All Blog Posts (4,786)

Photo Update on Kingsley's hematoma

Pic. Turn out today. Waiting to come in. "Bored now!"

Kingsley is recovering slowly from his latest trauma. I decided against riding him today just in case but the hematoma is almost fully gone from the girth area. There is still some thickening to the muscles but the vet said it might feel like that for a long time if not… Continue

Added by Wiola Grabowska on January 29, 2010 at 6:38pm — No Comments

Busy but we love it!

It’s all go here. In the last week, we’ve been to Devon and back, bought a horse and done some BD and BSJA, not to mention my exams at school during all that.... With the season almost upon us it’s been all go to get ready.

So, our first dressage competition of the new year was also a test of my new years resolution – to map read better! We only took… Continue

Added by Oliver Lawrence on January 29, 2010 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Insurance 101 with Mike King

Hello and Welcome!

Blogging and social networking as a communication environment is one of those great mediums that we are very excited to be a part of.

Our clear objective in joining all of you at Barnmice is to post information on the web about risk management and insurance as it relates to horses and equine activity for everyone’s benefit.

That said, let me tell you about myself and how I got to where we are today.

Some of you may know me as, Mike… Continue

Added by Mike King on January 29, 2010 at 1:31pm — 9 Comments

Best of William Micklem - 8 - THE MOST DANGEROUS WORDS IN COACHING

“You can spit in their ear to get them to canter,” a former coach of mine, Robert Hall, used to say, when emphasising how easy it is to train a horse if you use any aid consistently. In a demonstration I will often demonstrate this point by doing something silly, like pulling the hairs behind the saddle as I give the normal aids for canter. I do this about ten times, then take the leg away completely and just pull the hairs and most horses…

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Added by William Micklem on January 29, 2010 at 4:00am — 9 Comments

Update on Sunkissed Acres' abandoned horse - now Mr. America Beau Jingles! - rest in peace, sweet boy!

In 50 years, Lori from Sunkissed Acres has never seen a more thin horse. Three shoes, not terribly old. Feet trimmed certainly within the last few months. Eye removal, professionally done. Wearing a rope halter, still clean. This horse had clearly been abandoned in the bush. The vet and Lori decided that this poor, young horse was hemmed up in someone's pen or field, probably a small pasture with no water or grass - even more devastating considering the recent bitter cold in that part of… Continue

Added by Special Horses, Inc. on January 28, 2010 at 11:30pm — No Comments

A great time today!~

I had such a great time today working with my 4 year old Appendix Indiana Jane. She is such a sweet horse, and so willing. They bring us such peace, and such honesty! I find my tolerance for dishonesty in people gets less as I age, I turn 51 this year, and it seems the older I get, the more years I spend with horses, the more I wish people could be more like them! They never hide their true nature and are always who they are, living in the moment, we learn such great life lessons from them. I… Continue

Added by P.Ann Turner on January 28, 2010 at 10:59pm — No Comments

3 Tips to Keep You From Leaning to the Outside in Half Passes

I think the main reason riders lean to the outside in half pass is that they use too much outside leg to push their horses sideways. So here are 3 quick tips to help you sit in the direction of movement.

1. Pretend there’s a seam running down the middle of your saddle from pommel to cantle. Then visualize yourself moving your outside seatbone onto that center seam so you don’t get left behind.

2. Think about actually taking a "step down into the inside iron" as…

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Added by Jane Savoie on January 28, 2010 at 10:00pm — 3 Comments

Merlin My Pony

Merlin my pony,
sweet and divine.
he loves to jump,
and has manners quite fine.
all day and all night,
he paces around,
hoping for food,
though none is around.
Merlin my pony,
so sweet and divine
he has a love for food,
and he is all mine!

Added by Sasha Merlin on January 28, 2010 at 6:20pm — 1 Comment

Balance Exercises: #2 Here is another balance exercise that you can do! #2: Flip Around Start by swinging your left right leg over the front of the saddle so that you are sitting side saddle. Nex…

Balance Exercises: #2

Here is another balance exercise that you can do!

#2: Flip Around

Start by swinging your left right leg over the front of the saddle so that you are sitting side saddle. Next, put your right arm over your stomach and grab the back of the saddle. Then, reach around your back and grab the front of your saddle. Lift your self out of the saddle and turn around so that you are dangling off the side of the saddle, facing it. Finally,… Continue

Added by Sasha Merlin on January 28, 2010 at 6:07pm — 1 Comment

My favorite horse training tool... the fence.

You might be thinking how can a fence be used to train a horse; simple the fence or arena wall acts as a barrier and helps direct or change the direction of a horses feet when worked in combination with your riding cues. Let me explain how it can work.

Say you are working on your horses stop but he seems to be walking out of it, ride him straight towards the fence as you approach the fence or wall apply your cues for the whoa, the closer you get to the fence the more likely… Continue

Added by Steve Wawryk on January 28, 2010 at 3:20pm — 1 Comment

How to help your horse stay cooler during work

ECOGOLD founder and textile engineer John Da Silva, explains important factors to control and help reduce the temperature of your horse during work.

"As with human athletes when horses exercise, their muscles develop heat. Like a car’s engine, after the initial warm-up, the heat generated needs to be dissipated for the car to run well.

The natural way in which the body controls overheating is by producing sweat. When the sweat evaporates, it cools… Continue

Added by Patricia at ECOGOLD on January 28, 2010 at 3:00pm — No Comments

getting on bareback 2

This blog about getting on bareback is about how to get on bare back from behind your horse. (before doing this make sure your horse won't buck you off when you try to get on)

1. have somebody hold your horse and back up 12 steps

2. run and jump onto your horses bum.

3. if you are not on yet then try to pull your self on.

4. slide up on to your horses back

5. yell "YES!!!!!" and tell everyone you know that you know how to get on… Continue

Added by Lexi Smith on January 27, 2010 at 7:55pm — 1 Comment

Hacking in the winter!!!! Super fun!!!

I'm not sure if you have ever wanted to hack in he winter but I know I have. If you have I have some of the best ways of hacking!! If your horse is dependable and you have ridden your horse bareback before than my fav way of hacking is bareback or with thier winter blankets. Make sure that u have praticed in the ring before! Than if you want to take it to the next level go for a canter. It is soooo fun!!!!
Have a great time!!

Added by Ruairi on January 27, 2010 at 7:28pm — 1 Comment

Antiquity Rules

Hey this book sounds very interesting! where did you get it? cheers, Ann.

Added by P.Ann Turner on January 27, 2010 at 6:39pm — 2 Comments

Fast is Not Better: Is there Only One Right Way to Train a Horse?

We need to change the concept that there is only one right way to approach a horse and that the “right way” has already been discovered, and that the horse and human must cater to it, and that the best method is the fastest method. Fast is not better. Relationship is about time spent in connection. We need to recognize that better horsemanship is achieved through being continually educated by the horse; by adjusting our leadership to create a true working bond.

By… Continue

Added by Carolyn Resnick on January 27, 2010 at 10:00am — 4 Comments

Helping the Working Equines of Afghanistan

"Look, Jeremy", the senior officer of a famous British regiment, grabbed me by the arm. "We're breaking our necks trying to win the battle of 'Hearts and Minds' out there. We've built drains and septic tanks, bridges and water systems. But, in Afghanistan, everyone is a livestock farmer - and there are just no vets at all there. I know what SPANA does, and it's just what's needed out there. Can you come and help? Please!"

When I'd recovered from the shock of such a request - and he… Continue

Added by SPANA on January 27, 2010 at 5:35am — No Comments

"Jingles" for Radar from True Innocents Equine Rescue (Riverside CA)

We need your "jingles" - your positive thoughts and well wishes - for Radar.

Donations can be made by visiting www.tierrescue.org/IndividualDonations.htm

.

Sunday afternoon Gail from TIER noticed Radar was uncomfortable. He would eat a mouthful of hay, walk off, stand for a minute and then start walking his enclosure. She took his temperature, which was normal,… Continue

Added by Special Horses, Inc. on January 27, 2010 at 2:00am — 2 Comments

A destitute horse at Sunkissed acres Rescue and Retirement (Summerville GA)

Donations can be made by visiting www.sunkissedacres.com

According to the department of agriculture, this horse simply walked out of the bush onto the highway, and they asked asked Sunkissed to take him on. The vet aged this horse between four and five years of age. He has three shoes - possibly from last year. An old injury, but not lame. He is missing an eye.

He is the skinniest horse Sunkissed has had to date. They are… Continue

Added by Special Horses, Inc. on January 27, 2010 at 2:00am — No Comments

Antiquity rules!

I am a history buff, having studied European History in detail in high School in Jamaica. I am thinking about writing some articles about the men - and some women from the past who literally changed the course of riding and how it evolved to this day, and I mean dating back to Xenophon the Greek and forward! I am so fascinated by the people, their characters and how life was back then, for instance did you know that during the reign of Louis 14th in France, there were 5000 horses at the Royal… Continue

Added by P.Ann Turner on January 26, 2010 at 10:57pm — 3 Comments

Kingsley's Rehab Week 11: 21 minutes

FULL STORY OF KINGSLEY'S REHAB FROM WEEK 1: REHABILITATING KINGSLEY

His majesty managed to lose 5th pair of overreach boots in just as many months. The mud is so bad that they probably just got sucked into it. Winter like the one we have… Continue

Added by Wiola Grabowska on January 26, 2010 at 3:41pm — No Comments