The days are getting longer, bits of green are appearing across the landscape and there is horsehair, everywhere!
Nothing signifies springtime like the woolly mammoths awaiting me in the barn. Spring means it’s time to brush up and those winter coats aren’t the only things that stand to benefit from a little upkeep. Springtime is prime-time to brush up on your own horse skills and on your relationship with your horse. From clinics and workshops to gymkhanas, horse shows, rodeos and organized trail rides, the opportunities are sprouting up like the crocus through the snow this time of year.
Spring is a time of transition. Sunlight lingers and days become longer. Horses take their cues from the changing hours of daylight, which triggers hormonal fluctuations that govern coat growth and shedding. If only a little extra sunshine was all it took for the rest of us to pick up on the signal that change is necessary to make way for new.
While shedding takes place for only a short period of time, it can feel like you are lost in an eternity of horsehair. The learning curve is a quick one when it comes to helping your four-legged sidekick lose the extra hair. You’ll only wear ChapStick or stand downwind once before learning what does and doesn’t work.
In addition to trusted standbys like the curry comb and the shedding blade, there are a few additional handy dandy tools that can help. If you haven’t tried the Fuminator undercoat remover tool, I highly recommend it.
As the name suggests, it’s Arnold tough and gets the job one and done. It alleviates the hassle of ‘I’ll be back’ to the barn de-shed over and over again. The grooming block, biomane and allergy pills are also welcome additions to spring cleaning essentials.
Grooming this time of year is also a great way to work on your relationship with your horse. I’ve learned to take advantage of the tedious task by using the opportunity to work on the give and take of touch and space with my horse and allowing the experience to build on the bond of trust that may need brushing up of its own after a winter of pasture.
Extra daylight means extra time in the saddle and if your equine companion has a few extra pounds of winter weight to shed along with that winter coat, now is the time to get him back in tiptop condition and like the rest of us that doesn’t happen overnight.
Spring training clinics are great for both horse and rider allowing you both to get back in shape physically, mentally and emotionally. It is also a great time to support local arenas and to learn from local experts willing to help.
We are lucky to live in an area rich in agricultural heritage and future opportunities. Whether you are hoping to shave seconds off your barrel time, work on streamlining your precision with pole bending, learn equine first aid and rehabilitation, learn about and try out for rodeo royalty, work on skills through obstacle courses, or hit up an annual tack and equipment consignment sale, there is something out there for everyone this time of year that will make us all better horses and riders come summer.
The San Juan Sheriffs Posse Arena has a huge variety of clinics and events on the calendar for horses and riders of all skill levels. From barrel racing and pole bending clinics for both youth beginners and advanced alike to parkour, either in hand or under saddle, obstacle course clinics, postural and performance therapy Intensive series clinics to a Friday night gymkhana series, a rodeo and a horseback easter egg hunt, there is a whirl of activity busier than the flurry of horsehair in the air. Look for clinics to kick off starting this weekend and for a busy spring of offerings.
4-H is getting ready to kick off its gymkhana series in Durango as well as the Green Horse Show Series, which starts this weekend in Ignacio and will be held in both Ignacio and Bayfield arenas throughout the series. The Bayfield arena is a great spot for beginners to get their boots dirty and a terrific way to support the local long standing arena.
As we transition into spring, let’s take a cue from the horses we love as they shed their coats to signal an eagerness and preparedness for the coming season. Change is necessary and embracing the flurry of horsehair allows us to see growth up close and personal.
Jenny Johnston is proud to be a fourth-generation Durango local, Fiesta Days Royalty Coordinator and mom to two lil’ buckaroos.
