|
|
Northern Saddle Club Spring Show
|
The Northern Saddle Club Spring Show was, as usual, a huge, well-run production put on by the members and friends of the Northern Saddle Club. Held at the Smithers Fairgrounds, where NSC holds a lease on a section of the grounds, there are a variety of arenas to house the different disciplines.
Friday night was a quiet but fun evening with the Halter and Liberty Classes being held in the Indoor Arena. I wasn't there to see them (too busy at the team penning practice in Grassy Plains that night!) but it sounds like it went well.
Saturday morning was an action packed day with the Western performance starting at 8 am sharp. A multitude of flat classes was packed into the two hours before the English performance started at 10 am, running until shortly after 1 pm. The Trail classes, with courses set outdoors on the track, also started at 10 am, and the Dressage division ran for most of the day in yet another arena. Running that many rings simultaneously meant some people ran into scheduling conflicts, but for the most part it ran smoothly.
At 2 pm, the Hunter classes started in the Hunt Field, and the Reining division kicked off in the Main Arena. There were a lot of entries in both divisions, and the reining wrapped up last some time after 6 pm. A very long day for those reiners who also showed in Western pleasure! For the office staff, it was even longer - the show secretary didn't get home until after 10 pm.
Sunday was the spectator's choice of days, with Jumpers held in the Hunt Field and Gymkhana held in the Main Arena. Jumpers are similar to Hunters but instead of being judged on speed and clear rounds (like Jumpers), Hunters are judged on their way of going, form over fences, pace between them, and so on.
The gymkhana was very well run, with a fantastic ring crew and staff. The day ran through quicker than it ever has (with lots of entries as usual!) and ended around 4 pm.
All in all, the show was a success inspite of a few stray rain showers that made their way down the mountain (Hudson Bay) onto the grounds. Volunteers were plenty (show manager Barb Henderson tells us it takes 52 volunteers to run one of their Spring Shows!), people were friendly and helpful with each other, the weather cooperated for the most part, and it was great to see the competitors out in full force - they are who this show is put on for!
The NSC usually also has a Gymkhana at the end of July and a small Summer Show in early August, but they are in need of someone to run these two shows. There are small fees paid to the Manager and Secretary, so if you would like to get involved at a deeper level, and learn about putting on a show, please contact me at kristi@hiway16.com, and I'll put you in touch with the right people. There are some good volunteers available, but none so far that have the time to organize the events.
We welcome your show reports, of events coming or done, to add to this Current Events column. Let's keep our friends and neighbours informed! |
| If you have tips or questions on equipment care, purchases, fit, or anything else to do with equestrian equipment, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
|
|
Past articles are all available in the
|
|
|
|
Make your horse rope smart
When I halter broke my filly, I didn't put her halter on and fight it out with her. Instead I started with a lead rope around her neck, and quietly pulled her off balance, first one way, then the other. Then I'd give her a little treat or a pat for coming towards me.
What this taught her was to give to the pressure, no matter which side it was on. It was very little for her to adjust to pressure from the front as I slowly moved the pressure farther forward, until simulating the frontward pull of a tied leadrope. My filly quickly figured out the way to release the pressure was to step towards it, and has never pulled back when tied because of this prep work.
You can also introduce ropes to your horse's body and legs. Use your common sense and never push your horse beyond what he can handle - better that the process take several weeks than to scare him badly all at once. Start with a soft length of rope, preferably one without a clip at either end. Rub the horse's neck and body with the rope and if he accepts that, start draping the rope over various parts of his body and pulling it off, letting the rope slide across him. Vary the side you work on, and the way you move the rope, so that the horse gets used to it coming from all directions. You can also swing the rope GENTLY against the horse, but be aware of your horse's response, and back off if he is too upset by it.
Gradually start working the rope on the horse's legs. This is where you must be very careful, especially if your horse is extremely sensitive or spooky. Start by rubbing the legs, then putting the rope around the leg and working it quietly up and down the leg until the horse is comfortable, then repeat with the other three legs. Once the horse is used to the rope moving around his legs, start wrapping the rope all the way around the legs and tug gently on it. The idea is to get the horse desensitized to the feel of the rope being around his legs, especially if it tightens up. A horse's response to this is usually panic, so if you can instill confidence in your horse that the rope is just another training tool, he is less likely to burn himself if he becomes tangled when tied.
If your horse is still not acceptant of the ropes, don't use those methods. Even under direct supervision, a wreck can happen in the blink of an eye, and you can't get the horse out fast enough. Remember too that any time a horse is in a panicked state, you are at direct risk if you try to get in close enough to free him, so be careful!
|
| If you have tips or questions you'd like to share with other local equestrians, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
|
|
|
Western, English, Penning or Trail riding, all equine sports have a voice on Northern B.C. Horse
|
|
|
|
|
More horse keeping methods
Tie to trailer - A lot of people simply leave their horses tied overnight to the back of the trailer. They lengthen the rope enough that the horse can reach hay and water, much like the picket rope, but lying down is usually not practical that close to the trailer (though some, especially young horses, can and do lie down).
The horse is at risk of stepping over the lead when tied that long, and because it is fixed to a solid object (as compared to the picket line in last week's column), the horse is more likely to get hurt if that should happen. Another note of caution is to never tie to an unhitched trailer - the horse is strong enough, when panicking, to move a trailer standing alone.
Tether - A horse can be tethered at an event by attaching a long rope or longeline to their halter and affixing the other end to a stationery object. You can reduce the risk of rope burns by running a thinner rope through a garden hose - the hose prevents the rope from wrapping so tightly around the leg should the horse get tangled. The horse can graze a fair area this way, and can lie down, reach buckets, etc. They will knock over a water bucket by winding the rope around it, so you do need to place the bucket at the edge of the rope's range.
Tie spots should be chosen with an eye to safety. Pick an area that is free from dangerous obstacles (rusty tractor parts, stacks of boards, etc). Choose a strong tree or post to attach the tether to, or in an open field you can use a picket pin (a stake driven into the ground).
Any time a horse is tied, he is at risk for serious injury. You can help reduce those injuries by teaching your horse to be rope smart (see Technique column)
Next week - portable fencing!
If you have tips or questions you'd like to share with other local equestrians, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
|
| Northern B.C. Horse is brought to you courtesy of our advertisers including:
|
Thanks to our advertisers for making this all possible...
...for information about advertising, email jim@hiway16.com
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
