The Novice Horseman Blog

The 2010 Palomino Show is over.  From the back gate, the number of horses appeared to have been up.  The youth show and the open show had more exhibitors in the riding classes than last year.  The halter classes were down though in the weanling and yearling classes.  With the rough economy, that was expected.

There were horses from all over the U.S. and even a few from Canada.  There were all of the horses that have been showing for years, but there was also quite a few  first time horses and exhibitors.  I found, from the class sheets, there was a lack of horses from Oklahoma.  This surprised me since this show is held in Tulsa, Okla.  In past years, there has almost always been at least 1 horse from Okla in most of the classes.

The Oklahoma heat did not make this a comfortable show for horse, exhibitor, trainer, groom or volunteer.  The heat index on most days was 109 or higher.  Even though we sit just outside one of the big opened overhead doors, we did not benefit from the AC spilling from the building.  There just wasn’t enough wind to create the draw needed to bring the AC out.

The humidity was another factor.  If you stayed outside, you were drenched in sweat.  If you stayed inside, you were too cold.  If you wore glasses and went from inside to out, your glasses fogged up so bad it took several minutes for them to clear.

The weather made a few people a little crabby at times.  The heat took it’s toll on the horses too.  They got tired sooner and some acted up a bit more than usual.  For the most part, everyone had a good attitude.

The one factor that was way off was the number of volunteers to help this year.   While the youth show did have a good number of volunteers, the open show barely had any volunteers.  One of the main volunteers became sick after the youth show and could not return for the open show.  This left 1 scheduled volunteer  and the tack judge at the back gate and 1 volunteer to hand out awards.  The ground manager helped fill in.  This is the smallest amount of volunteers ever for this show.  We all stepped up to the challenge and the show did not have to wait on the back gate for any of the classes.

If you have a chance to go to one of the big shows, please do.  Enjoy the different classes.  Appreciate the skill of the exhibitors and the training on the horses.  Browse through the different vendors that are at the shows.  But most importantly . . . . . if you can spare just one day, help a show run smoothly by volunteering.

It ’s coming up on 2 years since I lost Iggette.  You can read about her in a  previous post,  “Meet My First Horse“.  She was a 3 year old when she came into my life.  We learned a lot from one another.  She turned out to be one of the best teachers I have ever had.  Why am I reminiscing about her now?

Over the last few months, we lost 2 members of  our barn family.  The most recent was Brig.  He was a 31 years old gelding that had been at the barn since before I came over 20 years ago.  He was not a very big horse, but a very sweet guy.  Because of his  age, he found the play times of Dollar and Sonny too rambunctious.  He preferred to spend his days soaking up the sun and grazing.

Monday, I received an email from the barn manager.  She told us that Brig had spent the day at the clinic with colic.  As the day progressed, he did not improve.  His owners were prepared and made the decision.  Brig was laid to rest.  He will be greatly missed.

The other member of our barn family was not a horse but an owner who passed on.  She was not that old, in fact, she was younger than me.  She had been fighting cancer for the last year.  In December, she lost that fight.  Her horse left our barn and went to live in a friend’s pasture.

I am a firm believer that if you listen to your animals, they will tell you when it is their time.  We have to have the compassion and strength to make the decision to stop their suffering.  We have to be brave enough to go on without our friend.

As horse owners, we also have to be responsible and plan ahead.  Yes, I know no one wants to think of their own death.  But if you don’t plan, what will become of your horse?  Is your family prepared to take on the responsibilities that you found enjoyable and fun?  Are they going to be financially able to take on the care of a horse?

If your answers were yes at one time, have you asked them lately.  In these hard economic times, circumstances change.  What was once a firm commitment may now be a hardship.  Even if you had planned to donate your horse to one of the many great foundations, have you kept up contact with them to make sure that option is still open?

It might be a good idea to review your plans every year or two.  Discuss them with the people or foundations that you will be  entrusting your horse to after you are gone.  Make a will if you need to and update it as circumstances change.

This post is meant to make you stop and think. What would you do?  Are you prepared?

When is it too cold too ride?  I have been asked that several times.  Unfortunately there is no concrete answer.  You will have to base your answer to this question on your region’s winter and also on you and your horse’s condition.  It also depends on whether or not you have an enclosed arena.  So since I don’t have access to an enclosed arena, I’ll just tell you when I determine it is too cold for me to ride in the Oklahoma winter.

It’s too cold to ride when the ground is frozen hard and has been for several days with no thaw in the near future.  Not only is the ground frozen but everything laying on top of the ground is also frozen solid.  Any sign of moisture is transformed into an ice rink and the occasional horse droppings have become small boulders.  Each have their own form of hazard if the horse steps on it.

It’s too cold for me to ride when the air temperature is below about 30°F or if the air is sparkling as any moisture is instantly frozen.  Between the extra under layers, the extra pair of socks and winter boots, the heavier gloves, the ear muffs, I just can’t move freely.  Just walking in this much garb makes me think of penguins.  Forget about trying to raise my leg high enough to step in the stirrup.  I just can’t enjoy riding if I’m wearing so much clothing to stay warm that I’ve added another 20 lbs.

It’s too cold to ride when the wind chill is 20°F or lower even if the air temperature is above freezing.  Having the breath ripped out of my body by even the slightest of breeze is not my idea of fun.  I imagine my horse is just as reluctant to work in these conditions.

It’s too cold to ride when . . . . .  my eyelashes start to have the frosted look.  My fingers and toes get numb just walking from the car to the barn.  My cheeks turn bright red and then purple from the cold in just a few minutes.  My nose runs from being so cold, but freezes before I can use a tissue.  My steaming hot coffee becomes an iced drink in 10 minutes or less.

Riding is supposed to be fun, even if you are training seriously.  If the winter weather is cold enough to be hazardous to you or your horse, why risk it?