CHA Program Member site - Grace Adventures Paradise Ranch in Mears, Michigan

:: By Chad & Tricia Coppess

Grace Adventures Paradise Ranch in Mears, Michigan

At first glance, the facilities of Grace Adventures Paradise Ranch look like they belong to a typical youth ranch. A herd of approximately 40 saddle horses, four draft horses and two mules for wagon rides, cattle, two outdoor arenas, and 360 acres of trails make Paradise Ranch a quality environment in which one can learn horsemanship skills. Once a guest is on the premises of Paradise Ranch, however, it is apparent that this place is different than other youth ranches.

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:: By Barbara N. Klatt

The Instructor, the Student, and the Physical Therapist

Yes, you read that correctly. And I am not referring to doctor prescribed physical therapy due to a riding injury or any other medically related situation. Many of you will be familiar with physical therapy for the rehabilitation of an injury. Perhaps you’ve sprained your ankle, had surgery for an ACL repair, or suffer from chronic back pain. This has traditionally been the domain of the Physical Therapist, but physical therapy is also the provider of choice for wellness, fitness and performance enhancement.

As instructors, we surround ourselves with resources to help us convey our knowledge in a manner that each individual student understands. These resources may include horses that are well schooled in the discipline we teach; shelves of books to renew and refresh our mind’s list of exercises or patterns we have our riders practice; colleagues to interact and share ideas with; and continuing education via clinics, videos, and magazine articles.

I would like to introduce you one of my newest personal resources. Robyn Gray is a practicing Physical Therapist based out of Columbus, Ohio with extensive experience in various methods of alternative body work. She is also a certified equine massage therapist. As a novice rider herself, Robyn is well aware of the interesting things a student’s body can do while in the saddle, often impeding their riding progress. She has a unique approach to working with riding instructors and their students. Listen in on one of our recent conversations.

<<read more about Teaching Techniques >>

The CHA Reunion! International Conference
October 30 – November 2, 2008 in
Lexington, Kentucky at the Horse Park!

Click here for the full line up of Speakers and the tentative schedule.

Hotel – Holiday Inn Lexington North – one mile from KY Horse Park – Free Shuttle to and from Lexington airport and KY Horse Park. CHA Conference rate is $89 a night with up to four in a room. This rate is good until September 30, 2008. Call to book your reservation at (859) 233-0512 or click here to visit their website.

Click here to register for the conference for only $350 or by calling 800-399-0138 and speaking with Terri Weaver our Membership Services Director.

This year CHA is partnering with EquineU.com to deliver First Aid and CPR courses online and then your hands on portion at the conference on Sunday. Click here to sign up today!

Become a CHA Site Visitor. From 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday train to become a CHA Site Visitor to be able to do CHA Site Accreditations around the country. Email Beth Powers to enroll in this free training.

See you in Kentucky to get all your continuing education hours for the next three years, meet great friends and learn so much more about horses, your students and yourself!

Nominate a Great Person or
Horse Today to Win CHA Awards!

CHA Instructor of the Year: Please click here to email an essay about why the person you know should be the CHA instructor of the year – you can also send in the essay along with any photo to:

Polly Barger, CHA Program Director
4037 Iron Works Parkway Suite 180
Lexington, KY 40511

Nominations due by August 4, 2008

CHA School Horse of the Year: Have your lesson horse immortalized into a Stone Model! Send in a letter about why your lesson horse is special and what he/she does for the riding students to clandwehr@cha-ahse.org. Entry must include front and back shot of the horse and side shot. Photos can be sent digitally or hard copy to KY Office address. Letters of support from students and parents, etc. are also encouraged. Entries due by August 4, 2008.

CHA Clinic Instructor of the Year: If you went through a CHA clinic this year and just loved the staff of it, let us know! Send a letter to pbarger@cha-ahse.org letting us know about the person and what you liked and why he/she should win this award.

Newly Accredited Sites! Congratulations
for Your Excellence In Safety!

Fox Run Stables, LLC in Cape Girardeau, MO

Star Equestrian Center in Hagerstown, MD

North Star Farm in Perrysburg, NY

New CHA Life Members!

Diana Beardsley of Newton Falls, OH

Christina Pinch Rubino of Prudenville, MI

Way to Go!

Rebecca Wiley, 19 yrs old, daughter of Kathy and Matt Wiley of CHA Program member Marmon Valley Farm in Ohio placed 8th in the Craig Cameron Extreme Cowboy Race on a Haflinger grade she trained herself. Mom and Dad have been clinic instructors for several years and Rebecca has her Master Level certification. Matt is the son of Bill Wiley so this makes them three generations of CHA certified instructors!

Mane Event in Alberta, Canada

CHA President Elect Tara Gamble attended this event and worked the CHA booth with CHA long-time members and certified instructors Steve Horsman and Mary Whitehead. Jon Ensign was there as a speaker and he will also be speaking at our International Conference this fall.

Sally Swift – Founder of Centered Riding
Honored at American Horse Publications Conference

Pfizer Animal Health presented Sally Swift with the seventh annual Equine Industry Vision Award at a ceremonial breakfast held during the AHP Break from the Gate in 2008 seminar in Saratoga Springs, NY. Established in 2002, the Equine Industry Vision Award was the first of its kind to showcase innovation and recognize ingenuity and service across the entire equine market. Many CHA instructors utilize the methods of Swift in their own teaching.

At 95, Swift earned this honor for having a revolutionary impact on horseback riding worldwide in the twentieth century. Best known as the founder of the Centered Riding(R) method used by riders across all disciplines, Swift is a true visionary whose legendary work will continue to impact the equine world long beyond her years.

<< read more about Sally Swift >>

- Sally Swift with CHA CEO Christy Landwehr

Helping Your Horse Through Its Golden Years

:: By Lydia Gray, DVM and Jill Beech, DVM

Fortunately for our nation's horse population, interest in equine geriatrics among veterinarians and researchers has been increasing. As a result, it has been found that not only do senior horses have different preventive care needs, but also that certain disease conditions become more common as horses age. Many of the conditions we associate with "old age" in the horse--like lameness, weight loss, or poor shedding--actually might be preventable or treatable.

<< read more about Helping Your Horse >>

CREDIT CARD PROCESSING 101

If you have ever stared at your credit card processing statement in frustration and wondered why it costs so much just to accept a credit card, you are not alone. Many other CHA members have encountered the same situation. Credit card processing can be very complicated, but here’s what you need to know. Credit card processing programs are not one size fits all and need to be built around the specific needs of each business. Before we get into the details of a merchant account, let’s discuss how credit card processing works.

<< read more about Credit Cards >>

Question:

Some of my horse riding friends and I have a variety of opinions about the use of a tie-down when riding. We all ride western and do a lot of trail riding. Can you give us some guidance? Sarah B.

Answer: <<read Answer>>

Those Wet Feeders!

Feeders that hang on the fence are a great luxury to own if you have pastured horses. They normally stay in the place when you hang them because unlike rubber tubs you can tie them down. The horses don’t waste time knocking them off to drag them farther out into the pasture. They can come in handy when feeding pastured horses grain, oats, salt licks, treats, etc. However, the one flaw is the fact that when it rains, they’ll fill up with rain. Then you’re out there, being sucked down into the muddy mess, while you attempt to dump the water/ untie the feeder to empty it of its contents. Take a drill bit and put tiny holes, the size of those found in a pepper shaker, in the bottom of the feeder to allow the rain water to pass through but the grain to stay in.

Summer Crosby, CHA Editorial Intern

Turn Down the Volume!

Very often I’ll walk into a barn and the radio is blasting. I recently conducted an experiment to see if there was a relationship between rock and roll music and an increase in the heart rates of horses. With the help of an assistant we tested ten riding horses of different age, genders, and disciplines. Each horse was brought to a test stall and hooked up to a heart monitor. We then exposed every other horse to 30 minutes of no music, followed by 30 minutes exposure to rock and roll music which was played on a typical CD player found in most stables. The remaining horses were exposed to the music first, followed by quiet time. The horse’s heart rates were taken every five minutes and then an average was taken. We then compared the data using a Wilcoxin Signed Ranking test which is a method used by scientists to compare data when a small number of subjects are used. The results were significant. There was indeed an overall increase in the heart rates of horses when forced to listen to rock and roll music. Although the test was a simple one this is a valuable lesson when considering a horse’s response to the environment.

Emily Wellstood Clarke, CHA Editorial Intern

Clean Those Buckets!

Those filthy, slimy, water buckets teeming with bacteria and algae are among the top ten pet peeves of mine. Uneaten feed, dead flies, hair, nasal secretions, and bacteria pose a danger to the horse. Water buckets and troughs should be kept clean for the health of the horse. A simple, daily brush of the bucket and regular cleaning with a mild bleach solution or cider vinegar is all it takes to keep our equine friends healthy and happy!

Emily Wellstood Clarke, CHA Editorial Intern

Don’t Stop Please

It is unnecessary for a horse to stop in order to defecate. Since they are prey animals they are designed to be able to run and even jump while in the process of eliminating manure. Many riders allow this, and it is a bad habit. Anyone who leads trail rides can tell you how annoying it is when horses stop on the trail, backing up the whole line. Also, it is poor form in the show ring.

Polly Haselton Barger, CHA Program Director

That is My Brush!

In the stabled or outdoor environment, each equine has its own set of brushes. When I visited my sister at college to visit our quarter horse she was stalling up there, I saw her pull a brush from a commons box of grooming utensils and begin to use it on our horse. Instantly, I freaked out, laying down all types of things one horse could get from another through a shared brush. Although she understood, she did call me out on overreacting freshman use other brushes from a certain horse’s bucket, it has been ingrained into my head. Fungus. Ringworm. Itchy. Lice. Mange. No, it is it definitely not acceptable to mix brushes in a schooling environment. But what annoys me even more is the uneducated tend to be the ones that do it and when you try to explain it to them, they just look at you like your nuts. My sister understood, in fact, she’s quite educated herself, but she was just too lazy to go back to her locker and retrieve her own brushes. Humans who are friends typically use separate combs. Horses are no different.

Summer Crosby, CHA Editorial Intern

TEACHING

Emergency Trailer Loading

We all know it is best to take the time to train a horse to load onto a trailer quietly and with no fuss. Occasionally, however, we find ourselves in a position where this is not an option-perhaps when picking up a new horse or in an evacuation situation. Because horses are large, powerful and potentially explosive it is important to have a method by which can safely load a horse, even if you don’t have help. This method will work with a stock trailer or straight-load trailer, but not so well with a slant load. You will need a heavy cotton rope, at least 40’ long with a bull snap on the end. Gloves are always a good idea when using rope. Arrange the rope (long line) so the end with the bull snap is just outside of the loading end of the trailer. Run the rope up through the trailer, out the front (either through a window, vent or escape door) and then back down the outside of the trailer. Guide the horse to the entrance and hook the bull snap to his halter. Quietly bring the rope behind the horse’s haunches (well above the legs) and gently put light pressure on him. You will have some leverage to help prevent him from backing out. You can loop the rope around a nearby tree if you need more leverage but be VERY careful to allow some slight give and take so the horse will not panic. As the horse moves slightly forward into the trailer just tighten the rope enough to hold him. Once the horse is completely in the trailer, close and latch the door and replace the long line with a lead rope or trailer tie. Always have a sharp knife handy when loading and be very cautious to never wrap the rope around your hand or body. Also be very careful to not step into any loops on the ground. I have used this method with great success many times. It is effective and very safe since you can stay well away from the horse.

Millie Binkley, CHA Clinic Instructor
New Johnsonville, TN

HERD

Open Up and Say Awwww

It is important to catch dental problems early. Horses with dental problems may show obvious signs, such as pain or irritation, or they may show no noticeable signs at all. But left undiagnosed and untreated, a dental problem can develop into a much more significant health concern. In a 2006 study of horses suffering from chronic weight loss, 20 percent of the horses experienced weight loss due to dental disorders.  In addition to weight loss, the inability to chew feed into small particles can lead to colic, and the bacteria associated with gum disease in the horse’s mouth can migrate to other areas of the body, similar to what occurs with gum disease in humans. Have your horses checked annually.

American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP)

TACK ROOM

Great Way to Not Forget to Tighten

Forgetting to tighten the girth can turn into a very dangerous situation while mounting. It can literally mean the difference between life and death. I see some of my students walk out to the arena to get on without checking the girth first. The kids get so excited about riding that they forget to do it. Some of my adult students will also forget, perhaps due to new information overload (there’s another safety tip there – don’t throw too much new information at someone in any one lesson). Sometimes they get distracted talking or thinking about something else. Since tightening the cinch is so important, I use a “hey! don’t forget the cinch!” method when saddling. Once I get the cinch strap tied, I pull the top of the strap back up - the end part of the strap that goes down through the knot – until I just get to the end of the strap and let that “loop” hang out. The strap is still secured by the knot that runs horizontal; it just needs a final pull down to finish the process. With the loop sticking up and out, it becomes much easier to see that I am not done tightening the girth, it almost sticks out in my face! Once I am done with the girth, I just pull the strap straight down. I have never forgotten to tighten the girth using this method and it helps my students remember to do so as well.

Leslie Laing, CHA Certified Instructor
Peyton, CO

LINGO

Not all Growth is Good! - Epiphysitis

The epiphysis are the growth plates at the ends of the long bones of the legs in a horse that develop separately from the shaft of the bone during the growth period when they are separated from the main portion of the bone by cartilage. Epiphysitis, similar to rickets, is an inflammation and swelling of the growth plates above and below the joints of the young horse. Epiphysitis is associated with excessively rapid growth, usually caused by over-feeding fast growing youngsters. It can cause enlarged painful joints with knuckling over of the fetlock and crippling lameness. Treatment includes reducing the level of nutrition and ensuring a balanced ration with correct ratios of vitamins and mineral is fed.

Julie Goodnight, CHA Spokesperson

:: By Julie Goodnight

Treacherous River Crossing

THE INCIDENT

It was a cool, but sunny spring day in mid-May in the Wyoming Mountains. It was a little early for tourist season yet, but the guides at Hop Along Trail Rides were enjoying a few small rides every day—just enough to get the new guides trained and get the horses lined out for their summer of hauling tourists up into the mountains.

Joe had been the head trail guide at Hop Along for many years and he knew the horses and the trails like the back of his hand. He was happy with the few new guides he had hired for the season—they actually had experience and were a hard working lot. With the few riders they had this time of year, they would generally take all the guides out on the rides so that more horses were getting worked and that the new guides were becoming familiar with the horses and the terrain.

<< click to Read the Analysis >>

They Don't Call It "Sweet Home Alabama" for Nothin'
A Report from the Trail    :: By Julie Dillon

By the first of May, the trails at Faye Whittemore Farm in Jasper, Alabama are dripping with the scent of honeysuckle in full bloom. Friday afternoon after a delicious home-cooked dinner prepared by "Nanny" Dean Aaron complete with "sweet tea", festivities began with the traditional welcome bonfire. Tom Seay, master of ceremonies (and ever popular TV star) welcomed the gathering of over one hundred and forty riders. Tom speaks with a unique blend of genteel hospitality that makes everyone feel like family. We all enjoyed his often self effacing humor as he tells jokes and stories with embellishment to spare. It was blissful contentment to be sitting under the stars in front of a blazing fire surrounded by individuals and families alike that had journeyed from near and far to swap tales, compare notes and find fellowship with other horse lovers.

<< read more about Sweet Home Alabama >>

©2008 All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue expressly forbidden without written permission of the publisher/editor: Certified Horsemanship Association, 4037 Iron Works Parkway Suite 180, Lexington, KY 40511, 859-259-3399.

The Instructor is published four times a year by the Certified Horsemanship Association, Lexington, KY (2 printed and 2 electronic issues). The Instructor accepts submissions of manuscripts, photographs and drawings or an exclusive basis. However, the publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Submission does not guarantee publication. Materials cannot be returned unless accompanied by a SASE. Products and advertising included in The Instructor do not constitute endorsement by CHA, its board of directors, the magazine or its staff or specific products or information provided by the manufacturers.

CHA MISSION: The purpose of CHA is to promote excellence in safety and education throughout the horse industry. CHA serves leaders, instructors and riding program directors for youth associations, clubs, riding stables, camps, colleges and recreational programs with instructor and trail guide certification. CHA also publishes industry standards for group riding programs, accredits riding program facilities and provides the most comprehensive variety of program resources for instructional and recreational riding programs.