January 2010 Blog Posts (102)

AHAEC High Point Award

Bask N Coins+/ just racked up another award for the 2009 distance season. As members of the Arabian Horse Assciation of Eastern Canada (AHAEC) we qualify for their Year End High Point Awards. Well, Loosi has been named the Champion High Point Half-Arabian CTR/END horse. I pick up the trophy on Jan 23/10 at the AGM.

We did get turfed out of the AERC Regional Standing for North East Middleweight Division. I knew it was too good to last when our season ended 6 weeks before the close of… Continue

Added by Diana on January 10, 2010 at 4:02pm — No Comments

If Only I Were Younger

Due to the frigid weather and the bitter North winds I only got to ride once this week. My teacher, Debbie, is from Pennsylvania, so a little north wind does not bother her! Mia is not quite as tough, she just did not like the cold wind, especially when it blew right into her face. This has been a common "problem" this winter, I am starting to think that I am the first one who has ever bothered to ride Mia when there is a cold wind, or through puddles, or when it was sleeting or…

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Added by Jackie Cochran on January 10, 2010 at 1:00pm — 4 Comments

The "ahaa" moment for me and Jack

So I've been working with this Quarter Horse gelding that came into the Western Riding school where I work a couple of months ago. He's a nice horse just hasn't had any real training. So for the last sixty days we have been working a lot on flexion, bend, moving forward, moving off my leg, just getting him more broke in the face etc.

So I just had to share this because… Continue

Added by Heather Little on January 10, 2010 at 9:00am — 3 Comments

Lazy Horse? Behind the Leg? or Tense Rider?

Often people who come to my clinics complain that their horse is lazy. They say things like: "He doesn't want to go," or "Even my trainer has problems getting my horse to go."

I say, really? your healthy, vibrant 5 year old is lazy? Your prime-of-life, athletic 10 year old is lazy? Really? Does he just stand around out in the pasture?

"Well, no..."

Hmmm, Let's see what's going on, I'll say.

I watch as they ride and yes, the horse seems sluggish, making little effort to… Continue

Added by Sit_the_Trot on January 10, 2010 at 7:00am — 3 Comments

Operation Noah's Ark

Operation: Noah’s Ark

His real name is Montenapoleone – named after the most expensive and elegant district of Milan, Italy - the most important street in fashion. When we met, he was called Pepper. A 15.2 hand grey Thoroughbred gelding, he was born on the Haras Santa Maria de Araras in Ocala, FL. His pedigree is one of greatness – his dam by Alydar, and great grand-sire, Seattle Slew. He won almost $200,000 in 4 years of racing –ending up in New England. Skinny under a winter… Continue

Added by Horse Play on January 9, 2010 at 2:59pm — No Comments

Horse Play News Jan - Feb '10

The Running Horse

A Bi-monthly Newsletter from Horse Play

Issue January - February 2010

Horse Play

EIN: 05-0506340

Website: www.hptrc.org

Email: horseplayri@msn.com

Message from Aidan – the Alpha Mare

Yep, winter is here! Snow, snow and more snow – fun to roll in also I really enjoy the hot squishy food when it’s really cold. The trails are ok too but the fields are a blast – the ”roller coaster” is tons of fun to… Continue

Added by Horse Play on January 9, 2010 at 2:30pm — No Comments

The Incredible Shrinking Leg (or How To Avoid Losing Your Stirrups!)

I've been giving a bunch of seat and leg position riding lessons lately, and I've discovered some interesting things about the correlation of the pelvis, lower leg, and losing your stirrups.

Does this ever happen to you?

• Do you lose your stirrups in the sitting trot?

• Does your horse slow down in the sitting trot or when you work without stirrups?

• Does your knee come out over the front of the saddle when you're in the sitting trot or canter?

• Does it…

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Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on January 8, 2010 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Freelance Coaching vs Severe Wheather...Winter Worries.

It looks stunning doesn't it. And yet, it is also killing my livelihood.

My private clients decided to give up the struggle trying to keep up with lessons & training and are basically just keeping horses ticking over. Even if I did get to… Continue

Added by Wiola Grabowska on January 8, 2010 at 2:00pm — 3 Comments

How To Properly Use Spurs

Dear Julie,

My understanding is that spurs are to be used to back up a request if the horse is not responding or to make a cue more clear as in lateral work. It is hard for me to picture how to not have the spur contact the horse, especially in the most forward position when cueing with one's leg. In general, should leg cues be given with the inside of the calf to avoid hitting the horse with the spur rather than turning the heel inward?

Thanks,

Casey

Mariposa…

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Added by Julie Goodnight on January 8, 2010 at 10:30am — 2 Comments

Tips To Help Your Put Your Heels Down When Horseback Riding

Can't get your heels down when horseback riding? The problem may not be your heels!

I've been asked a lot recently about why riders have such a hard time keeping their heels down. A heel that is not "down" may not have anything to do with the heel itself, but rather the knee and the calf muscle.

Many times the heel is not down because the calf needs to be stretched. A soft calf allows for the heel to drop below the toe when the foot is resting on the stirrup…

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Added by Jane Savoie on January 8, 2010 at 10:30am — 1 Comment

Best of William Micklem - 5 - FOUR GREAT REASONS TO JUMP YOUR DRESSAGE HORSE

I see no difficulty in bringing together good dressage, jump and cross country training. Indeed I believe it produces a better, more efficient and humane training programme....a point also made by Dressage legend Reiner Klimke who also evented and show jumped to a high level as a young man. I believe the dressage helps the jumping which in turn helps the dressage. It is all about having the flexibility to choose from the fullest range of exercises to benefit each rider and horse…

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Added by William Micklem on January 8, 2010 at 6:30am — 3 Comments

DRESSAGE & JUMPING - INACCURATE INTERPRETATION

I am very disappointed to hear that a number of people have inaccurately interpreted the messages in my last blog to the extent that I am being portrayed as anti-dressage.

I LOVE DRESSAGE

Let me make it 100% clear that I love good dressage at any level, and I am in love with seeing a rider and horse working in harmony and with real quality...to me each moment is then something of great beauty and still gives me enormous pleasure on a daily basis. Good dressage training…

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Added by William Micklem on January 8, 2010 at 5:30am — 5 Comments

Building That Vital Connection with Your Horse

As a student of equine communication and behavior, I believe there is a vital ingredient missing in today’s equestrian world. I think that the foundation of any relationship with a horse not based on a deep connection can, and indeed does, lead to problems. To add this vital ingredient, I recommend that before you even start to train a horse with traditional methods, you take the time to bond with him and shape his character and attitude to fit in harmony with you. My focus is on… Continue

Added by Carolyn Resnick on January 7, 2010 at 11:30am — 1 Comment

Been a While

I appoligize for not posting for awhile, been crazy busy. First of all, yes I got the job. I get all my chores done from 8 - 11 am. That means I get up at 7am and so I'm constantly tired, but I do get Friday to Sunday off which is good, I don't think I could handle 7 days a week. Im really fortunate though, to have an amazing coach, she has been great to work and ride with. I have been leasing a couple different horses in the past 2 months, its really interesting to ride different horses once… Continue

Added by Rachel G on January 4, 2010 at 10:30pm — 2 Comments

Ride in Harmony: Half-Halt--Biomechanics of Your Seat, Legs, and Hand

For many riders the half-halt is elusive even though they understand that if done correctly it will rebalance the horse, increasing engagement of his hind end and readying him for the next move. Your seat during the half-halt must be ready to receive the engagement of the hindquarters and increase of energy created by your legs, otherwise you'll lose your balance and be tempted to hold onto the reins or grab with your legs because the change in balance and energy has left you behind the motion… Continue

Added by Sit_the_Trot on January 4, 2010 at 12:43pm — 5 Comments

This Week in Horse History - January 4th Through January 10th

This Week in Horse History - January 4th Through January 10th

January 5, 1961 - The television show "Mr. Ed" debuted for its six year run. The show featured Wilbur Post (Alan Young) and his talking horse, Mr. Ed. Mr. Ed was played by Bamboo Harvester, a parade horse. He was foaled in 1949 and was owned by the president of the California Palomino Society. Bamboo Harvester was purchased by the Mister Ed Company and was trained by Les Hilton. Mr. Ed did many scenes in one…

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Added by Paige Cerulli on January 4, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Lots of Puddles

I was very fortunate this week, I got to ride in above freezing temperatures.

The last few times I had ridden Mia (the Arab mare) in a bit something was not quite right. She would willingly advance into contact and keep her tongue relaxed, but she was not completely happy with the experience. So I decided to change to my mildest bit, the Mullen mouth snaffle the next time it was warm enough to ride with a bit. Friday--and it was above freezing!!! I had already changed…

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Added by Jackie Cochran on January 3, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Get Good - wafflings on plans for the future

This is what Rick and I watched at midnight, albeit from a comfortable spot in Hyde Park, a nice distance away from all the shouting...

I couldn't help to think whilst watching the cheerful lightning that I would love to put all that fireworked money into my horsey business...;))

Either way, 2010 is here.

It's my third year of blog writing and a lot of things changed in my life since… Continue

Added by Wiola Grabowska on January 1, 2010 at 4:30pm — No Comments

4 Questions to Ask If Your Dressage Horse Is Struggling in a Movement

If your dressage horse is struggling in a movement or exercise, ask yourself 4 questions:

1. Is he going too fast or too slowly?
2. Is his neck too high or too low?
3. Is his frame too open or too closed?
4. Am I asking too much?

If you're not sure what the problem is, adjust one of the 4 things above to see if that helps your dressage horse.

A Happy Horse

Added by Jane Savoie on January 1, 2010 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Thomas Ritter: On The Bit 4.0

On the Bit 4.0

©Thomas Ritter 2009

Paul Plinzner is best known today for finishing and publishing the notes of his teacher, Gustav Steinbrecht, under the title “The Gymnasium of the Horse”. He was also the écuyer to the last German emperor, William II. Plinzner rode with Steinbrecht in 1877 and 1878, and subsequently made Steinbrecht’s lessons into his own system of gymnastic training. I find a lot of valid and intelligent explanations in Plinzner’s own publications, although he… Continue

Added by Thomas Ritter on January 1, 2010 at 4:00pm — 2 Comments