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An Alarming Alliance

From: The Long Riders' Guild

Date: July 24, 2009 6:32:06 PM HST

To: ☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺@☺☺☺☺.☺☺☺

Subject: An Alarming Alliance

Reply-To: ☺☺☺☺@☺☺☺☺.☺☺☺

An Alarming Alliance

Are FEI Endurance Officials and an Arab Sheik supporting the Mongol Derby?

What is believed to be the most potentially damaging equestrian event ever attempted, wherein twenty-five tourists will pay a collective $130,000 to race 800 small horses one…

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Added by Kimberly Cox Carneal on July 28, 2009 at 3:34am — No Comments

Stop The Mongol Derby

I'm almost certain that you have heard of the ongoing controversy surrounding the Mongolian Derby, billed by its organizers as "the longest horse race in the world." Among the dangers posed to humans, the organizers list, "bleeding kidneys, broken limbs, open sores, sun stroke, moon stroke and a list of dangers longer than your arm stand between the you and victory. No mention of the dangers to the semi-wild horses of… Continue

Added by Kimberly Cox Carneal on July 28, 2009 at 3:33am — No Comments

They Said, He Said: The Adventurists, the Mongol Derby and VET Net

Before you read this post, I have to ask your forgiveness. Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch is not a "mission" blog. I don't often launch myself in shouting matches or guzzle purple KoolAid, passionately following any idea at all. That is the diametrical opposite of mindful examination of all sides of an issue. But the Adventurists' blatant lack of concern for Mongolian horses and people, their environment an culture, in the name of "fighting to make the world less boring" is an… Continue

Added by Kimberly Cox Carneal on July 28, 2009 at 3:30am — 3 Comments

Do You Demand Your Horse's Complete Attention?

When you are with your horse, do you demand his/her complete attention? I don't.

In the worlds of traditional and natural horsemanship, there is a lot of talk about what constitutes respect. Determining the nature of respect can help you get it from your horse. Commanding his or her full attention while together is an element of respect. Last week I had a conversation with a trainer who was called in to help a horse owner who was having trouble getting the respect of her horse. Here… Continue

Added by Kimberly Cox Carneal on July 28, 2009 at 2:41am — 1 Comment

The Dominance Model and Horsemanship by Equine Ethology Are Dead

Didn't the major natural horsemanship names notice?

Way back in 2008, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior wrote a position paper outlining its reasons for eschewing any kind of dominance-based training. Based on the most recent research, their paper is as enlightening to the mindful horse owner as it should be… Continue

Added by Kimberly Cox Carneal on July 28, 2009 at 2:39am — 1 Comment

Ride With a Natural Seat: You Can Too!

Ride With a Natural Seat: You Can Too! by Michele Morseth, MA, GCFP

ABSTRACT: Riders can ride for years without ever really moving in unity with the motion of their horse. However, you can learn new habits and posture so you ride in secure comfort. You are not your habits and at any age you can become fluid in your movement and more…

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Added by Sit_the_Trot on July 27, 2009 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Ride Without Fear: Build Confidence & Control in Mind & Body

"Even among experienced riders, fear or anxiety can seem like an insurmountable obstacle in riding or just being around horses. Your horse spooks and you get hurt, you experience pain and lose the ability to be relaxed and supple, you see someone else get thrown. All of these events can cause anxiety and excessive fearful responses. Because horses tune in to our emotional states, our anxiety can cause unwanted behavior like shying or what seems like disobedience. When we are calm and confident… Continue

Added by Sit_the_Trot on July 26, 2009 at 3:22pm — 2 Comments

Mars, my stern instructor

Today I got to ride Mars at Lanolin Farm. Since Shannon had gotten all her horses in the small paddock, Mars decided to cooperate, let himself be caught at the first try and did not make too many faces over being groomed and tacked up. Just think, Shannon did not have to convince a running, bucking and kicking pony that it was time to be ridden. Sounds good, doesn't it?

But when I got up on Mars's back he WAS NOT HAPPY. Reluctant to move forward, extremely reluctant to walk in a…

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Added by Jackie Cochran on July 26, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Fieldstone Breeders Show - July 25/09

We took two Sport Ponies to the Fieldstone Breeders Show on July 25/09. The past couple of years we have been unable to attend the closest of the Sport Pony Star Search Qualifier show due to conflict with other competitions but this year we MADE IT.

Two year old Private Benjamin (Babs) was 2nd in her class and was later named Reserve Junior Champion. Her 3 year old half-brother Kolonel Mustart (Dijon) was 2nd in his class. We had an great time - Shannon and crew put on a terrific… Continue

Added by Diana on July 26, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

Baby steps

Let me introduce you all to Bruvin. He is a 4 year old native Norwegian breed called Døla hest. He is 165 cm and 700 kg (50 kg of summer vacation belly).

I’ve known Bruvin since the day he was born. I was out in the field trying to find the horses and after 90 minutes I found them underneath some big old trees. Bruvins mom had two feet sticking out. Needless to say she was giving birth, and I helped her.

I was the first… Continue

Added by Hannah on July 26, 2009 at 5:06am — 1 Comment

EVEN MARK TODD CAN BE LED ASTRAY – Part 2

When we breed a mare and a stallion it is a fact that we breed the brain as well as the body. Nothing strange about that, and trainer after trainer, coach after coach, and expert after expert all continually repeat the line about the need for a good temperament…a good brain for working with humans. Unfortunately this message is often ignored as we put greater emphasis on beauty and brawn rather than brain. Or we misinterpret the message by breeding the type of docile horse that will put up…

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Added by William Micklem on July 24, 2009 at 10:00am — 12 Comments

Exercises to help your Flying Changes

Flying changes are important in show jumping because you have directional changes in courses.

The easiest way of teaching flying changes is by using a cavaletti or a raised pole. Position the cavaletti or raised pole on the diagonal. Canter over it making an 'S' shape with a slightly exaggerated curl to the line. As your horse goes with an elevated stride to jump, slightly change the bend and adjust your leg aid. With the jump and the slight change of direction, the horse…

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Added by Tim Stockdale on July 24, 2009 at 9:30am — No Comments

When Should You Move Your Dressage Horse from Training Level to First Level?

Riders often ask me, "How do I know it's the right time to move my Training Level dressage horse up to First Level?"

In this article, I'll give you a way to come up with a logical plan for introducing new work at Training Level.

First, I just want to make a general comment. All training should be a systematic progression toward a desired end result. So you need to be able to see the big picture.

For example, even at Training Level the quality of your…

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Added by Jane Savoie on July 24, 2009 at 9:00am — 3 Comments

Equine Science: Weekly News and Trivia Question - July 24, 2009

This week has been relatively quiet on the equine science news front, but there's still been some great stories in the news. Here's my weekly round-up:

Australian scientists have found that giving stabled horses one hour of exercise a day makes for happier horses.

Dr Raf Freire, a lecturer in animal behaviour and welfare from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Charles Stuart University carried out a study involving 24 horses each of which was allocated… Continue

Added by Chloé Sharrocks on July 24, 2009 at 7:56am — No Comments

Have you ever gotten run over?

This week's quote from Will Rogers: "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." makes me think of a time when I got run over.

My horses ran over me once -- of course it was my fault. I was desensitizing them to an umbrella. They were all at one end of their small outdoor pen and I was about eight feet away from them, opening and closing an umbrella. Of the four horses, I knew one (Ollie) was not… Continue

Added by Karen Brenner on July 24, 2009 at 6:47am — No Comments

Spotlight on...Working at the races.....Kat's story!

Going as Far as She Can in an Industry She Loves

by Stacie Roberts | Canadian Thoroughbred July 2009

Most people on the backstretch at Woodbine just call her “Kat”. A shortened version of her full name Katerina Vassilieva, she is also otherwise known as the Assistant Trainer of Pennsylvania based trainer Mike Pino. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Katerina’s mother and father brought her to Canada in 1989 in hope of securing a brighter future for their only… Continue

Added by Sarah at HorseJobs.ca on July 23, 2009 at 10:31pm — No Comments

Competition Riding vs. Riding for "Fun"

There I go again...putting "fun" in quotations. Hey, for those of you that ride, you KNOW why that is! LOL For those of you that don't, riding is fun in the same way that a serious visit to the local gym is fun. It is hard work. Even when you aren't riding, horses are work; you clean the stall and paddock, you maintain the barn area, you groom the horse, you carry feed and hay and tack, etc.--it is physical (well, except for those of us that pay to have all that done for them). But even those… Continue

Added by Mary McGuire Smith on July 23, 2009 at 8:00pm — 3 Comments

Selecting Horses for Amateur Riders and Horse Life at Kirby Park

Hi everyone! Here are two questions I've recently been asked.

1. When you are selecting a potential event horse for an advanced amateur rider/a beginner amateur rider, what are your priorities?

When looking at horses for amateur riders, for me the most important thing is temperament. You can forgive movement that is not great or a slightly wonky leg as these horses are not going to have the legs galloped off them in a hurry. I think you need to be very realistic.…

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Added by Megan Jones on July 22, 2009 at 6:00pm — 1 Comment

Season Half Over???

Well we have made it to the half way point of the season. Seems like we just got started - May does not seem so far away when we arrived in Calgary for two weeks of the May Classic tournaments at Spruce Meadows - but alas it is - half over.

I can not remember where we left you last - I believe it was the beginning of June in Blainville and from there I went on to Spruce Meadows for the Summer Series - five weeks of tournaments that highlights some of the best horse and rider combinations… Continue

Added by Evie Frisque on July 21, 2009 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Six tips for picking out great music for your horse!

6 tips for picking out great music for your horse

1. Know your horses ideal BPM (beats per minute)

2. The average horse has BPM as follows.

Walk 90-106 BPM

Trot 138-160 BPM

Canter 96-108 BPM

3. Pick music that matches your horses BPM within 4-6 BPM range.

(For example if your horse has a canter of 104 BPM, choose music that is between 100 BPM and 108 BPM)

4. Choose music that has a very clear down beat. (The down beat is the beat that you… Continue

Added by Ruth Hogan Poulsen on July 21, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments