September/October 2013

Mount Up Virginia September/October 2013 1

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 FREE

Mount Up Virginia

Women, Horses & Stress Relief

Fall Equine Health Care

Virginia Fall Trail Rides

River’s Bend Ranch

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September/October 2013

Director of Publications

Kim Crawford

Art and Editorial

[email protected]

Advertising

Director of Advertising

McKenzie Flora

434-806-2283

Mount Up Virginia

20539 Dyke Rd.

Stanardsville, VA 22973

Mount Up Virginia is published

bi-monthly by Kim Foster Productions.

Mount Up Virginia is designed with the

mission to promote Virginia

Quarter Horses, Paints & Appaloosas.

The editor welcomes photos, but cannot

guarantee their return. Article submis-

sions are welcome .

Email to: [email protected]

Include SUBMISSION in the subject line.


Contents September/October 2013

Letter from the Editor 5


Fall Equine Health Care

Virginia Fall Trail Rides

Women, Horses &

Stress Relief

Kids Corral

Upcoming Events

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Letter from the Editor

Welcome to Mount Up Virginia, where the true value of the Virginia horse industry still thrives! We are so excited to be reestablished and bring-ing pertinent information along with leisurely reading material for the avid horse lover!

The ultimate goal is to bring you the horse owner

Pertinent information and allowing Virginia Advertisers the opportunity to reach their target audience. Mount Up Virginia is a bi-monthly publication with the horse lover in mind. We strive to bring you the latest and greatest pertaining to the many great equine friends that call Virginia home.

In an effort to keep our publication, interesting, print worthy, etc. We ask that you feel free to contribute photographs, upcoming dates, story request, etc. to us at:

[email protected] and that you please include: SUBMISSION in the subject line of the email.

I’m personally looking forward to working with each of you! And most importantly, remember, “I’ve spent most of my life riding horses. The rest I’ve just wasted.”

Happy Trails,

Kim

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“Ask me to show you

poetry in motion and I will show you a horse”


Virginia Fall Trail Rides By: Kim Crawford

Horseback riding during the fall in Virginia

is like no other experience With a mirage of

colors to welcome you and possibly the

sighting of a bear and/or enormous buck,

what more could a horseman and his trusted

steed ask for and this fabulous adventure is

right here! In your back yard!

No matter where your trails may lead, plan

on visiting the Shenandoah National Park

this fall and the following are suggested

trails that you and your friends will

unquestionable want to visit:

Fox Mountain and Rapidan River

Without a doubt, this is my favorite trail ride

within the Shenandoah National Park! When

you enter Rapidan camp you are immensely

greeted with an unmistakable historic

presence. Parking is generally available at all

times at Big Meadows; however trailer

parking may be limited at Graves Mill. Not

suitable for wet or winter conditions, the

footing at times may reach long rough

stretches, rocky, narrow, and/or in

wilderness. During average to well weather

conditions, the ride can be a bit challenging.

This trail ranges from 15-20 miles but it’s

absolutely worth the trip.

Old Rag and Rose River Loop

Parking is available at Fishers Gap Overlook

or Weakley Hollow, generally trailer parking

is available. You and your horse should be in

excellent condition. Get up extra early and

ride all day through spectacular scenery. This

trail is approx. 30 miles long, so plan

accordingly. Some sections are rough, rocky,

narrow, and/or in the extreme wilderness.

South River and Pocosin Circuit

You may find parking at the South River

overlook and picnic entrance. Often times

this area is heavily populated with visitors

making parking difficult, beware not to

block traffic to either the overlook or picnic

area. The trail is a bit over 15 miles and it

offers phenomenal rewards such as the ruins.

Like many of the Shenandoah National Park

trails the footings at times are naturally

rough, rocky, and narrow.

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Rose River, Stony Man, and

Upper Dark Hollow

This is one of the most popular trails in the

Shenandoah National Park and it happens to

be on my top five list as well, here is why:

Less than 15 miles round trip, it’s enchanting

like a roller coaster up and down through the

mountains, and when you least expect it,

sounds of crisp, flowing water can be heard

splattering off the rocks. That is when you

are beneath Dark Hollow Falls. Parking is

generally available at Fishers Gap Overlook

or Rapidan Road/Big Meadows. The terrain

or footing is similar to most natural trails

through out the park.

Simmons Gap Semi-Circuit

Offering great trail riding for any type of

weather conditions, typically the trails are

wide and not rocky, often consisting of

gravel or dirt roads. Parking is available at

Beldor Hollow but usually limited to a small

or two-horse trailer. Starting your ride in the

park you venture onto county roads into

Sugar Grove and the ever notorious Bacon

Hollow. Round trip approximately 18 miles

and the footing isn’t cumbersome, this trail

ride offers restoration and relaxation, and is

quite enjoyable.

Thorton River and Piney Branch

If you have a small trailer, you can park at

Hull School trailhead just north of Beahms

Gap Overlook. Larger trailers will find it

much easier to park at the Overlook, riding a

short distance along Skyline Drive to get to

the Hull School Trail. Take a trip back in

time passing old home sites and schools

while splashing through mountain streams.

Although only 11.3 miles this trail has

potential for troublesome stream crossings

and the footing can be rough, narrow and in

wilderness.

Southfork Moormans River

Parking is often limited at both Jarman Gap

and Sugar Hollow Reservoir; However the

quiet road from Jarman Gap to the Sugar

Hollow Reservoir is most enjoyable, whether

horseback riding or hiking, be aware the

weekend brings a tremendous amount of traf-

fic from hikers backpacking along this route.

You may too encounter minimal vehi-

cle traffic. Usually it’s the park em-

ployees who are aware of the horses,

hikers, etc. This particular trail offers several

route options, therefore varying in length

from 1-30 miles.

Old Rag/Weakley Hollow

This trail is perfect for anytime of year

regardless of the weather. Parking is

generally available at Whiteoak Canyon and

Weakley Hollow. Expect backpacking use

and hikers at all times. In order to view the

falls, tie your horse, then hike downhill a

short distance (on the blue blazed Whiteoak

Canyon Trail) in order to see the 86 foot

waterfall. Return the way you came. To con-

tinue to Post Office Junction, return to Old

Rag Road and turn right, riding the road 4

additional miles.

Keyser Run

Keyser Run is another great trail regardless

of the season or weather. Trails are wide and

typically not very rocky, therefore not altered

by weather conditions. Parking at Keyser

Run is limited and obviously the weekend


Brings heavier traffic. Riding along this

gated gravel road offers features that range

from woodlands to grassy areas to the

walled-in Bolen cemetery. Wineberries grow

along the side of the road—feel free to pick

what you can eat. A ride to Bolen cemetery

and back totals 6.6 miles. A longer trip to the

grassy fourway (a clearing where several

trails intersect) and back is 7.0 miles.

Heiskell Hollow & Beecher Ridge

Park at Mathews Arm Campground and

enjoy wilderness solitude on narrow wood-

land trails. Long stretches of this trail are

rough, rocky and narrow; making the trails

less suitable during wet/winter conditions.

During mild conditions this is a great trail

ride that totals 9.3 miles roundtrip. Mathews

Arm Campground is generally open from

Memorial Day to October. When planning

your horseback riding adventures within the

Shenandoah National Park, please remember

the following: The Park encourages all

visitors to practice the principles of Leave

No Trace. Leave No Trace is a national pro-

gram that promotes the protection of our

nation’s wildlands through education, re-

search, and partnerships. For information re-

garding Leave No Trace visit their website

at: www.lnt.org. Find more detailed info on

the Shenandoah National Park at:

www.nps.gov.

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River’s Bend Ranch By: Kim Crawford

Nestled in the foothills of the Shenandoah

Valley, less than a half hour away from

beautiful Harrisonburg, VA, lies River’s

Bend Ranch, owned by W.H. and Elaine

McConnell and operated y Jeff McDaniel; A

phenomenal ranch that has endless opportu-

nities and provides the experience of a

Western dude ranch vacation without going

west!

Among the natural beauty of the Shenandoah

Valley you are guaranteed surreal surround-

ings of breathtaking views that will surely

capture your attention and remain fresh in

your memory for years to come. River’s

Bend Ranch is home to more than 40

registered quarter horses that have been

selectively bred for the purpose of working

cattle and reining. National competitors have

graced the ranch with their presence and

style at many competitions and special

events.

The primary mission of River’s Bend Ranch

is to breed and sell top of the line cutting and

reining horses! River’s Bend unquestionably

operates in a class of its own, with compelled

commitment to creating a top quality quarter

horse breeding program. In this day and time,

operating a working ranch is unique in itself

but River’s Bend far exceeds the bar of

uniqueness. This ranch not only breeds and

sells high quality cutting and reining horses,

they also offer performance events, such as

team sorting, reining events, cutting competi-

tions, and, of course, their world famous pro-

duction sale.

All of this and so much more await you just a

bit off the beaten path located on 340N in

Stanley, VA. The environment is like none

other. As you drive the gravel road following

the main entrance you feel as if you’ve left

the modern, overly developed flock of cookie

cutter homes behind! But only because you

truly have, for miles you can gander across

the lush beautiful pastures of the rolling hills

of Virginia. Graced with spectacular views,

manicured fence lines, the finest hips of

performance quarter horses, and off far the

right cattle are grazing. An unforgettable


Scene comparable to those on the silver

screen.

Instantly upon arrival to the ranch your mind

wonders back in time. The sense of yester

year promises to take you places like never

before; to the point that you may not wish to

return. No problem! What may be the most

intriguing feature is that you don’t have to

leave or at least not right away. Pack your

bags and stay a spell. River’s Bend also has

the finest Western accommodations the East

has to offer. Whether staying in the Bunk

House, the Original Ranch House or one of

the Private cabins, the choice is yours to

make and could only be a great one!

Accommodations are available and are

completely customizable to meet your needs;

Whether it’s a peaceful night away, vacation

package, family reunion, corporate retreat,

wedding, birthday party, whatever you may

have in mind. The friendly staff of River’s

Bend are awaiting your arrival. Relax by the

river, fish, trail rides are offered daily for

your relaxation and enjoyment.

City slickers are encouraged to

visit the ranch, come as you

are and the atmosphere will

surely make you the next East

Coast cowboy!

River’s Bench Ranch Quarter

horses are one of Virginia’s

best kept secrets and the

beautiful drive through the

Shenandoah Valley is well

worth your time.

Visit them today at:

www.riversbendranch.com or

www.riversbendquarterhorses.com

or better yet call the awesome staff at 800-

672-7726 and arrange your personal visit to-

day.

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The ranch welcomes visitors, however, I

encourage you to contact their staff before

arrival, to ensure that your experience is the

absolute best that it can. I am positive you

will find the ranch and it’s accommodations

to be absolutely wonderful.


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I’ve just come back from doing a healing

session on a young mother. She has two

children under three.

She nursed her Mom at home with cancer

and lost her just over a year ago and her

beloved old horse died just weeks ago. She’s

tired, stressed, hormonal and emotional.

How many of you know this picture?

We women specially – I know this includes

some men too, but we women more so – put

others first and way too often we have a

tendency to feel guilty if we put ourselves

first. This is not useful to ourselves and not

useful either to the people that we care for. If

we do not look after ourselves first, then

there is no one to look after the rest of the

family – two and four legged.

What makes us luckier than the rest of the

women in the world is that we have horses.

And what makes us luckier than the rest of

the women in the horse world is that we

know how to deliberately and actively

pursue happiness with our horse. And this

happiness, this way of dealing with horses

and life will relieve the stress, reduce the

blood pressure, balance the hormones and

energize our very beings – just like it did for

that young mother this afternoon. The

physical effects of stress relief are enormous

and well documented. The relief was just

about instant as she walked into the paddock

listening inside herself. She didn’t need me –

she needed time with her horse! When we

“do” horses the way WE do horses –

listening to them and to ourselves and taking

action to have all of us feel safe – when we

“do” horses to deliberately pursue happiness

for us both like those who work with me do -

then we have the ultimate in stress

relief. (That is a clumsy sentence but you

get the drift…)

Women, Horses & Stress Relief By: Jenny Pearce


In fact, not only do we have the stress relief

that comes from listening inside ourselves

routinely with our horse and not only do we

receive the beautiful healing energy from our

horse – as a fringe benefit, we also develop

some life skills in dealing with other life

“stuff” powerfully too. So here is a little tick

sheet to treat yourself better today and

tomorrow and the next day and the next.

Spend some down time with your horse,

doing nothing except being with them with a

quiet mind, as often as you can. The Quiet

Mind exercise came a little while after The

Six Keys to Happiness with Your Horse. If

you cannot get to your horse every day,

spend a few minutes of quiet mind time

connecting with them every day anyway as

per The First Key to Happiness with Your

Horse. If you cannot get to your horse every

day, then do something else pleasurable

EVERY day. Breathe deeply through the

nose often – that deep through the nose

breathing that you hear me doing in the quiet

mind exercises in your lessons. And notice

how your body feels when you do that.

Come on, do it now while you are reading

this.

Find a horse buddy to share all the

wonderful stuff you are doing with your

horses. Brag a lot and celebrate every

progress and wonderful feeling. Learn to say

no to anything that means not enough horse

time. Commit to yourself to listen to and

take action on your early warning signal that

something is Not Quite Right – in and out of

horses and you will immediately and power-

fully feel less stressed, less tired and less

hormonal.

Go get ‘em ladies and enjoy those horses!

And if you are a man reading this, then bless

you - look after yourself first and then go

find your woman and make sure she is

looking after herself too.

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Fall Equine Health Care Contributed

DENTAL EXAMS

Fall is a great time to examine a horse’s teeth

to make sure he is chewing effectively before

winter grazing. Since horses are herbivores,

their teeth continue to erupt with growth

occurring throughout their entire lives.

The teeth stay roughly the same length be-

cause the tooth is ground down while they

chew against the opposite tooth to grind and

crush their food. The more effectively the

grinding and crushing of the grass or grain,

the more effective digestion and nutrition

benefit the horse. It is a fact that no horse has

perfect teeth, after awhile some teeth develop

points or sharp areas that can dig into the

cheeks or tongue and causes slower, painful

chewing.

Mature or older horses start to loose teeth

around 23 years of age and often loose weight

or spill grain while eating. The first sign of

poor teeth is unexplained weight loss. If you

see your horse loose grain out of his mouth

while chewing or have a sudden loss of

weight, showing of the ribs, hips or back

bone, perhaps he just seems out of energy, be

sure to mention this to your Vet at the fall

visit for fall vaccines.

Research shows that Veterinarians overall

have been very pleased with the use of the

power float motorized equipment for per-

forming dentistry procedures. The power

float is easier on the horse and typically they

do not toss their head up and it virtually never

causes bleeding, takes approximately 5

minutes compared to 20 minutes for hand fil-

ing teeth, is easier on both the horse and the

Vet. Overall it does a better job at evening out

the points, hooks and wave mouth abnormali-

ties commonly encountered in the older

horse. The power dentistry equipment re-

quires electricity and the horse must be

slightly sedated.

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Fall Equine Health Care continued

FALL VACCINES

Horse owners are constantly questioning

whether or not to vaccinate in the fall? With

extensive research we’ve determined that fall

vaccines are a great idea! Yes, mosquitoes are

still around and still a threat in carrying West

Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

We highly recommend fall boosters for these

two as well as Rhino, Influenza, Potomac

Horse Fever and Botulism if your horse will

be eating round bales this winter. Rabies are

still recommended once a year either in the

fall or spring. Those owners who had foals

born this spring and summer need to call and

schedule their first and second vaccinations

for those weanlings at 5 and 6 months of age,

with a third West Nile given at 8 months. Fall

is also a great time to have your Vet check

horses teeth, especially the older ones!


Finding & Purchasing the

Right Horse

By: Kim Crawford

Finding the right horse is fulfilling a lifelong

dream at any age. Knowing from my own

experience of having a love of horses that

started young and has never changed, when-

ever you acquire the right horse, it is a dream

come true. Getting the first horse seemed

like it would never happen. From a toddler

saying hoyie (hoy-ee) as one of my first

spoken words until the day Time Girl (my

first horse) came off the trailer, 10 years, is a

lifetime to a young person. Owning a horse

changes your life at any age and you need to

be positive you are ready for what could be a

20-30 year (the lifespan of the horse) experi-

ence you will never forget.

Horses are magnificent animals and compan-

ions. The wrong horse can be a nightmare to

own! While the right horse can be a great

pleasure. The right horse will be your best

friend and companion through some of the

best adventures you ever thought possible.

Finding that friend is the road to fulfilling

the dream. The dream horse is out there and

this is where the expert can help you along

this journey.

Numerous professionals have discussed the

research needed before purchasing a horse.

Often first-time buyers do not realize the

cost and time required for maintaining a

horse and some horses eventually are ne-

glected or abandoned by their owners be-

cause they cannot afford to care for them. It

is imperative that first-time buyers make

sure they can provide the time, effort, and

resources needed to properly care for a horse

they purchase.

You are ready to own your dream horse,

thought about all the pros and cons, and you

are totally ready for this adventure into the

world of horse ownership. The following tips

are to help you find the right horse:

What kind/breed/type of horse

are you looking for

The discipline you will ride

this horse

Will the horse be for show,

pleasure or competition

What is the level in which you

ride: novice, intermediate or

advance

What is your budget for the

horse, now and for upkeep

Would you consider a lease

Look to hiring an expert to

help in your search

A wise investment-guidance to

the perfect horse

How is the horse’s health

A horse can be found, using

these formats: * Local paper * Local Tack Store

*Internet Bulletin Board

*Auctions * Private Sales

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Finding & Purchasing the

Right Horse

By: Kim Crawford

Prior to visiting the horse of your dreams, ask questions. An expert keeps a “buyer’s

checklist” that runs through their minds daily:

First:

Find out the date foaled, sex, color and height.

Is the horse registered?

Do you have the original registration papers?

Is the person with the horse the registered own-

er?

How is the horse’s health?

Does he or has he had any specific health prob-

lems?

How would you describe the horse’s tempera-

ment?

What is the horse’s training history?

Can the horse be loaded into a trailer?

What has the horse been doing recently?(specific

disciplines)

Is the horse kept mostly in the stall?

Does the horse have any bad habits or vices?

Has the horse spent much time with other horses,

or mostly alone?

Who owned the horse before you?

Can I ride the horse when I come to visit?

Can a vet check the horse out before I make my

purchase decision?

Second, Visit the horse:

Does the horse’s overall appearance look

healthy?

Do you notice any soundness problems?

Do you sense an attraction to the horse? Re-

member it will become part of your family.

Do you sense anger, pain, fear, lethargy or seda-

tion?

How is the horse’s conformation?

Next, evaluate the horse’s

performance:

Standing tied

Walk, trot, stop, backing up

Round pen lunging

Saddling & bridling

Have the owner/handler ride and show you how

the horse performs if you are purchasing for a

specific discipline.

Last, ride the horse:

Try all of the above yourself with the owner/

handler present.

Be sure to try out the horse for the specific dis-

cipline for which you are buying the horse.

If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, look for

another horse.


This is the first step in your relationship with

the horse. This is not to say that it is not pos-

sible to take in all the advice you can find

and then walk into a barn or farm or drive by

a field and have a “love at first sight” expe-

rience. This horse may not be anything you

panned on, not the breed, color, sex or any-

where close to the image in your mind.

There is an inexplicable bond that can’t be

explained between humans and horses.

When this happens and you are determined

to move forward—make sure you are willing

to do what ever it takes to make both your-

self and the horse proud. The dream horse

has been found, you are ready to buy, don’t

forget the pre-purchase exam. A veterinarian

can help make an informed decision on the

health and soundness of the horse.

Even if you know the person you are buying

the horse from and the assurances are written

in the purchase agreement or contract, a pre-

purchase exam is always recommended. Hire

your veterinarian if the distance is not too far

or an impartial veterinarian closer to the

horse’s location, to do the exam. The Ameri-

can Veterinary Medical Association

(www.avma.org) can assist you in locating a

veterinarian in the area of the horse’s loca-

tion. The pre-purchase exam will be com-

prised of a complete physical exam which

includes: eyes, mouth, teeth, heart, body

condition, reproductive exam (if not gelded),

physical history, vaccination and worming

history. A soundness exam can rule out any

current lameness issues. This is done by

watching the horse in motion during a gait

analysis or even by taking radiographs. Of

course, the condition of the horse should be

balanced against its age and intended use.

Now, you are purchasing your dream horse,

the next question—to insure or not to insure?

The question is answered this way: Can you

easily afford to replace your horse should an

unforeseen catastrophe occur. Some insur-

ance companies allow the horse owner to set

the replacement value. With the changing

economy, insurance companies are looking

to the expert certified appraisers to set the

market value of the horse purchase. Certified

appraisers are experts in the equine market

place. They can assist you with not only the

assessment or report needed for the insur-

ance companies, but all phases of the equine

industry.

Experts can help you every step of the way

to becoming a horse owner. The cost for an

expert is minimal considering a lifetime with

the horse of your dreams. When you are

ready to find the horse, the experts are ready

to assist you.

If you already have a trainer, take them with

you. If you need an expert, some fees start as

low as $25 and go up depending on travel

and assistance needed.

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“LadyBugs”

The Queen of Queens….Gone but never forgotten.

May 4, 2010


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