archives

Pre 2022 material from the old website

Joder Ranch Update 2015

archives, Archives-Advocacy & public lands /

Photo Credit: Rocky Mountain Joe


Nope, It’s Still Not Over!

In December more than 35 people spoke at the Open Space Board of Trustees (OSBT) meeting, with 29 speakers in favor of keeping horses on the Joder Ranch, with trails and parking. That is absolutely HUGE!!! Even more incredibly, the OSBT and City Council received more than 350 emails on this topic… that is completely unprecedented, and it shows the amazing level of support for equestrian access and the horse community’s personal involvement with the Joder Ranch.

Congratulations and thanks! You guys have been doing great!

Alas, it’s still not over. The OSBT kicked the can into January… and just today we learned that staff has kicked the can again, into February. After that comes the North Trail Study Area process, which they have promised will be completed in 2015.

So that means you will have several more opportunities to provide input, even if you already have.   Keep up the pressure, horse people!

We urge you to come to the next meeting of the Open Space Board of Trustees and speak under “Public Participation Items Not on the Agenda” or on “Joder Ranch,” if they put it on the agenda, and/or under “North TSA:”

Weds. February 18, 2015
Boulder City Council Chambers (Municipal Building)
Broadway & Canyon
6pm

It doesn’t have to be perfect, or eloquent, or creative. If you just want to say you support horses and trails on Joder Ranch and the North Trail Study Area, that’s okay. Or you can just say that you support BCHA’s position, which is for a loop trail, horse trailer parking, and regional trail connections. Or you can elaborate on the history of the ranch and Bob & Eloise’s commitment to having it be open to horses and trails. But if you don’t say anything, they won’t know which side you’re on.

Be polite but firm. Do not — ever — put down any other user group.

If you can’t make it to the meeting, click here to send a personal email to the Boulder City Council and Open Space Board of Trustees. Please write a short paragraph about your interest in the ranch, the Joder family, horses in general and access to our public lands. Send your email ASAP to give the OSBT members time to read it thoughtfully before the meeting.

Every person who communicates is a “vote” for horses in Boulder.

For more information about this item, please review our earlier Constant Contacts or posts on this site, or contact us at info@boulderhorse.org

Joder Ranch Update 2015 Read More »

Local Winter Rides

archives, Archives-Trails History /

Winter is here in Boulder, Colorado and I find myself a bit off my usual schedule—riding after work (darn that daylight savings time) is down, and weekend trailering to local trailheads too. I just pulled my front shoes to give Nico’s feet a break. I think it is important for the hoof to make contact with the earth for a few months, so this is the time I do that too. As my body grows a bit stiffer, I stay on my Pilates schedule to keep my lower back moving, my inner thighs in shape and my body flexible. I also like to experience other fun winter activities like Nordic Skiing, Alpine and snowshoeing in these winter months. The woods are filled with so much magic all season long…I hope to see you out there soon! Here is a list of some of my favorite local winter rides: Heatherwood: The trailhead is accessible in from the Heatherwood neighborhood off 75th Street in Gunbarrel. Most users of this trail system access the trails from Valmont or Arapahoe, but I love the convenience of the wide street for parking and less bikes from this Northwest access point. The soft footing does not require hoof protection, and the grasslands and undulating terrain allows you to get in a few good gallops and also work your horses hind end climbing up and down the small canyons. There are no bathrooms here, you can find one at the Arapahoe trailhead, and no water sources. Also as a courtesy to the neighbors

Local Winter Rides Read More »

Horse Vision and Its Effects on Horsemanship

archives, Archives-education /

A friend if mine sent this article to me and I thought you might find it interesting. I hope you see something new from your horse’s perspective. Linda P Article by: Troy Griffith in Horse Health + Care Our horses see the world very differently from us in many ways. These differences in vision, due to the structure and placement of their eyes, have a profound influence on how they react to visual stimuli and should be thoughtfully considered in all aspects of horsemanship. The differences include: field of view, color perception, light adjustment, motion detection, acuity and much more. In this article I hope to detail some of the nuances of horse vision and how they relate to training, riding and caring for our equine partners. Field of view Most zoologists will tell you that the horse’s eye is the largest of all land mammals. Because of their size and how the eyes are set, the animal has nearly a 360° field of view. The horse cannot see directly in front for a short distance, nor directly behind, unless they move their head. This is why we are all taught never to approach a new horse from either of these directions and to always make them aware of our location as we pass behind them. It is important to note that even though the horse can see in nearly a complete circle, only about 20% of that vision is binocular and the remaining 80% is monocular vision. This means that most of the field of

Horse Vision and Its Effects on Horsemanship Read More »