Horse psychology insights: for a winning edge in the show ring and in life!

"The meeting of preparation with opportunity…

So, after a month of careful desensitizing, he's getting really good at not flinching when something strange comes along, at standing near the scary blue plastic wall (from a Fisher-Price child's toy) that is used as a 'wing' for a jump, even at ignoring tarps that he used to panic about. I noticed that he was much more willing to go over jumps and trot poles and around strange objects. I thought he was just about ready to ride in a parade...…

Forty seven years ago when I first read Vladimir Littauer’s “Common Sense Horsemanship” I was first introduced to the mysteries of effective contact.  All of my previous riding, four years of trail riding in Chile and Uruguay, had been done on loose reins, and contact was a deep, deep mystery to me.  I tried to learn all I could from books since I could not ride much until I got my first horse 5 years later.  Then, since I could not afford good lessons, it was me and my…

Hey bloggers,

This week's Baker's blog is going to be based on the recent helmet rule that has been put into place. Starting at the beginning of this year, it became mandatory to wear an approved helmet in the dressage ring. Traditionally in eventing, a hunt cap or a top hat was worn during the dressage phase symbolizing etiquette and a rider's experience level. Although tradition is a major aspect of the sport of 3 Day Eventing, safety is the number one most important thing. With…

So, my sweet Maggie Mae met her end on Monday.  It was not exactly how I thought the day would go.  A routine vet appointment to find out why she was lame ended up with a complete break of the proximal third of her cannon.  It's not often, I think, that one finds comfort in the vet report to the insurance company, but knowing that the vet heard the break and saw it from his spot on the outside of the longe circle, when I didn't, lets me know that even if she'd stopped immediately, the…

Puppy breath is one of those addictive smells that isn’t actually pleasing aromatically. Still, who doesn’t inch their nose dangerously close to those tiny teeth, just for a whiff of puppy breath?

One bright Sunday morning while driving to the barn to ride, I saw a sign on a ranch gate: Heeler Pups. I’d recently lost an elderly dog- I think he might have turned the…

Hi folks,iv had horses over 25 yrs so im no young un nor new to horses and breeds ,however there is a breed i simply know nothing about  and that is the saddlebred .can anyone enlighten me in the stats etc like....how tall are they meant to be ....what colours are they usually ...what are they bred for.....etc etc ......and before you gasp in dispare at me not knowing ... im from the UK  and im used to different breeds

Many…

Well, my little girl has an owie, I'll call a vet in the morning.  Took me two days to figure out which leg it was in.  She doesn't like to make things easy on me.  She's all clipped up and looking fantastic.  She's the only horse I know that is the same colour clipped as she is not clipped, and just as shiny.  I do love my little angel.

Back to lameness.  She's got a slight swelling on the right fore around the fetlock.  Current theory is that she tweaked herself (doesn't…

Hey bloggers,

This week's blog is based on fashionable winter clothing and apparel for riders for the upcoming winter season. At Baker's, we have a variety of super comfortable winter items that are both fashion forward and very appealing. All of the products mentioned in this week's blog will be great for Christmas gifts for both equestrians and non-equestrians looking to be trendsetting this winter.

The number one important thing to have as part of your winter wardrobe is a…

It has been an exciting week riding.

Debbie has a new mare at her barn, a piebald (black and white pinto) Tennessee Walking horse mare named Quizzy.  Since Quizzy still has hind shoes on, with trailers, Debbie does not want to turn her out in the mare pasture yet, but has been turning her out in the area around the riding rings to run around.  The mare pasture is right next to this turn out area, and Mia, lonely and friendless since her best friend was sold, quickly…

Thursday November 1 2012 We got to the barn late just to groom and wash the mud off of Coopers feet. He had a few burrs again and was tender on his left stifle. Guess he might have slipped in the mud maybe while trying to run away from flying feet. He is a little instigator and always getting hurt trying to work his way up in the herd. He is number 3 right now and goes after the 2 leaders, who are both big boys, one of them over 17 hands.

After cleaning and drying his legs & muddy…

Can anyone give me tips on how long my horses forelocks should be? It's so long, I wonder if it hampers his vision! Is it better to trim them shorter? Canadians are a new world for me, appreciate any advice!