Membership Meetings

CANCELLED

until further notice

due to social distancing

restrictions

Contact the editor: Kathy Sherer 970-884-2355

jksherer1@outlook.com

Inside the April

HIGHLINE

Crissi McDonald Article ................ 2

Calendar of Events ......................... 3

4CBCH Membership ...................... 3

Quotes ........................................... 3

Emerald Lake Horseshoes .............. 4

Adoptable Horse ............................. 4

Services For You ............................ 5

Opportunities .................................. 6

4CBCH Purpose ............................. 6

From the President’s Pen

By Rachael Mikelson

Hi everyone, a short note from me this month.

I hope you are all staying healthy, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too.

This is definitely not how I envisioned my first year as president going, but here we are. I recognize that I am extremely fortunate to still be employed, and I’m grateful that my new “office” view is of our gorgeous La Plata's.

Even if this thing drags out through the summer and continues to impact our group gatherings of trail work, meetings, and the picnic, I hope you’re able to get up into those mountains and enjoy what nature has to offer.

April 2020 Vol. 26, No. 4

Reminiscing

by Kathy Sherer

Last year at this time, we were celebrating the fact that we had just broken our own record by selling over $60,000 worth of merchandise at the 2019 Tack Sale (we were also still recovering on the couch with our feet up).

We were getting ready to plant trees at Vallecito and pack in water for workers on the Colorado Trail. Some of us were looking forward to participating in upcoming clinics with John Moore, Whit Hibbard, and Mark Rashid. Camping trips were being planned as well as day-rides at Saul’s Creek (we can still do that!)

There was only one spot left for crosscut saw training, and we were replacing worn out chainsaw chaps in preparation for the seven upcoming trail projects.

And what about those monthly membership meetings where we could visit with friends and share stories? I imagine that’s what most of are missing the most.

So sit back and relax while you can, and let’s plan on doing all those things again in a month or two or three. We’ll just appreciate everything that much more when we get it all back!

April 2020 FOUR CORNERS BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN 2

SHEDDING A HEAVY COAT By Crissi McDonald Submitted by Linda Mannix

It’s that time of year. Our horse Rocky is so itchy, he’s rubbing up against pine trees to scratch the hair off. I took the shedding brushes out to his paddock and spent some time reaching all the parts he couldn’t. He’s twenty-one this year, and like most of us when we get older, is sprouting hair where there didn’t used to be any. Different than us though, this hair is thick and grips to him like winter is still around the corner.

I’ve written before about the importance of remaining calm in the midst of chaos. Now the chaos is visiting us when we see the things we thought would always be there are gone. We watch the numbers of us affected by the virus go up, and no one knows where this train stops. Or even pauses.

As much as anyone can in these times, I’ve tried to stay informed without spinning emotionally out of control. Many of my loved ones are far away and some of them are older. We live in a mountain town that depends on tourism. We are self-employed and have cancelled our clinics for the foreseeable future. Those thousands of people who have lost loved ones, and the thousands more who are ill. My hamster brain is running itself ragged on the coronavirus wheel.

As horse people, one of the required skills to thriving with horses is the ability to maintain a level head. This is more important than any technique we could ever learn. So when I went out to brush the horses this morning, I was aware of how close I was to full-blown anxiety. I was also aware that I was relying on my practices to keep me grounded. Deep breath in. Slow breath out. Listen to the birds. Feel the sun warming skin that hasn’t felt the air move across it in months.

The most powerful moment of revelation came when I was brushing Rocky and watching his obvious pleasure at being relieved of a winter coat that is too heavy. I was fascinated by the ssshhhshhhing of the brush I was using and the hair that let loose in piles and fell to the ground. Rocky stood still even as I brushed those sensitive and hard to reach places; the inside of his hind legs. The underside of his round belly. The sun, warm. The air, warm. The birds singing. Rocky, his head down, sighing in relief.

This pandemic coat is heavy too. If we believe we wear it alone, it can feel suffocating. But we aren’t alone, are we? We have each other, our fellow humans, and we are all wearing the same coat. We may need to socially distance, but we can smile and be kind to those people who have jobs that require they interact with the public. We can leave supplies for our neighbors who need them too. If we are able to sew, we can make face masks. We can volunteer to deliver meals to those who can’t get out. Even during a time of such stress and fear and tragedy, we can find ways to focus our mind and heart toward being part of a solution.

All our knowledge of the earth, the air, the sea and the skies, is built on hundreds of years of exploration. It is millions of layers of the bravery and courage of those who have gone before us. Horsemanship isn’t any different: what we know, we know because someone else either tried and failed, or tried and succeeded. I believe the horses themselves are doing their part to help us become better listeners, and hopefully, better people on this planet we share with so many other forms of life.

I take comfort in nature’s offerings of being in each moment and enjoying her beauty, even the beauty of winter hair on the ground and the promise of a shiny coat. I take comfort in the eons of people who have got us where we are today. I feel gratitude for all those people we will probably never know or meet, working together to solve our current and historically unique crisis. However this turns out (and I realize there is tragedy along the way), I also have faith that we will learn things that future generations will use to further their own lives. I have the feeling that we will learn something about ourselves, both individually and collectively, that will change us.

I think that all of this knowledge and understanding we’ve been collecting about horses for years, sometimes decades, can serve us well. Just when we think we can’t bear anymore, we think of that horse who seemed “broken” and how they came back because of kindness and patience. How our focus on breathing can be applied to help us through our day. How focusing on the wild grassiness of their smell or the way they ruffle air through their nostrils, is a restful moment in a world that is anything but restful.

Those lessons we learned from and about horses aren’t just platitudes or things with which to distract ourselves. They can be applied right now so we can weather this storm. I would say that we no longer have the option to not apply them; these times are why we have learned all we have.

We can brush our horses. Listen to them munch on hay. Ground ourselves in the present so firmly that for those moments we are unencumbered by heavy coats and can bask in the warm spring air. Weave enough of those moments together, and we might actually be able to feel something other than dread. Take that coat off and we can open our bare arms to the sunshine.

April 2020 FOUR CORNERS BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN 3

Calendar of Upcoming Events All events are subject to change based on COVID-19 restrictions

April

16 4CBCH Membership Meeting—cancelled

24-26 3-day gaited clinic with Ivy Schexnayder—postponed

26 4CDCTA hunter jumper show—cancelled

May

6 4CBCH board meeting—stay tuned

21 4CBCH membership meeting—stay tuned

31 Equine Brain Science Seminar—cancelled

2020 membership dues

For just $30/person or $40/family

you will be helping 4CBCH to:

∗ Insure that public lands remain open to recreational stock use;

∗ Assist government agencies in the maintenance of trails; and

∗ Educate the public in the wise and sustaining use of the backcountry.

Find out more at www.4cbch.org

We’ll be back . . . and when we are

there will be a lot to do and

we’ll need you!

"Fear has to do with helplessness. The only thing that conquers it is knowledge. When you learn about how a horse thinks and makes decisions, that helplessness goes away." - Buck Brannaman

April 2020 FOUR CORNERS BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN 4

Adoptable Horse

Rookie is a 5-year-old gelding. He was running with a wild herd when captured, although he has obvious Thoroughbred conformation. He's very acceptable of people, and is a pleasure to work with.

Rookie is people-oriented and willing to engage in activities. He is now starting saddle training which provides an excellent opportunity for an adopter to watch his training so they can both "be on the same page.” He leads, loads and stands for the farrier, and stands 15 HH.

Adoption fee is $400.

More info: debbie@fourcornersequinerescue.org

The Newest Composite Horseshoe

The Emerald Lake Horseshoe is a polyurethane horseshoe designed to recreate the strength, toughness and durability of the natural hoof while allowing it to flex and absorb shock.

The shoes:

♦ Are durable, simulating the natural hoof while increasing protection and still encouraging circulation and growth.

♦ Provide full support and are comfortable on the frog and sole.

♦ Provide excellent rock protection and good traction with-out creating too much friction or binding with the ground.

♦ Feature an intelligent design of the sole that does not cling to dirt or snow—they are easily picked out and won’t snowball.

♦ Are durable and are great for year-round or off-season use to allow for improved hoof function.

Sizes range from 000 up to 8, and each size is available in 2 widths to accommodate most hoof shapes. They are sold by the pair, and can be glued on or nailed on. Farriers love the quicker, easier application combined with the ability to rasp any desired shape. In addition to the standard shoe, 3 other options are available:

♦ Standard Front Clip—metal front clip for added security

♦ Axial Support—leverage-reducing clog style shoe with good traction; features a metal insert that provides digital support with flex at the heel; for performance as well as orthope-dic uses; ideal for horses who do a lot of lateral movement and turning

♦ Scout—provides mechanical relief for laminitis; substantially reduces toe lever; features a metal insert for support

April 2020 FOUR CORNERS BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN 5

Call me for your Real Estate needs! 970-317-8094

www.DeborahGSellsHomes.com

AUTO • HOME • LIFE BUSINESS

JON SHERER

970-259-1202 – Frontage Road in Bodo Park

Deborah Guelinas

Horse Boarding pasture plus grass hay

$150 per month Ignacio area

Hay is also for sale

Katie Minkler 970-749-6303

Andre Botha, RPT, DipMDT

130 Rock Point Drive, Unit C

Durango Tech Center

Phone 970-247-7895 Fax 970-459-8404

ohanaphysicaltherapydurango@gmail.com

ohanaphysicaltherapydurango.com

April 2020 FOUR CORNERS BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN 6

P.O. Box 3521 Durango, CO 81302

www.4cbch.org

Please report your volunteer hours! Go to www.4cbch.org and click on “Volunteer” or contact Cindy at morincindy7@gmail.com

Is your membership status current? An application form can be found at www.4cbch.org

under “About Us” then “Applications & Forms”

O ur purpose is: � to perpetuate enjoyable common sense use

of horses in the backcountry;

� to work to insure that public land remains open to recreational stock use;

� to assist government agencies in maintenance and management of public lands;

� to educate, encourage and solicit active public participation in wise and sustaining use of the backcountry.

Spring Hollow Ranch would like to welcome all disciplines to come enjoy this great facility. Located outside of Durango in Kline, Colorado, the ranch offers full pasture, dry lot boarding, and a horse hotel. We have an indoor & outdoor arena that is available to non-boarders too. There are enough trails on the property to keep you in the saddle all day.

Looking for a short-term or long-term rental? We offer those too, and RV lots are coming soon. Come spend the summer with us at Spring Hollow Ranch!

Find us online at www.Springhollowranchco.com and on Facebook.

SPRING HOLLOW RANCH ROOM FOR ONE!

Older gelding needs a buddy

Excellent hay, shelter & room to roam on 5 acres

Located on Florida Mesa

7 miles from Durango

Can ride to Pastorius Lake from property

$125 per month

Call Jill at 970-759-7434