Dear Readers,
Welcome to the “Trainer’s Corner.” This is a new area of the webpage that is devoted to you! Submit your questions and I’ll post them, one at a time, in the “Trainer’s Corner” with an answer.
Sincerely,
Anna McCracken
Owner/Trainer
Lachlan Farm, Inc.
THIS MONTH'S QUESTION...
What are some things that I need to know when riding in extremely cold conditions?
Great question! Our horses are not quite used to these long durations of cold weather. Although they are quite adaptable animals, there are a few rules of thumb to remember when riding in cold weather.
- When cinching the girth, keep in mind that your horse has a lot of long hairs on their belly that can be pulled when you tighten the girth quickly. Go a couple of holes at a time.
- If your horse doesn't wear shoes, consider riding indoors when the ground is frozen to prevent laminitis.
- Warm your horses bit by holding it in your hands. No horse wants a frigid bit in their mouth.
- Walk, walk, and walk your horse some more. Both before and after your ride! Minimum of 10 minutes before and after. Cold muscles need more time to warm up. And even though it's cold and your horse may not be sweating, you still need to give him extra time for cooling down.
- After you ride hard and cool your horse down, offer lukewarm water. Microwave a little hot water (just to barely warm up in his bucket) to encourage him to drink.
- When riding, make sure you do not stop without re-warming up your horses legs! Never go from a walk to a canter/jump without a proper warm up. Taking things slow and doing proper warm ups is about the only way to prevent tendon and ligament tears in cold muscles.
- Watch for ice! Even if it has not rained, there may still be ice lurking around from letting our hoses run so they won't freeze overnight.
- When you dress yourself, wear layers! Ski clothes are great. Silk liners are wonderful and not bulky. Remember your body will warm up as you ride, but not your extremities! When you shed clothing, BE CAREFUL. Do not take off your helmet! Hop off, shed, and remount if needed. Scarves are not a great idea because they can come off and scare your horse.
- LUNGE! Horses love this weather. They get very playful. If your horse is jittery while you tack, do not slap her and be ugly... she can't help it! Also when riding, take it slow. If your horse is too feisty, ask for help lunging her to get some energy out. The more you try to "force" your horse to be quiet and nice in cold weather, the more you stir her up. Patience is a virtue!
- Have fun, and don't complain! We are ALL cold, and all of our horses are craaaazy.
PREVIOUS QUESTIONS...
Why are some horses in training that don't seem to need it?
Well, if they don't seem to need it, then I'm doing my job! All horses benefit from being ridden by a trainer. Not only does it really help the trainer teach the rider (because the trainer gets to learn more about the horse through weekly rides instead of just observation in lessons), it helps that horse reach his or her full potential. As a trainer, I have 20+ years experience dealing with horses. I can help a horse learn something in a single session, that it might take months for a rider to learn and then teach. Training, however, does not take the place of regular riding. It only furthers the lessons by keeping the horse on his or toes (so to speak), so that the rider may get the most out of lessons. I always try to ride the horse very similar to how the particular rider rides. This also helps the horse understand commands. All horses can learn more, so it is nothing but beneficial to have a horse in training. Any rider wanting to really compete, consider having their horse in training. Most of the competition is having their horse ridden by a trainer, so you are closer to being on a level playing field if you have your horse in training too! I'd be happy to talk to anyone that is interested in having their horse ridden. I have plenty of references to help you make your decision. We can make a training plan specifically to suit you and your horse!
What are some of the major health concerns with winter weather?
Great question! Here are some things that we try to keep a close eye on during the winter months at Lachlan Farm.
• Colic- When horses do not drink as much, I am always concerned with them getting dehydrated and in turn getting a twist in his or her intestine or a blockage. We try to monitor their water intake and supplement them with electrolytes to encourage them to drink. Electrolytes contain salts that make the horse want to drink more water. During the winter they tend to overall drink less than during the warm months.
• Horses being chilled- Horses were given furry coats for a reason. Our woollier horses, that are not showing, go without blankets most of the time because blankets flatten their hair. When not blanketed, the hair stands up and traps warm air to help keep their bodies warm. We rotate our show horses and full boarded horses’ blankets so that they have the appropriate blanket on for the temperature outside. How do you know a horse is cold? Just like us, they shiver.
• Weight changes- Most horses gain weight as winter approaches, and our mares tend to lose weight as they start their heat cycle again in January. (You could set your clock to our mares heat cycles… worse than a college dorm). Also, most horses are ridden less in the winter because of vacation, cold, holidays, etc. We try to watch their muscle mass as well. By closely monitoring and keeping track of their weight (by using a weight tape), we can adjust their feed and forage intake when needed. We always offer more hay in the winter to help meet the horses’ elevated energy requirements in colder weather.
• Tendon and Ligament Injury- When the weather is cold, horses must have a really good warm up and cool down. All rides must start and end with lots and lots of walking. After a rider stops to set jumps, get water, or shed a layer of clothing, she must remember that her horse should be warmed up again before any vigorous activity.
• Frisky horses- Cold and wind makes all of the horse-eating gremlins that hide in the woods, under chairs, beside jumps, and everywhere else even more ravenous in even the quietest horse’s mind. For that reason, horses need to be worked well before jumping or trying new things and possibly lunged before ridden. Riders must pay attention and keep proper position even when relaxing. Gremlins tend to attack the most when a rider’s guard is down.
Well, these are just some of the winter concerns that cross my mind. There are definitely more, but these are the main ones that I focus on as a trainer and barn owner.
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