Snowman, an $80 horse, purchased from among the “leftovers’ at auction became an acclaimed show jumper. Christmas is the story of hope found in unexpected places.- a hope that can’t be shaken and ultimately lasts – beyond the next political cycle or horse show season.
Would you say you’re always aware of what you’re saying to your horse? Riding techniques may vary but if we can put our riding aids into words we’re likely communicating clearly to our horse. And are we more intentional about the signals we send to horses we ride than the words we speak in casual (human) c
conversations?
A horse will tend to hide behind the bit if his rider’s hands are noisy or inconsistent. If it works, behind the bit becomes his default whether or not the threat is still present. This is “Avoidance Conditioning”. We do the same – once hurt we tend to protect ourselves from further hurt by avoiding a person vs. forgiving them, self-protection vs risking again.
Reliable brakes – not just for reining horses.
I’ve been thankful for horses that know “whoa” before they step on the reins, unseat a novice, or collide with an oncoming horse in the warm-up ring. A reliable way to stop a horse’s feet is essential when his tension’s rising, and BEFORE he hits flight mode!
Learning to carry on after a mistake in the show ring is part of becoming a savvy horse show competitor. Guard against one element of your pattern, course or test dominoing the remaining elements.
You never know the strength of a lead shank when it’s hanging on the tack room wall – only when it’s tested. As we head into a new year, our resolutions will be tested by February. And as we head into the unknown of 2024, our “faith” will likely be tested too – you know, what we believe, expect and hope in.
Horse people have speculated on this equine behaviour – the horse’s licking and chewing response. Is the horse pondering? Pausing to ponder over Christmas takes some effort, with the phone in our pockets ready to fill every crack in our days with its opinions and images
A medley of horse riding issues stem from the same source – lack of straightness. When our lives get out of alignment, we lose sight of our priorities. The off-season is a great time to realign our riding goals with our other life commitments and values
Unsteady hands in riding interfere with the clarity of your message to your horse, like radio static. Here are some tips to ride with quiet hands
“Horse classified scams run rampant.”This cautionary headline caught my eye . It seems that a new scam rears its ugly head every week.The sad truth is that in every corner of the horse world, every sport and every business, there are those finding new ways to bend a straight line crooked.And if we’re honest, isn’t … Read more