When sending a horse away for training, that horse may be away for a few weeks or even a few months. And while you may have done your homework before sending your horse away for training, there’s still room for things to go wrong. Monitoring your horse when he’s not at home can be tricky, but it’s also important to ensure that he is safe and training is…

Sending a horse away to a trainer requires a good deal of trust, since your horse’s care and wellbeing will be in the trainer’s hands. If you’re planning to send your horse away for training, you will want to make sure that the horse will be safe and that the training will be a positive experience. Here are some factors you’ll want to…

What do you get when you take the flashy appearance of the Appaloosa, the build of the Quarter Horse, and the elegance of the Arabian? The answer? The Pony of the Americas.

History

The Pony of the Americas was first developed in the 1950s. As you might guess, the breed is a true American breed – Les Boomhower, a…

Have you ever been lucky enough to meet a Percheron? Standing next to these gentle giants is inspiring and moving. The Percheron is an incredible breed that originated centuries ago.

History

While the Percheron originated in France, its exact ancient ancestry is unknown. There are a number of theories as to the breed’s origin, including that Muslim invaders may have…

There are all sorts of exercises designed to make you a better rider. From riding in two-point to riding without stirrups, the varieties are endless. But have you ever thought about riding bareback instead? Bareback riding has its own unique set of advantages that can help with your development and improvement as a rider. Here’s why.

Develop the Right…

In my childhood, I never knew what Good Friday was all about. Overshadowed by Easter Bunny anticipation, I knew it had something to do with Jesus dying, but I sure didn’t know why He died.

Now, the death of Jesus Christ has become more significant to me. Speaking to a group of teens at Teen Ranch’s horse camp last summer, I used this analogy…



As…

That’s the way we’ve always done it… Sometimes it takes that non-horsey person in our lives to cause us to question the root of an equestrian tradition. (“Why do you mount on the left side?”) Other times, a training road block inspires us to look for a better way. (Is a nose band really the best answer to bit evasion? Is a fat snaffle always milder than a curb it?…

Minor, major, severe. Most faults carry a numeric penalty.



That’s the way we’ve always done it… Sometimes it takes that non-horsey person in our lives to cause us to question the root of an equestrian tradition. (“Why do you mount on the left side?”) Other times, a training road block inspires us to look for a better way. (Is a nose band really the best…

What’s the payoff? A happy horse is trained based mostly on motivation. Relief from pressure (negative reinforcement), or receiving a specific reward (…

In riding or in life, a change of pace or a change of place. 



Transitions between gaits. Trot to canter. Canter to halt. Halt to walk. The unique “beat of the feet” changes from one gait to another. 



Transitions within a gait. The drumbeat of the gait remains the same, but the stride lengthens or shortens. Practicing…

Now let’s get practical. Here are some pointers from a coaching expert…

• Analytical eye. Ability to zero in on the issue and the source of it. Developed from watching hundreds of horses and riders and thinking about what we…

A good coach knows It's more than horse shows. Our students may take away a ribbon, year end title and "Congratulations!" from peers as they exit the ring. But if they don't take away life lessons learned from the pressure cooker of competition, we've failed as coaches. In 25 years of coaching, I smile as I look back at the clients who've been transformed…

As a younger rider, my coach failed to take the training wheels off. I was taught some valuable skills, but never learned to think by myself until I became a professional and had sink or swim. 



Now, as a certified coach, I’m always asking how I can be a better communicator and mentor. 



I think Equine Canada says it well in a recent “Coaches…

A spur is really just a reaching assist (a term taken from my lifeguard days – not equine related!). 



As a woodworker might choose some smaller chisels to refine the details of his project, so spurs give a rider precision and reach in delivering his cues. …

Horses appreciate variety.  They can become bored with their jobs just like we can.  Dudley Mandy of Springbuck Natural Horsemanship of Collierville, Tennessee (www.springbuckhorsemanship.com) builds FUN into his training methods by allowing the horses to try things that they do not ordinarily see and do during the course of their routine training.  Here, we see Dudley introducing…

Walking up the chute, through the in gate, into the ring and into the unknown at an important show? Who doesn’t have butterflies ?? 



What about at the gate of the New Year? These words give me perspective and still my butterflies as I consider the unknowns of 2013 – the economy, health, family…you name it. 



I said to the man who stood at the Gate of…

Smart. Clever. Dull. Clueless. We all have stories of horses that connect the dots and others that …don’t. So, really, are some horses sharper than others?

As a trainer, I’ll swear to the value of having a well-defined, systematic approach to training. I’ve also learned (sometimes the hard way) that the cookie cutter has to be adapted somewhat for…

You likely have a list of a few things you’d like to delete from your horse’s repertoire. From rooting the reins out of your hands to biting at the lead shank to slipping a trot step into a flying change.

“In almost all training, situations, the most effective way to “delete” behaviours is to prevent them from being expressed.” Dr Andrew Mclean,…