RIDING TIP:
KEEP YOUR HEELS DOWN!

HEELS DOWN FOR BALANCE
Keeping your heels down is extremely important for a rider’s overall position and balance. When the heels are down, with the lower leg underneath your hips, the result is a very deep seat and the rider’s weight securely in the saddle. This translates to less bouncing which means that the rider is in rhythm with their horse. Imagine a rider that has their toes pointed down to the ground, with their heels up in the air. Every time their horse moves forward at a trot, for instance, their weight is going to be thrown forward with each step. Rather than sitting deep in the saddle, the rider is perched in the saddle with all their weight forward. Now imagine a rider with their heels level to the ground. Rather that having their weight thrown forward, this rider will bounce straight up and down like a sewing machine. Their weight is neither forward nor back, but they are still very insecure and probably quite stiff in the saddle - quite the opposite of riding with the rhythm of the horse. Finally, imagine a rider, sitting in the proper position with their heels down and their lower leg relaxed underneath them. This rider will have a very secure seat. When their horse moves, the rider’s deep seat will allow them to eliminate any bouncing and easily ride in rhythm with their horse which means a more comfortable ride for both horse and rider.

HEELS DOWN FOR SAFETY
With the ball of your foot in the stirrup and your heels pressed hard down to the ground, it is very unlikely that your foot will slide through the stirrup. On the other hand, if a rider fails to keep their heels down and their foot slides through the stirrup, they could be dragged or seriously injured if they become unseated from their horse. So to ensure their safety, riders must always concentrate on keeping their heels down. The good news is that although it takes a lot of practice and a lot of reminders at first, eventually it will become second nature every time you mount a horse.

Doc Perkins is the “new kid” on the farm. Don’t worry, he’ll settle into his new home just fine, especially since he now rules the roost. Doc Perkins is our grey Quarter Horse stallion. He was born in 1990, so he is now sixteen years old. Back in the day, Doc Perkins was used to rope cattle and is now a quiet, gentle stallion that stays in shape during lessons and trail rides with the Wildwood staff. He is intelligent and respectful, and sires excellent foals that could be used for performance, trail or pleasure.

Doc Perkins is registered with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). On each registration paper is the horse’s registered name, their date and place of birth, as well as their colour, sex and distinguishing markings. A three-generation pedigree is also included on the horse’s papers. A pedigree is a chart that outlines a horse’s lineage. It’s like a family tree. The horse’s name will be listed with a date of birth in the far left column. The next column lists the horse’s sire (father) and dam (mother). The sire is always listed on top with the dam’s name listed underneath. The next column lists the grand sire and dam, followed by the great-grandsire and dam, and so on. Doc Perkins has many well-known stallions throughout his lineage, such as Doc Bar, Leo, Poco Tivio and Poco Bueno.

Quotable Quotes!

A stubborn horse walks behind you, an impatient horse walks in front of you, but a noble companion walks beside you.

- Author Unknown

There are only two emotions that belong in the saddle; one is a sense of humour and the other is patience.

- John Lyons

EQUINE FACT #1: HORSES ARE HEALTHIER OUTSIDE

One of the most unique things about the Wildwood horses is that they live outside, day and night, all year long. Many of our visitors come to realize this when they see our barn – it is very small relative to the number of horse that live on the ranch. Now some of you may think this is cruel or you may feel sorry for the horses, especially in the wintertime. People often think that because they would rather not be outside in the cold, the horse would rather not be outside either. But in fact, the opposite is true. Horses love being outside! It is the place where horses are naturally meant to be. Outside is where horses thrive and where many horses are their happiest. Here at Wildwood we strongly believe that our horses are healthier because they stay out 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Now some of you may agree that it’s nice to be outside when the sun is shining and the air is warm. But in the winter? No thanks! However, if you were to ask a horse how they like the winter, you might hear a resounding, enthusiastic “neigh.” The air might be cold, but the cold air is the best part because there are no pesky little bugs flying around. And who wouldn’t want to be outside with a thick fur coat that keeps you perfectly warm?

When horses live outside year-round, they learn to adapt to the environment in which they live. Being exposed to the elements and the changing daylight hours produces all the necessary physiological changes that need to take place for the horse to adjust to the changing seasons. For instance, in the fall, we notice that the horses begin to increase the amount of hay consumed and they begin to grow a new thick winter coat. They do this to increase their fat stores and keep themselves warm in preparation for the winter months. A horse’s winter coat provides excellent insulation. The top hairs are longer and shed excess water, thus preventing any moisture from reaching the skin. Each hair is attached to muscles in the skin that allows them to raise and lower the hairs to regulate the passage of air (www.equinextion.com). The short, downy undercoat is very dense and traps body heat keeping the warmth right next to the skin. A layer of fat lies directly underneath the horse’s skin providing the final layer of insulation (The Perfect Horse, January 2006). Because horses have their own built-in temperature regulating systems and insulation, most horses do not need to wear a blanket in the winter. However, horses stabled outdoors should have access to a sufficient sized shelter or run-in shed to protect them from wind, blowing snow or freezing rain. This allows the horse to choose whether it wants to stand inside or out. We often find that the horses prefer to stand outside, even in the snow and rain.

Living outside is good for a horse’s overall physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Freedom of movement promotes circulation. This is especially important for older or arthritic horses. When horses stand, the fluid in their joints remains unchanged. However, when a horse moves around while grazing, for instance, joint fluid freely circulates and is continually replenished. This translates into a decreased lameness and fluidity of movement for our equine friends (Horse and Rider, September 2005). Stalled horses often develop bad habits or behaviours due to boredom, lack of social interaction and lack of exercise. Wood chewing, cribbing, pacing, pawing and weaving can be eliminated or at least alleviated by allowing the horse to have 24/7 turnout. Outdoor turnout is also protects the horse from respiratory problems that often develop due decreased airflow in the barn and a build-up of ammonia produced by the horse’s urine (www.equusite.com). Finally, living outside is beneficial to horses both emotionally and spiritually. Horses are very social animals and they need daily interaction with other horses. Stalls unfortunately do not allow horses to interact naturally. In a herd environment, horses learn to touch, groom, play, rest and establish a place on the pecking order. Grazing is also important, whether the horse grazes on grass in the summer or free choice hay in winter. Grazing or foraging keeps a horse’s mind calm and generates much need body heat in the wintertime. In fact, the horse’s digestive system is built to continuously process small amounts of food at a time (www.equinextion.com). For this reason, people who are forced to stable their horse will give the horse several small meals spread throughout the day and distribute the hay in a four corners of the stall to satisfy a horse’s grazing or foraging needs.

So the next time it’s cold outside, don’t feel sorry for your equine friends. You can rest assured that they have plenty to do, plenty to eat and plenty of heat to keep them warm and happy as they await the arrival of spring.