Hello Everyone,
This is Martha Josey, I am very excited about getting to speak with everyone. I would like to thank Circle Y for giving me this opportunity to visit with all of you.
Today, we are very busy here at the Ranch getting prepared for the hurricane evacuees that maybe coming this weekend.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Design Ahead
I’m gearing up for catalog time here at Circle Y. Even though the 2009 catalogs won’t be available until the spring, it’s something that is top priority on my list. This year I will be doing four catalogs in all so it’s a huge task but by far one of my favorites.
This is my third year to create the company catalogs. It is something I put a lot of consideration, creativity, and plain hard work to create something that will catch the eye of anyone interested in our brand. My other goal is to create a tool that our dealers are able to use easily in their stores. There are many hours of design and then even more proofing that get's poured into the catalogs. Both Anne, the Marketing Media Manager, and Amy, the Design Manager, also put in a lot of time editing and getting the design just right.
Our best saddle designers and saddle craftsmen work all year long on improvements and innovation for the next year. We are people just like you who expect a saddle or tack to be perfect and built superbly. Our tooling is creative and fresh from our master hand toolers that create art on leather. If you haven’t checked out a new Circle Y saddle lately, I urge you to do so. I mean go to dealer and really give one a look over. If you need help finding a good dealer that's stocked with options, call Customer Service at 800-531-3600 to guide you.
The other fun part of the catalogs is getting to use pictures of employees' horses and our friends' horses. We use all kinds of photos from our professional riders in the Team of Champions but also use our backyard horses. On the cover of the current tack catalog is Amy's gray mare. The Tennessee Walker used in the Trail Gaiter pages and on the tag is my gelding, Copper. We love to get pictures of riders in their CY saddles and tack so if you feel the need, send 'em on over. You might appear in a future catalog! Email me at dloudon@circley.com.
You can download our current catalog off the Web site along with our 87-page tack catalog at http://www.circley.com/. I hope you'll find exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
Friday, August 15, 2008
My Friend Buddy
My name is Tina and I am the Purchasing Agent at Circle Y Saddles. I feel very blessed to be a part of such a wonderful family. I was one of those late learners that didn't figure out where I was supposed to be in life until I was 43 and came to work for Circle Y. I had to give up my horses 12 years ago when I got my divorce after a lifetime of running barrels and roping.
At the first of the this year, I was diagnosed with colon cancer which, believe me, makes you take stock of your life and put your priorities in order. I received a clean bill of health in July so since then I have been on a quest to find the right horse for me. No, I'm not picky just know exactly what I want in a horse which is a ranch horse to rope off of and cut off of in the pens, then go and run barrels on when I want to, and to be a kid's horse for my granddaughter...
Well, last Friday I found my dream horse. His name is Little Bit of Bud. He is a 2-year-old registered Quarter Horse and has the best attitude. He has far exceeded any expectations I ever had for him. Sunday John, my significant other, saddled him and he did so well he got on him!!! Buddy never even bucked, just did anything John asked of him. John rode him every evening this week and then yesterday we went to the arena to meet "the girls" to ride. It took several tries to back Buddy out of the trailer. He didn't like putting his hind foot all the way down. When he finally backed out he behaved beautifully. I ponied him for a while and he behaved, so John went ahead and got on him. I couldn't believe that he did everything John asked of him. At the end of the evening I got on him myself and walked him around the arena...I was in heaven. It was such a wonderful feeling to know that I finally have my horse. I have never had a colt that was so willing to learn and that has such a good attitude. I hope that everyone gets to go ride and have a wonderful weekend.
At the first of the this year, I was diagnosed with colon cancer which, believe me, makes you take stock of your life and put your priorities in order. I received a clean bill of health in July so since then I have been on a quest to find the right horse for me. No, I'm not picky just know exactly what I want in a horse which is a ranch horse to rope off of and cut off of in the pens, then go and run barrels on when I want to, and to be a kid's horse for my granddaughter...
Well, last Friday I found my dream horse. His name is Little Bit of Bud. He is a 2-year-old registered Quarter Horse and has the best attitude. He has far exceeded any expectations I ever had for him. Sunday John, my significant other, saddled him and he did so well he got on him!!! Buddy never even bucked, just did anything John asked of him. John rode him every evening this week and then yesterday we went to the arena to meet "the girls" to ride. It took several tries to back Buddy out of the trailer. He didn't like putting his hind foot all the way down. When he finally backed out he behaved beautifully. I ponied him for a while and he behaved, so John went ahead and got on him. I couldn't believe that he did everything John asked of him. At the end of the evening I got on him myself and walked him around the arena...I was in heaven. It was such a wonderful feeling to know that I finally have my horse. I have never had a colt that was so willing to learn and that has such a good attitude. I hope that everyone gets to go ride and have a wonderful weekend.
No Hoof, No Horse!
We rode Tuesday, and I got there early to meet my hoof trimmer, Eddie Drabek (http://www.drabekhoofcare.com/) Eddie is no typical farrier, he's a natural hoof care practitioner. I'm a firm believer in bare feet and the natural trim. I used to trim my own horses, but when I became pregnant, I began searching for a trimmer. I was doing research online and stumbled across Jaime Jackson's website. His research of wild horse behavior, habitat, and physiology built the foundation for the natural "wild horse" trim. Pete Ramey is another well respected natural hoof care practitioner (http://www.hoofrehab.com/). I have been a horse person all my life, read tons of stuff, and majored in equine science in college, but I learned more about the horses hoof than I ever knew after reading Pete's book Making Natural Hoof Care Work for You. I have literally read this book cover to cover at least 20 times, it is so great! It will enlighten you! After reading it, I was determined to find a trimmer near me, and eventually found Eddie. These guys have great websites with tons of information-check them out...
So how does the natural trim differ from a regular trim? I'll try to give you the highlights:
Wild horses travel many miles throughout the day, wearing down and "self trimming" their own feet. But before you pull your horses shoes and vow to never trim again, take note! Domestic horses don't have the environment & uninhibited movement to keep their feet in a naturally perfect state on their own. The goal of natural hoof care is to trim the hoof in a way that mimics the wear of a wild horse hoof. Shoes are a no-no! A horseshoe inhibits the hoof from working the way it was designed-expanding and contracting with contact. Even horseshoers agree that horses benefit from a "break" from shoes. It is important to note that natural hoof care is about a natural lifestyle, not just the way the feet are trimmed. Horses need movement for healthy feet-24 hour turnout is key. The way most people have been trained to feed and care for their horses can be a detriment to their health. Eddie has some great info on natural horsekeeping on his website http://www.drabekhoofcare.com/, and also has lots of links to other sites.
The sole is meant to be thick, hard, and calloused. It is the protection between your horses coffin bone and the earth. With a traditional trim, the old dead sole is pared away each time the horses hoof is trimmed. With the natural trim, there is no old dead sole to pare away. When a horse is maintained barefoot with natural hoof care, the sole, especially the outer band of sole near the hoof wall, will actually pack into denser, calloused material, and the sole becomes thicker and harder. As the sole becomes thicker, it also becomes more concave. No more ouchy, sore, flat footed horses!
The natural trim does not attempt to manipulate hoof angles. Each horse is individual and the hoof is your guide. Heels are meant to be low! Toes are meant to be short! The profile of the hoofwall should be straight (indicating a good connection with the coffin bone) not "dished" which is a tell-tale sign of the the separation of the hoofwall and internal structures and could indicate coffin bone rotation and impending founder. A stretched white line, seedy toe, etc. also are indicative of hoof wall separation. Natural hoof care supports and encourages the integrity of this connection. One of the greatest things being accomplished by natural hoof care is the treatment of laminitis. Horses that traditional medicine had given up on, about to be put down, are being rehabilitated fully to normal use through natural horsekeeping & hoof care. And I mean as USING horses, not pasture ornaments!
One of the hallmarks of the wild hoof is the "mustang roll"-the outer perimeter of the foot is beveled (in contrast to the sharp edge left on a horse that is traditionally trimmed). This bevel keeps the foot from splitting, cracking, etc. The best analogy I have to explain it is from Pete's book. If you imagine stabbing the smooth rounded end of a broomstick into a gravel driveway, the gravel will just wear the broomstick smoother. But if you were to cut the rounded edge off, you have sharp corners. If you stab this repeatedly eventually the wood will start splintering and splitting. The mustang roll does for the hoof what the rounded edge does for the broomstick, preventing the hoof from splitting and chipping.
Here's an interesting fact. Hoof growth is inversely related to hoof wear. If you let your horses hoofs get overgrown before you call the farrier, you have just slowed down his hoof growth AND sent the signal to his hoof to produce a thinner hoof wall. The hoof will try to help itself trim by putting out weaker growth. Conversely, if you keep your horses feet trimmed on a regular schedule and give them lots of exercise and natural wear, they will have stronger, faster hoof growth in order to "keep up" with wear. One of the finishing touches Eddie gives the horses is that he abrades the hoof wall with fine sandpaper-it "tricks" the hoof in to thinking it's being worn away by rocky, wild horse country! And don't waste your money on any kind of hoof dressings. If you have a pond in your pasture, or let the water trough run over a little, their feet will get all the moisture they need when they come for water.
A lot of skeptics are probably saying right now "some horses just need shoes". There is a transition period for horses that have been shod and this is where hoof boots come in. These horses may need to be booted until the hoof starts remodeling itself. The more you ride and stimulate hoof wear, the faster the transition will be. If your horse was already barefoot, he probably won't have any issues transitioning to natural hoof care. And yes, PERFORMANCE horses can go barefoot. Eddie has clients that are Barrel Racers, Cutters, Reiners and even Racehorses! And Clinton Anderson keeps his Reiners bare in front and only shoes the rear (for sliding stops).
So how does the natural trim differ from a regular trim? I'll try to give you the highlights:
Wild horses travel many miles throughout the day, wearing down and "self trimming" their own feet. But before you pull your horses shoes and vow to never trim again, take note! Domestic horses don't have the environment & uninhibited movement to keep their feet in a naturally perfect state on their own. The goal of natural hoof care is to trim the hoof in a way that mimics the wear of a wild horse hoof. Shoes are a no-no! A horseshoe inhibits the hoof from working the way it was designed-expanding and contracting with contact. Even horseshoers agree that horses benefit from a "break" from shoes. It is important to note that natural hoof care is about a natural lifestyle, not just the way the feet are trimmed. Horses need movement for healthy feet-24 hour turnout is key. The way most people have been trained to feed and care for their horses can be a detriment to their health. Eddie has some great info on natural horsekeeping on his website http://www.drabekhoofcare.com/, and also has lots of links to other sites.
The sole is meant to be thick, hard, and calloused. It is the protection between your horses coffin bone and the earth. With a traditional trim, the old dead sole is pared away each time the horses hoof is trimmed. With the natural trim, there is no old dead sole to pare away. When a horse is maintained barefoot with natural hoof care, the sole, especially the outer band of sole near the hoof wall, will actually pack into denser, calloused material, and the sole becomes thicker and harder. As the sole becomes thicker, it also becomes more concave. No more ouchy, sore, flat footed horses!
The natural trim does not attempt to manipulate hoof angles. Each horse is individual and the hoof is your guide. Heels are meant to be low! Toes are meant to be short! The profile of the hoofwall should be straight (indicating a good connection with the coffin bone) not "dished" which is a tell-tale sign of the the separation of the hoofwall and internal structures and could indicate coffin bone rotation and impending founder. A stretched white line, seedy toe, etc. also are indicative of hoof wall separation. Natural hoof care supports and encourages the integrity of this connection. One of the greatest things being accomplished by natural hoof care is the treatment of laminitis. Horses that traditional medicine had given up on, about to be put down, are being rehabilitated fully to normal use through natural horsekeeping & hoof care. And I mean as USING horses, not pasture ornaments!
One of the hallmarks of the wild hoof is the "mustang roll"-the outer perimeter of the foot is beveled (in contrast to the sharp edge left on a horse that is traditionally trimmed). This bevel keeps the foot from splitting, cracking, etc. The best analogy I have to explain it is from Pete's book. If you imagine stabbing the smooth rounded end of a broomstick into a gravel driveway, the gravel will just wear the broomstick smoother. But if you were to cut the rounded edge off, you have sharp corners. If you stab this repeatedly eventually the wood will start splintering and splitting. The mustang roll does for the hoof what the rounded edge does for the broomstick, preventing the hoof from splitting and chipping.
Here's an interesting fact. Hoof growth is inversely related to hoof wear. If you let your horses hoofs get overgrown before you call the farrier, you have just slowed down his hoof growth AND sent the signal to his hoof to produce a thinner hoof wall. The hoof will try to help itself trim by putting out weaker growth. Conversely, if you keep your horses feet trimmed on a regular schedule and give them lots of exercise and natural wear, they will have stronger, faster hoof growth in order to "keep up" with wear. One of the finishing touches Eddie gives the horses is that he abrades the hoof wall with fine sandpaper-it "tricks" the hoof in to thinking it's being worn away by rocky, wild horse country! And don't waste your money on any kind of hoof dressings. If you have a pond in your pasture, or let the water trough run over a little, their feet will get all the moisture they need when they come for water.
A lot of skeptics are probably saying right now "some horses just need shoes". There is a transition period for horses that have been shod and this is where hoof boots come in. These horses may need to be booted until the hoof starts remodeling itself. The more you ride and stimulate hoof wear, the faster the transition will be. If your horse was already barefoot, he probably won't have any issues transitioning to natural hoof care. And yes, PERFORMANCE horses can go barefoot. Eddie has clients that are Barrel Racers, Cutters, Reiners and even Racehorses! And Clinton Anderson keeps his Reiners bare in front and only shoes the rear (for sliding stops).
If I sparked some interest in natural horsekeeping & hoof care with any readers, Eddie & Pete's websites are a good source to learn more. If you have any comments or personal experience with natural hoof care, I would love you hear from you!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Groomed To A "T"
No matter what kind of horse or in what discipline you compete-Quarter Horse, gaited horse, jumping, roping, grade horse or otherwise, we can all take a lesson in grooming while viewing the Olympic horses. These horses simply sparkle in the lights of the equestrian venue in Hong Kong. There is not a spec of dirt showing, not a hair out of place. Their tack has nothing flapping or mismatched. The pads are in place under the saddles, upon which sit riders in white pants (there's a challenge to keep clean!) and shiny black boots. They are similarly groomed as the horses.
Presenting a horse to the world is a bit different than at a "Saturday night" show, but the lessons are the same. Clean and healthy horses, tack that fits, and horse and rider dressed in the style for that arena.
I have judged many a club show where the horses, though of not the highest quality, were presented at their best. It doesn't take big bucks to clean and oil the saddle you have, fit the bridle to the horse, wipe off your boots, and bathe the horse. Your horse reflects your desire and intentions to win in his presentation, and you will garner points and respect from a judge.
I do live in the real world. I know the bigger the show, the more your presentation will matter, and good tack does matter. There isn't a single place in America, whether its the board room, lunch room or school room, where the "right" clothes don't matter-that's just a fact.The show ring is no different. The higher up the ladder you go, the more that's the case. It does take money to win at the top, and tack is a part of the expense. At the more local levels, you can do well with your tack as it is, as long as its clean and well fitted to you and your horse. A new clean pad is not a big expense, and it can make all the difference.
Having your horse healthy and well fed not only enhances his look, but makes him more able to perform at his gaits with style and endurance. As a judge, horses have come in the ring for my consideration that should have had the entry fee spent on their hooves-which were so long and split, it was painful to watch them go. I can't imagine how the rider thought the horse would perform well with those hooves, when, in any discipline, its all about how the horse travels.
Maybe your event doesn't have points-its judged on time. If you dress yourself and your horse like you came to win, you stand a better chance of doing so. You show your competitors you have confidence in your abilities. It gives you a boost to have on a nice starched shirt, jeans without holes, and clean tack and horse.
I believe it doesn't matter how big the event, its still a competion, and its about winning. Presentaion matters and like I used to tell my clients, "Show up like you expect to have your picture made."
Presenting a horse to the world is a bit different than at a "Saturday night" show, but the lessons are the same. Clean and healthy horses, tack that fits, and horse and rider dressed in the style for that arena.
I have judged many a club show where the horses, though of not the highest quality, were presented at their best. It doesn't take big bucks to clean and oil the saddle you have, fit the bridle to the horse, wipe off your boots, and bathe the horse. Your horse reflects your desire and intentions to win in his presentation, and you will garner points and respect from a judge.
I do live in the real world. I know the bigger the show, the more your presentation will matter, and good tack does matter. There isn't a single place in America, whether its the board room, lunch room or school room, where the "right" clothes don't matter-that's just a fact.The show ring is no different. The higher up the ladder you go, the more that's the case. It does take money to win at the top, and tack is a part of the expense. At the more local levels, you can do well with your tack as it is, as long as its clean and well fitted to you and your horse. A new clean pad is not a big expense, and it can make all the difference.
Having your horse healthy and well fed not only enhances his look, but makes him more able to perform at his gaits with style and endurance. As a judge, horses have come in the ring for my consideration that should have had the entry fee spent on their hooves-which were so long and split, it was painful to watch them go. I can't imagine how the rider thought the horse would perform well with those hooves, when, in any discipline, its all about how the horse travels.
Maybe your event doesn't have points-its judged on time. If you dress yourself and your horse like you came to win, you stand a better chance of doing so. You show your competitors you have confidence in your abilities. It gives you a boost to have on a nice starched shirt, jeans without holes, and clean tack and horse.
I believe it doesn't matter how big the event, its still a competion, and its about winning. Presentaion matters and like I used to tell my clients, "Show up like you expect to have your picture made."
Dressage Perfection
Last night I got a chance to catch some of the Olympic dressage. Wow! I think that has to be just about the most beautiful thing you can do with a horse. I don’t do that myself yet because Copper and I are working on bending and getting our gaits correct. Anne, our Marketing Media Manager here and my riding instructor each week, said that no matter what discipline you ride you should be able to do a basic dressage pattern so I aim to get there.
According to Don Vizi, executive director of the National Walking Horse Association, there is a dramatic increase of interest among dressage for gaited horses. Realizing this, the National Walking Horse Association and the United States Dressage Federation have collaborated to provide exhibitors correct information and to train judges for modified tests since gaited horses don’t trot. This is so great because within NWHA or TWBHEA, Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, sanctioned shows in the Versatility portion riders do a dressage pattern. This is a way to provide expertise to the discipline and to promote it.
Gaited horses won’t be able to compete in the USEF or USDF sanctioned events because they don’t trot and, therefore, can’t exhibit the trotting requirement of regular dressage like you see in the Olympics. Dressage is beneficial to any discipline you ride for the communication, bending, and overall collection. Plus, it is amazing to watch! Here are some links for more information. I'm not up to speed on the official rules between NWHA and TWHBEA.
http://www.nwha.com/dressage.html
http://www.nwha.com/news08Feb06.html
http://www.twhbea.com/News/08WVSRelease.htm
According to Don Vizi, executive director of the National Walking Horse Association, there is a dramatic increase of interest among dressage for gaited horses. Realizing this, the National Walking Horse Association and the United States Dressage Federation have collaborated to provide exhibitors correct information and to train judges for modified tests since gaited horses don’t trot. This is so great because within NWHA or TWBHEA, Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, sanctioned shows in the Versatility portion riders do a dressage pattern. This is a way to provide expertise to the discipline and to promote it.
Gaited horses won’t be able to compete in the USEF or USDF sanctioned events because they don’t trot and, therefore, can’t exhibit the trotting requirement of regular dressage like you see in the Olympics. Dressage is beneficial to any discipline you ride for the communication, bending, and overall collection. Plus, it is amazing to watch! Here are some links for more information. I'm not up to speed on the official rules between NWHA and TWHBEA.
http://www.nwha.com/dressage.html
http://www.nwha.com/news08Feb06.html
http://www.twhbea.com/News/08WVSRelease.htm
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Abuse to Win
I have been keeping up with the soring issue within the Tennessee Walking Horse industry and have no idea how people are capable of purposefully inflicting pain on a horse for personal gain. This issue is important to me because I own a 6-year-old Tennessee Walker and cannot imagine him having a life of abuse for a ribbon and money.
For those of you who might not be familiar with soring, this is what it is: The practice of inflicting pain on a horse’s forelegs to induce a higher-action gait. There are several kinds of chemical substances that are used to accomplish this like diesel fuel, mustard oil, kerosene, salicylic acid and others. The purpose of doing this is to achieve the “Big Lick” gait used in the show ring which is an exaggeration of the gaits the horse performs naturally. Personally, I see no beauty in this. It is artificial and unnatural, and I do not agree with the several inches of pads used to shoe the horse with because this is another avenue used for abuse. The flat-shod TWH on the other hand is pure beauty, elegance, and grace. Why would someone manipulate something that is the foundation of the breed to produce a fake series of movements?
I am disturbed by the fact that some people will do anything to win – even compromise the existence of a creature that supports their cruel habit. If the desired goal can’t be achieved through hard work and practice, it seems logical to get out of the profession. Not everyone is meant to be a horse trainer. When a “trainer” or owner is willing to hurt the horse to win in the show ring, what else do these horses have to endure?
Soring has been illegal since 1970 with the Horse Protection Act but until offenders are severely punished it will still be widespread. Welfare and industry officials issue numerous citations every year and are using more sophisticated methods of detecting soring and improper shoeing. In 2006, the USDA became a lot more involved to crack down on such offenders and there are other equine organizations banning together to help stop this unethical practice.
This is a huge issue that will need the cooperation of the owners, breeders, trainers and judges and will not be corrected overnight. These horses have been bred to move with these thick pads to produce the exaggerated gaits that win in the show ring. Millions of dollars have been invested in these horses and will require the cooperation of the key players in the industry to become eradicated.
Beyond this, in other breeds of horses there are practices of abuse to win. These offenders are on the same level of the people who sore the TWH which deserves punishment and in my opinion, banishment from all competition FOREVER. There are several organizations that believe soring is inexcusable. I belong to the National Walking Horse Association. http://www.nwha.com – National Walking Horse Association
For those of you who might not be familiar with soring, this is what it is: The practice of inflicting pain on a horse’s forelegs to induce a higher-action gait. There are several kinds of chemical substances that are used to accomplish this like diesel fuel, mustard oil, kerosene, salicylic acid and others. The purpose of doing this is to achieve the “Big Lick” gait used in the show ring which is an exaggeration of the gaits the horse performs naturally. Personally, I see no beauty in this. It is artificial and unnatural, and I do not agree with the several inches of pads used to shoe the horse with because this is another avenue used for abuse. The flat-shod TWH on the other hand is pure beauty, elegance, and grace. Why would someone manipulate something that is the foundation of the breed to produce a fake series of movements?
I am disturbed by the fact that some people will do anything to win – even compromise the existence of a creature that supports their cruel habit. If the desired goal can’t be achieved through hard work and practice, it seems logical to get out of the profession. Not everyone is meant to be a horse trainer. When a “trainer” or owner is willing to hurt the horse to win in the show ring, what else do these horses have to endure?
Soring has been illegal since 1970 with the Horse Protection Act but until offenders are severely punished it will still be widespread. Welfare and industry officials issue numerous citations every year and are using more sophisticated methods of detecting soring and improper shoeing. In 2006, the USDA became a lot more involved to crack down on such offenders and there are other equine organizations banning together to help stop this unethical practice.
This is a huge issue that will need the cooperation of the owners, breeders, trainers and judges and will not be corrected overnight. These horses have been bred to move with these thick pads to produce the exaggerated gaits that win in the show ring. Millions of dollars have been invested in these horses and will require the cooperation of the key players in the industry to become eradicated.
Beyond this, in other breeds of horses there are practices of abuse to win. These offenders are on the same level of the people who sore the TWH which deserves punishment and in my opinion, banishment from all competition FOREVER. There are several organizations that believe soring is inexcusable. I belong to the National Walking Horse Association. http://www.nwha.com – National Walking Horse Association
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