I grew up camping, and I grew up with horses, but I never put the two together until I was in high school. Camping at a nearby state park, I noticed some horse corrals and water troughs and went to investigate. I could bring my horses camping with me? Sign me up!

We went back several times over the years with our horses in tow, and I also joined a local trail riding club and did a three-day ride up a nearby mountain range. If you love being in nature and riding on beautiful trails, then horse camping may be for you. We talked to three experts who share their advice.

Why Horse Camp?

“It’s a nice feeling to wake up next to your horse with the pines all around you,” says Craig Ferdig of Prescott, Ariz. Ferdig is a national director for Back Country Horsemen of America, a nationwide organization committed to protecting equestrian access to public lands.

Local chapters assist with trail maintenance and improvement projects, as well as offering education and hosting events. Ferdig and his wife have camped in numerous states in many ways, from camping in locations with corrals and water provided to dry camping in more remote areas.

“There’s something wonderful about going into the woods and spending several days with your horse just 10 feet away,” says Kim McCarrel, vice president for public lands at Oregon Equestrian Trails and the author of five trail guides for the region. “You can go riding every day and come back to camp and enjoy hanging out with your friends and horses. It’s a fabulous experience.” McCarrel camps eight to 10 times each year, and there are 14 horse camps within an hour and a half drive of her home in Bend, Ore.

Fellow Oregon Equestrian Trails and Back Country Horsemen of America member Marty DeVall of Oregon City, Ore., says there are around 70 horse camps in the state, most with corrals built by volunteers. DeVall is a devoted trail maintenance and website volunteer. He horse camped for many years and has enjoyed experiencing the different scenery and improving trails along the way.

Where to Find Horse Camps

There are many ways to find regional horse camping locations. All our experts recommend joining local trail riding groups. Not only can you learn from veteran members, but they can give you the scoop on local campsites. These groups may even have directories available to members.

You can also find horse camping by searching online. You can look at state park, national forest and national park websites. There are also national camping websites that allow you to search for horse camping.

Keep in mind that amenities will vary. As a newbie, start with locations that provide corrals and running water. Sites can fill up fast, so make your reservations well in advance. As you get more experienced, you can consider camping at more remote locations, which require additional gear and preparation.

How to Prepare

In order to enjoy yourself, it’s important to properly prepare. Your horse should be used to the sights and sounds of trail riding, but also things like tents and unusual encounters you may have along the way, from wildlife to fellow trail users.

“For example, people hike with goats and llamas,” says DeVall. “I’ve experienced that firsthand. If you’re out on trail and your horse hasn’t seen a llama before, he may get very spooked. Try to take your horse through as many things as he might see in the wilderness where you are going. Riding with a more experienced horse generally helps a young horse.”

At their local state park, DeVall and other equestrians helped create training stations where trail riders can go to practice obstacles that they may encounter on the trail, such as suspension bridges. There, they built a low bridge that’s safe to practice on, as well as many other stations.

“Look for places locally that you can take your horse and work on training,” he advises. “You don’t want to be thrown off out in the wilderness.”

Ferdig suggests setting up a tent at home.

“Setting up a tent can scare horses if they aren’t trained around them,” he notes. “Make sure the horse has confidence and doesn’t spook at every sound.”

At home, you can work on desensitization exercises and building your horse’s confidence. For example, you can invite some children you know over to play outdoor games nearby.

You can also practice walking through puddles, opening umbrellas, and letting flags and tarps blow in the wind. Just take things slow, always keeping safety in mind.

If you join a trail riding or camping group, make sure your horse is comfortable riding with multiple other horses.

“If you’re used to riding with one or two people, try to expand the number you’re riding with to prepare for a group outing,” says McCarrel. “Also, make sure your horse gets a chance to experience being in the lead, the middle and the back. Make sure the people you’re riding with have good trail manners and don’t do things that can upset your horse, like running off without warning.”

If and when you transition to more primitive camping, you will need to train your horse to accept being tied to a highline.

“If you’re going somewhere you’ll need to highline, I recommend you set up a highline in your barnyard and get your horse used to it,” says McCarrel. “Feed your horse dinner on the highline a couple of nights and let him get used to hanging out there. Also, it gives you practice setting up a highline. For a lot of people, setting up a highline is kind of mysterious, as it can sag.”

She recommends the website trailmeister.com, which not only helps you find horse camping, but also has resources such as step-by-step highline instructions.

What to Pack

If you’ve ever been camping before, you know the list of what to bring is quite extensive. Add horses to the mix, and your list doubles. McCarrel suggests creating a master checklist that you can add to and subtract from for each trip.

DeVall notes that many camping locations require weed-free hay. This is to stop the spread of invasive species of plants. Check in advance if the location you’re staying requires certified weed-free hay, which you can purchase from many feed stores.

If you’ll be crossing state lines, make sure you know what paperwork (such as current health certificate and proof of a negative Coggins test) is required, and have it on hand.

Also ensure there’s a reliable water source for your horse or that you’re bringing plenty of your own.

“We have a 75-gallon water tank that we take in the back of our truck as a backup, even if we know there’s a water supply,” says Ferdig.

Plenty of food and water is important for you and your horse. Hay can help horses stay calm and warm, so bring extra.

Also pack your usual tack, buckets, lead ropes, fly spray, bug spray, sunscreen, warm clothes and bedding for you, all-weather gear, a manure fork and muck bucket, any medications, a horse first-aid kit and a human first-aid kit.

You can also locate area veterinarians in advance, in case of an emergency. If your horse tends to colic or has other health issues, check with your vet about what to bring and how to handle any issues that arise.

For your rides, assemble a trail kit for your saddle bag with things like first-aid supplies, a map/compass/GPS, a rain poncho, water and a snack, a hoof pick, insect repellent, and other handy items like duct tape, a whistle, a small flashlight, matches, a pocketknife or multipurpose tool, and twine.

Bring your phone (but keep it on your person in case you fall off), and ride with a buddy. If you’ll be outside of cell service range, it’s a good idea to have a satellite GPS emergency alert device.

To help keep lands accessible to equestrians, it’s important to be a good steward of the natural areas you visit.

“Make sure you dispose of manure properly,” says Ferdig. “Leave no trace. In your campground, leave it as you found it. Clean up everything.”

If you find you love horse camping, consider volunteering to help maintain trails and add infrastructure, ensuring generations of equestrians can continue to enjoy this amazing pastime.

This article about camping with horses appeared in the August 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Camping with Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

It’s safe to say we love horses—all horses. But every once in a while, we meet a heart horse. Like a soul mate or best friend, a heart horse is one that’s a perfect match for you. Together, you’re two peas in a pod, and you can’t imagine life without this four-legged friend.

For Lisa Sherrodd, her heart horse is a Norwegian Fjord mare named Fiona. When Fiona got into her teens, Sherrodd decided to breed her and pass on some of her amazing genes, which include great looks, a steadfast temperament, a love of people, a hardy nature, and kind eyes complete with a sunshade of long lashes.

In the summer of 2018, Fiona gave birth to a perfect filly named Rosie. Rosie was everything Sherrodd had hoped. In the afternoons, she’d lay in the pasture, and Rosie would lay beside her, with her head on her lap. Who is so lucky to get a second heart horse?

Rosie grew and developed perfectly. At age 3, Sherrodd was just beginning to ride her, and Rosie was a dream, just like her mom. Then one day she noticed Rosie was off her feed. She had some swelling in her jaw that the vet thought was an abscess. She prescribed antibiotics.

Rosie developed diarrhea, a fever and rapid heart rate, and Sherrodd took her to the local vet clinic. There, they administered a different antibiotic via IV, but Rosie’s condition deteriorated. Sherrodd rushed her to Colorado State University (CSU) Veterinary Teaching Hospital. By the time they arrived, Rosie was down and wouldn’t get up. Within minutes, she died in Sherrodd’s arms inside her trailer.

It was horrifying and devastating. A healthy filly suddenly dying while under veterinary care—what on earth had happened?

A Diagnosis of Colitis

Sherrodd requested that the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital conduct an autopsy on her horse. The results were sepsis brought on by antibiotic-induced clostridial colitis.

As lifelong, experienced horse people, neither of us were familiar with this condition, and we didn’t realize antibiotics put a horse at risk for developing it. To learn more and help prevent future fatalities, we spoke with two of the veterinarians who worked on Rosie’s case at CSU.

Yvette Nout-Lomas, DVM, Ph.D., explains that colitis in general refers to the inflammation of the lining of the large colon or hindgut in the horse. This leads to thickening of the wall with subsequent dysfunction, such as reduced absorption of water and nutrients. In addition, undesired substances can enter the bloodstream through the damaged sections.

“When the horse starts absorbing substances from the bowel into their blood stream—for example, bacteria or bacterial products—a severe disease process called sepsis can occur that is sometimes fatal,” she explains.

Like the name implies, antibiotic-induced colitis is brought about from antibiotic use. While any antibiotic can cause it, some carry a higher risk. Of course, the horse’s general health also plays a role.

Nowadays, we’re learning and hearing more and more about the importance of the microbiome in our guts. This is even more complicated in a horse’s gut. The disturbance antibiotics cause to this microbiome are paramount.

“Lots of different microbes live in the gut of mammals, and in the horse, the microbiome is particularly expansive and diverse in the hind gut,” Nout-Lomas says. “These microbes and the balance of different ones is critically important for normal function of the gut. Antibiotics can kill off the microbes that live in the hindgut and help keep everything functioning normally.”

In this altered state, other microbes may rise, throwing off what was a balanced system. This is referred to as dysbacteriosis, and can occur suddenly.

“For example, lactic acid is a product that is often present in the hind gut in small amounts, and during dysbacteriosis it can significantly increase,” Nout-Lomas explains. “These sudden changes usually lead to intestinal inflammation and dysfunction, the severity of which is variable.”

Although antibiotic-induced colitis isn’t very common, it does occur more regularly in hind gut fermenters like rabbits and horses, and the doctors do see these cases regularly in the hospital.

Because of the disruption to the gut microbiome and issues around antibiotic resistance, everyone should exercise caution when using antibiotics.

“We should be very careful in using antibiotics, and they really should only be used when necessary,” she says. “This is an important reason to be careful with the use and selection of appropriate antibiotics.”

Signs of Colitis in Horses

“Sometimes the horse may appear dull and not interested in eating, with a high heart rate and fever,” says Al Migliorisi, DVM. “The horse can appear bloated and even show signs of colic. Diarrhea is often, but not always, present. This is an aspect of colitis that creates confusion sometimes in horse owners: How can my horse have colitis if I have not seen any diarrhea?”

The reason is that the inflammation itself can cause different degrees of dysfunction. The intestines may become hyperactive, or instead may slow down. In addition, it’s important to remember that horse’s hindgut can store an immense amount of feed and water.

“Severe complications can also include laminitis, kidney disease and, sometimes collapse and death,” he explains.

When should you call your vet?

“Any non-explainable and sudden changes in attitude, such as lethargy or lack of interest in feed in a horse that is already receiving antibiotics should be considered a potential alarm bell for either a [recurrence] of the primary problem, or a newly developed complication,” Migliorisi says.

Take your horse’s heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature, and have those numbers handy when you call.

“This will help your veterinarian plan the next steps for your horse, and if a diagnosis of acute colitis is made, this should be treated as a potentially life-threatening emergency that warrants immediate advanced treatment, often unavailable on a farm setting,” he explains.

Colitis Treatment and Prognosis

One of the main treatment methods is placing an intravenous catheter and administering fluids to support the horse’s cardiovascular function by replenishing all the fluids the animal is losing in its gut.

“Another main goal is to decrease the underlying inflammation, which often causes most of the damage,” says Migliorisi. “We control inflammation by using different drugs with anti-inflammatory effects. A horse with any type of colitis is at risk of absorbing bacteria and bacterial toxins from its gut. Therefore, another goal of treatment is to administer medications, by mouth or intravenously, that will bind and neutralize these potentially harmful products.”

Prompt veterinary care for a horse with colitis is key.

“Unfortunately, approximately 90 percent of horses with acute colitis who are left untreated either die or are euthanized,” Migliorisi continues. “Overall, a prompt and early initiation of treatment improves prognosis. Reported survival rates for horses that receive treatment have ranged from 70 percent to almost 90 percent. Sadly, it is still possible for any horse affected by colitis to deteriorate quickly and unexpectedly, despite initial positive response to treatment.”

Recovery can take one to two weeks. Long-term impacts of a colitis episode are not well understood, though in cases that cause laminitis, treatment must be addressed with an experienced farrier.

While antibiotics can cause life-threatening colitis in horses, they can also be lifesaving when used carefully.

“Antibiotics have been a game-changer in the management of numerous conditions in veterinary medicine, but their use should be justified and judicious,” says Migliorisi.

This article about colitis in horses appeared in the January/February 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Colitis in Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“My horses get ridden and exercised, and in a few cases, are handled by riders much more experienced than I am,” she says. “I was going through a phase where I was afraid to ride, but watching Micaela ride my mare when she was being naughty really gave me confidence that I could handle her just as well (and I did). Where we trail ride can be rough country, and it’s good to have someone with you—lots can happen on the trail! And nothing beats the companionship and having a friend to help you solve your life’s problems from the back of a horse.”

Realizing there are many other borrowers out there, and many other generous friends, I decided to interview a few of them for their best tips on how to be a good moocher.

All Levels Welcome

Don’t get your feelings hurt if your experience level or riding style isn’t a good match for a particular horse.

“I like to know that they have the ability and experience,” says veteran trail rider Bonnie May of Livermore, Colo., who owns two Rocky Mountain Horses and a Tennessee Walking Horse.

“The only pet peeve I have is that I expect kindness to animals. If you’re yanking on their mouth, I’m not interested in that.”

Some horse owners are happy to let the less experienced folks visit, groom and learn. Amanda Swenson of Jamestown, N.D., owns a 2-year-old Norwegian Fjord, Paska, whom she hopes to train as a therapy horse.

“What makes you a good ‘moocher’ is that you don’t solely come out to ride,” she says. “Instead, visit the barn with an open mind and expect to learn something about horses. Come brush them, take a walk with your friend and your friend’s horse, and just enjoy the fun day at the barn.”

Her friend Calli Stoudt brings daughters Delia and Quinn to visit Swenson’s Fjord.

“There is something deeply healing about horses,” she says. “They seem to sense emotions. Always express appreciation to the person who invites you or your children to meet their horse. Remember to treat the owner with honor and share in the joy of being around their horse together.”

Horseless Riders and Giving Back

The technical definition of a moocher is someone who takes while giving nothing in return. Given that, be a reciprocal borrower.

Marianne Mitchell of Fort Collins, Colo., owned horses most of her life and did fox hunting, polocrosse and eventing. But when she retired, she sold her last horse and has been borrowing rides from a friend ever since.

If her friend trailers the horses anywhere, she chips in for gas. And when they took a trip with the horses, she also chipped in for shoes and a health certificate. In addition to helping out financially, she believes it’s important to ride other people’s horses in a way they appreciate.

“Don’t fuss so much with other people’s horses,” she says. “They may not be used to your riding. Be kind to the horse and praise his good attributes. Someone’s horse is like their child, so don’t say anything negative about him.”

Do things the way the horse owner wants them done, even if it’s different than you’re used to.

“Flexibility helps,” says Sherrodd. “Be willing to do the ride at the owner’s pace. Be prepared to come and groom the horse before the ride. Most of my ‘moocher’ friends are happy to horse-sit if I have to go out of town. That is much appreciated.”

Like everything in life, being a moocher has its perks and its drawbacks. You can’t always ride when you want to or the way you want to, but you also don’t have the daily commitments of upkeep and expenses.

At this time in my life, I like being a moocher. I’m happy to ride when the gift presents itself, and it’s the perfect excuse to get together with one of my best friends. Happy mooching!

This article about borrowing horses as horseless riders appeared in the September 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Borrowing Horses as a Horseless Rider appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Brianna and Genesis

Brianna Noble, aka The Urban Cowgirl, lives on-site and runs a facility in Castro Valley, Calif., 10 minutes from Oakland. There, she helps serve the lower-income communities of the East Bay. She has 21 horses of all types on 40 acres.

Noble makes her living starting horses. Four years ago, she and her husband welcomed Genesis Gutierrez, who instantly became a “barn baby.”

Their first stop coming home from the hospital was the barn, where her beloved Thoroughbred gently greeted the new addition and has been Genesis’ friend and protector ever since.

“I have a picture where I look like a hot mess,” she jokes. “I was tired, I’d given birth the day before, my hair was crazy, I had forgotten to put my shirt strap back up from nursing, and my pants are open. But I have this tiny one-day-old human on my chest, and my mare had walked up to greet her and put her nose on her back. That was the start of my daughter’s interaction with horses.”

Noble immediately went back to doing ranch chores.

“That meant I was carrying my daughter most of the time,” she says. “I’d have her strapped to my chest or back. She was happy like that.”

Eventually, her husband created a baby swing in the barn aisle. Noble also began riding a very well-trained horse with Genesis and found nothing soothed a fussy baby better.

All of the moms we spoke to agreed that safety is highly situational. A professional with a solid horse will feel safer in many situations than someone less experienced. Safety should always be paramount, and each parent will have to carefully decide what that means for them
.
When Genesis was crawling age, Noble would drive her pickup into the center of the ring, making the truck bed into a soft playpen and riding circles around it. When Genesis learned to walk and take off her clothes, a streaking toddler was a common sight around the barn. By 2, Genesis was riding on her own. She loves to take long trail rides with her parents and gives way too many cookies to her pony.

“It’s been an amazing thing to see her growing up on the ranch,” Noble says.

Brynne and Graham

Although Brynne Boian doesn’t currently own her own horses, she trains off-the-track Thoroughbreds and gives lessons near Lexington, Ky. Her son Graham, age 3, comes to the barn with her.

“It started by just setting him up in the middle of the arena with a few toys, snacks and his tablet if it was going to be a particularly long day,” Boian says.

1 of 2

Then her fellow trainer started leading him around on the lesson pony; now Graham can’t get enough. They hope to soon try a leadline class.

“Recently he’s shown interest in the pitchfork and cleaning stalls—fingers crossed that sticks!” she says. “He loves bringing the step stool over to the pony to brush and love on him. It’s really been fun to watch.”

Graham sees the joy horses bring his mom and wants to be a part of it.

“Share your passions with your kids, but maybe leave them at home with Dad every once in a while so you can enjoy some ‘you’ time at the barn too,” Boian advises.

Danielle and Lilly

Danielle Biermann and her husband keep their three horses at home in Waco, Texas. The pack includes a young Fjord she’s training for 3-year-old daughter Lilly, an American Quarter Horse Biermann shows in all-around open competitions, and a rescued donkey that Lilly named Olaf.

When Lilly was first born, Biermann says it was stressful trying to figure out how to balance a new baby with her horse chores.

“I knew I had to keep fighting through and find a way to make it work,” she says.

This meant investing in a baby carrier and wearing her while she fed horses. While Lilly slept in a stroller, Biermann would fly spray, groom and do the groundwork on the other side of the fence. An activity seat and snacks would prolong stroller time. Biermann would always talk to Lilly, explaining what she was doing.

1 of 4

At around 15 months, Lilly started to count out the horses’ scoops of feed and fill the water tanks. She loves grooming and taking care of “her” horses.

“I got a little kid shovel, and she’ll help me shovel the poop,” Biermann says. “You’d be surprised how much a little kid can do if you give them the opportunity.”

Lilly enjoys being led on her mom’s horse or reading to the horses, who come over to listen.

“Don’t give up your passion,” Biermann advises. “Get creative, and let the kids get involved.”

Raquel and Jolie

Raquel Dachner jumps and boards her off-track Thoroughbred near her family’s home in Dana Point, Calif. Her mom’s 30-year-old Thoroughbred lives there as well, and they also care for their trainer’s older horse. Having the older trustworthy horses around has been key.

Daughter Jolie, now 2, started “riding” during pregnancy and has been accompanying her mom and grandma to the barn ever since.

1 of 3

“When she was a newborn, she would usually just be napping while my mom watched her and I rode,” Dachner says. “My parents’ older horse, Alpine, would hang his head out of his stall, and I would put the stroller in front of it while I was getting my horse ready. Jolie would pet his face.

“Since Jolie started walking and running around, she really likes helping with barn chores,” Dachner continues. “She especially likes mixing the horses’ food with all their supplements and vitamins. She uses a little broom and a small rake to help clean stalls. She has ridden the older horses a few times. Recently she also likes cleaning my saddle, which is nice. My mom watches her when I ride, and she takes Jolie with her when she walks the older horses and turns them out. Jolie also loves brushing and petting them.”

Hope, Finley and Evie

Hope Taylor is a veteran barn mom, saying daughters Finley and Evie—now 9 and 7—were practically born in the barn. The family keeps their three personal horses—plus a small boarding and training business—at their home in Liberty Hill, Texas, outside of Austin.

Taylor does all types of riding, and their horses include a Shetland, American Quarter Horse and off-track Thoroughbred.

She carried Finley around the barn as an infant, while Evie preferred the pack ’n play.

“I remember plenty of times when both [girls] needed to be held, and you’d find me with one on my front and one on my back—a little like balancing two water buckets!” Taylor says. “As they got older, they loved ‘helping’ clean stalls with their own little shovels/pitchforks and buckets, riding tricycles down the aisle, playing with their bubble blower machine, and the occasional tack room movie when they had worn themselves out. Fast forward to today, and they’re so incredibly helpful!”

They both love to ride, though they have very different approaches, with Finley taking her time and Evie being a daredevil.

“All the plans you had may have to change in an instant with a diaper blowout, inconsolable teething—the list goes on forever,” says Taylor. “Enjoy whatever time you have in the barn. Set yourself up for success! Be prepared with snacks, pack ’n plays, carriers, and a change of clothes.”

This article about taking your baby to the barn appeared in the May 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Taking Your Baby to the Barn appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“There are horses of all different shapes and sizes, ages, breeds, colors and disciplines,” says Emily Weiss, Ph.D., vice president of Equine Welfare for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). 

Through The Right Horse, the ASPCA’s initiative, the organization is working to increase adoptions, improve the lives of horses in transition and collaborate with industry professionals, equine welfare organizations and advocates. On its online adoption platform, potential adopters can view hundreds of horses ready for many different careers. 

“There are horses that come from our rehoming partners who end up being champions at horse shows, great trail riding horses, and best friends,” Weiss says. “Some end up being therapy horses that make an incredible difference in the lives of humans.”

With research from the ASPCA identifying up to 1.2 million U.S. households with the interest and resources to adopt a horse in need, there is a promising amount of matchmaking to be done. We talked to five adopters who all found their perfect match through The Right Horse’s partner organizations. 

Daisia and Calypso

When Daisia Bartos’ mom sent her a link to Calypso at the Humane Society of North Texas, she knew she had to make the drive from San Antonio to Fort Worth to meet the gorgeous gelding. 

“He’s about 14.2 hands, and I thought he was so cute,” says Bartos. “I decided to get him on the spot, because I just fell in love.”

Calypso, then named Flame, had been abandoned in a stall and malnourished before coming to the Humane Society. He’s now approximately 8 years old and spent a year getting healthy at the In The Irons Equestrian Center where Daisia works. There, he received some round pen training but needed a strong rider. At first, he would bolt when Bartos went to mount, and is still scared of anyone but her. However, the two have developed a strong bond. 

“His personality and mine—we’ve just clicked,” she says. “It’s beautiful. He’s taught me a lot. He’s so willing to learn. That’s why we’ve progressed so far in two months.”

Recently they began jumping, and the small horse has a big leap. 

“The other day I put him over a cross-rail, and he decided he wanted to jump 4 feet. That was awesome!” 

Bartos plans to show him and keep him for the rest of his life. 

“We’ve created such a big bond in this short time,” she says. “If he’s anxious—head is up high, ears alert, eyes wide—and I walk up to him and put my hand on his head, he completely relaxes.”

Of adopting horses, Bartos recommends it. “If you’re willing to put in a great deal of time and patience, you get so many great things out of it.” 

Erin and Cuda

Erin Degnan of Bernardston, Mass., knew she wanted to adopt an off-track Thoroughbred and found After the Races, a Thoroughbred rehabilitation and rehoming center, in Elkton, Md. 

“I was impressed by the honest, detailed descriptions of each horse available, the videos of the horses, how content and relaxed they looked, and the amazing reviews,” she says. 

She fell in love with Cackle the Cuda and adopted him in October of 2019. Eight years old at the time, he had retired from racing after 43 starts. In their first year together, they tried dressage, jumping and trail riding.

“He has proven himself to be an amazing trail horse and has lovely ground-covering gaits,” says Degnan. “With this in mind, I decided to try out some distance riding with him—something I’ve never done before. We recently completed a 15-mile conditioning ride, and I am hoping to compete in a limited distance ride [25-30 miles] with him next year.”

Degnan advises potential adopters not to judge horses by their breed stereotypes. 

“He is very brave; nothing fazes him out on the trail,” she says. “I feel completely safe going out with him alone, because I know he won’t freak out or do anything dangerous with me. He is excellent at finding the best path through tough terrain and always knows the way back on a trail.”

Degnan advises following your intuition when you meet the horse that you feel is the right match. 

“I knew as soon as I rode Cuda that he was the horse for me, and my intuition was correct,” she says. “He is my ‘heart horse,’ and I feel so incredibly lucky that I found him.”

Karlee and Hugo 

When Karlee Boots and her mom, Tiffany Smith, purchased a former racehorse ranch in Edmond, Okla.,to build a wedding venue, they knew they wanted to fill the acreage with rescue animals of all shapes and sizes. At Nexus Equine, an equine adoption center located in Oklahoma City, they discovered a 22-year-old Belgian Draft Horse named Hugo. 

“I fell in love,” Boots says. “We had to bring him to our ranch and let him live out his life.” 

He had come from an Amish farm in Pennsylvania with two other drafts. “All of their body conditions were very poor,” she adds. “He was the only one of the three that made it.”

Just home a short time, Hugo is in great health now and enjoying a ranch retirement with other adopted horses, dogs and even a pig. 

“He’s the most gentle giant I’ve ever met,” she says. “Since he’s been working his whole life, I just want him to be comfortable and happy. He’ll trot up to the fence for treats. He’s such a gentleman. Pampering him is my favorite thing.”

Boots says there are many misconceptions about adopted animals in general. 

“People think they’re better if they’re bought from a breeder. But in actuality, there are so many amazing horses in rescue. You just have to find the perfect one.” 

Kelli and Esprit 

Kelli Sorg of Nicholasville, Ky., had her horses stolen in 2007, never to be found again. It took 10 years before she was ready to try horse ownership again. 

“I decided to look into horse rescues, because I wanted to give a horse a second chance the way I felt like I had been given a second chance over and over again in my life,” she says. 

She heard about the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center (KYEAC) in Nicholasville and originally intended to adopt just one horse. 

“When I went out to KYEAC to look at the horses, one mare appealed to me immediately,” Sorg says. “Of the nine horses I had stolen, the boss mare in that group was a large black-and-white Paint. When I walked up to Esprit for the first time, I looked closely because I wondered if this was my Paint mare. Of course she wasn’t, but the bond was already established. After walking around the farm and looking at other horses, I met Mandy, an almost solid black Rocky Mountain Horse with blue eyes who is a very in-your-pocket sort of horse. Then I realized what most horse people do: Two horses are just as easy as one.”

Esprit had been the longest resident at the center and adopted and returned more than once.

“I was Esprit’s person,” says Sorg. “That’s all she had ever been looking for: someone to provide security and consistency and a sense of purpose. She was already beginning to fight with heaves, so she and I didn’t do a lot of riding, but she restored my confidence in myself as a horse woman. We played ground games and worked on liberty work that felt like dancing.”

Esprit recently lost her battle with heaves, but Sorg still has Mandy and has adopted several other horses. Her positive experience with the center led to her dream job as their development director in 2019. 

“Now I get to help make connections between horses and people just the way someone helped me make the connection with my heart horse, Esprit.”

Kendra and Cinnabar

When PATH Intl. certified riding instructor Kendra Loring of Albuquerque, N.M., decided to start her therapeutic riding business, she wanted to use adopted horses and began volunteering at New Mexico Horse Rescue in Stanley. 

When some people think of “unwanted” horses, they may think of old, broken down horses with behavior issues that aren’t rideable, but often this is a misconception and definitely wasn’t the case for Loring. 

“They were amazing horses,” she says.

She ended up adopting two horses from the rescue in 2013: Cinnabar and a pregnant mare, Misty. Cinnabar was not one of the horses Loring originally considered, but the Thoroughbred mare had ideas of her own. 

“When I went to meet a Quarter Horse in the pasture, Cinnabar was attached to me,” she says. “She wouldn’t leave me alone.”

She shares that Cinnabar enjoys being a lesson horse for both adults and especially for kids, whom she loves. Cinnabar is now 21 and lives a happy life at Loring’s equine facility. 

“She’s my heart horse—she’s a part of me,” she adds.

Kendra’s advice to potential equine adopters is to keep an open mind. 

“Just because you have it in your mind the breed, age, or type of horse you want, that may not be the horse that’s meant for you.” 

This article about equine adoption appeared in the January/February 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Finding Love Through Equine Adoption appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Horses are so sensitive they can feel a fly landing anywhere on their body and twitch the skin underneath. Knowing this, it’s no surprise that any imbalances, tightness or injury in the rider will be felt by the horse, impacting communication and balance. Coming from an equestrian family and working with trainers and riders, Scott Henderson, DPT, a physical therapist of 35 years, developed sports-specific exercises to help riders overcome the pain and tension that often accompany this high-impact pursuit. His Equifitness program is focused on what he calls “the three R’s”—releasing, re-educating and rebuilding. We’ll run through a few warm-up exercises for riding.

“Your body must be balanced so areas of tightness must be released,” says Henderson. “Once the areas of tightness are released, your body must be re-educated through retraining your central nervous system. After steps one and two, your body must be rebuilt.”

Here, he shares some of his pelvic mobility exercises that you can use to warm up before riding. These exercises are followed by his seated kicking and marching exercises, which emphasize core stability, endurance and strengthening, all while maintaining proper position.

The only equipment you need is an inexpensive exercise ball. The correct ball size depends on your height: 4’11” to 5’4″ height should use a 55 cm ball; 5’4″ to 5’11” height a 65 cm ball; 5’11” to 6’7″ height, a 75 cm ball. You should be able to sit with your knees at a right angle and your thighs parallel to the ground.

Pelvic Mobility

These warm-up exercises are designed to increase mobility in your hips and increase your balance, core stability, and core and hip strength, all which are important for riding.

Start seated on the ball with your feet on the floor, toes pointed straight ahead, and arms in riding position. Watch that you maintain good riding position with your head up and core engaged, and your shoulders back and level.

Movement is created through your hips and your core. The key is to keep your head, shoulders and upper body still while hinging at your waist and moving your hips.

You may need to complete these movements while sitting in front of a full-length mirror to ensure that you’re not moving above your waist.

Only move as far as you are able without moving your upper body. Your movement will increase as you progress with your program and your freedom of movement increases.

Complete 10-20 repetitions of each movement. There are three basic movements:

1. Side to side: Alternately hinge your hips out to either side.
2. Front to back: Tuck your pelvis underneath you both forward and backward.
3. Rotation: Do hula-hoop type hip circles in both directions.

Seated Kicking and Marching

Start seated on the ball with your feet on the floor and your toes pointing straight ahead. Arms are ideally held in riding position; however, you may have to place your hands on the ball to help stabilize yourself at first. This will get easier as your core and hip strength increase. Watch that you maintain good riding posture with head up, core engaged, and shoulders back and level. There are two movements:

1. Seated kicking: Slowly straighten each knee until the knee locks. Alternate each leg. Initially hold for a count and then return your foot to the floor. As your strength and stability improve, you will be able to hold each leg out in front of you for a 5-10 count. Repeat 10-20 repetitions of each leg.
2. Marching: Slowly pick each knee up off the floor as high as you can comfortably lift it while keeping your foot pointed straight ahead. Initially hold for a count and then return foot to the floor. As your strength and stability improve, you will be able to hold each leg up for a 5-10 count. Repeat 10-20 repetitions of each leg.

By improving your core strength and flexibility, you will start reaping the rewards in stronger communication with your horse.

This article about warm-up exercises for riding appeared in the January/February 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Warm Up Right for Horseback Riding with an Exercise Ball Exercises appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Enjoy this short story from Young Rider magazine involving barrel racing in which Emma’s perfect new horse brings out her riding flaws.

Emma couldn’t believe she finally had a barrel horse of her very own. A big, beautiful bay Quarter Horse gelding nicknamed George. He’d won the 1D—the fastest division—in their region last year. Sure, her parents said the money he cost meant no smartphone and even no car when she turned 16, but Emma was sure George was worth it.

She’d been running barrels on her sister’s hand-me-down pony, Sparkles, but now she could pass Sparkles down to her little brother, Aiden, and really become a champion.

George was her dream horse. He was perfect.

Practice Makes Perfect?

Emma’s big sister, Madison, who also rode barrels, told her to start off slow with George and get to know him before going full speed. Emma had been taking that advice, doing trail rides and controlled runs and arena exercises. Everything was going perfectly.

That all changed one month before the first big barrel racing event of the season. Emma decided they were ready to do a real run. They measured the barrels, and Madison stood on the arena fence to watch.

Emma could feel how fast her heart was beating, and her stomach was a knot of excitement. George knew what was coming and tensed, fidgeting from side to side until Emma moved her hands up his mane, leaned forward and gave an encouraging kick.

George pounced forward into a full run, the power from his hind end like that of a race car. Emma smiled and grabbed for the saddle horn as they made a perfect turn around the first barrel. They headed for the second, and—BAM—her leg went straight into the metal barrel, tipping it over.

She was stunned. And it hurt. She tried to recover. They finished the run, but it was slower and sloppier than the first half.

“You sat down too soon!” Madison yelled. “Try it again a little slower, and don’t turn so soon!”

Emma tried again, trying hard to not turn or sit too soon. But again, they tipped the barrel. She tried two more times, and both times the barrel tipped.

“You can’t keep running him,” Madison said. “Just trot it a few times so you don’t end like that. We’ll work on it more next time.”

Someone to Help

George was perfect, so Emma knew the barrel tipping had to be her fault. Madison kept trying to help, but two weeks later, the barrel was still tipping.

“Why don’t you call his old owner and see if he can give you tips?” Madison said. “Ethan is a grade behind me at school, and he’s really nice.”

“Can’t you ask him for me?” Emma pleaded. Ethan was sooo cute, and Emma couldn’t imagine calling him and talking to him.

“Don’t be dumb,” Madison said. “Just call him.” Emma felt more nervous calling Ethan than she ever had been before a run. But she had to get George on track before the first race. Her parents spent all that money on him, and she knew he’d been a champion for Ethan.

When she finally got up the courage to call him, she could barely speak. Ethan had to ask her to repeat herself twice. But he was super nice and said he’d come over to help them.

The next day, Emma spent an hour messing with her hair and changing outfits before he arrived. Madison and Aiden kept teasing her.

Ethan had just turned 16 and drove himself over in his dad’s truck. He petted George’s head so gently, saying he’d missed him. Ethan is just as perfect as George, Emma thought, knowing Madison would tease her so much if she knew what she was thinking!

Finding the Problem

Ethan had them do a run so he could watch. Sure enough, down went barrel two.

“I think I know what’s happening,” Ethan said. “You’re putting your hip toward the barrel, so George is moving his ribcage in to put himself under you, and he’s hitting the barrel.”

Emma was so distracted by Ethan she had to take a minute to process what he said. He showed her with his own body.

“When he turns correctly, you want to be in line with him, which means you’re both curving around the barrel, not bowing in toward it. Does that make sense?” he said. He drew her a diagram in the arena sand. She nodded.

They ran the pattern again, and this time it didn’t tip! As she rode back to Ethan, he gave her a high five, and she smiled the biggest smile ever.

“Don’t practice at full speed for a while,” he said. “Focus on the technique. Same thing at the race. You have plenty of time to increase your speed as the season goes on. Get it right first.”

Emma nodded and almost forgot to thank him.

Race Day

She wanted to show all her friends how great George was, so it was hard not to let him go all out at the race. But she knew Ethan was right. And he was watching. So she didn’t go full speed and really watched her form. They came in second place in their division with no tipped barrel.

Ethan gave her a big high five again. “You guys did great,” he said. “You’ll be up a division in no time.”

Second place or not, it felt like a pretty perfect day.

This article on rules to feed a horse by appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Barrel Racing Short Story: The Case of the Tipping Barrel appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

You’ve been running barrels for a while now: You know the pattern. Your turns are solid. Your seat is stable. But you just aren’t going fast enough! If that sounds familiar, then this guide is for you. We’ll walk you through the steps to add acceleration and improve your barrel racing runs.

Play Detective

The first step is to make sure there isn’t a good reason your horse or pony doesn’t go all out. Talk to your vet to make sure the diet you’re feeding your horse is what’s best for his needs and performance level. Also ask your vet about any soundness or health concerns. If your horse isn’t feeling his best, then he won’t perform his best.

Next, check that your saddle and bridle fit your horse correctly and are properly adjusted. If anything is pinching or rubbing, it can interfere with your horse’s performance. An experienced trainer, instructor or saddle fitter can help you double check that everything fits and that the bit you’re using isn’t too harsh.

Self-Evaluation

You don’t want to try to add speed until your barrel runs are otherwise solid, meaning you have good control and consistent turns. You also need to make sure you have a secure seat and aren’t losing your balance during any part of the run.

When you want your horse to speed up, assume a slightly forward position. Your legs should stay underneath you with your heels down. Your upper body should come slightly forward, as will your hands.

Keep your hands steady, and make sure you’re not accidentally pulling or bumping your horse’s mouth as you ask for speed. Look where you want to go, and free your mind of any fear.

Many horses will need encouragement in the form of squeezing or tapping from your legs, but avoid overly aggressive kicking. Spurs should only be used by experienced riders with very steady legs and an understanding of how to use them effectively, which varies depending on the type of spur chosen. (Always work with a trainer or instructor to determine if spurs are right for you and to introduce them to your horse.)

Getting in Shape

Your horse needs to be in good physical shape to perform at his fastest. Ideally, you’ll want to ride your horse most days, with one or two days off per week. If you do a more rigorous workout one day, then do a light or more moderate workout the next time you ride.

While it’s important to practice the barrel pattern, you don’t want to overdo it. For one, the tight turns are hard on your horse’s legs and joints. Secondly, you and your horse will both get bored. Don’t practice the cloverleaf every workout—instead, mix it up.

Exercises for Improving Your Barrel Racing Runs

Exercises inside and outside the ring will keep things fresh and help your horse stay in shape. Here are a few exercises that you can try.

◆ Free Run: Letting your horse open up outside the arena can help him learn to speed up. If there’s an open area with good footing, and you have proper control and feel safe, you can practice letting your horse fo into a full gallop without interference. Do not gallop toward the barn, however, as many horses stop listening and may become out of control.

Once he’s gone a ways (further than the final barrel to home), you can let him rest as a reward for his hard work and give him a pat on the neck and some encouraging words.

◆ Trail Riding: Trail riding is always a good break from the arena. Doing some hill work—just at the walk!—can help build up muscle. Long trotting on good footing can also help condition your horse.

◆ Free Rein: Inside the arena, you can try an exercise where you keep your horse in a trot but don’t interfere with his mouth. Keep your hands on the reins but keep them low and loose. Let him go wherever he wants to in the arena as long as it’s safe.

The idea is to maintain speed without interfering with his mouth. Once this is comfortable, you can try it at faster speeds. This will also help you become more aware of your hands and seat.

◆ Run and Rest: With the pattern set up, practice running your horse past the barrel to the arena fence and then resting. You can do this with each of the three barrels. It can help your horse open up without worrying about an upcoming tight turn.

Go For It!

All horses can improve their runs. However, keep in mind that not all horses are optimally built or bred for speed. Some horses have more of an ability or desire to run barrels. But with some good detective work, conditioning and exercises, you can still shave seconds off the clock.

May you turn and burn with the best of them!

Thanks to Sadie Jackson and TC for demonstrating these exercises! Sadie Jackson is 12 years old and lives in Colorado. Last year, Sadie joined the nation’s best cowboys and cowgirls in Las Vegas, Nev., for the Junior National Finals Rodeo where she ran barrels. So far in 2019, she’s won multiple national titles in youth barrels and will be heading back to the Junior World Finals at the National Finals Rodeo in December. All these accomplishments wouldn’t be possible without the help of her American Quarter Horse mare Sundae Frost (“TC”). TC stands 14.2 hands and is full of speed, sass and sweetness. I addition to being a busy rider, Sadie is an honor roll student and participates in leadership team, track and choir. She also spends time giving back to the community through various events and groups, including volunteer work at McNicholas Miniatures Therapy Horses.

This article on improving your barrel racing runs originally appeared in the September/October 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post The Need for Speed: Improving Your Barrel Racing Runs appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Growing up, Amberley Snyder, star of a rodeo movie on Netflix, competed in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying and breakaway roping. She won the World All-Around Cowgirl title at the National Little Britches Rodeo Association and qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo in 2009.

In 2010, at the age of 18, she was driving through Wyoming from her home state of Utah on her way to the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver when she glanced down to check her map. She had just stopped at a gas station and had forgotten to re-buckle her seat belt.

“As I looked up, I realized I had faded over a lane and was heading towards a metal beam on the side of the road,” Amberley recalls. “I tried to correct my truck, but I slid off the road, and my truck turned completely sideways. I was ejected and hit a fence post on the side of the freeway. I knew I must have broken my back, because I did not have any feeling in my legs. I underwent five hours of surgery, which left me with a whole lot of hardware in my back. The doctor’s prognosis was that I would not gain any feeling below my waist, nor would I have any chance of regaining the use of my legs.”

Behind the Scenes of Her Netflix Rodeo Movie

The 2019 rodeo Netflix movie Walk. Ride. Rodeo. is based on Amberley Snyder’s life.

“The movie process was eye opening,” she says. “It takes a village to make a movie. I was able to be a part of the process from start to finish. There were some things they wanted to be different or bigger for Hollywood, but I feel I was able to keep it 85 percent accurate. My little sister and I were the riding stunt doubles! My favorite part was getting to ride for the film.”

After her accident, the doctors told Amberley she wouldn’t ride again—not the kind of riding she had in mind, anyhow.

“I’ve been in love with horses for as long as I can remember,” she says. “At 3 years old, I started riding. I feel like it’s just been in my blood. It’s something I love to do, and it stuck with me from the time I got on a horse to the first time I did a barrel pattern at the age of 7.”

She knew she wanted to ride again after her accident, but it took her four months of rehab and a lot of convincing before her mother and the doctors agreed to let her try it. In her mind, she thought the back of a horse was the one place where everything would feel the same. On a horse she would be out of her wheelchair and completely free.

However, once in the saddle, Amberley realized she couldn’t feel her legs around the horse and had to learn a new way to balance. She could ride, but it wouldn’t be the same.

Despite the heartbreak of that initial ride, Amberley carried on riding throughout that first summer, adding modifications to her saddle.

These included a padded seat, a seatbelt pulled from an old car, and Velcro around her legs and stirrups.

“A lot of it was trial and error since no one had done what I was doing—wanting to not just ride but compete again someday.”

Finding Her Way

It took a while before she was ready to compete—about 18 months.

“It was wonderful competing again,” Amberley says. “There are definitely frustrations like not being able to kick, but being back competing was spectacular. It’s what I’ve always loved to do and still love to do. The meaning has grown because it’s a time where I don’t have to be in my wheelchair. I get to be on my horse, and I get to move around like everyone else. It’s a joy I have.”

Amberley went on to compete on her college rodeo team in the competitive Rocky Mountain region. Then came an even bigger surprise in March of 2015: As seen in the movie, Amberley was voted in as fan favorite to compete at RFD- TV’s The American—the richest one-day rodeo in the sport.

“It was such a blessing from beginning to end, meeting the people who have been my idols and who I’ve watched for years. Just making a run in the same arena as those people was nothing short of amazing.”

Since then, Amberley Snyder earned her pro rodeo card and competes on the Wilderness Circuit, placing at multiple pro rodeos. In 2016, she was a 2D champion and top five in the Rocky Mountain Professional Rodeo Association.

Amberley’s horses have adapted to her being in a wheelchair in ways she never imagined, but there are difficulties.

“I have to be careful about the horses that I’m around on the ground,” she says. “Obviously height is a challenge, and not being able to reach everything I want to reach. Saddling and doing chores is challenging. Everything you don’t think twice about is a whole new ballgame for me.”

Amberley graduated from Utah State in 2015 with her bachelor’s degree in agricultural education, and earned her master’s degree in school counseling in 2018. Currently she’s focusing on her health and young horses, as well as motivational speaking.

“I feel like [sharing my story] gives me the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many people. And this movie has opened the doors to my ability to reach even more people.”

This article on Amberley Snyder, star of a rodeo movie on Netflix, originally appeared in the September/October 2019 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Amberley Snyder: Walk, Ride, and Rodeo Star appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

To win the world’s longest horse race, Robert Long employed equal parts preparation and smarts. In August, the 70-year-old became the oldest winner of the Mongol Derby, which involves racing more than 600 miles across the Mongolian Steppe, recreating Genghis Khan’s horseback messenger system of the early 1200s. Riding approximately 12 hours each day for eight days, Long beat out 41 top riders from around the globe.

Preparations

Endurance riders make up most of the Mongol Derby crowd, but Long—more of a cowboy—grew up in Wyoming and lives in Idaho. As a kid, he worked cattle and went on horse-packing hunting trips with his family in the Yellowstone-Tetons area. Competition wise, ranch horse versatility is his main sport. It involves ranch riding, ranch trail, ranch reining, ranch cow work and ranch conformation. Long has started many competitive horses for the sport.

So what prompted this cowboy to join the endurance riders a world away?

“It was kind of a lark,” Long admits. While visiting friends, they introduced him to a movie about the race called All the Wild Horses.

“It took me about 20 minutes to decide it was something I should do,” says Long.

After researching the details that fall, Long went all in. “I couldn’t think or talk or behave without worrying or working on the derby,” he says. “It was an all-consuming preparation.”

First, he moved his horse and gear down to Arizona for the winter and made connections in the endurance world.

Long borrowed Arabian horses,riding four every other day, 20 miles per horse, and competed in 50-mile endurance races. When the weather heated up in March, he headed back to Idaho and began conditioning reining and barrel racing horses at a ranch in Cambridge. He worked each horse about 10 miles a day.

“I’d get on a horse at 6 a.m. and still be riding at 8 that night, every day,” says Long.

Next up, he visited past derby veterans, including 2016 winner Marcia Hefker-Miles of New Mexico, who gave him tips for nutrition and water safety, among other things. This included using iodine tablets in the water along with flavoring and electrolytes, plus a daily nutritional supplement. Back in Idaho in the weeks leading up to the race, he tested all his gear, and even slept outdoors.

Starting Out Strategically

The race provides saddles and local Mongolian horses, but riders bring their other gear, including stirrups and fenders. Long also packed a bucking roll from one of his saddles.

“It was instrumental in keeping me in the saddle,” he says. “I’d get on these little waspy Mongolian horses, and they’d crow-hop around and try to squirrel out from under you. Those bucking rolls really did the trick for me.”

After a drawing to determine initial horses, riders picked mounts on a first-come, first-served basis. In all, Long switched horses 28 times during the race.

“The Mongolian horses are heavy in the front end and lighter in the hindquarters,” he says.“Based on my coaching from the previous derby riders, I was looking for a taller horse that was slender and had a big shoulder on him.”

Long’s tips from past winners included befriending the local horse handlers. Small gifts brought from home made quick friends, and the handlers would suggest the best horses.

In addition, Long didn’t follow the safest routes set by the race organizers, instead setting his GPS coordinates to find shortcuts. Sometimes, however, those shortcuts took him away from water sources. On a mountaintop far from the main route that followed a river, the oldest winner of the Mongol Derby met a local woman doing her wash.

“By then I’d learned enough Mongolian words that I could convey that I needed horse water,” he says. “Her two little boys were playing in a galvanized tub of water. She shooed the boys out, and I watered my horse in their play tub. I took pictures of her, and she took pictures of me. It was a really fun experience. I got on my horse and took off, and that’s when I actually moved ahead. I was in the lead from then on. I never looked back after that.”

While many riders slept in gers, or yurts, set up at horse stations, Long preferred to stay with Mongolian families who follow the race and welcome guests.

“I didn’t stay at horse stations and let the rest of the riders catch up with me,” he says. “That would have collapsed my lead.”

Time with the locals also turned out to be a highlight of the race experience.

“That’s the part I enjoyed the most,” Long says. The families displayed amazing hospitality, taking care of his horse and cooking him meals.

Twin girls were sitting on a corral singing songs and watching the sunset as he rode up one night. Their mother made sure he had fresh milk from the family cow before he took off in the morning. Gifts of stickers, barrettes and lip balm were given to the host children.

Racing to the Finish

As with stateside endurance races, vet checks ensured the horses stayed healthy during the race. An international team of all-star vets, including three renowned lameness specialists, checked the horses and dished out stiff penalties for issues they found. Long finished the race with no vet penalties, in part due to a pre-check process he developed.

“Two or so miles out I would slow down, lower the bit out of the horse’s mouth and bring it up under his chin so that the headstall made a halter,” he says. “That gave him time to relax and eat, and then he could drink comfortably. I’d hit the vet stations, and my horses would be calm, their heart rates would be down, and I’d make some fast turnarounds.”

The race is organized by The Adventurists, and Long credits them with excellent organization.

“The message is that preparation trumps youth,” he says of his win. “I really did have some good competition. These guys were professional endurance riders. They kept pushing me, and I thrive on that kind of competition.”

Long finished the race the race two-and-a-half hours ahead of the next rider.

Now that he’s back home in Idaho, this oldest winner of the Mongol Derby plans to have several shoulder injuries that happened before the race repaired. Then he’ll get to work with his 3-year-old ranch horse versatility prospect and do some packing trips.

Never one to rest on his laurels, Long also plans to take a foray into reining.

This article about Robert Long, the oldest winner of the Mongol Derby, originally appeared in the December 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

Further Reading on Endurance

• Four Champions Crowned at Inaugural USEF Endurance National Championships at Broxton Bridge Plantation
• Get Started in Distance Riding with Green Bean Endurance
• Now’s the Time to Get Started in Endurance Riding

The post Horse People: The Longest Horse Race—The Story of the Oldest Mongol Derby Winner appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.