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All about horses in northern B.C. Issue # 122: April 23, 2002 Published each Tuesday by Kristi McCrindle, editor, Southbank, BC Spring is here - it's really here! The pussy willows are out, there is blue sky and warm sunshine, there's robins everywhere, and most of the snow is gone! Even the mud is starting to dry up - spring is really here! Along with spring comes all the fun horse-keeping chores - spending time grooming your horse to help him lose his winter coat, cleaning up the paddocks, putting in new fence lines, doing annual vaccinations, and anything else you might be working on to get ready for the summer riding season. Don't forget to have your horse's teeth checked before you get going this spring - young horses may need wolf teeth pulled and even a two or three year old can show sharp edges that can interfere with bridling and training. Adult horses should be checked once a year for hooks and sharp edges that may cause problems with bridle work or chewing feed. You'll also want to get your farrier scheduled before you get riding - your horse is out of shape as it is, and long toes will only contribute to the risk of pulled tendons and ligaments. You may not need shoes this early in the season, but your horse should be trimmed up. On the subject of annual vaccinations, feel free to refer to the archives from February 14, 2000 for suggested vaccines for this area. February 21 and February 28 also have valuable information on extra vaccinations and giving needles. Remember it is best to give your rhino and influenza vaccines a minimum of two weeks prior to your first public horse event to ensure adequate protection. photo courtesy Chris Hassell This is my big chore this week, getting everyone vaccinated. Two horses will need their boosters (my yearling filly and one of our boarders) so I'll have to stay on top of that as well. Oh, and here's a tip - when giving two vaccinations, consider putting the rhino shot in the right side of the horse. "Rhino in the right" is how I always remember, so that if there is a reaction I know which vaccine it came from. And on that note, I'm getting out my needles and then I'm going riding! Until next week, ~ Kristi :) email to editor: kristi@hiway16.com Photo Show for horse photos Horse articles (word search: horse) Check our Horse Trailer Sharing Page or... add your listing if you wish to share your horse trailer ride Join us for a discussion about everything to do with horses on Horse Talk Your opportunity to meet horse enthusiasts across northern B.C

	Past articles are all available in the
Choosing a trainer - Choosing a trainer - Minimal interaction - Part 4		Colour genetics 101
What qualities do you look for in some one who is just going to be training your horse and you will only be taking a week or so worth of lessons before you bring your horse home? If you are not going to be taking lessons on an ongoing basis, you may wish to consider taking a "crash course" in how to ride your newly trained horse. Nothing confuses a horse faster (especially a green horse) than having the program changed on him - and this is what will happen if your trainer puts 60 days on him and then you get on and ride totally differently. The trainer you may choose in this case doesn't have to be as good with people as a full time coach. However, they still have to be able to communicate well enough to show you how to use the new "buttons" that your horse has. The trainer's location can be farther away, especially if you can drive out to pick up your horse and stay over for a week-long "holiday". You can combine shopping, visiting friends, watching horse events and so on with this time away from home getting reacquainted with your mount. You should also try to find a trainer whose methods are somewhat familiar with your own. You can find this out by taking lessons or clinics from them before sending your horse for training, or again, rely on word of mouth. It can also be indicative of similar methods if the trainer takes clinics from another trainer whose methods you are familiar with.	If you are new to Northern B.C. Horse, check out all the previous issues on the Archive page. Kristi is building a great knowledge base about horses, with the emphasis on our area of the world. Western, English, Penning or Trail riding, all equine sports have a voice on Northern B.C. Horse Northern B.C. Horse is brought to you courtesy of our advertisers including: Burns Lake Building Supplies Griffin Crick Ranch Hoskins Ford Northern Horse Supply Ridennoure Paint Horses The Tack Store Thanks to our advertisers for making this all possible... ...for information about advertising, email jim@hiway16.com	We'll be back next week with more on colour genetics
	If you have tips or questions you'd like to share with other local equestrians, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com

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