Best Horse Practices Podcast Maddy Butcher

We love to hear from listeners and this week would especially love to hear about your horse work journeys, your comfort zones and stretching of them. Contacting us is easy through the contact button on best horse practices dot com. 
We offer these shows for free. If you think it’s worthy of a small contribution, we sure would appreciate it.
This is Episode 8 of Season 4. It’s an On the Fence show and in it, Jec and I talk about what it means to be an expert, the need for a beginner’s mind and the benefits of expanding the aforementioned comfort zones.
Thanks to our title sponsor, Lucerne Farms, producers of quality forage feeds, extremely handy and healthy bales of alfalfa, timothy, and grass blends.  They also make Koop Clean chicken bedding. Check them out at lucernefarms.com.
Also, thanks to Chill Angel, a woman-owned, Colorado company that makes luxurious superfine merino wool sleepwear, perfect for combatting hot flashes. 
Jec mentions Kevin Haussler of Colorado State University.  A related website is here. She also mentions Adam Till. In a Facebook post, he writes: "So many people just care about how good a horse is to ride and barely make an effort to make sure training holes are filled....Make sure a six year old kid you don't know can handle your horse."
I’m reminded of something Randy Rieman told me years ago:
If you’re not expanding your comfort zones, you’re shrinking them. That’s true for humans and horses alike.
In the newsletter this week, we have a great guest column about the Pony Express Re-Ride, a relay event that covers all 1,800 + miles of the historic trail.
And, as ever, we have great books available at the Cayuse Communications library.
We thank Sampson Moss and his business, Prairie Wind Hat Works for their generous sponsorship. Sampson makes custom hats from his place in Pincher Creek, Alberta. You can order one today and have it by the holidays. That’s at prairie wind hat works.com
Thanks to Redmond Equine and Pharm Aloe – for generously sponsoring our podcast. Check out Pharm Aloe’s aloe pellets which you can simply sprinkle on your horse’s feed and Redmond’s Rock on a Rope which you can simply hang on a fence. We think you’ll love ‘em.
Also thanks to Patagonia WorkWear for their continued support. Give us feedback, suggest a topic or guest, or make a donation and you’ll be automatically entered to win one of two free Patagonia WorkWear items that we give away every month. Don’t forget that Redmond Equine is sending a complimentary syringe of Daily Gold Stress Relief to everyone who drops a tip in our donation jar. Pretty cool and a $15 value. If you get something of value from our podcast, please consider making a donation. We sure would appreciate it. 
That’s it. Another episode in the can and out of the barn. Thanks for listening, y’all!
 

We offer these shows for free. If you think it’s worthy of a small contribution, we sure would appreciate it.
This is Episode 7 of Season 4, and in it, Jec talks with Trish Lemke, a Colorado horsewoman who leads amazing horse-riding trips across the globe and is a certified Equine Interactional Professional in Education and certified Martha Beck Life Coach. Find her website here and her Facebook page here.  This conversation is a great one to wedge into a series of episodes in which we’re talking about, not just mental health, but our comfort zones, expanding our comfort zones, and being aware of our place in horse-rider partnerships. Expanding comfort zones can mean all kinds of things, whether its skills or geography, new horses or new disciplines. Here, as Jec and Trish discuss, it often comes back to the ‘why.’  What is your intention?
And speaking of horses and mental health...Many of you already know that our horse vets are facing a real crisis. It is a stressful job and there’s a vet shortage, especially in rural areas. Vets have high suicide rates. Daniel Dauphin aired a lengthy interview with Dr. Mallory Preston about all this which you can listen to here.  And we are teaming with Patagonia WorkWear to show our support. If you know of a vet who could use a lift, contact us here. 
Thanks to our title sponsor, Lucerne Farms, producers of quality forage feeds. Those bales of alfalfa and timothy and other blends are great for taking with you on comfort-expanding horse camping trips, by the way.
Also, thanks to Chill Angel, a Colorado company that makes luxurious superfine merino wool sleepwear. Use Cayuse20 for a 20 percent discount. And thanks to Skratch Labs, which makes fantastic drinks and snacks for our athletic endeavors. Use BestHorse25 for a 25 percent discount. 
We thank Sampson Moss and his business, Prairie Wind Hat Works for their generous sponsorship. Sampson makes custom hats from his place in Pincher Creek, Alberta. Design your perfect hat and place your order to have it on your head before the holidays.  
Thanks to Redmond Equine and Pharm Aloe – for generously sponsoring our podcast. Check out Pharm Aloe’s aloe pellets which you can simply sprinkle on your horse’s feed and Redmond’s Rock on a Rope which you can simply hang on a fence. We think you’ll love ‘em.
Also thanks to Patagonia WorkWear for their continued support. Give us feedback, suggest a topic or guest, or make a donation and you’ll be automatically entered to win one of two free Patagonia WorkWear items that we give away every month. Don’t forget that Redmond Equine is sending a complimentary syringe of Daily Gold Stress Relief to everyone who drops a tip in our donation jar. Pretty cool and a $15 value. If you get something of value from our podcast, please consider making a donation. We sure would appreciate it. 
Hey – Fall is in the air here in Colorado. The geese are gathering and setting up, it seems, for their long migrations south. What are your fall plans? We’d love to hear from you.
That’s it. Another episode in the can and out of the barn. Thanks for listening, y’all!
 

We offer these shows for free. If you think it’s worthy of a small contribution, we sure would appreciate it.
This is Episode 6 of Season 4, and in it, Jec talks with Kerry O’Brien, a Colorado trainer who is competing in the Meeker Mustang Makeover.
Kerry has been on the show before in which she talks about using positive reinforcement as a training method. We're glad to have her back!
First, thanks to many of you who connected with us to offer feedback from last week’s show and the mental health initiatives we are talking about.
Second, thanks to our title sponsor, Lucerne Farms, Maine producers of quality forage feeds.  But did you also know that they make chicken bedding. It’s called Coop Klean and it's not your everyday chicken bedding.
Also, thanks to Chill Angel, a Colorado company that makes luxurious superfine merino wool sleepwear, perfect for combatting hot flashes.
I was really glad to hear about the Meeker Makeover. Some of you who follow Best Horse Practices or get the Cayuse Communications newsletter, might have heard WiseAssWallace talk about colt starting competitions. A lot of times, Wallace says, it is not set up for the success of the horse. And that’s a shame. Seems like Meeker and Kerry have the horses’ best interests at heart. So good to hear!
We thank Sampson Moss and his business, Prairie Wind Hat Works for their generous sponsorship. Sampson makes custom hats from his place in Pincher Creek, Alberta. Here he is talking about some regional distinctions. He starts when I ask him to consider with Alberta and hat preferences there. But then he expands on the preferences of certain parts of the US. I’m coming to know that what’s true with horses is also true with hats: the more you learn, the more you realize there’s a lot to learn.
Thanks to Redmond Equine and Pharm Aloe – for generously sponsoring our podcast. Check out Pharm Aloe’s aloe pellets which you can simply sprinkle on your horse’s feed and Redmond’s Rock on a Rope which you can simply hang on a fence. We think you’ll love ‘em.
Also thanks to Patagonia WorkWear for their continued support. Give us feedback, suggest a topic or guest, or make a donation and you’ll be automatically entered to win one of two free Patagonia WorkWear items that we give away every month. Don’t forget that Redmond Equine is sending a complimentary syringe of Daily Gold Stress Relief to everyone who drops a tip in our donation jar. Pretty cool and a $15 value. If you get something of value from our podcast, please consider making a donation. We sure would appreciate it.
That’s it. Another episode in the can and out of the barn. Thanks for listening, y’all!

Our show is a space for riders and horse owners of all disciplines to learn best practices and to discover skills, strategies, tools, ideas, and insights for better connecting with their horses, with all horses and for getting work done.
We love to hear from listeners and often incorporate listener questions or suggestions for topics and guests into our podcast. So, let us hear from you. Contacting us is easy.
We offer these shows for free. If you think it’s worthy of a small contribution, we sure would appreciate it.
This is Episode 5 of Season 4, and it’s a good one.
We have Jec and Amy talking about trail-riding preparation in their Coaches’ Corner. When I saw this topic, I was doubtful. I mean, What’s to know? What’s to prepare? Out here in rural Colorado, where the closest arena is 20 miles away, my horses and I would definitely experience more trepidation heading to the fairgrounds and an arena, than heading out on National Forest.
There, we travel on gravel roads and dirt paths. We often bushwhack across country. We meet bikers, hikers, trucks, cars, dogs, and other horses. Last weekend, as I was ponying my young horse, we rode through cows and stopped to cool off at a pond.
But Jec and Amy’s conversation gave me a whole new insight to what’s involved in successful trail rides. It pointed out some holes in my training and areas where I could definitely make improvements. Regardless of your riding routines, I think you will love it.
Check out Amy's Six Weeks to Calm, Forward, and Straight.
First, though, I’m following up on last week’s mention of mental health and horse work.
Recently, the LOR Foundation, a philanthropic organization serving the mountain west with an office here in Cortez, awarded the Best Horse Practices Summit a small grant to help with a two-day mental health forum for working cowboys and horse professionals.
This project has been on my mind for a few years. I’ve been wanting to organize a gathering like this and am excited that the LOR Foundation recognized the purpose and the niche need. Being awarded the grant is a huge step forward. We hope to offer this forum, (all expenses paid to attendees thanks to LOR!) to a small group of working horse professionals  this winter. Interested? Contact us here.
For some thoughts on how horses, horse work, best practices, and mental health weave together, read more here.
Our title sponsor is Lucerne Farms, producers of quality forage feeds.  It’s hay season, the rain has let up for a while, and the James family is busy in the fields of northern Maine. That’s where they’re cutting, tedding, and baling alfalfa and timothy. The forage, wrapped tightly in plastic, is perfect for traveling to competitions or horse camping vacations.
Thanks to Chill Angel, maker of superfine merino loungewear and sleepwear. Love their jammies!
We thank Sampson Moss and his business, Prairie Wind Hat Works for their generous sponsorship. Sampson makes custom hats from his place in Pincher Creek, Alberta. In our next show, we’ll talk more with Sampson about the finer points of ordering and, for him, making a custom felt hat. We’ll talk about regional preferences for hat wearers, brim size and shape, crowns and creases.
Thanks to Redmond Equine and Pharm Aloe – for generously sponsoring our podcast. Check out Pharm Aloe’s aloe pellets which you can simply sprinkle on your horse’s feed and Redmond’s Rock on a Rope which you can simply hang on a fence. We think you’ll love ‘em.
Also thanks to Patagonia WorkWear for their continued support. Give us feedback, suggest a topic or guest, or make a donation and you’ll be automatically entered to win one of two free Patagonia WorkWear items that we give away every month. Don’t forget that Redmond Equine is sending a complimentary syringe of Daily Gold Stress Relief to everyone who drops a tip in our donation jar. Pretty cool and a $15 value. If you get something of value from our

We offer these shows for free. If you think it’s worthy of a small contribution, we sure would appreciate it.
This is Episode 4 of Season 4, and in it, I talk with Pete Reinholz. Maybe this is a departure of sorts. Pete does not have a website or a book or anything to sell. He does write songs. He sings and plays guitar, and that’s the context in which I met him several years ago in Elko, Nevada.
Pete graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Natural Resources and Rangeland Ecology. Since then, he’s been mostly horseback, working in southern Montana and northern Wyoming. But last year, he made the leap to the showjumping world as a trainer.
To me, that seems like a big, interplanetary leap, so I was happy to talk with him for a bit. I think it takes a lot for a cowboy to step out of jeans and away from big country and pull on a pair of breeches and work in an arena. Pete was pretty philosophical when I asked him about it. 
"Being a more refined and versatile rider never screwed anybody up," he said.
Our title sponsor is Lucerne Farms, producers of quality forage feeds.  It’s hay season, the rain has let up for a while, and the James family is busy in the fields of northern Maine. That’s where they’re cutting, tedding, and baling alfalfa and timothy. The forage, wrapped tightly in plastic, is perfect for traveling to competitions or horse camping vacations. 
We also thank Chill Angel, makers of superfine merino loungewear, and Prairie Wind Hat Works, where Sampson Moss crafts custom-built, felt hats to your specifications. 
After I stopped recording, Pete mentioned that, oh, by the way, he played polo for three years at MSU. Turns out Sheridan, Wyoming, not far from where he lives now, has quite the polo scene. Riders have been playing there since the 1890’s, he said, making it the oldest polo venue west of the Mississippi. 
Hey, in past seasons, we have talked a bit about mental health and how it may or may not interfere with our horse work. We know there is a connection with wellness and the therapy horses offer us. But I’d be the first to admit that horses aren’t there to magically solve our problems. Horse pros and working cowboys, along with horse vets, can be strained and stressed by their work. I’m guessing you know of a friend, or a friend of a friend in your horse circles who has struggled with substance abuse and/or suicide.
While Jec and I want to steer clear of discussions around aromatherapy or crystals, we would like to be open to ideas and conversations and strategies for improving the mental health situation in our horse communities. So, if you have any thoughts in that vein, hit us up with an email here. 
Thanks to Redmond Equine and Pharm Aloe – for generously sponsoring our podcast. Check out Pharm Aloe’s aloe pellets which you can simply sprinkle on your horse’s feed and Redmond’s Rock on a Rope which you can simply hang on a fence. We think you’ll love ‘em.
Also thanks to Patagonia WorkWear for their continued support. Give us feedback, suggest a topic or guest, or make a donation and you’ll be automatically entered to win one of two free Patagonia WorkWear items that we give away every month. Don’t forget that Redmond Equine is sending a complimentary syringe of Daily Gold Stress Relief to everyone who drops a tip in our donation jar. Pretty cool and a $15 value. If you get something of value from our podcast, please consider making a donation. We sure would appreciate it. 
That’s it. Another episode in the can and out of the barn. Thanks for listening, y’all!

We love to hear from listeners and often incorporate listener questions or suggestions for topics and guests into our podcast. So, let us hear from you. Contacting us is easy here. 
We offer these shows for free. If you think it’s worthy of a small contribution, we sure would appreciate it.
Hey, it’s hot out there and I wanted to direct your attention to an article I wrote about dogs, horses, and us managing heat. How to help. What to be aware of. With comments from a Harvard dog expert and an accomplished endurance rider. Read more.  
This is Episode 3 of Season 4, and in it, Jec talks with Lynn Acton, author of “What Horses Really Want.” Lynn and Jec discuss the behavioral and physical consequences of weaning early and how healthy weaning should go. Even if you don’t have or aren’t thinking of acquiring a young horse, I think this show will still interest you.
We try to steer clear of any anthropomorphizing, but you’ll hear that sometimes Lynn and Jec refer to horses in a human-y manner, which makes the topic more approachable without being romantic or inaccurate. Weaning how-to’s are closely associated with an article I wrote on imprinting. That’s a technique that some misguided professionals, including Dr. Robert Miller and Clinton Anderson, performed and advocated in what I sincerely hope are gone-bye days. 
After that segment, we hear from Sampson Moss and his business, Prairie Wind Hat Works, as he discusses the finer details of crafting a custom hat.
Our title sponsor is Lucerne Farms, producers of quality forage feeds.  It’s hay season, the rain has let up for a while, and the James family is busy in the fields of northern Maine. That’s where they’re cutting, tedding, and baling alfalfa and timothy. The forage, wrapped tightly in plastic, is perfect for traveling to competitions or horse camping vacations.
I have written a lot about the power of a good start and the hazards and pitfalls of a bad start. Mostly, I’ve talked about my experiences with restarting horses who have been in bad homes or with neglectful or abusive owners or trainers. But this weaning conversation gives us a whole new perspective on what good and bad starts can mean.
Dr. Sheryl King, professor emeritus at Southern Illinois University and a perenial favorite Best Horse Practices Summit presenter oversaw many weanings and had this to say:
“At the University we weaned at about four or five months and did so by removing one mare from the mare/foal pasture at a time until there were finally no adults in with the foals. After trying a number of weaning methods, this seemed to be the one that worked best for us and created the least stress for the foals."
Thanks to Redmond Equine and Pharm Aloe – for generously sponsoring our podcast. Check out Pharm Aloe’s aloe pellets which you can simply sprinkle on your horse’s feed and Redmond’s Rock on a Rope which you can simply hang on a fence. We think you’ll love ‘em.
Also thanks to Patagonia WorkWear for their continued support. Give us feedback, suggest a topic or guest, or make a donation and you’ll be automatically entered to win one of two free Patagonia WorkWear items that we give away every month. Don’t forget that Redmond Equine is sending a complimentary syringe of Daily Gold Stress Relief to everyone who drops a tip in our donation jar. Pretty cool and a $15 value. If you get something of value from our podcast, please consider making a donation. We sure would appreciate it. 
That’s it. Another episode in the can and out of the barn. Thanks for listening, y’all!