On the Rodeo Road: Brandenburg Equine Therapy October 2011 Tip of the Month
One thing that YOU can do to help your horse is to give him a massage. One benefit of massage is improving circulation through the muscles as well as making them feel good. Massage is a great way to help you warm up before a ride or to help your horse recoup from a hard run. Massage is not that difficult to perform. We have all rubbed someone’s back or shoulders, and admit it, we love it when we are the one getting our back or shoulders rubbed. So why not do this for your horse?
You can use your hands to massage or you can use a simple massager to help you. There are quite a few Equine massage machines on the market, there is nothing wrong with them. However, they can be quite expensive. I believe you can go to places like Walmart, Target, etc and find something that will work just as well at a fraction of the price. If you can use in on yourself and it feels good, why would it not feel good to your horse? more…
On the Rodeo Road: Brandenburg Equine Therapy July 2011 Tip of the Month
With the crazy weather we are having at the moment, I think it is a great time to talk about running your horse in the heat. It is so important to beware of the toll that heat can take on the horse’s muscles. Muscles can become depleted of the electrolytes that are needed to make them work properly resulting in the muscles becoming more rigid, less flexible, and more susceptible to injury. Or in worse case scenarios, the horse can possibly tie up.
I believe it is a great idea to have plenty of electrolytes for your horse. I like to top dress with some electrolytes in their daily feed. But I still believe it’s great to give a tube of paste electrolytes pre and post race. It will help to keep the muscles from getting dehydrated. You cannot overdose on electrolytes as they will pass whatever they do not need. If you are running on lasix, it is even more important to give electrolytes because the horse will already be a little dehydrated before he runs. more…
Confessions of a Real Cowgirl: Magic Man
One of the perks of the animal industry is meeting people who share the same interests. It’s a time of sharing of ideas and learning (almost always for me). There was a time when I did not appreciate the opportunities of learning from others….I was afraid they would think I didn’t know something. Guess what? They already knew.I have met Troy Brandenburg on two separate occasions now. He specializes in equine sports therapy and has worked with some of the foremost barrel racing horses going today. He has helped some of the greatest horses in the world. But that’s his first specialty…. he is VERY talented and very good at what he does with a horse. more…
On the Rodeo Road: Brandenburg Equine Therapy June 2011 Tip of the Month
Is your horse trying to tell you that something is beginning to go wrong? Is something bothering your horse? Changes in your horse’s normal behavior can be an indicator of the beginning of something amiss. Hence, one of the best things you can do for your horse is to get to know him. By that I mean get to watch his habits – his eating, drinking, & his general demeanor. Take notice of any subtle changes in his behavior. Notice if he is not eating or drinking as what would be normal for him. Notice if he is just standing in the corner of the stall. Even take notice of any small difference in how your horse rides. If he usually rides relaxed and all of a sudden he is on the muscle, this can be an indicator of something beginning to be wrong. more…
On the Rodeo Road: Brandenburg Equine Therapy April & May 2011 Tip of the Month
What is the most important part of the horse? The FEET. There is an old saying – No feet No horse. So true! Every one should take more notice of the horse’s feet. Take a moment and really look at the Foot. Here are just a few things that I think you should be paying attention to:
Pay attention to how they stand and walk. Are they landing with a level foot? A horse that lands on one side of the hoof more then the other will tend to have less hoof growth on that side verses the other. How is the foot placement? Are the feet uniform? Once in a while you will find that horse that has odd shaped hooves but for the most part the feet should be uniform. more…
On the Rodeo Road: Brandenburg Equine Therapy March 2011 Tip of the Month
Today I would like to talk about tack. It’s equally important to have the right and clean tack. So often I see people that have been out riding in the mud go to a show and never clean the mud of their tack. Their cinch and saddle pads are hard and covered in sweat and horse hair. This will just rub and irritate the horse and make him sore.
Every one loves BLING! The other day I saw a horse with big BLING conchos on the breast collar. So big that the conchos were digging in to the horse’s chest. The horse had a lot of scar tissue from were it was pushing in to the muscle. For this reason, he was having trouble extending his shoulders forward. I think its great to have the horse look nice, but there can be too much. Remember! This is a speed event and you don’t see the racehorse’s carrying any bling. more…
On the Rodeo Road: Brandenburg Equine Therapy February 2011 Tip of the Month
With all this cold weather that we are having it is most important to make sure that your horse is drinking plenty of water and to COOL him DOWN AFTER you work him. It is not uncommon for the water buckets to ice over and not allowing the horse to drink. He will not drink much if the water is too cold as well. He needs just as much fluids now as he would in the heat and it is very easy for them to get dehydrated. I think its still important to give electrolytes now. Also remember when you work your horse and he is still warm don’t just unsaddle him and put him away. If you unsaddle him and don’t cool him down well he is prone to getting sick as well as tying up. Think of it this way, how would you be after riding and all you did was get off, put a coat on and stand in the barn? more…
On the Rodeo Road: Brandenburg Equine Therapy January 2011 Tip of the Month
This time of year a lot of people start getting their horses ready for the 2011 season. Many of those horses have been turned out for the winter, what tip can you give to help these horses stay healthy and injury free? I cannot stress enough how important it is for riders to get their horses in shape before they go to a barrel race. Like any athlete if you try to perform without first getting in shape, you cannot perform at your best and you greatly increase the odds of sustaining an injury. Ten days of riding is not enough. Your horse may run great the first time out, but he will not have the physical stamina to do many runs and will quickly fall apart. more…
On the Rodeo Road: Ten Rounds of the NFR | January 2011
On the Rodeo Road: Troy, I know you went out to work at Vegas this year. You have been going out to Vegas for a while now. I remember reading about you working on Brandie Halls horse Slim when she set the arena record. What was Vegas like this year for you?
Troy: This year was very different for me compared to past years. This year I was not as focused on the Rodeo events as I was with other avenues of my business. Lately, I have been pulled more into the Personal Barns of the individuals verses the side lines of the Rodeo Grounds. Typically Vegas is the High Point of the Year’s Work. But this year it was just part of my year’s journey. Moreover, I was not capable of being in Vegas for the full ten rounds. So, I was only there to help few clients for half the Finals. more…
On the Rodeo Road: Part 1 | February 2010
For those of you that are familiar with who Troy Brandenburg is…you will be so excited to read the following series that we are doing with him. For those of you that don’t know who Troy is…pay attention! Mr. Brandenburg is one of the best things to happen to the rodeo industry in a long time. He comes to the United States from Australia and I am sure if you asked a lot of the pro cowgirls and cowboys they would tell you that they are so glad he did. In 2006, Troy kept Brandie Halls famous horse Slim rockin and rollin in the NFR…I am sure some of you remember, she set an arena record that year! According to the December 2007 Barrel Horse News, Slim never ran on Bute…his secret weapon was Mr. Brandenburg and he is here to tell us all a little bit about what he does to keep our equine partners performing to the absolute BEST of their ablity……. On The Rodeo Road welcomes…………..Mr. Troy Brandenburg!! more…
On the Rodeo Road: Part 2 | March 2010
If you own a horse this is one person that you want to pay attention to. He has helped many rodeo atheletes perform to their best. He helped Brandie Halls famous horse Slim at the 2006 NFR (remember that year? She set the arena record! ) along with many others including Kelly Maben’s horse. That year Troy’s clients won 8 rounds of the NFR. To say his resume speaks for itself is an understatement. Okay, so now that you all know how GREAT he is………on to the interview…………
On the Rodeo Road: I understand that you are not only a positive influence on the horse but on the rider as well, tell us how you help the rider state of mind positive at a competition?
Troy: Positive thinking is a MUST for competing. If you think your horse is going to do something wrong, most times he will. You must believe that you can ride and your horse will perform to best of his ability. It’s not about winning all the time, It’s doing the best that YOU can. There is always some positive in everything you do. You can take that concept and build on it. more…
On the Rodeo Road: Part 3 | March 2010
On the Rodeo Road: What is one thing you continue to say to horse owners, one thing that you wish you could get them to understand?
Troy: That the little things like stretching your horse on a regular basis can make the difference to how your horse performs. It may take time for you to do but it helps the horse to be his best. In the end, you will benefit. My practices do not eliminate the needs for vets but I believe it will help both you and the horse to perform at your best
On the Rodeo Road: Do you do clinics?
Troy: I have done some. But I find that at clinics I miss the one on one interaction. I like the people to understand what we are trying to do. I find that is easier to accomplish when it is not so formal. however, that is not to say I will not do more, I just need to keep the class small. more…
On the Rodeo Road: Part 4 | August 2010
Leigh and I have been fans of Troy’s for a long time. We have longed for the chance to have him work on our horses. We wanted to learn more about his technique. A date for him to come to the great state of Kentucky came with a promise of Derby tickets. Hey, a girl has to do what a girl has to do… just kidding. However, I did get him tickets because Troy and his lovely wife, Tiffany, were going to the Derby and I wanted it to be a great experience for them. Derby weekend it FLOODED and there was no way to go forward with our planned day. We were very disappointed but Troy promised to come back in 3 weeks….. IT WAS SO WORTH THE WAIT! more…
Barrel Horse News | August 2010
The devil is in the details, as the old adage goes, and few people would agree with that more than equine therapist and Australian native Troy Brandenburg. According to Brandenburg, who, with his wife, Tiffany, developed Brandenburg Equine Therapy, it’s the little things that make all the difference in the world, which is why he has developed a non-invasive approach for treating performance-related injuries.
Brandenburg works on equine athletes to release lactic acid,tension and overall soreness through acupressure, massage and stretching exercises that promote circulation and digestion, while fighting pain and inflammation. more…
Recently I was blessed to attend the 13th Annual Rocky Mountain Super Race produced by Spin 3 Productions in Colorado Springs, Colo. It is always a first rate event with some of the biggest added money we get to run at here in the Colorado area. For sure, it was a full weekend and I would say that I took part in almost everything but, the I took back from the race was a conversation I had while I was there. Some of you may know Troy Brandenburg with Brandenburg Equine Therapy. For me it was my first in-person experience with him. I had heard a lot about him but I am the ever true skeptic. Now, this isn’t to say that I don’t believe in some alternative treatments, but I sure don’t jump on the latest bandwagon. This experience was much different. more…
Barrel Horse News | December 2007
Part coach, part therapist, and seemingly part horse whisperer, Troy Brandenburg is the latest trick of the trade. The hands down smash hit of last year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo? It should have been Kelly Mabens Mystic Angela (“Bubba”), who was unbeatable in four of the first six rounds. But about mid-week, somebody slipped some nitro into I Am Not Te’s jets and “slim” stole the show. He clocked a 13.71 or faster in each of the last five rounds, mowed down the arena record to win the eighth by three tenthsm and would’ve won both the ninth and 10th rounds, too, sans penalties. Turns out, the nitro comes in human form and speaks with a foreign accent. more…
