Riding in fresh snow can be a lot of fun but requires a great deal of caution. Some horses learn to negotiate the diff erent footing rather well, while others may take a bit longer. Always start out walking and build up gradually to trot- ting and then only trot in sections that are an established trail. Take time to check out any changes in terrain or obstacles that you come across. Photo by Steve Bradley
times during a 12-hour period. If for some rea- son there were only two piles in the morning I would be concerned enough to consider not riding that day. Watch your horse’s urine color as well. If your horse’s urine becomes darker yellow and more concentrated you need to work harder to get more water into him. Spend a few minutes warming up in the
or three times aſt er riding each day and this defi nitely goes a long way toward keeping him well hydrated. I love using wet mashes as I can accomplish both goals at once—get ing fl uids and feed into my horse. Pay careful at ention to how your horse
is handling the conditions. How much is he eating and drinking? Just as important is to be aware of how many times your horse poops during the night. My horses will poop 8 to 12
morning prior to riding. T is goes for both rider and horse. I like to take my horse for a several-minute walk prior to removing his blankets so he has a chance to generate some body heat. Tack up as quickly as possible and then cover your horse back up with a blanket if you are not immediately heading out. When you do fi nally ride out, give your horse several minutes to warm up at a walk before going any faster. I like to ride with a rump rug any time tem-
peratures are at or below freezing. T ere are many types of rump rugs available. I use one that is fl eece lined with a waterproof top that
T e beauty of nature never ceases to amaze and inspire. Here a rainbow appears aſt er a June storm at a ride in northeastern Nevada. Enjoy the change of scenery that comes with a change in weather. T ose are the kinds of experiences you won’t soon forget!
For more information about the best winter products for your horse, see:
Andis Clippers, p.67 JM Saddler, p.11 Jeff ers Equine, p.17 JT International, p.2
is easy to cinch up and stay on the back of the saddle when not in use. It’s easy to let the rump rug back down again to cover my horses’s rear end any time we stop for lunch or for a break. Mine also has weights on the corners sewn in to keep the rump rug in place when it’s windy. It is important to train your horse to wear a rump rug while riding as some horses may object or react strongly if it should blow up or to one side while riding if they aren’t already familiar with it. Be sure to look over some of my lists (see
page 21), and include them with your own so you can be as prepared as possible for handling horse camping, traveling or even management of your horse at home during extremely wet or cold weather. A lot of these tips can be used in multiple situations to keep yourself and your horse comfortable and healthy. While I don’t make it a point to ride in or
around storms I have found that some of the times I have done so are the most memorable and beautiful rides that I have ever had. By be- ing prepared in advance for anything Mother Nature throws at you, I hope that you too can enjoy riding your horse in a variety of condi- tions and come back with lots of great stories to share about your adventure.
Karen Chaton lives in Gardnerville, Nevada and is a multiple award-winning en- durance rider with more than 30,000
miles. Karen’s two horses, Granite Chief and Pro Bono, have traveled the country with her and together they have experienced many great adventures. Both horses have won many regional and national AERC, AHA and XP awards and are a great team, having also been the only ones to complete the entire 2,040-mile Pony Express XP ride in 2011.
24 | December 2011 •
WWW.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US
FMI
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100