large,
forested camping sites, a variety of sleeping
cabins, a ceramic tile bathhouse, heated pool,
Maytag laundry facility, a playground, various sports areas, a gift and snack store, and
wireless Internet access. Fire rings and picnic
tables are provided at each site with wood
available for sale.
Rates for 2008 are based on two people,
with an additional $3 a night per guest age
eleven years and older. See the sidebar for
amenities and rates.
If you have been trying to brainstorm this
winter about where you will take your family
for a vacation, this should give you some good
ideas where to take your kids and horse too.
The key to fun for all is going somewhere with
lots of activities that everyone will enjoy. Your
non-trail riding family surely won’t mind if you
are out on trail while they have fun fishing,
swimming, hiking, rock climbing, and gemstone
mining. TB
Trail Blazer regular
contributor Ashley
Wakeman hails from South
Dakota and her favorite
guilty pleasure food is
chocolate peanut butter
cookies!
The ancient city of Jerash has a huge variety of fascinating ruins to explore.
You’ll see ruts in the solid stone streets made by Roman carriages, and
massive carved columns that were engineered so perfectly that they sway
slightly in the breeze for less resistance. Photo by Sabine Uschmann
The Mounted Police in Jordan improve
their horsemanship skills by playing
games like this one, called “tent bagging.”
Photo by Wendy Lumbert
Riding with the Bedouins
at Wadi Rum
by Wendy Lumbert
If you tire of hiking thru the gorgeous
colored rock canyons of Petra, you can
always catch a ride back on a camel,
horse, donkey or carriage. Photo by
Wendy Lumbert
I
magine riding across the desert in the dusky twilight on a beautiful Arabian horse, following a trail
illuminated by a brilliant full moon. You’re in the
company of a band of Bedouins in colorful dress, who
are riding horses and camels that glide soundlessly
across the reddish sand. Soon you will stop and make
camp in tents under the stars, while your hosts cook a
savory feast that will forever come to mind whenever
you smell a campfire. This is just one of the wonderful
trail riding experiences you can have in the country of
Jordan. I was fortunate enough to visit there recently,
and would love to share some highlights of this beautiful country with you, as it is a fabulous place for horse
lovers to vacation.
Jordan was little-known to many Americans until it came into the spotlight when
the spectacular ancient city of Petra became
one of the “Seven Wonders of the World.” For
adventurous wanderers who love to combine
sight-seeing with trail riding, it is a great place
to visit. Unlike some foreign countries, travelers are welcomed and made to feel at home
by the locals, both in the city and far out in
the country. It is not unusual to meet someone
and shortly thereafter find yourself invited into
their home for dinner. Whether you are on an
organized tour, or prefer to go out on your own
by renting a car and traveling without a guide,
it’s easy to get around because people are so
willing to provide directions or help you with
anything else you might need.
There are a multitude of things to see in
Jordan. Petra could easily be the highlight of
any vacation. This fantastic rock city is carved
from stone, and both the vibrant, riotous colors and the complexity of the architecture are
amazing. It is a World Heritage site, and to find
this visually stunning city in the middle of the
desert will take your breath away. There are
horses and carriages for hire at the entrance to
Petra, so you can sightsee by horseback if you
prefer. There is a lot to take in, and it’s really
worth spending several days exploring. If you
find at the end of a long afternoon wandering
around the ruins that you are too tired to walk
back, there are many vendors with donkeys,
horses, camels and carriages at the far end
who will lease you a mount to carry you back
to your car. While driving around Jordan you will often
see, by the side of the road, a few camels or
horses standing around. Anytime you want to
explore on horseback, you can stop and make
a deal with the owner to take a ride. You can
have a short ride on a camel just for the novelty
of it, or arrange for a long, extended horseback
ride into the countryside. The owners are very
flexible and usually aim to please – just ask
for what you want and someone will oblige
you. It is not a wealthy country, and pasture
is scarce, so most of the horses have to work
for a living. People tend to be very generous,
and often when I was gawking at camels, taking
photos, their owners would appear and ask me
if I would like to sit on one.
If your vision of this country is flat, arid
desert, you would be in for a big surprise.
Amman is hilly enough to get snow in winter.
The Jordan valley is talked about at length in
the Bible as being lush and extremely fertile,
and it definitely is. It is wonderfully green, and
filled with date palms, fruit trees and verdant
fields of produce. One of the many fantastic
places to visit is the site where John the Baptist
baptized Jesus in the river Jordan. There is an
olive grove near there that has trees that were
planted around that time in history. Now they
are as big around as the massive oaks found in
The port town of Aqaba is a fun and refreshing place to visit, and close to the desert
of Wadi Rum – an excellent place to ride with the Bedouins. Photo by Wendy Lumbert
The immense buildings carved out of stone have made Petra one of the new
Seven Wonders of the World. You really have to see it to believe it!
Photo by Wendy Lumbert
California! Near there is Mount Nebo, which
has a church with absolutely amazing mosaics.
There has been a church on that site since 393
AD, and it is believed to be where Moses died
and was buried. If you like a taste of biblical
history in your vacation, this is the place to
walk in the prophet’s footsteps.
Another very unique adventure is to spend
a few days with the Bedouins in the desert of
Wadi Rum. These tribes still live the way they
have for centuries – by sleeping outside, and
moving their flocks across the desert. You can
arrange to take a trip with them and they will
put you on one of their sure-footed mounts
and show you the desert like no one else
ever could. There are small walled tent cities
you can camp in if you wish, but the real outof-this-world adventure is to sleep under the
stars, far away from any kind of civilization. It
is easy to forget about everything back home
as your days are filled with trail riding like you
could never experience anywhere else.
Wadi Rum is also the site of a yearly endurance ride. Princess Alia al Hussein is the exceptionally gracious organizer of this ride through
the desert. She is a talented and knowledgeable horsewoman who is intimately involved
with the care and conditioning of the endurance horses. The ride is quite challenging, as
this desert is anything but all sand. There are
plenty of rocks to go around! The rocky, jagged
hills are almost obscured by the afternoon
winds kicking up sand, and at night, like most
deserts, it is cold enough to make sitting by a
campfire quite pleasant indeed. Strong, independent trail-riding women
can probably best appreciate the fact that
Jordan has a mounted police unit composed
entirely of women. Recently I visited the
military mounted police, as a guest of the
very hospitable Colonel Saad Awamleh, who
developed their all-female riding unit. He
was incredibly proud of the women riders, as
previously none of them had ever been on
a horse. Now after just a short course, they
are extremely advanced riders. The mounted
police regularly train by playing some games
that looked amazingly fun. Their favorite,
called tent-bagging, consists of galloping at
breakneck speed while carrying a long lance,
which you then poke through a bag as you
continue to gallop off, never slowing down or
breaking stride. The riders are all fortunate to
have a vast expanse of landscape to ride in,
and a leader who understands proper conditioning and training techniques. The police
horses were very well-trained and settled,
and we were invited to ride them for as long
as we wanted. If you like a soothing hot soak after a long
hike or ride, the countryside is chock full of
hot springs. They can be found at fancy hotels
or tucked away in little groves of olive trees.
As you drive around Jordan you’ll often see
families sitting by the side of the road, tablecloth spread on the ground, picnicking. If you
haven’t thought to pack your lunch before
heading out to the hot springs you can usually
find a wonderful meal and a cup of hot sweet
tea or coffee for a couple of dollars. The local
cheeses, olives and a huge variety of fruits and
sweets make a great picnic. And don’t forget a
mud treatment or just a hysterically funny swim
in the Dead Sea where you can’t keep your legs
under you – everyone floats there! Nothing like
pure salt water for buoyancy!
If you’re considering a vacation filled with
amazing sightseeing, a pleasant local population, good prices, and an opportunity to ride
desert horses under the stars, think about
traveling to Jordan. It’s rapidly becoming the
vacation spot of choice for many of the world’s
travelers since Petra has become so famous, so
go while it’s still “a little bit country!” TB
Wendy Lumbert is the Trail Blazer Consulting
Editor. She’s an endurance rider with 2,300 miles
in competition, who rides worldwide.
Finding the
Best
Trails
Across America
I
By Terri Folks
t’s time to load up your horse trailer, pack up your
camper or living quarters, and hit the road! Each
month, Trail Blazer will bring you the best public
camps and trails to visit across the United States. Divided up into eight regions, Trail Blazer features two
parks from each region so there will truly be something for everyone, no matter where you live or want to travel.
Remember that many campgrounds are seasonal, so always call
before you haul. Nominate your favorite public equestrian camps
and trails by e-mailing editor@trailblazermagazine.us
Region 1
REGION 1
REGION 3
REGION 7
REGION 5
Iron Horse State Park
REGION 2
REGION 4
REGION 6
REGION 8
Twin Falls Area, Washington
360-902-8844
www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp?selected
park=Iron+Horse&pageno=1
Camps: No horse camping available
Trails: 110 miles (also has horse drawn
wagon trails!)
Ridge to Rivers Trails Wildlife
Management Area
Bosie, Idaho
bpr@cityofboise.org
www.ridgetorivers.org
Camp: No camping available
Trails: 125+ miles
Region 2
Region 4
Carson National Forest
– Valle Vidal
Taos, New Mexico
575-758-6200
www.fs.fed.us/r3/carson
Camp: 2 horse camps, McCrystal and Cimmaron (some horse corrals and potable water). $5 per night primitive camping. Pit toilet.
Yellow River State Forest
Harpers Ferry, Iowa
563-586-2254
www.iowadnr.com/forestry/yellowriver.html
Camp: A horseman’s camp is $3 per night
Trails: 10 miles
Region 6
Trails: Miles of trails
Cimarron National Grasslands
Iron Horse Regional Trail
Oakland, California
888-EBPARKS
www.ebparks.org/parks/trails/iron_horse
Trails: 33 mile multi-use trail
South Mountain Park
Phoenix, Arizona
PMPS 602-262-6111
phoenix.gov
Trails: 15 miles of trails
Region 3
Elkhart, Kansas
620-697-4621
www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/cim/index.shtml
Camp: Primitive camping, $7 a night
Trails: 19 miles
Region 5
Owen-Putnam State Forest
Spencer, Indiana
812-829-2462
OwenSF@dnr.in.gov
www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/index.html?
http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/stateforests/
owenput.htm&2
Camp: Horseman’s Campground has 15
sites, water trough.
Trails: 14 miles
Lolo National Forest
Missoula, Montana
406-329-3750
www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo
Camp: Two equestrian camps.
Trails: Many miles of horse trails
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
Mandan, North Dakota
701-667-6340
falsp@nd.gov
www.ndparks.com/parks/flsp.htm
Camp: State park horse camping and corrals available.
Trails: miles of trails (part of the Theodore
Roosevelt National Park trails system)
Pennyrile State Forest Dawson Springs, Kentucky
800-325-1711
www.parks.ky.gov/findparks/resortparks/pf/
Camp: Horse camping available.
Trails: Miles of trails
Natchez Trace State Park
Wildersville, Tennessee
800-250-8616
state.tn.us/environment/parks/NatchezTrace/
Camp: Horse camp has electric and
water hookups.
Trails: 250 miles
Sleepy Hollow Horse Trail
System
Palenville and Haines Falls, Greene
County, New York
518-357-2234.
www.dec.ny.gov
Camp: No horse camping is available
Trails: 11 miles
Region 7
Region 8
Horse Shoe Trail
Apalachicola National Forest
Birchrunville, Pennsylvania
603-485-9874
hstrail.org
Mike@HSTrail.org
Trails: 140 miles
Crawfordville, Florida
850-926-3561
www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/recreation/index_apa.shtml
Camp: Primitive Camping
Trails: 34+ miles
Hard Labor State Park
Rutledge, Georgia
800- 864-7275
www.gastateparks.org/info/hardlabor/
Camp: Horsemen’s camp has 12 sites
($18 per night), 30 stalls, riding arena.
Trails: 22 miles
COO L ST U FF
Arbico Organics
ARBICO Holistic Fly Guard
A safe, effective insect repellent for horses, livestock &
pets. A long lasting herbal
blend of botanicals that repel insects, its non-staining formula leaves no oily
residue. Use it wherever your
animals are located. Dilute
1/5 or 1/4 for stubborn cases.
$29.95 qt. including shipping.
Call (800) 827-2847 or (520) 825-9875,
E-mail info@arbico.com or visit the website
at www.arbico-organics.com.
B&W Trailer Hitches
Tow & Stow Receiver Hitch
The Tow & Stow Receiver
Hitch offers the same
high quality construction
reliability, strength, and
versatility that B&W is
known for. It is adjustable in height (in one-inch
increments) and has multiple ball sizes; the Tow
& Stow is truly the only hitch you’ll ever need. Made in the USA.
Call (800) 248-6564 or visit the website at
www.turnoverball.com.
BlackWing Farms
Drama/Trauma
“After 5 days and 3 evacuations - barely ahead of
the fires, my mare was
the only horse eating,
drinking, and breathing
normally; only because I used my bottle of
DRAMA/TRAUMA for fear we had about shoeing.”
Rebecca McNulty-Carlsbad, California / Flower
essence blends for training, anxiety, trauma,
and more. Proven on the trail, in the trailer and
anywhere a horse can go.
Call (760) 742-3434, E-mail Meg@
BlackWingFarms.com or visit the website at
www.BlackWingFarms.com.
Circle Y Saddles, Inc.
EzSignsOnline
America’s Leading
Saddle Brand
Circle Y takes original
Flex tree technology to a
new level with Precision
Flex 2® Tree. Flexible
bars conform and support for maximized comfort and performance for
horse and rider. Softee™
seat jockey and fenders
for a ready to ride feel. Neo-Shock™ Skirt absorbs shock and Tunnel skirt™ design eliminates
pressure.
www.circley.com
Personalized Farm Signs
We offer beautiful affordable low maintenance
farm, ranch and business
signs. Our unique website is designed for fast,
easy step by step online ordering. Browse our
many options online today and see for yourself
how easy our ordering process is. We ship fast.
Magnetic signs and banners are also available.
Call (800) 640-8180, E-mail info@
ezsignsonline.com or visit the website at
www.EZSignsOnline.com.
Eureka Specialty Products
Eureka! Saddlematic™
Motorized Saddle Rack
Handle Your Saddle Without A
Battle! This unique saddle rack
swings OUTSIDE the trailer door
then lowers saddles for easy access. Fits most back or side tack
rooms. No more lifting above
your head and less danger of
tripping in and out of tack room while carrying
saddles. Affordably priced. Call (303) 709-3198, E-mail Saddlematic@
aol.com or visit the website at
www.saddlematic.com.
Lakota Trailers, Inc.
Charger
Charger is Lakota’s
NEW value line
trailer. Affordable,
rugged and lightweight, this aluminum trailer is available in both bumper pull
with dressing room and gooseneck with dressing
room or all-inclusive living quarters. 2-4 horse
models in 4’ to 9’ short walls available with 5+2+1
warranty.
E-mail info@lakotatrailers.com or visit the
website at www.lakotatrailers.com.
Farmtek
3-Zone Sprinkling
System
Ideal for dust control, this cost-effective overhead
sprinkling system
lets you keep dust
out of the air without worrying about overwatering. Easy to install, this system offers zone
watering of up to three sprinklers per zone, and
each Rotor MaxTM Inverted Sprinkler Assembly
will efficiently water a 30’-35’ area.
Call (800) 327-6835, E-mail ContactUs@
FarmTek.com or visit the website at
www.FarmTek.com.
SSG Gloves
SSG® Work Crew GloveStyle 0600
Durable premium goat
skin leather fingertips and
palm provide strength
and protection. Heavy
lycra back increases
comfort and ventilation.
Available in black with tan leather, in sizes XSmall/7, Small/8, Medium/9, Large/10, XLarge/11,
XXLarge/12. Available from your local tack shop
or see our website for a dealer near you.
Visit the website at
www.ssgridinggloves.com.
Havard Sales Management Co.
East Texas Summer Sensational Sale, Plus Ranch Gelding Competition
June 13-15, 2008 at the George H. Henderson, Jr. Expo Center in Lufkin, Texas. Competition will feature $10,000
cash plus prizes and the sale includes registered AQHA and APHA horses. Entry deadline is May 5, 2008.
Call (936) 364-5217 (936)639-4970 or visit the website at www.havardsales.com.
64 August
15, •2007
April 2008
StableKare™
Garli-Eze® Highest Allicin All-Natural Fly Control Supplement
Garli-Eze® is the revolutionary all-natural fly control supplement made without using harmful chemicals. Allicin is one of
garlic’s key beneficial ingredients and only Garli-Eze matches the allicin content of fresh garlic due to our proprietary process.
Safe and effective for horses of all ages and weights, Garli-Eze is economical to use and provides year-round benefits. Call (714) 287-2725, E-mail info@stablekare.com or visit the website at www.StableKare.com.
Wick Buildings
The American Classic - New Product Launch from Wick Buildings
The American Classic series offers you the perfect solution to a rural lifestyle. With so many options, widths and lengths,
this series will meet the needs of a wide range of people. Contact Wick Buildings today for more information!
Call (800) 356-9682 or visit the website at www.wickbuildings.com
Silvertip Halters
Four Knot Training Halter
Our FK07 series halter is
made from a firm lay cord
with four knots carefully
positioned on the noseband, helping you to
communicate with your
horse. This halter helps
to teach your horse to
give to pressure and
search for his release, creating a softer, quicker
response. Fits nicely into your saddlebags or
under your headstall for trail riding.
Call (406) 777-3435, E-mail silvertip@
silvertiphalters.com or visit the website at
www.silvertiphalters.com.
Weaver Leather
Graphite Tack
Dramatic graphite hardware
pairs with nylon in your choice
of pink fusion, purple jazz,
hurricane blue or lime zest
for a great look. Select Graphite products feature black
felt lining for added comfort.
Choose from headstalls, curb
straps, breast collars, reins,
nosebands and tie downs for
a complete look.
www.weaverleather.com.
• August
15, 2008
2007 65
65
• April
Trail Savers ...
By Deb Kelley
Bay State Trail Riders
Association
Working to ‘Bridge the Gap’
Massachusetts riders have a major
trail obstacle to overcome, and the Bay
State Trail Riders Association (BSTRA)
is determined to fix it. Riders on the
Southern New England Truck Line Trail
(SNETT) find that as it passes through
Uxbridge, Massachusetts, there is a busy
highway crossing at Rte.146A to negotiate. The state removed the original low
clearance structure in the early 1980’s,
and fiscal limitations prevented funding
of a replacement bridge. The resulting
gap created a major obstacle which has
prevented safe passage to trail users
ever since.
In 2003, the BSTRA made the decision
to raise money for a replacement bridge. After 30 years of active service in trail
advocacy, the Association’s Board of
Directors decided that it wanted to take
on a significant community trail project
to honor this important milestone in its
history.
Incorporated in 1973 as a non-profit,
BSTRA is the largest equine trails
advocacy group in New England. The
SNETT has always been a focus of the
organization since it serves as a major
backbone of an interstate greenway trail
system linking multiple trails in central
Massachusetts to the adjoining states
fighting the good fight
of New Hampshire, Connecticut, and
Rhode Island. Despite the enormity of
the proposed project, members of BSTRA
were determined to “Bridge the Gap” and
reconnect Uxbridge with the SNETT trail
system.
The first steps involved hiring an engineering firm to draw up plans for the
bridge, getting construction quotes, and
presenting the project to Massachusetts
State Representatives and the Department of Conservation and Recreation for
approval. The intent was for BSTRA to
raise money to build the bridge: a 148-foot
long, 12-foot wide steel structure with an
8-foot high railing on both sides, including the approaches. Upon completion,
they would donate it to the State of Massachusetts. The project had an estimated
cost of $315,000. With favorable support
from the state, BSTRA moved forward with
an aggressive fundraising campaign that
included benefit trail rides, hunter paces,
raffles, and ‘selling’ decking boards and
other bridge features to be identified with
the donor’s name and gift amount. The
group also applied for grants, and sought
support from local businesses, all of which
raised a significant amount of money for
the project.
Despite such positive beginnings,
however, BSTRA has faced some major
hurdles over the past five years that have
delayed the start of construction. What
had seemed a straightforward project to
begin with, had become too complex for
the group to handle on their own. So they
enlisted a consulting firm with expertise
in transportation, land development, and
environmental services to help negotiate
with the numerous state agencies that
had become involved. The result was a
change in strategy, making the bridge
a connection from the Blackstone River
Bikeway in Massachusetts to the Hop
River State Park Trail in Connecticut.
Although costs have escalated to over $1
66 August
15, •2007
April 2008
million, through sheer determination and
countless hours of hard work on the part
of BSTRA members, the group is hopeful
that construction will begin this year, closing the gap that has denied so many area
residents the opportunity to enjoy their
local trail system. If you would like to be a
part of this project, please contact BSTRA
at www.bstra.org.
Submitted by Pat Gillespie & Lynn Paresky, Bay
State Trail Riders Association
New Trail Dedicated
in California
In early November 2007, more than 200
people attended the opening ceremony
for a long-awaited trail, as the Bay Area
Ridge Trail Council and the East Bay Municipal Utility District dedicated a new
section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. The
trail travels 7.5 miles through the beautiful Pinole Watershed, and has spectacular views of the East Bay and Carquinez
Straight. It connects to the Ridge Trail in
Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve, creating a nearly 10 mile continuous stretch of
Ridge Trail. With this new addition, the
Bay Area Ridge Trail now has 310 miles
open to the public. The Pinole Watershed,
not previously open to the public, is now
accessible to hikers and equestrians. For
more information, visit www.ridgetrail.org.
Submitted by Bay Area Barns & Trails
Maryland Group Works to
Conserve Land for Horses
Equestrian Partners in Conservation
(EPIC) is a Montgomery County based
community organizing efforts to engage
the equestrian community in a strategic
effort to conserve land for equestrian
purposes, and increase equestrian access
to public and private lands. The county is
Maryland’s most populous jurisdiction,
located adjacent to the nation’s capital. It
is also home to more than 12,000 horses.
The horse community contributes almost
$200 million annually back to the county
and the surrounding area. Businesses
serving horsemen’s needs occupy a
significant place in the area’s economic
landscape. EPIC recognizes that open
space for farms, pastures, trails, and
training facilities is the key requirement
for the continued existence of this horse
community and the benefits it provides
to Montgomery County’s economy and
environment. It has been created to
enhance, not compete with, existing
equestrian and conservation efforts. With
the support of horse owners and equine
related businesses, EPIC leverages the
latent political and economic influence
of the county’s equestrian community to
expand the pool of resources available
for conservation, while representing and
enhancing all equestrian interests. For
more information, contact David Tobin at
www.epicmontgomery.org.
A dynamo in the
trail world is loose
in Kentucky! Mardy
Smith is an avid
trail rider and trails
advocate. Smith
organized a group
called the Trail Riding Equestrians in
Kentucky. “TREK”
is a coalition to preserve, expand and
promote equestrian
trails and campgrounds, and their economic
value to Kentucky, while protecting the rights
and privileges of recreational equestrians.
Smith serves on the Kentucky Horse Council
trails committee. She is a volunteer with the
AQHA Recreational Riding Program, and is the
state representative for Kentucky. She organizes the state AQHA trail ride each year; one
of the largest trail rides in the Kentucky. She and
her husband, Mike, also have hosted AQHA trail
trials at their farm for the last 10 years.
In 2006, she invited trail riders to her farm
in Fisherville. The group organized, formalized,
and was able to receive a $100,000 grant from
the Governor’s office allocated to the Taylorsville Lake State Park trails.
She is the equestrian advisor for a $100 million project consisting of a 100-mile multi-use
trails loop around Louisville, Kentucky. Smith
is a member of the new Kentucky charter of
the Back Country Horsemen. She received her
certification as a trail planner in 2006.
Through her work with the governor’s office
and local county officials, Smith has learned that
all trail groups need to unify — bikers, hikers
and equestrians.
“We are working with the three user groups
to show how we can get along,” Smith said. “By
the three groups working together — you have
three times the trails, three times the worker
bees, three times the lobbying power, three
times the advocacy and three times the fun.”
Not only does she involve herself in making
solutions, Smith doesn’t mind getting dirty and
working the trails as a volunteer. She does it all.
Congratulations to our April Trail Warrior!
Smith’s unwavering dedication for expanding
trails in Kentucky serves as a model for all
equestrians.
Submitted by Equestrian Partners in Conservation
Horses, History, and
Preservation in Virginia
These three elements intermingled in a
new trail initiative in Culpepper, Virginia.
The Culpepper Heritage Horse Trail is a
grassroots effort to protect a centuries-old
network of gravel roads and trails with
origins in transportation during the Revolutionary War. They have strong relevance
to many key Virginia Calvary engagements
in the U.S. Civil War. At heart is a 20-mile
proposed loop threatened by development of superhighway infrastructure. The
Culpepper Horse Owner’s Association’s is
hoping that the site will be protected once
the Board of Supervisors and Planning
Commission officially recognizes the trail
as a resource in the county Comprehensive Trail Plan. The Association packaged
their vision, developed and presented it
to the Planning Board, and has garnered
the support of local citizens, merchants,
foundations, and educational institutions.
It has also organized citizen participation
at local government meetings, spearheaded letter writing campaigns, and has
reached out to other umbrella groups to
gain visibility. Long term plans include
establishment of a multi-use destination trail, including horseback riding and
driving, and featuring opportunities for
overnight accommodations, specialty
shops, eateries, and winery tours. As envisioned, the Culpepper Heritage Horse
Trail creates a vibrant economic asset
while preserving the unique local character and heritage of the community. For
more information, contact Gardiner Mulford, President, Culpepper Horse Owners
Association, 22376 Maddens Tavern Road,
Stevensburg, VA 22741.
Courtesy Virginia Horse Council
• August
15, 2008
2007 67
67
• April
Q&A
Dear Mr. Truck . . .
QUESTION: How do you keep your truck
cool when towing?
Having your truck or SUV overheat
when towing your horses is a
common problem
ANSWER: Having your truck or SUV overheat
when towing your horses is a common problem; more so in the toasty states. Watching
your engine temperatures climb when towing
with an automatic transmission is a fairly common problem that many experience in the
summer months, or anytime when towing in
the mountains.
If you’re getting a new truck or SUV, it’s
simple, as you can order a heavy duty cooling
package or trailer tow package. Kind of, as a
HD cooling or towing option means a larger
radiator and with an automatic transmission,
which means an exterior transmission cooler.
But with GM of later years, it may still have an
internal transmission cooler inside the radiator
with a tow package.
by Kent Sundling
If you have an automatic transmission, cooling is a big deal for towing. Most trucks made in
the last 4 years come with an automatic transmission gauge in the dash, so you can keep an
eye on above normal temperature. You don’t
want to run over 300 degrees for too long. You
can have an aftermarket external transmission cooler added. This looks somewhat like
a small radiator and is in front of your radiator
along with a small cooler coil for your power
steering, and another small radiator looking
cooling core for the AC. You can tell if one of the
smaller cooling cores is for your transmission
by tracking the rubber hoses to see if they go
to the automatic transmission.
Be sure your radiator coolant (antifreeze) is
50/50, meaning half water and half antifreeze.
This will keep your vehicle cooler than straight
water. And be sure to follow your owner’s manual maintenance schedule. There is permanent
antifreeze or normal antifreeze, so check your
manual to see if you need a conditioner added.
Be sure your fan belt is in good condition and
tensioned properly. On diesels, installing
an aftermarket electric fan can help for extra
cooling. Generally a diesel engine has a larger
radiator and water pump.
If your tow vehicle has a heating problem,
you may need to have an extra core added to
the radiator. A standard radiator may only have
2 rows of cores. The more cores the more cooling. A radiator shop can add extra core rows
to your radiator or get you a larger radiator.
Remember towing means shorter intervals on
maintenance, like changing oil at 3000 miles
instead of 5000 miles; and the radiator flush
interval is 1/2 of normal driving. This goes for
transmission oil changes and differential oil
changes as well. TB H. Kent Sundling (aka
MrTruck) spent 20 years wearing out pickup trucks and trailers as only a farmer could. Mr
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industry. Visit his website at
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Trail Shoppe
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888 . 893 . 5161
We are dedicated to preserving the historical
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Win Your Dream Saddle In Trail Blazer Magazine’s
EIGHT GREAT TRAIL SADDLE SWEEPSTAKES!
see page 88 for details
Spring Trail
Fashion
Ariat® Women¹s Terrain
Twill Shortalls by Outback Trading Company
Ariat Terrain combines ATSt® Technology with true athletic styling resulting in a flexible, lightweight boot that
provides all day comfort. Originally designed to address
the needs of endurance riders and serious trail riders,
this is a great option for any casual rider looking for a
lightweight, performance boot option. Features include
ATS technology - for advanced stability and comfort; full grain leather; technical
moisture wicking lining; duratread™ outsole; ankle flex notches; Ariat spur rest.
Ariat® Insect Shield Hoodie
Providing effective, invisible and odorless protection
against mosquitoes, ticks, ants and flies. Insect Shield
offers enhanced repellency and durability through
seventy washings making this collection a must for
anyone seeking protection from biting insects. Ariat
Insect Shield Long Sleeve Hoodie features an extended
placket with Ariat horn button detail and mesh fabric
for all day comfort.
Ariat® Ventura Tights
Cotton twill shortalls are cool, comfortable and a charming alternative to wearing jeans on hot days. Special
design features include adjustable bib straps, logo tack
buttons, classic sectioned bib pockets plus two side
pockets and two back pockets. Contrasting double and
triple-needle topstitching finishes the look. Available
ladies XS-XL. Brown, Natural and Pink.
Blooms & Butterflies Cap-Sleeved Shirt
by Outback Trading Company
This elegant looking fabric is petal soft to the touch. Delicate butterflies and flowers pattern is tonally-embossed
on polyester microsuede knit fabric. Color-matched
snaps and single-point pocket flaps lend a western edge,
as does the soft back western yoke. Front and back darts
offer a slightly tapered shape for a flattering fit. Ladies
SM-XL. Brown, Natural and Pink.
Expressly Ponies Tee by Outback Trading Company
Features pull-on styling; Moisture Movement Technology™ keeps you cool and dry during strenuous activity;
poly stretch jersey provides for maximum comfort and
mobility; Ariat exclusive stretch Clarino™ knee patches
offer durability and grip; contrast piping at legs and waistband coordinate with Ventura tops; machine washable.
An artistic array of glitter-covered coursers completely
cover the front of this 100% cotton tee. It features
a v-neckline that is outlined in pink as well as pink
double-needled stitching on the sleeves and hem.
Ladies SM-XL. Brown/Pink/Tan combination.
For more information call (800) 899-8141 or
visit our website at www.ariat.com
Cirrus Rider Jacket by Mountain Horse USA
Features include, pockets for every use, a detachable hood that folds conveniently into the collar,
riding vents in back, adjustable cuffs that make
this functional barn jacket a super value. Additional features include: zippers under sleeves
for quick ventilation, riding vents at back with
button closures, two-way front zipper with storm
flap, mesh lined yoke at front and back for extra
ventilation, four roomy pockets at front, drawstring
at waist for an adjustable fit, one inner pocket with zipper and one specially
designed mobile phone pocket. Mountain Horse triangle reflective badge on
back. Windproof, waterproof and breathable fabric with taped seams. Shell: 100% nylon. Lining I: 100% polyester. Lining II: 100% cotton. Unisex Sizing: XS-XXL Dark Denim, Brick Red, Chestnut Cream $115.00
For more information call (800) 932-5141, ext 300 or
visit our webstite at www.outbacktrading.com
Desiré Jacket by Mountain Horse USA
Front
Mountain Horse’s brushed cotton fabric is super soft
to the touch. The contrasting piping and anniversary
flock print at back are elegant finishing
touches! Additional features include: A two-way front zipper, two front
pockets with zippers, rib cuffs for
extra comfort and Mountain Horse
embroidery on the front. Fabric: 65% cotton, 35% polyester. Ladies
XS-XL. Ice Blue, Spring Yellow,
Chestnut Cream $64.90
Back
For more information visit our website at www.MountainHorseUSA.net
Cool Riders
A new style of equestrian wear designed for hot weather riding. The shorts are made of a soft moisture wicking
material to keep you cool, and a U center seam to keep you comfortable. They can be worn under chaps and
matched with Cool Rider “Blister Resister” Boot Socks. This combination keeps you cool and comfortable training
or trailing! Cool Rider tops are made of the same moisture wicking material and are cut for comfort. They can
endure the hottest rides or serve as a base layer when the weather takes a turn for the worst. To top off the set,
try a Cool Rider cap, the answer to the hot sun and helmet head after a great ride! Are you cool?
For more information call (804) 798-2852 or visit our website at www.coolriders.biz
Snapolo by Kerrits
Sunshirt Longsleeve by Kerrits
The Kerrits Snapolo has pearly snaps and a figure flattering
design. Constructed with our high performance microfiber
for maximum comfort and temperature control. Retail Price: $39
New for Spring ’08, the Sunshirt is lightweight, designed
with a loose and airy fit to keep you from feeling stifled
during your day with horses. Its front zip and vented mesh
back give you flexibility and “breeze-ability.” Turn the collar
up to protect your neck or let it lay flat for a classic look
of pragmatic perfection. The sunshirt can also double as a
lightweight jacket with a tank underneath. Retail: $59
Ventilator Long Sleeve by Kerrits
A proven favorite for many Kerrits fans, the Ventilator LS
flawlessly travels wherever you go—from horseback to
the suitcase. Cut specifically for riding with an invisible
side zip pocket for horse treats or your treats, it features a
10” front zip and a neck loop for your stock tie. Superior
wickability keeps you cool no matter how you’re sweating the details of your ride. Retail: $49
Microcord Bootcut Tight by Kerrits
The Microcord Bootcut Kneepatch provides a figure-flattering
silhouette by having a slight flare at the ankle, balancing your
shape. This draws the eye away from the hips. The sculpted
mid-calf keeps your pants in place while you’re riding. Kerrits
has added a Fullseat version of this favorite to their line for
Spring 08! Retail: Kneepatch $79 / Fullseat $99
Airostretch V-Neck by Kerrits
Pair function with fashion in this feminine, flattering Vneck top. Its stretchy, colorful lycra fabric give you free
mobility with cool-zoned mesh side panels to keep you
comfortable. Hidden side zip pocket. Retail: $42
For more information call (800) 274-7946 or
visit our website at www.kerrits.com
Isla Polo by Toklat
Freestride Stretch Woven Pants by Toklat
Created to withstand hot, humid conditions, this lightweight,
breathable top is fast wicking, quick drying,
and stays wrinkle free hour after hour. Verticalpinstripe texture flatters your shape and feels
silky smooth against your skin. Choose from a
traditional collared polo or sleeveless style. Polo
available in plus sizes. MSRP $44.95 - $54.95.
This versatile pant was designed to be your favorite in and out of
the barn. The active 4-way stretch fabric and elliptical waistband
hugs your natural curves to keep you covered in the saddle.
All seams are non-chafing and the delineated inside seam creates a mock knee patch to ensure no rubbing while you ride.
Relaxed boot cut design offers performance and style that feels
and looks great for any activity. MSRP $99.95.
Rococo Print Tee & Issential Riding Tights by Toklat
Stay cool and look cool this season in our printed issential™ riding tights. Our rococo graphic running down the leg adds a little oomph to the traditional
riding tight, while the polyester/lycra® blend wicks moisture away from your skin. Our 4-way stretch, contoured panels offer superior fit without chafing. Made in the USA. Available in regular and low-rise. MSRP $69.95. Coordinates with our Rococo Print Tee. Accented with a matching graphic, this
cotton/spandex blend tee adds a little fun to your riding wardrobe. The tagless design and long, lean silhouette deliver casual comfort. MSRP $29.95.
For more information call (888) 486-5528, e-mail info@toklat.com or visit our website at www.toklat.com
Ovation™ Hypergrip Airflow Half Chap
Ovation’s™ Hypergrip Airflow Half Chaps are perfect for your summer riding adventures! These innovative, lightweight half chaps
are perforated for ultra breathability. They feature a reinforced
silicon pattern to help maintain a secure leg. Available in traditional Black, or for fashionable summer fun, Ovation™ offers Light
Blue, Lavender or Navy.
Ovation™ Hypergrip Airflow Gloves
There’s no need to sacrifice cool, dry comfort for grip in a summer
glove! Ovation™ Hypergrip Airflow Gloves are perforated for ultra
breathability, and feature a reinforced silicon dot pattern on the palm
for superior gripping performance. Choose traditional Black or match
them to your Hypergrip Half Chaps for fun!
Available at Equestrian Collections. For more information call (888)305-5200 or
visit our website at www.equestriancollections.com
presented by Wendy Lumbert
74 How To Prevent Heat Stress in Horses
78 Twelve Ways To Keep Your Cool
82 Ten Ways To Keep Your Truck Running Cool
84 Keeping Your Canine Cool This Summer
86 Summer Survival Crossword Puzzle
How to Prevent Heat
Stress in Horses
There’s a big difference between being uncomfortably warm, and
suffering from heat stress. Horses can actually die from the latter. It’s
very important to be able to recognize the warning signs of
impending heat stress, and know how to treat it. The best way to
deal with it is prevention. Before you take your fat, hairy horse out of
her winter pasture to go on that first long, lovely ride in the sunny spring,
let’s review how to keep her out of danger from heat stress.
Heat Index
One very important consideration is
this: always consider the heat index. This is a
fairly simple formula that takes temperature
and humidity and combines them to give
you a number that is the heat index. Why is
this important?
Let’s say it’s an 85-degree day. Ah, you
think, not so hot. Time to go on that nice
five-mile loop down to the lake and back.
But, you didn’t take into consideration
the humidity. Let’s say humidity was at 70
percent (a fairly conservative number for a
large part of the U.S. that experiences high
humidity.)
If you add in the humidity, the heat
index shows it is actually 94 degrees. Hot
enough to cause heat cramps and exhaustion. That is how the heat index works - it
gives you a much more accurate gauge of the
weather, because humidity does matter, and
it matters a LOT. 94 versus 80 degrees is a
huge difference to your horse. Consider both
the heat index and the fact that your horse
is used to winter temps and most likely out
of shape, before you plan how far and how
long to ride.
Body Hair
Your horse’s, not yours. This is simple.
If it’s hot, and you want to go on a long hard
ride, and your horse is still wearing a winter
coat, it’s going to be highly unpleasant for
her. It may very well cause her to experience
heat stress. Put on your thickest, longest,
down jacket and do 50 jumping jacks, and
you’ll see what I mean.
There is a quick fix though, just clip
your horse. Get a grooming book or surf the
net, and learn how to do a springtime clip,
like a hunter trace. Leave some hair in areas
that need to be protected and not get too
cold, like the back. If it’s cold at night for a
few more weeks, then blanket your horse.
You’ll be surprised at the difference in your
horse’s attitude on a hot day once she isn’t
wearing 20 pounds of fur.
How to Recognize Heat Stress
If you’re out riding and your horse is
sweating profusely and refuses to drink,
she may be in trouble soon. If you get home
and your horse continues to sweat, and not
drink, then she is heat stressed. Take her
temperature and heart rate to determine if
you should call a vet. Hopefully, you have
been keeping records of your horse’s normal
resting heart rate and body temperature so
74 August
15, •2007
April 2008
you know what numbers are considered to
be normal. Averages can be from 28-45 for a
resting heart rate, and average temperature
is 100 degrees.
Another sign of heat stress is panting.
Inversion is when your horse’s respiration is
higher than her heartrate. Count the number
of breaths she takes in a minute and check
that against their heart rate. If she is inverting, she is experiencing heat stress.
Before you start trying to fix the problem, be sure your horse is not tying up
(azoturia). The last thing you want to do to
a horse that is tied up is to dump water on
her. This is something you want to call a vet
out for right away – don’t waste time. A horse
that is tying up will sweat profusely – she can
be standing still, not moving, and the sweat
will just run off of her. Her hindquarters will
be very tight and painful to the touch. She
will be reluctant to walk, and if she does
walk, will be stiff and look lame.
It is extremely important to get a tiedup horse to a vet as soon as possible. The
horse is in extreme pain, and will need IV
fluids to alleviate serious kidney damage
from all the toxins that are being produced.
Don’t ask a tied-up horse to move – if at all
possible, get the vet to the horse instead of
moving the horse. This can be a life-or-death
situation for your horse, so get medical attention as fast as you possibly can.
While you are waiting for a vet, or if
you suspect your horse is tying up, be sure
to watch her closely when she urinates. (Do
this every time you ride your horse hard
and long, it’s an easy way to keep an eye on
kidney health.) A horse that is experiencing
azoturia will have dark urine – anywhere
from light brown to almost black. The darker
the urine, the more trouble the horse is in.
Stop riding and get a vet anytime you see
this, as the only way to fix it is to flush the
horse’s system using IV fluids.
getting her wet is not going to work
though. You must scrape off the
water as it is heated by her hot
You’ll notice when you first start
skin, and add fresh cold wasponging water on her neck that her skin
ter. Repeat until the water
you scrape off is cool.
is turning the cold water warm. Just alYou’ll notice when
lowing that warm water to sit on her body
you first start sponging
water on her neck that her
will make things worse, not better. You
skin is turning the cold wamust continue to scrape and sponge,
ter warm. Just allowing that
then re-apply cold water.
warm water to sit on her body,
for example if you sprayed her off
with the hose and tied her up to dry,
will make things worse, not better. You
must continue to scrape and sponge, then
re-apply cold water.
If it’s a hot day then use a bucket of to the skin can help cool her rapidly.
If your horse has gotten extremely hot,
cool, not cold water, and start cooling their
back after you’ve gotten their neck and legs watch her carefully for a few hours after she
cooled off. Don’t ever dump or spray very has cooled down. Make sure she drinks.
cold water on her back or rump, or the big Horses can lose the desire to drink once
muscles on the back of her hind legs, as they’ve become heat stressed, so you may
this can cause very painful muscle cramps. have to entice them. It’s good to develop a
Sponging cool or cold water on the insides few tricks to get your horse to drink if you
of her legs where the blood vessels are close ride in heat and also if you haul a lot, both
How to Alleviate Heat Stress
If you have raised children, then you
know that when a baby gets a fever you
have to work to get it down right away. It’s
the same with your heat-stressed horse.
You want to get that temperature down. The
fastest, easiest way to cool your horse is with
water. There’s a proper method for doing
this. If it’s a warm or hot day you don’t have
to be as careful as if it’s a cold day. Basically,
get lots of cold water and start pouring it on
her neck, withers, chest and lower legs. You
can use a hose or a sponge in a bucket. Just
• August
15, 2008
2007 75
75
• April
spot should immediately fill back up
with blood and look like the rest of the
gums. If it stays white, count the seconds
it takes to return to a normal color. More
than two seconds indicates that your
horse is becoming dehydrated.
While you are in their mouth, run
your finger around the gums and get
a feel for them. A normal, healthy,
hydrated horse will have slippery wet
gums. Tacky or dry gums indicate dehydration.
Prevention
times when horses may drink less than they
need to. Often a handful of grain or wheat
bran thrown in a bucket of water will get
horses to suck it down. Or a cup of molasses
that is mixed up in hot water then added to
a bucket of water and stirred in. If your horse
still refuses to drink then try warm water
instead of cold which is often preferred.
A horse that has been ridden hard, has
shown heat stress by sweating profusely
after you have finished your ride and rested
her, and refuses to drink, as well as showing signs of dehydration, is reason to call a
veterinarian.
Physical Signs to Watch For
One great reason to keep your horse’s
hair coat short, either by shedding or clipping, is so you can see her veins. If you can
see those veins, then you know they are
able to do their job by cooling your horse’s
body. Have you ever seen a horse that has
been working hard, and veins are just popping out all over the body? That’s the body’s
way of cooling down – the veins bring the
blood close to the surface of the skin where
it can cool off. A shaggy horse with a coat
like a down comforter cannot cool off using
this mechanism. So when you can see your
horse’s veins pop out in relief against her
skin, then know one of her important cooling
systems are in use and working well.
It’s important to know how to check
your horse for dehydration. The pinch test
is the easiest. Just pinch up a little fold of
skin on the neck, above where it meets the
shoulder. When you let go, the skin should
immediately melt right back into place. If it
stays up in a little tent shape, your horse is
dehydrated. The longer it stays tented, the
more dehydrated she is.
You can also check the gums for capillary refill. Pull back the upper lip and press
your finger on the gums. When you take
away your finger, there will be a white spot
for just a second, from the pressure. That
It’s important to know how to
check your horse for dehydration.
The pinch test is the easiest. Just
pinch up a little fold of skin on
the neck, above where it meets
the shoulder. When you let go,
the skin should immediately melt
right back into place. If it stays
up in a little tent shape, your
horse is dehydrated. The longer it
stays tented, the more
dehydrated she is.
76 August
15, •2007
April 2008
There are several ways to ensure
your horse does not experience heat
stress. Some are just common sense.
Don’t take your fat, shaggy horse on a
fast or hard trail ride the first warm days
in spring. If it’s hot and humid, then ride
at a walk, not a gallop. Make sure your
horse drinks on a long hot ride. Pay attention to her breathing, and stop if she
is panting. Get her in condition gradually
over the spring and don’t be tempted
to do more and go farther just because
it’s gorgeous out. If you are determined to
ride hard in spring and early summer, then
clip your horse.
Learn how to use electrolytes if you
ride hard in hot weather. Electrolytes aren’t
just for endurance horses. Make sure your
horse has had lots to drink overnight, then
the morning before you go out on a long
hard hot ride, give her a tube of electrolytes.
It’s critical to know that your horse is well
hydrated before you give her electrolytes.
Either monitor her water intake or give her a
tube after she has sucked down a few gallons
of water on the trail.
Keep salt in front of your horses at all
times and in all seasons. In the summer, if
you ride hard, give your horses access to
loose salt as well as block salt.
Develop some tricks for getting fluids
into your horses. Teach them to suck down a
bucket of water with a handful of grain in it,
or some molasses or apple juice. Get them
accustomed to slurping up a pan of wet,
sloppy mash after a ride. (That usually does
not take a lot of encouragement.) These
things are not spoiling your horses; they are
useful tools for taking good care of them and
averting potential problems.
Preventing heat stress in your horse
should be a big concern in early spring and
summer heat. Knowing how to treat it can
save you vet bills and potential grief. Ride
wisely in the heat, and let the sun be your
friend and a well-deserved treat after a long
cold winter. TB
One great reason to keep
your horse’s hair coat
short, either by shedding
or clipping, is so you can
see her veins. If you can
see those veins, then you
know they are able to do
their job by cooling your
horse’s body. Have you
ever seen a horse that has
been working hard, and
veins are just popping out
all over the body? That’s
the body’s way of cooling
down – the veins bring
the blood close to the
surface of the skin where
it can cool off.
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• August
15, 2008
2007 77
77
• April
Twelve Ways to
Keep Your Cool
Spring in some parts of the country means delicate, fragrant blossoms
falling on piles of dirty snow that haven’t melted down yet. In other
states, it means that if you want to ride your horse faster than a walk, then
you better clip your horse or he’ll sweat more than they can drink. Yes,
spring is here, summer is coming, and it’s time to get informed
and prepared for hot and humid weather. Here are 12 tips for
horse and rider that will keep you cool on trail.
1. If you are going to ride your horse hard
in the late spring and early summer before
he’s had time to shed out, clip him. It is absolutely impossible for a horse to throw off
heat through four inches of hair. If you are
riding hard enough that your horse comes
home dripping wet, then have a heart and
clip him. Yes, you may have to blanket him
after that, since late spring weather is notoriously changeable. Is that going to kill you?
Try this: put on a heavy down jacket, then
go on a half hour hike on the same terrain
you are riding your horse on. How does that
feel? Are you sweaty hot? Imagine that you
are your horse, and now you are going to
wear those sweaty clothes all night long,
thru cool or cold spring temperatures. Brrrr!
For those trail riders that enjoy getting out
and riding hard early in the season, there
really isn’t any way around the fact that taking good care of your horse means clipping
and blanketing.
Various types of clips can come in handy
but you don’t have to shave your horse to
the skin over 100 percent of his body. Get
a good grooming book and you’ll see there
are many modified clips that will allow your
horse to keep some of his long hair and still
be able to work hard without overheating.
Try leaving most of the hair on his back and
rump and just clipping the belly, chest and
upper legs (above the knee). Do the underside of the neck too. That’s a functional clip
that can make all the difference between
steaming hot and just a little sweaty.
2. Sweating isn’t all bad. In the heat of
summer, you do want your horse to sweat,
as that will help keep him cool. As sweat
evaporates from the skin, it cools. That’s
one reason it’s hard to stay cool in humid
climates – the moisture does not evaporate
from skin. One way to help your horse with
this type of heat is to make sure he is clean
when you ride him. Yes, that means groom
him well before you saddle up – don’t just
brush off the place where the pad sits so
you can keep it relatively clean. A clean,
well-groomed horse is able to have their
sweat evaporate, which means he will stay
cooler on your ride.
3. Use the right pad. Your horse’s back
is a huge area of trapped heat once you
add pad, saddle and rider. Some pads al-
78 August
15, •2007
April 2008
low absolutely no airflow and do not wick
sweat at all, which is like riding with a pad
made out of saran wrap. All that heat is not
good or comfortable for your horse. Ensure
that your horse is cool and comfortable in
summer heat by using a pad that wicks and
has airflow, to keep his back from excessive
heat buildup.
It is absolutely impossible for a horse to throw off heat
through four inches of hair. If you are riding hard enough
that your horse comes home dripping wet, then have a
heart and clip him.
4. Do you sponge your horse on trail? This
is an endurance rider’s trick. Get your horse
used to this at home, and then see how much
he enjoys it on trail. Buy or make a sponge
on a string (found in catalogs or websites
for endurance tack). When you are riding in
extreme heat and you cross a stream, stop
your horse for a moment. Drop the sponge
into the creek while keeping the other end
looped around your wrist, then pull it up
and squeeze it out over your horse’s neck
and withers. This is a cool and refreshing
treat for your horse that can really make a
difference. (It works well down the back of
your neck if you’re hot too!)
5
. One way to keep your horse much more
comfortable when camping out with you is
to put a reflective fly sheet on him. This will
keep off all those nasty biting bugs and also
keep him cool. A horse that is tied and can’t
roll to keep the biting flies off, or one that
is standing in the sun, will really appreciate
this kindness.
6. A simple way to cool your horse on trail
is to give him a break in the shade. If you’ve
just climbed a steep bit of trail and you want
to give him a breather, stop under a tree.
This can really perk up a hot sweaty horse,
and being out of the sun for just a few minutes can make a big difference in his body
temperature. 7
. If your horse is very, very hot, then don’t
stop and stand. That’s kind of like turning off
your truck when it overheats – the temperature will immediately climb. If your horse is
overheating then get off and hand walk him,
slowly, until he has cooled down a bit. If he
is hot to the point of exhaustion, then pour
cold water over his neck and withers (but not
their back), scrape it off, then repeat, until
the water running off your horse is cool.
• August
15, 2008
2007 79
79
• April
8
. Riders have an amazing
variety of clothing available
to them that will help
with cooling. Special
Don’t drink caffeine or sodas if you want
vests can keep the
torso cool, and banto keep cool. Yes, that cup of coffee in the
danas you can soak
morning will make you sweat more. And
in water that will stay
cool for a long time.
women, especially, should not drink carHelmet inserts can
bonated beverages, as it interferes with
help keep your head
calcium absorption
cool, and shielding the
back of your neck with a
cloth that attaches to your
helmet will keep the hot sun off
your tender skin. Long sleeved shirts
made for riding or running can really help
keep you cool, as odd as that sounds.
9. If it’s really hot, pouring cold water on
the back of your neck, or on the top of your
head, will have an instant cooling effect.
Cold water on your wrists is a great cooling
technique also. Use the sponge you got for
your horse and dribble a bit of water down
your back when you cross a stream.
10
. Drinking icy cold water used to be
considered bad for you but now we know
that it actually absorbs faster than cool water.
It sure tastes better on a hot day! Insulated
bottle holders that you can attach to your
saddle will keep your drinks cold for hours.
Try freezing half your bottle, then you will
have cold water to drink all day long as it
gradually thaws.
11
Come visit my website and I’ll arm you with the best
truck knowledge to help you buy the right truck or suv
and the right accessories to make your
trailering experience safe and fun.
www.MrTr uck.com
In my 32 years on the farm, I’ve put over a million miles
pulling trailers and wearing out pickup trucks and I am making all my experience available to the
equestrian market to help you.
Read my “Truth About Trucks” and other
Free Truck and SUV reviews.
80 August
15, •2007
April 2008
. Don’t drink caffeine or sodas if you
want to keep cool. Yes, that cup of coffee
in the morning will make you sweat more.
And women, especially, should not drink
carbonated beverages, as it interferes with
calcium absorption. So leave the colas at
home and think lemonade, or better yet,
just pure cold water.
12
. Wear the rider’s equivalent of a
reflective fly sheet – put on white or light
clothes before a long hot trail ride. Who
cares if your clothes are grubby at the end
of your ride, if you are cool and comfortable
all day long? Invest in a couple of the really
great sport shirts that are UV protectant and
especially designed for wicking and airflow.
These shirts feel like tissue paper but are
very hard-wearing. Combined with some
light-colored breeches or jeans, you’ll be
amazed at how much cooler you’ll stay on a
hot sunny day. TB
• August
15, 2008
2007 81
81
• April
Ten Tips to Keep Your
Truck Running Cool
Summer is coming, and in some states it is already hot. Before you start
pulling around a trailer full of horses and putting that additional load on
your truck, it’s wise to take care of the items that ensure your engine and
cooling system will function well. There’s nothing like sitting on the side of
the road with the sun beating down, watching steam pour out from under
your hood! These few steps will enable you to keep your cool.
are you have no idea if your fan clutch works.
Find out before you haul over to the mountains for a summer ride. Many elements of
the cooling system do not work until they are
exercised by hauling in warm temps, uphill.
New trucks are usually fine if you are hauling
within the recommended load range, but if
your truck has a little age on it then make
sure you test everything before you head up
to the Appalachians, the Rockies, the Sierra
Nevadas, or anyplace else where it seems
like you’re going uphill forever.
3
. Think about your radiator. When is the
last time you had it cleaned or flushed? Is
your truck five or six years old? If you are
experiencing diminished cooling then it’s
probably time to re-core your radiator or
get a new one. Especially if you’ve had it
flushed and your truck temperature gauge
still creeps up.
Radiators get a thick mat of crud that settles
in the bottom which makes them work very
poorly. They also can get blocked externally
by dirt and insects. Since radiators are key
to cooling the engine, you’ll want to make
sure yours works perfectly. You very rarely
can increase the size of the radiator, so the
proper fix is to keep yours clean and well
maintained, and replaced or re-cored when
necessary. Keeping it full of the proper mix
of coolant is critical also. It should be at least
50/50 anti-freeze and water; check with your
mechanic or radiator shop to see what is
recommended for your truck and summer
conditions.
4
1. First, know your truck. Do you keep
maintenance records? If so, check them;
if not, start keeping them now. Hoses and
belts need to be replaced at regular intervals, before they break. The same with
your fan clutch, radiator, tires, and batteries.
Most of these items should be replaced on
a schedule instead of trying to squeeze one
last season or month out of them. Add up
what it will cost you, for instance, if a tire
blows and takes a fender off your horse
trailer, leaving you stranded, or at best,
inconvenienced. Is it really worth it to get
that last bit of tread used up?
Check the manual for your vehicle and
see what’s recommended for replacement
at what mileage or age. Then make a visual
inspection of your truck’s various components. Do the same for your horse trailer.
Have the brakes checked on both. If your
brakes fail on your horse trailer you’ll burn
up your truck brakes trying to slow it down on
a steep downhill. Preventive maintenance is
well worth the time and money spent.
2
. Load your horse trailer and go for a
drive close to home, up a long steep hill, on
a warm day. If you are a flatlander, chances
82 August
15, •2007
April 2008
. The fan clutch is so important we’re
going to bring it up again. This component
is extremely critical in keeping your engine
cool. When it fails, your fan will not come on
and the engine can start to overheat dramatically. If you live and haul on flat ground,
chances are your fan clutch never comes on.
It’s almost impossible to even test it. Many
mechanics will tell you yours is fine, even
when it isn’t.
If you are going to be hauling horses in the
mountains in any season but dead of winter, be sure to test your fan clutch yourself
by putting a big load on your engine and
checking to make sure it comes on. (Drive
up a VERY steep hill or mountain with two
or more horses in the trailer, in warm or
preferably hot temperatures). You should
be able to hear it come on. When your
engine temperature starts to climb, the fan
clutch should kick in, and you will see the
temperature fall on your gauge. If it doesn’t
work, get a new one.
If you go to any mechanic’s shop partway
up a big mountain range, they will tell you
all about how many truck and trailer rigs
stop there to have the fan clutch replaced.
Remember, continuing to drive your rig with
a hot engine can cause damages in the many
thousands of dollars.
5
. Check every component of your cooling system. Here are some of the items that
can affect your truck’s cooling ability: water
pump, thermostat, radiator cap, reservoir,
temperature gauge, heater core, and heater
fan. And of course, radiator, fan clutch, hoses,
belts and coolant type and levels.
6. For staying cool inside the truck, have
your air conditioning system serviced before
you need it. Nothing like a 100 degree day
with no AC! These systems like to be exercised and they do get a little workout when
you turn on your defroster. If you never use
that, then turn on your AC a few times during
the winter. And try it in spring before you
need it and the local mechanic gets booked
up for weeks.
7. Know the maximum load you can safely
pull. This will also be the maximum load you
can safely stop. It is common to see little
trucks and SUVs hauling huge trailers. Hey,
just because the seller of that three-horse
gooseneck said you could haul it with a 6cylinder short bed doesn’t mean it’s true.
8. Be realistic about your load. When you
pack up your trailer do you have a water
tank, six bales of hay, two or three fat horses
and a bunch of heavy saddles? Don’t live
life on the edge. Know what all that stuff
weighs and factor it into the load you can
safely haul. If you’re overweight, then take
two horses instead of three. Or, get a bigger truck. Or diet your horses and take less
water…. whatever it takes. And while you’re
at it, check the load range on your tires and
axles - they are often rated for less weight
than you are actually carrying. The truth will
only hurt you if an axle breaks or tire blows
due to being overloaded, so get informed
about what you own.
9
. Tricks to keeping your truck cool when
you’re hauling: turn off your AC anytime you
are going up in the mountains hauling a big
load. Don’t wait for it to start overheating,
stay ahead of the game.
Stop driving like Richard Petty. Driving
slowly will save fuel and enable you to stop
faster when need be. Petal to the metal up
a steep hill burns more than fuel – just take
a few more minutes and be kind to your engine and your horses. They hate that sudden
surge of acceleration and slamming to a stop
more than they can tell you.
10. If you do heat up pulling uphill, turn
off your AC, slow down, and pull over. Leave
your engine running. When you shut off your
engine the temperature will zoom. Don’t
open your radiator cap or pour water on
anything. Call your emergency road service
(you do have one, don’t you?). Remember
that auto-based ones can’t tow your trailer,
so get an equine service if you haul horses.
Make a resolution to go through this list
again when you get home and do everything
you can to keep your rig running cool from
now on! TB
™
Are You Ready to
Equicache™?
This website will go live in the summer
of 2008 with a very sophisticated
database to make it easy for all trail
riders to join the millions of “cachers”
around the world to stash and find
your own treasure on the trail!
www.equicache.us
• August
15, 2008
2007 83
83
• April
How to Keep Your Canine
Cool, Safe and
Comfortable on Trail
Do you love to take you dog camping and riding with you? Many dog
owners really enjoy having their pets close to them at all times.
In summer, it’s wise to take extra precautions to keep your dog safe
and cool while on the trail and in camp.
Before you leave on a trip, it’s
good to get your gear and paperwork together for the dogs as well
as the horses. Here’s a list of some
essentials:
• Rabies certificates to show proof
of current inoculations
• A photo of your pet in case she
gets lost
• Food and water bowls
• A container to keep dog food in
so it can be stored in a bear-safe
fashion
• Insect protection, and flea and
tick repellant
• Something to sleep on
• A way to provide shade
Planning ahead in case of
worst case scenario is not being
negative; it’s a way to prevent bad
things from happening in many
cases. Having your dog’s proof of
rabies vaccination can keep you
from having her locked up by animal control if she bites someone.
It’s not uncommon for summer
vacationers to let their dogs out to
potty and they run off. A photo will
enable you to immediately notify
many agencies and make flyers.
If you really want to make
sure you can find your pet if they
get lost, it’s best to microchip her.
Agencies like HomeAgain will
register the microchip, and if your
dog goes missing they will get
immediately get your photo and
information up on their website
and help you find your pet.
84 August
15, •2007
April 2008
Bringing food and water from home is
better than throwing your pet dinner leftovers and letting her lap up stream water.
Your pet’s usual food will keep her digestive
system in happy mode, which makes camp
and your truck smell better. Be sure to lock
that dog food up just like the human food
and keep it away from the bears. It will draw
ants to camp if you feed right next to your
tent…they love the fat in most dog food.
So it’s best to feed away from anyplace you
don’t want creepy crawlies. And that stream
water thing? Yeah, sounds ridiculous. Dogs
can drink anything, right? Yes, it does seem
like they can, and this isn’t meant to tell
you not to let them, as they need plenty to
drink. But do remember that it only takes
a tiny drop of contaminated water to give
YOU giardia, and beware if you have one of
those sneaky French-kissing dogs that love
to slurp your face.
If you are camping in the heat, and leaving the dogs in camp, be sure there is plenty
of shade. Often someone will tie a dog in
a shady spot and go off to ride, and hours
later when the sun has moved around, the
poor pooch is frying. Make certain your dog
has shade, water and a containment system
that won’t get tangled. High line systems are
available for dogs, just like horses. Or make
your own by putting a rope through an iron
ring, tying the rope up high, and attaching
another rope to the ring. Make sure it can
slide freely the length of the line and then
you can clip it to your dog’s collar. Never tie
a puppy this way, and don’t tie to a choke
chain.
Letting your dogs sleep on the ground
will probably be fine with them. You’ll keep
the back seat of your truck cleaner if you
bring something for them to sleep on. Old
horse blankets make great dog beds.
Remember to bring some kind of tool
for pooper-scooping. It sure ruins a nice
camp to track dog poop through it on your
boots, or worse, in the tread of your hiking
shoes. Be kind to those who will come after
you, unaware that your pet has left doggy
bombs.
Collapsible water bowls are great to
take if your dog goes out riding with you.
You should be carrying water bottles on your
horse or saddle if you are out for a ride of
any distance, so just clip on one of these
collapsible water bowls as well, and make
sure your dog gets to drink. Remember, you
are riding, but your dogs are running, and
if it is a scorching hot humid day, just say
no, no matter how much your dogs beg,
and leave them in camp. (Assuming
Planning ahead in case of worst case
that they won’t bark constantly or
bother other nearby campers; but
scenario is not being negative; it’s a
you’ll have trained them not to
way to prevent bad things from
do this before you went camping, right?)
happening in many cases. A photo
Be sure your dog has proper
will enable you to immediately notify
manners on the trail just like your
horse – this will make you much
many agencies and make flyers.
more popular with other trail riders
and keep everyone safe. Not every rider
is ready to sit on a horse that is startled by
a dog jumping out of the bushes. Keep your
dogs close to you and in sight at all times,
they need to stay hydrated. The bowls can
and train them to mind you when you’re ridbe found on some dog product websites and
ing (even though you aren’t close enough to
also on endurance tack store websites.
grab them and they know it.)
Consider what kind of shape your dog
Being prepared and ready for normal
is in, and factor in the heat and humidity.
events and unplanned ones can make your
A dog that has been lying around in front
camping trip fun and stress-free for dogs and
of the fire all winter is no more ready for a
humans both. Remember that old saying ten mile run than you are. Just because she
an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
will do it doesn’t mean she should. Be kind
cure! Be safe and have fun this summer.
to your pet’s feet, joints and muscles, and
For more information on microchipping
they will feel better and be healthier. And
your pet see: www.HomeAgain.com TB
“MOUNTAIN TRAIL
RIDING AT IT’S BEST”
/VERMILESOFMOUNTAINTRAILS
%ASYACCESSFROM)ATEXIT
FORT VALLEY STABLE
#ABIN2ENTALSs3HOWERSs7ATER
%LECTRIC#AMPSITESs#AMP3TORE
s$UMP3TATIONs#ORRAL0ENSs#OVERED
#ORRAL0ENSs0ADDOCKSs&REE4RAIL-APS
s'UIDED4RAIL2IDESs3PECTACULAR6IEWS
299South
FortFort
Valley
Rd.
299
Valley
Rd.
Fort
Valley,
VA
22652
Fort Valley, VA 22652
540-933-6633
(Toll Free) 888-754-5771
RICKANDSANDY FORTVALLEYSTABLECOM
www.fortvalleystable.com
• August
15, 2008
2007 85
85
• April
It’s All About Keeping Cool by Terri Folks
1
3
4
2
5
6
7
8
9
10
12
11
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
21
24
20
22
23
25
26
27
28
29
Across
Down
3. Check every _______ of your cooling system.
5. Keep ___ in front of your horses at all times and in all seasons.
7. Bring some kind of ____ for pooper-scooping for when you go
camping and take your dog.
8. A simple formula that combines temperature and humidity to
determine the heat _____.
9. You can have your dog inserted with a ________ so that if she is
lost, she will be easier to find.
10. _______ is another sign of heat stress in a horse.
13. If your horse is very, very hot, then don’t ____ and stand.
15. Radiators get a thick mat of ___ that settles in the bottom.
17. As sweat evaporates from the skin, it _____.
22. If your horse is suffering from ______ - his respiration is high than
his heart rate.
25. A _________ fly sheet will keep your horse comfortable when
camping to keep off the bugs and keep him cool.
26. Buy or make a _____ on a string. Use this to cool off your horse in
water.
27. Driving ______ will save fuel and enable you to stop fast when
need be.
28. The average resting _____ rate for a horse is 28-45.
29. Learn how to use ____________ if you ride hard in hot weather.
1. Be sure your dog has proper ________ on the trail, just like your
horse.
2. Keep your radiator full of the proper mix of _______.
4. Know the _________ load, your truck can safely pull.
6. If your horse is still hairy with his winter coat, you can ____ him to
aid his comfort level in the summer heat.
7. Your horse’s back is a huge area of ________ heat once you add
the pad, saddle and rider.
11. 28. Special vests can keep the _____ cool.
12. ________ water bowls are great to take if your dog goes riding
with you.
14. The fan _____ is extremely critical in keeping your engine cool.
16. Be sure to bring your ______ certificates when you travel with
your dogs.
18. Replace your truck’s hoses and belts at _______ intervals.
19. A horse that is _____ up will sweat profusely.
20. Don’t ever dump or spray ____ water on your horse’s back or
rump.
21. Lock up your dog food because it could _____ ants.
23. You want your horse to _____ as that will keep him cool.
24. If you are camping in the heat and leaving your dogs in camp, be
sure there is plenty of _____.
86 August
15, •2007
April 2008
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• August
15, 2008
2007 87
87
• April
trailBlazer
Magazine
celebrates 30 years as the trail rider’s favorite magazine
8SWEEPSTAKES
8888
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Which of these fabulous trail saddles would you like to win?
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Trail Blazer Magazine celebrates 30 years
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ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY
4-Star Trailers.................................... 5
Abetta Saddles.................................37
ATHA.............................................. 85
Arbico Organics...............................13
B & W Trailer Hitches.........................57
Backcountry Horsemen
of America................................... 69
Behlen.............................................81
Biomedical Labs............................... 53
Bird-X............................................. 52
Bitless Bridle................................... 45
BlackWing Farms............................. 69
Cherokee Aluminum Trailers.............. 43
Circle Y Saddlery............................. 25
Corium 21 For Dry Skin..................... 69
Crest Ridge Saddlery........................ 28
Custom Tree & Saddle.......................91
Down Under Saddle Supply................. 4
EasyCare, Inc.................................... 4
Equestrian Safety Products............... 69
Equi-Racks...................................... 83
Equithotics, Inc............................... 33
EQYSS Grooming Products................. 3
Eureka Specialty Products................. 38
EzSignsOnline..................................87
FarmTek..........................................24
Fort Valley Stable............................. 85
Giddy Up Go LLC............................ 69
Gold Bar Ranch................................ 69
Havard Sales Management Co.............75
Hi Tack............................................10
High Horse Saddles.......................... 20
Highland Ranch............................... 32
Horsecity.com..................................87
J M Saddler Inc..................................16
J T International Distributors................ 2
Kerrits.............................................. 9
Life Data Labs...................................57
MrTruck.......................................... 80
Murphy Trailer Sales..........................77
Owl Mountain Graphics.................... 68
Pop-up Industries............................. 69
Priefert............................................11
Professional’s Choice .......................17
Raye Lochert Horsemanship.............. 60
S S G Gloves.................................. 92
Silvertip Halters............................... 33
Smith Brothers..................................12
StableKare...................................... 69
Sundowner....................................... 7
Tack Room Inc................................. 38
The Horsewoman Spirit..................... 42
The Stagecoach West....................... 29
TieRite Sales, Inc............................. 69
Titan Trailer Manufacturing.................12
Tucker Saddlery............................... 65
Weaver Leather............................... 49
Well Horse Equine Organics.............. 79
Wick Buildings..................................21
Wisconsin State Horse Council...........67

equestrian travel

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