May 2009 Blog Posts (73)

ParaEquestrian horses needed for Regional and Provincial Competitions in Ontario

Hello folks!

I represent the Ontario Therapeutic Riding Association and we are in need of some borrowed horses for two competitions this summer. We have a regional show in the Hamilton area on June 20, 2009 and our Ontario Para Sport Games on July 25, 2009 in the Woodstock area where we have a rather urgent need for higher level horses. A few of our Advanced and Intermediate level riders find themselves without horses this summer for a variety of reasons and as such, we are looking… Continue

Added by Viki LaCombe on May 31, 2009 at 9:00pm — No Comments

What to do when problems crop up: Part 2

Under saddle, disobedience from the horse can be caused by a number of factors, not necessarily just unwillingness to work. Here are a few points to consider:

Reward

The reason why horses are easy to train is because if you do things consistently they will pick it up; they are creatures of habit.

I am a great believer in giving a horse a pat as a reward for good work. However which method you use to praise your horse is not important, it is the consistency of… Continue

Added by Tim Stockdale on May 29, 2009 at 10:42am — No Comments

When Can I Introduce New Work: Part 1

Riders often ask me, "How do I know it's the right time to start training something a bit harder?"

This is a big topic so I'm going to cover it over two blogs. In this blog, I'll give you a way to come up with a logical plan for introducing new work at Training Level. Next week, I'll show you to plan to move up to Second and Third Level. I'll also show you how you can use feedback from competition to help you decide whether or not you're ready to move up.

First, I…

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Added by Jane Savoie on May 29, 2009 at 10:30am — 4 Comments

Update on Louie, one of our rescues!

We picked Louie up 2 weeks ago today. He is a 3 year old TB gelding who was starved so badly that he is the size of a yearling.

When we picked him up, I compared him to an autistic child. All he knew his entire life was abuse, neglect and starvation. He would not look at you and if you looked at him, he would turn away. Well, we finally got a halter on him 3 days ago. He is now being stalled during the heat and rain of the day. He likes having a stall! He has discovered treats and really… Continue

Added by Lori Tankel on May 29, 2009 at 9:30am — 1 Comment

Behind the bit

Back in 1970, when I began riding seriously, my BHI (graduate of Morven Park) instructor introduced me to the concept of behind the bit quite early in my riding career. What she said:

1) DON'T DO IT

2) It was a sign of bad horsemanship

3) Good riders NEVER rode behind the bit, at the top levels it JUST WASN'T DONE.

Almost 40 years later, everywhere I look, horses ridden behind the bit are EVERYWHERE, in all disciplines, winning top prizes, including medals at…

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Added by Jackie Cochran on May 28, 2009 at 9:00pm — 2 Comments

Crazy People Have More Fun!

Since I leave tomorrow to move my stuff home from Uni. (summer vacation, yaaayyyy) I won’t have time to write a blog later this week. Nor will I have time to ride any for at least 3 days! *Sigh*

This week has been so much fun! Linda is still on sick leave but The Pony and I have been working harder than ever. (Or not) We’ve just been enjoying each others company and having fun. I’ve also been riding Bruvin (The 4 year old) a little. (that's him and me in the picture)…

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Added by Hannah on May 28, 2009 at 8:54am — No Comments

Life's Not Fair!

This Oscar Wilde quote is a brain twister. "Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not."

If you're like me, after reading the part of the quote, you mind might have jumped to a situation where you ended up with the short end of the stick. Not fair! But the second part of the quote brings on a new perspective. How many times have we been "lucky" even when we didn't deserve it. Life is not… Continue

Added by Karen Brenner on May 28, 2009 at 7:19am — 1 Comment

Ride Better 1-2-3: Fitness for Riders- Getting better posture and aids with fitness on the go

Hi,

Over the past three months since starting this rider fitness blog, we have had some really great questions and photos submitted. We've covered topics from back strength to leg position and more.

Some of you may not realise that each week I select one reader's questions (pictures are great but not necessary), and provide feedback on fitness recommendations targeted to specific goals as a rider.

Because so few of you submit photos, I was starting to wonder if you either… Continue

Added by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on May 26, 2009 at 9:00pm — No Comments

Half term holidday

Just a short blog since it's half term this week, so no riding for me. I miss it already and the week is not quite halfway through yet!

I thoroughly enjoyed my week last week.

How am I feeling in myself?

well, the pain was really bad Fri through Sunday and is up and down at the moment, but I am very tired and fatigued. I am taking it easy this week so I can enjoy my lesson next week!

I have been pottering about the house, since I am car-less this week, My… Continue

Added by Cat on May 26, 2009 at 9:02am — 2 Comments

Training - small steps from a non-pro

Training Brasilia

Yesterday I was riding Brasilia do Summerwind, a green 3 year old mare. After the ride, my husband John said “You know I watch her move under saddle and she moves exactly as she does when she is running at liberty in the pasture”. What a compliment! All the energy, enthusiasm and beauty

of a natural moving horse was still there! After basking in the praise (I assumed it was for me), we talked about how we had gotten there.

We believe it is the… Continue

Added by Lynn Kelley on May 25, 2009 at 4:17pm — No Comments

Ideas?

My three year old mustang is afraid of cars. Well to be more specific, he is scared of the noise they make going down the road (think tires on pavement). Right when the car gets past him, he turns and bolts (thats how we discovered his fear at least - plowed fields make for a soft landing!). He has never spooked like that before. Because of that reaction, I've been taking him out to eat grass by the side of the road and watch cars go by (its not constant). I can tell he would run if the halter… Continue

Added by Cindy Toth on May 25, 2009 at 12:24pm — 4 Comments

Tucker is 6 today!

My PMU foal..well, not a foal anymore! Tucker, who is a Perch-QH turned 6 today! I adopted him when he was 6 months old! He has exceeded all of my expectations of him! He is stunning...he really draws attention, he is so beautiful! And jump? Oh, yeah! He is turning out to be quite the eventer! His first horse trial last month was a blast! He so throughly enjoyed the xc phase! We were 4th in BN out of 26!! How cool is that? He is a big puppy dog, wants to be the center of attention. I can't… Continue

Added by Lori Tankel on May 25, 2009 at 12:08pm — 1 Comment

8 Hints on Writing Effective Internet Postings on HorseJobs.ca!

Writing An Effective Online Job Posting

By Sarah Pratt

www.HorseJobs.ca

Many of us in the equine world have turned to the internet for any number of things; social networking, education, industry resources, show schedules and entry forms, news and employment – in fact some newspapers and even show guides are no longer printed old-fashioned paper, but, have become a successful online subscription instead.

Using the Internet to fulfill your hiring needs can… Continue

Added by Sarah at HorseJobs.ca on May 24, 2009 at 8:40pm — No Comments

Help Heart Land Horse Rescue! Get an autographed photo of Calvin Borel!

www.specialhorses.org

www.heartlandhorserescue.org

We are down to the wire with just one week left of our fundraiser. Thank you to those of you who have already donated, we have raised $400 for Heart Land!

We at Heart Land are not above stooping to low levels to get your votes!

So, for everyone who donates $50, you will get an autographed photo of Calvin

Borel! And if you donate $100 or more, he will personalize it!

So stop what you are doing and… Continue

Added by Lori Tankel on May 24, 2009 at 8:05pm — No Comments

Beautiful weather for a great week of showing in Palgrave Ontario

What a great week it was at Palgrave. Beautiful weather, great jumping and lots of wonderful horses. Chris course designed 2 hunter rings all week. The show ran so well that the over 150 trips in each ring ended by 4 pm every day. Today he set a very interesting and challenging Equine Canada Medal for the 3'6" junior riders. Over 25 took part and many mastered the subtle tests he built into the track. We are… Continue

Added by Evie Frisque on May 24, 2009 at 7:30pm — 2 Comments

A long way to go, but we'll get there in the end!

Lately I haven't been blogging much.

Had a period where we just tried to figure out how to practice the most effective way for our clinic next Saturday.

Well, to be honest, I am not sure if we will be ready to go there. You see, last Tuesday she had her hooves fixed, and had a huge bacterial infection in them. The barefoot trimmer had to dig a little to make it better, but unfortunately she was sore under her legs the day after. And she still is.…

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Added by Kine R on May 24, 2009 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment

FEEL THE RIVER IN YOUR HORSE

As I travel the world working with people and horses there are significant cultural differences between the various countries. However, it is always true that wherever I go - people are people and horses are horses. But then again there is the very real challenge of how often the time needed for translation of verbal languages takes us “out of the moment” with the horses.

Of course, that delay between a rider hearing what I have to say - and then translating my English into their own… Continue

Added by Chris Irwin on May 24, 2009 at 10:30am — 5 Comments

Understanding The Art Of Buying A Good Horse

Anyone looking through a list of horses for sale needs to have a strong sense of what they are looking to buy. When buying horses in Texas, or anywhere else, most people are going to find right off the bat that they are not just looking for "a brown horse," they are going to be looking for horses that will serve a particular purpose.

Cattle Horses

When some people look to buy horses, it is because they have a ranch and they need to have a horse that will allow them to keep… Continue

Added by horsesforsale on May 24, 2009 at 6:35am — No Comments

Cracking the code

I’m not all into shows and making money off the horses, if I was I wouldn’t be riding the horses that I do. What I think about when I’m riding a horse is how can I make this work best for the both of us.

The Pony is the worlds most loveable, crazy, mad, undisciplined, wonderful pony I’ve ever met. She can be all up in my face one day and all I wanna do is give her away to the first one that wants her. She’ll jump into bushes, ruin her tack, jump around like a madman, jump into rives… Continue

Added by Hannah on May 23, 2009 at 8:07pm — No Comments

May 19, 2009 - Another Filly is Born

After a couple of false starts and mother not being able to head to Aprilfest in May Endurance Ride on Sunday, Spring (Shades of Spring+) finally decided to let the baby out.

Good strong, correct filly by Section B Welsh stallion, Rocko's Gold. Unknown colour at this time - black, black bay, smokey black, black buckskin???? 3 white feet and a reversed question mark on her face.

Name is giving us some trouble as well - Where's The Gold, What Gold, ..... along those lines… Continue

Added by Diana on May 23, 2009 at 9:18am — No Comments