Omaha native Brooke Cudmore jumps her way to team bronze at the 2011 Adequan
FEI North American Junior Young Riders’ Championships

by Kim MacMillan, MacMillan Photography & Media Services

Brooke Cudmore’s first trip to the 2011 Adequan FEI North American Junior
Young Riders’ Championships (NAJYRC), presented by Gotham North, paid off
with a junior jumper team bronze medal. Held at the Kentucky Horse Park in
Lexington, KY, the last week of July, the championships include competition
for junior and young riders ages 14 – 21 in dressage, endurance, eventing,
reining and show jumping. Future plans are for para dressage and vaulting to
become part of the NAJYRC competition over the next few years.

Brooke Cudmore riding Ocelot in the 2011 Adequan FEI North American Junior Young Rider's Championships where they earned a team bronze medal in junior jumpers. Photo by Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

Cudmore combined with three riders from United States Equestrian Federation
(USEF) Zone 1 to form a Zone1/6 Team when she arrived at the NAJYRC and the
combination proved to be successful earning bronze for all four riders. The
sole jumper representative from USEF Zone 6 (which encompasses Iowa,
Minnesota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota and Wisconsin) and the only
competitor in any discipline from Nebraska at the 2011 NAJYRC, the
17-year-old Cudmore enjoyed the experience and her first trip to Kentucky.
“Kentucky and the Horse Park were beautiful and the park was huge – much
bigger than I expected. I loved the new outdoor stadium. The arena footing
and everything was maintained very well.”

Cudmore’s partner was Ocelot, a 16-year-old bay Holsteiner stallion by Ocean
II, out of Miss Loving, bred by Joan Irvine Smith’s The Oaks farm in
California, and owned by Brooke’s mother and father, Karen and Blair
Cudmore, who own and operate Heartland Farm in Omaha, a hunter-jumper
training stable. The Cudmores also have a large farm in Iowa where they
breed and raise sport horses.

Ocelot came to Heartland Farm from California as a two-year-old and Karen
started him under saddle and competed him through the Grand Prix jumper
ranks. After Ocelot had some time off to recover from bruised heels, Brooke
took over the ride. Besides the young rider competition, she and Ocelot have
done junior jumpers and also a few Grand Prix competitions. “He’s just the
coolest horse,” said Brooke, who added that Ocelot’s favorite treat is
bananas.

With two equestrian professional parents, Brooke learned to ride at a very
young age, starting with hunter ponies and moving into the jumper ring as
she got older. She rides for her parent’s farm and plans to do some business
classes at the local community college, but ultimately wants to be a
professional rider. Currently she is actively competing with five horses.

When not riding, she enjoys hanging out with her friends. She plans to
compete again next year at the NAJYRC and hopes to recruit some other Zone 6
riders so that they can field a team exclusively from their zone.

“I learned a lot being on a Junior Team. It’s not just about you; it’s about
everyone on the team and about being consistent over the five days of
competition. It was a blast and I’m super happy I competed,” she concluded.

To see a complete list of results from all five disciplines or to learn how
to qualify to compete at the 2012 FEI North American Junior Young Riders’
Championships, go to www.youngriders.org or www.usef.org.

How to pick a horse trainer

By Terri Bergen-Smith of Good Hands Horse Training & Sales, Omaha

Driving down the road one summer day, my gaze was drawn to a saddled horse in an arena not far off. The horse was moving around a person in an awkward, hitching gait, and that’s what had caught my attention. As the horse made its way around a good-sized circle, on its lunge line, I could see that the inside front leg was tied up. The horse was being asked to move forward at a pretty good clip on three legs. I knew that it was someone who calls themselves a trainer in the arena with that horse. The point of that exercise I do not know to this very day, and in 35 years of training and learning, I have seen quite a few.

How do people become horse trainers in the first place, you might well ask. Well, one day, they wake up and decide they are. That’s it, no boards to sit for, no tests to take, no licenses for which to apply. That population includes young girls and boys who have grown up on or around horses and think they are then qualified to teach, maybe only because they can “stick” pretty good. Then there is the case of the guy I knew who, a year or two into being introduced to riding at all, was on colts and taking in other people’s horses to get them started. Think he had much success? No, not too much.

So, now, on your journey to find someone to help you with your horse problem, or as Buck Brannaman so well puts it, help your horse with its people problem, how the heck do you know who to trust? Most people who get into the business of horse training start out with large personalities and a certain amount of self-confidence or bluster that looks a lot like that. How do you know the tall, smiling, soft-spoken young man is going to ride the way he says he is, or is he the guy you heard about someone walking in on while he was punching a young horse full in the face for some kind of misdeed or other? This sounds like something out of bad novels but is all too true. How are you going to know the difference?

When I set out to write this article, I polled a group of horse people as to what they look for when seeking trainer assistance. Most of these people are not newcomers to the game, and their points are well taken. They spoke of proximity, and while it is a good thing to be close enough to make a drive to work with your trainer while the horse is away at school, I wouldn’t pick the closest trainer based on fuel savings alone.

Price was not near as much an issue as I thought it might be. Here’s a word to the wise: Price does not indicate value. There might be some very high profile people who are not as good as they think they are, and they are charging for that over-inflated opinion of themselves. Some are lesser known or may not be able to offer a lot in the way of facility and amenities, but you sure don’t want to pick the cheapest guy just because he is the cheapest guy, any more than you figure if you write a big check for a well-known name, it’s a guarantee you are going to wind up with the desired product at the end of the day.

Advertising follows along these same lines. It’s easy, these days, for most people to buy or design their own web site, pay for visibility on search engines, and while all that is pretty cool, it does not guarantee any kind of ability with a horse, just with a computer. If I knew of someone who has sent their horse out for training, and I liked what I saw when the horse came home, I’d want to know who that person was. If it didn’t work out, I’d be curious as to why not.

Some of my friends wanted contracted hours as to exactly how much the trainer was going to work with a horse. I agree with this completely. I have known way too many popular people who would saddle a horse, hang it on the wall. Should a customer happen to show up, it’s “hey, glad you are here, was going to ride yours next!” That may or may not have been the case and I know of quite a few who get most of the riding done in the last two weeks before the horse goes home. But, again, hours alone does not a quality job make! A person who has no plan might ride a horse several hours a day for months and make little to no improvement while an experienced hand might take that same horse, do an exercise or make a point in 45 minutes and put him up. The horse will have progressed further in less time with the trainer who walked in with a game plan, made a change and was then smart enough to put the horse away and leave him alone.

Discussing goals for training and how long it will take to accomplish those goals was high on their lists. Nobody, no matter how accomplished they are, can flat guarantee horse A will perform B in such and such a time. They can sure set a plan and progress toward it as best they can. The trainer needs to be willing and able to communicate to the owner up front if they don’t think the set goals are reasonable. If something happens during the course of training and the trainer doesn’t think they are going to get the job done, for whatever reason, you need to make sure that trainer discusses these events with you so you can both make decisions as to whether the horse will work out for you in the time allotted, needs more time or if you are just headed in a plain wrong direction one way or another. On the inside looking out, here’s what I would look for. First, I would want to know that the trainer is an accomplished hand at whatever it was I wanted the horse trained up to do.

It won’t do a ton of good to send a trail horse prospect to someone who will never get them out of the round pen or arena (of course I need to be prepared to leave my horse there long enough for it to safely progress to riding out of doors, but just how long will that take?) If I want to show a horse in a certain discipline, I am going to seek the aid of someone who is competent in that area. No matter what way I want to go, I can’t imagine sending a horse to a trainer without watching the person work a horse or two or three. The fellow who doesn’t want you to hang around and watch them work is probably not going to be my pick. Why not? What goes on behind closed doors?

I want to know who my guy or gal has studied. In this day and age of so many good clinicians that are deep and well versed in horsemanship, I want to know which school my prospect falls into. If they are purely self-taught, it doesn’t mean I am going to spin around and walk off, but I am going to have some questions for them about their program, what they plan to teach my horse and how they plan to go about it. If someone pitches me a name, and I am unfamiliar with that person, I am going to go bone up and then go back and ask more questions. Anyone can watch a DVD and say they follow so and so. Doesn’t mean they understand what they saw on that video and I want to see firsthand, exactly how it translates. I am not impressed with buzz words, fads or pop psychology. I want to see someone who is calm, kind, quiet, firm and can get their point across to the horse with a minimum of dust and fuss. If they are all about the old days of tie ‘em up, sack ‘em out, get on and ride, well, that might not turn you off, and it’s worked for a lot of good horses, but there are so many better ways to get that job done and I am going to find someone who knows more about those.

I want to know what tools they are going to use and what the purpose behind them is. If you are interviewing a trainer or watching them ride, and they are using a device you don’t understand the meaning of, it better be okay to ask questions and the trainer needs to have a good answer for why he uses the bits, spurs, reins, martingales or whatever. Another tip: if your fellow thinks your colt needs to be started in a leverage bit, accompanied by a tie down, you might want to find the door. If his spurs are as big as his head, again, it doesn’t mean he’s going to gouge hide out of your horse, but that kind of ego always blips my radar. There are some that can wear those spurs and big hats and fulfill the promise. Far more who cannot.

When I watch someone work a horse, regardless of the discipline they are practicing, I want to see smooth, focused concentration. I want the horse to be engaged but not afraid. The kid who says he can train a cutting horse, and has a two year old jumping back and forth between his spurs is not for me, nor the cowboy who brags about the spin he can put on a horse within three weeks of sitting in the saddle. I want to see hooves directed with purpose, not scattering wildly in little circles around the arena. If the horse’s head is in the sky, mouth open and eyes wide and white ringed, I have seen more than enough. Also, just because the person you are talking to might happen to be a woman, it’s no promise that she’s a gentle flower when it comes to a horse, I have known some pretty tough gals in my day, and I still want to visit, watch and see what they are going to do with my animal. Gentle flower, no, I don’t want one of those either, except maybe in my garden!

That said, is there never going to be an argument or disagreement between an equine and a trainer? Oh heck yes, there will be. Trainers are human and the best I know, including myself, can get angry and upset when things go poorly. It’s the trainer that can take themselves out of the picture and not take their emotions out on the horse that I want on my side of the deal. Sometimes you have to stay engaged in a situation with a horse that is very convinced that what they want to do is the very right thing for them, whether it’s running over the top of you, pushing through pressure rather than yielding respectfully and softly away. It might be spooking and leaving the country at the sight of whatever goobly ghost it thinks it’s spied under the bushes or a variety of responses natural to the horse and undesirable to the human. Is the trainer going to say, “Well, okay, sweetie, you just go right ahead with that.” Not if they are worth an ounce of their salt, they are not. Sometimes that process looks pretty western and you have to know and have faith that your trainer is going to get the horse through to the other side in a way that helps the horse to not have to repeat these behaviors. Two guys might use techniques that look very much the same; both might have to raise their level of discipline to match the horse. One has timing and feel, and in fairly short order, the horse makes a change and gets calm. The other trainer doesn’t and his horse continues to escalate and become further traumatized. Both of those fellows might advertise themselves exactly the same way. Bottom line it is going to be YOUR responsibility to  ee past the smooth talk, jargon, charming attitudes and cool looking clothes to make sure, at the end of the day, your horse is in the right place.

Be prepared to get involved, and stay on top of things at your trainers’ place. Discuss housing, feed, and all the details of your horse’s care. Your horse did not ask for his education, did not seek out a scholarship to become a champion reiner or professional western pleasure star. You are his only advocate, and as he can’t speak up for himself, you well may have to. The right trainer can put you two well on your way to many happy hours of joy and successful partnership. It’s going to be up to you to do your homework, talk to a lot of different people in the horse world and yes, some are going to have axes to grind. I don’t know anyone in business that doesn’t ruffle a feather or two, somewhere down the line, but if you get enough opinions and then spend some time with your own eyeballs, you will find yourself able to make a wise choice that will aid you and your horse in the next step of your journey.

Good luck and happy shopping!

Growing up with horses

By Tammy Vasa

I have loved horses all my life. Whenever I would have an opportunity to be near one, pet one or lucky enough to ride one, I would always make sure whoever had the horse knew that I had horses when I was growing up, so I knew all about them. But you know? Horses made a bigger impression in my life than time actually served with them. Going through our childhood photo albums, I was first photographed on a very kind mare named Dolly, sitting behind my sister, when I was just four-years-old. A former carnival horse, whenever Dad would lift us on Dolly and let her go, she would just trot around in a circle as if still connected to the walker. She was the kind of horse every parent wanted for their child.

The last picture taken of me on a horse in my youth was perhaps seven years later on Dolly’s not-so-kind baby (since grown up). Misty is the horse that gives Shetland ponies a bad name! I wonder what ever happened to her. Or not.

We lived in town and our horses were kept at my grandparent’s farm. Once the farm was sold, the horses went to live with a cousin for a few years and we would ride very infrequently. Eventually they were sold.

I always said that when I grew up, I was going to get married and live on a farm and have horses again. Big ones, like my teenaged neighbor and her friend had. They would ride into town and tie the horses to her garage while going inside for Cokes. If I hung out next to her paint mare long enough, she would eventually give me a ride. I would hang on tightly as she ran “Angel” down the alley, grinning widely and trying not to laugh out loud.

Sometimes her friend would give me a ride on “Concho” down the same alley. I think Concho was  wired a little tighter. I recall my stomach feeling much like it does before a roller coaster drops down the first hill: anxious but excited. And I would grin through gritted teeth.

Fast forward several decades. I am grown up and although not necessarily on a farm, we have a nice sized acreage. Perusing the Sunday paper, I mention to my husband, John, that there is a pony listed for sale in our area. Wouldn’t our boys sure enjoy a pony! And to my surprise, he said we should go and take a look.

Now John’s experience with horses was maybe a notch above mine, but not much. He did grow up on a farm and occasionally they would have a horse or pony, and from what little information I have gleaned from him, the horses may have been a lot like my Misty: running under trees and along fence lines. He may not have known how to ride, but he knew how to stay on. Later, he would ride the wild horses in the town rodeo just because he could.

We didn’t come home with a pony that day. Instead, we found a three-year-old Quarter Horse mare that we named Ginger, of course. And she was kid broke, you know. The cowboy selling her was even kind enough to throw in a saddle and deliver the horse to our neighbor’s house since we lacked a corral or anything that resembles fencing. We didn’t plan on buying a horse that day (Or ever?) And for an additional low, low price, he would throw into the deal a draft-cross weanling from another mare. Well, my goodness! That was almost like getting two for one!

So while the horses stayed in the neighbors corral, we put up fencing. When we brought them home, we would lead the kids around the yard on our new mare and pull them away from the mule kicks offered by the little (but getting bigger) filly, appropriately named Baby. Then John and I would take turns riding Ginger to the end of the driveway and back. It felt so good to be in the saddle again on my own “big” horse.

I started reading everything on horses I could find; magazines, books, and the internet. I crammed horse health, jargon and riding principles into my head. I remember reading an article about a woman who was riding her good horse and the horse bolted for no known reason. The lady fell and had all sorts of catastrophic injuries. I didn’t realize it then, but a switch had been flipped in my head. I could get hurt riding horses. The kids could get hurt riding horses. The next time I took Ginger to the end of the driveway and turned to run her back, as was my practice then, I froze. She could bolt. I could fall. I could get hurt really, really bad. So I dismounted and walked her back to the house.

Of course it was Ginger’s fault, I told my husband. For a three-year-old-kid-broke-horse, she is fast, too wild, too untrained! Instead of selling this killer mare, we could solve the problem by getting another horse. So we found a twenty-something-year-old mare that truly was kid broke for the kids. I came home with a 16 hand, high-headed Saddlebred mare that sure was pretty! I made it to the first terrace in our field before I was sure she was going to bolt, too, and told John to trade me horses ‹ that I would take my chances with Killer Ginger before I’d ride this wild horse. Even though he hadn’t seen the mare make one wrong move, he dismounted and handed me Ginger’s reins. “Are we going to do this horse thing or not?” he asked. Dang. Here I was living my dream and scared to death. This wasn’t how it was suppose to end. So once again, I convinced him
(me?) that it was the wrong horse for me.

Only a short time had passed when a friend mentioned he knew of a horse for sale; a gelding that was professionally trained. Everyone kept telling me I should have a gelding. And a trained one? What a bonus! Surely he wouldn’t bolt! So we drove to see this big black quarter horse. I was in awe as the seller lunged him in pretty circles and then climbed aboard. I watched as he responded to her beautifully. I mentioned that I was scared of a horse bolting with me and she told me he wouldn’t. She went on to mention that “he stops on one rein”. Of course I had no idea what that really meant, but I filed it away the same place I filed the information about the bolting horse and the injured woman, having no idea it would come to surface again. She also told me that if I had any issues with him at all, it was MY problem, not his. Well, la-te-da! What was she thinking? I have been riding horses since I was a kid! It’s not like I don’t know how to ride. John wrote the check and told me Merry Christmas and Blue came home with us that day.

We saddled Ginger and Blue and this time we made it farther than that first terrace. I was ahead of John on the road and was surprised to find I had minimal heart palpitations. I stopped Blue and leaned down to make some tack adjustment when John came racing past me on Ginger, and Blue bolted. I lost my balance and was hanging on the side of the saddle, grasping the horn with my one hand and Blue’s mane with the other. The reins were now dangling in front of him as he ran on. “He stops on one rein,” I heard in my head. I untangled my hand from his mane and reached for that rein hanging closest to me. Once in my grasp, I pulled the rein in. Glory hallelujah! Blue stopped on a dime.

Through the years, Blue has carried me, my kids, my horse-frightened sister and countless other riders down the trail. Just recently, he and Ginger were saddled in the round pen, giving pony rides to a couple of young nieces who will perhaps have horse in their blood in years to come.

Today I am riding Ginger’s only baby, the now 9-year-old mare, Windy. With her, I did it right ‹ she had professional training. And I came to the realization that the few rides I had on a childhood pony did not make me a horsewoman, so I started taking riding lessons.

Last week, as Windy was recovering from a minor sprain, I took Ginger out on the trails. As we crossed over into an open field with a long dirt road, no longer fearful of bolting, I asked her to run. Reminiscent of the ride on Concho all those years ago, we flew down the road, her feet barely touching the ground. I may have had horses as a kid, but today I can finally ride.

Jae Bar Little Scamp

By Jacki Wilkins

“I really didn’t want him”, I thought to myself as I looked at the stretchy coming two-year-old through the bars of the stall. He sure didn’t have much of a mane and tail, but otherwise he was put together real nice. I had ridden his full brother, Jae Bar Nitro, and was very impressed with how athletic he wasŠ but I didn’t want any geldings, I was after the daughters of Little King Freckles, and had a cute little weaning filly picked out. My soon to be father-in-law, however, was persistent in selling me the colt. “Tell you what” he said, “I will make you a package deal on the two.” Well, he knew that I had just sold a horse, so he offered his two young horses in exchange for the cash I had in my hand. “Well”, I thought to myself, “I’ll just break the gelding out, and then sell him.” Little did I know that was the best money I ever spent, for Jae Bar Lil Jezabel and Jae Bar Little Scamp would go on to be two of my all time favorite horses and closest friends.

Jacki and Scamp

Although with Scamp it would be years before we really connected. He was probably the most challenging horse I have ever worked with. He was high-strung, could not handle mental stress, and was the most sensitive horse I have ever known. Although he was never very spooky about things around him, things on him sent him into a full panic. I mean if you moved your pinky he knew it! If you took a deeper breath than normal he got suspicious! If you moved your foot a half a centimeter, it would send him flying. And when he couldn’t take it anymore, he would literally shut off his brain, and bolt into a dead run. Did I mention Scamp was one of the fastest horses I have ever ridden!!! Thank heavens he never bucked!!! The harder I would try to get control, the worse things got. I finally learned that when he had his panic attacks, I had to simply relax and leave him alone until he turned his brain back on. He was so quickŠ he did have me hanging off the side a couple of times, but I grabbed for any piece of leather I could find to pull my butt back in the saddle, because I knew if I fell off… and happened to get a foot caught… I would be DEAD real quick!!

As time went on, he didn’t seem to make much progress, and six months later, he was still having his “panic attacks,” so I decided the horse was crazy, and it was time to dump him on a sale. Broken Bow is where I took him, but I was too afraid to ride him in the ring. Needless to say, he did not bring a very high bid, so I ended up bringing him back. Looking back, I thank God he did not sell that day, because after that, VERY slowly, Scamp started to show me that there might just be a light at the end of the tunnel.

It still took a couple more years before Scamp and I started to really click, but I was finally earning his trust, understanding him better, and learning what he had to teach me. Then, one day, the tables turned, and we were having more good days than bad, and by the end of his young life, it was very very rare to ever have a bad day with him. Scamp and I may have had a slow start, but what a whirlwind of a finish!!!

Scamp became the best team penning/sorting horse I have ever ridden. I would have put him up against ANY horse. When he got to where he really understood the game, and we got to be so connected it was as if we could read each other’s mindŠ add to that combo his power and speed, and I almost felt invincible. Scamp never did ANYTHING half-heartedly, and even though I knew we wouldn’t win everytime, I aways knew I was well mounted!

The gelding I really didn’t want, was now almost my “one-man horse.” My Scamp had come to the place where he really loved and trusted me. On the rare occasion that I would let someone else ride him, I would always catch him watching me. (Most people I wouldn’t dare put on Scamp.) When he was out in the pasture, and I would walk down the road beside it, Scamp was always the first to raise his head and watch me, and the last to go back to grazing.

He was the most sure-footed horse I have ever ridden. Beside steam sorting, I also ran him in poles, and taught him to bow. He became quite a ham after he learned his trick of bowing! Often times he would perform it without me even asking him to.

Scamp, and the filly I bought along with him, his 3/4-sister, Bell, were almost like Ying and Yang in my life. Bell became my cutting horse, and when I am in a sophisticated, precise, classy, very controlled, feminine mood, Bell is my girl!!! But when I was in a race the wind, rev your engine, flirt with danger, ride the rough country, get the job done kind of mood, Scamper was my boy!!

I lost Scamp when he was only 10 years old. What a ride you were, Scamper, what an unforgettable ride.

Jacki and her husband, Jim, run the J Bar D Ranch in Geneva, Neb.

Pony Express Then and Now

by Tim Gibbens, National Pony Express Association Secretary, Nebraska Division

Wanted ­ young, skinny, wiry fellows not over eighteen. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred, wages $50 per month.

How can something that lasted 18 months 150 years ago leave such a lasting impression on people today? I am talking about the Pony Express; you might have seen it on a page or two of your history book when you were in school, or maybe you caught a movie about it.

This is about the men and women that every year load up their horses and travel the same paths as their brothers of past did.

From Left: Leonard Hilton (former Neb. Pony Express state president), Dave Sanner (Kansas, former National Pony Express president), Scott Wolf (Neb. Pony Express vice president), Les Bennington (Wyoming, former National Pony Express president), Rich Armstead (Neb. member), Tim Gibbens (Neb. Pony Express secretary).

The original Pony Express ran from April 1860 to November 1861. The three men that defied all logic were visionaries of their time. William H.

Russell, Alexander Majors and William B. Waddell had hoped to win a mail contract by providing a faster and more reliable means of communication across the United States. Prior to the Pony Express, mail was carried by ship, stagecoaches and even mules across Panama.

Russell, Majors and Waddell decided to use light-weighted men and sturdy horses. They planned a route that would cover 1,966 miles and leave the Patee House in St. Joe, Missouri, and travel across Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and stopping at Sacramento, California, in 10 days. They had riders in the saddles 24 hours a day and traveling both directions. About 400 horses and 80 riders were used. Each rider covered 75 to 100 miles per trip, averaging 10 miles per hour and changing horses about every 10 miles.

When riders were hired, they were issued a revolver, a Bible and an oath. “I, (NAME,) do hereby swear, before the Great and Living God, that during my engagement, and while I am an employee of Russell, Majors and Waddell, I will, under no circumstances, use profane language, that I will drink no intoxicating liquors, that I will not quarrel or fight with any other employee of the firm, and that in every respect I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my acts as to win the confidence of my employers, so help me God.”

Former National President Les Bennington of Wyoming riding Gibbens' mustang.

Each animal was limited to carrying 165 pounds. The mochila, saddle and bridle together weighed 13 pounds. The original cost to mail a letter was $5 per 1/2 ounce (approximately $110 today). The telegrams and letters transported by the Pony Express were carried in a mochila. The word “mochila” came from the Spanish word for knapsack. It had four pockets and was thrown over the saddle to prevent it from slipping off the horse.

They were told that it could never be done, especially in 10 days. Skeptics claimed that they would never get across the mountains in the winter and the riders couldn¹t make it across the desert. People thought that Russell, Majors and Waddell were foolish to waste their money, but those three men were determined to make it happen, and they did.

Time and modern technology was against them. No sooner did they get the pony rider off from St. Joe on April 3, 1860, than plans were in the work for extending the telegraph lines, then the railroad across the vast west. The telegraph wires were completed in the fall of 1861.

Gibbens and his daughter, Blaire.

The winter of 1860 and 1861 did slow them down, along with a few Indian uprisings that wiped out a couple of Pony Express stations, but overall the Pony Express was a success. Not financially. The mail contract was never awarded. Russell, Majors, and Waddell went bankrupt trying to connect the west with the east. It was more of a moral victory for the country; the cries for California to secede from the union were squelched, and it was proven that communication across the “Great American Desert” was not only capable but real.

Blaire carrying the mail when they were short-handed.

Jumping to the modern age, the telegraph wires were replaced with the telephone, and cars replaced the trains. What could be the reason to resurrect the Pony Express, a group of riders and a company that only lasted 18 months? The great migration west and the great cattle drives lasted for years and the civil war lasted for 4 years, so what is it about the Pony Express that catches the attention of Americans every year?

See the rest of the story in the June 2011 issue of Saddle Up Nebraska. Only $15/annually! To subscribe click the following link: http://goo.gl/IKdWa

Nebraska 4-H Profile

By Noel Ochoa, Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

Twelve years can bring about a lot of change, growth, and experience for a 4-H member in the horse industry. For Katelyn Sughroue of Bartley, Neb., it has brought her a very long way from showing horses to her Rodeo Queen title in Furnas County.

Katelyn Sughroue / Photo by Peter Hammer

Sughroue is currently a senior at Southwest Public High School. There at Southwest, she participates in speech, track, golf, cross country, and FFA. Her plans include attending college at Colby, Kans., or Curtis, Neb., majoring in Agribusiness. She is also interested in becoming an Animal Geneticist. In the distant future, she plans on returning to the general Bartley area and having a farm, where she’d like to raise cattle and a few horses. Another goal and dream of hers is to ride in the NFR in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Katelyn Sughroue / Photo by Peter Hammer

Sughroue participates in 4-H Barrel Racing, Poles, Trail, Western Pleasure, Halter, and Showmanship. She owns three of her own horses: Bunny, who is a Quarter Horse/Persian; Fancy who is a Quarter Horse; and Coon, who is a Quarter Horse/Morgan. She has never had a trainer ride her horses, but she is very grateful for the help she has had while training her horses from many people, including Jeanie Mueller, Joe Teter, and Darla Ruppert.

Most of the shows Sughroue attends are about 45 minutes away in McCook, Neb. She has been quite successful in her work with horses, earning her quite a few wins. In 2009 she placed 2nd at the NBHA Nebraska State Youth 4D and qualified for the World Championships in Georgia. The next year, she was the NBHA Nebraska State Youth 4D Champion, qualified for World Championships, won Youth 2D District 06 NBHA, and won Open 4D district 06 NBHA. She has also been nominated for 2010 4-H’er of the year and has been treasurer of Rocketeers 4-H club for the past 4 years.

Katelyn Sughroue / Photo by Peter Hammer

Sughroue loves the fact that while teaching horses you can also learn from them. “The way that they know so much and can truly sense your feelings, really amazes me,” she said. “I also love how they have as many different personalities as people do.” When she first started asking her parents to allow her to have a horse, they replied, “We’ve got a four wheeler, ain’t that enough fun for you?”

It all started the summer of her eighth grade year, when she and a friend, Skyler McConville, went out for a ride. It was her first time horse riding. They took a six mile ride that day which was “a lot for a first timer.” Her hard work and dedication have brought her a long way. With the horses at her side, and the friends and family that support her, many more great wins and fun times are yet to come.

Riding English?

C. Reid McLellan, Executive Director, The Groom Elite Program

There is tea and then there is English tea; there are English people (called Brits) and then there are people who speak English. And there is riding, and then there is English and Western riding, the two main styles of riding. Like languages and people, there are various activities and different kinds of riding: trail riding, bareback riding, rough stock riding and trick riding to name a few. In horseback riding’s “big picture” do you ride English or do you ride Western?

The distinction between these two basic riding styles was apparent when I was growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. Those who rode Western wore cowboy hats and disdained the “sissy” helmets worn by their English riding counterparts. Western saddles were (and are) big, bulky saddles with substantial “fenders” that hold leather-wrapped, 3-inch wide stirrups.

English saddles, in contrast, weigh a third as much and their “stirrups,” called irons, are affixed to the saddle by “stirrup leathers” that are generally an inch wide. English saddles do not have the pommel and horn of a western saddle. They require English riders to be better balanced ­ or at least that is an English argument that counters the “sissy” helmet barbs.

English riders wore “sissy clothes,” tight pants, lacy shirts, suit coats and sometimes a BOW TIE for goodness sakes! Western riders wore cowboy boots, jeans, snap front western shirts, a cowboy hat and a “manly” neck kerchief (that could be pulled up over your nose to keep dust out ­ or rob a bank for those on that side of the law). And then there was the “coup-de-gras”: English riders rode with BOTH hands on the reins.

For the most part in the 1950s and 1960s, horses that were ridden English were “gaited” horses with fancy braids in their manes. Some even had their tails “broken” and wore tail wigs. There was a division of the riding styles. Most English broken horses were only ridden English style, and Western horses were only ridden in Western equine events. There were also prejudices within the disciplines. A Western horse that had any kind of “single-foot” gait was considered a “sissy horse,” even if it was under a western saddle and his rider wore a cowboy hat. I know this first-hand, because I owned one.

Dodger's Big Ace in 1971 as a 10-year-old.

Dodger’s Big Ace was an American Quarter Horse colt. My Dad had traded two other animals in order to give to me a horse for my sixteenth birthday. Early one Saturday morning we loaded up a registered Hereford cow and her calf to deliver to a local farmer about four miles from our farm. We backed the stock trailer into the farmer’s field and unloaded the cow and calf. Even though this cow was in the top 3 or 4 of our herd, I was glad to see her leave. She was a nervous type that created problems when we moved cows from pasture to pasture or brought the herd up for worming and shots.

Reid McLellan giving 20-month-old daughter Noelle a ride on 9-year-old Ace.

After we unloaded the cow and her calf, my Dad and the farmer began to talk about a 15-month-old colt the farmer had in his barn. Dad asked me if I wanted to go up to the little horse barn and look at the colt, knowing that I wouldn’t refuse to look at a horse. The farmer led out a lively deep liver colt with a narrow blaze that widened to cover most of his upper lip and a flaxen mane and tail. I looked the colt over, noticed he was a bit crooked behind, and immediately loved the expression on his face. The farmer commented that he was a “handful” and “full of himself.” Dad asked me what I thought and I told him I liked him, that he was a good looker. I figured it was time for us to leave, then suddenly Dad said, “Well, do you want him or not?” I said something like, “Huh? What do you mean?” I was thinking, “Sure. I’d love to have a horse like this one day.” Then I heard words I was not expecting to hear that day, “He’s yours if you want him!”

Read the rest of the story in the April issue of Saddle Up Nebraska. Subscribe for only $15 for 12 monthly issues! Click the following link to order a subscription: http://goo.gl/FlbLD

Helping with horses

Just as other professions use accreditation and licensing systems to improve the well-being of their industries, professionals in the field of equine assisted activities have a distinction of their own through NARHA Instructor Certifications and the Premier Accredited Center program.

This voluntary process recognizes NARHA instructors and centers that have met established industry standards. NARHA was formed in 1969 as the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association to promote equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) for individuals with special needs (www.narha.org). NARHA programs across the United States offer a variety of programming including ground work, therapeutic driving, interactive vaulting, equine-facilitated learning and mental health.

If your barn or center would like to be considered for a NARHA Premier Accredited Center there are a few steps to completing the process. The first is to contact NARHA and register to complete a Center Accreditation Training Course. The process requires your center to have organized your standards manual and schedule a site visit by NARHA staff who will review your center’s administration policies and procedures, program management, facility operation and any specialized programs, such as Hippotherapy, Driving or Vaulting.

HETRA Instructor and 2007 NARHA Region 7 Instructor of the Year, Edye Godden. Edye is also HETRA's Executive Director and an Occupational Therapist. This photo demonstrates how Hippotherapy sessions use different positioning during a session. / Photo by Sam Bliss Photography

“By becoming a NARHA Premier Accredited Center, centers demonstrate a commitment to the highest standards when introducing individuals with special needs to a variety of equestrian activities,” said past NARHA Executive Director, Sheila Kemper Dietrich. “NARHA Accreditation is a respected benchmark within the therapeutic riding industry. It demonstrates a commitment to safety and the highest professional standards.”

The Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA) is a Premier Accredited Center serving the community since 1989, with locations in Omaha and Valley, Nebraska. Over 90 participants per week ranging in age from two to adult, representing numerous ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, leave behind wheelchairs, crutches and walking canes to mount a horse and take strides they would otherwise not be able to take on their own. As a Premier Accredited Center, HETRA was evaluated by NARHA on standards covering equine management, facility operation, safety equipment, quality of instruction, knowledge of disabilities, volunteer management and administrative practices.

HETRA / Photo by Sam Bliss Photography

HETRA serves participants with various disabilities, including Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis, brain tumors, head or spinal cord injuries, Autism, strokes, Down Syndrome, or visual and hearing impairments. Students participating in equine assisted activities make significant improvement in the areas of improved speech, gait/ambulation, sitting balance and posture, head control, range of motion and strength. Recently a HETRA student achieved independent walking within four months of starting the program. His parents attribute his time in the program and on the horse as the main factor in achieving this goal, as no other new therapies or activities had been added during this time. UNMC medical students interning with HETRA documented his progress and a YouTube video is accessible for viewing by searching the keyword “HETRA” or directly at the link:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnhuwL-W-ws.

At HETRA, each student rides up to 30 minutes one time per week; most students are assisted by a leader and two sidewalkers throughout their session. When students start in the HETRA program, they are evaluated by an Occupational Therapist who assess student abilities and sets goals which will lead to overall improvement in their quality of life. With the help of the HETRA horses, instructors work with each student towards these goals. In accordance with NARHA standards, HETRA tracks each horse’s work load and student’s progress throughout participation in the program. HETRA instructors have seen students benefit from therapeutic riding in a variety of ways. The rhythmic motion of the horse at the walk helps to relax tight spastic muscles along with a vast set of motor and sensory experiences. Sitting on the horse encourages students to hold themselves upright in a sitting position which strengthens neck and trunk muscles. Riding also stretches hip and thigh muscles, and improves balance. Interaction with the instructor helps students follow directions, extend their attention span and work on concepts such as right and left. Interaction with the horse allows students to develop a bond with the animal that improves self-esteem and builds confidence.

HETRA staff attend ongoing trainings at the local, regional and national level in order to continually advance their knowledge and skills in various areas of equine-assisted activities and specifically for programming offered at HETRA. HETRA sessions run year round and are conducted by NARHA certified instructors who are CPR/First Aid certified, have passed their own riding competency test, have demonstrated their teaching ability and complete continuing education hours to maintain their NARHA certification.

The first step to becoming a NARHA instructor is to obtain experience working or volunteering with individuals with disabilities at a NARHA Center. Becoming involved with a NARHA Center is a great way to learn about equine assisted activities and whether or not to pursue various NARHA certifications. Riding instructors can be certified at the Registered level in two ways. The first option is to complete an on-site NARHA Approved Training course. The second is a multi-step process that includes two online courses and exams, a horsemanship skills checklist, 25 hours teaching group lessons under a NARHA Certified Instructor and attendance at an on-site workshop and certification. During the certification process, instructors in training learn how to develop creative lesson plans, progress student skills and choose appropriate activities for various populations, including the coordination of tack, equipment and horse movement. In addition to certification of riding instructors, NARHA offers instructor certification in the specialty disciplines of driving and interactive vaulting.

NARHA offers a wide variety of educational resources, including national, regional and state annual conferences. Conferences are a great networking and educational opportunity for everyone, including instructors in training, staff at centers and board members. NARHA conferences are also a time to recognize outstanding individuals and equines in the field of equine assisted activities. With 16 horses and 12 instructors on staff, HETRA is proud to have two NARHA Region 7 Instructors of the Year and a NARHA Region Horse of the Year, a Quarter Horse named Tuff at our center. HETRA is honored to have on staff the only NARHA certified driving instructor in the state of Nebraska. In addition to his driving certification, Tom Cramer was awarded the national Sis Gould Driving Award for his dedication to the driving industry.

Occupational Therapists at HETRA are also members of the American Hippotherapy Association, Inc. (AHA, Inc, www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org). AHA, Inc. consists of medical professionals and others who are interested in the use of equine movement as a treatment strategy. Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational, or speech-language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement as part of an integrated intervention program to achieve functional outcomes. With the support of these therapists and a Mental Health therapist on staff, HETRA also offers a Horses for Heroes program. This program assists wounded Veterans and/or returning service men and woman in improving their quality of life, both physically and emotionally through equine assisted activities.

A large component of many NARHA programs is the numerous volunteers who help with each student session. Thanks to the HETRA volunteers who donated over 12,500 hours in 2010, HETRA completed 2,932 individual student sessions.  HETRA is always looking for dedicated and motivated individuals to become part of the HETRA team as volunteers and sponsors. All new volunteers attend the volunteer training session and can gain valuable experience in an equine assisted activity program.

Most NARHA programs depend on the community for student referrals, volunteers, horses and donations in order to keep their programs up and running. If you are interested in any of these areas please contact your local NARHA program which can be found on the NARHA Web site at www.narha.org. In addition, the NARHA Nebraska Yahoo group is open to all individuals and programs in the state that are interested in or are offering equine assisted activities and would like to share information or ask questions. Details about the 2011 NARHA Nebraska State meeting to be held during the Nebraska Horse Expo in March will be revealed in the Yahoo group.

HETRA is currently in the planning stage for its 11th annual “Blue Jeans and Dreams” event which is scheduled for April 2, 2011, at Five Star Stables in Bennington, Nebraska. This event will feature a barbecue dinner, dance, live and silent auction and a demonstration by HETRA horses and students.

Nebraska 4-H Profile: Courtney Kral

By Noel Ochoa, Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

Courtney Kral excels in speed events. Photos by Jeannie Kral

Horses come into peoples’ lives through many ways and for a variety of reasons. For Courtney Kral of Roseland, Neb., this passion was introduced by her Aunt Joni. Her passion for horses all started when Aunt Joni bought Kral her first pony.

Kral has been a 4-H member since she was in third grade and 8 years old. She graduated from Silver Lake High School in 2009 and is currently a second year Vet Tech student at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, Nebraska. In high school, she played basketball her freshman year and also did High School Rodeo (HSR) from her sophomore through senior year. During her junior and senior year, she went to state for HSR.

In 4-H, Kral competes in all events available, ranging from halter her junior and senior high school years to speed events  this very day. She has four of sixteen horses owned by her family, all Quarter horses, except for one Paint. Most of her horses had riding experience before she bought them. After she buys them, she furthers their training and practice in the area in which they are confident and naturally suited. Kral doesn’t usually do too much traveling for horse shows but in the past has traveled every weekend in the fall and spring to rodeos for HSR.

Kral has competed in a few open shows but other than the Webster County 4-H show, she only does speed events. At the Webster County 4-H show, she won Performance All Around and Reserve Champion Speed her junior year and got to compete in the Round Robin Competition her sophomore and junior years of high school.

When asked what is her favorite thing about working with horses, Kral stated: “When your hard work pays off and you win.” She plans to finish her Vet Tech degree at NCTA and work at a mixed animal practice. Most importantly, she plans to continue riding and rodeoing as long as she possibly can.

Courtney is correct when she says working with horses is hard work. It takes a lot of time, patience, money and dedication. With this passion having been instilled in her so young, Kral has grown up loving horses and developing
the qualities a good 4-H member, horse rider and show person must possess in order to succeed.

Riding off into the sunset . . .(or it’s not as easy as it looks!)

Terri Bergen-Smith working with a rain slick and mattress to prepare a client's horse for the ride.

By Terri Bergen-Smith

Sweet warm sunshine beams down upon your bare but sun-screened shoulders. The occasional bird chirps, and other than the quiet footfalls of your horse and the softly creaking leather of your saddle, a peaceful silence and the scent of blooming wildflowers fill the air as you scan the breathtaking vistas accorded to you by your view up on top of the best horse anybody ever threw a leg over.

But WAIT . . . ERRRK!!! (screeching halt); this is not really your reality, is it?

Last time, you joined up with your friends after a frustrating half hour or more of trying to get the beast on the trailer in the first place. Arriving a smidge late, you hurriedly tacked up, watching your pals circle restlessly about. Some even left without you, and your horse, whinnying loudly, emphasized his unhappiness by swinging his body from side to side, making it darned hard to place your brand-new saddle on that moving target. Somehow, you managed to get a foot in the stirrup, and you didn’t fall off the side while your horse anxiously trotted off to catch up with the group. Once there, he jigged and pranced, not happy to follow, but was spooky and unpredictable when you tried to put him in the lead spot. He pinned his ears at your friends’ horses when they rode up to give you some advice, which you could not hear over the dancing hooves and the creaking brand-new saddle. Where, oh where, did your guaranteed-to-please good trail horse go? If this is fun, maybe you can live without it!

Not all these scenarios might fit the circumstances you find yourself in, but many new and sometimes not-so-new horse owners run into quite a few of them. We’ll start with the horse you bought. Knowing for a fact a horse is appropriate for the job is a different thing than buying something pretty and taking for granted what you have been told is the actual truth of a matter.

Let’s say the horse you purchased is the genuine McCoy. You’ve seen him ride or saw photos of him in several situations requiring calm obedience amongst chaos, commotion and traversing obstacles. So, what’s happened? Why are things changing now that he’s yours?

Behavior problems that did not come with the horse can sometimes be attributed to ill fitting or improper tack, different bits than the horse is trained to understand and inappropriate changes in diet. Being sure the new saddle fits your horse as well as your tush is a very high priority. Bits are constructed for specific purpose and a horse trained to understand the language of one style may be confused, overwhelmed or frightened of the feel of a different type. Feed can be a major culprit if the horse is consuming more calories than they are using – all that energy has to go somewhere! Feeds high in sugar can be compared to feeding your horse soda pop and cupcakes. Read the ingredient tag on the bag or talk to reputable and knowledgeable persons as to what might be most effective for your horse, keeping in mind his condition and level of activity.

Once we have settled the respect, relationship, tack fit, feed intake and appropriateness of horse for job questions, then there are some trail etiquette and safety topics to address. Your horse needs to be able to count on you to handle the decision making. Horses that rudely dive their heads into the grass, no matter how lush and inviting it is, tell you very clearly who is in charge of the situation. This horse is going to get along until it doesn’t want to anymore, and then you will proceed or not, depending on what the horse decides. A dominant, pushy horse might get barn or trailer sour, and tell you the ride is over when you think it’s just beginning. This horse might start warning off other horses when they get too close, as he has no thought that the rider is going to protect him from flying hooves or teeth, and he has to handle that problem himself.

A timid horse, not finding leadership, might not be comfortable behind the group; that’s where the wolves come from, picking off the stragglers. Out in front isn’t good either – never know what might spring out from the dangerous bushes and shadows on either side. Middle of the pack is bad, too – horses on all sides that could do just anything at any time; we better go back where we came from! It’s much better at home!

Since you are tired of jigging, spooky, balking and ear pinning with even a threatening kick aimed at your best friend’s horse, you agree it’s better at home and off you go, thinking this whole ride off into the sunset thing is highly overrated!

Maybe you have even come off your horse at one of these adventures or come close enough that the very idea of riding out has your heart pounding in your throat. It’s a natural instinct for a person to then tighten their legs to try to hold on. This is a “go” cue for most horses. Your horse gets strong, and you tighten the reins, wanting him to slow back down. Caught between leg pressure and restraining reins, he has only a few options. Can’t go forward or backwards, that leaves laterally, up or down. All undesirable in your mind, his as well, and the unhappy sideways jigging and head tossing down the trail is speaking as clearly as he possibly can.

Another situation takes place with a horse that starts out moving in a nice swinging walk, but the rider wants a slower one, so she checks her horse with the bit, and soon the horse gets confused and doesn’t want to walk out at all. We call that “losing forward motion” and it can get a horse to develop “sticky feet” and can result in bucking, crowhopping or rearing when the horse tires of the “go forward, no, not really” miscommunication coming from the rider.

Trail safety and fun begin at home, just like any other discipline or horse adventure. Establishing a relationship of respect and response with your horse before you leave your yard should be a high priority. Any concerns you have at home will probably be amplified under the stress of new surroundings. If you have no idea how to go about doing this, get help. This is square one on your journey.

Having a game plan in place before you ride can ease your mind and make you a more emotionally fit leader for your horse. If you are counting on him to take care of you, the relationship is backwards and may not turn out as well as you would like it to. Know what you will do if he spooks. If you don’t know how, or if your horse does not respond well to basic cues, education might be in order prior to just throwing the saddle on and getting out there, come what may.

Arena games help build confidence on the trail.

There are exercises you can employ to gain control of your horse when things start to go south. It’s better to catch the small things sooner, rather than wait for the big things later. Learn how to read your horse so you know what is going to happen before it happens, putting you in control of the outcome. Practice at home so you have them in your muscle memory, and then you can use them on the trail, too. Moving the horse’s hip over, one stride or two, with your indirect rein against his neck disengages the hip and slows his forward motion. Bring the shoulder back over with a leading (direct) rein contact to straighten; or if the horse is jigging, lead him all the way around in a small circle, releasing when the feet slow to a walk. Trying to bring a horse to a complete stop when it is already upset about not being able to move ahead will more than likely build the frustration and get you into a fight. Keep the feet going where you want them to go, and you will have the mind with you as well.

Then there is the matter of riding with groups. Different groups may have different types of rules or none at all, some might be unspoken; it’s always best to check before you ride out. Do they assign a trail boss, and is it a huge faux pas to pass that guy, or do people tend to amble along at their own pace? Most groups suggest not changing pace without everyone notified and on board. Horrific accidents have occurred when members of a group galloped off before others were ready for the change. Herd instinct is very strong, and when horses feel they are being left behind, you want some tools in place or you are going to find yourself in a heap of trouble!

Another big no no is tucking the nose of your horse into the derriere of the one in front of you. Yours might be going too fast, but don’t attempt to calm your fears by using the horse in front as a parking brake! You can cause that other horse a lot of irritation or injury from clipped heels; you might get that rider bucked off, or get you or your horse kicked as a result of this unsafe and ill-mannered behavior. The exception to the rule, of course, is if the rider ahead says okay, but it’s still very far from the best way to gain control of your own mount.

A good idea before taking on the organized two-day camp-out trail ride that may garner hundreds of people in attendance and maybe not provide a lot of margin for error for you is get some experienced friends together and ask them to help you practice. Smaller groups are generally less intimidating to horses, and when everyone is on the same page, then you can take your time and address the issues you are running across in a safe, controlled environment surrounded by the support of people who can help you get that game plan from theory to reality.

Once you have identified the problems that are keeping you from that lovely Roy Rogers/Dale Evans dream of riding off into the sunset on the best horse ever and have put some good fixes in place, it’s time to saddle up and head out! Nebraska and Iowa offer some wonderful locations for camping and trail riding. Exciting new adventures lie ahead; get out there and make some memories!

As always, use caution when trying new things on your horse. Do not be reluctant to admit you are in over your head and to seek help from a qualified professional. That’s what we are here for!

Happy Trails, All!

Terri Bergen-Smith has 35 years experience starting colts and helping people and horses solve their problems together. She is located at the Log Barn Stables, Plattsmouth, Neb.