THE HORSE GAZETTE


Britannia farm Fall “A”, Great Southwest Equestrian Center, Katy, TX. FMI contact Pauline Cook at 281-579-1272.


Eddo Hoekstra Dressage Clinic, Sonesta Farms, 27302 Swansbury Drive, Cypress, TX. (near Houston) Classical dres- sage clinic for all levels, Training through Grand Prix. Riding slot $185. Auditing $15 per day.


VERY auditor friendly. You will learn a lot even if you aren’t riding! FMI contact Rebecca at 281-373-0125, email: rebecca@ sonestafarms.com or visit www. sonestafarms.com.


17th Annual Wild Horse & Burro Expo, San Antonio Rose Palace, San Antonio, TX. Horse Show, Adoptions, Training Demos,


Vendors. Free and Open to the Public! FMI call 866-4-MUS-


TANGS or visit blm.gov/nm or facebook.com/BLMNewMexico


Ranch Heritage Weekend - Gath- ering of Friends Benefit Trailride, HIll Country State Natural Area - The Group Lodge, Bandera, TX. HCSNAP and the TPWD staff presents Ranch Heritage


Weekend along with the 10th An- nual Gathering of Friends Benefit Trailride weekend full of western events and riding. FMI visit www. hcsnap.org, or call Bobby Reyn- olds at 830-393-7037 or email: bobby@reynoldsspools.com.


Appaloosa World Championship Show, Will Rogers Memorial Center, John Justin Arena, Fort Worth, TX. FMI visit www.ap- paloosa.com.


Co-Ed Ranch Rodeo, Circle D Ranch, Johnson City, TX. 3 riders per team - co-ed mixed no rough stock. FMI call 512-663-7433, email: cowboys_ranch@yahoo. com or visit www.circledranch.us.


Harrison Ranch Park Playday Buckle Series, Harrison Ranch Park Arena, Dripping Springs, TX. Series dates: 5/15, 6/12, 7/9, 8/27, 9/10 and 10/22. Classes in-


a horse of course hoofin’ it


By Don Blazer © 2011 Some things are so


true you hate to hear them… such as: “I hate to tell you so, but I told you so.” One of the things


I hate to hear most is, “I leave my horse’s feet to my farrier.”


People who say


that usually don’t have a clue about their horse’s feet. You can bet they don’t know how the hoof functions, what creates a balanced hoof, or what is good shoeing.


If


they did, they wouldn’t abdicate their responsibility as a horse owner…..hoof care is just too important to leave to someone else. (I’m not saying you need to be able to trim or shoe a horse….I’m saying you better know as much about the trimming and shoeing of a horse as the person doing the work.)


The truest thing


you can say about a hoof is, “no hoof, no horse.” It’s so true that nine times out of 10, when a horse is lame, the problem is in the hoof. And the one time it isn’t, a hoof is probably a contributing cause.


A horse’s hoof—if


you stretch the comparison— is the same as the fingernail of a person’s middle finger. Still comparing, the thumb and little finger were transformed long ago in the horse’s ergot and the chestnut.


The index finger


and the third finger are now splint bones. The horse’s foot has


a functional configuration, is elaborate and surprisingly, has a lot of moving parts. The front


foot should be large and very


round to be the perfect base to support the front leg, which supports the mass of the horse’s body as it travels forward. The hind hoof is smaller and elongated so that it digs into the ground surface as it propels the horse forward. As the hoof hits


the ground, preferable flat, the hoof’s quarters expand outward if the hoof is balanced, naturally shaped and not poorly shod. (There are a lot of poorly shod horses whose quarters can’t expand because they are “nailed” inside a steel box. Any horse whose shoe is not wider than his hoof from the quarters back is poorly shod.)


As the quarters


expand, so does the digital cushion (inside the hoof) which presses against the lateral cartilages, further expanding the quarters. While


this is


happening, the short pastern bone presses the digital cushion against the frog and the frog moves downward toward the ground. The frog must contact the ground to absorb concussion and compression. The digital cushion and frog


are


important factors in slowing the decent of the back of the coffin bone.


Don’t allow the


paring of the frog. The frog should contact the ground and be the same depth as the shoe. Excessive frog will slough off naturally. When the hoof


hits the ground, a direct concussive force is exerted upward through the multiple horn tubules—spring like spirals in the hoof wall.


Visit us at: www.HorseGazette.com The hoof wall


is connected to the coffin bone inside the hoof by the interlocking of insensitive and sensitive laminae. The narrow, but


strong hoof wall absorbs the upward force of concussion created when the hoof hits the ground, while the frog, digital cushion, coffin bone and laminae absorb


the downward


force of the horse’s body weight—the


compressive


force. Compressive force is so powerful it causes hoof bruises if the hoof is not able to expand enough to absorb the shock. Many of


the


“stone” bruises are actually compressive force bruises. The hoof is a


dynamic, live, complicated structure


which works


quite well if strong, pliable, healthy and balanced. Most


horsemen


agree any performance horse should be trimmed or shod every 30 days. The hoof wall of the average horse will grow about 3/8 of an inch in 30 days, changing the arc of the hoof flight. The maximum length of time between trims or shoeing should normally never exceed six weeks. If you don’t know


as much about your horse’s feet and how they should be cared for, then it won’t be long before you’ll be hearing me say, “I hate to tell you so, but I told you so.”


Don Blazer is a


world champion trainer, author of seven books on training and health care, and an instructor for www. horsecourses.com.


October 22 October 21-29 October 21-23


clude: Versatile Pleasure, Barrels and Poles, Trail and fun timed event at each play day. Age Divi- sions: Buckaroos (13 & Under), Ranch Hands (14-19), Wrangles (Novice Adult) and Maverick (Open). FMI visit dswildwestfest. com or call Donna Moore at 512- 786-8342.


Open Pro Rodeo Series & Enter- tainment, 401 Obst Road, Bul- verde, TX. Gates open at 5pm. Rodeo events starts at 7:30pm. Music following the Open Pro Rodeo - 9pm - 1pm. Zach Brents and the Cold Shot Band to per- form. Great food & cold drinks. FMI call 830-980-2226 or visit www.tejasrodeo.com.


Bluebonnet Horse Expo, Travis County Expo Center, Austin, TX. A fun and educational day for horse enthusiasts! Clinics, riding and training demonstra- tions (including Aaron England and Imagine A Horse), a Parade of Breeds, dozens of vendors, and adoptable equines. FMI call Jennifer Williams at 888-542- 5163, email: info@bluebon- nethorseexpo.com or visit www. bluebonnethorseexpo.com.


South Texas Pinto Futurity, Guadalupe County Fairgrounds Covered Arena, Seguin, TX. Three judges: Dawn Frye, Sherry Haynes, & Jeannie Young. FMI contact Cindy Gidden at stpshowsec@yahoo.com or call. 210-287-4365. You may fax pre-enteries no later than Wednesday prior to show to Cindy Gidden at 210-370-4595.- Stall & RV Request - Jody Elliott, jody_wayne77@yahoo.com or call 210-683-5492 or visit www. southtexaspinto.com


Advanced Level 2 Playshop, Quad J Farms, 1090 Private Road 3599, Bigfoot, TX. FMI contact Jennifer Durant at 210-488-3647, email: jennifer@ quadjfarms.com or visit www. quadjfarms.com.


Chris Cox Horsemanship I, Dia- mond Double C Ranch, Mineral


Hoof Health October 24-29 October 22-23


Wells, TX. FMI visit www.chris- cox.com or call 940-327-8113.


Barrel Race & Team Roping Prac- tice, 401 Obst Road, Bulverde, TX. Barrel Racing 5:30 - 6:55pm. Team Roping Practice 6-9pm. FMI call 830-980-2226 or visit www.tejasrodeo.com.


Texas Fall Classic Horse Show “A”, Irving, TX. FMI call Dave Morse at 817-579-1100


Susan G Komen Ride for the Cure, LBJ/Caddo National Grass- lands, Tadra Point Trailhead, TX. Registration fee $25, Guest Meal Ticket $10. Each rider must fundraise $250 to be eligible to participate in the event. Riders must be at least 12 years old and riders 12-18 must be accompa- nied on the ride by a parent or guardian. Online donations may be accepted until midnight on October 28th. Awards for top 10 money raising riders. FMI visit 972-378-4808 or email: ride@ komennorthtexas.org.


Guadalupe Valley Quarter Horse Breeders Show, San Antonio Rose Palace, San Antonio, TX. FMI call 210-635-7819 or visit www.qvqhba.com


3rd annual Everything Equine Tack & Equipment Consign- ment Sale, San Antonio Rose Palace, San Antonio, TX. Held in conjunction with the Guadalupe Valley Quarter Horse Breeders Association Fall Show. All sales benefit horse rescue and consign- ors claim 100% tax deduction. Anything horse related is being accepted for sale. Item must be clean and in good, excellent or new condition. FMI contact Michelle Mourre, HCEF President at 210-601-9034 or email: mmourre@gvtc.com or visit www. hillcountryequinefriends.com.


Regionals Warm-Up Dressage Schooling Show, Sonesta Farms, 17302 Swansbury Drive, Cypress,


horse happenings October 29 October 28-30


Saturday, October 15 Atascosa Livestock Exchange Pleasanton, Texas


Accepting horses at 8am Current Neg. Coggins Required


Tack starts at 11am


Open Consignment Horse Sale starts at 1pm


Commission 10% - P.O. $10 Contact Cass or Courtney Ringelstein (210) 885-0902 or (210) 316-6146 • Day of Sale: 830-569-2516 October 28-29 October 27-30 October 27


TX. (near Houston). GAG, Intro and all Level testing. Limited stalls available, but priority given to out of towners and stallions. FMI call Rebecca at 281-373-0125, email: rebecca @sonestafarms.com or visit www.sonestafarms.com.


Catalog Horse Sale, Talpa Horse Auction, 14630 U.S. Highway 67, Talpa, TX. Catalog Horse Sale open to ALL horses - $100 Fee/10% Commission. Breeders Catalog Open to mares, colts, fillies and stallions. Leadins or loose only. $65 Fee - 10% com- mission. Open Sale $20 Fee - 10% Commission. 10:30 demo, 11am limited tack auction and equipment and trailers to follow and 1pm catalog auction, breeders auction and open consignment horses after catalogs. FMI call Jerry at 325-214-0558 or visit www.Talpa- HorseAuction.com.


Bastrop Benefit All Breed Open Horse Show, Diamond F Arena, Seguin, TX. Reg. Friday from 3- 7pm. Saturday Reg. starts at 7am - Show starts at 9am. $7 per class,


$60 All Day. $10 Office Fee. $5 High Point Fee. $25 per stall. $25 RV Hookup. FMI see ad on page 16 or visit www.horsega- zette.com/BastropBenefit.html or call Marilyn at 210-641-9928.


Wrap N 3 Productions Barrel Racing, Hallettsville, TX. WPRA & BBR Approval Pending. FMI call Renee Spiller at 830-305- 4108 or email: snazzy1414@ yahoo.com.


Greater Houston Miniature Horse Club Fall Extravaganza Miniature Horse Show, Great Southwest Equestrian Center, Katy, TX. FMI call Nancy Brae- sicke at 903-882-4755.


Jay’s Nest Farm 10th An- nual Halloween Party & Horse Show, 4499 CR 2289, Odem, TX. Beginner, Intro, Training Level, Freestyle, Pas de Deux Dressage tests; group equita- tion classes; jumping classes; costume contest; and variety of gymkhana events to test


October 29-30


riders of every skill level. All ages, disciplines (including Western) and skill levels welcome for ALL events. (USDF snaffle bit rules apply in all dressage classes). FMI contact Cheri Jay at 361- 368-3071 or email: jaysnest2@ wildblue.net.


visit www.susarinc.com/ourhorse- shows.html. To enter email Susan at susarinc1@verizon.net - if you do not pre enter, there will be a $10 post entry fee - you must enter by 7pm on Friday before the show on Sunday to avoid the $10 late fee. FMI call 940-566-0630.


Fax your 2011/2012 events to 210-699-9928 or email to edi- tor@horsegazette.com


Call before you haul!


Don’t forget your current Coggins papers!


Susar Farm Open Horse Show, Denton, TX. High Point Awards at each show. For class list


October 30


bruises termed


Above: Gary Douglas introducing the Costarri- cense De Paso at an Open House to present the breed to area horse enthusiasts on Sunday September 4. The event was hosted by Chuck and Anne Ward at Hill Coun- try Peruvians just outside of Boerne, Texas.


Right: Gary Douglas, Anne and Chuck Ward.


Left: Anne Ward and Gary Douglas talking with Francisco Figueroa, owner of Texas Cowboy Supply, located just South of Boerne on IH-10 West.


Photos:


Robbin Cresswell 210-325-4291


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