Quarterly Magazine - November 2022

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

November 2022 Volume 7 Issue 4

WHAT ARE EXPERIENCE RIDING LESSONS? Learn about the horses and riding lessons Living Life Ranch has to offer. Page 8.

AGAPE RANCH GRADUATION DAY Learn about the Agape Ranch colt graduation process. Page 10.

MIAMI COUNTY KANSAS FALL FARM TOUR 2022

Page 6. Pictured: Isinglass Estates

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine From The Editor Jana Barcus

B eing raised by an Avid Outdoor Sports Writer, it was only natural for me to start our Magazine, Everything Horses and Livestock ®. In my youth, I talked with my father about writing some small books on living off the land in our area and caring for animals. Out of high school, I gave riding lessons, trained horses, boarded, produced a variety of events and sold items from my own retail business, while also working for others. I wrote articles on proper feeding and horse management for magazines, websites and newsletters. It was very enjoyable to listen to my father edit them for me. He said, “It’s good to write how you feel, what you believe, just get rid of the extra words!” My father and I never got around to writing our booklets before he passed away November 1, 2009. I have many fond memories of my father and our time together. He worked at the same publishing company for 62 years. My passion is proper care and feeding of all animals and helping others enjoy their ride. Our family loves to hunt, ride and team rope. Flip through our pages. Enjoy articles, photographs, cartoons, word search, & fun news! This magazine is dedicated to my dad, mom, sisters, husband, son, family, friends, and everyone out there enjoying the ride!

Jana T. Harrington Barcus

Editor/Publisher; Jana Barcus Editing/Setup; Ali Mays Sales/Marketing Mangager; Melissa Cowen Admin Assistant; Gerri Groshong

Ads Due January 15 / April 15 / July 15 / October 15 Publish Dates February * May * August * November

Call Us to Advertise: Gerri Groshong Melissa Cowan Jana Barcus

913-515-5943 913-731-5579 913-333-2657

Everything Horses and Livestock is distributed across the US and on the world wide web. No material from this publication may be copied or in any way reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Neither the advertisers nor Every thing Horses and Livestock Magazine, nor staff are responsible for any errors in the editorial copy. This magazine reserves the right to refuse any advertising which we deem unsuitable for our publicaºtion. No liability is assumed for errors in or omissions of advertisers in this publication. Opinions and views expressed in articles and advertisements are not necessar ily those of the publisher, editors or employees, nor does publication of any opinion or statement in Everything Horses and Livestock constitute an endorsement of the views, opinions, goods or services contained in any advertisement. Visit our website at www.EHALnews.com and Like us on Facebook. Copyright 2020 Everything Horse and Livestock ® All Rights Reserved The Publication office is located at 29545 Pleasant Valley Rd., Paola, Kansas 66071

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

TABLE OF CONTENTS

18 Behavioral Indicators of Poor Saddle Fit Deb Juhnke

6 Miami County Kansas Fall Farm Tour 2022 Melissa Cowan

14 The View From The Sliding Glass Door Gerri Groshong

22 Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System This Winter Gerri Groshong

8 What are Experience Riding Lessons? Living Life Ranch

16

Pollen-NATION Scott Catton

24

Some Fun Stuff EHAL Staff

10

17 Rise and Shine K-9 Julie Frank

Agape Ranch Graduation Day Agape Ranch

Everything Horses and Livestock® | November 2022 | EHALnews.com 4 Photo by Josh Redd on Unsplash

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine Miami County Kansas Fall Farm Tour 2022 Melissa Cowan

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

the Angora goats, Yak, or Bunnies the next stop is MM Fiber Mill. Roger and Penny purchased a historical general store that is a full-service fiber mill. They will take you through the mill and show you all their equipment and explain how everything works. You have the opportunity to meet their rare goat breed and bunnies. They provided Hand spinning, drop spindle, and weaving demonstrations on the tour. Do you love to snuggle in a quilt? If you do take a trip to the Red Barn Quilts. There are so many to choose from it makes a difficult decision. Check out the neat things Don and Cindy built together to make a fun place for all to enjoy. They have sheep that shed on their own. That’s right they don’t have to be shaved. Have you ever heard of this? I saw them with my own eyes. They are pretty special animals. Cindy has more sewing machines than I can count. She will teach you how to make your own quilt! Cindy has a huge selection of quilts some came from the Amish community. Go talk to Cindy about Christmas gifts. Her quilts come in every size from a California King to a lap-size quilt. Better Equine Ranch is all about educating people with knowledge on how to raise livestock and understand agriculture. They share their knowledge and bring interaction into the mix. When you come out to their tour, you see the Cowboys in action. You watch the Stock dogs work to help bring in the cattle. You can feed the goats, chickens, and Turkey. Ride a horse. Partners Living Life Ranch offers an Experience of horseback rides, grooming horses, or painting a pony. Better Equine offers All Natural grooming products for the horse, custom-made saddle pads and so much more. Jana and Bill love to share knowledge and educate people on everything they do on the ranch. These are just a few of the places listed on the Miami County Farm Tour for 2022. There are several more that I didn’t personally see or interview. It’s an honor to have this experience provided by these family-owned farms. They are so close to home. It is a lot of work to prepare for the farm tours, they want to share their life with us. To share their knowledge, so we and our children can understand this life we don’t live. They allow us to learn where our food comes from, and how our clothing is made, so much of our lives depend on our farmers. They are teaching us how to sustain our life. We don’t need several acres. All of us can live a sustainable life if we just learn.

provides angora fiber, there are meat breeds and fainting goats? If you go to Grace Heritage Dairy you can meet their dairy goats and learn all about raw goat’s milk and its benefits. Their goats’ lineage has been passed down from generation to generation. They have a store open during farm tour weekends. Have you ever used goat soap? It is amazing how it softens your skin! You know, I would like a warm bath with goat soap, snuggle into an angora sweater, and have a giant Ice cream cone right now. How do you feel about Cows? Well, Silver Lining Herefords have a plethora of knowledge to share about how to raise cattle and everything it takes to raise a good herd of cattle. This family legacy is getting passed along from generation to generation. Alpacas are pretty amazing animals. They are beautiful colors, so soft and sweet temperaments. Did you know Alpacas really don’t spit at humans unless a human is hurting it and sometimes not even then? The females carry their babies for 1 year before they are born. A baby Alpaca is called a “Cria.” The Fiber (fur) on the Alpacas is super soft. You can’t stop touching it. They make all kinds of cool items from alpaca fiber. Timber View Farms has a beautiful selection of products in the Store right on the farm! Their Alpacas are so beautiful and so cute! I met Que Ball the turkey and Daphne the goat at their petting zoo. They have donkeys and pigs too. When you shear your Fiber from the Alpacas,

Pictured: Timber View Farms

I f you did not get a chance to make it out to the Farm Tours this fall, what a shame. Miami County has some of the best places to see in Kansas. These tours are free family fun! I would go alone if I had to. I love learning about sustainable living. Did you know that Garlic can go back into a family’s history 100 years? I thought that just happened with Wine. Speaking of wine. The wineries have grown in the state of Kansas. Miami County has quite a few. They offer wine tastings, tours of their vineyards, and unique flavors. Some have wine slush drinks, they offer different types of foods to enjoy. Then they show you what is good to pair up with wine. They share their knowledge. They offer different types of Gifts one of my favorites is the wine baskets, they come with just wine, or you can add Almond truffles, special snacks, art, glasses, mugs, cheese, etc. The list really does go on. My favorite part about these places is the peace and tranquility. You can sit down and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere while you sip your favorite wine. Just relax and breathe.

Isinglass has much more than wine. They offer several unique experiences. They have horseback riding, hiking, fishing so many things for the family to do. If you don’t want to leave just stay, rent one of their luxurious cottages, and stay for the weekend, or longer if you like. Somerset Winery produces over 5000 cases of wine a year. You can order online. This place has a beautiful setting with a great store, great wine, music, and food. It’s a peaceful place to have a glass or bottle of wine. You have to check out the Wine Club membership and don’t forget to look at the recipes they are so kind enough to share. RC Estates can take you on a tour of their place besides taking you around their Holistic homestead with their heritage livestock you might have the opportunity to have a carriage ride with a Friesian horse. Better yet they will take you to a winery by way of a horse carriage. Talk about a great way to travel. Check out all of their camping and glamping sites before you go. There is camping and glamping and horseback riding. There are opportunities to meet all kinds of farm animals. You can pet a turkey or feed a goat. Have you ever had goat’s milk? How about Goat milk Ice Cream? Well, Hill-Arius Acres has both. Did you know there is a type of goat that

Pictured: Isinglass Estates

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine What are experience Riding Lessons? Living Life Ranch “No one can teach riding so well as a horse.” C.S. Lewis

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

H ere at Living Life Ranch we offer the horse experience. Have you ever wanted a horse? Do you have children who wish for a horse and/or just want to learn how to ride a horse? Maybe you or your children just want to be with a horse. Living Life Ranch may be just what you are looking for. We want to share our knowledge to help others live an experience of life they may not have had the opportunity to experience otherwise. Besides Equine Assisted Learning, Life Coaching, and Emanuel Prayer sessions, we offer the “Horse experience” riding lessons. We have facilitators that teach from the ground up about owning, caring for, and riding a horse. We teach from the beginning all the whys and how’s: • How to catch and halter the horse • We teach you how to tie a horse • We talk about what horses eat • How to groom a horse from head to toe and what each comb or brush does for the horse • Yes, we teach you to clean their feet • We teach you how to place the saddle pad on correctly • How to put the saddle on and take it off correctly • We teach ground work, before getting in the saddle we teach you how to lead and handle the horse • Check the gear to make sure the horse is comfortable • We teach you how to ride our horses • Body Communication & Rein management is key If the rider stays with it and keeps working on their skills, they can do all of the above plus ride along on trails. Depending on individual experience, we start out in the round pen on lead and move to the arena when our rider feels comfortable and ready. We teach our riders the skills and knowledge they would need if ever they decide to get their own horse.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Corinthians 13:4-7 God has blessed us with wonderful horses that each have different personalities. We have several different breeds. Some rescued, some donated, the others I owned previously. They are a joy to work with and each have won the hearts of many that have come here. Alex – Overo Paint Quarter Horse Bella – Rocky Mountain Horse Buddy – Quarter horse (retired roping horse) Flicka – Mini Horse Gypsy – Missouri Fox Trotter Jasper-Rocky Mountain Horse Rio – Rocky Mountain Horse Slim Jim – Quarter Horse (retired roping horse) Storm – Quarter Horse If you want to meet our herd contact us at: www.livingliferanch.org and we can give you a tour and introduce you to everyone! “You can see what man made from the seat of an automobile, but the best way to see what God made is from the back of a horse.”-Charles M. Russell

While they are learning the steps, they are gaining confidence, building self-esteem, learning how to connect to others, communication (why it is so important to be clear when communicating) building relationships, becoming leaders. Learning how to relax and experience peace with the horse. When you experience the horse, the horse teaches you how to overcome fears and challenges. Horses bring you a lot more knowledge than you think. • Mental health benefits

• Reduces stress • Mental exercise

• Feelings of relaxation • Physical health benefits • Improves core strength

Melissa Cowan Living Life Ranch contact@livingliferanch.org

• Improves balance and coordination • Increases muscle tone and strength • Improves circulation and flexibility

We offer love, patience, and kindness at our facility. There are no mistakes here, only learning opportunities.

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine Agape Ranch Graduation Day Agape Ranch

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

about their horse. It was hard for them but they handled it very well. I was proud of all of those boys and I didn’t know any of them. What they accomplished was just a beautiful thing to witness. I will never forget the love, family environment that I experienced. Those colts are the most well trained colts I’ve seen at sales. They were trained with loving hands and kindness from young men that were broken and in pain, who had no direction. These colts helped each young man heal and turn his life around through Christian leadership from Riley Olson and his team. Miracles walking, just ask their parents.

tear up but he was very proud of his colt with what she brought for the Ranch. As we moved into the sale I watched the boys ride their horses over to the barn. As I arrived, there was excitement in the air, some were dismounted petting and hugging their steed. Some were getting lined up for their turn in the arena. There were around 42 horses I believe. All had the number painted on their hind quarter so you could see it clearly. I saw a combination of feelings; anxiety wondering how this was going to go, sadness in their eyes as they knew this was the end of the ride for them and their equine partner. Excitement of how well they were going to do in the arena when they show their horse. How much is my horse going to bring? They were laughing and chatting away as they waited for their turn. The horses I noticed were calm, standing with heads lowered in a relaxed position. They had complete trust for their human partner, no fear or anxiety showing in them. I was impressed how these colts were just chilling out waiting for their next job.

I went to Agape Ranch’s production sale this last September 17, 2022. This is Graduation Day for all the colts that have been in the youth program, which is managed by Riley Olson. Colts were assigned to each student in the program. The student is responsible for naming and training their assigned colt and fashioning it for a new owner and life whatever that may be. The students in the program spend months working with the horses. I noticed Curt Pate, a well-known horseman there at this sale. He was partnering with the staff during the preview portion of the event. He guided the boys and staff with demonstrations of colt training techniques like sending them off freely only to re-catch them, unsaddling and re saddling. Some of the horses were so connected to their young trainer they followed as if they were attached to a halter and lead rope.

speaking isn’t easy for everyone. I held back tears with a big lump in my throat as I watch and listened to each one talk about their colt experience. They showed their love and shared personality traits so buyers could get a bit of knowledge on the character their colt had. Many of the students voiced “if not for attending the Agape Ranch program, they know they would be dead.” New York, California, Utah, Colorado, it didn’t matter where they were from, each student had a story to tell about the lives they were living prior to coming into the program and each one thanked Agape Ranch for changing their lives. Attending Agape Ranch and given the opportunity to be in this program helped each student gain trust, leadership, patience, self-esteem for themselves as they built their connection with the horse. Some were able to put the past behind and move forward, which released their pain from their past. The biggest take away I witnessed, was they found a relationship with Jesus. They were introduced to the most loving human that ever walked the face of the earth. He offers us eternal life, with his love brings peace in our lives. These lost boys found their way. Each one told us they were so grateful to be at Agape Ranch. They were sincere and you felt the family atmosphere with them. During a break a young man came up to the stands and begged his mom to buy the horse he had trained. She was a beautiful bay roan mare. He did a wonderful job with her training. When I asked him how he was going to handle riding her in the sale he said, “As soon as I hear the word “sold” I’m going start bawlin” he said he knew his job was done and he told me later he never would regret this experience. His colt brought $5800.00 which was the first highest bid of the day. He did

Protestors showed up at the ranch gates. The state of Missouri is attacking the program to close the doors. Riley came into the arena and shared with everyone what is happening. He apologized to us for the drama at the entrance. Riley was broken hearted by what is happening with this attack. He shared his heart, told everyone what is going on with situation. All I can say on this topic is I talked to over 10 of the boys in the program personally. Myself and others at the sale heard with our own ears how 20 plus students felt about the ranch. Some teared up as they thanked the Ranch staff, mentioning specific people that are helping them with their life. It was sincere and heartfelt. This brought back the memory of when we spent the day with Riley and his team during our Podcast interview back in July. We ate a great lunch with everyone in the cafeteria. Afterwards we toured the immaculate facility. Then here we are again spending more time with them on this day. I truly feel the love and kindness with these people. Coming from an abusive background myself, I can normally feel when I meet someone not trust worthy.

I talked to the boys encouraged them, told them what amazing trainers they were, how impressed I was at their leadership. Some shared how much they will miss their beloved friend but they knew this was the goal all along. They loved telling

After they finished tacking back up, each young man came up to the front of the arena to tell the audience about their horse. It was very hard for some of them to speak to a crowd like this. Public

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

Not one young man gave me any signs other than peace, love and respect. The staff at Agape Ranch provided the same love and respect. What I experienced and heard from students is Agape Ranch Ministry is changing lives of the thousands of kids, they have gone through the program for good. I think about what they said to me and others, these young men were headed towards death or prison. Living on the streets causing more harm to themselves and others, some have witnessed parents or siblings killed in front of their eyes. What a terrible life experience they were living.

The staff and young men at the ranch, will tell you themselves; not all of the students from this program come out changed. We wouldn’t expect that of course, changing is a choice we all have the privilege to make. From the stats that have been shared along with the young men’s voices that are continuing to stay there; this should be proof in their favor. As I drove away I looked back and saw the boys waiting with their colts to say one last goodbye as they hand the lead rope to their new owners. It was a good day for everyone.

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine A swirling vortex of leaves flying through the air greet me as I look through the sliding glass door. It seems the “Fall” is in full swing. It tickles me every year. This year the leaves are accompanied by a strong southwesterly wind, adding wonder and height to their flight. A flash of white catches my eye as our newest family member Patches, a solid white cat with one odd shaped patch of grey on his head, races by springing into a seemingly endless flight- batting at the leaves as they rise and fall, just out of reach. He victoriously pounces on a rich yellow walnut leaf as it kisses the ground. Vindicated he bats it around, then growing bored another catches his eye and he is off again and again. My eye is drawn to the now barren branches, their rugged greys stand out against the crisp blue sky. It seems moments ago green leaves were in abundance with warm nights and fireflies. How quickly jeans have replaced shorts. Flannels are donned and darkness arrives. We stoke the fire pit and ignite its flame. It leaps into the night sky and begins to emit its warm intoxicating glow. We are drawn to it, to each other, to reflect on the majestic plan of our creator. Gratefulness for family and friends grows as I reminisce and revel in memories bringing an inner warmth- what great treasure. Daydreaming of future times – just on the horizon, the flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon and spice. Heartwarming hugs, furry blankets and hot chocolate by the fireplace. Memories of home, those gone on and those about to begin their influence of Joy in our lives. My mind races to the beat of, “I know you didn’t have to, but you have Lord.” You made the seasons each with a perfect length and purpose. You give us hearts to love, and minds to remember. You accompany us through it all. Heighten our senses to your majesty as we delight in your handiwork, rest in your love, and lean into these lives you have given us. Patches flashed across the porch bringing me back to the present. My heart filled as I open the door and breathe in the season and embrace the wonder it brings. Our creator cares intimately for all of His creations, from the littlest sparrow to the greatest elephant. He refers to and calls us more precious than these. The consistency of the earth’s seasons is a reflection of him. A direct reflection of His steadiness of love which is His true character. James 1:17-19 tells us that; every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Reveling in the season of gratitude and thankfulness beside you. Gerri Groshong

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

The View From The Sliding Glass Door Seasonal Revelations Gerri Groshong

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine Pollen-NATION “Saving the Planet One Pollinator at a Time” Scott Catton S cott Catton, grew up in Canada and experienced many aspects of sustainable living from gardening a 40 acre family plot

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

Inspired by Lenora and the passion to get pollinators pollinating, Scott began his quest. Seeds have an amazing way of turning one plant into many. This is an easy and affordable way for individuals to plant native plants in their own yards, apartment balconies or on a larger scale. This information as well as the knowledge that many landscaping plants are not native to the Midwest or the US and that many do not have nectar or pollen, solidified Scott’s goal to show people how easy it is to support pollinators by planting native plants. They are beautiful, hardy and drought resistant unaffected by heat or native winters. Why now? Why pollinators? Monarch butterflies have recently been put on the endangered species list which emphasizes the plight of our pollinators. Native bees are responsible for pollinating not only flowers but our food sources which will directly impact all of us if we don’t intervene. Einstein warned of the impact in losing pollinators with the quote “If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years left to live.” To join Scott in his quest and for more information Contact: beewildseeds@gmail.com or call/text: 816-728-5350

to working in other family agriculture businesses. As an avid outdoorsman he came to respect the diverse ecosystems of Mother Nature which sparked his interest in conservation. Wildlife, wildflowers and alternative growing techniques to name a few. His goal is to educate future generations by sharing what he has learned through the years. Scott and his wife Melissa Andrasik-Catton started Bee Wild Seeds Co. LLC to do that. Their motto is, “saving the planet one pollinator at a time”. Scott’s mindset of conservation led him to join the Hays, KS. Pheasants Forever Chapter. It was a perfect fit as he had been working to build natural food plots and conserving native areas. He learned about and attended the National Pheasants Forever convention which brought home the importance of habitat conservation. Native wildflower habitat was a big topic and it sparked Scott’s interest. Looking around he saw many women and children who were invested in learning more about conservation. He was inspired to give kids access to native wildflower seeds that they could grow and plant in their own yards. Children’s Grow Pots were born out of this inspiration! These pots give children of all ages the ability to enjoy the fruits of their labor, from planting to caregiving to blooming. Leading to the Joy of watching caterpillars, butterflies and bees, frequent their plants. Teaching how nature can easily be supported one seed, one plant, one child at a time. This had all been building in many ways for Scott. Buying plants from the Paola Master Gardener Sales and planting them on his property, he saw how amazing native flowers could be in attracting pollinators to gardens. He met Lenora Larson at one of these sales and was fascinated by her knowledge. After applying for the Master Gardener program he found out she specifically picked him to mentor. She had heard about his interest in wanting to focus on butterflies, native wildflowers and pollinator conservation. Long Lips Farms is owned by Lenora, seeing her amazing work coupled with her mentorship fed the inspiration to educate others.

RISE AND SHINE K-9 Dog boarding with a flare!

J ulie Frank of Rise and Shine Equine has expanded her services to include dog boarding. She has created and environment of fun, safety and pampering for your four legged family members. Imagine your Fido romping in a 150-200’ dog run filled with toys and sunshine! Getting tons of attention and a massage to boot! Julie an avid animal lover and Certified Massage Therapist knows the ins and outs and importance of proper care of dogs. She continues to do sports massage on dogs and horses and other care services in her Mobile business alongside her boarding facility. Going on Vacation? A day trip? Or need a healthy outlet for your pup? Check out Rise and Shine K-9 on Facebook, or reach out to Julie at the number below. Julie Frank.

Rise and Shine K-9 3124 Tennessee Rd Ottawa Kansas 66076 913-915-2399

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

horse is improving. Thermography can show asymmetric interactions between saddle panels and the horse’s back. In the example below, an asymmetrical heat signature on the left side shows the effect of an ill-fitting saddle. Figure 2. Heat signature of incorrect and correct saddle fitting. Adapted from Infrared thermography as an imaging diagnostics tool for equine medicine, by J. Talas, Preprint paper, University of Bristol. Retrieved from https:// www.researchgate.net/profile/Laszlo_Talas2/ publication/323835537_Infrared_thermo graphy_ as_an_imaging_diagnostics_tool_for_equine_ medicine/data/5aae51140f7e9b4897bf 2d37/ Talas-Talas2017FullEnglishDraft.pdf 2017. Pressure pads can be used to analyze where a saddle may create uneven pressure. A too wide saddle puts more pressure on the shoulders, and

in five riders are injured by falling from a horse, and poor saddle fit resulting in bucking or other conflict behaviors may lead to the fall. Common Saddle Fit Issues. The most common saddle fit issues are: • bridging • higher pressure in front or rear areas (typically associated with a too wide or too narrow gullet), • incorrectly stuffed panels • panels that are too long, resulting in pressure on the lumbar vertebrae • a narrow channel that causes pressure on spinous processes • a saddle that is not fit for both horse and rider • a saddle that is not checked often enough. Assessing the fit to the horse is a multi-faceted problem and should involve evaluating the saddle both on and off the horse, with and without a rider. Ironically, because the thoracic structure of horses is naturally asymmetric, a symmetric saddle may in fact create uneven pressure that leads to behavioral issues because existing asymmetries are amplified. Consequently, we shouldn’t assume a new saddle of any design will fit perfectly. Diagnosing Back Pain and Saddle Fit – Dissecting the System Poor performance and changes in behavior are the most common signs of back pain. Behaviors linked to back pain include “tail swishing, grinding teeth, headshaking, resentment of the saddle or grooming, sinking when the rider mounts, failure to bend or yield to riding aids, stumbling, tripping, bolting, bucking, and rearing” (Taylor et al., 2002). We can also see horse’s reaction to saddling and mounting, where the horse may move away, exhibit a “cold back,” or dip whenmounted. Having a saddle too far forward or too narrow will restrict forelimb gait, and may show up as a short gait, lack of impulsion, inconsistency of gait, tension under saddle, and rushing. Rider factors that may intensify poor saddle fit include rider asymmetry, excessive weight, deviations in seat, and rider experience. Although leisure riders had more saddle fit problems, one study shows that their horses had less back pain than those of professional riders, perhaps because they ride with less intensity. Surprisingly, one study also found that girthiness is not necessarily indicative of poor saddle fit. Technology to assess pain in the ridden

Behavioral Indicators of Poor Saddle Fit Deb Juhnke

D eb’s passion is the advancement of equine welfare through education. Through her ongoing studies in the Equine Welfare program at the University of Guelph, Canada; membership in the International Society of Equitation Science; and study in France with Frederic Pignon and Magali Delgado of Cavalia fame, she has gained a wealth of knowledge to share regarding equine behavior. Deb is the author of papers on behavioral indicators of poor saddle fit and how young horses can become unwanted horses, and pursues an interest in equine sculpture, using her own Andalusian horses as models. When we think about saddle fit, we usually focus on physical signs like saddle sores, sweat patterns, swelling, and hair loss—all physical signs that the saddle may be rubbing or creating uneven pressure. Unfortunately, there is a tendency also to think of other possible signs, such as bucking, rearing, or tail swishing as simply “bad” behavior. The good news is there is growing interest in the horse community in saddle fit and how it manifests in behavioral problems. Scientific evidence for correct saddle fit, however, is lacking. Pain associated with poor saddle fit may appear like pain from other problems, such as mouth pain or lameness, making diagnosis difficult. To investigate saddle fit issues more

thoroughly, we must first understand that we are dealing with a system, comprised of the horse, its rider, and the saddle. Each element of the system moves through space and time and may change (for example) as the horse becomes more fit. Research suggests that it is hard to distinguish among the effects of the rider, the saddle, and the movement of the horse. Pain thresholds may also vary with breed. For example, they are higher for young, heavy, and non-Thoroughbred geldings. Some horses are simply less sensitive to pain and will not show any abnormal behaviors but may still have an inadequately fitting saddle. Each individual horse’s conformation will also affect saddle fitting. Although these variables make scientific research and evaluation of saddle fit difficult, the search goes on because of its impact on equine welfare, equine wastage, and human injury. Freedom from pain is a central theme of equine welfare and poor saddle fit that leads to back pain or mental stress violates this basic need. Back pain and any resulting abnormal behaviors under saddle may often lead to horses being labeled as “bad” or “naughty.” Such horses are sometimes abused and sold on, occasionally with euthanasia as the final stop. And although human injury is always a possibility with horses, as many as one

a too-narrow saddle creates greater pressures toward the flank. Tree width that is one width wider or narrower than optimal also influences stride length. And asmuch as we’d like to rely on expert advice, agreement among saddle fitters is not assured either. An investigation into the repeatability of

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

Resources: Deb Juhnke all info contained above is under copy write- none can be copied or used without release from the contributor. Dyson, S. (2020). The ridden horse pain ethogram to determine the presence of musculoskeletal pain. Proceedings of Australian Veterinary Association VetFest. Retrieved from https://vetfest.ava.com.au/ talks/55 Ridgeway, K. https://drkerryridgway.teachable. com/p/saddle-fitting-from-a-to-z Saddle Research Trust, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.saddleresearchtrust.com/about-srt/ Schleese, J. Educational Resources, (n.d.). Retrieved from https://schleese.com/

educationalresources/ SmartPak, https://www.smartpakequine.com/ content/saddle-fitting-guide Taylor, P. M., Pascoe, P. ., Mama, K. R. (2002). Diagnosing and treating pain in the horse: Where are we today? The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Equine Practice, 18(1), 1–19. https:// doi.org/10.1016/S0749-0739(02)00009-3 Valley Vet, https://www.valleyvet.com/library/ saddle-fitting-101.html

Changes in the saddle design or type can often resolve behaviors. For example, research shows if a treeless or adjustable saddle was used, or if fit was checked, there was a reduced likelihood of “discomfort” behaviors (resistance to turning, bucking, tripping, and cantering on wrong lead, refusal to move forward). It may be that saddles that allow for more freedom of movement in the shoulder decrease the likelihood of behavior problems. Keep in mind when experimenting, however, that more padding is seldom the solution, and may make saddle fit worse. There is also a gap in the research for evaluation of Western saddle fit, although New Mexico State University has published a saddle fit study of Western performance saddles. (https:// easyfitsaddles.com/new-mexico-study-shows that-ill-fitting-western-saddles-cancause-training and-behaviour-problems/) Conclusion Though pain or avoidance behavior can indicate poor saddle fit, there are many. other reasons a horse may exhibit them. Consequently, trainers, riders, and others who handle horses need to become better educated on how to recognize the signs of an ill-fitting saddle and what a well-fitted saddle looks like both statically on the horse and in motion. There is a shortage of experienced saddle fitters nationally, and especially in the Midwest. Additionally, many (if not most) saddle fitters represent a particular saddle brand and are only willing or able to fit one of “their” saddles to your horse. So, what to do? Consider these ideas to help you evaluate and improve your horse’s saddle fit: 1. Educate yourself on the basics of saddle fit (some resources below) 2. Periodically evaluate how your saddle is working for your horse, especially if they are in work or changing shape and size (as with young horses) 3.Ask your barnmates if you can try their saddles on your horse—there’s nothing like seeing for yourself the differences between saddles 4. When looking for a new saddle, consider adjustability as a factor 5. Remember that price and brand do not always equal “best” for your horse. Find what fits. Andaboveall, consider that your horse’sbehavior is good information. It’s up to you and your horse’s support team (vet, chiropractor, farrier, massage therapist) to interpret it appropriately.

Master Saddlers’ observations of basic static saddle fit was merely “fair” in most cases and only “slight” in the case of tree width and shape of the head. This finding, more than any, illustrates the difficulty of assessing saddle fit, since even experienced experts do not agree. Commentary on Saddle Fit There is limited research that speaks directly to the connection between saddle fit and behavior. The most comprehensive research references the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (Dyson et al., 2019) developed in association with the Saddle Research Trust. The Saddle Research Trust is a non-profit animal welfare organization that conducts or commissions research specifically to investigate “horse, saddlery, and rider interaction.” Other focused and relevant research in this area comes from Dr. Hillary Clayton, Dr. Lee Greve, and Dr. Joyce Harman, along with their colleagues. The foremost non-academic authority regarding saddle fitting in the U.S. is Jochen Schleese, who looks at saddle fit from a physiological standpoint. His work in saddle fitting and construction relies on and aligns well with academic research into the connection between the rider and the horse through the saddle, the importance of fit for the rider, and biomechanical considerations regarding where the horse may best bear weight and how to avoid scapular damage. An often-referenced point in his work is the effect of pressure on a reflex point at Cranial Nerve 11, mimicking a stallion’s bite in the wither region. This pressure creates a reflexive reaction that can block the upper arm and shoulder, causing the back to drop, and rotate the pelvis. This reaction can be the source of behaviors such as shortened gait and so-called “hollow back.” Finding the Behavioral Link—Is Back Pain the Key? It is challenging to show an exclusive and direct link between poor saddle fit and behaviors such as bucking, head tossing, and pinning ears. The unifying link, however, appears to be back pain. The origin of back problems is linked in part to saddle fit, and physical signs are less common than behavioral when looking for saddle fit problems. Though there are many causes of equine back pain, a process of elimination may help determine if saddle fit is the culprit. If improving saddle fit resolves the behavior, then the cause was the saddle, and not lameness or rider influence.

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

that are most prevalent during this season is a trace mineral that has been shown to increase the body’s ability to prevent infections. If you’re trying to stay healthy this winter. You can find this natural immune booster in Brazil nuts, tuna, halibut meat and more. Folate To get more folate or folic acid, try adding these foods to your diet: Beans, lentils, leafy greens, enriched pasta/rice/bread, and avocados. Folic acid in its synthetic form, is a B vitamin that is essential to our health. It helps with the development and maintenance of cell function and prevents DNA mutations that can lead to cancer. For those looking for natural home remedies for immune system benefits, folate is something to consider. Vitamin D is a vital component of any healthy immune system. Ideal levels of vitamin D in the body have shown improved immunity through adaptive response and the ability to fight infections. Conversely, vitamin D deficiency can lead to immune disorders, damaged immune cells, and higher risks of infection. Interestingly, the only vitamin our bodies can make is vitamin D. Because it is so crucial to our health, our bodies produce vitamin D by absorbing UVB spectrum sunlight. However, you can also find it in a minimal amount of natural sources, including salmon, tuna, vitamin D supplements and more. Here’s to our health this winter season! Please Check with your doctor before adding suppliments, especially if you are taking medications.

Ginger is full of anti-inflammatory properties that help the immune system fend off bacteria and viruses. There are a couple ways to take ginger. Try adding fresh ginger to your smoothie or steep into hot water with your favorite tea. It is also available in tablets or drinks, and chews (GinGins.) Echinacea used on a regular basis will help strengthen the immune system and is available in a tincture, lozenge or tablet. There is scientific evidence that indicates Echinacea affects our immune system by stimulating the activity of white blood cells. Some of these studies also report Echinacea can help speed up recovery time after a cold as well as prevent its onset. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce free radicals in the body. Consuming an anti-inflammatory diet can help prevent chronic inflammation that may lead to heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions. Some early studies have also shown evidence that regular consumption of curcumin found in turmeric may help fight illness, prevent some forms of cancer, and slow the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. Turmeric is a bright yellow-orange spice that is a key ingredient in many types of cuisine around the world, including curry. While it’s distinct color and flavor are a feast for the senses, Probiotics The live bacteria and yeasts found in probiotics are an excellent way to strengthen your digestive system and boost overall immunity. Your gut health plays an important role in your immune system’s ability to fight off infections. You can find live cultures in foods like yogurt, kefir, kombucha, etc. Selenium adding selenium to your diet can help you fight off those pesky respiratory infections

Natural ways to Boost your Immune system this Winter Gerri Groshong

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or sugar. Zinc is a powerful mineral and plays a similar role to vitamin C in that it helps cellular repair and growth, and immune strength. Zinc lozenges or syrup that are taken within 24 hours of symptoms starting, has shown to help shorten the length of colds. Elderberries Not only is the berry high in Vitamin C, but are also rich in Flavonols and Anthocyanins which have anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. Elderberries are still being researched, some studies suggest this dark purple berry may help reduce flu and common cold symptoms by four days. You can find elderberry supplements at most any grocery store in the form of a lozenge or a syrup but to ensure you’re getting the highest value properties of the elderflower, see if you have a local herbalist in your area who makes fresh & potent elderberry syrup.

inter seems to be pushing her hand into this year’s Fall faster and deeper than years past. I am so grateful for these little additions to help fight off colds, flu, and viruses as we are driven inside and spend more time with our family and friends. Here’s to a healthier winter and Holiday season by adding more of these. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin found naturally in vegetables and fruits, especially oranges and other citrus fruits. Red bell peppers contain almost 3 times as much vitamin C as an orange. Other foods high in Vitamin C are broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes. If you want to avoid sugar from fruit, chewable Vitamin C tablets are great to get your daily dose. Zinc is found naturally in shellfish, meat, dairy products, nuts and whole grains without any prep

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

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Everything Horses and Livestock ® Magazine

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