Choosing your leg gear

Equine leg gear does a lot more than just make your horse look good. The right boots can help your horse stay sound and at the top of his game. Some boots offer support, like an athlete taping his ankles before a big game. Other boots offer protection. Think football pads here. And some are designed for specific events and maneuvers. Knowing which boots you need is not always easy, so here's a crash course in leg gear for you.

Leg gear falls into two main categories. Support and Protection. If your horse has been injured or is structurally predisposed to injury you should look for support boots. Events with hard, fast maneuvers also make support boots a good option. Protective boots offer your horse added protection like those football pads we mentioned earlier. If there is a chance the he might be banging his legs on each other or on something else, then protection type boots can add the padding and defend him from injury.Protection of specific areas of the horse's foot can also be added. Bell boots are also protective gear for your horse that prevent injury from over-reaching. When a horse over-reaches he strikes the front foot with the hind foot. Many things can cause this; conformation, deep ground, pulling a load, and other causes. Severe damage to the coronary band can occur, and if it scars the hooves can grow abnormally for the rest of the horse's life. Bell boots add a layer of protecting and padding around the coronary band so that if the horse does over-reach, injury is unlikely. Another type of protective boot is the skid boot. Reiners, calf ropers, and other equine athletes that stop hard and deep in the ground with their hind end can burn the fetlocks of their rear feet. If this happens often, they will become hesitant to 'get in the ground', or stop deep. Skid boots feature a hard plastic cup that covers and defends that fetlock area.

How can you tell which boots are which? Sports medicine boots help your horse stay strong by offering a little extra support to the tendons and ligaments. These boots have a sling or cradle design that wraps around the fetlock joint (where the cannon bone, sesamoids, and pastern meet. Protective boots usually feature hard plates of leather of plastic with padding underneath. Boot manufacturers have also designed boots for those of us who need a little bit of both protection and support by adding neoprene lining to the support boots to increase the padding.

To see our full selection of leg gear, click here.

Emergency Survival Guide

Natural disasters and emergencies happen, whether we are prepared for them or not. I have watched disasters like Katrina on television. I even drove through Happy, Texas just two hours after a rather large part of the town was leveled by a tornado in 2002. Then in 2006 grass fires destroyed more than 600,000 acres of ranch land here in the panhandle. People I knew, who I saw every week or every month, lost everything. I heard many stories, horrible things, that had happened but one that really stuck with me was a customer of ours. They didn't have time or trailer space to get her rodeo horses out. The best they could do was turn them into the arena, dirt - no grass to burn around them. And it saved their lives. The fire roared over them so fast that they were not even severly burned. But it singed off all their hair. They had to put sheets on the horses so that the blowing ash, dirt, and debris would not literally sand through their hide. I remember thinking then that it could have happened anywhere. That could have been my home, laid flat by mother nature. My horses, standing defenseless against even the ceaseless West Texas wind.

Absolutely Nothing in our power can prevent these things from happening. The only thing we can change is what we do when something does occur. We need to think about the things we can do to minimize the damage and the trauma for ourselves and our families. And yes, even our animals. And we need to think of all these things ahead of time. When I found this guide, by The Horse.com, I knew we needed to share it with other horse owners. Please take a look at it, spend some time over the next few days, and go through it. It may seem like a lot (15 pages) but if something did happen to you and yours, you would be glad that you put forth the effort.

http://www.thehorse.com/pdf/emergency/emergency.pdf

Tom Balding Bits and Spurs

If you've been in my tack room you might know that my favorite bits are Tom Baldings. Now, I don't have just a whole lot of them, but I think I have more of them than any other single maker. Except for maybe Duttons. But anyway, for finished horses they are my absolute #1 first choice. Here is a neat slide show that takes you on a tour of Tom Balding's Bits and Spurs. If you ever get to Sheridan, Wyoming stop in and see the real deal. I know I will!

Stacey

http://www.tombalding.com/tour.htm

Words from the Miller's

On August 15, 1987 Howard Schultz purchased a small chain of coffeehouses in Seattle, Washington. That was what it was--a small chain. Howard at the time said it was his biggest goal to open a store in Portland, Oregon. A few decades later there are 11,000 stores in 37 countries and every week there are approximately 35 million customers! You have probably guessed what Howard bought back in 1987--Starbucks--yes that is right. His biggest goal then was to open a shop in Portland and for the record Starbucks opens 5 new stores everyday, 365 days a year!! He almost passed up the opportunity because it was in his mind a little pricey, $4 million. He knew he had to seize the opportunity, if he let too much time slip by and not step out of his comfort zone the moment would pass. On June 26, 1992, less than 5 years after Howard stepped out of his comfort zone Starbuck's stock went public. It was the second most active stock traded on the NASDAQ and when the closing bell rang its market capitalization was at $273 million. Do you remember he only paid $4 million. Not a bad investment.

With all that said and the history of Howard and Starbucks the point is this: You don't have to have $4 million to buy a business. All you have to have is the heart to seize opportunities around you. The bible says this in Colossians 4:5, " Make the most of every opportunity". We are surrounded by God-ordained opportunities--opportunities to love, laugh, to give, to learn, and to serve. Seeing and seizing those opportunities is exactly what it means to follow Christ and be filled with the Spirit.

What we have to understand is that "Starbucks opportunities" don't come to us gift wrapped on a silver platter with a neon sign saying this is our opportunity! It often times comes at the most inopportune times and in the most inopportune places. What we as Christians have to ask God to help us see are the opportunities not the problem. The Chinese language captures this truth. The Chinese word for "crisis" is made of two characters--one means danger and the other means opportunity. Problems are really opportunities in disguise.

So, it is easy to read and say Colossians 4:5, "Make the most of every opportunity", but how do we do it. The answer is found in verse 2, "Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful". Those who live in prayer mode see further than others, before others see them and things that others don't see.

In closing, the biggest opportunity we can seize is to accept Jesus as our Savior. John 1:12 says "But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God." All you have to do is agree to a set of terms like the ones in Corinthians 5:21. "God made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." God says to us let me have all your wrong and give them to me. I will give you everything Jesus did right and give them to you and we will call it even. Very simply put we put our faith in who Christ is and what he has done for us.

So why wait--SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY!!

Oh yeah, another girl for the Miller household!! I think we are still in shock from the news but once she is here we won't know why we ever thought we needed a boy. Kelly on the other hand may disagree in about 10 years. I'm sure we will deal with lots of drama!!

Kenley just celebrated her 5th birthday this week. Can't believe she is that old already. She loves horses and all that goes along with them. She got to go and help Robyn do a photo shoot for Coolhorse by helping get the horses where they needed to be-with a little help of course!

Brylee loves cats of all ages. She got kinda attached to one during our photo shoot and named it Elena. Because we have 2 dogs we decided that taking home a kitten might not be a great idea, Grammy got to take it home with her.

Returning from HPJRA Finals

Well, the Harris family has just returned from a week in Clovis, New Mexico at the High Plains Junior Rodeo Assoc. finals. It was a great trip, considering several inches of mud and slop! The kids had fun and made some awesome runs inspite of the weather. Luckily the arena began to dry and the kids were able to step up the competition.

Matt and I have discussed the pros and cons of our kids competing in rodeo. We do spend almost every weekend during the summer on the road and it's difficult to be away from home and the store. We are so blessed with the wonderful people that work at Coolhorse. We couldn't do this without them. Even still, being gone so much isn't easy and we don't travel near as much as some of the families that we know. Many of these 'rodeo families' will be gone as much as five weeks this summer! That is unbelievable!

However, the flip side to this is that, we believe, something is being instilled in our children that they might not gain anywhere else. Yes, any rodeo parent knows that there are many frustrating times. The practice pen can get pretty intense and some rodeos don't turn out the way we had hoped. There are the times that Addi leaves the arena with tears in her eyes because her horse hit the end pole; the times that Jake is frustrated because he didn't draw a steer that bucks; the times that Pryce loses patience with his calf horse because he's not working the rope. But at the end of the day, the trials have taught them to find something to be happy about during a sad time, to turn a frustrating situation into something positive, to dig down deep and find patience even when they don't think there is any patience left.

Oh yeah, we're tired! But we're all together every weekend and I'd rather be tired together than rested apart!

Missy

Equine Dentistry

T. J. Barclay, DVM

Horses have teeth that are much different than those of most other domestic animals or humans. Horses’ teeth erupt, or grow, throughout their entire life, unlike our teeth which fully erupt when we are young and then stop growing. These teeth are ideally suited to the way a horse naturally eats – grazing plants almost constantly throughout the day. This constant grinding action would quickly wear down teeth like ours, but horses’ teeth grow to match the rate of wear.

However, problems can arise when we take our horses out of that natural setting and change the way they eat. We feed them a different diet, often partially made up of grain which is softer than roughage, and limit their time spent eating to just a few hours a day.

This causes the horse’s teeth to wear unevenly and develop sharp points which interfere with the grinding action of the teeth and can also cause ulcers on the cheeks and tongue. This, along with other dental abnormalities such as diseased or broken teeth, retained deciduous (baby) teeth, and gum disease can lead to several different symptoms in the horse. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), these include:

1. Loss of feed from mouth while eating, difficulty with chewing, or excessive salivation.
2. Loss of body condition.
3. Large or undigested feed particles (long stems or whole grain) in manure.
4. Head tilting or tossing, bit chewing, tongue lolling, fighting the bit, or resisting bridling.
5. Poor performance, such as lugging on the bridle, failing to turn or stop, even bucking.
6. Foul odor from mouth or nostrils, or traces of blood from the mouth.
7. Nasal discharge or swelling of the face, jaw or mouth tissues.
   

If you see any of these symptoms in your horse, you should have an oral exam performed by your veterinarian. He or she can then diagnose the problem and provide the appropriate treatment. Many of these problems can be prevented by routine dental examinations by your vet. Mature horses should be examined yearly. Horses from 2-5 years of age should be examined twice yearly, as many problems arise in these young horses. During this time period the horse sheds its 24 deciduous (baby) teeth and up to 44 permanent teeth erupt.

One of the most common dental procedures performed is occlusal equilibration, often referred to as “floating.” This is where the veterinarian uses a rasp or, more commonly these days, a motorized instrument to smooth the points that have developed on the cheek teeth. Other procedures that may be performed if needed are extraction of retained deciduous teeth, extraction of wolf teeth (small vestigial teeth that often times interfere with the bit), correction of malocclusions, and extraction of broken or abscessed teeth.

Most veterinarians who practice equine medicine provide dental services. If your vet does not, he or she can refer you to another vet who does. Also, the Texas Veterinary Medical Association has provided an online list of veterinarians who practice equine dentistry. This list can be viewed at www.tvma.org. For more information about equine dentistry and other health issues, visit the American Association of Equine Practitioners website at www.aaep.org.

Another Win for Fast Back!

Another BFI Win for Fast Back Cowboys

Congratulations Clay Tryan for his BFI victory and over $84,000 in cash and prizes. This is the fourth consecutive year a Fast Back team member has been in the winner’s circle at annual Bob Feist Invitational and Clay’s second BFI win. In 2005 Clay and Fast Back teammate, Patrick Smith, took home the honors and went on to win PRCA world championships that December.

“It’s awesome anytime you win the BFI,” says Tryan. “It means a lot to me to have won it twice.”

Fast Back cowboy, Blaine Linaweaver, set the pace by winning the first go-round with a 6.15-second run. He and partner Richard Durham went on to place in three go-rounds, pocketing the team over $20,00. Another Fast Back cowboy, Patrick Smith, won the second round with partner Trevor Brazile and placed again in the fifth round resulting in Fast Back wins in every go-round.

Clay Tryan’s signature 4-strand rope, the Ultimate 4, took he and all the other Fast Back cowboys to the pay window during the BFI, earning over $107,000 in cash and prizes.

Well, the Harris family is well into the junior rodeo season. It seems like we’ve been going nonstop since March. I guess we’ve been going enough that a weekend at home is a much welcomed treat!

Pryce and Jake, ages 15 and 13, are determined to go to every calf roping feasibly possible, in addition to High Plains junior rodeos. Addi, age 7, has finally decided that if she’s going to go along every weekend she may as well be competitive. It’s been fun watching her set goals for herself and then achieve them.

The whole family just returned from a week in Gonzales, Texas where Jake competed in the Wrangler Division Junior High State Finals. If you haven’t ventured far enough into south Texas to stop by Gonzales, you’ve missed out. The birth place of Texas independence and hot, hot, hot! We had a great time! There was lots of great calf roping, team roping, barrel racing, pole bending, chute dogging, goat tying and bull riding. Of course, we tried to do some other fun stuff while we were there. The arena was located along side the Guadalupe River. The kids all thought that was great! There’s just nothing like swimming in the river.

Another big treat was a trip to Port Lavaca. Pryce, Jake and Addi had never seen the ocean. Every summer Matt and I vow we are going to take them to the beach. But as summer always does, it flies by and it’s time for school to start. This year we had several free hours one day while in Gonzales and decided to take a quick trip to the beach. Combing the map, it looked like Port Lavaca was the closet beach being just 80 miles from Gonzales. Along with another family we jetted to the beach for a few hours. What fun! The waves were huge and all the kids got to experience a mouth full of salt water. We can check that off our list!

It’s good to be home….for a while any way.

24th Annual Ogdens 8 & Under World Champion Barrel Race

24th Annual Ogdens 8 & Under World Champion Barrel Race & $2,000 Added Open 4D
(BBR Approved)

When: August 15, 16 & 17 - 2008
ACE Arena
Andrews, Texas

Cowboy Classic Saddles to open 4D winners.

$250 Added to 8 & under
Paul Humphrey saddle to 8 & under champion
Buckle to 8 & under reserve
Top ten jackets to 8 & under finalists
Prizes to all 8 & under contestants
8 & under age as of August 16, 2008

Average awards for Saturday/Sunday youth and senior classes
Enter by Augustin 1st to avoid late fees

Friday, August 15
2PM - 7PM - Exhibitions - $4
7:30PM - 8 & Under - $15
Youth 3D - $20
$100 Added 4D Open - $25
3D Seniors - $20
$5 office charge Friday
NO LATE FEE FOR FRIDAY
ENTER FRIDAY ON ARRIVAL

Saturday, August 16
8AM - 12PM - Exhibitions - $4
1PM - 1st go - Ogdens 8 & Under
3D Youth - $20
$1000 Added Open 4D - $45
3D Senior - $20

Sunday, August 17
9AM - 11:30Am - Exhibitions
12PM - 2nd Go - Ogdens 8 & Under
3D Youth - $20
Short Go - Ogden's 8 & Under
$1000 Added Open 4D - $45
3D Senior - $20

80% ENTRY FEES/100% ADDED MONEY PAY BACK
$15 PROCESSING FEE AND $10 LATE FEE FOR SATURDAY/SUNDAY

ENTER UP TO LAST 25 HORSES IN OPEN 4D

FOR ENTRY BLANKS AND INFORMATION
CONTACT LISA OGDEN @ 806-439-6663
oR
RAYLENE COX @ 325-529-5636
OR DOWNLOAD FROM
www.EBarrelRacing.com

Words From The Millers

How many of you have ever heard of Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals? He made his fortune as an exeutive at AOL, but if you really want to appreciate who he is and how he got there, you have to go back just a bit to 1983. He was 25 and was on a flight that lost its ability to use its wing flaps and landing gear. As most airlines do they gave a crash course in crash landing! During all of this Ted began to think about what he would do with his life if he survived this and said that he promised himself that if he didn't die, he'd play offense for the rest of his life. He did survive and came up with a list of 101 things that he wanted to do. To date, he has accomplished 74 of the 101. Here are some of the goals he has accomplished to date:
1) Fall in love and get married.
14) Gain a net worth of $100 million, after taxes.
22)Create the world's largest media company.
24) Own a jet.
35) Give $1 million to Georgetown University.
40)Own a sports franchise.
86) Invent a board game.
92) Hold an elective office.

This was his mission statement if you will for his life: Play offense.

You know Satan wants us to live in a defensive mode and he uses two pretty good things to accomplish that--fear and discouragement. He wants us to turn the other way from fear and uncertainty but Christ calls us to go straight to it. You know doing nothing wrong doesn't constitute doing something right. Goodness is not the absence of badness. Here are some things that scripture says about offense.

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil." Ephesians 6:11

"...put on the new man, the one created according to God's (likeness) in righteousness and purity of the truth.

"Since you put away lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. Be angry and do not sin. Don't let the sun go down on your anger, and don't give the Devil an opportunity. The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need" Ephesians 4:24-28

So, as a challenge to anyone reading, list 10 life goals (risks). Go out and and stand with the armor of God and challenge yourself to do something you never have before out of your comfort zone. God bless.


Hello, we are Kelly and Robyn Miller. Once a week Kelly leads a small bible study at Foust Feeds to encourage and gain encouragement from those that attend. This is just a small bit of the study taken from the book, "Chase the Lion" by Mark Batterson. Kelly has been employed at Foust for 10 years doing all the commercial feeds sales. Robyn started working there in 1996 and is currently staying at home with 2 beautiful girls, Kenley and Brylee, (left) and working part time from home for Foust. As you can see there isn't a dull moment! This is them taking a mud bath. We are also expecting another baby in November--we find out this month if Kelly will have to deal with 4 women everyday or if he will finally have a little boy! We will keep you posted.

Do you have Mojo?

Cactus Ropes introduced the all new Mojo head and heel rope out this month.

What is the mojo rope you ask?

Conjure up a winning run with the Mojo. This is the biggest four strand head rope that Cactus Team Ropes makes. Best suited for those who like a full bodied rope. Mojo is a poly blend, solid white color, and is 31 feet long.

See more Mojo click here. http://www.coolhorse.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=COOLHORSE&Category_Code=Cactus

What does "mojo" actually mean?

Mojo (pronounced /ˈmoʊdʒoʊ/) is a term commonly encountered in the African-American folk belief called hoodoo. A mojo is a type of magic charm, often of red flannel cloth and tied with a drawstring, containing botanical, zoological, and/or mineral curios, petition papers, and the like. It is typically worn under clothing.

Oh and the Mojo gets better. Also available in a Lite head rope.

See Mojo Lite click here. http://www.coolhorse.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=COOLHORSE&Product_Code=MOJOLITEHD&Category_Code=Cactus

Will I receive magical powers from this rope?

ONLY if you try one................

Equine Vaccines: What Does My Horse Really Need?

T. J. Barclay, DVM

“Doc, does my horse really need all those shots?” I wish I had a dime for every time I’ve heard those words! Routine vaccinations are one of the most basic aspects of general horse care, but are frequently misunderstood and misused. In this article I will discuss vaccination of adult horses (yearlings can also be included in this category). Vaccination of broodmares, foals, and weanlings will be covered in a later article.

The question of “What vaccines do horses need?” does not have a single answer. It depends on several things, such as age, environment, prior vaccination status, and what the horse does for a living. In order to simplify these considerations, vaccines can be divided into two groups: Core and Non-core. Core vaccines are those which all horses need “just because they’re horses”. These vaccines are for diseases that occur in all areas of the country and can be contracted by any horse regardless of age, environment, or activity. Non-core vaccines are for diseases that only occur under special circumstances. Below I will list both core and non-core vaccines recommended in the Texas Panhandle and how often they should be administered. For most vaccines, if a horse has never been vaccinated, they will require a series of two or three shots initially.

Core vaccinations include the following:

• Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis – Given yearly in the spring – Commonly known as “sleeping sickness”, these diseases are caused by viruses that are spread by mosquitoes.
  
• West Nile Encephalitis – Given yearly in the spring –West Nile virus is also spread by mosquitoes and many horse owners in this area are all too familiar with this disease.
  
• Tetanus – Given yearly – Similar to the disease in humans, tetanus is usually contracted through penetrating wounds. If a horse sustains a laceration or puncture and has not had a tetanus vaccine within the last 6 months, a booster should be given immediately.
  
• Rabies – Given yearly – Although not required by law as in dogs and cats, rabies is important to protect the health of horses and their owners. Rabies is contagious to humans and if contracted, is always fatal.

Non-core vaccines and the conditions under which they should be given are as follows:

• Influenza – Given every 6 months – “Flu” is a highly contagious viral disease that causes fever, coughing, and nasal discharge. Any horse that is or will be in contact with other horses, such as at rodeos, shows, sales, boarding stables, or breeding farms should be vaccinated.
  
• Equine Herpes Virus – Given every 6 months – Rhinopneumonitis, commonly known as “Rhino”, causes symptoms similar to the flu virus and can also cause abortions in mares. Like flu, vaccination for EHV is needed in horses that are routinely exposed to other horses.
  
• Streptococcus equi – Given every 6 months – “Strangles” is a bacterial disease that causes abscess formation in the jaw and throatlatch area as well as respiratory disease. Vaccination should be considered in horses that are exposed to other horses. Vaccines for strangles typically have a lower success rate and a higher rate of side effects than other vaccines, but the benefits of vaccination often outweigh the risks.
  
• Equine Viral Arteritis – This virus causes abortion in mares, and fever, respiratory disease, and limb swelling in other horses. There are many things to consider when deciding whether or not to vaccinate for this disease. You should consult with your veterinarian to learn more.

Another decision that owners must make is whether to give vaccines themselves or to have their veterinarian give them. For owners who are comfortable with giving injections, this option is often more convenient. However, there are several benefits to having vaccinations performed by your veterinarian after a thorough physical examination. If your horse has a subtle problem, the doctor can often detect it before it becomes severe and give the proper treatment. Also, vaccination time is a perfect opportunity for your vet to get to know you and your horses, rather than meet for the first time in the middle of the night when you have an emergency.

For more information, the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has recently published updated guidelines for vaccination of horses. These can be viewed at www.aaep.org/vaccination_guidelines.htm. Also, remember that your veterinarian is the most important source of information about vaccines and horse health in general. He or she can help you tailor a vaccination program to your situation, whether your herd is one horse or a hundred!