Why I Set Goals

            Why should you set goals? That is what we will be talking about today. We will go over setting goals, working on achieving them and then achieving them. Are you ready? Let’s go!!

            When you think about setting goals, most people think long term. There are different types of goals. There are long-term goals and there are short-term goals. Setting both will make you and your horse the best you can be. When setting a goal, be realistic with yourself. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Make it challenging and something that you will be proud of. I like to set one or two long-term goals for the year. My long-term goals this year were to make it to the State 4H Horse Show and be able to do a flying lead change. I have achieved both of these. I also set short-term goals for every riding session. These goals are like teaching collection or running a personal best in barrels. A short term goal can be achieved in one day to a week. Setting short-term goals should help your quest to achieving your long-term goals.

            Now that you got your goal or goals set, it is time to achieve them. Find out what you need to complete your goals.  Do you need a new piece of equipment? Do you help gaining more knowledge on what you are trying to do? Books, youTube videos, or knowledgeable horse people can increase your knowledge. Don’t over work your goals. Keep it simple and don’t take short cuts.

            The best feeling in the world is achieving your goal. My long-term goal was to make it to the State 4H Horse Show. I worked every day on this goal. When it came time for the county fair, both of my horses were ready. Keeno and I won a state trip in the training program and will be competing in the Agstar arena at the state fair September 16^th at 7:00 am. Me and Vegas did not just get a state trip—we accumulated the most points over all of Anoka County horse program members. We will be competing at the state fair September 16^th through 19^th. You can come support the Anoka County 4H horse state team at the state fair from the 16^th to the 19^th. I have never been happier than when they announced my name on the loud speaker for state trip winners.

Those are a few reasons I set goals. As we start the school year, I’m setting a goal to write more blog posts about my horses. Now just remember: set your goals, work toward your goals, and be proud of when you achieve them!

Trail Riding manners

It is time to hit the trails, but before you do make sure you have good trail manners. Today we will discuss polite trail manners so you can be part of a happy trail riding group.

The leader of the group is in charge of the whole group. The leader needs to make sure every one is in line and no one is being left behind. He/She watches every one making sure that they stay on the trail together as a group.

            A very important thing to remember is horses are herd animals. Even if you can ride out alone doesn’t mean every horse is comfortable being alone. If anyone stops, stay with him or her. Here are some examples of when you need to stop for other people: getting a gate, going to the bathroom, crossing over a bridge, wading through water, and/or stepping over a fallen tree. Just wait for others and it will make the whole trail riding experience better.

            To sum it all up, just remember stay as a group. I hope you learned something. If you have any more rules or trail manners, please let me know.

lunging a horse

• •  

    WATCHED

    4:36

    Teaching a horse to lunge.

    • 39 minutes ago
    • 1 view

    This video shows two young horses learning to lunge. 

Spring Tack Check Over

Even if it doesn't feel like it, spring is right around the corner; it is time to clean and check over the tack. When you are checking over your tack, look for broken hardware (buckles, D rings, etc) and frayed or worn leather. I will go over how to clean and oil your equipment and where to look for broken or frayed peaces.

Oiling your saddle should be done two to three times a year: once in the spring, once in the summer, and once in the fall/winter. Before you oil your saddle, it needs to be free of dirt and dust. Take a light bristle brush and brush the dust off. After the majority of the dust and dirt is off, you can take a damp sponge or rag and wipe the whole saddle down. Make sure to get under the skirt and the fender. Now let it dry (Note: Don't let it dry in the sun. This could cause cracks in the leather). After it is dry, which could take 20 minutes to an hour, it is ready to oil. You will need leather oil and a rag or sponge. Put some oil on the rag and smear the oil evenly on your saddle leather. Get all the places you can reach. If you oil your saddle correctly, it should last longer than a lifetime.

When caring for your saddle, look for frayed and worn spots. If there are any faults, they need to be replaced. Anyplace where leather goes through a buckle, D-ring, O-ring, snap or any other metal part, should be checked. If you do not check these things, your saddle could detach from your horse with you in it. Ouch!!

Another thing you should check is all the metal hardware. The most common things are snaps on reins, lead rope snaps and also buckles. These things can break by being stepped on or even just continuous use.

I hope you got a good idea on how to care for and check over your tack. If you have any questions or comments, please let me know.

Vet Visit

The vet came out to draw blood for Coggins and do a spring check-up. When the vet comes out, he draws blood from all the horses; then, when he leaves we vaccinate all the horses. The plan was the vet would geld Keeno, but Keeno kept his balls by getting a cold. In this post I will talk about three things: drawing blood, giving shots (vaccines), and treating a cold in a young horse.

Coggins is a name of a blood test that comes from Dr. Leroy Coggins, the veterinarian who invented it. The test determines if the horse is carrying the Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) virus. In order to draw blood for the test, you need to hold your horse in a manner that lets the vet get the blood safely, quickly and efficiently.  The person holding the horse should stand by the horse’s head on the same side as the vet is standing; if the horse moves, it will have a lesser chance of hitting the vet and/or the holder. The person holding the horse should have a really good grip on the lead rope, but should not be nervous or scared. The person should be ready if the horse were to pull back, rear or try to run. The vet will get the blood and send it to a lab to get tested. The results take a couple of weeks and a negative result is required for trailering your horse.

Vaccinations are important. We give our horses Vetera Goldxp+VEE, Potomavac, and Strepvax II.  Vetera Goldxp+VEE helps prevent Eastern, Western and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis, rhinopneumonitis, influenza, tetanus and viremia. Potomavac vaccine protects against the potomac horse fever. Strepvax II protects against strangles. To give a horse a vaccine, you need a handler, a horse, and a vaccine with syringe and needle. The most common way to give a shot is intramuscular (in the muscle). We place our three shots on each side of the neck and one on the rump. To give a shot, you really just stab it in the selected spot and push the syringe. The person holding the horse needs to be prepared for the horse to react in any way. Out of the 30 horses that the barn owners and I vaccinated, only 3 over reacted to the needle. Now you know how to give a vaccine.

Keeno was going to be gelded on this day; but, after consulting with the vet for a while, we decided to wait a month. Keeno had a cold; we could tell because he had a runny noise, cough and runny stool. After deciding not to geld him, the vet recommended he receive Colostimune and that he gets wormed every month. The vet also recommended that Keeno get red cell twice a day. Keeno should be feeling better in no time at all, and then he’ll get chopped (gelded).

The vet day was very successful. I learned a ton about giving shots and holding horses. I am learning a lot about recognizing/ taking care of a sick horse. What are your thought about keeping your horse healthy.

Works Cited:

http://coursesonhorses.blogspot.com/2008/07/exactly-what-is-coggins.html

http://fastonline.org/CD3WD_40/LSTOCK/001/ITProv_May_2005/h4340e%20Horse%20Healthcare/p029b.gif

Lunging

To teach your horse to lunge, you need a halter and a long piece of rope or a lunge line; a lunge whip is optional. To start out, first take the lead rope in one hand. Point up into the air in the direction that the horse will go. Click to your horse to get him moving. If necessary, tap him with the end of your rope. To start out, do a small circle at the walk. Remember, right when he moves, release the pressure (clicking and tapping). After he gets this down, try to get him out away from you in a larger circle and ask for a trot. After he goes around in a nice even circle, ask him to stop by bending over and saying, “Whoa.” It may take awhile but your horse should come to you or at least face you. After your horse is good at stopping and facing you, try stopping and asking him to go in the opposite direction. Say, “Reverse.” Teaching the fundamentals of lunging helps the horse figure out you are the leader. Now have some fun with it—walk, trot, forward, reverse, stop and start.

Enjoy the video!

Music by https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4Ao-iNPPUc

Side Passing

All I am doing is pressing the handle of the whip to his side, and not releasing until he moves away from the pressure. After he moves away from really light pressure have him take more steps before pressure is released. Once you are side passing off of the ground, you will have a seamless transition to riding. In no time at all, you will be side passing off of your horse.

If you like videos, please let me know in the comments below. It would help a lot, as I decide which video editing program I should purchase.