Fall 2019 / 17It’s been some two decades since I was
last in a showmanship lineup. I sure
loved showing off that fancy black mare
I had back then, and I can still smell the
Show Sheen and the World Champion
Pepi coat conditioner in the air.
But some 20 years removed from a
show-ring career, I still spend about the
same amount of time painstakingly
grooming each horse as I did back then.
I’m not really clipping for perfection, but
I’m doing even more.
The time I spend grooming each
horse—whether I’m going to ride them
or not—is as much for me as it is for
them. There’s nothing quite like a quiet
morning in the dew-soaked pasture
with a bucket of grain, surrounded by
broodmares and colts, untangling wind-
swept manes, and checking undersides
for ticks and other pests.
For the performance horses in the
barn, grooming is a chance to check for
popped splints, soreness in the withers,
infl ammation in the tendons, and dull
hair that might signal the start of ulcers.
It’s a time where I’m not asking anything
of my horses (save for a bit of patience)
and giving back to them, rather than
needing them to carry me across an irri-
gation ditch or through the arena gates.
This issue is dedicated to that process
and all its glory. We’ve got solutions for
all of your grooming needs, whether
you’re gett ing your horse show-ring
ready or not.
But of course, that’s just part of what
you’ll fi nd in the pages ahead. Managing
Editor Nichole Chirico pens a profi le on
our cover gal, Alex Bauwens, whose life
really is as fascinating as her giant social
media presence makes it look. Plus, writ-
er Heidi Melocco takes you to six guest
ranches that maximize your time in the
saddle while gett ing some R&R.
You’ve come to count on us for
training content that will improve your
ride once the grooming is done, and
this issue doesn’t disappoint. From
world champions like Kelby Phillips
to clinicians like Warwick Schiller, our
horsemen and -women have something
to off er everyone this fall.
Don’t forget: Our website Horseand
Rider.com is updated daily with new
training tips, fun reads, and horse-care
ideas for your horse life. We really took it
seriously when we told you six months
ago that we’re dedicating ourselves
to delivering you the same amount of
content you once received in 12 issues
in four. Take a look around, then stop by
OnDemand.HorseandRider.com. There,
you’ll fi nd even more video and problem
solving to maximize your precious time
with your equine partner.
I want to hear how you think we’re
doing, and what you want to see more
of. We take the same pride in “groom-
ing” each issue that we do with our
horses, and we value your feedback.
Don’t hesitate to send an email pin-
ning your ears or nickering for a treat
if you see something you want to tell
us about! You can reach Chelsea Shaff er
at [email protected]. BIOP
HOTOBY^
KAIT
LI
N^GUSTAVEFROM the EDITOR
The Forgott en Art
of Grooming
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