JANUARY 2013 THE RIDER /39 Continued from Page 38
step as many times as it is necessary for your horse to be calm. Many times my clients tell me that their horse may run very fast and does not calm down, and that their horse is not ready for the lasso yet. It is not the horse that is not ready, it is the handler who may not be consistent and not be able to han- dle their emotions. It is very important in this step how to read the body language of the horse and know when you can apply the pressure with the lasso as well as release the pressure from the horse. The horse may try to escape from the pressure by trying to escape the round pen and be hurt as well as yourself may be hurt. Again, it is very important that you continue with this step until your horse is calm and travels in the same consistent gait and stoop moving forward when you throw the lasso on him. This is the answer that we are looking for in this step. It is still not important in this step in what direc- tion that your horse travels to the right or left directions. It is very important when you work in the left and right direc- tions (left and right sides of the brain) that you release the pressure between the exercises in order for the horse to catch his breath and become calm. Also when you teach your horse to stay still at the same time the horse has already learned patience, and has learned how to stand still. So in just these two steps that I have shared with you, it is without aggression and we have not pulled on the horse’s face, we have just tried to read his body language and let him to understand our body language as well as start to build trust and communication with us. Safely! As you can begin to see each step connects to another step in my program, and is similar to a recipe baking a cake. If you skip ingredients you will not enjoy the cake. We want to enjoy our relationships with our horses.
Dashing Through the Snow: Signs of Hypothermia
Make sure to read our next month’s edition in order to learn the next few steps of my “20 Steps in the Round Pen” and create a stronger relationship with your horse. Please visit our website
www.greenvalleyfarm.webs.com or follow Russ Krachun “Kozak” Horsemanship on facebook for more information. If you would like to see Russ Krachun in action or ask ques- tions in person, he will be performing at the All Equine Show in London March 15-17/2013 and will be attending Can-Am in Orangeville March 28-31/2013
The weather in Texas is extremely unpredictable. One day it’s 60 degrees and raining, the next it’s 80 degrees with sunshine. Winters can be even worse with unexpected cold fronts. With extremely cold temperatures, hypothermia is a possi- bility for dogs.
Disclaimer: Russ Krachun “Kozak” Horsemanship has no control over the application, suitability, animal behaviour or husbandry skills of the end user. The user assumes all responsibility and full risk to all personal, property and injury, damage or loss direct or indirectly arising from the use or misuse of this information. Animals can be danger- ous, please use common sense.
then tie him again at the tree. Allow him to remain tied for 10 to 15 minutes, and then untie him and let him graze again for the same amount of time. Alternate short seg- ments of being tied with short segments of grazing. This should calm the horse down and teach him to accept being tied. The more often you take the horse on the trail and expose him to being tied, the more he will accept it.
Building A Partnership with Your Young Horse
Training Outside the Box, Part 11 By Lynn Palm
It is now time to apply all the great trail training we have covered in the previous articles and do a fun activity with your horse—a picnic trail ride. Be sure to follow all the steps for training your horse on the trail before heading out. Once you have completed a warm-up for both the horse and the rider, it is time to pack for the pic- nic.
A number of good com- panies make saddlebags that allow picnic items to be safe- ly and conveniently carried on horseback. There are bags that fit or attach on either the front or back of the saddle. A western saddle, or a saddle specifically made for trail riding, will have more attachment points for carry- ing bags.
Fill out the packing list of what to bring on the picnic at least one day in advance of the departure date. Try to pack as lightly as possible. When packing, always put heavier items or long items over the pommel or at the horse’s wither area in front of the saddle rather than in back of the saddle. Of course, pack heavier items on the bottom of the saddle- bag to keep it weighted down and so as not to crush lighter items. Try to balance the weight within each individu- al saddlebag, and distribute the weight between saddle- bags as evenly as possible. Besides the picnic
goodies, remember to bring some important items for your horse. Put a halter on him, either under or over the bridle. Make sure it has a good lead and snap attached. Tie the end of the lead around his neck using a knot that will not hang down so low that it gets caught between his legs. Equip him with protective boots, espe- cially if he is wearing shoes. Before you begin your ride, plan how the ride will be conducted. Whether you are riding by yourself or with a group of friends, decide what gaits to work in during the ride. Consider the experi- ence levels of the horse(s) and rider(s), the trail’s ter- rain, and the distance to be covered. You can ride the trail at the walk only, at the walk and trot, or at all three gaits, varying the speed with- in each gait to add interest. Once the horse is packed, conduct a short under-saddle warm up to make sure everything is secure and that it will stay in place during the
ride.This also will give the horse a chance to get used to the load before hitting the trails. When you reach the pic- nic destination, find a tree to tie the horse to. Because the halter and lead are already on the horse, you will not have to change tack to tie him. If you are with a group, select a spot to tie him where there is enough room between him and the next horse so that
they cannot touch. Always tie the lead rope high. The knot should be at ear level of the horse. Always use a slip- knot to tie the horse, putting the end of the lead through the slipknot so the horse can- not pull on the end and untie himself. The length of the lead between the tree and the horse is also very important. It should be taut at the horse’s natural head level. If he is tied lower than that, he could get a leg over the lead. Secure the reins so that the horse cannot get them over his head or step through them.
When the picnic is over, it is time to pack up for the trip home. The good news for the horse is that his packs should be lighter. Because of the weight difference, be sure to secure all packs and bags to the saddle and prop- erly balance them.
Hypothermia, occurring in both humans and pets, is a condition char- acterized by abnormally low body temperatures. There are three phases of hypothermia: mild, classified as a body temperature of 90-99 degrees Fahrenheit; moderate, classified as a body temperature of 82-90 degrees Fahrenheit; and severe, classified as a body temperature of less than 82 degrees Fahrenheit. With hypother- mia, the dog is no longer able to con- trol a normal body temperature resulting in an abnormal heartbeat and difficulties breathing.
Generally, hypothermia results from spending too much time outside in the cold. Although there is not a specific time limit for a given tem- perature a dog should be left outside, Dr. Stacy Eckman, lecturer at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, said time spent outside in the cold should be restricted.
“The amount of time a pet should spend outside varies based on how acclimated the pet is to cooler temperatures,” Eckman said. “Typi- cally, we do not recommend indoor pets to spend considerable amounts of time outdoors in cold temperatures without supervision.”
Do not forget to cool out your horse when you get back from the picnic. Sponge his legs, back, girth area, between his legs, and where the headstall of the bridle lies with cold water before putting him back in his stall or into the trailer. Cooling off these areas will help pre- vent the horse from becom- ing stiff and sore. Be sure to give your horse a treat and a pet to say “thank-you” for a great picnic trail ride togeth- er!
If your horse is a begin- ner at being tied on the trail, he will probably move around the tree and/or paw the ground. These behaviors show his lack of experience and patience. Conduct the picnic in a spot where you can keep an eye on him. Just watch him, but do not inter- fere unless he gets into trou- ble. Leave him alone, and he should settle down in a short amount of time. The more you acknowledge his impa- tience, the more he will act up.
My E-Book, Training Outside the Box, is available at
www.lynnpalm.com along with other valuable training products, or call 800-503- 2824.
Hypothermia should be consid- ered when taking any pet into the cold for long periods of time, but some are more susceptible to the ill- ness than others. Smaller, younger dogs, for example, are likely to lose their body heat faster resulting in hypothermia, Eckman said.
“Geriatric patients may take medications that alter their ability to regulate their temperature and blood flow making them also more suscep- tible,” she said.
She added that Arctic breeds such as Huskies or Malamutes can be less prone to hypothermia than other breeds because of their thicker coats. If a dog is left in the cold for an extended period of times, signs of hypothermia to look for are shiver- ing, lethargy, weakness, and shallow breathing. The more severe the case of hypothermia, the worse the signs
will appear.
“After a period of time, the shivering stops and they become more neurologically affected,” Eck- man said. “Their heart rates may drop to dangerous levels, and it can be fatal.”
It is important to take the pet to the veterinarian or seek a veterinari- an’s advice if hypothermia is suspect- ed. Once there, the veterinarian can monitor the pet’s heartbeat, breath- ing, and temperature. If the tempera- ture falls below 98 degrees Fahren- heit, Eckman said the veterinarian will start “active warming” on the pet. Active warming includes placing warm blankets or heating pads on the animal and feeding it warmed oats or rice. Eckman cautioned that owners should not perform these methods of treatment before consulting a veteri- narian.
“Items such as heating pads should never be applied directly to pets as this can cause thermal burns,” she said.
For severe cases, the veterinari- an may give warmed IV fluids or warm water enemas to the pet. Another result from leaving a dog in the cold for long periods of time is frostbite. Frostbite occurs on areas least covered by fur such as ears and tails. Signs of frostbite include red, swollen areas or pale, white areas. As with hypothermia, it is important to consult a veterinarian if frostbite is suspected.
To prevent hypothermia and frostbite, it is recommended that pets, particularly smaller, younger or older pets, are not in the cold for extended periods of time. Eckman also recom- mended putting sweaters or booties on the pet to keep them warm. “Dogs with coats and booties may look cute, but this ‘fashion state- ment’ may protect from hypother- mia,” she said.
This winter, whether staying in Texas or traveling to Colorado, remember to monitor the temperature if your pet is spending extended peri- ods of time in the cold.
ABOUT PET TALK
Pet Talk is a service of the Col- lege of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at
http://vetmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk.
If a horse that is tied gets too fretful or control- lable during a trail picnic, you need to address the issue and turn the situation into a learning experience for him. Untie the horse from the tree and lead him to a spot closer to the picnic area where he can graze. Hand graze him for 10 to 15 minutes, and
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