Whoa Podcast About Horses Horsemanship

Update on Jessie's Lameness My 19-year-old Foundation Quarter Horse mare, Jessie, has been struggling with lameness since the first of the year.  You can find out the background from a post in early May here: Lameness and My Mare Jessie After going through the lameness evaluation process and taking it up to the point of an MRI, we decided on a treatment program.  Jessie would get one gram of Bute morning and night.  We would shoe her front feet with egg-butt shoes to increase her break-over angle.  Additionally, we packed her sole with a gel product to protect her feet.  The last part of her treatment program involved riding her 3-5 times a week. Progress? Well, it's difficult to tell.  The vet stated that her lameness score went from a "3" to a "2".  The doctor wanted us to move forward to the MRI.  Jessie is an aged horse not used in competition.  We enjoy trail riding and trail trials.  We generally do both activities at a walk.  There is no guarantee the MRI would provide a definitive diagnosis.  The mo

Show Your Horse - Advice from Kim Kelly Whoa Podcast listeners are great!  I asked you to share your experiences and you come through again and again.  A few weeks back, I got an email from listener Kim Kelly.  Kim had always wanted to enter a horse show, but fear and insecurity held her back.  She kept chipping away at her goal, however, taking little steps and this year entered her first horse show.  It was a challenge she overcame, and she has some tips for those with similar aspirations. Tips from Kim Find the right horse.  Kim worked with the horse she had.  The stress of training and conditioning revealed the horse had a navicular problem.  In her search for another horse, Kim enlisted the help of her trainer.  Together they found the right horse for Kim to take to her first horse show. Get yourself in shape.  Training takes physical effort from both horse and rider.  By her own admission, Kim was 30 lbs. overweight.  Over the winter to prepare for the show season, she shed those 30 lbs. making it easie

Let's Talk Horse Vaccinations What vaccinations do you give your horse?  How often do you give them?  What happens if your horse has a reaction to one of his vaccinations?  These are questions I put to our listeners. As part of the dialogue we, got to hear from people in many parts of the United States.  Some folks prefer giving their horses the 5 and 6-way combination shots.  Some people spread the vaccinations over two weeks, lessening the chance or strain of a reaction. A Source of Good Information about Vaccinations However you add it up, your horse needs help from some nasty diseases out there.  There is a lot of good information on the website of The American Association of Equine Practitioners.  While there is no standard protocol for a vaccination schedule that fits every horse, the Association recommends a set of core vaccinations for most horses.  Eastern/Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, Rabies, Tetanus, and West Nile Virus fall into this core category. Then there are the Risk-based vaccines.   U

Leg Up Your Horse with Sam Finden Recently I asked listeners how they get their horse in condition, or legged up, after a winter's layoff.  It's been a long, cold, and wet winter in much of the country.  Here in California, we had snow in the nearby mountains and, as I write this, it's Memorial Day weekend.  We have only used our horses a few times in the last several months.  With peak riding time around the corner, it's time to get your horse "legged up". Sam Finden lives in Townsend, Montana working, riding horses, and writing novels.  I asked listeners how they get their horse in condition, or legged up, after a winter's layoff.  An avid hunter, Sam uses his horses to ride and pack in on his hunting trips.  He starts with short trips at the beginning of the season.  Sam works his horses up to peak condition for rifle season in the fall.   Sam Finden's Advice to Legging Up Your Horse Keep it a positive experience.  Your horse would rather sleep in instead of work. Start with groundwork 15-20 minutes to ge

Kellie Auld, Her Mare, Little Girl, and Lameness I've been asking you to share your stories about making medical decisions with your horses.  Kellie Auld from California sent me this email of a story she wanted to share about her mare, Little Girl. Kellie bought Little Girl as a 2-year-old.  Her registered name is Skip to My Leaguer.  Together they went all over California competing in little shows and eventing. The Big Scare Kellie and Little Girl had a good relationship.  When Little Girl was 11, the two took part in an eventing clinic at their boarding stable.  Little Girl had worked hard during the clinic and Kellie wanted to get her out for a hand-walk on the trail the next day to stretch her legs.  This was a trail they had been on many times.  Both of them knew about the free range peacocks living in the area.  About 1/2 mile down the trail they ran into a male "paint" peacock.  A big blue-and-white peacock.  This was a first. Little Girl is a high-energy horse, and she went into survival mode.  Kelli

Coming Back To Horses  Women are coming back to horses after raising a family.  There is a lot of life left after your children leave the nest.  Many people use these "Golden Years" to follow their dreams of once again owning a horse. Long-time listener Susan Hoskins raised eight children.  As they gradually left home to lead their own lives, Susan saw the writing on the wall.  She would need something to fill the void - both of time and passion - that her family left behind.  Coming back to horses is a dream come true. Challenges But, things are always easier the second time around.  Mother Nature imposes some physical restrictions on the second half century of life.  While it was not always easy, Susan overcame many of those challenges.  She shares her tips on this episode. Susan's Suggestions if You're Coming Back to Horses  Susan sent me a great email with many of the items we talked about on the show.  She added this note:  "I am not associated with these companies / organizations, except that I have p

Decision to Have Colic Surgery Hearing the words colic, navicular, founder, or strangles strike fear into every horse owner.  Colic happens when a horse's intestinal tract gets blocked.  In most cases a vet can open/dissolve/remove the blockage with a variety of different techniques.  When those fail however, one of the few remaining solutions is colic surgery.  Alyssa Severeid had to make the tough decision about whether to have the vet perform colic surgery on her horse.  The surgery is expensive.  Little did Alyssa know the decision wasn't just about the surgery.  The after care was not only hard on her physically, but emotionally.  What would you have done in her shoes?  After you hear her story, would you still do the same thing? About Alyssa While we have never met in person, Alyssa and I have known each other through our podcasts.  She produced and hosted the Earn Your Spurs podcast and She Rides to Win podcast.  From Montana, Alyssa grew up around horses.  Her father is a respected trainer.  She knows

Lameness and My Mare Jessie The topic is:  How do YOU decide medical issues involving your horse.  How much weight do you place on quality of life issues?  How much do you place on usability of your horse?  And, finally, how much weight do you place on the cost of evaluation and treatment? I want you to tell me about your stories and situations, so here is my story.  My Foundation Quarter Horse mare Jessie means everything.  I got her in 2007, when I was 53.  She was 7 years old, had 90 days of professional training put on her, and had had 2 foals.  She was and is a perfect fit. My Learning Curve We spent our first 3 years working through the Downunder Horsemanship Beginner and Intermediate Series (Riding with Confidence and Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground back then).  With Clinton's help, I learned most of what I know about horsemanship on Jessie.  We competed in  trail classes and team sorting.  We rode everywhere, and she was a rock star.  She is strong-willed, but I always felt safe on her.  One

Whoa Podcast 2.0 - Let's Change It Up Yes, I miss producing the podcast.  Sure, I have other things to do to fill the time (like riding my horse).  But, it simply got to difficult to schedule guests, record the interview, edit the interview, put together the open and close, publish it to the Stitcher, Spotify, iTunes, I Heart Radio, Google Play, and all the other places these go, then promote it on social media.  So, let's change it up. I'm calling this new version Whoa Podcast 2.0.  We'll still talk horses and horsemanship, but the podcasts will be more frequent.  If I can work it out with an expert or trainer or other interesting horse person, I will certainly have them on the show.  The regular version, however, will be shorter.  You may ask, what will we talk about? There are hundreds of decisions we have to make as horse owners.  What to feed? When do you change the bit you're using?  What sport do I want my horse to do? Where do I keep him?  What happens when they get too old to ride?  When will I kn

The Mustang, The Movie [caption id="attachment_2585" align="alignright" width="300"] Matthias Schoenaerts stars as Roman Coleman in Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre’s THE MUSTANG, a Focus Features release. Credit: Tara Violet Niami / Focus Features[/caption] We talk to French filmmaker and director of the just-released movie, The Mustang, Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre.  If you’re a listener to this show, we know you love horses. However, many of you have had some tough horses to deal with. It doesn’t matter whether your horse is a wild mustang or one of the domestic breeds, one thing we’ve probably all had to deal with is our relationship with the horse.  The Mustang takes this relationship to the limit with a prison inmate and a tough-as-nails wild horse.   Back in August of 2017, we interviewed Joe Misner who runs the RCC Wild Horse Program for the Sacramento Sheriff’s office.  We talked about the symbiotic relationship between the BLM Wild Horse Management and the prison system. In taking responsibility for the car

Self-Defense For Trail Riders Sadly, the world we ride in is changing.  We need to take precautions to be safe when we ride.  It's called self-defense for a reason.  It's up to us to take responsibility.  Dogs, pedestrians, automobiles, or people with problems can be a menace on the trail.  Do you know how to handle a troubling situation? Many years ago at an equine expo I saw a program by Scott Hanson about safety on the trail.  A 90-minute session on what to do if someone tried to attack you while you were horseback.  At the time I didn't think there was much chance of that.  Then, a couple of years ago we encountered someone who released their dog on us.  It came from completely out of the blue.  He released his dog in our direction, then rode his bicycle in the opposite direction.  Ranae and I had practiced some of the principles we learned from the class.  I had pepper spray.  Ranae knew to get in head-to-tail tight to me and my horse, Jessie.  I sprayed the dog in the face.  He turned and ran after hi

Squatter Coffey Life has been a bit hectic of late.  Many months ago I received an email suggesting I have an Australian by the name of Squatter Coffey on the show.  As I do with all your suggestions, I try to contact the person and see if they want to be on the show.  Squatter did agree to come on the show, but we couldn't find a convenient time. You see, Squatter Coffey lives way out in a "rural" area of Australia.  The time difference would have one of us up in the middle of the night.  We agreed that we would get together when his season changed.  It's just now turning spring in Australia and Squatter, who owns and operates a bush trail riding company, is entering his good riding season. A Life with Horses Squatter Coffey has been riding horses so long he doesn't remember "learning" how to ride.  He has just always ridden.  Squatter grew up in a family of horses.  His 6 siblings are all in the horse business.  Squatter raced horse, worked on stations and has done just about everything you can do on a hor

Adriane DeWolfe Horsewoman Extreme Cowboy Racer   We first met Adriane DeWolfe at a playday with fellow Downunder Horsemanship friends.  it was great getting together with like-minded people to work on our collective horsemanship skills.  Adriane was there with her horse Toaster, a mustang.  Ranae had brought Dusty and I was working with Scratch.  It was clear that Adriane was a serious horsewoman.   She worked equally hard on both technique and philosophy.  Toaster responded well.  Later, we learned it was her first time out with Toaster.   While we continued to follow each other on Facebook, it would be some months before we saw Adriane DeWolfe again.  Ranae and I thought we would try our hand at Extreme Cowboy Racing.  There was a race being held about a 90-minute drive away at Shades of Gold Ranch.  Adriane and Toaster were entered in the novice division.  When they took the course we saw they had come a long way in a very short time. Adriane kept challenging herself and her horsemanship to get better.  I

Last year we had the privilege of attending the Best Horse Practices Summit in Durango, Colorado.  While we couldn’t make it this year, we wanted to see what they had in store. Maddy Butcher joins to talk about who will be presenting this year and what they will be talking about.  This is a very special event that focuses on scientific evidence designed to inspire you to reach for higher levels of your horsemanship. Find out more about the Best Horse Practices Summit 2018. Are You Ready for an Emergency? One of the presenters at this year’s Summit is Rebecca Gimenez/Husted of Technical Large Animal Rescue. Rebecca instructs a wide variety of professionals and the public about being prepared for large animal emergencies.  She hands out a few tips on things you can do to keep your horse safe. On a side note, after this interview, Ranae and I ran a fire drill to see how long it took us to get the trailer hooked up and our three horses loaded into our two horse warm blood trailer.  We made it in less than 12 min

Cowboy Dressage Clinic with Dave Ellis Cowboy Dressage, Western Dressage, and Working Equitation are all just a little bit different.  Their goals are very similar:  have your horse negotiate a course using basic horsemanship maneuvers.  The scoring is based on your smoothness and accuracy in cueing your horse. We had an opportunity to experience an "Introductory Cowboy Dressage" Clinic at a local stable here in Bakersfield, Rancho Rio Equestrian Center.  The instructor is a 6-Star Certified Parelli instructor by the name of Dave Ellis.  The clinic was limited to 10 horse and rider teams and Ranae and I had the opportunity to audit the clinic.  We got to watch as Dave Ellis described the maneuvers then help the participants negotiate the course. In between sessions, we had an opportunity to chat with Dave and get the history of Cowboy Dressage and its founder, Eitan Beth-Halachmy. Links for Cowboy Dressage Cowboy Dressage World website Contact Us We have well over 100 episodes up now and you can find them a

Whoa Podcast Update 2018 Today I’ll be talking more about podcasting than horses, so if you tune out, I’ll understand. We wanted to get you a podcast update on what is happening at Whoa Podcast for 2018.  It’s our 6th year and, what started out as a conversation between Ranae and me about Downunder Horsemanship kept growing and growing.  I wanted it to be a place where regular folks could share their “equine experience” thus enhancing all of our knowledge. Not knowing anything about podcasting, I dove in head first.  I liked the technical aspects of producing the show.  The hard part was talking and interviewing.  My voice isn’t exactly made for radio as they say.  My interview style is stilted and a bit stiff.  Over the years these improved.  In 2017, I made it my goal to produce a show each and every week.  I succeeded. Producing a show week for the last year has been a daunting task.  Lining up guests, doing the research, scheduling, then editing takes a chunk of time.  Not to mention the writing and tim

Clinton Anderson of Downunder Horsemanship Rebroadcast I began following Clinton Anderson and Downunder Horsemanship before he titled his program the Method.  It was 2005, I was 51 and was helping my wife get through a tough time with her horse.  I had never owned a horse of my own, but the techniques I learned through the DVD programs gave me the confidence to get my first horse.  Truth be told, I owned a stick and string, halter, and Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground, before I even began looking for my first horse. Because I'm a bit on the frugal side, I volunteered for and work at three Walkabout Tours.  One of them was the first Tour-cation event in Las Vegas.  After the last of the work was completed on Sunday night, I couldn't sleep and went down to the casino at the South Point.  Clinton came in later with a few friends at sat down to play Blackjack.  Moving quickly to his table, I had the best time losing $60 as Clinton kept the dealer, other players, and even the pit boss smiling.  (Well, I

FJ Thomas Returns Jewel Thomas releases her 2nd children's book, Pedro's Problemo. FJ "Jewel" Thomas is an avid horsewoman, an author of both novels and children's books, and a wonderful friend of the Whoa Podcast.  We spoke with FJ after the release of her first novel, Lost Betrayal, nearly two years ago.   Since then she has written two children's books, a couple of more novels, and is working on a screenplay.  Her latest children's book, Pedro's Problemo, is illustrated by a ten-year-old.  It's a cool little story for kids. Because FJ has been around horses her entire life, her stories include details about horses and horsemanship that are accurate and realistic.  She writes what she knows - horses. In addition to her other endeavors, FJ continues to bring awareness of women's issues with her blog Cowgirls with Curves.  Her site offers tips for women in horsemanship, fitness, diet, and exercise.  She is very aware of the motivation some women need to pursue their horsemanship goals. And, FJ Thomas is an a

Vicki Wilson New Zealand Horsewoman Vicki Wilson was invited to the all-woman 2017 Road to the Horse Championship.  An establish show jumper and an accomplished horsewoman in her home country, Vicki Wilson always seems to be looking for a new challenge.  The RTTH competition pits horsemen and women against unbroken colts and judges how much they can accomplish in three days.  Traveling from New Zealand, Vicki was determined to showcase her horsemanship skills.  The horse she chose, "Kentucky", moved suddenly as she dismounted the first day.  The quick move triggered an old injury and Vicki's shoulder dislocated.  Any good competitor relies on good physio and pure adrenaline to get them through a competition. Vicki Wilson continued the competition and went on to win the championship.  More importantly, she will be traveling back to the US to compete at the 2018 Road to the Horse. A Horse Needs to Feel Good To Perform Good In looking at the YouTube videos of the RTTH we came across the bodywork clinic Vicki de

Magen Warlick Horsewoman EXCA Champion I first learned of Magen Warlick when I was a member of Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship No Worries Club (NWC).  Clinton has an Academy that trains horsemen and women in his Downunder Horsemanship Method.  It's a tough deal and only a few make it to the end.  Magen was one of those few.  After nearly 10 years as an NWC member, I dropped out and lost track of many of the Downunder folks. Earlier this year, if you've been following along the podcast, Ranae and I participated in several California Extreme Cowboy Race Events.  We met a lot of nice folks and a few we competed with made it to the National Finals in Texas.  As we followed along with that event online, we noticed Magen Warlick's name in the Futurity and Professional Division.  It was a grueling week of competition and Magen came out on top. Because of our interest in EXCA I wanted to have Magen Warlick on the show to talk about her experience.  I also wanted to know if she could give us a few tips on h