| Resolution Time
I always make New Year’s Resolutions, and some of
them I even keep! For me, one of the best parts of heading
into a new year is looking forward to a new show season – and
it’s not too early to start getting ready for it. So,
in spite of the coming two months of winter weather, and
in anticipation of show season, I resolve to:
1. Get busy with grooming. Whether or not you blanket your
horses, regular grooming helps them shed out. Don’t
forget to worm your horses in the winter too. Horses with
parasites often will not shed correctly. Grooming also helps
keep fungus and skin conditions away by loosening dead hair
and removing debris, so that the skin can dry out and breath.
Grooming includes cleaning hooves, which helps avoid common
wet weather problems such as thrush.
Grooming is always a difficult job for me. I’m allergic
to horse dander, and by the time I get half-through a curry
job, my eyes are red and swollen and I can’t breath.
In the warm months I do minimal grooming and hose my horses
off after work. This time of the year I wear a dust mask
while grooming.
2. Do a monthly evaluation on each
horse’s weight
and fitness. Winter weather can be hard on horses. It is
difficult to see your horse’s true condition through
all that long muddy hair. Put on the mud boots and wade out
into the pasture and feel for the horse’s ribs. While
this is easy to do with our stalled horses (those same ones
we are grooming), pasture horses are often neglected. Adjust
feed so that all the horses maintain a healthy weight. And,
do it monthly throughout the year because that same “slightly
thin” horse now, can become dangerously obese in late
April and May, when the spring grasses come on. Pay special
attention to the young and old, and make the changes necessary.
Our oldest mare, Alibi, is 27 years old. She moves into
the “Queen’s Suite” in December, January
and February. While she does okay on permanent pasture during
the warmer months, she gets special treatment now. It’s
more work, and more money, but she’s worth it. All
the pasture horses need more hay in cold, damp weather. While
I believe that grass hay is the best feed for horses, in
cold months we supplement with alfalfa or alfalfa pellets
when necessary.
3. Assess my own weight and fitness! Ah,
the traditional New Year’s Resolution. Still, horseback
riding is a physical activity, and I can tell when I am not
as fit as I should be. Especially when riding colts and training,
I need to be able to stick with it as long as need be. Having
to stop a training session because I am out of breath is
not good training. I’ve found that I ride best when
I am limber, so stretching and mild aerobic exercise greatly
enhances my riding ability. Now is the time to start.
4. Make plans. I like to move my horsemanship
forward, be challenged, and feel successful at the end of
the season. In order for that to happen, I need to make a
plan for the year, not only for myself and the horses that
I am riding, but for my students. Now’s the time to
research and decide which show circuits to attend. Choosing
a show circuit, or any horse activity, involves assessing
your level of skill and your horse’s readiness. Look
for activities that will challenge you to do something new,
but not overwhelm you or your horse. It might be a bit scary
to move up to a new circuit – or a new trail -- many
of us would like to keep going to the same places we’ve
had success before – but if you and your horse are
prepared to move on, it will not be a disappointment. Besides,
making a plan is the first step to achieving the goal!
Here’s wishing you and your horse a happy, successful
year !
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