Page 8 - CFANOct13

FEATURE | e q u i n e

A Unique Horse

Riding Experience

at the Florida

Agricultural Museum

I by CHERYL ROGERS

TRAIL RIDING

T’S PRIME RIDING SEASON, and horseback

riders looking for a unique experience can ride the trails Through History
at the Florida Agricultural Museum near St. Augustine.

There, Barn Manager Cheryl Carl offers guided trail rid-

ing with a small team of horses, one of them a 12-year-old
Florida Cracker Horse named Supressa.

Part of a rare breed brought to Florida in the 1500s
with Ponce de Leon, Supressa is a descendant of the Span-

ish Iberian horses, instrumental in early Florida agricul- It’s not gone to her head,” she elaborates.
days a week. Riders must have the cognitive abilities of an
ture. The breed is small and finely built, sure footed and The cool fall weather is ideal for rides. Beautiful blue
eight-year-old and be physically fit to ride. The rides cost

hardy, making it especially suited for children riders.
skies, with virtually no insects, are part of the appeal. The $50 per hour, per rider with a two-rider minimum; skill
cool fall weather prime season runs through the end of June, when tem- levels range from novice to advanced.
The is
Beautifulblue peratures begin to climb. “When it's muggy, it’s hard for Carl suggests making an appointment at least a day or
idealforrides.
everybody,” Carl observes. “It's a lot easier [now] on the two in advance. “I won’t mix a group. I won’t put you and
skies, with virtually no insects, horses too. They like this kind of weather.”
your family with strangers,” she adds.

part of the appeal.
Florida Agricultural Museum is located at Palm Coast, On tours, Carl can take riders by historic buildings at
are about a 25-minute drive from downtown St. Augustine. the museum. Unlike other riding facilities, their goal is to

They have 460 acres with sandy trails in a prairie-type set- be a museum. The rides were added to raise extra funds
“She’s a little diva. There’s certain horses she doesn't like,” ting. Riders can cross over land bridges— one of them for the facility’s upkeep.

Carl says of Supressa. “She’s a mare.” Although Supressa is above Interstate 95. There is also riding at the nearby In addition to guided rides, the museum offers Western
one of the featured horses on the museum tours, all the extra Princess Place Preserve.
and English riding lessons, plus special needs riding and

attention hasn’t seemed to spoil her. “She's a hard worker.
Guided trail rides are available by appointment seven
summer riding camps. ag

MAKING SURE YOUR HORSE GETS ALL HIS NUTRIENTS, PART I

WITH SO MANY BRANDS and PROTEIN
tense training will typically need
types of horse feed available, it’s easy to get There is a common myth in the horse a higher percent of protein in

confused or be unsure about whether your industry that more protein in the diet their diet than a mature trail
horse is getting all the nutrients in his diet means more energy for your horse. This horse. Too much protein

to stay healthy.
is a false conception. Protein is impor- can lead to excess urination,
When taking care of your horse, there increased water needs, and
tant in the horse’s diet for growth and
are six factors of nutrition that should be for maintaining overall health, but it’s spending more energy to

addressed: protein, carbohydrates, vita- actually a very limited energy source for eliminate excess pro-
mins, minerals, fat, and water. Here is horses. Protein requirements for horses tein. Too little protein by DR. KATIE HENNESSY

some information to help you figure out will vary, depending on age and the activ- can lead to poor hoof
the protein and carbohydrate part of your ity level of the horse.
and coat growth, anemia,

horse’s diet:
A young growing horse or a horse in in-
or a decreased appetite.
continued on PAGE 33

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