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There's something highly important your horse needs. It's anticipation. Your horse needs you to anticipate. Here's what I mean. Let's say you're in the round pen and on your second ride on a horse you just green broke. Your horse is moving in the round pen pretty good but he always slows down or stops at a certain spot. The next time around then pen you will be ready for that and you will bump him to get him through that spot so he doesn't stop or slow down. The trick here is to speed him up a little "before" he starts to think about slowing down or stopping. Why do it before he thinks about it? Because you will have his attention on you and he'll know he needs to move. He won't be thinking about...

Pony riding games are extraordinarily helpful tools in helping student riders learn more by building up motivation. As with the other types of learning, games foster play, which increases incentive. Incentive supports the learning process by providing incentive. Incentive encourages students to engage in the act of gaining knowledge. This essentially means the more students are having a great time with the lessons the more they gain knowledge. Pony riding lessons may also be incorporated with horse riding games. The following are examples of horse riding games. Musical Horses However, instead of chairs, ground poles are used. The ground poles will be placed parallel to one another, about 8 feet...

Horses come in many different sizes. So, it seems logical that horse stalls should come in many different sizes, too, right? You've got lots of choices when it comes to building materials for your stall. I guess it can be pretty confusing unless you know what you have in mind when it comes to horse stalls. Here's what I mean. And, think about you. When you go into the stall to groom your horse, it would be easier for you if you had room to move around, right? So, this is another good reason to have a bigger sized stall. Getting pinned between a horse and a stall wall is painful to say the least! Then, thinking about the future again, what if you had a horse that was going to foul? Maybe you dream of...

Go where there are horses and on any typical day you're going to find someone having trouble catching their horse. And what do they do about it? Typically horse owners attempt to bribe their horses by giving them a treat, a bucket of grain, or waving a carrot at their horse hoping he will mosey on over. While this may get you what you think you want-the horse standing there while you put the halter on-the fact is its setting up your relationship with your horse for trouble. In natural horsemanship, what we are after is speaking to a horse in his own language so that we can establish three things: - Trust - Leadership - Respect If we are going to speak to a horse in his own language, we might start...

Many people are afraid of riding horses since many are not well trained. They sometimes behave awkwardly and it usually is not safe to ride untrained horses. You should not ride these animals unless you are accompanied by an experienced trainer or have a little bit of knowledge when it comes to controlling your horse. There are 5 important things you can do to create a strong bond between you and your horse. 1. Have a good leadA Good lead means that when you walk ahead and to the left of your horse, your horse will follow just behind you with her head at your right shoulder. Your horse should not walk faster than you and she should not straggle behind. 2. Teach your horse to relaxBeing tense is...

Owning a horse can be very rewarding and relaxing, and it is important to ensure that you have the time and ability to care for your pet properly. A horse will need adequate forage to meet its dietary needs, which typically comes in the form of a pasture, hay or concentrates. As part of horse care, you will need to ensure that your pet gets all its nutritional requirements and that it has plenty of space to move around. Fresh water should be available at all times, and it is important to remember that a horse will drink several gallons of water in one day. A shelter should be provided for the horse to provide protection from the weather and rain. Bedding such as soft hay should be laid out in the...

Training a horse for good ground manners starts as soon as you enter the stall or field. When you effectively use your vocal and body cues, you are speaking their language. Ineffectively using your cues when trying to catch your horse in the field can cause your horse to run from you. Believe me, it's not easy to catch a horse that doesn't want to be caught. They seem to run in circles around you, teasing you. Ineffective use of your cues would include either sneaking up on your horse from behind, or walking directly at their head. To effectively communicate with your horse, approach them from the side. Make your presence known; talk to, whistle, or cluck to your horse. Walk towards them with your...

Training a horse to lead could either be difficult or easy. The difficulty level relies on two primary factors, which are the horse's size and the horse's age. Obviously, if the horse is smaller and younger, it would be easier to be thought how to lead. But the tools that are necessary do not rely on the horse's size. A trainer would commonly need a lead rope, a whip, and a halter. Nevertheless, the steps on how to train a horse to lead must be successfully done in order to have them that could be ridden. First, the trainer should teach his horse to wear a halter. It may be bought in tack stores, horse supplies, or on the Internet. However, the trainer should go for a softer halter; because ordinary...

What better or more romantic way to arrive at the wedding ceremony than in a resplendent coach with loving family and friends waiting in anticipation. Typically horse drawn carriages are used to bring the bride and groom to the ceremony, and then away to the reception.  In order to keep travel time reasonable, most companies suggest a destination no more than four miles.  The carriages travel at a relaxed pace of four miles per hour. Most Vis a Vis (face to face) carriages hold four passengers comfortably.  But a Surrey with the Fringe on Top is pulled by 2 horses and is perfect for the whole wedding party.  There is a wide variety of carriage types and designs:  white majestic, old fashioned...

Horse back riding is one of the most enjoyable things to do when going on outdoor trips. Trained horses give great and fun rides, and also safe ones. These horses can already more or less relate to humans so communication is easy while riding. But mind you, training a horse to ride and learning to ride it too can be a bit risky if not done carefully. Learning how to train a horse to ride begins with getting him used to being a means of travel. For several days get him use to wearing a saddle blanket, a bridle, and a saddle with stirrups. And more importantly get him used to the halter with the rope. The rope is what the rider holds on to when riding and uses for control. When you've gotten over it...

We have heard so many stories from peoples past experiences with horse sitters and grooms, some of which are bad, some scary and some down right horrifying. We hope that we can give you a few pointers in what to look for when recruiting a horse sitter or a groom to ensure you have peace of mind while you are away. • Look for someone with experience and qualifications to back it up. Check your freelance groom has experience with horses other than their own, (or those they usually ride at the riding stables). If you have a cheeky or lively horse, you need to be sure your horse sitter can handle them. • Meet the person. Arrange for the horse sitter to come and meet both you and your horse before you...

One of the best ways to get started training a young horse or any horse for that matter is at liberty in the round pen. First-what do we mean by "at liberty"? All that means is that we remove all control and training aids from the horse-so that there's no halter, bridle, or lead/lunge line. Aside from being inside the round pen, the horse is basically free. A bridle or halter, of course, doesn't really matter, what's important here is severing direct control between the handler (you) and the horse. Why is it that round pen training is so effective when training a young horse? If done correctly, round pen training allows you to build leadership and trust with your horse in a fundamental way that he...

Do you have a skinny horse? If so, then the cold weather probably has you fretting over the most economical kind of horse feed to offer your horse this winter. Thin horses, often called "hard keepers" are always a challenge to feed, even in good weather, but when the weather turns cold, feeding a thin horse can rack up the feed bills fast. Here are some options you can consider to put and keep weight on your horse this winter. Factors That Affect a Horse's Weight There are multiple physical and emotional factors that affect a horse's weight, and this is especially true of the thin horse. Most horse owners probably already know about many of these factors, but I'll cover them quickly anyway. Teeth...

Horse bucking can happen in an instant. I remember one time I was at a horse clinic and we were riding our horses around this arena. A woman was riding a horse with an attitude that had a habit of bucking and rearing while being worked on the lunge line. I took my eyes off her for a split second and turned back around, and there was the woman-lying flat on the ground. The horse didn't feel like being ridden and did something about it. There is only one sure way to prevent bucking - don't ride a horse. The fact is it's completely natural for a horse to buck, especially when someone or something is on his back. To understand why they do it, all we have to do is go back to our fundamental understanding...

Horse domestication and horse riding are very common these days. That's because horses make really good pets and good companions. But there are those who see more of these animals and venture into horse training. Horses are very intelligent and capable animals. Like dogs, they are able to perform tricks and put up a show for people. Equestrian alone is a world-known sport that involves horses and makes them such important animals. A horse, when controlled well can do a countless number of tricks, including the lunge. Lunging is when a horse is made to walk in a circle around its handler. It' quite a simple trick but it's sometimes difficult when dealing with a stubborn horse or someone who easily...

Horse training is indeed a beautiful experience with horses and also a very challenging one. When dealing with a very intelligent animal that has a strong character, you have to develop the ability to be able to relate to them in a natural way. Horse back riders or equestriennes put a lot of effort to teach horses how to walk, jump, run, bow, and paw. Horses are also capable of doing tricks such as dancing, smiling and kissing. But one of the risky tricks that most professional trainers get into is how to train a horse to rear. Rearing is when a horse rises upwards carrying his two legs with him. It's like riding a motorbike and letting the front wheel ride upwards. Learning how to train a horse to...

The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can intimidate some owners since a well-placed horse kick would really hurt! Such caution is good, but in reality if you pick up a horse's hoof properly you provide him with no leverage or ability to kick you. This is a situation where a person's worst fears can cause him to imagine an incident that is highly unlikely to occur with careful handling. Here's how to safely pick up a horse's hoof: Starting with the front hoof, approach your horse diagonally from his front so that he clearly knows you are there - you don't want to surprise him. Place yourself even with his shoulder and make sure to face his rear; you will both be facing opposite directions during...

There is more and more natural wormer for horses on the horse health market available. Keep in mind that those products are working though, but only in combination of a very careful and thorough deworming program. This includes a regular worm egg count of faeces samples of every horse on the premises and an effective environment management. Additional blood sampling will give results about presence of worms in the intestines. If a worming program will be used for the first time and new horses come onto the premises a frequent dosing during the first weeks/months will be required. How frequent depends on the product itself. Although natural wormer is significantly cheaper than allopathic (chemical...

When I first started my horse shoeing career I apprenticed for slightly over a year and was on a shoeing job in Gilroy California at Savanah Farms. The horse being shod was a very beautiful bay halter show horse - an Arab gelding. And I do happen to be an Arab fan. We had the horse is cross ties and I had gotten both front feet done and finished, both rear shoes are put on but needing to finish rasping. While shoeing this horse it remained in the cross ties like a statue, never moving a muscle. It was Beautiful and magnificent looking. I had been working on this horse for about 40 minutes at this point and I was just saying to my self "oh boy, he's being perfect all horses should be just like this...

Leading a horse seems like a trivial activity. The bottom line for most people is they want to put a halter and lead rope on their horse and move her from point A to B. But the truth is, if this is your attitude, you might be making some major mistakes that carry over to all aspects of the horse-human relationship. The reason is that when leading a horse, in her mind you're setting the parameters about who is the alpha of the herd. Fortunately finding out what the horse thinks about the situation is fairly easy. Walk out with your horse with the intent on doing some simple observations. As you're walking along, where is the horse positioning herself? We want the horse to be a little to the side and...

A horse is such a fun and intelligent animal. Like most pets, horses can be trained to do tricks. For as long as you show them that you're in command, horses are likely to follow and do what you tell them to do. Teaching a horse with tricks such as smiling, kissing, pawing or shaking hands is quite simple. All you need is practice, patience and some tricks. But one fun thing to learn is how to train a horse to bow. Since most horses join competitions and shows, it wise to teach them how to take a bow. It's also a way of teaching the horses how to humble themselves before their masters. How to train a horse to bow is easy as one, two and three. The first thing you do is grab a treat that a horse...

Although some horses (like some people) have the good fortune to die peacefully in their sleep of old age, most horses will eventually reach a stage (due to severe injury, disease or incapacity) where the most humane action is to put them down. For the horse owner, this can be a very difficult and painful decision, in terms of when a horse should be put down, as well as how. This article is the personal view of one horse owner on this subject. Is Now the Time? If a horse is in a lot of pain and distress, due to an incurable injury or disease, the only correct action is to put it down as quickly and as humanely as possible. However, in some cases the decision is not as clear. For example, a horse may...

Being a judge a horse show is not an easy thing to do. It seems no matter what, someone will be unhappy. I have shown for many years and have heard every complaint from, "the judging was political" to "the only horses that will place are those that the people spent a lot of money on" to "the judge is judging from the saddle up." I think all of us have thought each of these phrases at one time or another at different horse shows. When you go to a show, you are asking for one person's or, in some cases, three people's opinions. We may not always agree with that opinion, but in how many things in life do we always agree? Recently, another question came into my head about the art of judging. That...

Does your horse have a weak topline? Some horses just have conformation that promotes a weak topline. Whether your horse is swaybacked or loses his topline when he isn't in training, a weak topline is never pretty. Luckily, there are three simple ways that you can help any horse build a stronger, better-looking topline. #1: Build Your Horse's Topline with Backing When your horse walks backwards, he has to engage the muscles in his back and hindquarters, especially if he lowers his head while backing. Teaching your horse to back with his head down is a valuable time investment for two reasons: 1. It increases his topline 2. It puts him in a relaxed state because horses relax when their heads are low...

You're thinking of buying your first horse to fulfill a lifelong dream. But, have you done the homework that is necessary to make sure the dream doesn't become a night mare? You want to buy a young horse so that you can learn together. Here are 3 truths to consider before making that decision. Truth #1: Any money saved buying a young horse will be spent on training. It takes years to train a horse well and no time at all to teach a horse unwanted and unsafe behaviours. Riding lessons and horse training can cost thousands of dollars. And, there is no guarantee that the "finished" horse will be exactly what you wanted. You are far wiser to spend more money purchasing a horse that has experience doing...

To have a clean horse, there are some essentials you will need in your grooming kit. Theses are the basic items and some grooming tips for horses and ponies. The horse grooming brushes you may need when you are grooming horses are the dandy brush, body brush and water brush. Keep reading for tips on how to groom horses with each horse brush. There are two types of combs you can use when you are grooming ponies and horses, the curry comb and the mane and tail comb. You will also need two sponges and some other accessories in horse grooming kits. Keep reading for the essential horse grooming equipment and to find out how to groom a horse. A hoof pick - this is essential part of grooming your horse to...

If you have decided to keep horses on your property or farm, undoubtedly you are excited and nervous at the same time. Keeping horses is a big responsibility and considering the investment you will be making, you certainly want to be sure that the animals stay within their confines safely. The most common type of horse fence is the wooden variety. Although wooden fences look great, they do require a good deal of upkeep and maintenance. The horses will surely chew on the fence in places so you must be sure to treat the wood with some non-toxic paint or stain. Wooden fences also are prone to warping-especially if you are located in an area that is subjected to dramatic temperature changes. Wooden...

Whether it is your first time breeding, or you have had many foals at your farm one of the most exciting things is not knowing exactly what you will get when the baby arrives. There are so many variables that it is impossible to predict how big your foal will be, whether it will have good conformation or whether it will have the potential for the discipline you bred it for. One question that always has owners guessing is what color the foal will be. Interestingly enough, you can actually predict the likelihood of the foal turning out a specific color. While color prediction is not always 100% accurate, there are some color combinations that will give you a guaranteed outcome. How can we be so...

When you decide to have an animal at home or on your farm, it is important that you know how to take care of them properly. This may be easy if you have those domesticated animals that do not require much care. But what if you buy a riding horse and discover it is not as easy to care for the animal as you thought it would be? A lot of tack supply items are needed to take care of horses and one of the most important are the horse blankets. Saddle blankets are made to keep horses warm. These blankets are also ideal for protection from wind and other elements. These types of blankets vary in sizes. In fact, most of them are custom-made to perfectly fit around the body of the horse from his chest to...

For many centuries horseback riding has been much popular for many reasons. Soon, horse riding became a chief mode of travel. First, horses were mainly used for fighting and hunting purposes as the speed of the horse gave people good advantage. With the arrival of carriages, people are able to move themselves and their belongings to long distances with very little difficulty. But nowadays, horseback riding finds its use in recreation and therapy. Horseback riding camps are offered from almost anywhere in the world to anyone. It provides a wonderful and thrilling experience much more than merely riding through hills and valleys. Instructions about caring of horses and grooming are also fundamental...

When you are choosing riding breeches for your horse riding session, the most important thing is that each and every part of the apparel should be a perfect fit. Although riding breeches are available in standard length, there are some styles that give you two other options, regular and long, to choose from. It is always good to acquire prior knowledge regarding riding apparel when you have plans to buy. The main reason is that these are quite expensive and if you are not able to make the right purchase, you will have to face lot of problems afterwards. English riders usually wore riding breeches not only for style, but it also protected the rider from all types of injuries, especially the...

Winter is a great time to sort through your equestrian apparel, horse clothing, and riding equipment to check for damage, to see what needs to be cleaned, and to create a shopping list of necessities and fun new equestrian apparel items. New styles have just arrived, making this the best possible time to put that shopping list and those organizational skills to use. Your equestrian apparel serves many functions and needs to be in the best possible condition to work properly. Riding equipment, tack, and horse clothing fall into the same category. Broken buckles, worn straps, and ill-fitting apparel must be replaced, enabling you to look, feel, and perform at your very best. The lined or fleeced horse...

Horse riding is something that has been done for centuries, from the days where it was the only form of transport to the wide variety of horse riding styles and purposes that exist today. Horse riding is done for a variety of different reasons today, from farm working to horse racing as well as a variety of other popular sports such as Polo and dressage. Beginning to learn horse riding can be a daunting prospect as many people hear of the scare stories of falling from the saddle and the life threatening injuries that some horse riders have suffered. Fortunately there are many safety features present in horse riding these days as well as teaching and lessons at stables on how to not only ride a horse...

If you're thinking about competing in hunter jumper A and B rated shows, you will want to do everything you can to be totally prepared. Not only do you need to be prepared, but your horse does as well, and that means exposing them to as many show-type jumps as possible. There is nothing worse than walking into the show ring and having your horse refuse at the very first jump. Even if you don't have a very spooky horse, it's a good idea to expose them to a wide range of jumps so you both know what to expect. Here are a few things jumps you should add to your training arena. Liverpool A Liverpool is incredibly important to have at home if you plan on competing in jumpers or top-level equitation. Even...