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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
  
| This is the first summer that I'm gonna hit the rodeo trail hard, multiple rodeos a weekend, hauling all over. What do you do to keep your horses feeling great, rested, and healthy on the road? I'd love to hear suggestions on anything!
-Feed, supplements
-Wrapping Legs, Poultice, etc
-BOT/PHT/Ice
-Trailering
-Anything
Thanks In Advance! | |
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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
 
Location: Texas | I really think this is a case by case basis..
Every horse is different and has different issues. Only do what you need to do for your horse. If he is feeling great don't over do all the extra stuff, you will just wear yourself out and run out of $$$. Just because it works for someone else doesn't mean it will work for you so keep that in mind, most important thing is to listen to your horse and trust your gut! | |
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | Make sure you are keeping them fed well. When we start hauling hard we up feed a little. I use BOT boots when hauling and will put my PHT on in the trailer and take it off as soon as I get to where I am going.
Also make sure they have plenty of hay and water. Never skimp on the water. I also let them graze when we get to a rodeo early. Down time is your friend. We try to haul during the night as well.
I don't do lintaments. I feed THE and will add some alfalfa or red cell if weare out more than 3 days. Know your horse, and be midful when you first see something that seems off. | |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Some great advice has already been posted, but I'm going to add a little based on my experiences hauling several different horses on long rodeo runs.
My gray has been the easiest horse to haul because he's OK being alone, he eats and drinks on the road, and he doesn't get nervous in strange places. He has really spoiled me! I do like to add Red Cell to his feed before busy weekends just for some extra oomph, but I generally keep most things the same as at home. I feed him at the trailer in a feed pan usually, and I try to put it on grass because he likes to dump it out and eat off the ground. (Weirdo!) He gets to live in his Soft Ride boots on the weekends, and I literally only take them off to ride in the pen or to warm up. The rest of the time they are on his feet. It makes a HUGE difference with him. He also gets Back on Track stuff (sheet, neck cover, leg wraps & hock wraps) overnight as long as he's not turned out in a huge pen, and I put them on him for short periods of time multiple times a day if it's hot. I also try to take him for walks throughout the day if we're killing time at a fairgrounds, and he always gets to go in the arena and roll once a day - more if time and facilities allow. On long road trips (4-5 hours), I'll usually stop midway and get him out for a walk, a drink and a bite of grass or hay. The biggest key with Chance has just been spending time with him. Those daily walks, brushing him, doing stretches with treats, riding around bareback, etc., keep him mentally refreshed and tuned in to me.
I have also hauled Clifford, my blaze face sorrel, and Joker, my old bay horse, to rodeos and they require a little different handling. They absolutely have to have hay in front of them at all times because they're a little more nervous, and it helps them to have a buddy. I have always tried to take them out for walks and bonding time and pretty much treat them the same way as Chance, and sometimes I'll try to do a little tuning on Cliff (usually bareback in the parking area with a bucket for a barrel LOL) or I'll help contractors move cattle before a performance. That's always a good change of pace.
One other thing I do with any horse I haul is try to keep him/her out of the direct sunlight. In July, it's pretty nasty hot a lot of the time and so I try to park in shady places during the afternoons and definitely avoid standing them on asphalt in the heat of the day. Most afternoons, I'll try to find a way to hose the horses off or I'll dump a bucket of water on them. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| Thank you! This is great advice! | |
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Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | I wrote a simple response earlier because I was busy, but let me expand on something.
A lot of people have great success the first time they show a horse, they buy it and then things unravel. Not in all cases but a lot, and more specific cases where they don't know anything about the horse and they aren't in sync. You could have a horse for 5 years but if you aren't spending a lot of time with it you won't be in sync and it will be a constant battle.
I honestly believe a big positive factor on all these "extra" things we do with our horses is the fact that it forces to spend time with them. To really learn their patterns, what they like, don't like, ect. The smoother everything outside the arena and barrel pattern go the smoother your runs will be. This all leads back to basic horsemanship, but if you can connect with your horse with your mind, body, and soul you will have a huge advantage on others.
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | outrundaizy - 2016-06-06 9:19 PM I wrote a simple response earlier because I was busy, but let me expand on something.
A lot of people have great success the first time they show a horse, they buy it and then things unravel. Not in all cases but a lot, and more specific cases where they don't know anything about the horse and they aren't in sync. You could have a horse for 5 years but if you aren't spending a lot of time with it you won't be in sync and it will be a constant battle.
I honestly believe a big positive factor on all these "extra" things we do with our horses is the fact that it forces to spend time with them. To really learn their patterns, what they like, don't like, ect. The smoother everything outside the arena and barrel pattern go the smoother your runs will be. This all leads back to basic horsemanship, but if you can connect with your horse with your mind, body, and soul you will have a huge advantage on others.
THIS!
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 Saint Stacey
| Biggest thing when hauling is lack of rest. When you are hauling the horse is always moving. If you haul 8 hours, the horse has basically been walking or trotting that entire time. Horses being hauled need to be able to lay down and rest. Sometimes you can't get a stall. Break your horse to a hot fence so you can make a pen. My daughters mare loves her shavings. We'll make a hot pen and dump 2 bags of shavings out. She always lays down in them and she always sleeps. Yes, it gets a little pricey at times. But you need to keep them happy on the road. She also travels with a mini pony for a companion. He keeps her quiet and stops her from fretting when we leave. Last fall I purchased a gelding that she is also running. We still take the mini because when one leaves the other still has a friend so they stay quiet. | |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | IowaCanChaser - 2016-06-06 10:03 AM This is the first summer that I'm gonna hit the rodeo trail hard, multiple rodeos a weekend, hauling all over. What do you do to keep your horses feeling great, rested, and healthy on the road? I'd love to hear suggestions on anything! -Feed, supplements -Wrapping Legs, Poultice, etc -BOT/PHT/Ice -Trailering -Anything Thanks In Advance!
Don't enter to many rodeos per weekend. "Learn" your horse. When do they run their best top of the weekend or the bottom 3rd/(4th- I had a horse years ago I learned to enter the better paying rodeos and yes the 4th run sometimes was his best.) run of the weekend. Do they require time at an event to get their legs under them before your run. Is it best to run at multiple go's or enter rodeos with a single go. Do you have to provide supplements to keep the horse in top condition. Do you have a vet that can read blood results and help you provide optimal care. Do you have a horse that needs cushion on all four feet or do they ride fine with just simple trailer mats and still have their legs fresh and ready.
Do you have ice boots or an ice machine that they won't fight and allow for 20 min of leg cooling? Do you have a cooling gel blanket for super hot days or if the back gets sore? Do you have a system to cool your trailer if the temps are crazy high. Hauling horses in temps 90> they need special attention to electrolytes and means to keep them cool. A simple block of dry ice and road wind blowing over it really helps cool the trailer. If you don't have air ride get some foam matting.
The legs promote some heat transfer so if you don't have to wrap then try to go without. If they need support by all means wrap.
You need rest to keep your head in the game and so does your horse. Try not hauling all day if you can but if you must plan accordingly, knowing do you sleep before you head out for the next one or do you load up and press on and let the horse rest his legs before the next run.
If your horse gets swings in his glucose levels plan to invest in some alfalfa hay or pellets if he can't tolerate any dust particles. Taking care of the tummy is so important. As is taking care of the respiratory system. So many of the great horses in recent years had to spend down time due to respiratory infections. So invest in a product to maintain them especially if they ride on a trailer with mangers. I will stop on breaks and neb my horses if they're on the trailer for an all day drive. ( I dislike those days). Talk to the girls that have hauled and done well in the area your headed off to and get tips on arena's and good places to lay over. ( I love staying at the state and national parks-as long as there's no wild horse herds in the area.) They are comfortable for the horse and us as most are pretty vacant.
I had two rookies call me and both have been told do this do that by some of the others that are out there hitting it. I prompted them to not change what they've been doing. (Your winning on the college level stick with what's been bringing in those checks.) You start changing feed or using lasix on a horse that doesn't need it your messing with the horses homeostasis and that really throws a horse into a tailspin.
Try to have someone that you can call that will flat lay it on you when you need a pep talk or knows you and will be an avid critic if your needing a critique. Get someone to enter you if your not good at doing so. That takes stress off of you.
Lastly, keep a journal that way you make good decisions if you need to tweak what your doing and hold yourself accountable to the balance in your rodeo account. Write you goals and set goals that are attainable. If you have to drop a level in competition to be competitive then do so to get your riding and confidence back up to peak performance.
May your enjoy this summer! My best to you. | |
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Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | uno-dos-tres! - 2016-06-07 7:23 PM IowaCanChaser - 2016-06-06 10:03 AM This is the first summer that I'm gonna hit the rodeo trail hard, multiple rodeos a weekend, hauling all over. What do you do to keep your horses feeling great, rested, and healthy on the road? I'd love to hear suggestions on anything! -Feed, supplements -Wrapping Legs, Poultice, etc -BOT/PHT/Ice -Trailering -Anything Thanks In Advance! Don't enter to many rodeos per weekend. "Learn" your horse. When do they run their best top of the weekend or the bottom 3rd/(4th- I had a horse years ago I learned to enter the better paying rodeos and yes the 4th run sometimes was his best.) run of the weekend. Do they require time at an event to get their legs under them before your run. Is it best to run at multiple go's or enter rodeos with a single go. Do you have to provide supplements to keep the horse in top condition. Do you have a vet that can read blood results and help you provide optimal care. Do you have a horse that needs cushion on all four feet or do they ride fine with just simple trailer mats and still have their legs fresh and ready.
Do you have ice boots or an ice machine that they won't fight and allow for 20 min of leg cooling? Do you have a cooling gel blanket for super hot days or if the back gets sore? Do you have a system to cool your trailer if the temps are crazy high. Hauling horses in temps 90> they need special attention to electrolytes and means to keep them cool. A simple block of dry ice and road wind blowing over it really helps cool the trailer. If you don't have air ride get some foam matting.
The legs promote some heat transfer so if you don't have to wrap then try to go without. If they need support by all means wrap.
You need rest to keep your head in the game and so does your horse. Try not hauling all day if you can but if you must plan accordingly, knowing do you sleep before you head out for the next one or do you load up and press on and let the horse rest his legs before the next run.
If your horse gets swings in his glucose levels plan to invest in some alfalfa hay or pellets if he can't tolerate any dust particles. Taking care of the tummy is so important. As is taking care of the respiratory system. So many of the great horses in recent years had to spend down time due to respiratory infections. So invest in a product to maintain them especially if they ride on a trailer with mangers. I will stop on breaks and neb my horses if they're on the trailer for an all day drive. ( I dislike those days). Talk to the girls that have hauled and done well in the area your headed off to and get tips on arena's and good places to lay over. ( I love staying at the state and national parks-as long as there's no wild horse herds in the area.) They are comfortable for the horse and us as most are pretty vacant.
I had two rookies call me and both have been told do this do that by some of the others that are out there hitting it. I prompted them to not change what they've been doing. (Your winning on the college level stick with what's been bringing in those checks.) You start changing feed or using lasix on a horse that doesn't need it your messing with the horses homeostasis and that really throws a horse into a tailspin.
Try to have someone that you can call that will flat lay it on you when you need a pep talk or knows you and will be an avid critic if your needing a critique. Get someone to enter you if your not good at doing so. That takes stress off of you.
Lastly, keep a journal that way you make good decisions if you need to tweak what your doing and hold yourself accountable to the balance in your rodeo account. Write you goals and set goals that are attainable. If you have to drop a level in competition to be competitive then do so to get your riding and confidence back up to peak performance.
May your enjoy this summer! My best to you.
You have gotten more great advice from uno-dos-tres, SKM and outrundaizy. I totally second the idea of spending time with them bonding, and the suggestion to figure out when your horse runs the best. It is also great advice to not enter every single rodeo you can physically get to in a weekend. If you have a horse who excels in small pens, do some research (ask on Facebook, google past years' results, etc.) and figure out where the small pens are. My gray horse doesn't like small pens or hard ground, so I started out asking around and finding arenas that I thought would fit him. Some did, some didn't, and every year, I cross another one or two off my list for him. There's no point in running 30 minutes from home on ground that doesn't suit your horse if you can drive 2 hours to a pen that fits him/her really well.
If you are rodeoing in Iowa, I may have some insight into some of the arenas as I run URA & IRA rodeos and have for several years. Iowa is one of the states that has all types of arenas......for example,Woodbine & Adel are big & deep while a lot of the Wright rodeos at fairs are on racetracks with shallower ground & smaller patterns, Afton is medium size with decent ground - not deep/not shallow, and Leon & Bloomfield are smaller with super deep ground. | |
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 Go For It!
Location: Texas |
Find places to stay away from the rodeo grounds. All horses are different and some do better than others. Try to ride your horse often and don't just make runs and skimp on the bendy flexy stuff. Make sure they drink good. Soak some alfalfa cubes and let them eat that in the trailer. Soft rides are a great thing to do to keep some cushion under their feet and legs. Make sure they can get their head down, at least when you stop somewhere. Spray down the stalls you stay in and make sure you muck them out before you put your horse in them. That's a big deal for me. Lots of places let you stall for free on the rodeo grounds but lots of people never clean their horse's stalls and the crap just piles up. It's gross! Always make sure your horse has a clean stall, please.
Safe travels and have fun!
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | What I did:
Hay at most times, find good parking with shade, get water immediately after arriving-- I typically take the horses with me and let them graze a bit as long as the place doesn't look yucky. At night I tie Long enough for my horse to lay down--he usually doesn't but the option is there (loop lead rope up through throat latch on halter so it doesn't droop). I don't do pens....too much work if we're leaving soon. My horse rests better at the trailer with soft ground than in a stall. I like to let him out in the arena so he can roll--I think this is really important. I never had any fancy gadgets. Walks and stretching after unloading will help. I used a poultice at night. ALWAYS have water. Check feed and water before going to bed and first thing on the morning. | |
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