The Aftermath

We survived Hurricane Ike. As a matter of fact, we got nothing. I've learned there is a dry side to a hurricane, which is the west, and there is the nasty side, or the east. Fortunately for us here around Yoakum, we were on the dry side and did not get a drop of rain. The wind blew but not bad. For those folks in Galveston and north on up to Houston, they got the pounding. There is a horse rescue operation, Habitat for Horses http://www.habitatforhorses.org/, in Galveston County and it suffered mass devastation. They are still in desperate need of water, hay, feed, and money.

Even though we weren't going to get the big hit of the storm, I made preparations for the worst. The news predicted we would get up to 60 mph winds so I thought of tree limbs falling on the fence and Copper getting out. I ended up using a paint pen to write my phone numbers on Copper's neck and shoulder. I also braided some mane at his withers and wrapped duct tape around it for an additional place for my information. I did not leave his halter on him because I don't have a breakaway one. I decided to leave him out because it seems he goes wild when a storm is brewing.

I got up that Friday morning at 5 to check the computer to see if the hurricane was still heading north of us. Even though we are over an hour from the coast, a hurricane is enough to send me packing - with my family and all my animals of course. Luckily I have a big horse trailer, so we would all fit comfortably. To me, it's just not smart to underestimate a storm like this. And I can't understand people who think they won't be swept away when the news is telling you to evacuate or certain death is imminent. That would be the red flag to get out of dodge pronto. For all those families rebuilding, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Plan for the Worst, Pray for the Best

Well, hurricane Ike seems to be going north of us. Thank God, but I feel so bad for the people and homes that it will consume. We will still get the high winds and rain here and I am not sure yet what I will do with Copper. I have put identification on his halter and will braid identification in his tail just to be safe. I am also seriously considering spray painting my phone numbers on his side. He stays in the pasture, but I do have a 3-sided shelter for him that I can put him up in. He likes it when we have a rain storm and stands at the gate for me to put him up. Our four dogs will be safe in the shop on their doggy beds.

As for me, this hurricane is pretty much all I can think about. I am originally from Oklahoma - born and raised there for 25 years. At least with a tornado, you can watch the sky and see one brewing. Then, you take appropriate steps to ensure your survival pronto. Then, after 30 minutes or so it’s done. With this hurricane, my first one to go through by the way, I’ve had to worry about it all week. I try not to worry and give it to God, but I have to do what’s safest for my son. I don’t know if riding out a hurricane’s outer wrath is the best move or not. It depends on how it’s going to turn by the end of the day.

I have backed up my “brain” on my computer with all my graphic files, pictures, and all the other stuff. It will be locked down in the company safe place. For me, it’s pretty nerve racking to know what’s coming.

Labor Day Ride

Copper and I spent part of our Labor Day holiday in some back woods trail riding. Tina, the purchasing agent here, Anne, Amy and I went to Tina’s place to ride. We “horsepooled” to get there and they all rode perfectly. Copper has never been hauled in a trailer like that and I was a little worried. Fancy, the gray mare he was standing next too, let Copper know real quick to stay out of her personal space when he gave her a little nip on the wither. With a squeal and a swish of her tail, he didn’t so much as look in her direction! Glad that was settled before we headed out.

When we got to the unloading point, it was so peaceful and just gorgeous. We got everyone saddled and headed out to the river even though it’s totally dried up. We are in a drought so the river bed made a perfect place to ride. It was like riding on the beach with all that white sand, plus it makes for a great varied terrain. Copper negotiated those sandy hills and banks like a seasoned trail horse. He was listening to me and went into his ground eating smooth gait. Anne said nothing like the trail to get a gaited horse to square up and that he did. It was great!

Copper is one of those horses that walks like he’s got some place to go. Even though he has been at the bottom of every herd he’s ever been in, he does not like to be the last horse in the trail string. He wants to see where he’s going. I like that about him. I could tell he really enjoyed himself getting to do something different – don’t we all. I can see how people become addicted to trail riding. It is something I don’t do enough of and could easily take off every weekend to go and do.

At the end of the morning, all the horses were tuckered out. Even though it was hot, it was a great way to spend the holiday. I am so pleased that Copper is progressing, listening better, and hopping right up in the trailer. I am looking forward to the cooler weather but not to the short days that come with it.

Hello

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.

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.

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.

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).

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!