Win a Saddle by Riding with Best of America by Horseback

NEWSLETTER July-August 2022

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Top Rated Trail Riding Show

in the World,

Best of America by Horseback!

Office Phone : 540-829-9555

Office Email: [email protected]

Tom's Email: [email protected]

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Traveling in the Heat

with Horses

Win a Saddle,

National Day of the Cowboy and More!

Traveling in the Heat with Horses

Tom Seay

Executive Producer & Host

Best of America by Horseback

Several years ago, we were traveling through the Midwest with our horses. Our curtain rod holder in our LQ trailer had broken and we saw a hardware store just ahead, so we pulled off along the roadside to run in and get a new holder. We were out of the truck less than five minutes tops. It did not seem that hot outside, but when we came out and checked the horses, they were sweating. I have traveled and transported cattle and horses all my life without problems, but enclosed horse trailers are not as cool as open livestock trailers, even with all of the windows open.

Although it had not gotten dangerously hot in our horse trailer, it was unbelievable to me how hot the horses got in less than five minutes with no breeze. They were uncomfortably warm and sweating. It never happened again!

My wife Pat and I have ridden our horses every step of the way from the Atlantic Ocean in Georgia to the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, California, so we are pleased to share our suggestions from experience with you. Our more recent Mexico to Canada ride gives us insight to heat problems and water issues which we are pleased to share.

Be Aware of the temperature in

Your Horse Trailer

The first problem we have in traveling with horses in the summer is not being fully aware of the temperature inside the trailer where our horses ride. We are in air-conditioned trucks and the horses are really in a metal can. The temperature inside that trailer can rise incredibly fast when

when we are not moving. Just because we think it is sufficient for them to have all the windows open, it does not mean it is cool enough. I cannot stress enough how important it is to check on them often when it is hot outside, especially when the humidity is also high. We take an inexpensive battery operated remote indoor/outdoor thermometer with us when traveling with our horses. The digital thermometer screen sits on the dash of our truck and the outside remote sensor is in the trailer with our horses. If your trailer is not too long, it works great. Simply hang it where it is not touching anything. We can see the temperature our horses are experiencing the entire time we are traveling. You can pick them up for under $25.

Fans moving air can help

We have a living quarters trailer with a door between the LQ and the horses. We do not the wired fans in the horse stall area of our trailer, so one thing we do when it is really hot outside and we have to stop for fuel or longer, we are able to start the generator in the trailer and turn on the air conditioner. We carry an inexpensive box fan and place it in the doorway between the LQ and horses. That cooler air blowing on the horses is most pleasant to our horses and keeps them at a safe temperature while we are stopped. I use thermometers to verify this. It is also cool enough and safe enough to stop long enough to eat and re-fuel, but I never park where the trailer is out of sight. Never, never, never unload your horses to cool them in a truck stop or unfenced area. One air horn from a friendly trucker to wave hello, may startle your horse. If the horse gets away, it has no idea where home is and nothing but trouble is ahead.

Expect to get stalled in traffic near large cities, especially in the hottest part of the day. That air conditioner and fan works quite well. You can leave it on as you are driving down the highway, but make sure you never are less than a half tank of fuel. You need to keep that air moving for as long as six hours, in my opinion.

When we do stop, we try to find shade. Most Cracker Barrel restaurants have large parking lots for buses and we take advantage of this. They have well designed lots with landscaping of trees and shrubs, which we use as shade. Truck stops also have large parking areas where you can usually find shade. If there is no shade, park the trailer so the sun is not directly on the trailer and where the breeze will be on the horses, if there is a breeze.

Offering Water

We offer water to our horses at every fuel stop. We always bring some water with us from home. That means the first water stop has cool, fresh water from home that our horses are used to, as horses may refuse water that does not smell good to them. Horses sometimes will not drink from water at a truck stop as it may be chlorinated water or have an odd smell or flavor, like sulfur, which we often find when traveling in Florida.

If you do not have water tanks installed in your trailer, you can get those blue camping water containers in several sizes from 2.5 gallons to 7 or more. Get what you can lift or easily pour into a smaller bucket. This helps greatly to keep the horses hydrated on the first leg of our travel.

I know many people carry the water containers in the bed of their trucks. Even if it is water from home, it rises to the temperature outside. If you do not like drinking 100-degree warm water, neither does your horse. Try to carry those water containers in a cool place.

I want you to get out there and enjoy leisure time with your horse. If we can be of help to you in traveling or planning a vacation with horses, do not hesitate to write me at my personal e mail. [email protected] I read and answer every e-mail personally.

Tom

Tom Seay

Tom Seay is the Executive Producer and creator of the television show, Best of America by Horseback, seen on RFD- TV network, The Cowboy Channel, and over 300 cable channels. Tom organized and led the great American Transcontinental Trail Ride, a 3,300 mile trail ride (every step of the way by horseback) from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans and then another great ride from Mexico to Canada. He is considered the foremost authority on trail riding in America.

Letter from Del Shields

Trail Riding

with the

"Best of the Best"

by Del Shields

Hello, and hope you are doing well. It has been so good getting to see and ride with a large number of you

so far this spring. We have enjoyed some incredible ride locations and events. With that, we have dodged some

crazy weather fronts and been blessed with the beautiful sunshine that followed.

Being an optimist, I believe that is what we are going to experience in our great country in the near future. Even though it is a little cloudy right now, the sun will shine again. Keep faith and trust that all things are in the hands of the right One.

We have more terrific rides on the calendar for this year and will soon be announcing some really interesting news about two historical events we plan to be involved in, as well as some other beautiful locations.

With the economy as it is, we know that many are not sure what to do about taking long trips with horses. We are doing our best to keep our cost for you down, so that it is not a burden for you. We are also trying to book rides in various parts of the country so that we can provide opportunities for folks to join us within reasonable driving distances from home.

NEW Rides

Posted on Website

With this being said, if you have a favorite riding location near you where you would like for us to come do a ride, contact me. We will do our best to make that happen. We are adding new ride opportunities to our Website this week, so you can know where we are going to be riding.

What does all of this have to do with the price of bread in China? Well, nothing. However, I found it interesting that what

we are doing here at home, the Chinese are copying.

A recent report shows that their equine trail riding and tourism percentage has increased 20 percent in the past two years. Perhaps they have been watching you on our show. Whatever the case may be, we are proud of our trail riding family and what opportunities we are fortunate enough to offer in

locations and events to be involved in.

It has been overwhelmingly refreshing being told by location owners what

fine folks we have at our events as opposed to other groups. Most recently, Warren and Susie Harshman of the Clover Cliff

Ranch in Kansas raved about our group. The staff at Fort Robinson in Nebraska spoke very highly of our groups finer qualities.

Kevin and Janet Davis of Mammoth Cave Horse Camp in Kentucky were very kind in their comments about those who

joined us at their location. And, this is a common experience we glory in, as we get to hang out with the best of the best

in the horse world. Thank you for being you and joining us. The trails ahead hold some wonderful opportunities, vistas

and friendships. We look forward to sharing them all with you. May God watch over you and keep you well. Until then...

ALWAYS RIDE THE HIGH TRAIL

DEL SHIELDS

WIN a Saddle

by Riding with

Best of America by Horseback

Best of America by Horseback is giving away a saddle, built by C&L Saddles of Eminence, Missouri, on January 1, 2023. Everyone who comes on a ride with us from June 30, to December 31, 2022 will automatically be entered into our drawing. We are excited to partner with Ryan

Leggit and their faith-based family business.

More details to follow. You could win a new saddle similar to the one pictured on the right. Yes, it is true. If you ride with us, you are entered to win. If you ride multiple rides, you are automatically entered again, each time you ride. This is going to be a lot of fun, so keep up on this exciting adventure.

Horse Health and Parasites

by Del Shields

Uncommon but happens, is the infestation of mites on your horses. This spring is the first time in all the years I have owned horses that I have encountered mites. I noticed our buckskin mare being itchy and biting at her legs. She appeared to be quite uncomfortable. It wasn't long and I noticed she began to get little bald spots in her hair on her neck and face.

Soon, it was on her shoulders. I had already determined she had a parasite problem and I began to research and learned what I had suspected. It was mites. Research suggested the use of parasitic applications and even soaps with treatments to bath them in. I found these little pests are not easy to get rid of and the horse has a lot uncomfortableness. And yes, these parasites can transmit from one horse to another. To my pleasure, out of nine other horses, I haven't found any of the others who had been infected by these trouble makers. Research also shows that humans can contract these same mites.

Most commonly, the mites come from the hay fed to the horses. If the horses are fed hay on the ground, the first sign is of the animals biting at their leg feathers. If the horses are fed from a manger of sorts, the signs will be noticed on the face and neck areas. The human partners usually get the mites from carrying and feeding the hay to the horse. Horse health is optimized by inspection and awareness of the overall condition of each animal. Be sure to pay attention to your animals and noticed the things that seem out of the norm.

Del Shields

Annual High Trail Ranch Ride in September

Humboldt, Kansas

Announcing our Annual High Trail Ranch Ride/Event

The place Del and Shevawn Shields call home.

Where: 2475 90^th Road Humboldt, Kansas.

When: September 23-25, 2022

We will:

**Trail ride Friday and Saturday on the Beautiful late summer Kansas meadows and timbers

**Move a few cows around on horseback

**Train and have fun on an obstacle course

**Enjoy Shevawn's fine Fixins (Food)

(And whatever I smoke on the "Big Smoker")

**Listen to a Saturday Night Patio Concert With Del and Friends

**Enjoy a baked Apple Pie Contest

**You can Fish in our two Ponds (Catch and release only)

**Relax around the campfire

**Hay Rack Rides

**Sunday Morning Devotional

We limit the number of riders, so call now!

There will be several pens available. First come first serve.

Call 620-433-1819 For information and to reserve your spot!

2022 BOABH RIDES AND EVENTS

Come Ride with Us!

New Rides are added to the schedule on the

Home page on

www.bestofamericabyhorseback.com

For more information or to make a ride reservation, please call

540-829-9555

2022 Cattle Drives at Andora Farm in VA

Join Tom Seay on his cattle farm in Virginia to drive and work cattle with your horse. This is a perfect adventure for riders and horses of any experience level, whether you've worked cattle before or not.

Guests will learn a variety of skills from horseback, including gathering and moving cattle and team penning. Riders and horses new to cattle will have time to slowly acclimate to moving cattle on Friday afternoon.

All of our guests are treated to delicious hot meals throughout the weekend, cooked right here at the farm and served to you family-style around the long dining table. Guests are also invited to take part in leisurely guided trail rides around the property.

Cattle drives include all meals, a trailer parking spot with 30 amp electric hookup and a horse stall. If you live too far away to trailer your horse, we do have a limited number of rental horses and hotels are just 5 miles from the farm. You do not need any experience working cattle by horseback, but we do ask that only experience riders book the rental horses.

All you have to do to book is call our office at 540-829-9555. A $25 deposit will hold your dates. Space is limited, so book early!

Best of America by Horseback's

Family Cookbook

Any time of the year we enjoy having family and friends over to share a meal and memories. Tom grew up helping cook in his family's small country restaurant. Most of our events include sharing a meal with our guests, especially the cattle drives we host at our farm in Virginia. When we ask our guests what they enjoyed most about the weekend, the family style meals are always on the top of the list. Tom gets many comments that he should write a cookbook, so he did! Tom's recipes he serves at the cattle drives are in the book along with recipes submitted by members of our Best of America by Horseback family. It also makes a unique gift for the holidays. Click on the video below to see the details.

Click on video to the right

to see the details!

Shop now

Priefert Junior Elite Program

The Priefert Junior Elite Program is for rodeo athletes aged 8-17. It is not only aimed at highlighting young rodeo talent, but is also designed to help members grow into the rodeo leaders of the future. Team members are given the opportunity to serve as a Jr Representative for one of the strongest brand names in the industry. Jr Elite members also have access to exclusive content from Priefert, tips from our Pro Endorsee team, and character and leadership training.

Hear from members of our 2022 PJE Team each week, as we share these videos and be on the lookout for applications to join our 2023 team this December!

For more information on Priefert's Junior Elite Program, Log Onto:

https://jrelite.priefert.com/

Visit the Preifert website

Spurr's Bix Fix All Natural Hoof Care

All Natural

Spurr’s Big Fix “Hoof Fix” and Spurr’s Big Fix Antiseptic Spray are both excellent for Horse Hoof Care and maintenance. We all know the old saying “no hoof no horse” and our Spurr’s Big Fix Antiseptic Spray is no less than miraculous when it comes to conditioning dry, brittle or cracked hooves! And try “Hoof Fix” – it’s an awesome Hoof Conditioner!

Farriers love Spurr’s Big Fix Antiseptic Spray because they can simply spray it on the foot, wait a moment and trim a much more pliable hoof.