Clare Tone

Horse Vision and Its Effects on Horsemanship

A friend if mine sent this article to me and I thought you might find it interesting. I hope you see something new from your horse’s perspective. Linda P Article by: Troy Griffith in Horse Health + Care Our horses see the world very differently from us in many ways. These differences in vision, due to the structure and placement of their eyes, have a profound influence on how they react to visual stimuli and should be thoughtfully considered in all aspects of horsemanship. The differences include: field of view, color perception, light adjustment, motion detection, acuity and much more. In this article I hope to detail some of the nuances of horse vision and how they relate to training, riding and caring for our equine partners. Field of view Most zoologists will tell you that the horse’s eye is the largest of all land mammals. Because of their size and how the eyes are set, the animal has nearly a 360° field of view. The horse cannot see directly in front for a short distance, nor directly behind, unless they move their head. This is why we are all taught never to approach a new horse from either of these directions and to always make them aware of our location as we pass behind them. It is important to note that even though the horse can see in nearly a complete circle, only about 20% of that vision is binocular and the remaining 80% is monocular vision. This means that most of the field of […]

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Opening Day at the Highway 93 Tunnel

It has been a long time in coming, but it is finally open! The tunnel at Marshall Mesa that allow user groups to safely cross under Highway 93 from east to west. My friend Samantha and I were hoping the winds would die down last Friday so we could attend the ribbon cutting ceremony and they finally did. We arrived around 2:00 PM, tacked up and did a wonderful loop heading east then circling back west to the new tunnel. We met up with two other riders, Jill and Allen, and also greeted Suzann with her stick horse. The tunnel ceremony welcomed horse riders, bike riders, hikers and a couple of canine friends for the ribbon cutting event. Steve Mertz, with the City of Boulder Open Space, hosted the event along with City officials. Steve you looked great in your white top hat and tails. Thanks for making it a welcoming and fun event. As you descend down the trail approaching the tunnel you are rewarded with a stunning view of Eldorado Canyon, it is sure to become a great spot for photo taking. Get out and enjoy this now safely connected trail system in South Boulder, and thanks to all who got it built! Linda P  

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Boulder to unveil $1.1M Community Ditch Trail Underpass on Friday

I was sad to see that there was no mention of horse riders in this invitation. I plan on attending with by horse, hope to see you come out and riding in support of horses on trails in Boulder County! Boulder to unveil $1.1M Community Ditch Trail Underpass on Friday By Joe Rubino, Camera Staff Writer Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks is inviting members of the public to celebrate the grand opening Friday of the city’s new Community Ditch Trail Underpass, where the trail passes beneath Colo. 93, south of town. A ribbon cutting for the long awaited underpass will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday, according to a city news release. The $1.1 million underpass travels beneath Colo. 93 about half a mile south of where the highway intersects with Eldorado Springs Drive, according to the city. Its completion allows Community Ditch Trail users to safely cross the highway to connect with trails to the east like the Marshall Mesa Trail. Those planning to attend Friday’s event are advised to park at the Marshall Mesa Trailhead and either hike or bike south on the Coal Seam Trail the half mile to the underpass. For more information, visit osmp.org or call 303-441-3440.   Linda P

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Brand Paperwork and Hauling in Colorado

Thought you all would find this of interest… An important reminder to carry your brand papers with you whenever you haul your horse(s), or have the papers with you in a friends trailer. Just last week I was stopped on the Red Feather Lakes Road by a brand inspector. I was just a half mile from my house. His name was Lyle Horn and very nice and informative. I had the permanent brand paper for my horse, but my neighbor who had just finished a ride with me and whose horse was in my trailer,  did not have them with her—her brand papers were at her house in a file. Lyle said he is flexible and followed us to her house so she could produce her papers. I asked questions about consequences: So if you do not have the papers, you get a ticket which means a mandatory court appearance, plus a fine between $200 and $1,000. I asked who decides the amount of the fine, he said the judge, and if a person brings the correct papers to court the judge will probably just charge you the court costs plus $130. Yikes. He said the regular brand costs $18 and is good for hauling 75 miles from your horse’s home. A permanent brand costs $39 and is good anywhere in Colorado. Lyle said the costs are going up in January— probably doubling. So if you are considering getting a permanent brand—do it before then. He also said they are going to be more active in

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So how many calories can us horse lover’s burn?

I found this information published by Horse & Rider interesting, I hope you do too! Keep in mind that the more vigorously you perform these exercises, the more you’ll maximize the calorie burning* benefits. Vigorously curry your horse, using a circular arm motion Time spent: 10 minutes Calories burned: 68 Vigorously brush your horse (Tip: alternate arms) Time spent: 10 minutes Calories burned:46 Walk a 10-foot circle, as you lunge your horse Time spent: 20 minutes Calories burned:79 Briskly hand-walk your horse (Tip: add wrist or ankle weights for increased calorie-burning and aerobic benefits) Time spent: 20 minutes Calories burned:91 Muck/rebed stall Time spent: 20 minutes Calories burned: 159 Push 50-pound load in wheelbarrow Time spent: 10 minutes Calories burned: 63 Ride at the walk Time spent: 20 minutes Calories burned: 57 Ride at the trot (Tip: Posting at a medium trot will burn more calories than sitting at a jog) Time spent: 10 minutes Calories burned: 74 Ride at the lope Time spent: 10 minutes Calories burned: 93 Sweep/rake (Tip: For a great waist trimmer, twist your upper body with each stroke, rather than using only your arms. When sweeping with a push broom, slightly bend your knees, to push off with your legs into each stroke.) Time spent: 20 minutes Calories burned: 91 Unload/stack 100-pound hay bales (Tip: Protect your back by bending at the knees, and using your legs to lift the load. Consider a back support brace when lifting heavy loads) Time spent: 20 minutes Calories burned: 249 Unload/stack 50-pound straw bales

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Chatfield stables closed as horses checked for vesicular stomatitis

LOCAL NEWS By Kieran Nicholson The Denver Post The horse stables at Chatfield State Park have been shut down as a precautionary measure relating to a possible outbreak of a viral disease. The stables are closed until laboratory samples, taken from symptomatic horses, are analyzed by a USDA veterinarian. Officials are checking for the possible presence of vesicular stomatitis (VS), a viral infection that primarily affects horses and cattle, and occasionally swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and alpacas. “Customers with horses boarded at the stable may continue to enter the facility to provide care, but the horses will not be permitted to leave the facility,” according to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife media release. “The closure will remain in effect pending the results of the tests.” Test results could take between three and seven days. The virus was first reported in Boulder County in July, since then 184 locations where the infection has been confirmed have been placed under Colorado Department of Agriculture quarantine. Most of the properties are in Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties. Chatfield State Park straddles the Jefferson and Douglas county line. As of Wednesday, 201 horses and three cows statewide have tested positive for the disease, which causes painful oral blisters and sores that make it difficult for the animals to eat and drink.

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Vesicular Stomatitis Confirmed in Boulder CO

Edited press release published on Horse.com A Boulder County premises is under quarantine after equine Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) was confirmed there, and a number of other premises in the surrounding area are being investigated. Last week, four horses on two Weld County premises were placed under quarantine after testing positive for VS. Colorado is the second state in the country to have VS; previous positive cases in 2014 have been diagnosed in Texas. “Strict fly control is an important factor to inhibit the transmission of VS,” said Colorado State Veterinarian Keith Roehr, DVM. “One of the most important disease prevention practices … is insect control for both the premises and the individual animals.” Equids, mules, cattle, bison, sheep, goats, pigs, and camelids are all susceptible to VS. The clinical signs of the disease include vesicles, erosions, and sloughing of the skin on the muzzle, tongue, teats, and above the hooves of affected livestock. Vesicles are usually only seen early in the course of the disease. The transmission of VS is not completely understood but components include insect vectors, mechanical transmission, and livestock movement. While rare, human cases of VS can occur, usually among those who handle infected animals. In humans the disease can cause flu-like symptoms and only rarely includes lesions or blisters. Veterinarians and livestock owners who suspect an animal could have VS or any other vesicular disease should immediately contact state or federal animal health authorities. Livestock with clinical signs of VS are isolated until they are healed and determined to be of no

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Staunton State Park: a Jefferson County Gem

In 2013, Jefferson County opened Staunton State Park in Pine Colorado. The park ranges in elevation from 8,100 to soaring granite cliffs at 10,000 feet.  I finally got the opportunity to ride there this past Sunday. Wow what a gem! I have to say Boulder City and County Parks and Open Space should be a bit embarrassed for the way they are managing their parks and open spaces for horse riders compared to Jefferson County. There was plenty of staff at hand, great park facilities, along with a wonderful welcome to horse riders and trailers. The temperatures were in the high 90s in Boulder and my friend Mary and I wanted to get to higher ground to beat the heat and  flies in Boulder. We headed out early and arrived at Staunton around 9:30 AM (it is about 1 1/2 hours from Boulder), where we met another friend, Sharon from Fairplay (a great midpoint meeting for both of us). We rode to the Old Mill Site via the Mason Creek Trail (MG). The site has an old mine, structure, and a towering granite peak above it. Trails merge here the Old Mill trail (OM, pedestrian only) and the Border Line trail (BL). To loop horse riders and bikers would continue on the BL trail to the Scout Line (SL) trail to return to the trailer parking area. For the most part a wonderful stream flows along the trail so there are plenty of opportunities to hydrate your horse. The climb was gentle, but still a climb

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Tuesday, July 22: Rafeal de Grenade reads from her new book Stilwater: Finding Mercy in the Outback at Boulder Bookstore

Stop in the Boulder Bookstore on Pearl Street, Tuesday, July 22nd at 7:30 pm to visit with Rafeal de Grenade as she reads from her new book Stilwater: Finding Mercy in the Outback.  Stilwater details the adventures of a 23 year-old woman working on horseback on a thousand-square-mile cattle station in the middle of the Australian outback. It’s a moving, on-the-ground depiction of the beauty and brutality of such an overwhelming operation, and it’s a unique meditation on the blurred lines between domesticated and wild. More striking than anything, though is the power of Rafael’s prose. “Rafael de Grenade’s insights into rural life are as rich as her insights into the land itself. There is simply no book like this.” – Gary Paul Nabhan, author of Coming Home to Eat “This monumental adventure on a cattle station in the remotest part of the Australian Outback is told forthrightly and without sentiment. Stilwater Station was no theme park. It was ringers, bulldust, blood, grime, being on horseback under a helicopter in the maelstrom of a muster, solitude, introspection, growth.” – Jay Dusard, author of The North American Cowboy “An extraordinary setting for an absorbing and finely tuned memoir. Crocs, swamps, drought, wild horses, and cattle—this portrait of a young woman’s life on a seemingly endless cattle station in northern Australia is simply too good to put down.” – Gretel Ehrlich, author of The Solace of Open Spaces For more on Stilwater please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA9Q1pi346c Additionally Rafael de Grenade will  be reading on Wednesday, July 23 at 7:00

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