Teller Farms

Just a short drive from where I board in Boulder, Colo. is a lovely open space with great footing called Teller Farms. The view of the front range and Longs Peak is quite something from this location. The footing is exceptional, no rocks, so you can start up your Spring training schedule with walk/trot combinations and some nice canters. It also can be easily accessed from three locations:

• Heatherwood
• Valmont
• Arapahoe

I prefer the Heatherwood access because of its easy parking, and less bike and less dog activity. The open space runs for miles and includes trails, grasslands, washes, bridges and a creek near Valmont. There are many fun obstacles, not only the sloping bridge, but cattle, hay storage with tarps, and well drills.


So get out and have some fun at Teller Farms.

Inhand Results

My furry friend and I have been diligently working in-hand as the temperature has plummeted here in Colorado. With lunging techniques, using a surcingle and side reins, we are certainly taking a turn in the right and left, so to speak, direction! After Nico's injury we had noticed a turned in left foot and shoulder along with a flare in the hoof and a lack of impulsion from the rear. 

Working on the ground we have also established respect and awareness. His focus has been redirected to me and we are eliminating the attitude, so to speak. We start before a ride with some ground techniques on the halter going from left to right, lateral work and rotation. We then switch to the lunge line working both sides evenly.

We are beginning to see muscle build up in the hind end, more impulsion as he carries himself around the circle, less crookedness and lightness. His attitude towards me has also improved tenfold. In addition, my farrier has also noticed less flaring on his turned in leg as his shoulder and leg is slowing correcting itself.

Too Cold to Ride? Go in-hand!

Winter's approaching and there are going to be days that it is just too cold to ride. This might just be a good time to do some in-hand work with your furry friend.

My horse Nico had a leg fracture just going on 2.5 years ago which has left him with some muscular issues. I also was beginning to feel that our relationship also had a fracture. Nico is a bit crooked, too much on the forehand, and his personality is fascinating but a bit stubborn. The front shoulder and leg that had the fracture is in a sense a bit turned in now, his hind weak and he is too much on the forehand — pulling himself along the trail instead of pushing off the hind. The result little impulsion and forwardness, dropping the shoulder.

One of my veterinarians, Diane Wagner, DVM (Elemental Equine Services) specializes in equine chiropractic and acupuncture. After we worked together to structurally correct him and help with some nerve issues she suggested that in-hand work would help reprogram his muscle memory and rebalance and strengthen his body. Riding was not quite getting to all the issues.

I also broke my leg two years plus, skiing. In comparison we both were going through the same type of recovery. I had to really work to get my muscles, hips and pelvic floor on track. And through Pilates with Julie Leiken, Equibalance, we straightened and strengthened my body too!

I wasn't quite sure how to begin. Friends recommended Lauren Carver. I have seen her clients and their horses, both young and old, prosper through the summer so I thought lets try.

We began last week with some lessons in respect, moving his body away from my circle and change of direction, then we moved on to leg yielding. Lauren noticed his right shoulder gets stuck which makes sense with his past injury, he falls in and his head is bent to the outside in the right circle. Getting him to use it correctly will be one of the challenges. But slowly we can correct this issue, strengthen his hind and back, and reprogram his muscle memory.

We begin each lesson with a rope halter and do the basics every time, add a bridle and surcingle with side reins for lunging and work about 45-60 minutes, then call it a day. I already see and improvement, and so enjoy watching him move and dance with me from the ground. Our relationship has changed already and I feel the fracture is closing where we will be able to make that wonderful horse rider connection once more.

So take some time and play with your horse, you might get a new perspective from the ground where all seeds are sown!

For more information on Diane Wagner, DVM, please visit her website at www.elementalequineservices.com.

For more information on Julie Leiken, Equibalance, please visit her website at www.julieleiken.com.

Beaver Meadows Resort

The girls decided to head off for a few days to the Red Feathers Lake area of Colorado. On the way up we stopped at Eagles Nest Open Space about a 5 mile loop, or do it twice for extra mileage. Very pretty, great footing, and a bridge water crossing for the horse.

Beaver Meadows Resort, they have some simple cabins, a horse camp area with corrals, or keep your horse in a pen and you do your feeding and clean up. A fun restaurant is also onsite. Trails are right off the property or trailer off to other trailheads if you like.

Visit www.beavermeadows.com for more infomation.

NATRC: Competitive Trail Riding

Nico and I decided it was time to try our first NATRC Competitive Trail Ride at Island in the Sky on the Grand Mesa. My friends Jane and Jill and I arrived Friday afternoon after a 6-hour drive from Boulder. We parked in a grand meadow, though a bit muddy it was a great place to spend a couple of days. Wildflowers were in full bloom and the sun was shining. We got the horses settled and checked in with the Vet Judge and Horsemanship Judge. Number 98 was lucky for me that weekend.

Saturday morning started out with an obstacle, back your horse through the two aspen trees. Sounds easy but with all the excitement going on, and 63 horses starting, it proved to be a bit of a challenge especially for those wider end horses. Nico and I got through that first obstacle and started down the muddy trail for a 20+ mileage day. Some horses went out hot, some bucking, balking and some just normal. When that many horse are about they act a tad different then when at home. Over hill, dale, logs and along trails that became rivers of water we passed through beautiful wildflower meadows and water crossings were abundant. Our Pulse and Respiration stops were good and we finished the first day on time and settled in for dinner, the next days briefing and a rainy night (bring those rain sheets).

Three or so riders pulled the next morning. It started out cloudy as we rode out in rain gear, but the sun finally came out about two hours later. Ride managers chose, for safety reasons (mud) to change the trail and shortened the mileage that day. and began the ride with an off-side mount. Grrrr, we were at least able to use any natural aids, like ditches and rocks. It was another day of wildflowers, river trails and just spectacular scenery. A tractor was ordered up to assist in getting some of the larger rigs out of the meadow at rides end.

Jane, riding Open, Jill riding Competitive Pleasure, and I riding Novice finished up and left before awards so we could get back home Sunday night. I was tired but excited that we had completed the ride. It turns out we placed 4th!

During the first night briefing the vet judge spoke about sore backs, apparently there was quite a few in the first days check out after the ride (Abanico and I were fine). Check your saddle fit, it is a good idea to arrange to have a saddle fitter come out to your barn to check this for you . Also try to get up off your horses back when you ascend and descend hills.

If you are looking for a little competition and a way to see new trails try Competitive Trail. Visit www.NATRC.org and choose the region near you.

Suggestions: Always carry an easy boot in case you lose a shoe, where your helmet, keep a blanket and rain sheet in your trailer, stay hydrated.

Marshall Mesa to Dowdy Draw

It was a beautiful day Easter Sunday, and the girls decided to do a very long 5 hour loop in the Marshall area of Boulder. We began at our friend Jill's house out on Marshall Road and headed east towards Cherryvale Road, and the giant hay meadow. We crossed streams (watch for those sneaky ducks) and ditches, then took a break at the cattle ball waterer near Cherryvale to let the horses play. Like bobbing for apples, they dip the large blue balls until they can get to the water... Jane's young Arabian, Kinney, found it a bit unsettling though! As we walked down Cherryvale Road to the open space access gate, cars buzzed passed us, totally absorbed in their mission to get whereever they needed to go with total disregard for others, so take care on this section of the ride.

The hay field is a cattle nursery this time of year, so we gave all those young mothers a wide birth—as not to disturb. Picking up a lovely canter, we swung around and headed south towards Marshall Mesa. We did some nice steady climbs, to work those hind ends, then headed west towards the old cattle tunnel that allows safe passage under Highway 93. The next ditch to cross is challenging and Nico's hind easy boot was sucked off, a bit of fishing was necessary. After we all crossed safely we continued east toward Dowdy Draw where we practiced some bridge crossings and used the outhouse facilities.

Continuing North we passed through the Dowdy Draw parking lot. It was sad to see that cars were parked in the horse trailer assigned spots, and no horse trailers were there. We ran into a very charming City of Boulder Ranger who was writing tickets to cars parked along the road and we suggested he also ticket the cars parked in the designated trailer spots. Unfortunately that is out of his jurisdiction, go figure! We suggested that perhaps the City of Boulder make up a warning or informative flyer that can be placed on cars parked in designated spots. The Boulder County Horse Association worked hard to get these few trailer spaces that are sprinkled about open spaces in Boulder County, and it is very disheartening to see the lack of respect other open space users have for horse trailer designated parking areas. As we headed back northeast, we traveled along the Mesa trail and crossed back over Highway 93 to Jill's house.

We cleaned up the horses, put them in holding pens, and then sat down to enjoy smoked salmon and dill Havarti on crackers, sipping iced coffee on Jill's front porch while enjoying the conversation with old friends and the lovely foothills view— thanks Jill!

Suggestions: shoes or hoof protection, part of this trail system is rocky. Carry an easy boot if you can, we wound up needing one for a pulled font shoe. Watch out for those ducks hiding in ditches. Beware of misbehaving dog owners, we ran into a loose dog not under voice and sight command.

Mud Season, When Will It End?

Ask any rider and I am sure you will get the same answer, "I am tired of all the mud". It surely has been a challenge trying to get out and ride this winter season. Snow, ice and mud seem to be ever present. No matter where we have set our sites, trying to find drier trails is just a dream. 

One of my riding gals Helen and I decided enough was enough so we headed over to the Mesa trail in South Boulder. We were a bit surprised to still find snow on the open mesa heading up to the Mesa trail, but it was soft and the footing good. We turned right on the Mesa trail and were able to do some trotting. This is a great place to start conditioning your horse as you gradually climb.  We meandered through some lovely woods on soft snow pack. It was a beautiful ride, the scent of pine in the air and a few hikers with dogs (most well behaved). We looped back to the trailer on the Blue Stem trail which had a few spots with ice that we dismounted to safely navigate, but all in all a wonderful late winter ride in the front range.

Footing: Parts of this trail system can be very rocky until you reach the Mesa trail. Wooded trails have some steep steps to navigate.

Obstacles: Hikers, dogs (part of this system is voice and site command, some dogs are not under voice command though are off leash), seasonal bears and deer.

Trailhead Parking
There are many access points, two listed below:
1. West side of Broadway in Marshall
2. Dowdy Draw