Scott Purdum

So who is this Purdum fellow anyway? Scott grew up riding horses and began riding at the age of three. When he was only sixteen, he took on his first attempts at real training. His parents had a high-strung mare that spooked at practically everything, and Scott believed he could help the horse. He read volumes of books about horses and horse training, and he watched numerous training videos, too. He took the best parts of all of them and created his own formula. Upon his success with the mare, word about him spread to other horse owners in the area. Before long, he had three horses a month in training. Then that number increased to five, and then to ten.

What makes this 23-year-old trainer so special? Well, for one thing, Scott has learned to think like a horse and to use this kind of knowledge in his training methods. Scott uses an equine’s natural instincts to his advantage. He explained it this way:

Horses are herd animals and are fight-or-flight creatures, and they usually prefer flight. A horse can go from grazing calmly one second to what Scott calls a “high-energy state” the next second. Centuries of instincts have programmed this in equines to enable them to escape predators in the wild. The trainer’s job is to get the horse into a calm, relaxed state of mind. According to Scott, a horse in this state of mind is willing and will do anything asked of it. “They might not always get the right answer, but they’re sure as heck going to try.”

How does Scott accomplish this feat? By teaching a horse to pay attention to his energy. It’s all about the energy.

In each group of horses, there’s an established “pecking order.” One horse will be viewed by the other horses as the leader or as the dominant horse. The other animals in the herd get their energy from that one horse. They take their cues from it. If it’s calm, they’re calm. If it’s nervous and excited, they follow suit. Let’s say a subordinate horse has positioned itself at the pasture gate, and the dominant horse has decided that it wants to be at the gate. The dominant horse lays its ears back, gets into a high-energy mode, and pushes the lower horse out of the way. The lower horse reads the herd leader’s energy and runs out of the way, giving up its position in favor of the dominant horse. Now the lead horse has what it wants, so it becomes calm. The submissive horse realizes that the dominant horse has become calm, so in turn, it calms down, also. To be an effective trainer, Scott establishes himself as the dominant “horse.”

Scott says he often talks to owners who have tried remaining calm when their animals misbehave, yet the horse does not calm down, and it remains excited, even though its handler is calm and relaxed. What went wrong? Why didn’t it work? Scott explains that the problem here is that the horse does not recognize the human in question as the leader or dominant horse, so the calm state of mind does not transfer. For the horse to truly pay attention and respond to the energy you convey, you must first establish yourself as the leader.

Scott’s basic training philosophy? He believes successful training has two parts: the horse’s mind and the horse’s body. He states that 90% of the times, misbehaviors are not the problem. Instead, they’re the symptoms of an underlying, bigger problem. In order to alleviate the symptomatic inappropriate behavior, the underlying issue must be identified and handled first, then the symptoms will dissipate.

Scott calls his training methods “advantage horsemanship.” When asked how it compares to natural horsemanship, he explained that the two schools of thought have much in common, but that they also have differences. Scott shed some light on this topic by saying that there’s actually nothing natural about riding a horse: “Out on the open range, you don’t see a lion on top of a horse unless the big cat is acting the part of predator. But since humans have bigger brains, we have the intelligence to be able to work with these animals and to teach them to allow us to ride them. To me, the term Advantage Horsemanship means a combination of every single facet of horse training.”

Scott has studied the principles of natural horsemanship and the tactics of tradition breaking methods. He found advantages and disadvantages in both, so he took what he considered to be the most effective elements of these methods and combined them. He added a few “tweaks” of his own, and Advantage Horsemanship was born.

When asked about especially tough cases he’s handled, Scott related the story of a Chincoteague pony. The pony was a young stud colt, and from the beginning, he was “pushy,” according to his owners. After being confined to a stall and beginning simple, basic training, the pony resented “being told what to do,” and it became aggressive. It was brought to Scott’s training facility, and while it was at Scott’s barn, it would strike out at Scott’s employees, attempting to bite, kick, or paw them. It got to the point where Scott could not allow anyone else to interact with the pony except for him, due to safety precautions. After talking with the owners, Scott discovered that they had unknowingly been partially responsible for the pony’s inappropriate behavior, so he worked with them in addition to working with the equine.

Scott worked with the Chincoteague for a month before the owners took it home. It calmed down, and the owners were able to handle it on their own. According to Scott, the pony is now doing well and is ready for training under saddle.

Scott told about another case he handled that was very unusual. A horse owner called Scott about a problem horse, and the trainer visited the owner’s barn. This particular equine would “go crazy” whenever a blanket was placed on its back. It would kick, run, and generally become very frightened. Scott recommended the horse be brought to his facility.

After working with the horse for a week, Scott was making little progress. He would leave a blanket on the horse while it was grazing in the pasture, and for a time, the horse seemed okay with having the blanket on its back. But Scott noticed that whenever a breeze would even slightly rumple the blanket, or whenever something else would occur to remind the troubled animal about the offending blanket, the horse would spook and become extremely agitated. Scott was puzzled, and he even enlisted the aid of other trainers in this case – to no avail. No one seemed to be able to solve the mystery of the “scary blanket.”

The horse in question was a rescue horse, and finally, the frustrated owners returned the horse to the rescue operation. They purchased a new horse to replace the rescue animal, and much to their horror, the new one began exhibiting the same behavior as the former occupant. Everyone involved decided that this was just too uncanny to be a coincidence.

They finally discovered that the stall bedding material was conducting an electrical current and was shocking the horses. Once, when the new horse was led into the stall, its hair stood on end, and when the owner touched the horse, he received a jolt. It had been the owner’s practice to blanket the animals once they were stalled, so the horses were associating the blanket with the pain of being shocked. No wonder no one could break the first horse of its blanket fear!

Scott went on to relate his experiences with a BLM mustang. He said it was one of the smartest equines he has ever worked with. Scott began saddle training the horse, and all was going well. He could put anything on its back, including a surcingle, and tighten it up with no problem. When Scott placed a saddle on the mustang’s back, however, the horse would take off. Scott says that horse probably threw his saddle onto the dirt twenty times.

After two months, the horse was accepting the saddle and was doing well in its training. It was doing so well, in fact, that Scott even shot a couple of videos using the horse and used it in his teaching demonstrations at several clinics. Even so, the horse’s intelligence continued making training difficult at times. Scott says as soon as the horse learned something new, it would use the knowledge against the owner. The mustang would do fine with Scott, and at first, it did well with the owner. But as time went on, the horse learned exactly how to “push the owner’s buttons,” making riding difficult.

The horse was returned to Scott for more training, but what Scott discovered was that the horse had figured out his training methods and had “outsmarted” them. Scott had to re-teach the basics to the mustang, using different methods. The canny equine soon figured out the new methods, too. Scott finally deemed the horse was unsafe for the owner. He feels that this was his only failure as a trainer.

When asked if he found older horses with ingrained bad habits more difficult to train, he responded that that’s often the case. While an “old dog can be taught new tricks,” as Scott says, it’s sometimes hard to “un-do” years of bad habits. If an equine has not yet established a bad habit, it’s much easier to train them to do what you want them to do.

Scott grew up riding English, but switched to Western about nine years ago. “I discovered I was better in jeans than in breeches,” Scott explains.

One aspect of Western riding that Scott does not like, however, is the Western saddle itself. In his view, it forces the rider to sit back on his bottom and to swing his legs forward. And according to Scott, humans don’t have balance that way. They achieve balance with a straight up and down position – not sitting back. Also, it’s uncomfortable for the horse’s back. With these factors in mind, Scott designed a Western saddle that rides more like an English saddle, helping the rider achieve proper balance.

When asked about the future of Advantage Horsemanship, Scott said what they really want to do is to go national. He’s had amazing success in the East, but he’d like for word to get around in California and the entire West coast, also, as well as in other parts of the nation. A manager has been retained in order to help accomplish this feat.

Judging from the success Scott has achieved in the East, it won’t take long for him to reach his personal goal of national prominence. His clinics and videos are certainly helping with the endeavor, and his name is often in the news. As a matter of fact, he recently won the top honors at the Northern Illinois Trainer Challenge, against trainers from Kansas and Indiana. With accolades like these, Scott’s sure to be a household or perhaps a barnhold – name in no time.

There are all kinds of bedding material available. Below are short descriptions of each:

Wheat straw: This is a comfortable, fairly fluffy bedding. Most equines will not attempt to eat it. It’s also semi-absorbant, so it gets heavy and hard to handle when wet. Make sure the straw is free of dust and mold.

Oat straw: This is another natural bedding, and it’s more absorbant than wheat straw. One problem with oat straw is that the horse might be tempted to eat it. Make sure the straw is clean and free of mold spores.

Pine straw: Pine straw is sometimes used as a stall bedding in the South. It’s cheap, but it settles quickly. Also, it provides little moisture absorption. The pine needles do give the stall a nice smell.

Sawdust: If you have connections with a nearby sawmill, sawdust can be cheap. It’s absorbant, but it might present a problem for horses with allergies or breathing conditions due to the dust and fine particles.

Wood shavings: This is probably the most popular type of stall bedding. It’s absorbant, fluffy, and it smells nice. Shavings from soft woods are best, but check for splinters. Shavings can get expensive when purchased in bags. Try to find a local source where you can purchase it in bulk. Most horse owners prefer pine or cedar shavings.

Horse Bedding - Wood Shavings

Peat moss: This type of bedding is often recommended by equine veterinarians. It’s practically dust free, so it’s a healthy alternative as far as the respiratory system is concerned. One problem with it is that because the moss is naturally dark, wet spots are hard to see. It’s also expensive.

Paper: Some horse owners are using shredded paper as bedding. It’s usually inexpensive, and it’s very absorbant. It’s also very messy, however, and disintegrates when wet, making removal difficult.

Wood pellets: These dehydrated wood shavings are super absorbant and make stall cleaning a breeze. They’re usually expensive, however, and don’t seem very comfortable. Some horsemen state that once the pellets absorb a little moisture, they will soften and provide more comfort. Also, some horse owners mix the pellets with sawdust. Since the wood pellets are sterile, you won’t have to worry about introducing bacteria into the stall.

Hemp: Hemp chips are quickly gaining popularity as a natural stall bedding. The HempChips brand is cleaned of dust and other impurities before being sold. Horses won’t eat the chips, and they’re twice as absorbant as wood shavings and are easy to clean. One problem is that supplies are limited.

Dry Stall: This is a relatively new product made of porous volcanic rock material. It’s permanent and is often used in combination with wood shavings to extend the life of the shavings and to add more moisture absorption.

Scott Purdum

Scott’s success might just be due to the fact that he got such an early start, so if you look at it from that angle, he does, in fact, have two decades of experience. His parents owned Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds when Scott was just a child, so he grew up surrounded by equines. He always enjoyed being around the horses and spending time in the barn. He started riding at the early age of three, and even at such a young age, his parents recognized his love for horses, along with his budding talent. They wanted to feed that natural ability and bring it to its full potential.

After seeing Scott ride and handle the family horses for two years, Scott’s parents thought that formal riding lessons were in order. They felt he would gain more from formal lessons than he would from informal lessons with them, so they decided to sign him up for sessions with a professional trainer. They enrolled him in riding lessons under the tutelage of Jill Betz when Scott was just five. He learned quickly, and once he got the basics down, he pleaded for his own horse. He felt he was ready and wanted to “spread his wings,” so to speak. His parents agreed, and the search was on.

It didn’t take long to find an appropriate horse. Scott’s first mount was a Quarter Horse. It had no special training for any discipline, but it was a gentle horse – a good “kid’s horse,” as Scott says. Scott enhanced and perfected the riding skills he had learned from trainer Betz, and at the age of six, he entered his first show. His event was English Pleasure. He continued showing in English classes and in hunter-jumper for several years, until the age of twelve or thirteen.

By that time, the young horseman became more interested in sports and girls than he was in his equine companions, as boys are wont to do, and he pretty much gave up the demanding schedule and practice necessary for the horse shows. His love of horses and showing lured him back, however, and by the age of sixteen, he again plunged headlong into the equine world – not that he totally abandoned girls. He discovered that a lot of girls were into horses, too!

About that time, Scott began working informally as a horse trainer. His parents owned a paint mare that was incredibly high strung and nervous. The mare spooked easily and saw “ghosts” everywhere, so she was therefore difficult and potentially dangerous to handle. Scott was determined to work with the horse and exorcize her demons, so to speak. Scott was on a quest. He read every book he could get his hands on about different training methods and tips. He watched countless videos of training clinics. He processed all this information and formulated it into methods that he thought would be most effective for him and for the mare. After working with the mare using his new-found knowledge, he happily realized his unique training methods were, indeed, effective. His success with the spooky horse gave him the confidence and experience to further his training career.

His first formal training job was with a high-strung, high-energy gelding. It belonged to a young girl who didn’t have a lot of horseback riding experience, and in essence, the gelding was just too much horse for her. The parents got in touch with Scott, and he worked with the horse and got it calmed down and manageable. By that time, the horse’s owners decided they wanted to sell. All was not lost, however. The owners sold the horse for a handsome profit, largely due to Scott’s efforts.

When it comes to training a horse, safety always comes first with Scott. He learned at an early age the importance of safety. When he was around ten years old, he and his father were trail riding one day when something happened that left a lasting impression on the youngster. Scott’s horse was afraid of water, and as the riders were about to cross a creek, Scott’s mount baulked. His dad dismounted and tried to pull the pony across, but it became very frightened and jumped on top of Scott’s dad, associating the man with safety. Of course, Scott was terrified to see his father lying on the ground, and he realized just how dangerous an improperly trained equine could be.

After Scott’s success with the gelding, local horse owners began hearing about the young man’s special gift with horses, and they started enlisting his help with their horses. Word spread quickly. This word-of-mouth advertizing served Scott well.

After high school, Scott wanted to continue learning as much about horses as he could. He entered the University of Maryland, where he studied Equine Management. After a year or so of his studies, the siren song of the horses called to Scott again, and he left the halls of academia and became a full time horse trainer and lessons instructor. He gained vast amounts of hands-on knowledge on his own and by working as an intern with noted West Virginia Quarter Horse Trainer Ken Adkins. Scott even had the privilege of assisting Adkins at the Quarter Horse Congress in Ohio.

From time to time, Scott has held part-time jobs over the past few years that didn’t involve horses. For example, he has worked as a landscaper, but he always returned to working with horses – his true passion. Fortunately, the horse-owning public has discovered this young man’s rare gift and has clamored for his services. His notoriety continues to spread exponentially.

Today Scott is the owner of Advantage Horsemanship, located in Union Bridge, Maryland. The 50-acre facility includes a 30-stall barn, an 80 x 200-foot indoor arena, and a 100 x 200-foot outdoor arena. The facility offers horseback riding lessons in basic horsemanship, advanced western pleasure, and hunter-jumper. Lessons are taught either in small groups or privately to individual students. Horse boarding is also provided. You’ll usually find about 30 horses at Scott’s barn, with about half that number in training. Because he spends so much of his time helping other owners with their horses, Scott owns only one equine of his own, which he shows in western pleasure at both local and AQHA shows.

Scott calls his methods “advantage horsemanship” because he’s taken the advantages offered by natural horsemanship and those offered by traditional “breaking” and combined them into his own unique system.

Scott made a big splash in the training ocean last August. He competed in the Northern Illinois Trainer Challenge, consisting of three sessions over two days. His competitors were Kerry Kuhn of Coats, Kansas, and T.J. Clibborn of Westfield, Indiana. After the dust had settled, Scott emerged as the victor.

While Scott does teach riding lessons, his passion is working directly with horses. He specializes with problem horses and has worked with numerous BLM mustangs, which have a notorious reputation for being difficult to handle. He also trains Sports Horses, Quarter Horses, and gets two-year-olds ready for the track. In addition, he often takes ex-racehorses and turns them into accomplished hunter-jumpers.

Scott has a great training facility, but he doesn’t limit his work to his own stable. He often travels to the home barns and farms of his clients, especially when he’s teaching horses to properly and quietly load onto a horse trailer. In addition, Scott travels across the country conducting teaching clinics. Just this year, Scot has brought his Advantage Horseman techniques to the Horse World Expo in Timonium, MD; to the Mid-Michigan Horse Expo in Birch Run; to the Horse World Expo in Harrisburg, PA; to The Road to the Horse event in Franklin, TN; to the Horse and Pet Expo in Reading, PA; to the Carroll County Horse Expo in Westminster, MD; to the Horse Starting Demo in Mahwah, NJ; to the Eastern Pennsylvania Hands-On Tour; to the Relax and Motivate Clinic at Best Intensions Farm in Westminster; to the Virginia Hands-On Tour; to the Northern Illinois Horse Fest in Belvidere; to the Advanced Junior Clinic at Best Intentions Farm; to the Ultimate Obstacle Course Clinic in Dickerson, MD, to Horse Appreciation Day at Dublin’s Farm in Pasadena, MD; to the 4-H Relax and Motivate Clinic in Clarksville, MD; to the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, GA, and to the Fall Festival at Day’s End Horse Rescue in Woodbine, MD. Scott will hold a clinic in December at the North American Horse Fest in Novi, Michigan. In addition to this hectic travel schedule, Scott periodically conducts training clinics at his home base of Union Bridge, MD. It’s no wonder that he has little time left to compete in shows!

Scott also designs training equipment to help riders improve their skills. These include a specially designed Western saddle with both the horse’s comfort and the rider’s in mind. One of the saddle’s unique features is large cutaways that provide close contact between the rider and the mount – something often lacking in many Western saddles. The saddle has received rave reviews from riders who have tried it.

Scott also offers a riding halter with reins that serves an important function in training. It’s great for ground work and for young horses just started under saddle. As Scott explains, “If you have a young colt that you are starting out under saddle and you want to have a successful first ride, you can depend on the horse associating the same pressure as given on the ground as to when you are actually riding to horse. If you are a trail rider and you put a halter underneath your bridle to tie your horse up when you get to the trail, now all you will have to do is unsnap your reins from the side rings, use one end to tie to a picket line or fence, and the other to snap to the bottom of the halter! You can just eliminate the whole bridle!”

The most popular of Scott’s designs, however, is his training halter. He describes it this way: “It takes more than a piece of rope to make a halter; it takes design and effectiveness. This halter offers features such as a stiff inner core, knots that are strategically placed, and twisted rope over the horse’s poll-all designed to make it more uncomfortable when the horse is leaning on you. The best feature on these halters is a snap that fastens the halter together. You only need to fit it once to your horse, and it is ready for quick attachment and detachment!”

Scott even has some wonderful training videos. I watched some clips, and they were amazing. He walks viewers through the exercises step by step, explaining exactly what he’s doing and why he’s doing it. I’d say the videos are the next best thing to seeing Scott in person. He’ll have new videos available soon.

Scott’s clients give him frequent raves and often send heartfelt thank-you notes via email. He also gets frequent, good natured ribbing from the “old pros” because of his young age. He’s sometimes referred to as the “wonder kid” of the training circuit, or as the “Doogie Howser” of horse training. Scott takes it all in stride, however. The tall, lanky trainer, donning a cowboy hat, looks more like the rugged Marlboro man than he does a hunter-jumper trainer, but looks can be deceiving. From everything I’ve learned about Scott Purdum, he can be perfectly at ease just about anywhere – especially when a horse is involved.

If you haven’t heard about all this, it’s not surprising. The concept is fairly new. The first person to enlist the aid of a seeing-eye pony was Dan Shaw. Due to a rare disease, Dan became totally blind several years ago. He was determined to continue living an active life, so he enrolled at a school for the blind. He understood that a seeing-eye dog was an option, but he didn’t want to get attached to a dog only to lose it in a few years.

Dan heard about a new program that a North Carolina couple, Don and Janet Burleson, were experimenting with – miniature horses for the blind. When he learned that these equine typically live for more than 30 years, he was intrigued. He made the trip to the Burlesons’ to meet and work with Cuddles, a miniature mare.

Miniature Guide Horse

Dan and Cuddles hit it off, and now the man and his young horse are exploring the world on their terms. Cuddles has helped Dan navigate the streets of New York City, and she’s even accompanied him on a commercial flight. In fact, she was the first horse ever to fly in the cabin of a plane.

Dan also enjoys long walks in the woods with his little equine, and he states that she’s very calm and well behaved. She knows more than 25 voice commands, and when she needs to go outside for a bathroom break, she taps the door with a hoof.

There’s a lot of controversy regarding miniature horses as assistant animals. Those who support the practice cite that horses are her animals, so the miniatures naturally stay in step with its master. Tiny horses are also less aggressive and less threatening than large dogs. Also, they’re a good option for people who are allergic to canines. The horses are also strong enough to pull a wheelchair and to help a mobility-limited person rise from a sitting position. And as already stated, the miniature horses live much longer than dogs.

Miniature horses also have their disadvantages. For one thing, they eat, urinate, and defecate more often than dogs do. They also take up more room than a dog on public conveyances like taxis, subways, and planes, which can sometimes present a problem. Another issue surrounding the service minis is the legality. Laws can’t decide whether to categorize the small equines as companion animals, exotic animals, or in their traditional role – livestock.

Some urban and suburban areas are reluctant to identify the horses as assistance animals, although they are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Some owners have filed lawsuits to protect their rights, and with more and more seeing-eye horses being put into service, many people are realizing their unique value. One thing seems sure: The blind who use and depend on these horses for their day-to-day activities are not about to give them up.

Snakebites and Horses

A snake bite can be deadly to a horse. While many do recover, they can be left with permanent nerve or tissue damage. Amazingly, sometimes the bite itself is difficult to see, especially if the horse has been bitten on the leg or pastern. Oftentimes, a snake bite in these locales will not cause excessive swelling immediately because of the small amount of muscle tissue present, and because of thick hair, the fang marks might be difficult to find. For these reasons, it’s important to be able to recognize the symptoms themselves.

Most horses that get bitten by a snake receive the bite on the nose or face. This is because when a horse sees or hears a snake, it usually lowers its head to have a closer look. When the equine does this, the snake becomes startled and strikes.

Not only is the nose and face the most common bite sites, they’re also the deadliest. A horse bitten on the nose, face, or neck will usually have excessive local swelling that can close the airways, causing the horse to suffocate before it can receive anti-venom from the veterinarian.

Typical symptoms of snake bite in equines includes excessive sweating, tremors, convulsions, paralysis, muscle spasms, increased respiration, and excessive salivating. The horse might appear confused, and it might wobble and weave as it attempts to walk. It might also try to avoid bright sunlight, or it could lie down and be unable to rise.

If the horse was bitten on the face or nose, the bite marks will most likely be evident: two puncture wounds a half inch to an inch apart, depending on the size of the snake. There could also be a purplish bruising. The most indicative sign of a snake bite to the nose or face, however, is the rapid, extensive swelling. The horse’s entire head could swell, and its eyes could even be swollen shut.

If this happens on the outside of the horse’s head, imagine what’s going on inside. All that inflamed tissue begins to block the air passages shut, making it difficult or impossible for the horse to breathe. If that’s the case, place two short sections of stiff garden hose into the horse’s nostrils, tape them in place, and call your vet immediately. Try to get the horse to keep his head down, and do not let him move. Any movement will increase blood flow and will allow the venom to travel.

Below are some of the most popular types of horse hay in the U.S.:

Alfalfa: This is a legume hay as opposed to a grass hay and is probably the most sought-after hay among horse owners. Typical alfalfa is the highest of all hays in total digestible nutrients, and it’s high in crude protein – with an average of 18%. For digestible energy, it ties with red clover as being the highest. Early season alfalfa is usually recommended for pregnant and lactating mares, growing foals, and horses that are heavily worked. Late season alfalfa is better for idle horses. Alfalfa is also very palatable, and since most horses love the taste, they rarely waste any of this hay.

Bermuda: This is a grass hay widely used in the Southern U.S. and is about 9% protein, on average. It’s an excellent hay for idle horses and is available in small rectangular bales and in large round bales. Popular types of Bermuda hay include Alicia, Coastal, Tifton 85, and Jiggs.

Timothy: A grass hay, timothy is around 9% protein. It’s very popular with horse owners but is often cost-prohibitive. If possible purchase timothy from a second cutting. The first will contain numerous weeds, and later cuttings will be lower in nutrient content. The best timothy is cut in the pre-bloom stage or in the early bloom stage. This is another good choice for idle horses.

Timothy Hay

Orchard grass: Another grass hay, orchard grass has around the same amount of protein as Bermuda grass hay and timothy hay, with an average of 9%. Also like timothy and Bermuda grass hay, it’s a good choice for maintaining horses that are idle.

Red clover: This is another legume hay that ranks near alfalfa in nutrients and is around 15% crude protein. One problem often seen in red clover hay is that it sometimes causes horses to salivate excessively – in other words, to slobber. This reaction is caused by a mold commonly found in the clover, and it isn’t harmful to equine.

Fescue: In digestible nutrients and energy, tall fescue generally rates at the bottom of the hay pile. Fescue averages around 7% protein. Late-harvested fescue is even lower in nutritional value, as well as being lower in taste. Also, some fescue grown in the Southeastern U.S. contains a fungus that can cause problems with gestation and lactation. For this reason, mares in foal should not consume fescue the last three months of pregnancy. Second and subsequent cuttings are of less concern because the fungus affects only the seed, sheath, and stem – not the actual grass blade itself.

Oat hay: Oat hay is gaining popularity with horsemen, largely due to its affordability in some areas. When cut while green and while the oat seeds themselves are still soft, the resulting hay will have about the same protein and nutritional value of other grass hays. One problem found in oat hay is a high concentration of nitrates and a low level of calcium, carotene, and phosphorus. The hay should be tested before feeding it to your horses.

Pony of the Americas

Today’s POA has added new blood to the mix. As the pony standard has gotten taller, the Shetland has been largely phased out, and the Welsh has replaced it. Quarter Horses, mustangs, and Indian ponies were also added. The result is a breed that, ideally, has a small Arabian-like head, a muscular body, horse-like conformation, and the coloring of an Appaloosa.

Several coat patterns are acceptable on a POA. These include leopard, few-spot leopard, roan, blanket, snow-capped, and marble. POAs must have white sclera of the eyes and mottled skin, usually found on the muzzle, the sheath, the anus, the vulva, or around the eyes. In addition, most POAs have striped hooves.

An adult POA must stand between 46 and 56 inches tall at the withers. The association is unique in that it’s the only equine organization to specifically devote itself to youth riders. For years, showing in a POA event was limited to riders age sixteen and under. Adults were allowed to show in driving and halter classes only. In 1973, the age restriction was raised to eighteen. Beginning in 1987, riders over nineteen began being allowed to show the ponies in riding classes restricted to two, three, and four-year-olds in training.

Since the POA is bred specifically for children to show and ride, temperament is a major concern. Reputable breeders strive to produce ponies that are gentle, intelligent, and willing. The ponies should also be hardy and durable. The POAs are extremely versatile and can be used for practically any discipline. Because of their disposition, athleticism, trainability, and good looks, they’re often chosen as a child’s first mount or as a 4-H pony. A well trained POA is just as comfortable in a Western saddle running the reining pattern as it is in an English saddle crossing fences.

The POA organization has more than forty state clubs and provides numerous shows and events for its members. The club awards high point standings and Register of Merit Awards for halter, gaming, and performance. These ponies are so diverse and talented that a single individual sometimes earns all three ROM awards, thereby earning the Supreme Champion Award. Numerous breeder awards are also offered.

Typical events offered at a POA show include halter, costume, Native American costume, huntseat over fences, open jumper, hunter hack, huntseat equitation, hunter under saddle, leadline, pleasure driving, bareback horsemanship, Western pleasure, Western horsemanship, Western riding, reining, stock seat equitation, goat tying, showmanship, most colorful, trail, pole bending, figure 8 stake, single pole, go go, keyhole, cloverleaf, flag race, straight barrels, Texas rollback, handy horse, and longe line.

Not only does the POA make a great show pony for a young rider, it’s also a wonderful all-around family horse. Most members of this breed are very quiet and calm on trail rides and are sometimes used as pack ponies on long trips.

The horse as a species developed in North America but disappeared about 10,000 years ago from the continent. Most people think Cortes was the first European explorer to bring horses back to what is now America. He did, in fact, bring horses with him on his conquest of Mexico in 1519, but it was probably several years before the horse made its way north.

The man credited with bringing the first horses to what is now the United States is Juan Ponce de Leon. On his second voyage from Spain to Florida, in 1521, Ponce de Leon brought with him a small herd of Andalusian horses, along with cattle. Subsequent explorers to Florida brought horses with them, including Hernando de Soto, Don Diego Maldonado, and Pedro Menendez de Aviles. Some of these Spanish steeds were traded to Native Americans, some were stolen, and some escaped to form small herds of feral equine which came to be called “mustangs” – derived from the Spanish word for stray animals, mestenos.

Meanwhile, out West, horses had made their way to the Great Plains and drastically altered the lives of the Native Americans who became the “horse tribes.” These tribes did not generally have secure enclosures for their horses, so some of the stock escaped and survived on their own, breeding and growing their numbers.

The Mustang Horse

As the Eastern US became more populated, the wild herds of the East were pushed westward. They eventually crossed the Mississippi River and joined the western herds of feral horses. Most of these horses were of Andalusian, Barb, and Arabian blood.

With westward migration and cattle ranches being established in the 1800s, more horses joined the feral herds – some by accident and some purposely released. Many ranch owners released much of their horse herds to roam free in the winter and graze on wild grasses. In the spring, when the ranch horses were rounded up, Mustangs would often be among their numbers. A few ranchers, in an effort to improve the feral herds, shot herd stallions and replaced them with purebred horses.

By the beginning of the twentieth century, North America was home to about 2 million feral horses. Since that time, the population has suffered greatly. Many of the horses were captured and trained for cavalry units, some were caught and used as ranch horses, and thousands were slaughtered for dog food. Some of these animals were poisoned, and others were chased with airplanes until they were exhausted, making easy targets for rifles.  In 1959, the first law offering the feral horses some protection was passed. In 1971, The Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act was passed, offering more protection. Today there are more than 33,000 feral Mustangs, more than half of which are located in Nevada.

Mustangs of today vary greatly from herd to herd. Some have obvious draft horse lineage, some indicate Friesian blood, while a few isolated herds have been proven by blood tests to be almost pure descendants from the old Spanish horses.

Many Mustangs have been adopted from the Bureau of Land Management. It usually takes an experienced horseman and trainer to handle a Mustang. Once the animals receive sufficient handling and training, however, many become as gentle and dependable as any other horse. Some Mustangs make excellent endurance mounts because of their stamina and hardiness from generations of natural selection.

• Make sure your horse is receiving a high-quality diet and plenty of clean drinking water. You can enhance the diet with supplements like calcium b-hydroxy b- methyl butyrate monohydrate (HMB), leucine, L-Glutamine, pine bark, and vitamins C and E. These help build lean muscle and offer protection against muscle cell breakdown after exercise. Ask your veterinarian about safe supplements on the market.
• Before any strenuous exercise, always warm up with a walk. After completing an exercise routine, always cool down with a walk. Remember: walk, exercise, walk.
• Take into consideration the terrain of the area you’ll be using. Softer ground is much easier on your animal’s joints and bone structure.
• Use a 20-foot longeline to exercise your horse. Transition frequently from walk to trot to canter.
• Add cavaletti  to your longe routine.
• Longe or ride your horse in a plowed field. Think about how much muscle you have to use when walking through deep sand at the beach. Your horse will experience the same thing when walking, trotting, or cantering in a plowed field. The soft ground is also easy on joints and bones.
• Water therapy is also an excellent conditioning tool. If you have access to an equine swim tank, take advantage of it. Most horse owners don’t have this luxury; however, you can get similar results from using a lake or pond.
• Ride or lead your horse up and down inclines to add muscle mass. If you’re leading it, do not stand directly in front of the horse.
• Do not overdo it! Begin with just a few minutes a day. GRADUALLY increase the time of your sessions.
• Always allow your horse to cool down completely before offering it food or water.
• Watch your horse closely for muscle soreness or injuries.
• Be consistent. Ten minutes of an exercise routine a day is far better than one hour a week.

If you’re considering using anabolic steroids for your horse, do some research first! While some profession trainers, especially racehorse trainers, use steroids like stanozolol, there is no clear evidence that the drug increases muscle mass or performance in equines. As for the dangers of steroid use in horses, the jury is still out. Many vets do agree, however, that their use could certainly mask injuries, leading to bigger problems later. Most vets also agree that the use of anabolic steroids could create a “brittle” horse.steroids have also been linked to unusual aggression in horses, along with a decrease in fertility Be safe and smart – build muscle the old-fashioned way!

Horse Industry

Horses are expensive to keep up, and according to a study conducted by the American Horse Council, more than a third of all horse owners make under $50,000 a year. The average cost of caring for a horse is five times the amount of caring for a dog. With the increased cost of fuel, food, and other necessities of life, many of these households just don’t have the disposable income any longer to care for their equines. An alarming number of horses are being abandoned or just left in the pasture to slowly starve to death.  Some attendees of horse shows reportedly lock their horse trailers now to keep someone with an unwanted horse from leaving it anonymously in a stranger’s trailer.

This is a multifaceted problem. All these unwanted horses have flooded the market, driving prices to all-time lows. Sales barns and horse auctions are inundated with equines, and some sales operators have noticed the poor condition of many of the animals.

Ronald Mariotti, owner of the Enumclaw equine auction house in Washington, says, “I see a lot more skinny horses come to market; a lot more horses that are off flesh come to market. People can’t afford to feed them. They shouldn’t own them if they can’t afford to feed them.”

Mariotti has been in the horse selling business for over forty years, and he says the current market is the worst he’s ever seen. Some sellers are letting their horses go for as little as $200, while other animals aren’t even receiving bids.

Compounding the problem is that there are few buyers. Some experts partially blame the closing of the last equine slaughterhouses in America, located in Illinois and Texas, as a significant piece of the puzzle. These “killer buyers” paid up to fifty cents a pound for lame, aged, and dangerous horses that no one wanted. Now, that’s no longer an option i♠Missouri Equine Council, “Along with the economic crunch, removing slaughterhouses also removed the base price for a horse. That has led to a glut of low- to mid-price ranged horses that owners are trying to get rid of. You take away that foundation, and there’s nothing under it. It’s affected not only low-end horses, but the mid-range horses. People used to get rid of lower-end horses and upgrade to a mid-price-range horse. But if they can’t get rid of those lower range horses, they can’t afford another horse or have no room for another.”

Equine veterinarian Tom Lenz, chairman of the Unwanted Horse Coalition, has 35 years of experience dealing with horses and their owners. He says another problem with the horse population is that owners breed too many inferior animals, and suggests that only horses with special skills should be used for breeding purposes. He also explains that most Americans view horses as pets instead of as livestock.

Lenz stated, “Some cultures don’t eat pork. I don’t think we should judge whether another society is right or wrong because of the meat they eat. Besides, what difference does it make to the horse?”

Even though the equine slaughterhouses in the US are closed, the ones in Canada and Mexico are still open for business. Each year, thousands of unwanted horses are shipped to these plants from the US, but because of the high cost of fuel for such a haul, this has resulted in very low prices paid for unwanted horses. And currently, new American laws are being recommended that stop any transportation of horses from the US to slaughterhouses.

Regarding the new legislation, Lenz said, “If that legislation passes, it will really complicate things.”

This is a highly charged emotional issue, and to many horse lovers, Lenz’s views are repugnant.  Sending a horse to a kill plant is not the same as humanely euthanizing the animal. Some might use “dead is dead” as an argument, but it’s not that simple. For one thing, horses are shipped for hundreds or even thousands of miles on hot, crowded trailers, enduring long periods without food and water. Horses that receive injuries on the trip receive no care of any kind. Once the animals reach the slaughterhouse, they might have to spend more days with little, if any, sustenance. They are often handled roughly and cruelly into chutes while waiting their turn to be killed. When it’s their turn, their death is not quick or painless. They are generally stabbed multiple times in the neck with a puntilla knife to paralyze them. They are still conscious when they are hoisted up by a hind leg to have their throats cut.

Many people who love their animals had rather give their horses away that see them suffer the brutality of the kill plants. They talk to friends, place ads in newspapers, and offer them to riding schools or therapy stables. Unfortunately, there are few takers. Consumers are realizing there’s no such thing as a “free” horse – even if there’s no up-front price, the cost of keeping a horse dissuades many would-be horse owners. And for those who are willing to accept a free equine, many quickly come to the plain, hard fact that they cannot afford to care for the horse and must give it up, so the cycle begins all over.

Humane euthanasia is another option, but it’s not cheap. It costs an average of $200 to euthanize a horse. Euthanasia is Greek for “good death,” and that’s the goal of the practice. In euthanizing a horse, a veterinarian gives the animal a tranquilizer intravenously. Then the horse is given an overdose of a barbiturate, making the equine’s death quick and painless, with no fear involved. Problem solved, right? Wrong. Now the body must be disposed of properly. The carcass can’t just be dragged to the woods like folks used to do. The horse’s body is now contaminated by the drug. Any scavengers that might feed on it could be killed, and the horse owner would be responsible. This list could include birds, wolves, coyotes, foxes, opossums, or even domestic dogs.

If an owner cannot afford for his animal to be euthanized but believes that shooting an unwanted horse is more merciful than shipping it off to Canada or Mexico to be killed, then they’re left with disposing of the body. In many locations, horses cannot be buried, and even if it’s legal in certain areas, hiring someone with a backhoe to do the work is cost prohibitive. This is not a hole you want to dig with a shovel.

So why not just surrender the unwanted horse to a shelter or equine rescue group? Great idea, but many shelters are full and are no longer accepting any horses. They simply can’t afford to feed them. Many shelters and rescue operations depend on private donations to provide funds for caring for their animals, and citizens who are strapped financially cannot afford the luxury of donating money to charities. For those shelters and groups that receive local and state funding, things aren’t much better. Many of these funds have been cut, or in some cases, revoked altogether.

A good example of this problem is found at the Horse North, Inc., a horse rescue operation in Michigan. Previously, the outfit turned away maybe 10 or 12 horses a year, but now they’re turning away more than 30 in a single month. They just don’t have the funds or the room to adequately care for all the horses being surrendered by owners who can no longer afford them.

Another Michigan rescue, Horse Haven, is turning away even more unwanted horses. According to horse Haven President Barbara Baker, “Right now, we don’t have the space to take them, or the funds.” Baker says they turn away about 100 horses a week, and owners often leave in tears as they realize they may have to euthanize their pet horse.

And these problems aren’t unique to Michigan. The problem is found all over the US. In Georgia, which has not been hit as hard as Michigan by the recession, people who can’t afford to feed their horses often just stop feeding them. According to Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin, “We often find the animals in deplorable conditions. Sometimes there is gross neglect, which can be prosecuted as a felony. We’ve got some cases now that fit into that category.” Georgia has seized more than 200  horses in the last year.

“That’s more than we have in any year since I’ve been commissioner,” Irvin added. He cites the reasons as the effects of a drought, along with the economic collapse, stating, “When pasture land deteriorates, some owners don’t have the resources to buy supplemental feed.”

It’s obvious that there are no easy solutions to the problems associated with the horse industry and the economic meltdown, even for owners who truly try to do the “right thing.” Some options are off the table, and others have serious drawbacks.

It’s not only horse owners who have been impacted, either. Other players in the horse industry are feeling the pinch due to the slow economy. Instructors who offer riding lessons are seeing fewer students, even after many have lowered their fees.  Horse trainers and boarding stables are experiencing the crunch, too. Store owners who sell feed, tack, and other supplies say their businesses are suffering. Attendance at horse shows and other equine events is down.

In many states, the horse industry is a large slice of their economy. Agribusinesses, in particular, are supported directly by the horse owners. Farmers who produce grain and hay depend on equine owners buying their products. Horse people who show their animals or compete in other equine events are counted upon to purchase equipment unique to their specific discipline and to buy special clothing for competitions. Even the timber industry is affected. Sales of wood for fences, barns, and shelters have decreased, as have wood shavings used for bedding and stalls. States that have always considered their horse races, shows, and horse sales as part of their tourism trade can no longer count on these events to contribute substantially to the economy.

Think of all the people who are employed by these various aspects of the horse industry. As horse-related businesses lose money, workers will be laid off or terminated. For example, for every twelve horses at a racing stable, there’s one employee, on average. For a stable that handles show horses, there’s one employee for every twenty horses, on average. When participation decreases drastically, it’s not only the stable owners who are hurt; it’s also the “little guys” – the employees.

To shed some light on the importance of the horse industry on the US economy, take a look at the statistics for just a few states. In California, for example, horse-related goods and services generate $4.1 billion and employ over 311,000 workers. In Florida, the horse industry contributes $3 billion and provides 440,000 jobs, directly and indirectly. In the Thoroughbred capital of the world, Kentucky, horses generate $2.3 billion and provide 194,300 jobs and positions. The list goes on and on. The declining horse industry, of course, is not the cause of the slow economy; instead, it’s a victim and a symptom.

The Horse Industry and the US Stimulus Initiative

Although the horse industry is suffering along with the rest of the economy, help is on the way. According to the American Horse Council, the Economic Stimulus package signed by President Obama includes some benefits for horse owners. These include two tax incentives that expired in 2008.

The first, Section 179, allows owners to count up to $250,000 of expenses used to purchase horses, farm equipment, and other related costs, as long as they were placed in service in 2009.

The second incentive continues the first year bonus depreciation of 50% for horses and related property that are placed in service in 2009.

These incentives might not affect the average horse owner, but they will help keep many horse-related businesses like racing and breeding stables in operation and indirectly give regular horse owners and the horse industry as a whole a financial boost. Hopefully, these incentives will keep the average value of horses from further deflating and will have an overall positive impact on the horse industry that will “trickle down” to everyone involved with equines.The