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First, it is highly important to understand that there is no single technique that is the best or correct for horse training. The techniques that may work for one horse might not work as well for another. In order to successfully break horses, you will need to employ an assortment of different techniques, changing them as required. You really will need to approach each scenario carefully, engage in a little outside-the-box thinking along with preferences and past experience. This might be the most important tip to bear in mind at all times. Do not attempt any technique you do not feel comfortable with or do not think you can successfully complete, despite how successful some might claim it to be...

"body"> Fall horse pasture is an economical source of equine nutrition, but the lush grass of cooler weather can cause founder and digestive upset. If your horse has trouble with early spring grasses, fall growth can also cause problems. Your horse needs time to adjust to the changes brought on the new season. Pasture changes, supplemental hay and grain feedings and fallen leaves can play havoc with your horse's digestive tract. 1. When switching from pasture to a hay-based diet, do so gradually. Make changes in hay gradually, replacing from 10 to 25 percent of the old hay with the new variety; increase every three days. 2. If you choose to supplement with grain, introduce small amounts slowly, no...

My initial thought for "horse" people who may not want to develop a relationship would be one simple thing. Buy a motorcycle or an ATV! The foundation to being a good horseman is the relationship you develop with the horses you own or train. The horse will excel to a much higher level if there is a sincere relationship developed between you. In order for this relationship to blossom you have to give of yourself first. You must be a teacher, a friend, a leader, a caregiver and anything else that horse needs to be a great horse. What does a horse give you in return? Honesty and helping make you a better person. Now I know this may sound like some cheesy old Kung Fu movie wisdom, but I really think it...

Horse training is one of the oldest training disciplines around. We have used horses for work, war and pleasure for centuries. And horse training has seen astonishing highs - and also some lows. Probably one of the highest points was reached during the period of "Baroque" during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was considered an art. I am afraid currently horse training goes through one of it's lows being commercialized in pretty extreme ways. But that does not mean that you cannot accomplish good training results working with your horse. One of the biggest obstacles for successful training is a simple misunderstanding. I have heard many times, "I trained my horse to lead". By definition training or...

A horse's body is 60 percent muscle so it only makes sense that they can suffer from the same sort of muscle and joint aches and pains that humans experience. Similarly, just like a good massage can work wonders on the human body, equine massage therapy can make a big difference for the horse as well. Equine massage therapy provides a number of benefits, including: - Relieving muscle tension and spasms. - Improving blood circulation, this in turn helps speed the healing of injuries. - Improves muscle tone. - Increases range of motion, performance and even endurance. - Prevention of adhesions by lengthening connective tissue. - Decreases joint pain by reducing swelling and inflammation - Relaxes an...

It can be difficult to train a horse to perform the way you want and can even be scary at times since bad behaviors can sometimes make horses unsafe and annoying to be around. Biting, kicking, rearing, being pushy, bucking are some of the bad behaviors your might expect from the animal. To limit the occurrence of bad behaviors you have to have a solid foundation provided by horse training tips in order to establish yourself as a leader over the horse. You should consider some advice that can will you with training your horse. When a horse respects the trainer, they will lead well. This means a horse will follow at your shoulder from a short distance.Lead your horse from the left in a manner so their...

If you own at least one horse, you are likely aware of the many training equipment options available. You have probably even experimented with a number of training aids. You probably have tried a number of newest and latest equipment that offer easy training or the ability to break a difficult horse. However, there are a number of factors involved in choosing the right horse training equipment that meets your specific needs. There are three things you need to consider. 1. What are the goals of your training session 2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of both your horse and yourself 3. How can you reach your goal by understanding and refining training techniques Long Line and Rope Halter The...

Before taking any lessons, you must establish a mutual trust with your horse. It is the most crucial and the most important aspect in training. Without that kind of bond, it is impossible for you to go aboard on the saddle. Training would be unbearable and very difficult to execute. There is one easy tip on how to gain trust, and it is through natural horsemanship. Natural horsemanship is executed by working with their instincts and herd mentality. It involves friendly techniques to build partnership that resemble the relationship that exists. The gentle methods of dating advocacy must be imposed to remove fear and gain trust. Do not scare or hurt your horse, but instead apply the natural...

Most of us get into horses without giving any thought to establishing a solid foundation with our horse. If there is going to be a relationship there must be a solid foundation... a starting point. Well how do I establish a solid foundation you ask? Very simple... first you must recognize the fact that you are the human & your horse is the animal. I see a lot of people get this basic concept of nature confused by relating to their horse as a human, this type of thinking is bound for problems from the start. Horses are herd animals which means they need a leader and there can only be one leader in the herd. So in relation to your horse from the very beginning you must decide if you are going to...

One of your most important responsibilities as a horse owner is to make sure your horse is always well taken care of and properly fed. If you overfeed your horse with too much grain, you can give him gas colic, which is a horse's inability to burp, which can be a serious problem. If the horse cannot burp, they will develop gas in their digestive system and they will experience very severe abdominal pain. In order to avoid the problem of colic, be sure to feed your horse at regular intervals. You will need three smaller meals a day instead of one large one. Each meal needs to include plenty of fiber for the horse's digestive system, so they will need a lot of good quality hay. You will also need to...

True horsemen know their most important lessons in life have come from their best friends- horses of course! Horses teach us to listen, to observe, and patience. Without learning these skills, you won't be successful with horses. They tell us how to listen to them on a level beyond just the surface and what appears obvious. For example, one day while grooming a usually quiet natured, willing, and mild-mannered horse, he was acting quite peculiar from his normal behavior. He would simply not stand still as I brushed on him, squirming side to side, lunging forward on the cross ties. I'd had a busy day at work, was tired, irritable, and his behavior did not help my attitude! I reprimanded him...

Have you every heard "My horse used to do that just fine, but he quit and I have no idea why"? Well, there is a reason for that - guaranteed. Horses do not quit performing without a reason. And they also do not pick up "bad habits" without a reason. The performance or behavior of a horse depends on a large number of factors. And all these individual factors interact with each other in multiple ways. This is the reason why it often is difficult to determine what really causes poor performance or bad habits. On one hand there is the horse itself. We have to look at the horse's age, disposition, health and physical ability. But we also have to look at potential problems with teeth and feet - often...

With any wound be gentle and use your common sense and stay calm to prevent causing your horse any further pain or worry as this can lead to the horse becoming unstable with its behaviour especially if he doesn't feel safe and secure. Call your vet if you are unsure of what to do. The ideal First Aid Kit for your horse: * Large syringe for washing out wounds * Surgical tape * Towels * Scissors * Wrapping bandages * Sterile saline solution * Petroleum jelly * Disinfectant dressing / ointment * Tweezers * Leg wraps * Gauze Other more general activities required for when caring for horses include: Farriery As a general guide a horse should see a farrier every 6-8 weeks. This will prevent any problem...

It is common knowledge in professional human training that without clearly defined training objectives training cannot be successful. And this is true for the training of horses, too. This is actually true for any kind of training. A friend of mine who is the world's most successful author in the training field puts it that way: "If you do not know where you are going, you never will know when you get there." This is very true and has an interesting parallel in American history. "Go West" was a good example for a poor objective. Some settled because they liked a certain spot, some settled because they could not keep going any more - and some settled in California, because that was the end of "Go...

Owning a show horse can be challenging but with the right information you can make great decisions. There are horse shows all over the United States that you can compete in. Having a show horse takes more care and dedication than having a horse that you ride on. It can be fun to own this type of horse because you can have it in so many different shows. It is always a good idea before purchasing this type of us talk to somebody has experience with show horses. You need to understand what it takes to own this type of animal. The dedication that is involved with taking them to shows and caring for them. There are a lot of added costs involved than having a horse that goes to many shows. You might want...

If you are looking for small horse barn plans, have you heard or thought about using shed row horse barns? This type of horse shelter is a great option with regards to cost, the types of materials and space. They are strong and durable because the main structure uses treated lumber. It is also recommended to use this same type of higher quality lumber along the bottom of the stall walls, because regular mucking out, washing the stalls, horse manure and urine would otherwise rot untreated wood. The shed row horse barn has Dutch doors with no aisle and the plans come with an optional tack room and feed room included. More about that later. Size of the Barn Basically you should aim to build one stall...

Do you worry every time you see your horse eating green grass? Do you include checking digital pulses in your daily routine? Do you have nightmares about the only farrier who knows how to trim your horse moving to another state? The list could go on and on in the life of the owner of a horse affected with chronic laminitis. Even with good holistic treatment, relapses can and do happen. In this article I would like to address what conditions may bring a horse from health to chronic disease, and what it takes to reverse the process. These conditions apply to all horses with chronic disease and not just those with laminitis. Basic Constitutional Makeup Animals are born with a basic constitutional make...

Horse Training can have two different approaches. One is to accomplish a minimum level fast and say "good enough is enough." The other one is to strive for a level of "finesse" - where good enough is not enough. I strongly believe in the second approach. In a different article I described the value of finesse for "leading the horse". The next logical step in this approach would be to work the horse with the same goal in long lines. You will need a confined area like a round pen or a square pen. And you will also need a surcingle and a set of two long lines to do this. You will run the long lines through the rings in the surcingle and attach them to the halter. You start by just following the horse...

One of the most common complaints horse owners have about the common ground manners of their horses, involves clipping their ears. Most horses will show at least some hesitation to having their ears clipped, especially the first few times. If you know the secrets to keeping your horse calm they will eventually get used to having their ears clipped. There are basically two types of clippers manufactured for trimming your horse's ears - electric cord models and battery operated cordless models. I recommend the cordless models because you don't have to worry about the cord getting wrapped around your horse's legs or spooking them as it is dragged across their face. With the clipper in the OFF position...

Over the last few years there has been a lot of hype about horse training. All kinds of "new" techniques were presented, but mostly it is the same show of starting an "untouched" horse. In my opinion something lost out - "finesse." There is more to training, riding or driving a horse than "just get going." If the horse takes a halter and kind of follows, the job seems to be done. But it actually is far from done. The Spanish riding tradition is a good example of finesse. Leading the horse is a good way to get started in that direction. The objective should be something like this: "the horse follows every move of the handler with it's nose at the handlers elbow and without taking the slack out of the...

The latest line of Oster Horse Clippers and Grooming Supplies are impressive for the horse lover doing their own grooming or for the professional groomer. The only problem is that there is a lot to choose from. Let me help take some of the work out of it. The following is a review of the Oster pet and animal clippers either designed or most used for horses. There are also some usage recommendations depending on what your grooming needs. Oster Power Max Clipper - The Power Max is the old reliable in the Oster line. It comes with variable clipper speeds, either 3,700 cutting strokes per minute (spm) or 4,200 spm supporting broad cut or more detailed trimming jobs. The Power Max is touted for its quiet...

Learning to ride a horse isn't easy. There are so many things that you need to remember and they aren't always related to the horse. Always ensure that you have the correct clothing and a helmet that fits properly before you start. Then you are ready to continue with the rest. How to correctly mount a horse When the bridle and saddle have been correctly fitted and double-checked, stand to the left of the horse. Place your left foot in the stirrup, and grasp the withers (mane), not the saddle as this will cause it to slide. Then keeping both of your hands on the front of the horse or on the cantle (back) of the saddle, push up and swing your right leg over the back of the horse, being careful not to...

Just as it is so with human beings, so also do our horses suffer from this painful and crippling disease. Arthritis of course, is the thinning and stripping away of bone joint cartilage over a period of time and is most common in the stages of old age. Horse arthritis like human has two different types of which one is more physically visible than the other. Generally, there is a dramatic change in a horse's joint stability by the time they reach 15 years of age. However, a lifestyle that is in high demand of physical ability can often lead to a premature onset of the disease. In fact, Arthritis in a horse can come quite unexpectedly as their weight forces added pressure on their bones, which can...

Many folks who like to ride have the attitude that all they need to do is slap a saddle and bridle on a horse, get on and go, and that the ride will be wonderful. Sometimes it turns out that way, but often not. "Passenger" types of riders are at the mercy of their horse who may or may not be capable of being in control and taking care of its rider as well as itself. There are way too many stories of mishaps that should have never happened had the riders been aware of what was coming and did something before it happened to avoid a bad situation. There are some babysitter type horses in the world and they are invaluable in handling situations without the help of, and sometimes in spite of, their rider...

What things make up your horse feed. Do you know? This is the question I asked myself years ago. It is interesting because I am always so concerned about the things that enter my body. Yet, when it came to horse feed, I really didn't understand what I was feeding my baby. I made a decision to take control of my own nutrition and that of my horse. After doing some checking around here is what I found in the feed that I was previously using which I discovered could be detrimental to the health of my horse. Grain Middlings. Middlings are the leftover things that end up on the floor of the mill when processing feeds. I say things because nobody can really tell you what is in them. They can include dust...

From those who seem to know (such as my eleven-year old granddaughter) going electric for fencing seems to be appropriate. According to such experts, horses can and will push against a wooden fence until they knock it down. They'll also try to jump it, whereas once they've been slightly shocked by the electric, they won't even try jumping it. And I know the breed of horse I have is sturdy, strong - powerful, even. My horse is young, so hopefully it will only take one or two shocks for her to permanently learn the lesson. The fencing material needed would include wire, testing equipment, posts and reelers, lightning protection, gates and their accessories. I also have learned that going solar to...

Many items are needed to care for horses.  Let's explore two such items now.  Suppose your horse needed added warmth?  Would you just let it shiver and risk illness?  No, you'd provide it with something called a horse blanket.  Horse blankets are quite handy and can be used in many different ways, to benefit both you and your horse. Some people collect horse blankets to use as decorations around their home, office, or restaurant.  Museums have collections of horse blankets, which date back centuries.  A true horseman respects the use of the horse blanket and has discovered much value in owning several.  The old West was not complete without horse blankets.  They kept the horse comfortable...

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...

Dressage is a word for the French language; it simply means "to train." In its purest form, dressage is meant to improve the horses balance, and quickness of response to the clear communication of the rider. All styles of riding come down to these two elements, balance and connection. If one of them is missing, riding ceases to be fluid and graceful. This may sound so simple on paper but, to execute this type of fluid graceful motion from the horses back side; a totally different story. Here are some simple but all important tips to follow in riding dressage:o First, one must accomplish the ability to go with the motion of the horse to such a degree, you become as one and the horse moves as if...

ange of horse rugs available in the market is vast. Making a choice can be a daunting task to a new horse owner. Having a variety of rugs in different weights allows for the variations in our climate. It is distressing for a horse to sweat under a thick rug or to have too little protection from the cold and rain. • New Zealand rugs Once the only Turnout rug available. They are made from a thick canvas material that is waxed to provide some shower proofing; they can be re-waxed. They are practically indestructible as they are so strong and many owners swear by them for all-year-round use. • Heavyweight Turnout Rugs are designed for use in the winter, particularly on fine breed horses or...

I recently received a letter from a reader on the East Coast who is facing a challenge that every horse owner is going to face at least twice each year if your horse spends any time on pasture. In the fall and early spring, every horse owner is going to face the challenge of switching their horse from pasture to hay and back again from hay to pasture. "...I recently bought my first horse (morgan/perch cross). He is VERY solid and has always been on pasture board (with run-in). I live in Pennsylvania and the grass is starting to get yellow. At what point should he be getting hay(my barnmanager insists it's still good)? He also is just starting to get a handfulof grain... He's getting very fit and...

An interesting fact that most riders fail to appreciate is that you can get a horse to stop by simply 'stop riding'. You see, there's an powerful phenomenon in the horse's brain that's useful to us horsey people, and that is a horse will generally move with our motion and not know or be concerned as to why. So if you are actively riding your horse (not just sitting as a lump in the saddle) but instead you're actually moving your body and hips rhythmically), then your horse will move, and conversely if you quit, your horse will sense that and generally quit too. If he doesn't quit he can be taught to. This is a vital point in training and working with horses, because your relationship with your horse...

In today's horsed training world, it is becoming (if not already) increasing unacceptable for horses to be trained through the use restriction and tying in order to defeat the horse. Rather the modern and more humane methods rely on the philosophy of creating situations where the horse has a way out. The horse's way out being the trainer's desired action. By providing a way out and the horse always responds to you because you made it his idea. As the horse realises you are the one giving him a way out, he learns to trust you and sees you as his friend. Let's look at a common situation amongst ‘natural horsemanship' proponents. We have an unbroken colt in a round pen. When the trainer enters the...