By Devon Noehring
Horse culture is something that is very prevalent in the Phoenix-metropolitan area. From race horses to trail riding, Arizona is filled with activities that involve horseback riding. Being located in the southwest, horse culture is something that makes Arizona such a unique state.
President and captain of ASU’s Western Equestrian Team Kelsey Roderique said, “Arizona has a tremendous western heritage rooting back to the Old West days. Horse played a large role in the settling of the west and have continued to impact the community to the present.”
It’s not uncommon to see a horse and it’s rider walking down the street in the valley. Arizona offers a variety of trails and stables that cater to the avid horse rider. Horse owners can board their horses at many different locations and there are several trials and mountain paths for casual hobby ridding.
Some cities in Arizona are dedicated to the western culture that this state was founded on. Cities like Cave Creek have the feel of the old west in their decor and have many festivals and actives that cater to horse riders and the culture of the southwest.
Arizona also offers many competitive horse riding programs for kids and teens that want to be involved in the horse culture. The American Quarter Horse Association The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) offers many competitive events for people to join in or just watch.
They offer all kinds of horse competitions including jumping and halter. They provide amateur, open and youth divisions. Involvement in the American Quarter Horse Association allows people to be involved in the horse community and teaches children dedication and the responsibility of caring for a horse. Participating in AQHA competitions continues to spread the importance of horse culture in the valley. Arizona residents can also be a part of the Arizona Quarter Horse Association which is somewhat of a state subdivision of AQHA. Each state usually has its own state association to provide the community with more benefits. Some of those benefits include being eligibility for state rankings, awards, and scholarships. It also provides the members with more community events.
Universities like Arizona State University also provide competitive horse riding programs and teams. ASU has both an Equestrian and an Equestrian Western team that students can tryout for and participate in.
“The western equestrian culture is something many ASU students have grown up in and others who came to ASU from the east, south, etc. want to learn more about. The Western Equestrian team provides an outlet to connect with that heritage in a modern setting,” said Kelsey.
It is important to the members and coaches to bring the horse culture to the college experience and to allow students to continue improving their horse riding skills while studying and working towards a degree. It is a great program because they accept beginners as well, giving young adults who never had the chance to be involved in horseback riding as children the chance to learn as college students.
“Not many clubs give students that access to ride and show horses while remaining full time students,” said Kelsey. “That is a very unique element to ASU’s equestrian teams.”
Horseback riding doesn’t just have to be for people who grew up riding and know all the ins and outs of horses. Horse culture in the valley can be for anyone; even those who have never rode a horse. People all around the state enjoy watching horse races, shows, and rodeos for entertainment. They can bet on winners and just enjoy the beauty and strength of the animal. Places like Turf Paradise in Phoenix are equipped with a race track and places to view and bid on the races. Along with providing food and drinks, it is an excellent place to spend time and enjoy the horse culture in the valley.
WestWorld of Scottsdale is also a popular equestrian center that holds events year round such as shows and rodeos. Amongst the most popular are the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show and the Sun Circuit Quarter Horse Show.
Horses are not only used for sport, leisure and entertainment. They can also be used for therapeutic reasons. Horse programs all over the state have been implemented to help people with various problems and disabilities. These therapies have been proven to be helpful to many people whether they have a life threading disease or suffer from other complications. Therapeutic riding is beneficial to the cognitive, emotional and social well being of people with disabilities. Experiencing the motion of a horse can help improve flexibility, balance and strength while allowing the rider to experience something fun outdoors.
Organizations and facilities like Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.), Horses Help, and Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship provide centers where people with disabilities can come and be apart of therapeutic riding.
Photo from http://www.camelotaz.org/facility.aspx
Executive director Mary Hadsall who runs Camelot highly encourages horseback riding and takes pride in her work at Camelot saying it is a facility for people with disabilities to enjoy, not only horseback riding but also horse ownership.
One of her clients, 10-year-old Claudia Rank, has been riding in the program for two years and has benefited greatly.
“Camelot is a very special place for Claudia to go and forget about the fact that she has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair,” Claudia’s mother Beth Rank said.
Their professional and certified staff and volunteers ensure safety for all of their riders. Generally, two people walk along side of the horse and one person leads the horse. The riders can have fun with confidence.
“Claudia feels so comfortable with the staff and volunteers that she tells them personal stories that I as her mom don’t even hear about,”Rank said. “I love that she has a place to go that cherishes her as much as I do.”
Therapeutic riding shows that a disability does not have to limit anyone from riding horses. There’s something in the horse community for everyone.
“Horses are the perfect animals for this experience because horses have an innate ability to react to humans and are so quick to provide emotional support,” Hadsall said.
We couldn’t agree more and we hope you enjoy reading our blog.
The Art of Horsemanship
By Marcus Bowers
There’s a special connection between horse and human, that’s been evident since the two species first met. Even now, the connection is still prevalent and when given the opportunity to watch a true horseman work, it’s a thing of beauty.
Horsemen and women come in all genders, ages and sizes, but the main thing they share in common is an understanding of horses. They’ve learned how to properly groom and feed horses, along with caring for injuries. They’ve also learned to connect with the horses on a personal basis and they can tell when a horse is sick or depressed. However, all horsemen had to start out somewhere and they had to start with the basics.
The Valley Silver Bullets Equestrian is just one of many places throughout Arizona that allows people from all facets of life to learn how to care for a horse. This organization was founded in the 1980’s by Eva Carter and is now run by Terri Chambers.
“[Valley Silver Bullets] is something that they’ve got to love to do. It’s work, it’s fun, and it’s something to be proud of and you can take with you. It’s like riding a bike because it’s something you never forget,” said Terri Chambers.
Some of the stalls and horses at Valley Silver Bullets Equestrian in Queen Creek. Photo by Marcus Bowers
This unique opportunity allows people to learn the basics of caring for and riding a horse. One of the first things people are taught is how to tie and lead a horse from its stall. Following that they learn how to tie the horse to the hitching post using a Highwayman’s Hitch knot. This knot allows the owner to be able to release the horse from the post with one swift tug in case the horse was in harms way and needed to be moved swiftly.
Basic grooming is one of the next steps in this process, and the tools needed are two types of brushes. A soft brush is used to brush the horses face and main while a stiff brushed is used to clean most of the dirt off the rest of the horse’s body. When brushing a horse, it’s essentially to brush with the fur of the horse meaning you brush from the shoulders towards the butt. A horseman should also be bathing down their horse with a hose one to two times a month to help keep their coat clean.
Next comes picking out horse’s hooves. This process can be rather difficult to begin with, but is essential in the care of your horse. A horseshoe pick is used and by lifting up each hoof one at time, the rider must pick out all the dirt and grass that is stuck in their hooves. It’s important to pick the hooves in a V formation, so you don’t damage the center of the hoof.
After the basics for cleaning, a horseman learns how to saddle a horse, properly mount a horse and they learn how to properly ride a horse. Once they are done riding, then the cleaning process is repeated.
Feeding time for the horses as one of Valley Silver Bullets members makes the rounds to bring food to the horses. Photo by Marcus Bowers
These are just a few of the basics of horse care, but a horseman will learn how and when to feed the horse, providing it with medicine, when to stretch or run the horse along with so many other actions. It’s places like Valley Silver Bullets that provide so many people with the opportunity to gain a greater understanding and love for horses.
Valley Silver Bullets member Emily Springer said, “I love being around these horses and am grateful for the chance I have to ride and be around my horse every week.”
Phoenix Horse Culture 