If you’ve ever been on a runaway horse, you know how frightening that can be. And if you haven’t been on one yet, then we hope you never have that experience! True, out-of-control runaways are highly dangerous, and stopping them can be a challenge. The one-rein emergency stop is the go-to trick for stopping a runaway horse, but it can be dangerous. Is there a better way?
The…
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Added by Classic Equine Equipment on June 24, 2014 at 9:30am —
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Last month we featured a blog post on how to handle a rider who’s been in a serious fall. In some cases, it will be plainly evident that a rider is injured – they’re knocked unconscious or they have broken a bone. In other cases, though, the injuries might not be quite so apparent.
Concussions are serious injuries that are dangerous if they go…
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Added by Classic Equine Equipment on June 18, 2014 at 9:00am —
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I let my friend R.M. have her first real horse ride on Oakley. It was a thrill and a pleasure for us both. Firstly, because, for years, we've had an ongoing argument:
"I know how to ride."
"No, you don't."
"But I've been on lots of trail…
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Added by B. G. Hearns on May 18, 2014 at 5:30pm —
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Do you know what to do in the event that a rider is injured and is left unconscious? Could you recognize the signs of shock, and do you know how to treat it? If you spend time around horses, then it’s possible that you will have to help a rider in a serious situation. Let’s review the First-Aid basics that you will want to know.
Dealing with a…
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Added by Classic Equine Equipment on May 16, 2014 at 10:00am —
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Most of us started as back yard riders. No shame, we were kids, we climbed up and rode. When we fell off, we climbed up and rode some more. I must have known there was tack, I watched westerns on TV after all, but we didn’t own any. We thought you kicked a horse to make him trot and…
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Added by Anna Blake on May 16, 2014 at 8:30am —
3 Comments
This is for you, Mom, for all that you do for your horse-loving daughter. This is to say thank you for how you never told your daughter she’d “grow out of it” when she came to you at six years old with wide eyes and dreams of a pony of her own. Thank you for always slowing the car down when you passed horse farms so that she could press herself up against the window to catch a glimpse of the glossy-bodied equines and the brilliant white fencing and that beautiful, entrancing…
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Added by Buckley Fence on May 8, 2014 at 1:30pm —
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Humans are designed to thrive in a cycle of stress/challenge and recovery/rest. Tomorrows horse show takes care of the stress, but what really counts as R&R to perform at your best?
Is it:
- Kicking back at the exhibitor party the night before?
- Braiding, grooming, bathing at the stable with your horse and barn…
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Added by Lindsay Grice on March 31, 2014 at 8:30pm —
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When I see kids learning to drive these days in compact cars with automatic transmissions, I wonder where’s the challenge? Back in my day, (beware when a gray-haired…
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Added by Anna Blake on March 14, 2014 at 9:04am —
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This is an approximation of my conversation with my eldest daughter (a beginner rider, 9 years old):
DD1: What if the horse spooks today when I ride?
Me: Well, try to focus on sitting deep in the saddle, staying relaxed and being a quiet leader.
DD1: But I could fall off!
Me: But you didn't yesterday, right?
DD1: But I could!
Me: Yes, but you might not. And the horse might not spook, as the snow isn't melting as much today. So the arena's roof…
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Added by RosB on March 11, 2014 at 9:30pm —
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Both my daughters have started riding recently, and it has been a rewarding and learning process for all of us.
Browsing friends' status entries on Facebook, I've been struck by some friends' effort to find and recognize happiness, as well as expressing gratitude (things like, 100 days of Happiness, etc).
This made me pause to think about finding and expressing happiness, via gratitude, when at the barn. As such, my daughters and I now take a bit of time, either at the end of…
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Added by RosB on March 1, 2014 at 11:21am —
2 Comments
by Anna Blake
I like to hear Horse Husbands whine as much as the next person.
Sometimes it’s almost amusing. He complains about…
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Added by Anna Blake on February 28, 2014 at 8:41am —
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As many of ya’ll know, I have a three year old son named Reed. As many of you also know, I have no prior experience raising children. So basically, I have no clue as to what I am doing. I try to apply natural horsemanship principles and techniques whenever possible, but as with my dogs, I am just not as disciplined with him as I am with my horses. I find myself doing crazy things that I used to see other crazy parents do before I had Reed. Then, I thought that they were crazy. Now I…
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Added by Gail Rice on February 19, 2014 at 9:00pm —
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“Oh, Honey. You aren’t going to wear that, are you? Could you put some lipstick on, you are so much prettier when you smile. You should skip dessert, Honey, you look heavy. Are you dating anyone… don’t let him see your apartment looking this way. “
That same voice on…
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Added by Anna Blake on January 31, 2014 at 8:30am —
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My husband still reminds me that night when I found out I was pregnant, I started planning our first pilgrimage to Disney.
I went to Disney several times as a child, and, of course, loved it. I didn’t recall the parking, the crowds, or the $5 pretzels.
I started planning our trip 6 months out. I wanted to make sure I had every minute planned out for maximum…
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Added by Gail Rice on January 4, 2014 at 6:30pm —
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Blake
Horses don’t make New Year’s resolutions. They live forever in the present moment. Prey animals are smart that way.
Humans, on the other hand, love to set a…
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Added by Anna Blake on January 3, 2014 at 9:30am —
4 Comments
With New Years Day having just arrived, many people are making resolutions and plans for 2014. Resolutions and plans such as “I will ride more often this year,” or “ I will be able to do a flying lead change by the end of the year,” abound. Most people are…
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Added by Understanding the Horse on January 2, 2014 at 10:00pm —
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Earlier this year a client was asking me for some backup horse care. A parent was in the hospital and she needed to go home. My client was working the plan: Her dog wasn’t welcome in any of her sibling’s homes, so she was searching for a motel with pet options.…
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Added by Anna Blake on December 27, 2013 at 8:37am —
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“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” Winston Churchill was certainly right, and some times of the year, more than others. I notice the holiday season has a lot of us wound up just a little tighter.
Is your horse a therapy horse? All of mine are, especially the retired ones. Sometimes…
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Added by Anna Blake on December 13, 2013 at 7:30pm —
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One of the trainers I rode with always said that being a good rider is 90% confidence. I'm sure that training, talent, and dedication comes into play also. Yet, I believe that confidence is the most important due to the fact that the other three attributes can be masked by a lack of it. A rider can't completely relax and focus if they are self-conscious and/or scared.
I still struggle with my confidence every time I ride. In fact, it gets worse as I get older. It's not even…
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Added by Jodi Perkins on December 10, 2013 at 10:00pm —
3 Comments
Why do horses do what they do and people do what they do? And why does the show ring seem to magnify those emotions and reactions? Brainfreezes, butterflies and blow-ups…all part of the competitive experience.
When we, as riders, understanding the science of how horses view their world, it helps to nip mishaps in the bud. As a prey animal…
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Added by Lindsay Grice on December 3, 2013 at 7:00am —
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