Monsters in the Bushes!

June 22nd, 2010

I live in North Idaho where there are many monsters in the woods to spook my horse on a trail ride.  Moose, several species of bear, elk and deer, and wolf and coyote just to name a few. Then there are the human monsters on four wheels and two and afoot with their canine friends.  By far the worst spooks have  feathers. Wild Turkeys are at the top of the list. But even they cannot match the fierce mother Grouse!!

Mary on her trusty steed, Brandy, a big stout Quarter Horse mare, joined up with Kathy and I on our pinto Paso Finos for a Saturday afternoon ride up on Blanchard Mountain. Kathy’s gelding, Tempest and my gelding Rico are half brothers and very well matched in gait. Brandy has to trot to keep up, but Mary doesn’t mind, She always stays behind us because it is easier to keep up rather than keep pushing Brandy to go faster than she would rather go in the lead because she feels pushed by our faster walking horses.

Blanchard mountain is covered with 4 wheeler trails and old logging roads, and these link with some well used game trails. It is also covered with lush underbrush, many different species of pines and lots of taller brush. And mixed with all these are the wild flowers and weeds.

Today was a windy day and all these colors were moving and swaying and making a bit of noise too. The further up the mountain we got the wilder it got. A few snags were screeching like Banshees. Our horses were a bit edgy but very valiant and brave.

My gelding, 5 year old Rico is wonderful at taking the lead or whatever, and we were in the lead today. Kathy kept Tempest either behind me or walking side by side. And of course Brandy was right behind us.  We rode like this most of the two hour ride. We were on our way back and right on top of the ridge when a Monster appeared.

Now I must give you a little back ground on our horses so you won’t think them wild crazy broncs.  When Rico spooks, he freezes and his head shoots straight in the air. He must look majestic indeed to an onlooker. Usually this is all that happens. Sometimes there will be a jerk in his flesh as if his reflexes are trying to work, but he instantly overrides them.  Most of the time he will even inch forward to get a better look at whatever the monster may be.  Tempest does pretty much the same thing. Brandy can jump to the side like nobodies business as if doing some major cow cutting, but she is the last to spook at anything.

So here we are plodding down the trail at a walk, Tempest and Rico side by side and Brandy right behind us. Suddenly Rico and Tempest freeze at the same time. I can’t see or hear anything unusual and the brush is up to our horses bellies on either side of the 4 wheeler trail. Rico’s ears are nearly in my face he is so “on alert”. Of course I sit there like a lump thinking we are about to see a Moose or something. Suddenly we have switched ends and are running in terror straight back down the trail. Rico means business too, because he is on a dead run with his head down. He is starting to pitch and I realize I am clamped down on him like a cat. As I put my feet down and pull on the reins he stops pitching. Then it takes some major pulling on one rein to get his attention. He finally gives his jaw and lets me stop him. Wow, this has all taken place in about 5 seconds. This was not slow motion like some people see, but to me it was super speed. I don’t remember seeing either Brandy or Tempest in this so we must have turned outward and been the first down the trail.

After we turned around we could see the monster about 50 feet back. Standing there in the middle of the trail was the biggest Wild Chicken I had ever seen. She had her hands on her hips and she was clucking mad. Her feathers were puffed out and she looked like she could be carrying bar bells.  She stood there a few seconds in defiance and then disappeared into the brush. Brandy was closest,  Tempest was next then Rico and I on down the trail.  All three horses let out a sigh in unison and dropped their heads to relax. Of course they were at least three seconds ahead of us, and then we in turn began to relax and laugh.

As we gathered our wits and put the pieces together, Mary told us what she saw from the back. Rico and Tempest froze and their heads shot up in unison. Then that little hen jumped right up into Rico’s face. Rico and Tempest turned in beautiful unison and Rico flew past everyone. Tempest almost plowed into Brandy who was just starting her turn. Mary doesn’t think Brandy even saw what was happening until the other two had flipped ends. The hen didn’t just jump up at us, she was in hot pursuit for a few paces so all three horses were getting out of the way as fast as they could.

Needless to say, nobody wanted to go first past that spot to go home, but Rico inched his way ahead and The Killer Wild Chicken was long gone. He looked for her all the way down the hill as the bushes and trees swayed and moved and squeaked. As the wind subsided and we got off the ridge, his fears also subsided.

We walked into the yard like worn out nags.  What a ride!!

I don’t know how Brandy, Rico, and Tempest look back on their experience, but Mary, Kathy, and I just shake our head and laugh out loud.

Gail Springer is owner of PFL Inc., a tack and saddle business. Come browse the shop and take a look at our Leather-Flex Saddles.  The answer for those who want more security than treeless, and more comfort  than a hard tree.

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My Father is My Hero

June 9th, 2010
My father is my hero and he wears many hats.
Growing up, I watched him birth and nurture the tinyest bird to the largest bovine.  He never wears gloves but his hands are gentle, even though they are hard and caloused from work. He loves his animals and caring for them gives him a reason to get up and get going in the mornings. He is the keeper of his domain and a gentle soul.
My father is horseman. Grandpa made a living in the depression by trading horses and mules. He would buy the ones that were spoiled or mean and turn them around. He would then resell them or rent them out as
driving teams for land leveling and farming. My father learned from grandpa. He has a way of moving around horses that is natural. He has the touch.
My father is a cattleman.  He started out with milkers and bred them to good beef bulls. His calves were fast growing and hardy. As the years went by and the milking cows did too, his beef operation was set up.
My father is a shepherd. He has always loved sheep, to my mothers dismay. He has now added goats to the herd to control weeds. Yes, he was the guy who used his teeth to pull out the testes when casterating the lambs and kids. And we seared the lambs tails off with a hot iron.
My father is a farmer. This is what he really wanted to do with his life. He quit his job as line foreman on the Union Pacific Railroad to farm his 80 acres as soon as it was paid off. Yes, you can make a living on 80 acres and raise 4 kids doing it. We were all taught to drive tractors and irrigate at a young age. He raised corn for silage that stood higher than his head when he stood on the tractor seat. My brother and I demossed the irrigation ditch by riding our horss back and forth in it to break loose the moss. Dad would catch it with a fork and pitch it out of the ditch into hugh mounds. We milked cows with a milking machine bucket and put the milk cans in a water cooler for daily pickup. We raised our own hay and picked it up by hand. We raised and butchered our own chickens. We raised a hugh garden.
My father is a provider. I didn’t know it until I started school that we were considered poor. Our cars were old and our cloths were worn, but we were healthy and wealthy in knowledge. My father made sure we knew how to survive as adults by teaching us to survive as children.  We were never hungry. We were never barefoot. We were never naked. We were well cared for. And we were certainly never bored!
My father is an honest man. I remember him marching my brother on foot back to the local gas station to return a pencil he had stolen. He would never steel himself, and would not tolerate it in others. If someone wronged him, he would take it once, but not a second time. He was helpful to his neighbors and accepted help in return.
My father loves deeply. He has always shown love for his 4 children, but the one that brings love to mind is my mother. He loves her unconditionally. This year they will be married 64 years. She can cut him to the quick in a heart beat with her tongue, but he would never forsake her for a minute. She is the love of his life. The cement that holds them together is made from working together through great times and tragedy.
My father suffers silently. I have seen his heart break, yet he does not speak. I saw it when I told him I was moving away. I saw it when my brother left for Vietnam. I saw it when he told me his baby brother had died. The hurt is there strewn among the treasures in his heart.
My father is great at math. He quit school in the 8th grade to get a job so his brother could finish school. But even with only an 8th grade education he can still outdo me in math with no calculator.
My father has an artist inside. Grandma gave me some of the artwork he did when he was a boy. Because I have the bent toward art and my son is a natural, I can only assume my father has an artist living inside that never had a chance to come out. Well, in a way, that artist is coming out in us.
My father hates sour cream and milk. When he was a child, a mouse died in a pail of milk that had clabbered. He saw it when the milk was poured from the bucket. It sent him retching outside. He can’t think smell or look at sour cream to this day without feeling sick to his stomach. He said he could drink anything up until then.
My father has sacrificed much. Besides giving up school for his brother, he enlisted into the army to serve in world war II. He spent time in France and saw the horrors of war and how it affected the civilians there. He sacrificed for his country so we would not have to see war here.
My father thought white bread was cake. When he was a child in poverty during the depression, some ladies from the local church brought a box of groceries by during the Christmas season. It was the first time he had ever tasted white sliced bread. He thought it was cake. How can I wrap my mind around that!!
My father loved his father. I have never heard him say anything hateful about Grandpa. In fact he quotes him quite often. One of my favorites is: “One kid is a kid, two kids is half a kid, and three kids is no kid at all.” But I once met a woman who said my grandpa was the meanest man she had ever known. She felt sorry for my dad when he was growing up. Obviously my father had a high respect for grandpa, even though he was tough. Maybe that toughness is what shaped my fathers gentleness and character.
My father is my hero. I want to be like him, I strive to be like him. Am I simply blind when I say I can’t see anything bad in him, or is that just what we do with our hero’s? In his mid 80’s he is still irrigating, taking care of his farm and animals, raising his own garden, and loving my mother. I admire him so, how could he not be my hero!

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Eventration of the Inguenal Ring

May 17th, 2010

Numen Estelar Paso Fino StallionThis is a big term used to describe a condition that happens to a horse after castration when the small intestine decides to escape through the holes left in the abdominal wall that were occupied by the testicle cords before castration.

This is the story of my Stallion, Numen Estelar and his experience in 2006

It goes without saying that Numen Estelar and I were a team. My husband says we had a thing going. He was not only my riding buddy, but as a stallion, accepted me as his leader and respected me.  He loved being groomed and I guess I may be dreaming, but I really think he looked forward to seeing me each day, at least his knickers made me feel that way.
Paul and I decided to stop breeding horses, so we decided to geld Numen and retire him to a life of pleasure riding.  Yesterday was that day. Unfortunately, our plan to liberate him from a life of being caged alone turned into liberating him of his life. The following is an accounting of the day. My hope is that what Numen and my family & friends went through will in some way help others to not go through the same agony.
The vet arrived at 10:30.  I brought Numen into the barn and we gave him routine anesthetic, laid him down, and we did a routine castration.  He came through with flying colors. Being a Paso Fino with strong constitution, he got up faster than a normal horse. Everything looked good. The vet left and Numen was rummaging around for scraps of hay. Everyone went to the house for a bite to eat and a break.
About an hour later we came back to the barn. I didn’t hear anything and decided to look in on him. When I couldn’t see him standing I looked over the edge and there he was lying practically upside down with a bundle of entrails hanging out of the scrotum area. They were in a bunch about a gallon in amount. He was in obvious pain and panting.  I rushed outside and called the vet on my cell.
As soon as Cindy saw what was going on she ran to get Paul.  We tried to keep Numen calm until the vet again arrived. We were told to try to keep the entrails wet. Numen was in so much pain that he was hitting himself on the walls. He collapsed and knocked me down and almost rolled on me. He rolled himself up on his back against the wall. It must have been the most comfortable position he could find because he stayed that way for about 10 minutes. We just kept wet paper towels on the entrails bundle and tried to sooth him.  He was groaning and sweating and panting. I can’t even imagine the pain he must have been going through. He got up again and went down again one more time. This time we sat on his shoulder and neck to keep him down. All we could do until help arrived was pet him and talk to him. It must have been a half hour until the vet got there. Numen immediately got pain relief. I thank God for pain medicine.
The vet said that his small intestine had worked out through the hole that was left after the testicle was cut off.  The cords run up through into the abdominal cavity and after the testicle is cut off, they shrink up and leave a hole. Once a loop of intestine starts into an opening it is like a snake and just keeps going.  Numen’s only hope of survival was surgery at Washington State University Veterinary hospital to put the intestine back in place.  They had already been called and were expecting us. They were a three hour drive away.
We held Numen down and the intestine was packed into the scrotum cavity and sewn in. Numen was given lots of pain meds and he got up on his feet and walked outside to the horse trailer.  He actually nickered to the other horses. It gave me strength. He was clumsy, but he loaded. We left him loose just in case he would go down but he had side panels to lean on for stability.  The vet gave me more pain meds to give him on the way.
What a horrendous drive it was. I drove and Paul kept me company and answered the phone.  Periodically Numen would poke his nose out the side slit in the trailer, as was his custom, and this gave me hope. I knew that as long as he did this that he was still on his feet. Two thirds of the way there I started to see that his nostrils were flaring pretty big and he seemed to be panting. We stopped at a rest stop and I gave him the pain meds. The rest of the way there he did not put his nose out, but I could see a wisp of his forelock flying out the window. So I knew he was still on his feet. What a tough little horse he was. I was praying and telling God how much this guy meant to me. My heart was literally aching in my chest. God calmed me and let me know that he too had a special place in his heart for the horse. After all he is coming back on a magnificent white one. I found comfort in this.
A team of people were waiting for us at WSU.  We opened up the trailer and I led Numen out. He nearly fell as he took the step down and I really had to lift hard on his head to help him out. He walked into the place and down the hall and into a well lit stall. There were lots of questions, and forms to sign and Numen was hooked up to tubes and had his temperature taken, and was given more drugs. They shaved his belly.
The surgeon told us that there was about a 50% chance of him making it through at this point. She told us that several things could happen. The best thing would be that Numens small intestine could be cleaned up, stuffed back in, and he would recover. The next best thing would be that just a small piece of intestine would be damaged and it could be cut out and put back together. From there his chances would go down as the damage gets worse. The procedure to save a horse like this will cost from $2500 to over $10000, depending on the complications. Paul and I decided that we owed it to our friend to find out what kind of damage his intestine had before we decided what to do next.
As they readied the surgery room, they said we could be with Numen. As I walked into the stall, I said, “Hello Buddy” and he tried to walk to me. The attendant gave me the rope and said I could hold him. Paul and I just stroked him and talked to him and he relaxed his neck and lowered his head.  I asked the attendant if they gave him a relaxer and he said no.  Numen obviously felt more comfortable with us. His neck and head were wet with our tears. Then they came for him and led him away. He walked away looking strong.  I still had some hope, but my heart told me to be realistic. I may never see my friend again.
Paul and I spent 2 long hours in the waiting room before someone came out to tell us what they found. We talked about what our decision would be if his condition were less than ideal. We decided that if he needed any resection at all, that we would have him put down. His quality of life was of the most importance, not our desire to keep him around, after all that is why we gelded him in the first place, to get him out of solitary confinement.
A Dr. came out with a report. More than half of his small intestine had herniated down through both holes where his testicle cords had been. If he were to be saved at least 10 feet of his intestine would have to be cut away (that is half). The contamination was bad and peritonitis was certain. If he lived past two weeks, he would have a bad case of laminitis because of the poison in his system. Continuous colic was also a certainty. Diarrhea would be his constant friend. For months he would have abdominal abscesses that would need drained as they occurred. Scar tissue would also be an issue and possibly more surgeries. He may not survive this surgery because his oxygen level was down more than 50%.  He also needed a plasma transfusion.  In short our friend was dying before we ever got to WSU. I could not believe he was in such bad condition yet was so strong. I knew this horse had heart, but this was incredible. He made it this far because we asked him to.
We asked lots of detailed questions to educate ourselves about this thing that had happened, i.e.; how it happens, how to prevent it, and how to know if it will happen before the castration, etc.
With tears we told the Dr. to put him down. He was already asleep and would simply not wake up. His terrible pain was over. She said we could come in and see him, but we didn’t want to see him on the operating table. We wanted to remember him as we last saw him, walking strongly away.  I asked for some of his beautiful tail hair. She left and was gone for almost 20 minutes. I asked Paul how long it takes to cut some hair.  She came back with an 8 by 8 inch bag. It was heavy and when I looked inside I cried again. They had cut washed and braided three foot of his tail hair for me. These are such incredibly thoughtful and wonderful people.
We left for the long drive home. It was good so we could talk and grieve together. We decided that God had made sure that we could not save him. Only He knows why, but of this we are certain. It was his time to go home. Our incredible friends who knew of the tragedy at hand were calling to hear news and sharing our sorrow.  We were already thinking of ways to share the news of this tragedy to help others who may want to prevent this from happening to them. The following small article is to help educate others. Numen will not have died in vane if even one other horse is saved from this horrible death.
Good bye Numen Estelar, our wonderful companion and friend.     Paul & Gail Springer
The condition:  Eventration of intestines through the inguinal ring.
The small intestine moves around in the abdominal cavity freely sliding over the openings after the testicle cords have pulled up through. Eventration happens when a loop of intestine slides down through an inguinal ring. Once this starts it is like a snake going through a hole. The intestine is about 20 feet long.
According to a veterinarian at Washington State University, about 7% of all castrations will end in this condition.  There is no warning that this may happen. Some think that abdominal pressure plays a part, but there is no way to test for this.  There is no way to tell which horses will have eventration and which ones will not. There is no way to see how large the inguinal rings are. It can happen for days following surgery. This condition happens as much to babies as older horses.  It is not possible to sew the inguinal rings closed in a field situation because they simply cannot be reached.
The only way to be sure that your horse will not have eventration is to have a sterile scrotal surgery done in a hospital. All the openings are then sewn closed, even the skin, preventing eventration from happening and contamination from entering. Sterile scrotal surgeries are costly, but only a fraction of the cost of saving a horse that has contaminated or damaged intestines. This could be an option if you have a priceless friend.
Story by Gail Springer, PFL Inc.  PFL Inc.

Numen Estelar 2004 Paso Fino Stallion

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Leather-Flex Tree Endurance Saddle

April 28th, 2010

Leather-Flex Endurance Saddle This saddle is not a treeless, but neither does it have a tree. The pommel and gullet area is made of steel in three different widths to fit virtually all sizes of horses. The Cantle is made of rigid foam to give support to the rider. The bars of the saddle are made of leather and foam and lay on either side of the horses spine to support the rider up away from the horses back. It gives a twist to the saddle for rider comfort, and provides a nice air channel down the gullet for the horses spine relief.

This saddle is a cutback version of the Flex Trail Saddle.  It can be ordered in either leather or synthetic. The leather version weighs between 16-19 pounds depending on size. The Synthetic saddle weighs between 12-15 pounds depending on size. You can order black or brown or a combination of the two. English billets or Center fire Rigging (shown). One or two inch stirrup leathers, Irons or western stirrups. You can even order it with an English flap.

The length of this saddle is determined by the seat size. A 16″ seated saddle is 23″ long. A 17″ is 24″ and so on.

For sizing:

To determine what gullet width will fit your horse, go to the Gullet Measurement Chart for directions. Then draw your horses wither on a piece of paper, write the measurements on the paper, scan it and send it to me. When you order a saddle this will be sent to the manufacturer so your saddle will for sure fit your horses withers properly. All breeds have a variation of wither widths within the breeds. Do not skip this step.

To determine seat size go to the seat size chart on the order page of our web site. The Leather-Flex Endurance saddle is sized between the English and the Western. If you ride a snug 17″ English or a snug 15″ Western, you will want a 16″ Endurance or Flex Trail saddle. The seat makes an acute rise to the pommel area (as you can see in the picture), so if you like a roomy seat, order 1/2″ larger size.

The Leather Flex Endurance saddle by Kuda will fit horse breeds from pony to Arabian to Andalusian to Quarter Horse and more.

Ride the saddle that gives the stability of a treed saddle, but gives your horse the freedom of a treeless. Try the Kuda Leather-Flex Endurance Saddle. Sold by PFL Inc. Link to PFL Inc. Store

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Carlos Tobon Clinic at Hacienda de Los Ninos Video #1

April 23rd, 2010

In the fall of 2008 and the spring of 2009, Carlos Tobon, premier trainer of Paso Finos and 2007 trainer of the year, came to Hacienda de Los Ninos in Plummer Idaho for a Paso Fino Training Clinic. Being a Paso Fino Breeder in the north west and  having limited access to trainers, of course I had to be there, and I took my notebook full of questions. I dare say Carlos did not dissapoint me when it came to being a great teacher. He understood my questions and made it very clear when explaining the difference in how to train the Paso Fino from other breeds. This blog will be the first of several that explain some of those differences. Those of us who come from the western riding style, or the English style, find it difficult to make the transition, but you must to get the best performance from your Paso Fino. This is not to say you can not be a cowboy and ride a Paso, or you can not practice dressage methods, but the Paso Fino does not collect the same as the trotting English horse and the headset is not the same as a Western horse. The Paso Fino is unique. Carlos Tobon finally convinced me that a Paso Fino must be trained differently. I have finally got it!! He answered many specific questions, but the following video shows far more than I can possibly tell you. Audio is not very good, but what you can hear is gold.

Blog by Gail Springer PFL Inc.  Link to PFL Inc. Store

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Horse Camping at Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

April 18th, 2010

Silver Falls State Park is about 20 miles east of Salem Oregon. The park has 5 horse sites with water and four corrals plus a group camp that will hold about 16 horses.  There are over 20 miles of trails you can ride on.  You might need front boots on your horses if they don’t have shoes because some of the trails can be pretty rocky.  I think they try to gravel some of them because the trails get pretty slick when it has rained-which in the PNW happens lots!  This is a great place to camp.  There is also a walking loop for people only that goes by a number of waterfalls.

Guest Post by Vickie Smith, Avid Trail Rider who resides in Kelso, Wa.

http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_211.php

Blog by PFL Inc. for Horse and Home  PFL Inc.

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Saddle Fit – Gullet Width and White Spots

April 10th, 2010

White spots and swellings on your horses withers can be frustrating and irritating. And when you go looking for information it does not help when manufacturers tell you to get a gullet that is as wide as possible for your horse. It certainly has to be wide enough, but a gullet opening that is too wide is just as damaging as a gullet opening that is too narrow. The standard set forth today is driven by the average horse, and that is the wide withered quarter horse. But as we all know, there are thousands of horses out there that are far from average, and chances are that you have one of them.

The secret to finding a hard tree saddle that has a gullet opening that is correct, is to measure your horses withers. Take a measurement and be prepared when going shopping. Make a cardboard shape of your horses withers and fit it up into the opening of the saddle you are interested in. This way you can make an informed decision if that pommel on that saddle will sit comfortably on your horse. Matching the bar angle is another matter and almost impossible to figure out even with the horse present, as there is so much leather and padding on the saddle between the horse and tree bars. But if the gullet width is correct, at least the tree bars will be in the correct position in the wither pocket and you can attempt to correct any mismatch of the bar angle with a good saddle pad.  Remember, just because the saddle looks good and feels good to you doesn’t mean it will be good for your horse.  Please, get the best fit you can for your horse and it will benefit you both in the long run.

Author, Gail Springer, is the owner of PFL Inc. Products for Horse and Home. Please come visit her online store.    Link to PFL Inc. Store PFL Inc.

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A Bit of Saddle History

April 5th, 2010

I find it interesting that the saddle tree was not used at all until the heavy equipment of war was thrown upon the horses back. It is easy to see why the hard tree was needed to help the horse brace against pressure when the men of old would clash in battle. The cowboys horse of today must brace against the pressure put upon it by a pulling steer in much the same way, but pleasure riding does not present the same situation. Many times the hard tree meant to protect the horses back actually creates pressure and a soft saddle would be more than enough of a barrier between horse and rider. Most riders of today do not spend the hours in the saddle on a single horse that it would take to do injury. And many riders need only to take a few riding lessons to learn to sit a horse properly to prevent any such injury.   I dare say that  injury caused by seat bones in riding bareback, or by riding soft saddles, treeless saddles, or leather-flex tree saddles is barely measurable compared to the injury caused by ill fitting hard treed saddles. This would be an interesting study.  Gail Springer, PFL Inc. Products for Horse and Home, Blanchard, Idaho   www.pflus.com info@pflus.com

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Questions and Answers about Paso Finos

April 5th, 2010

Maridel Merritt of Syringa Paso Finos has one of the nicest pages for explaining about the Paso Fino I have read. So instead of me trying to duplicate what she has already so eloquently said, please go to  her page.  The Paso Fino is so much more than “just a horse”.   Gail Springer, PFL Inc.

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Western States Paso Finos – A Great Information Hub

April 5th, 2010
Western States Paso Fino Logo

Western States Paso Fino Logo

Western States is an exclusive site for the Paso Fino in the West. Since the majority of Paso Fino Horses live in the south east, Western States Paso Finos gives those of us who live out this way a place to brag, show off, learn, and market our wares and horses. It is a non association meeting place for the show person as well as the back yard paso lover. Come take a look. The style Maridel Merritt of Syringa Paso Finos, presents and her journalistic expertise make it a winning site all around. Stories, pictures, dreams, they are all here. Come take a look.  www.westernstatespasofinos.com Gail Springer, PFL Inc. for Home and Horse, Contact Me

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PFL Inc. History – Metal Decor – Cutting Video

March 30th, 2010

The  Metal Decor part of PFL Inc. was established in 2001 to create custom designs in sheet metal.  The entire shop was outfitted with new equipment.

Plasma Cam was a great purchase and is the heart of our operation. This machine allows us to cut intricate shapes in to sheets of metal with the use of a plasma cutter.   It includes a 4 foot square cutting table which has a carriage and gantry.  This holds the cutting torch.  The torch is driven by servo motors which is controlled by a computer.  The Plasma Cam software has a great drawing program and also has the capability to import artwork.

Our second tool was the Hypertherm Power Max 1000 Plasma cutting torch.  This is a 50 Amp torch that has the cutting capabilities to best suits our needs. It can cut up to 3/4 inch thick plate.  Our most commonly used sheet metal ranges from 16 gauge to 1/4 inch with an occasional machinery part of up to 1/2 inch thick. We chose the larger torch to cut thicker materials as needed.  We also know that men tend to use tools past their intended limits and wanted this torch to stand up to the everyday heavy use.  And after 9 years this has proven to have been an excellent choice.  We have not had any break down issues.

Next was an air compressor. The Hypertherm Power Max 1000 torch needs a constant supply of clean, dry air to operate.  We chose the Husky 6 1/2 HP 240 volt 60 gallon for this.  It’s still in service after 9 years.
A good MIG welder was needed and we chose larger than our anticipated need.  The Lincoln Power Mig 200 Amp 220 volt has proved to be just that.  Again still in service.  We also have a portable Mig welder for installation applications on the job.  The Hobart Handler 140 was chosen for this.  It is plenty big for our needs and operates on 110 volt.  It uses either flux core wire or solid wire with gas.
Every metal shop needs a variety of small power tools.  We chose DeWalt for our grinders and sanders.  The DeWalt DW 402 4 1/2 inch grinders have really preformed well.  DeWalt also has an excellent DW 872 14 inch Multicutter Cold saw.  This saw cuts using a carbide blade instead of the traditional abrasive blade and makes a cleaner cut with less burs.  Best of all, it doesn’t put grinding dust into the air as do Hot saws.
It took about a month to get the shop set up, learn to run the equipment and get the bugs out.  Our first project was a simple silhouette of a horse with some text added.  The  Plasma Cam software was very user friendly for this.  For the next two years we made a variety of signs with text; mostly driven by customer ideas.  PFL Inc. now has over 400 silhouettes to choose from.
When a customer requested we incorporate some sheet metal artwork into some stair railings for them, it drove our business into another direction.  This expantion brought in bigger jobs including driveway gates, hand rails and subdivision signs.
After nine years we have discovered that not all jobs require sheet metal artwork, but the Plasma Cam machine has given us an edge, and is still one of our favorite shop tools.

PFL Inc., Blanchard, Id.,   www.pflus.com info@pflus.com

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Mary Ben, nearly 90 years young and still riding the Trails in Ok.

March 29th, 2010

Mary Ben Marshall and Rafta

Mary Ben and Rafta

Hi Gail, I thought you would be interested in this story and enjoy these pictures. They are of Mary Ben Marshall and her bay Fox Trotter, Rafta. She will be 90 years old before long and still rides and drives her own rig. I have enjoyed trail riding with Mary Ben about 15 years. In that time she has had a double mastectomy, crippling arthritis and pins and screws are the only thing that holds one of her legs together; thus the need for the cane. The only thing she could think about through all of this was how long would it take for her to get back in the saddle. She is a real inspiration. These pictures of her are the first ride 6 weeks after fracturing her pelvic bone in several places last year. She still uses a cane but throws it down as soon as she is mounted. The pics were taken at our Prague Lake trails. We have about 35 miles of trails and a wonderful Lake Ranger that really keeps the trails up!! Had to send one of Sweet, our Fox Trotter and me crossing the water at Sportsman, another nice local trail.

Camping at Prague Lake Recreation Area, Ok

Camping at Prague Lake Recreation Area, Ok

Mary Ben Marshall getting back in the saddle.

Mary Ben mounting for the first time after six weeks of recoup time.

Mary Ben mounted up. First Day back in the saddle.

Mary Ben, First Day Back in the Saddle.

Mary Ben and Rafta ready to ride.

Mary Ben and Rafta ready to ride.

Enjoying the day at Prague Lake

Enjoying the ride at Prague Lake, Ok

Linda White and her Fox Trotter, Sweet at Seminole Trail

Linda White and her Fox Trotter, Sweet at Seminole Trail

Praque Lake Recreation Area, Praque, Ok., Boating, fishing, RV and primitive camping, picnic areas, and more than 25 miles of equestrian and hiking trails. Shoreline length: 11 miles. Directions: 7 miles N of I-40, 3 miles W on Highway 62, 2 miles N on Lake Road, 1 mile E. Fee $2 per horse. For more information, contact Park Ranger Dale Goodnight at (405) 567-2805. Recent  improvements include water, electric and tie poles for horse campers. For more riding choices in Ok. please go to Oklahoma Horse Online.

This post was submitted by Linda White. Her and husband, Dale, have a second hand store. They sell everything from the Kitchen sink to Cowboy boots. Come visit, you may find the item you have been looking for. Linda also rides a Tennessee Walking horse named Major.
PFL Inc.
Paul and Gail Springer
224 Meadowland Dr
Blanchard, Id 83804
info@pflus.com
www.pflus.com

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Step 2 in Crupper Training

March 20th, 2010
Dollar, Paso Fino Gelding, Gets Crupper TrainingThe second step in training your horse to the crupper can be quick or slow, whichever you choose.  My favorite way is the quick way, but sometimes this is not appropriate if your horse is super sensitive. So I will go over both ways here.
First the quick way: I like to do this with the horse tied solid to a fence or post in the round pen. Also, make sure you have time to work through this before starting. You don’t want to cut the session short. First of all, you must be able to handle the tail without your horse objecting. Remember, once you get the crupper on, you must be able to get it back off, and if you can’t get near your horses tail, you have a problem.  Message the tail as in video one in Lesson One, and slip the crupper under the tail smoothly as shown in the video in this blog (below). Most of the time the horse will not realize immediately what has taken place and you have time to buckle the strap. It doesn’t matter at this point how tight it is, in fact it is better if it is loose, but get it buckled if possible. Now get out of the way and let your horse figure it out. If your horse clamps down on the crupper before you get it all the way under, you will just have to let go and hope all goes well. But get out of the way! After a while your horse should be relaxed enough to stand with his tail soft and not clamping down on the crupper. He will figure this out on his own.
Now the slow way. Play with your horses tail until he acts comfortable with it, then place a short piece of rope or leather, about 20 inches long, under the tail. The horse will clamp down on it with his tail. Get out of the way and let the horse think about what just happened. After a few minutes he should unclamp the tail and the rope or leather should fall down to the ground. At this point you play with the tail again and put the rope back under the tail again. Do this until the horse keeps his tail relaxed and the rope will not stay in place. At this point you are ready to put the crupper under the tail and buckle it loosley.
Both of these methods work to get the crupper on the horse for the first time. Now the reason you have your horse tied inside a round pen is because once he starts moving, the crupper becomes a concern all over again. Some horses scoot (Paso Finos!), some kick, some buck. I like to lunge my horses instead of letting them run free, but you can do either. The idea is to make them move. The sensation of the crupper under the tail will be a concern for several training sessions. They will clamp down on it at any time without warning until they get used to it, and even start liking it. Do not ride with the crupper until you have practiced in the round pen several times without incident.
After your horse stops reacting to the crupper on the ground. You can mount and ride in the round pen with it on. Reach back and pull on it lightly once in a while so he feels pressure while moving. This is what he will feel going down hill. If he is going to react while out on the trail it will be going downhill and having extra pressure on the crupper, so this is a good way to get him ready.
Now taking the crupper off is a backwards session of putting it on. Unbuckle the crupper, and play with the tail until you can lift it and remove the crupper tail piece. Do not just pull it out as the buckle will scratch the soft skin and this will end your session poorly. Work at it until you can do it softly and gently.
This may seem like a long lesson, but you need to get clear through all of it in one session. There is no half way in this training.  

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Step One – Crupper Training

March 19th, 2010
Crupper Tail Piece, Leather filled with Flax Seed

Leather Tail Piece of a Crupper

The first step to training the horse to accept the crupper has nothing to do with a crupper. It has everything to do with handling the tail. If you don’t feel comfortable brushing your horses tail, then you won’t feel comfortable lifting up on the tail, and if you cannot lift up on the tail you won’t feel comfortable putting your hand under the tail, and on it goes in succession. So step one is simply getting comfortable handling the tail and especially the tail head.

The tail head is where the spine separates from the hip area and flows on independently. The tail is part of the spine. The muscles and ligaments are very strong, but if mishandled can be injured or broken. Horses tails have been broken when used to leverage the animal out of a bog for instance. The strongest place of the tail is at the tail head. A lot of leverage can be put on the tail head and the horse can handle it. Compare it to putting leverage at your armpit area as apposed to your hand area. The horse instinctively knows that his tail is not super strong and tries to protect himself by clamping the tail downward. The area around the anus is also very sensitive and the tail protects this  hairless touchy area.

This said, you must start rubbing and messaging around the tail head. Be very soft with this touchy area. Once your horse knows you are not going to scratch him or poke him or wrench his tail, he will actually start lifting it for you because it feels good. Gentleness is the key. When you get to the point that you can put your hand under the tail in the area where the crupper will lay and your horse does not clamp down on your hand, you are ready to go to the next step.  Open the video to see one correct way to handle the tail prior to putting on a crupper.    Step One Crupper Training Video

PFL Inc. Products for Horse and Home

info@pflus.com

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Pee Wee Creek Trail at Priest River, Idaho

March 13th, 2010
Pinto Paso Fino Gelding on North Idaho Trail Ride

Rico and Gail on the John Wayne Loop at Pee Wee Creek Trail in North Idaho

Pee Wee Creek Trail, just north of Priest River, Idaho, is a great place to go for a camp-out or just a day ride. This trail head is kept up by the Back Country Horsemen of Priest River and is in great condition.

Paul and I went  for a day ride since we live nearby. The ride wasn’t as long as we anticipated because it took us two hours and a chat with a local deputy sheriff to find the place. When we finally did get there we parked in a large area that appeared to be used heavily by motor cycles and to excavate gravel. We parked under some trees and saddled Rico and Cisco.

Because we had never been there before, we had no idea where the trail was so we rode toward the mountain. We quickly found out that we had not parked in the right place! The next driveway would have put us at a great camping area, with a big fire pit, high lines, bathrooms, water tank with a running spring feeding it, and trees! It was a great surprise. This place will take care of a nice sized group.

From the camping area, there are signs posted that tell about the trails; how long they are and their names. They intersect each other and give you the option of taking different routes that circle around and bring you back to the camp from a different direction. I love these kind of trails because you can keep your horse guessing about where he is.

We took the John Wayne loop, because it was the shortest and the name sounded fun. It was a beautiful ride. Part open, part forested and lots of up and down hills. This is a good place for a crupper and breast collar. It is also a good place to have shoes or boots on your horses. We had to let our horses pick their way because they were barefoot. The trails are riddled with small rocks.

It was a fantastic ride and our horses loved the cool drink from the water trough. Now we know where Pee Wee Creek Trail is, and so do you!

Paul and I are planning a camp out and fun ride June 18-19, 2010 at Pee Wee Creek. Bomb fire and evening ride on Friday, Saturday ride and evening Pot Luck on Saturday. Bring your own breakfast, lunch and drinking water (for you). I will have a big pot of Chile and biscuits for the Pot Luck on Saturday night. Bring fill ins.  I hope you can all come and camp, or at least come ride for a day.

PFL Inc., 224 Meadowland Dr., Blanchard, Id. 83804, 208-437-0416 info@pflus.com www.pflus.com

Map to Pee Wee Creek Trail Head and Campsite, Priest River, Idaho

Map to Pee Wee Creek Trail Head and Campsite, Priest River, Idaho

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Jumping Up and Getting On!

March 9th, 2010
Kaiya Springer and Teacup at a 2009 Show

Kaiya Springer and Teacup

Getting your horse ready to ride is one of the most important steps in your training process. You look at that horse with your saddle on, who is bucking like a bronc at the rodeo and you try and picture yourself on its back going for long trail rides, winning that blue ribbon at the show, and becoming your best friend that you will make a long history with. So you shake your mind clear and remember that, ahhhh, yes, it will take time because just then your ‘best friend’ is either flipping itself over or running around, wide-eyed, nostrils flared, like a chicken with its head cut off. So you sigh and get ready to put in all the time and the sweat and put up with the sunburned shoulders and permanent farmer tan. You work and toil and bust your buns because you know its worth it, someday you two will be best friends.

Finally your there at the line, for the first time your going to get on your horse. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for, for me this moment is everything. All the hard work on the ground, and all the time spent working with the horse is now going to pay off. You psyche yourself up and you begin banging on the saddle, pulling on it, acting like a crazy monkey, just to be sure… and then you’re jumping up, 1,2,3 and there you are hanging in the the air, twisted over the saddle, making sure not to get too high in case the horse starts to take off. Your center of balance is close to the horse. Then you get off. A couple more times of this, up and down, (probably more for your peace of mind than for the horse). Then you take the vulnerable position of swinging your other leg over… this is the moment that gets me pumped, because here is when it could either go great or really, really bad. You get your leg over and you slide into the saddle. You sit there, taking big  breaths, relaxing, ’cause you can tell that the horse’s ears are intent on you, listening and waiting, not sure what to do.

OK, so you’re on their back, great, but now its time to get off. You wiggle in the saddle, making sure that they know that you are doing something and you think, OK, they are standing still, not moving, you’re feeling pretty good, and relaxed and you say.. “its now or never”. You swing your leg up and over and down to the ground and your foot becomes one with the ground. Then you completely dismount and now both feet are in contact with a non-moving object, the ground. You smile and you praise your ‘trusty’ steed for a job well done. You are now on top of  the world because you have now stepped over that line to where you can say “yes I have sat on my horse!”

Guest Blog by Kaiya Springer, kaiya@hopeandharmonytraining.com ,    http://kshorsetraining.com/

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Safety First! It’s a Tail Wrenching Idea!

March 3rd, 2010

Paso Fino Mare with Crupper in Correct Placement

Crupper Placement on Paso Fino Mare

Paso Fino Mare with Breast Collar in Correct Placement
Breast Collar Placement on Paso Fino Mare

Use a Crupper and Breast Collar.


I do a lot of saddle fitting, and a lot of riding. One thing that is clear is that saddles do not fit all horses the same because all horses are built differently. It doesn’t matter if you ride a treeless saddle or a flex panel, or a hard tree, the stress and strain on the withers and loins and cinch are the same when trying to hold a riders weight from sliding forward back or around while going up and down hills. In thinking about this article I have read other peoples opinions on the subject, and the bottom line is, the crupper and breast collar are a safety aid to keep your saddle in place.

In the last 35 years Paul and I have ridden all breeds of horses, and they all have the same needs for different reasons. If your horse has a big shoulder and narrow rib cage, your saddle will probably slide backward when going uphill, pulling hard on the girth to hold your weight and ending up on the loin area anyway. Going downhill, the shoulder and gullet will be pressured hard to hold your weight back. If your horse has a wide sprung rib cage and a narrow shoulder and little wither, you will end up on his neck when going down hill. This happens to us on our Paso Finos a lot. The pressure on the wither and shoulders sometimes causes them to get angry and even buck. We have learned the hard way what great safety tools the crupper and breast collar are, and break all our horses to use them from the very first ride.

Another good reason to use a crupper and breast collar is  as a safety net. They will catch you if your saddle begins to roll. The cinch doesn’t have to be nearly as tight if you have these tools to keep the saddle from sliding all over. Think how much pressure your horses girth area takes when trying to hold a saddle in place with your weight pulling it in all directions. Treeless saddles on round horses especially need support.

The best adjustment for the breast collar and crupper is to be able to put your hand under them and they feel loose, but not too loose. They should give a good inch or so, but no more. The breast collar should be loose enough not to pull your saddle forward when your horse extends his shoulder in stride. The crupper needs to be snug, but loose enough for the horses comfort. I  have only seen one horse who did not like his breast collar, but he eventually got used to it. The crupper is the one that is hardest to get used to. I’ll give pointers on breaking your horse to the crupper in a subsequent blog. It may be uncomfortable to train them to it but it is worth it if you ride in the hills; both for you and your horse.

Gail Springer, PFL Inc., Blanchard, Id. 83804 208-437-0416  info@pflus.com www.pflus.com

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The New Treeless Leather-Flex Tree Saddles, by Kuda Saddlery and Tack

March 1st, 2010

Kuda Treeless Leather-Flex Trail Saddle sold by PFL Inc.

This is a new type of treeless saddle that is making riders and horses more comfortable.

The newest generation of saddles is clearly the flexible tree saddles. You can’t open a magazine without seeing an ad for a new model.  Some have  trees and bars formed out of  materiels that bend with pressure.  Others are treeless and their shapes are formed around layers of leather foam ,felt, and other padding materiels.

The Kuda Leather-Flex Saddles are in this new category of saddles. It is not a truly treeless saddle, but has tree bars made of leather and foam for flexibility. The pommel and cantle are made of stiff materiels and the bars are attached to these. At first glance they look very much like treed saddles.

The original Kuda Leather-Flex saddles were made for the Paso Fino Horse who is gaited and needs wither and shoulder relief. It has a rigid pommel to raise the gullet up and away from the wither so the Paso Fino has freedom to raise the head and neck up. Because there is no hard bars, there is no pressure on the shoulder blade; thus letting the Paso Fino move and gait freely. The flexible bars extend back to a rigid cantle that keeps the rider pushed forward and seated properly. Those flexible bars raise the rider up to keep the  seat bones from making pressure spots.  Thick wool felt on the under side of the saddle is cut away down the spine area to provide a nice air channel.

It was quickly determined that what is good for the Paso Fino also works great for other gaited breeds. Islandic Ponies, Tennessee Walking Horses, Fox Trotters, Rocky Mountain Horses, Andelusians, and more are now benifiting from this new leather-flex technology.

The Kuda Leather-Flex Saddles are now made for a large variety of horse breeds gaited and non gaited. One great reason to choose the Kuda Leather-Flex over other treeless brands, for any breed, is the gullet and spine relief feature. Any horse with a protruding spine and high wither can be very uncomfortable with a conventional treeless saddle. The flexible bars of the Leather-Flex form to the back of horses with atrophy and slight deformity issues.

With 3 gullet widths; narrow, medium, and wide, the Kuda Leather-Flex saddles can fit small horses like the Paso Fino up to wide flat backed horses like the Quarter Horse and short back like the Arabian.  It also comes in 5 Styles; English, Flex Trail, Endurance, Western, and Premier. We  offer a choice of high quality leather or synthetic saddles.

PFL Inc. , Blanchard, Id. 83804 208-437-0416  info@pflus.com,  www.pflus.com

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Lesson 1 with Alberto Sierra

February 25th, 2010
Gail and Fantasia, Pinto Paso Fino Mare

Gail and Fantasia out on a rare sunny day in February in North Idaho

I called Cindy at Westwind Ranch, and made my appointment with master trainer, Alberto Sierra. I was confident that he would give me a few hints on my riding and make a couple of adjustments in my tack, and I would be propelled to a new level in my riding experience.

When I arrived and was tacked up he pointed to the covered area, and Fantasia, my Paso Fino Mare, and I went in and started warming up. Alberto stood in the door for about 30 seconds and disappeared. I chuckled to myself because I knew he had already assessed me and my horse and went to get a “tool”.

To my dismay his tool was a rope halter and lead. He said, “she is telling you yes, no, maybe I’ll do what you want.” “She is not paying attention to you.” It was true, she was in a strange place, her focus was on finding her friend and she was clearly sluggish in responding to my cues. He said, “You must go back to the foundation. Get it right and the rest of your training will be good, easy. If she respects you on the ground, she will respect you in the saddle.”

Yes, I was a bit disappointed, but in the next hour I saw a transformation take place in Fantasia. I clearly had not been demanding enough of her in my training sessions. She had never worked this hard in her entire life!

Respect. To a horse it is of the utmost importance. If you are not worthy of a horses respect, you are not worthy to be the leader in the human horse relationship. I’ve seen it hundreds of times at clinics, on videos, in magazines, and on the web. All master trainers seem to know that this is the secret, and they know how to get it in a very short time.

Sure, he changed my bit and adjusted the Jaquima, but the best thing he did was take me back to the root  of horse training. Respect!

Alberto Sierra is a master horse trainer, coming from generations of horse trainers. He came to this country from Colombia, and now trains, breeds, and sells Paso Finos Horses at Westwind Ranch in northern Idaho. We who have access to him realize what a jewel we have here.

As for Fantasia and I, we are going to work hard this week. I’m determined to gain her respect. Maybe next week at my lesson, Alberto will let me get in the saddle!

Gail Springer, PFL Inc., info@pflus.com www.pflus.com

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Testimonial for the Treeless Leather Flex English Kuda Saddle

February 5th, 2010

“Gail and Paul, I just wanted you to know how pleased I am with my new Kuda saddle. As I told you when I tried it out, “I don’t need another saddle”, but guess what, once I rode it I had to have it. First, as you know, I ride a horse that’s a bit unpredictable in his actions in show situations. While I thought my old saddle “kept me in the seat”, this Kuda won’t allow your behind to slip, even wearing polyester show pants! In addition, because of the way the saddle is built, I’m forced to sit in the correct position with my feet under me instead of out in front. My horse (Paso Fino) loves this saddle too and is much more comfortable with the treeless fit. I can feel every movement of his back and that helps me to be a better rider. I would highly recommend this Kuda show saddle to anyone. It’s fabulous for shows and sticks you in the saddle for trail rides. The padding is comfortable for long hours of training and it’s beautiful.”   Linda Holzer,  Athol, Id., Vice President NWPFHA

Linda & Duke' at the Evergreen Classic 09 riding a Treeless English Saddle by Kuda

Linda's Treeless English Saddle kept her safe and secure at the Evergreen Classic 2009

Linda bought a Kuda Flex English Saddle, All black with a suede patch.  From PFL Inc. www.pflus.com


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The Jaquima – What it is and how to use it.

January 13th, 2010
Jaquima with Light Bosal, Light Curb, and Pulley Reins

Paso Fino Mare in Training with Jaquima and Pully Rein

The Jaquima

A Jaquima is a Colombian equine headstall, complete with a nose band (bosal) and chin strap (curb). The Jaquima was originally brought to this country with the Paso Fino and is the traditional training bridle for them. Some Jaquima’s are sold in a set with a Bit Hanger and Pisador (life line).
The Pisador is a rope that loops around the horses throat and goes down through the curb and is tied off at the saddle. It sometimes takes the place of the throat latch and is sometimes separate. It is 15 to 20 feet long and is a training aid as well as a lead rope for tying up the horse.
The original Jaquimas were mainly made of rawhide, but today they can be found made of high quality leather and also synthetic materials, all for the same purpose but for different disciplines; show, training, trail.
You must train your horse to use the Jaquima in the same way you would train them to use the Side Pull or Bitless Bridle. The cheek pieces of the headstall have buckles or snaps so that the bosal and curb can be changed easily. For beginning training, you should use a soft bosal and curb, as green horses have a tendency to push and pull a lot until they figure out what you want. The soft bosal and curb are less likely to cause soreness.
Position the bosal (nose band) to hang just above the soft part of the nostrils so it rests on the bony part of the nose. Very seldom would a trainer let it hang lower, as it could cut off air flow. In the same way, do not position it too high on the nose. The higher the bosal, the more likely the horse is to nose-out.
The severity of the bosal needed is completely dependent on your horses sensitivity and degree of training. They come in many forms; chains, covered wire, covered rope, and leather of different widths and thicknesses. Just like bits, a noseband can be severe or gentle by how you use your hands.
The Curb (chin strap) comes in different degrees of severity also. Like the bosal, a light or soft curb is used to start young horses until they figure out how to give. Then you can change it to match the horse or the discipline. For instance, when trail riding, we use a heavy stiff curb and no bit. When we pull back, we want our horse to definitely feel it. The curb is as severe as your hands just like the bosal.
The Curb has two rings hanging from the bottom and a piece of leather or snap that runs between them. Each side of the curb has a leather strap that runs up through the bosal ring and back down to buckle. The curb should be loose enough to fall down and away from the horses chin when you are not pulling on it. I have seen some that have been so loose that they can pull down over the mouth, and some so tight that the horse cannot open its mouth,  both bad extremes. If you can put a fat finger between your horses chin and the curb it is probably OK. When the bosal is raised and lowered, you nearly always have to readjust the curb too.
The Jaquima is a lateral tool. This means you always pull on one side at a time. Just like a snaffle bit, if you pull straight back with both reins, your horse will learn to pull into the pressure and be heavy or tough mouthed. Just like a snaffle, if you teach the horse to give he will be light in your hands. To start, use one rein snapped to the side ring (the ring on the end of the bosal). When the horse learns to give the nose to the left and right, then put a second rein on the bottom rings and use the reins together for lateral flexion. It will be a different feel for the horse. The next step would be to drop the side rein and control the horse from the chin only. When it is time to add a bit, the second rein is again added to the bit.
It is a process of graduation from the Jaquima to a bit without resistance. A finished refined horse can be ridden in the bit only, but can work well in only the Jaquima, or both the bit and Jaquima double reined. I have seen many trainers drop the rein off the bridle and snap it to the curb when letting people they do not know ride their horses. This is to protect their horses mouths from untrained hands. The horse may not be as refined, but they work well because they have been trained to the Jaquima.
As trail riders, we love the Jaquima alone. On our trained horses we use a stiff/heavy curb and a noseband that compliments the horse. On one horse we use a chain bosal, as he would love to take his head and go his own way; not too sensitive. But on another we may use a soft leather 3/4″ bosal; very sensitive. The curb never touches the horse unless we pull on it, so it does not need to be soft on a sensitive horse. The severity comes from the hands.
I hope this helps those of you who are curious about the Jaquima and who may want to give it a try. It is a fantastic tool. Most are made specifically for the Paso Fino, and may be too small for other breeds. So before buying, take measurements to be sure they will fit.

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