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.

“World Famous” Lipizzaner Stallions dance into the hearts of Nebraskans

By Tiffany Taylor,Veterinary Technology Student, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

For forty-one years the “World Famous” Lipizzaner Stallions have toured the world, dancing to classical music in locations ranging from Australia to Europe to the Americas. The show returned to Nebraska in February, treating spectators to performances in Omaha, Lincoln, Columbus, and Grand Island.
These beautiful horses showcase the style of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Although not affiliated with the Spanish Riding School itself, all of the stallions come from the Piber Stud Farm in Austria, the same farm where the Vienna school gets their horses.
Thirteen stallions travel on the road with a staff of twenty members, which includes riders, groomers, barn manager and tour manager.
This year’s show begins with an introduction of the Lipizzaner Stallions moving to the Pas de Deux, a demonstration of two stallions moving in precise mirror images that represent the horse’s natural movements.
Next, the basic movements of dressage are showcased. The presentation lets viewers understand and recognize the movements being performed. Following the dressage showcase is the demonstration of the Pas de Trois, an exercise involving three horses and riders moving around the arena with grace and beauty.
The most exciting part of the evening is perhaps the Airs Above Ground, a demonstration of the famous maneuvers that include the Levade, Courbette, Mezair and Capriole.
The Airs are tactics that used to be used in battle in order to protect the rider and horse. They show off the stallions’ power and elegance. The most exciting Airs is the Capriole: the horse jumps into the air and kicks its hind legs out before landing back on the ground. Another fascinating example of the Airs is the Courbette: the horse stands on its hind legs while jumping and keeping the hind legs together.
This year’s performance also includes The Pas de Quatre, with four horses and riders performing movements of precision while moving in harmony with one another, and the presentation of the Andalusian Stallion.
The finale is The Grande Quadrille, which consists of six horses performing to classical music while perfecting every movement which looks like dancing.
All of the riding looks flawless and done with such ease but it takes six to ten years of training for the stallions to get to this point.
Watching these horses do these maneuvers is beautiful and a thrill to see.
Sometimes the horses do not accomplish their maneuvers on their first try, but the rider always gives them another go at it, and without fail, the audience always cheers in amazement. It is not easy for horses to perform these maneuvers, and only the most fit and powerful stallions can do them.
To see these stallions and riders perform with grace as rider and horse become one is to see a presentation of the true art of riding.

If Horses Could Speak: How Incorrect “Modern” Riding Negatively Affects Horses’ Health.
Dr. Gerd Heuschmann. Trafalgar Square Books. DVD. Run time: 75 minutes. ISBN 978-1-57076-443-1. $59.95
By Judy Bowmaster, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

The premise of Dr. Heuschmann’s video is that “the horses need a voice,” an individual, a gathering,
or a group to represent them as they are raised, trained, and shown to the highest levels of competition.

Dr. Heuschmann practices equine veterinary medicine in Germany. He has, by study and experience, been part of the classical world of dressage throughout his life. What he has observed and
done in his profession within the equestrian realm has helped him reach a new level of understanding and compassion for the horse. His current work focuses on his belief that incorrect “modern” riding
and training has negatively affected the horses’ health. He relates training and riding methods to
the horse’s own riding experience. With live and computerized visuals, Dr. Heuschmann shows the viewers how the horse’s limbs, muscles and ligaments interact at various gaits, and how human influence contributes to the physical, mental and over-all well being of the mount.

He boldly exposes the darker side of competitive horse sports. He confesses his ideal of challenging the equestrian world to change attitudes within the profession. The goal is to create a movement towards the thoughtful development of a more content animal that can be presented in a “free presentation” vs. a “forced performance.” The story becomes quite technical at times, and some viewers might ask what a classical dressage trainer can contribute to the western horseman, but the horse’s anatomy remains the same from sport to sport, and the rider’s ability contributes no matter what the discipline. A dedicated student of the horse will find this video very interesting and enlightening.

I give it 4 horseshoes, UUUU out of 5 possible