Developing a special partnership with a horse takes equal parts hard work, perseverance, and passion, but once formed, such a bond can last a lifetime. For Japanese-American cowgirl Miko Moriuchi McFarland and her American Paint Horse, Sparkle Grady One Eye (“Bandit”), an unshakable relationship has helped them stand out from the crowd while making a career of trick riding and accomplishing amazing things together during their 18 years together.

Conquering the World

McFarland and Bandit, an overo gelding with one blue eye and one brown eye, have competed in a plethora of disciplines, including mounted archery, extreme cowboy racing, drill team, western pleasure, horsemanship and trail.

As a professional trick-riding duo, they also helped found and train the Trixie Chicks Trick Riders, and have performed trick riding and Roman riding in countless rodeo circuits, including the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Some of their most notable experiences include carrying the American flag during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Ky., and exhibiting alongside the Budweiser Clydesdales.

According to McFarland, who lives in Lexington, Ky., her special partnership with Bandit is what made it all possible.

“It’s a great thing to have the kind of partnership with an animal where you don’t even have language as a common ground, but you have this unspoken relationship where you understand each other,” says McFarland. “In many ways, I feel like I know Bandit better than I know myself, because he’s always been that steady presence in my life.”

Learning Together

McFarland and Bandit have been fast friends ever since she bought him as a green 3-year-old in 2003. At the time, McFarland was trick riding professionally in Dolly Parton’s Stampede in her hometown of Branson, Mo. When she was little, her parents ignited her passion for horses with riding lessons and the gift of an ornery Shetland pony, but at the time she met Bandit, it had been years since she’d had a horse of her own.

“I put myself through college by trick riding in the Stampede,” says McFarland. “I would go to class during the day and perform six nights a week. I also saved up enough money to buy [Bandit], a little stud colt, from the show’s production manager. Several horses from his bloodline were already established trick-riding horses in the show, so I thought I’d take a chance on him. He had a willing attitude and a cool confidence about him, but no experience, and I was a feisty, overly confident college graduate.”

Faced with the task of training her first horse, McFarland wasn’t sure how to begin. But the man who sold Bandit to her gave her a piece of advice that she’s never forgotten.

“He was an experienced cowboy who was a very calm, gentle hand with the horses,” she says. “One of the things he told me was that my responsibility as a horse owner was to make sure that I was always setting Bandit up for success in any experience or situation. I took that to heart. Of course I made mistakes along the way, but I wanted to learn as much as I could from as many different disciplines and sports as I could.”

Made for Trick Riding

Over the course of their first years together, McFarland made sure to expose Bandit to as many situations and experiences as possible, including introducing him to a variety of disciplines, such as western dressage, horsemanship and Extreme Cowboy Racing.

By the time Bandit was 8 years old, McFarland decided he was ready to learn to be a trick-riding mount. In addition to drawing on her own experiences training trick-riding horses for the Stampede, McFarland took Bandit out west to train with the Harry Vold Rodeo Company in Avondale, Colo.

“At the time, there were probably less than 100 people in the United States who were actively trick riding,” she says. “Trick riding has become more popular over the last 10 years or so, but for a while, it was a dying sport. The Vold Rodeo Company are renowned rodeo professionals who were the go-to people at the time to learn how to trick-ride.”

During their time in Colorado, McFarland worked carefully with Bandit, teaching him how to get used to the way her weight might change and shift as she performed different trick-riding maneuvers on his back, under his belly or around his chest and sides.

“Everything I asked him to do, he did with a willing attitude,” she says. “That’s something that has always impressed me about Bandit.”

Turning Points

Bandit’s willingness to please was put to the test during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Ky. During the closing ceremonies, McFarland and Bandit were honored with the task of carrying the American flag.

“They wanted us to do it in a liberty stand, where you stand on top of the saddle and ride at a full gallop,” says McFarland. “The only catch was that there were 20 other horses in the arena. That part was intimidating for me because I knew I could account for Bandit, but I didn’t know if the other horses might spook.”

As they prepared to enter the arena, McFarland gathered the flag and her courage in both hands and made Bandit a promise.

“I told him, ‘Let’s carry this flag and represent the United States well, and if you can do your job, then I promise I will take care of you the rest of your life,” she remembers. “You don’t have to worry about anything—just help me get through these next few minutes.’ I was so nervous!”

Within moments, a star-spangled McFarland and Bandit galloped through the arena at full speed. With her horse running steadily and smoothly beneath her, McFarland stood proud and straight atop Bandit’s withers, the stars and stripes flowing gracefully from her outstretched hands.

Affinity for Archery

After that ride, she knew it was time that she and Bandit find new ways to enjoy their partnership. In 2009, McFarland tore her ACL in a riding accident on a different horse, so she knew that her trick riding days were numbered.

Over the next few years, McFarland and Bandit worked together to coach and train the founding members of the Trixie Chicks Trick Riders, now one of the country’s most popular trick riding teams. They also embarked on a variety of other adventures, including learning mounted archery.

“I enjoy mounted archery because it welcomes riders and horses of all breeds and backgrounds,” says McFarland. “It doesn’t matter what breed of horse you have or what discipline you ride. It doesn’t matter what kind of tack you use or what training your horse has. Everyone can compete together because what matters is your strategy and your partnership with your horse.”

The Next Generation

While Bandit continues to be one of McFarland’s main riding horses, he has taken on a new role as leadline pony for her 5-year-old daughter, Emii. Now 21 years old, Bandit is demonstrating a new talent for gentleness and slowness as he introduces Emii to the world of horses.

“As a trick rider, you achieve an entirely new level of partnership with a horse when you trust him with your life by doing trick riding stunts in a high-intensity, high-speed performance,” says McFarland. “But it’s a whole other level when you can entrust your child’s life to a horse. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner than Bandit because he’s been able to do everything I’ve ever asked of him, from high-voltage performances to being a leadline horse for my daughter. That’s one of the things that makes him so special.”

Proud to Stand Out

On a more personal level, McFarland has learned a lot of valuable lessons from Bandit. As a Japanese-American, she says it hasn’t always been easy to be a part of the horse industry, but Bandit has shown her the value of standing out in a crowd.

“Bandit commands attention wherever he goes, and he wears his colors loud and proud,” McFarland says. “I think that’s helped me find my courage and my own level of comfort in knowing that I may look different, and my name may sound different, but in the arena, it’s all about the partnership with your horse and what you can do, rather than who you are or what you look like.”

It’s a lesson she hopes to pass on, not just to her daughter, but to other young men and women establishing their places in the horse industry.

“People are being more intentional about confronting prejudices nowadays,” says McFarland. “It’s empowering to see people of color representing themselves in the horse world. Like Bandit’s markings, I choose to wear my heritage as a badge of honor. Every single person is special and unique and brings qualities and experiences to the horse industry that will only help us grow. No matter your background, you can make your mark in the equine industry because horses help level the playing field.”

This article about Miko McFarland’s trick riding career appeared in the October 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Making a Career Out of Trick Riding appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Plan Before Trail Riding with Children

It’s crucial to plan your trip from start to finish, whether it’s your first outing riding as a family or your fifteenth. In addition to keeping everyone safe and sound, developing a plan for your next riding adventure can maximize your family’s enjoyment of the trip and help everything go off without a hitch.

Of course, before leaving the arena, children should always be taught to ride independently in an enclosed arena until they are confident and competent to control the speed and direction of a horse appropriate to their level. And if you are riding with a family member that is not your own child, be sure to secure permission from their parent or guardian.

Lifelong equestrian Amber Wighton of Arroyo Grande, Calif., has been taking her two children, Abby, 11, and Beau, 10, on family riding adventures since they were 4 and 5 years old. Together, the trio has made some incredible memories, from galloping down a nearby horse-friendly beach to participating in cattle drives at a friend’s working cattle ranch. Along with the support of her husband, Blake, Amber curates these riding adventures to help her children become smart, independent equestrians who can handle just about anything they encounter on the trails.

Whether you want to take the family on a riding day trip or start small by hitting the trails for an afternoon, here are Amber’s tried-and-true tips for making horse riding with kids as fun and carefree as possible.

1. Keep Expectations Realistic

Check your expectations at the tack room door. Taking kids on a day-long hose ride isn’t always easy, even for an experienced equestrian. Remembering that is half the battle, says Amber.

“I think all [people] get this idyllic vision from time to time about outings with kids,” she says. “I’ve literally envisioned Sound of Music-style grassy knolls with my kids’ hands in the air while the wind blows through their hair and their horses are in a perfect canter. Then I remember that I have two elementary-aged kids, plus horses. Both are incredibly unpredictable. You have to expect some tears, insecurities and frustration. That’s completely normal.”

Even though you might encounter difficulties on your first few trips, don’t let that hold you back.

“Every challenge is an opportunity to teach kids how to conduct themselves on a trail,” Amber says. “A lot of people put off this kind of trip because they want to wait until the kids are a certain age or they’ve got a different horse, but you’ve got to work with what you have. There’s always going to be a reason not to go. Push through it!” (Within reason, of course.)

2. Plan With Care

Get familiar with the trail system or destination that you’re planning to visit. Make sure you know where horses are allowed, where you can park your rig and what facilities are available. When choosing a trail, be honest with yourself about the kids’ riding abilities.

Amber also likes to choose locations where it’s easy to take a fun break, like trails that go past swimming holes and rope swings or that lead to restaurants with hitching rails.
“It’s so much nicer to have buy-in from the kids,” says Amber. “I want them to be excited about where we’re going, and I want it to be a bonding experience for all of us. It’s easier to stay home or ride in the arena, but when we go on trips like these, we have these great recaps of how we galloped through the water or crossed this stream that we didn’t think we could cross.”

3. Put Safety First

Accidents can happen any time you combine kids with horses—that includes experienced kids on their own horses. Children should always wear a properly fitting riding helmet that is less than five years old.

Before you go horse riding with kids, make sure everyone’s cell phones are fully charged, that you will be in a service area for phone reception, and take a portable power bank with you.

“Knowing where we have cell service is important,” Amber says. “When I know I’ve got good service, I tell the kids. Then if something happens to me, they can get the phone out of my backpack and call someone. We also make sure we tell someone where we’re going and how long we’re going to be gone.”

Abby, Amber’s daughter, says that as a kid, part of keeping yourself safe on the trails is knowing your horse.

“I think it’s important to know what you need to do to help keep your horse safe,” Abby says. “If you know he doesn’t like crossing water, for example, don’t push him through it unless you have to. You should also know what your skill levels are, so if you don’t feel safe jumping over something, go around it.”

4. Pack Smart

Be careful in packing so you don’t forget a piece of tack or equipment. Ideally, every rider should have a small first-aid kit on their person, such as in a jacket pocket or backpack. Keep every kit stocked with Band-Aids, acetaminophen, gauze and alcohol wipes. If space allows, the lead rider should carry a full-sized first-aid kit in a backpack. If not, make sure there’s one for both horses and humans stashed in your trailer.

The Wightons like to carry water and snacks, as well as hoof picks, baling twine, small pocketknives and rubber bands.

“A little while ago, we were on a trail ride and my headstall broke,” Abby recalls. “I had a big rubber band with me, so I was able to put it back together to finish the ride. Now we carry baling twine in our pockets just in case something like that breaks.”

Always tack up after you get to your destination before trail riding with children; it can be dangerous to trailer tacked horses, who can snag a stirrup or bridle on a trailer divider or latch and panic, possibly injuring themselves or causing the other horse(s) in the trailer to panic, too.

Horses should be comfortable standing tied to the trailer or hitching rails at the trail head, but bring extra halters in case one breaks.

5. Celebrate the Small Victories

While it’s important to make sure your kids are riding safely and effectively on the trail, a trail ride or day trip is not the time to school children on the quality of their equitation. Save those critiques for the arena. Instead, focus on building a child’s confidence on the trail and acknowledge what they’re doing right, Amber suggests.

“I like to acknowledge the little wins,” she says. “For example, if they couldn’t cross a stream last time, but they do it this time, I like to remind them that it’s a new personal best.”

6. Remember to Have Fun

Trail riding with children is an opportunity to make valuable memories. Amber and her kids love to create playlists for the ride, engage in visual scavenger hunts or find little games to play on the trail with each other.

As the kids grow older and become more advanced in their riding skills, start scouting out trails or locations that challenge their abilities and help them learn how to navigate new obstacles on the trail. Above all, remember that the goal of every riding adventure is to have fun!

The Family Business When the Wightons aren’t going on equestrian adventures as a family, they’re designing lightweight, kid-friendly tack for their company, Riding Free Tack. Amber and Abby started the company in 2018—when Abby was just 8 years old—as part of an effort to foster independence in horse-crazy kids. By designing fiberglass tree saddles that weigh just a fraction of traditional leather tack, they help kids develop the ability to saddle up their horses all by themselves. “We started Riding Free Tack because we wanted all kids to feel like they can go out and do things, like saddle up and ride, without needing their parents or older siblings to help them,” Abby explains. “Solving that problem and making the family business has helped motivate all of us to be independent and work hard all the time.” Although she’s only 11, Abby participates in all aspects of the business, such as creating and implementing designs for the tack and helping with marketing ideas. “The business started as Abby’s idea to help kids, but it has flourished into something that we’re hoping to market and reach the entire family,” says Amber. “We’re marketing the lightweight tack we started with for kids, but we’re also moving into traditional all-leather tack with unique designs. It’s been really fun to get into as a whole family.”

This article about trail riding with children originally appeared in the August 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Prep for Trail Riding with Children appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

That’s why it’s crucial for horse owners to learn to identify the causes and clinical signs of common dermatitis. By educating yourself about them, you can quickly and correctly treat the problem. Your horse will thank you!

A Healthy Skin Barrier

According to Rosanna Marsella, DVM, a veterinary dermatologist at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla., the key to preventing many problematic skin conditions is to protect your horse’s skin from trauma.

Grooming your horse on a daily basis can help keep your horse’s skin and hair healthy, but it’s also important to provide horses with adequate shelter from the elements, as well as protection from biting insects. When trauma occurs to the skin, your horse becomes more susceptible to bacterial or fungal infections.

“Animals who are immunosuppressed, or out in the rain day in and day out, or getting bitten by bugs, experience more trauma to the skin,” Marsella explains. “If the skin has no insect bites and the horse isn’t itchy and rubbing himself on a tree, for example, then the integrity of the skin barrier remains intact.”

Fight Flies

In addition to practicing good grooming habits to keep your horse’s skin and hair healthy, invest in a good fly product to prevent bites.

“Use of effective fly repellent is key, and that’s actually a topic that frequently confuses many people,” says Marsella. “The labels on some products may make them sound like repellents when they’re actually insecticides. If you spray an insecticide directly on an insect, it dies. But insecticide doesn’t prevent the insect from actually landing on the horse. That’s why you need to use repellent.”

When you’re looking for fly repellent, Marsella recommends checking the active ingredient listed as well as the percentage of the active ingredient.

“One example is permethrin,” she says. “In order to be a repellent, a fly spray product has to be at least 0.5 or 1 percent permethrin. But if a product only has 0.1 percent permethrin, then it’s not a repellent.”

For horses who may be allergic to chemicals, Marsella recommends trying botanical products, such as neem oil.

“Neem oil is a demonstrated repellent against mosquitos and no-see-ums,” says Marsella.

There’s another benefit to a daily routine of grooming and using fly repellent. By laying your hands on your horse every day, you’ll learn what’s normal for him and what’s not. Then you can spot skin issues in the making before they ever become full-blown problems.
There are many different skin conditions in horses, often with multiple contributing factors. Some horses can develop secondary issues, such as staph infections, which may require prolonged medical treatment from a veterinarian. If you suspect your horse is developing a skin condition, call your vet immediately.

Cannon Crud Cannon keratosis is often used to refer to “cannon crud,” or the development of flaky skin and oily build-up of keratin on the front of the cannon bones. But there’s also a genetic condition known as primary cannon keratosis. “Primary cannon keratosis is not common,” says Rosanna Marsella, DVM, a veterinary dermatologist at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. “There are some horses that are genetically prone to this disease. The skin has a different way of maturing in some body areas, including on the cannon bone. This is not an infection. Horses with primary cannon keratosis will be genetically prone to it, and they will always have a little bit of crusty skin in that area. The treatment is management using shampoos to soften and loosen up the scabs. These horses can also get keratosis on their sides or chest.” For the non-genetic form of cannon keratosis, gently groom your horse’s legs with a curry comb and wash with an keratolytic shampoo to help manage crusty scabs and flaky skin.

Rain Rot

Rain rot is caused by the bacterium Dermatophilus congolensis. Characterized by small, round scabs crowned with matted hair, rain rot lesions typically develop along the topline of the horse.

“The development of the disease is precipitated by moisture, which is why we call it ‘rain rot,’” says Marsella. “It’s common in animals who are immunosuppressed or out in the rain and bitten by insects. Dermatophilus can access the skin when there’s trauma. Don’t pick at the scabs, because it’s painful for your horse and also delays healing. When the scabs are ready and the skin underneath is healthy, the scabs will come off on their own. But pulling a scab off and leaving a raw spot is never the answer.”

Rain rot is contagious and zoonotic, which means that other horses and humans can contract the condition. Marsella recommends treating rain rot with an antimicrobial shampoo, such as chlorhexidine or benzoyl peroxide.

“People can be overzealous and like to scrub at the lesions, because they think it will speed up the recovery, but the single most important thing is contact time,” says Marsella. “Apply the shampoo, gently massage it in, and then set your clock for 10 minutes and go do something else. Then come back and rinse. Contact time is what really makes the difference.”

Scratches

Pastern dermatitis, or scratches, is a name for a clinical syndrome, rather than a specific disease. Another common name for scratches is “dew poisoning.” Pastern dermatitis refers to the development of scabby areas on or near the pasterns. Two of the most common causes of pastern dermatitis include bacterial infections and mange.

“Pastern dermatitis can be caused by a lot of different things, including allergies, auto-immune diseases, staph infections or vasculitis,” Marsella explains. “It’s common on horses with white legs or horses with feathers. When an owner has a horse with pastern dermatitis, they can use an anti-microbial shampoo because there’s probably an overgrowth of bacteria.”

In addition to treating for bacteria, owners can protect horses with white legs from pastern dermatitis by covering the legs with socks or wraps.

“Products like antimicrobial silver socks may help, but more importantly, the sock also protects the skin from UV exposure,” says Marsella. “Vasculitis is triggered by UV rays. You can either put socks on your horse or keep him inside during the day and turned out at night. Many cases of pastern dermatitis also have an insect component, so it’s important to use repellent.”

Mites can also cause pastern dermatitis in horses with feathers. Mites can spread from horse to horse and can also survive in the environment for several weeks.

“Feathered horses are prone to mites, and they get very itchy legs as a result,” says Marsella. “Some horses may become itchier than others because they develop allergies to the mites. When you have mites, you’ve got mange. To treat mange, you have to kill the mites with a treatment like a lime sulfur dip. If a horse is diagnosed with mites, everybody in contact has to get treated whether they’re symptomatic or not. The life cycle of the mite is three weeks, so treatment has to be at least that long.”

Ringworm

Ringworm is a common skin infection caused by a fungus, not a parasite. Ringworm presents as round, raised lesions on the skin that may be itchy.

“They call it ‘ringworm’ because it will develop a round lesion on the skin, but it’s actually caused by a fungus,” Marsella explains. “It is transmissible, so you need to treat the horse for it.”

Ringworm can be transmitted from horse to horse by direct contact or by sharing infected tack, brushes, clothing or other equipment between horses. Marsella recommends using an antifungal treatment, such as a lime sulfur dip, to treat ringworm.

“Lime sulfur is very effective at killing fungi and helps with the itching,” says Marsella. “It will also kill mites.”

Dealing with any kind of skin condition—especially before it gets out of hand—not only allows your horse to look his best, but it helps him stay comfortable, happy, and itch-free.

This article about equine dermatitis appeared in the September 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Scratch That: Stop Equine Skin Problems at the Root appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Believe it or not, skin is the body’s largest organ, so it makes sense that untreated skin funk can make your horse miserable in a hurry, especially when exacerbated by heat and biting insects. some skin conditions are also contagious—spreading from horse to horse—as well as zoonotic, meaning they spread from horses to humans.

That’s why it’s crucial for horse owners to learn to identify the causes and clinical signs of common skin issues. By educating yourself about them, you can quickly and correctly treat the problem. Your horse will thank you!

A Healthy Skin Barrier

According to Rosanna Marsella, DVM, a veterinary dermatologist at the University of Florida
in Gainesville, Fla., the key to preventing many problematic skin conditions is to protect your horse’s skin from trauma.

Grooming your horse on a daily basis can help keep your horse’s skin and hair healthy, but it’s also important to provide horses with adequate shelter from the elements, as well as protection from biting insects. When trauma occurs to the skin, your horse becomes more susceptible to bacterial or fungal infections.

“Animals who are immunosuppressed, or out in the rain day in and day out, or getting bitten by bugs, experience more trauma to the skin,” Marsella explains. “If the skin has no insect bites and the horse isn’t itchy and rubbing himself on a tree, for example, then the integrity of the skin barrier remains intact.”

Fight Flies

In addition to practicing good grooming habits to keep your horse’s skin and hair healthy, invest in a good fly product to prevent bites.

“Use of effective fly repellent is key, and that’s actually a topic that frequently confuses many people,” says Marsella. “The labels on some products may make them sound like repellents when they’re actually insecticides. If you spray an insecticide directly on an insect, it dies. But insecticide doesn’t prevent the insect from actually landing on the horse. That’s why you need to use repellent.”

When you’re looking for fly repellent, Marsella recommends checking the active ingredient listed as well as the percentage of the active ingredient.

“One example is permethrin,” she says. “In order to be a repellent, a fly spray product has to be at least 0.5 or 1 percent permethrin. But if a product only has 0.1 percent permethrin, then it’s not a repellent.”

For horses who may be allergic to chemicals, Marsella recommends trying botanical products, such as neem oil.

“Neem oil is a demonstrated repellent against mosquitos and no-see-ums,” says Marsella.

There’s another benefit to a daily routine of grooming and using fly repellent. By laying your hands on your horse every day, you’ll learn what’s normal for him and what’s not. Then you can spot skin issues in the making before they ever become full-blown problems.

There are many different skin conditions in horses, often with multiple contributing factors. Some horses can develop secondary issues, such as staph infections, which may require prolonged medical treatment from a veterinarian. If you suspect your horse is developing a skin condition, call your vet immediately.

Rain Rot

Rain rot is caused by the bacterium Dermatophilus congolensis. Characterized by small, round scabs crowned with matted hair, rain rot lesions typically develop along the topline of the horse.

“The development of the disease is precipitated by moisture, which is why we call it ‘rain rot,’” says Marsella. “It’s common in animals who are immunosuppressed or out in the rain and bitten by insects. Dermatophilus can access the skin when there’s trauma. Don’t pick at the scabs, because it’s painful for your horse and also delays healing. When the scabs are ready and the skin underneath is healthy, the scabs will come off on their own. But pulling a scab off and leaving a raw spot is never the answer.”

Rain rot is contagious and zoonotic, which means that other horses and humans can contract the condition. Marsella recommends treating rain rot with an antimicrobial shampoo, such as chlorhexidine or benzoyl peroxide.

“People can be overzealous and like to scrub at the lesions, because they think it will speed up the recovery, but the single most important thing is contact time,” says Marsella. “Apply the shampoo, gently massage it in, and then set your clock for 10 minutes and go do something else. Then come back and rinse. Contact time is what really makes the difference.”

Scratches

Pastern dermatitis, or scratches, is a name for a clinical syndrome, rather than a specific disease. Another common name for scratches is “dew poisoning.” Pastern dermatitis refers to the development of scabby areas on or near the pasterns. Two of the most common causes of pastern dermatitis include bacterial infections and mange.

“Pastern dermatitis can be caused by a lot of different things, including allergies, auto-immune diseases, staph infections or vasculitis,” Marsella explains. “It’s common on horses with white legs or horses with feathers. When an owner has a horse with pastern dermatitis, they can use an antimicrobial shampoo because there’s probably an overgrowth of bacteria.”

In addition to treating for bacteria, owners can protect horses with white legs from pastern dermatitis by covering the legs with socks or wraps.

“Products like antimicrobial silver socks may help, but more importantly, the sock also protects the skin from UV exposure,” says Marsella. “Vasculitis is triggered by UV rays. You can either put socks on your horse or keep him inside during the day and turned out at night. Many cases of pastern dermatitis also have an insect component, so it’s important to use repellent.”

Mites can also cause pastern dermatitis in horses with feathers. Mites can spread from horse to horse and can also survive in the environment for several weeks.

“Feathered horses are prone to mites, and they get very itchy legs as a result,” says Marsella. “Some horses may become itchier than others because they develop allergies to the mites. When you have mites, you’ve got mange.

To treat mange, you have to kill the mites with a treatment like a lime sulfur dip. If a horse is diagnosed with mites, everybody in contact has to get treated whether they’re symptomatic or not. The life cycle of the mite is three weeks, so treatment has to be at least that long.”

Ringworm

Ringworm is a common skin infection caused by a fungus, not a parasite. Ringworm presents as round, raised lesions on the skin that may be itchy.

“They call it ‘ringworm’ because it will develop a round lesion on the skin, but it’s actually caused by a fungus,” Marsella explains. “It is transmissible, so you need to treat the horse for it.”

Ringworm can be transmitted from horse to horse by direct contact or by sharing infected tack, brushes, clothing or other equipment between horses. Marsella recommends using an antifungal treatment, such as a lime sulfur dip, to treat ringworm. Pastern dermatitis, also known as “scratches,” is common on white legs.

“Lime sulfur is very effective at killing fungi and helps with the itching,” says Marsella. “It
will also kill mites.” Dealing with any kind of skin condition— especially before it gets out of hand—not only allows your horse to look his best, but it helps him stay comfortable, happy, and itch-free.

Allison Armstrong Rehnborg is a freelance equine writer and photographer who lives in Lebanon, Tenn. With her master’s degree in horse science, she writes about all aspects of horse care and management, including health, training and breeding.

Cannon Crud Cannon keratosis is often used to refer to “cannon crud,” or the development of flaky skin and oily build-up of keratin on the front of the cannon bones. But there’s also a genetic condition known as primary cannon keratosis. “Primary cannon keratosis is not common,” says Rosanna Marsella, DVM, a veterinary dermatologist at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. “There are some horses that are genetically prone to this disease. The skin has a different way of maturing in some body areas, including on the cannon bone. This is not an infection. Horses with primary cannon keratosis will be genetically prone to it, and they will always have a little bit of crusty skin in that area. The treatment is management using shampoos to soften and loosen up the scabs. These horses can also get keratosis on their sides or chest.” For the non-genetic form of cannon keratosis, gently groom your horse’s legs with a curry comb and wash with an keratolytic shampoo to help manage crusty scabs and flaky skin. To keep the non-genetic form of cannon keratosis at bay, regularly groom the area and wash with a keratolytic shampoo.

This article about common horse skin conditions appeared in the September 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Scratch That: All About Common Horse Skin Conditions appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

With virtual veterinary care for horses, owners can snap a photo or take a short video documenting a horse’s ailment, send it to their veterinarian, and receive an opinion back in a matter of minutes or hours. When your horse is colicking or bleeding from an injury, nothing replaces an emergency visit from your veterinarian. But to address minor complaints like skin conditions, mysterious insect bites and other lumps and bumps, there’s a way to get advice from your veterinarian without waiting for a farm call.

Just a Phone Call Away

“If you’ve ever contacted your veterinarian via phone call or text about a specific problem with your horse, then you’ve requested telemedicine services,” says Bob Grisel, DVM.

As an equine veterinarian and lameness specialist based in Hoschton, Ga., Grisel has offered telemedicine services through his practice, the Atlanta Equine Clinic, for approximately 20 years. At first, most of Grisel’s telemedicine requests came by email or phone call. But when the first smartphones hit the market in the late 2000s, Grisel says requests for telemedical services in his practice soared, ultimately increasing by 3,600 percent between 1998 and 2013.

Today, Grisel estimates that 40 percent of his time spent practicing is via virtual veterinary care for horses. Licensed to practice in multiple states with clients all over the Southeast, Grisel has made telemedicine an invaluable part of his practice. He’s also not alone: many equine veterinarians across the United States practice some form of telemedicine.

“It’s natural for horse owners to solicit veterinarians in this way, and veterinarians like it because they can keep regular tabs on their patients,” Grisel says. “It’s a very natural progression for the veterinary industry because of the technology that’s now available.”

Equipped with both photo and video capabilities, as well as an internet connection, the smartphone in nearly every horse owner’s pocket is the perfect vehicle for transmitting crucial information about your horse to your veterinarian.

“Technology has opened up an entirely new way of caring for our animals,” Grisel says. “It also keeps horse owners constantly connected to our practice.”

Pocket Vet

While equine telemedicine can be invaluable, it’s important for everyone involved to use the service responsibly for the good of the horse. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ 2018 white paper on telehealth, a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) must exist before a veterinarian practices telemedicine.

“Any time a veterinarian provides an opinion about a horse, they are practicing medicine,” Grisel explains. “If I am going to prescribe medications or give advice about how to diagnose or treat an animal, I have to have a VCPR in place. Which means that at some point, I’ve had to be in the presence of that horse. I also have to be licensed in the state where the animal is located. In addition to those things, I have to keep appropriate medical records.”

For the horse owner, this means that virtual veterinary care for horses should only be performed by the veterinarian who has already established an in-person relationship with you and your horse. Besides the legal and ethical ramifications, there’s also a practical side. With a VCPR, your veterinarian is already familiar with your horse and his treatment history.

“The client should use their personal veterinarian for a lot of reasons, but number one, the veterinarian has that personal relationship with the horse,” Grisel explains. “They know if that horse shows pain or hides pain, for example. They also know what’s going on with the horse and any medical treatment the horse has had, so they can prescribe medications accordingly.”

Many veterinarians also use telemedicine to communicate with each other about cases, says Bill Barnes, DVM, a mobile equine veterinarian based in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. This is known as “teleconsulting.”

“Telemedicine can be used internally within the profession to exchange information,” says Barnes. “We can use it in emergencies, in orthopedic situations by sharing radiographs, or by looking at soft tissue with ultrasounds, or for skin issues like dermatitis.”

Since Barnes’ practice is mobile, he has clients all across the East Coast and frequently practices telemedicine to keep tabs on his patients. In situations that turn out to be emergencies, Barnes may troubleshoot long distance, but he’ll also work to connect his patients with a local vet to provide immediate assistance.

How to Use It

In telemedicine, your vet only gets the information you relay through words, photos or videos, so relaying that information correctly is key to using the service. Horse owner Donna Christopher of Bahama, N.C., uses virtual veterinary care for horses to communicate with Grisel between farm visits.

“One thing you have to realize about telemedicine is that you are your vet’s eyes and ears on the ground,” says Christopher. “Your vet can only be as good as the information you provide.” Here are some tips for providing the clearest information you can to your veterinarian via equine telehealth.

◆ Communicate the Issue Clearly. Whether by text, phone call or email, be brief and succinct. Give your vet a run-down of the situation, including your horse’s vital signs, descriptions of his behavior, and any other relevant details.

◆ Take Clear, Well-Lit Photos and Videos. Smartphones can produce excellent photos and videos, but make sure you’re providing enough light to show the problem clearly.

“I have an iPhone, which makes life really easy, but getting out into the sunlight is key,” says Liz Bromberg, an amateur dressage rider in Chapel Hill, N.C. “I’ll take multiple pictures or videos, then go back and pick the ones that I think show the issue best.”

◆ Follow Your Vet’s Directions. If there is an issue with your horse, your vet may have some instructions for you, like administering a medication or asking you to send a follow-up video showing your horse moving in a certain direction. Make sure you understand your vet’s instructions and how to follow them, especially when it comes to medications.

“When your vet is there on the farm with you, pay attention to what he says and watch how he examines the horse,” says Christopher. “That way, you’re educating yourself and being a good customer so that when your vet isn’t there and you’re trying to communicate later, you can give him exactly the kind of information he needs.”

Telemedicine is an excellent supplement to your relationship with your veterinarian, but it isn’t a replacement for regular veterinary care.

For many horse owners, virtual veterinary care for horses is a great way to get peace of mind for the kinds of health issues that crop up in every horse now and then. For dressage trainer Lynn Leath of North Star Training Center in Chapel Hill, N.C., using telemedicine to communicate with her vet helps her to detect small problems before they become big ones.

“I can pull up my iPad or my iPhone, take video of the horse trotting in one direction and then the other, and send it off to Dr. Grisel,” she says. “The next time he gets a chance to open up his phone or computer, he’s got an answer back to me via text, email or voicemail.”

This article about virtual veterinary care for horses appeared in the May 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

Smartphone Camera Tips  You don’t have to be a filmmaker or a Hollywood director to produce a good video on your smartphone, but it helps to follow these basic principles for shooting video for your veterinarian. ◆ Ask for Help. Chances are good you won’t be able to lead your horse and also video well, so find a friend at the barn to lead your horse for you while you film. ◆ Shoot Horizontally, Not Vertically!  Shooting video horizontally with your smartphone helps keep your whole horse in the frame, which is especially helpful if you’re trying to show lameness or soreness. ◆ Light it Up! Natural sunlight is best. Put your back toward the sun so that your shadow falls in front of you. This helps ensure the horse is lit without glare. ◆ Watch Your Screen. Be sure to watch your screen while recording so that you can note if you’re shaking or tilting the camera or cutting off your horse’s head or feet. ◆ Avoid Shaky Camera Syndrome. You can purchase an inexpensive mini tripod for your smartphone, but you can also stabilize yourself by leaning against a wall, resting your elbows on a fence rail or other steady object, or closing your elbows against your sides to steady your forearms.

The post Virtual Veterinary Care for Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Practicing yoga for young equestrians can increase your flexibility and strength and help you develop better balance in the saddle. Do you wish you had more control over your position in the saddle? Maybe it’s hard for you to sit up straight, stay balanced, or move just one leg to cue your horse, let alone do all three things at once! You’re in luck!

Yoga is a type of exercise that uses stretches and balance-building poses, along with meditation, to strengthen your mind and body. Yoga has become a popular form of exercise for many people, including riders. Yoga instructor and avid equestrian Gabrielle Diakon of Rumston, N.J., enjoys teaching equestrians how they can improve their riding through yoga.

“Yoga isn’t about being able to bend over backwards to touch your toes,” she says. “It’s about learning how to take care of your body. You become stronger and more flexible, but the most important part of it is developing mindfulness. When you’re sitting on a moving animal, it can be really hard to concentrate, be in the moment, and control our bodies and our horses at the same time. Yoga helps with that.”

How Does it Help?

Part of being an effective rider means learning how to cue your horse accurately. By gaining body control, you can communicate better with your horse.

“Imagine you’re in school, and your teacher asks you a question,” says Gabrielle. “While you’re answering that question, your teacher starts asking you a bunch of questions all at once. That would be super frustrating, right? The same goes for horses. If you have very little body control and keep accidentally bumping your horse with your leg, then your horse is going to become frustrated. But if you are soft and direct with each cue, he will naturally calm down.”

Some yoga poses also exercise your core muscles, which are the muscles that control your pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen.

“When your core is strong and aligned, you can become a quiet rider who is fluid, flexible and strong,” Gabrielle explains. This improved balance means a noticeable improvement in your position!

Before trying a new form of exercise, it’s important to realize that everyone’s body is built differently, and some people are more flexible than others.

“There’s no such thing as being bad at yoga,” Gabrielle says. “Just like with riding, take your time, focus on your body, and build a strong foundation.”

Take a Stand

If you’re not sure how to engage your core, try this easy standing exercise. First, stand with your back against a wall. Don’t lean against the wall; instead, stand as close to the wall as possible with your arms at your sides. Make sure your hips are square, then tuck your tailbone under you to bring your lower back closer to the wall. Slowly bring your arms up in front of you, then extend them up above your head.

“When you raise your arms, your core muscles will fire up,” Gabrielle says. “It’s the same concept as when you’re in a sitting trot. You’ll feel those same muscles working.”

Forward Fold

Calm your mind and practice your breathing with a forward fold. Find a clear spot in the barn or your backyard. Adopt a wide-legged stance, then slowly bend down to touch your toes. If you can’t reach your toes, that’s OK—just reach down as far as you comfortably can. You can also rest your hands on your shins or thighs if you need to. While you’re folded, concentrate on breathing deeply.

“Forward folds are really powerful, especially if you include really long exhales,” Gabrielle adds. “The forward fold paired with breathing is a great pre-show exercise.”

Warrior 1

This pose can help you practice your balance and body awareness while engaging your core. Stand with your legs staggered about 3 feet apart, so that one foot is out in front of you and one foot is behind you, then bend your knees slightly.

Keep your forward foot pointed straight ahead and angle your back foot out about 45 degrees. Make sure your hips are facing forward, like the headlights of a car. Tuck your tailbone in. With your upper body stretched nice and tall, slowly lift your arms up above your head.

“This pose helps you engage your core and shows you where you might be weakest in your riding muscles,” Gabrielle explains. “For example, if your back knee tilts in a little bit in this pose, it might mean that you pinch with your knees in the saddle to stay seated, instead of engaging with your core.”

As you continue your yoga practice and get stronger, don’t be surprised if your riding instructor (and you!) notice many benefits to your strength, balance and position in the saddle.

Special thanks to Becca Schaffhauser for demonstrating these exercises.

This article about yoga for young equestrians appeared in the Winter 2021 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Organizing and cleaning your tack room may not be as much fun as riding, but it’s an essential part of good horsemanship. In addition to discouraging pests and cutting down on clutter, keeping your tack room in tip-top shape means you always know where everything is in an emergency. If that’s still not incentive enough, think about it this way: the less time you spend each day rummaging through your tack room looking for lost and misplaced items, the more time you can spend with your horse.

A well-appointed tack room is also the perfect place to let your inner equestrian fashionista shine. Interior designer and avid equestrian Lindsay Hunter of Hunter Design in Nashville, Tenn., loves nothing better than adding a touch of horsey style to lived-in spaces—including tack rooms.

“I design spaces that look like you could live in them, and the way I do that is that I look at function first,” Hunter says. “Then I look at aesthetics second, because of course you want your tack room to look beautiful as well as be functional.”

Whether you’re redecorating an existing space or building out a new tack room, Hunter says you should start by identifying problem areas.

“Typically, the biggest problem I see is lack of storage or that the room just isn’t laid out in the right way,” Hunter explains. “For example, if you’ve got brushes in one room and saddle pads in another, you’re always going back and forth, which doesn’t work. Your things need to be separated, organized and categorized in a place that makes sense, like hanging girths next to saddles.”

When eventer Cathryn Brekken of Stony River Farm in Ashland City, Tenn., designed a new tack room for her barn, she thought about the amount of tack she uses on a daily basis.

“When we finally finished building out the tack room, it was several years after we’d built the original barn, so we had a lot of ideas about the things we needed,” says Brekken. “We wanted tack lockers, but we needed them to be organized and to maximize the amount of usable space. We put in two saddle racks, three bridle racks and wire baskets. We also added sturdy metal coat hooks and belt hooks for our girths and halters. The lockers look really sharp.”

There’s no need to break the bank to redecorate your tack room, but it’s always a good idea to set a realistic budget that fits your needs.

“Think of redesigning your tack room as an investment in your lifestyle and your productivity at the barn,” Hunter says.

After all, you use your tack room on a daily basis. Why not make it neat, efficient and an expression of your own sense of personal equestrian style?

Get Inspired for Your Tack Room Makeover

To motivate yourself to stay organized, create a space that inspires you. There’s no law that says tack storage has to be unattractive or mismatched. If wooden sawhorses or plain saddle racks don’t get your creative juices going, try something new.

◆ SOURCE CREATIVE STORAGE. In addition to bookshelves, tack trunks and pegboards, look for antique buffets, secretaries and storage ottomans. Pay less for scratched or dented furniture, then add your own paint or stain for extra personalization.

“I love incorporating pieces of furniture when-ever possible,” Hunter says. “Buying an inexpensive piece at a yard sale or estate sale can make a tack room feel really homey. I especially like using dining room buffets because they’re usually made up of both drawers and shelves.”

◆ CULTIVATE COLOR. Use different colors or textures of canvas, plastic or faux leather bins to create attractive storage. Add colorful woven mats to dress up the floor and equestrian-themed art to beautify plain wooden walls.

◆ STYLE YOUR SHOW RIBBONS. Not sure where to stash that ever-growing collection of show ribbons? Create a work of art and preserve cherished memories by arranging ribbons and rosettes in a gorgeous shadowbox display for your tack room or barn aisle.

Inspiration Close to Home

In addition to color and beauty, there’s plenty of function and efficiency to be found in repurposed household items. Tired of rummaging through a plastic bin whenever she wanted a particular bit, Brekken decided to come up with her own solution by converting a shower curtain rod into hanging bit storage.

“I looked for the sturdiest shower curtain rod I could find, and then used the metal shower curtain rings that had roller balls in the hooks so that they would slide more easily,” Brekken says. “Now I can see my whole bit library at a glance.”

Here are other ways to use popular household items:

◆ Corral your paperwork and keep records safe and tidy with a filing cabinet.
“If you have the space, I always recommend having a filing cabinet so you can keep all your information about your horses in one place,” Hunter says.

◆ Holster your whips. As an eventer, Brekken needed a dedicated spot to store whips and crops. She decided to install a metal blowdryer hanger inside her tack locker.

“The blowdryer hanger works great for storing our whips because it has a little holster, so you can put your whips in handle-down,” she says. “The holster holds the top end of the whip, and we added a small shelf below it for the handle to rest on.”

◆ Guard against sticky spills with plastic mats. If you’re storing liquid supplements or medicines on a countertop, use a plastic pet mat to limit the spread of spills and protect your furniture.

Make Easy Swaps

◆ Sick of swabbing dirt out of the bottoms of enclosed containers? Swap bins for wire baskets. Let the dust and dirt fall through to the floor, then sweep it away.

◆ Tired of carrying around a heavy brush box? Brekken uses a rolling craft caddy as a mobile grooming kit to wheel from tack room to cross-ties and back again.

◆ Make seasonal swaps part of your cleaning schedule. In the spring, put winter blankets into storage and bring out the fly sheets and coolers. In the fall, take your summer saddle pads home to wash and store over the winter.

Staying Organized During Your Tack Room Makeover

To stem the clutter tide from returning, don’t be tempted to incorporate a catch-all or junk drawer into your tack room. Instead, give everything a home, including the miscellany that tends to accumulate in every barn.

“Every single item needs to have a designated place to go, because if it has a place to go, you can pull that item out, use it, and then put it back,” Hunter says. “It gets challenging to stay clean and organized when you don’t know where things are supposed to go.”

Finally, the secret to consistent organization is a cleaning schedule. Whether you choose a weekend once a quarter or wait for a rainy day, designating time for cleaning your tack room means you’re less likely to fall back into your old messy ways.

And while you’re at it, go ahead and set up a riding schedule for yourself, too—after all, this year’s riding goals won’t crush themselves!

This article about how to do a tack room makeover appeared in the April 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Getting your horse ready for a routine vet appointment is an important part of horse ownership, and for many horse owners, vet day is just another day at the barn. But if your horse won’t stand still for an exam or develops a bad case of the jitters every time the doc comes around, vet day can become a nightmare. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy things you can do to help get your horse ready for a vet day without drama or trauma. Your horse—and your vet—will thank you if you teach your horse how to work with a veterinarian!

Teach Boundaries

If your horse has a behavioral issue that could interfere with receiving veterinary care, start working with him a few weeks or months before your next appointment. For example, if your horse refuses to stand still for an examination or doesn’t respect your personal space, the time to tackle those issues isn’t on vet day—it’s every day.

American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Professional Horseman Ryan Cottingim of Shelbyville, Tenn., says that part of being a responsible horse owner means teaching your horse the basics of good manners.

“As a horse owner, one of our responsibilities is making sure our horse has good manners,” Cottingim says. “If you’re having interactions with your horse on a daily basis, you are a horse trainer. You’re establishing expectations for your horse and establishing the desired responses. It’s your responsibility to set good expectations for your horse, not the vet’s.”

Building respect for personal boundaries is a key part of instilling good manners in your horse. If you allow your horse to invade your personal space, for example, he’ll think it’s OK to invade anyone’s personal space—including the vet’s.

“We want the horse to show a healthy respect for a person’s personal space, or bubble,” Cottingim says. “What I find more often than not is that people think it’s OK to love on a horse’s head and snuggle with him, and then when they take a step back and don’t want the horse in their face anymore, the horse doesn’t understand that and knocks them over. There’s nothing wrong with petting your horse, but you need to set boundaries about your personal space and his personal space.”

Build Patience

When the vet is running late, it’s helpful to have a horse that can stand tied patiently for a few minutes or even an hour. If your horse struggles with this concept, start working on it a few weeks before your appointment. Cottingim calls this “building patience.”

“Building patience doesn’t happen the day the vet shows up,” he says. “It’s something we have to establish ahead of time. Safety is a priority, so find somewhere safe for your horse to stand tied in the barn and make sure you’re using a quick-release knot, and of course, be around to watch him. I’ll maybe do barn chores or yard work [within line of sight] and keep my horse tied up for 10 or 15 minutes and then gradually start increasing the time as he gets used to the concept.”

Your horse might be restless or bored for the first few sessions, but he’ll gradually become accustomed to the habit of standing quietly.

“I think the biggest thing is spending time with your horse before a routine appointment and taking those extra steps to make sure he’ll stand quietly,” says Cottingim. “You want a good experience for your horse, a good experience for you, and a good experience for your vet, because you want them to come back and do work for you. Just a little added effort on your part as a horse owner can make all the difference in the world.”

Prep Work

Before you make an appointment, make a list of everything your horse needs, and communicate it to your veterinarian. Then make sure to update your vet in advance if you decide to add something else to the list.

Elise Jones, DVM, owns and operates Stable and Stock Veterinary Services in Watertown, Tenn., a mobile large-animal veterinary service. Jones spends her days on the road, traveling to clients all over southern Kentucky, middle Tennessee and northern Alabama, so being able to plan her visits ahead of time is especially important.

“I know people sometimes complain when the vet or the farrier isn’t on time,” says Jones. “But part of the reason we’re not on time is that it might take us three times longer to do our job than it ought to because someone hasn’t caught their horse yet, or we get there for routine shots and maintenance and the owner says, ‘Well, since you’re here, could you take care of so-and-so, too?’ It’s nice to have a heads-up about that stuff so that I can schedule visits appropriately and not end up pushing my other clients back an hour or more.”

Stay Calm

Even under the best of circumstances, vet day can be a bit chaotic, so it’s best to stay calm. Horses can pick up on your emotions, so if you’re anxious on vet day, you could be making your horse more nervous.

“If you’re going to be high-anxiety because your kids are running around or because there’s a new puppy underfoot, it might be better to leave the kids with grandma and the dog at home,” says Jones.

For the extra-nervous horse, Jones says that sedation is always an option, too.
“We want to make it a good experience each time, so if your horse stresses out because he’s had a bad experience with a vet, tell your vet,” she says. “There are oral products that can help calm your horse, and then we can always give them a little extra once we get there.”

Fearful horses can react in unpredictable ways, so it’s important to let your veterinarian know ahead of time if you have a horse that may become aggressive during an exam or an injection. Never assume that your vet remembers your horse’s behaviors from last year, either.

Christine Cocquyt, DVM, works at Tennessee Equine Hospital in Thompsons Station, Tenn., and splits her time between seeing horses at the hospital and doing farm calls in the middle Tennessee area.

“We have a lot of veterinarians in our practice, so an owner may think I’m more familiar with a reactive horse than I am,” says Cocquyt. “Those situations can quickly become dangerous, so it’s helpful for an owner to make the vet aware of any potential problems ahead of time, such as a needle-shy horse.”

What to Do on Vet Day

Even on vet day, try to stick to your horse’s routine as much as possible. Before the appointment, bring your horse in from the pasture and follow your usual grooming routine.

That way, your horse will be clean, and you’ll both be relaxed by the time the vet shows up.

Vet days can be stressful, but with the right preparation for your horse to work with a veterinarian, it can become just another day at the barn for your vet-shy horse.

This article on how to help your horse work with a veterinarian appeared in the February 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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For almost a decade, the Montana Center for Horsemanship has partnered with the University of Montana Western in Dillon, Mont., to offer the nation’s first and only accredited four-year Bachelor of Science degree in natural horsemanship. According to Eric Hoffmann, director of horsemanship at the Center, students can pursue two- or four-year degrees in natural horsemanship and customize their educational experience by choosing from four different concentrations.

“Our management concentration is for students who’d like to manage a barn or other business,” Hoffmann explains. “We offer a science concentration for students who want to go into nutrition or to vet school. Then we have a psychology concentration for students who want to work with troubled teens, wounded warriors or people with learning disabilities. We also have an instructor concentration for students interested in teaching or training.”

In addition to their general education courses, natural horsemanship students take a horsemanship skills class every semester as well as courses in equine science, facility management, nutrition, business, herd health and animal behavior. Hands-on classes take place at the Center, located just a mile-and-a-half away from campus. Sprawling across 70 acres, the Montana Center for Horsemanship is a training and boarding facility with three riding arenas, three round pens and 84 stalls. Students bring their own horses to the program, as well as gain hands-on experience through the university’s colt-starting competition, which provides students with the chance to learn how to start a horse from the ground up.

Although it’s located in the heart of ranching country, Hoffmann says the program isn’t geared exclusively to western disciplines. Instead, Hoffmann and others strive to teach students foundational horsemanship skills that translate across all disciplines.

“The majority of our students are western, but we always have English riders, too. We’re not really focusing on a certain breed of horse or discipline, because we’re teaching horsemanship skills and techniques,” says Hoffmann. “No matter what discipline these students come from or go into, it’s all related.”

The program’s faculty include Hoffmann; Iola Else, the department chair of the Equine Studies Program; two equine veterinarians; and two alumni who now work on staff as natural horsemanship instructors. With six full-time instructors and frequent guest speakers, students benefit from a plethora of training styles and perspectives.

Maggie Blandford of Burlington, Colo., graduated from the program in December 2019 with a bachelor’s in natural horsemanship (with concentrations in instruction and management) and a bachelor’s in business. She now works as a loper for Eddie Flynn Cutting Horses in Lipan, Texas, and “uses her horsemanship degree every day, all day long.”

“My favorite part of going to school at Western was the fact that it was structured, hands-on learning,” says Blandford. “But it was also flexible in that if we had a specific problem with a horse in class, we were able to stop and address that, as well as whatever we had planned to learn that day. We were able to get perspectives from a lot of different trainers and other people, which made for a well-rounded experience.”

Hoffmann hopes that by the time students graduate from the program, they’ve learned a new appreciation for the way a horse’s mind works.

“To me, natural horsemanship is about learning how to build a relationship with the horse and acknowledging that the horse has a mind,” adds Hoffmann. “You can look at horses two ways: either as a motor with parts or as a being that can think and react. We promote learning about the mind and behavior of horses more than just the physical aspects of the animal.”

The connection between horses and humans is at the heart of the Montana Center for Horsemanship’s educational mission. In addition to its partnership with the University, the Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that functions as an equine educational center for students from all over the world. The Center recently began expanding its facilities to include state-of-the-art classrooms, conference and meeting spaces, and a veterinary research laboratory. In order to help with the expansion, the Center recently received a pledge of $250,000, which requires matching funds.

“We have people who come to study, learn and train here from all over the world,” says Janet Rose, director of Development and Communications for the Center. “Our board, including our founder, William Kriegel, is committed to the Center becoming a global philanthropic initiative. We envision this becoming a comprehensive education center where you can ride, study horsemanship, and conduct research. We are planning conferences, symposiums, and workshops that advance horse-human education and well-being. We’re looking for partners who can understand the impact that horses and humans have on each other and help bring this vision into reality.”

The Center’s expansion efforts also mean that the degree program will be able to accommodate more students.

“We have about a hundred kids in the program right now, including 40 new freshmen,” says Hoffmann. “That’s the largest freshman class we’ve had since the program started. We’re always looking to develop more programs to accommodate more students.”

To learn more about bachelor or associate degrees in natural horsemanship, the Montana Center for Natural Horsemanship, or to donate to the Center’s expansion efforts, please visit www.montanacenterforhorsemanship.org.

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