For a change of pace I decided to offer a few tips

on horse care for beginners (and others).

These are primarily on the topic of Health Care.

Sweet Itch is caused by small flies

Horse Care For Beginners Tip 1. 

Sweet Itch, what is it and how do I treat it?

Sweet Itch is caused by small flies or midges (culicoides flies) that breed in and around water. The bite normally causes an allergic reaction which results in extreme itching, rubbing and biting. This can cause skin damage to your horse, and hair loss and anxiety.

You’ll find that the flies are active mostly in the early morning and evening hours. Some horses are tormented constantly and the bites turn into blisters and crusty scabs.

Treatment

There are many treatments and they range from inexpensive to expensive. Not all will actually help and I suggest you ask your vet for advice before buying.

However the best treatment is to protect your horse from the biting flies. A good fly sheet and effective fly repellant is yourbest defense.

Try to bring your horse in during times when the midge is most active. There are a lot of skin soothing formulas which will relieve the itching and aid in the healing process.

Bear in mind that not all itching is caused by ‘sweet itch’ and if your horse continues to itch and lose hair, contact your veterinarian for help in diagnosing the problem.

Horse Care For Beginners Tip 2.

Static electricity from your horse blanket.

If your horse’s hair coat is very dry and fluffy, he’s more likely to get a shock when you remove his blanket.

You can avoid this by not sliding the blanket across your horse’s back which may create static. Instead, lift the blanket UP and off.

Also try using only one hand and avoid contact with your horse or blanket with your free hand. By doing this you’ll not complete the electrical circuit and your horse won’t get a shock.

Horse Care For Beginners Tip 3

How to keep mildew from growing on your tack.

The best thing you can do is make sure you have good ventilation and light in your tack room. Get a fan or dehumidifier.

Keep in mind that mould likes moisture and damp conditions. Should it occur, you can kill any mould spores by using a Lysol spray. It works great and is inexpensive. Spray it on and work it in. Leave it to set for a day or so then finish with a good leather conditioner.

Horse Care For Beginners Tip 4

What do you do if your horse has lice?

The louse (literally) sucks the blood of its victim and usually is found under the mane, tail and forelock. Heavy infestations can occur over your horse’s entire body.

Transmission of lice is cause by contact with infected tack, including brushes, combs, clippers and blankets.

To eradicate and break the cycle of the louse all tack must be thoroughly cleaned. You should then repeat the cleaning of all equipment in 10-12 days.

Do not use your equipment for at least 14 days to break the cycle of the louse. Lice cannot survive for more than a few days without having your horse to feed on!

You may wish to use a dusting powder and/ or insecticide to control the lice on your horse itself. If you’re unsure of what product to use consult your veterinarian for advice.

Horse Care For Beginners Tip 5. 

Tell me, do you know what your horse is saying?

We all know our horses make sounds but have you ever wondered what they mean?

When your horse nickers with his lips closed and makes a soft “rat-ta-tat-tat” sound. he is most likely saying “Hello I’m glad to see you”.

If you horse is blowing or snorting it usually means he’s afraid of something. But some horses will snort when they are excited and hoping that something good is going to happen.

When your horse lets out a great big high-pitched NEIGH it can mean that he is either anxious or confident, depending on the tone of the neigh and the body language that goes with it.

Also when a group of horses are turned out together, one may neigh as warning to the group that he sees something unusual.

A nice big sigh is a sign of relaxation. Your horse will usually put his head down and exhale a deep breath through his nostrils.

If you’d like more tips on horse care for beginners, please leave a reply in the panel below. Thank you!

Recommended Horse Training Resources:

Natural Horsemanship Training videos … CLICK HERE

Applied Posture Riding … CLICK HERE

Clicker Training Can Be

A Useful Tool

For years now animal trainers have used clicker training as a more humane and behavior modification training program for all types of animals but only recently has it begun to gain acceptance by horse trainers. Clicker training relies on positively reinforcing positive or correct behaviors from your animal and then building on these successes.

Trainers have been successful teaching their horses to lift their hooves for checking shoes or trimming, loading into a trailer or taking their bit or giving the crowd a bow.

Clicker training can be a useful tool especially when you are navigating a crowd and your voice is competing with the noises of the crowd and other horsemen. The basics of this type training mean that you’ll be able to use a technique that your horse will come to enjoy and perform the tasks much faster and with more enthusiasm.

Getting Started with Clicker Training

The first step to having your horse respond to clicker training requires that you get him used to hearing the sound and responding to a reward based training system. The way that you do this it to take a handful of your horse’s favorite treats and spend a few minutes introducing them to the sound and what happens when he hears the click.

So make a click and as soon as you do provide your horse with a treat. Do this several times and very quickly he will learn that when he hears the click a treat will be coming. This allows you to begin to control his behavior by rewarding him.

Try to use an easy behavior when starting your clicker training. One of the easiest is to have your horse put his nose on a target, such as a ball on a stick. When your horse learns to do this behavior with the clicker, then you can actually lead your horse onto a trailer or have him stand still for an exam using this technique.

Clicker Training Techniques: Keeping It Simple

In order to get your horse interested in touching the ball you have to reward any interest that he shows in the target. As soon as your horse touches the target with his nose click and give him a treat. Move the target and when he touches it, reward him again. Keep your training sessions short so that your horse does not lose interest and begins to enjoy the training sessions.

Once your horse is able to touch the target reliably, you can begin to make the target tougher for him to get to. You can move it so that your horse has to turn his head, put it between his front legs or make him reach up high. Each time your horse gets the target, click and reward your horse’s behavior.

Remember that so far we have not used any commands as all.

You’ll now be able to add the command “touch” just before your horse reaches the target. Then after he touches the target reward him. Do this through a couple of sessions and only reward your horse when he touches the target when you use the command and the click. This type of training can be used to introduce almost any type of behavior or action.

Clicker Training Sessions: Keeping Them Short

When you do a training session make sure that you are only providing one behavior per session. Any more than this and you may begin to confuse and frustrate your horse making it hard for him to pick up your cues reliably. By offering only one goal per session your horse will quickly learn the behavior and the command for that move.

It’s also important to keep your sessions short. Longer sessions will bore your horse and this again will lead to frustration and refusal to respond which is the opposite of what you’ll want to accomplish with this type training.

Clicker training is perfect for horses that will be around others, and must be moved a lot or participate in events where there is a lot of noise and confusion.

The sound of the clicker, the command and being rewarded is something that will stick with your horse and allow him to know what is right and wrong in most situations.

Clicker training also offers a way for the horse to respond to you in a more personal manner.

Recommended Horse Training Resources:

Natural Horsemanship Training videos … CLICK HERE

Applied Posture Riding … CLICK HERE

Nature vs. Nurture, the Dilemma of Young Horse

Training

Training a young horse

Over the years that I’ve been associated with young horses and horse training, I’ve seen two approaches used when it comes to training young horses. The first is to work with your horse every day to build a bond and teach them in a very specific and controlled manner.

However, the other method of horse training involves allowing the young horse to develop naturally, among any other horses in the barn and take their cues from the rest of the herd.

Effective Horse Training Requires an Effective Horse Trainer

Even without the intervention of regular horse training, your young horse can learn the basic skills from other horses by watching how they react. If fact many, horse owners allow their young horses to learn from the community for as much as 3 years before they institute formal horse training.

This can be effective as well as time saving but if you would like your young horse to gain valuable skills early, be more receptive to human contact and provide a longer useful life then you should start training your horse at a very early age. This allows the young horse to be socialized with you and other humans and accept you as a part of the herd and someone that the colt can learn from as well.

Not only does a daily training routine for your young horse allow you to teach them basic skills, you also learn the personality of your horse and the limits to which you can train them on a daily basis. This is important just like with any athlete you need to understand the limitations and strengths of your young horse and its tolerance for your horse training regimens.

Adding More Advanced Horse Training as a Young Horse Develops

Young horses are like young athletes and they need to have a structured learning environment that allows them to grow and mature in their all-around life and not just excel in one area. Adding additional lessons for your young horse training sessions not only keeps the horse interested but it keeps you the trainer from becoming bored with the same old horse training routine.

Basics need to be covered all the time but by adding different exercises or taking them for a walk while being led by another horse and rider are excellent ways to keep your young horse not only growing but motivated to learn as well.

The Spanish word “colgar” means to hang out or relax with someone and your horse needs to learn to participate in a “colgado” session with you so that the social interaction and bond grows.

These types of hanging out sessions allow you to put out some incidental training such as maneuvering in tight spaces, backing up, sidestepping and obedience type training such as coming when you call. This type training allows you to reward your horse and allow them to become more friend than anything else.

Horse training lessons for young horses should always be simple, have a clear beginning, a clear goal and very few steps to accomplish. Once a task is mastered your horse can then be guided to use that training to learn additional tasks.

A young horse learns fast and will soon learn to enjoy your company as well, as long as you keep your lessons short, offer quality rewards and are patient.

Recommended Horse Training Resources:

Natural Horsemanship Training videos … CLICK HERE

Applied Posture Riding … CLICK HERE

How to control a bucking horse.

How to control a bucking horse

Whenever I scan the “Horses for Sale” ads the most often used word tends to be the word “gentle” because so many new horse owners have ended their dreams of riding because of a bucking horse. Often this occurs not because the horse is wild but can be a result of a number of actions and reactions on the part of both rider and horse.

A horse bucks for different reasons and a trainer who’s able to control the horse  is not necessarily a great trainer but is perhaps just an excellent rider. Training is essential and, as always, the best time to train a horse is as a colt, but bucking in an older horse can be corrected once the cause has been determined.

Searching for the Cause of a Bucking Horse

If the your horse has just recently begun to refuse the bit or reacts each time pressure is applied, the first place you should check is your horse’s mouth for a problem. Of course ,if there is no physical problem, it could be a matter of you, if you are an inexperienced rider, giving your horse mixed signals.

When you spur your horse forward and, in a response to your horse’s quick start you pull on the reins, this may confuse your horse and make him react. Perhaps pulling the reins too hard for a turn causes your horse to jerk in response and you think your horse is refusing, so you pull harder and it becomes a force of wills that often results in you lying in a heap on the ground and your horse grazing quietly in the meadow. Bucking is the natural response of a frustrated horse and often a horse is frustrated with the inexperience of the rider and that is what makes him buck.

The Best Way to Control a Bucking Horse

Riding Lessons. Quality lessons make a quality horseman and that leads to a long and happy riding career. Learning to provide your horse with the proper messages makes it much easier for your horse and you  to communicate and ,as always, whenever there is miscommunication a problem exists.

Learning to relax while riding transmits a calming message to your horse and allows him to feel more comfortable which reduces the chance of him bucking. Never over exaggerate your rein movements as this can cause your horse to over react and begin to buck as well.

Provide your horse with consistent, relaxed movements and your horse will react in a calm and relaxed manner and you’ll be less likely to have your horse buck. Controlling the reins and thinking about what you’ll do next and what you want to accomplish goes a long way toward keeping your horse doing what you want and actually enjoying the ride.

Imagine switching places and having someone drive you with reins. They signal you to turn and then take off running but almost immediately slow you down and then when you slow down they want more speed or pull very hard causing you pain. Frustrating scenario isn’t it? You might be tempted to buck as well.

However, a good rider learns to accept the riding experience as a joint venture between their horse and themselves. When your horse bucks and you  remain relaxed and allow him to settle by moving him forward and letting him get the frustration out, you’ll be still maintaining control.

Controlling a bucking horse can be extremely frightening to an inexperienced rider but with practice and time in the saddle you will soon master the joint partnership that is real riding.

So what’s barrel racing all about?

Barrel Racing

Barrel Racing, it’s believed, first saw competitive light in the state of Texas quite some years go and has gone on to become a very spectacular rodeo event.

Barrel racing is very much about cooperation between horse and rider and is a sort of “equal opportunity” sport.

The purses for the winners of barrel races are large and getting larger all the time and the cost of competing isn’t exactly cheap. Because of the competition and money involved, finding a good horse is very important to the competitors. A top of the line barrel horse can cost up to $50,000.

Though both boys and girls compete at the youth level and men compete in some amateur venues. In collegiate and professional ranks, it’s primarily a rodeo event for women. While the men roped or rode bulls and broncs, the women barrel raced.

Significantly, men are not eligible to compete in the barrel racing event at the National Rodeo Finals.

The principal of barrel racing

The idea is simple — stop the clock ASAP. Time is all that matters.

The equipment for barrel racing is basic; 3 barrels, 1 horse,

The three barrels are placed in a triangular pattern. The timing begins when the horse crosses the starting line and ends when the horse crosses the finishing line.

To begin the barrel race, the horse and rider will enter the arena at top speed, through the center entrance (or alley if in a rodeo arena).

In these timed rodeo events, the purpose is to make a run as fast as possible, while the time is being clocked either by an electronic eye, (a device using a laser system to record times), or by an arena attendant or judge who manually takes the time using a keen eye and a flag to let a clocker know when to hit the timer stop; though this last method is more commonly seen in local and non-professional events.

Ideal barrel racing distances

The barrels are set at specific distances:

Speed is what it is all about in this event. The riders steer their horses as close as they can to the barrels trying to shave precious seconds off the clock.

13 to 14 seconds is generally a winning margin in barrel racing events, but this will vary according to the size of the arena, as all rodeo arenas are not created equal.

The rider circles the first barrel counterclockwise, the second barrel clockwise, and the third barrel counterclockwise.

If a barrel is hit or knocked over, a five-second penalty is assessed. There are other time penalties for other infractions like circling a barrel in the wrong direction (called going “off pattern”).

There is no doubt that barrel racing is really a spectacular sport as you’ll see from the video.

by MarilynJane under CC BY  with wpseopix.com

Dream Horse

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So you want to find your dream horse!

 I’m sure you can find your dream horse and make him your own. But there’re a few questions you  need to ask yourself in the process.

A horse is a beautiful animal that can rival dogs – which are arguably the most popular choice for a pet – in terms of companionship and value in various aspects of your life. But if you’re still reading this article what you want is to find and purchase your dream horse.

Here are the questions you should answer:

1.Why are you buying a horse?
2.Who is going to ride your dream horse?
3.How old should your dream horse be upon purchase?
4.What about gender of your dream horse?
5.Do you have any color preference?
6.How much are you willing to spend to get your dream horse?
7.What breed should you dream horse be?

Now down to the nitty-gritty detail for your dream horse.

1.  WHY ARE YOU BUYING A HORSE?
This question tackles the appropriate breed or type of horse you should select. Are you interested in owning a horse for recreational purposes? Are you interested in competing? Do you wish to engage in the business of breeding horses? Are you going to use a horse as an all-around work animal on your farm or ranch?

2.  WHO IS GOING TO RIDE YOUR DREAM HORSE?
This mostly concerns individuals who are simply riding enthusiasts and wish to own a horse they can ride whenever they wish. If you are the only one who’s going to use the horse then you have your preferences alone to consider.

If, however, you’re purchasing a horse that will be of use to the whole family then you need to take into account the riding level, size, and weight of all possible riders. You need to select a horse that can easily accommodate the biggest rider among you but won’t be inclined to throw an inexperienced rider off his back.

3.  HOW OLD SHOULD YOUR DREAM HORSE BE UPON PURCHASE?
A slightly older horse may be “house-broken” already but this also means that it also had the time to get used to certain routines. A slightly older horse for instance may be used to being able to graze free in a large area and being handled by competent riders. If you only have a small stable and little riding skills to be speak of, such a horse is obviously not the ideal choice for you.

A foal, on the other hand, may not have any such considerations but it will however require efficient care and professional training from its owner. As the foal’s owner, it’s your responsibility then to ensure that it’s comfortable with its quarters, being fed regularly, and with a gentle disposition that will allow people to ride it safely.

4.  WHAT ABOUT GENDER OF YOUR DREAM HORSE?
Gender is mostly a concern of would-be horse breeders. Owning a mare will allow you greater rights in all future offspring. Having a stud is mostly suitable for experienced riders. Geldings on the other hand are ideal for riders with skills at the beginner level.

5.  DO YOU HAVE ANY COLOR PREFERENCES FOR YOUR DREAM HORSE?
The skin color of horses is generally any of the three: black, brown, or white. Skin color is only a factor if you’re particularly concerned with aesthetics.

6.  HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO SPEND TO GET YOUR DREAM HORSE?
Expect to spend a considerable amount of money whether you wish to purchase a horse for riding or working purposes. Make sure that you consider the costs of feeding, caring and grooming as well. If you don’t have a sufficient budget and space at home to build a stable for your horse, you will have no choice but to use the services of a boarding stable.

7.  WHAT BREED SHOULD YOUR DREAM HORSE BE?

Here’s a brief guide to some of the more popular breeds of horses to guide you in your selection of a dream horse.

ARABIAN – One of the oldest and arguably the most beautiful breeds in the world, Arabian horses are primarily bred by the Bedouins, a roaming Arab tribe, and mainly used for competitive and recreational riding. Expect to pay expensively if you wish to acquire an Arabian horse. This particular breed led to the development of Thoroughbreds.

QUARTER HORSE– The United States is the proud and original breeder of quarter horses, and they can can be used for riding, racing, and work purposes. Most of the photos you’ll see around featuring cowboys are mounted on quarter horses.

ANDALUSIAN – Also referred to as the Spanish horse, the Andalusian breed originates from the Iberian Peninsula and has a considerable influence over almost all other horse breeds except for the Arabian.

BELGIAN HEAVY DRAFT HORSE– This breed is one of the most popular choices for working horses.

MUSTANG OR BRONCO – These horses are also known as Indian ponies. They are essentially intelligent and capable of enduring long hours of work.

AMERICAN SADDLEBRED – The American Saddlebred horse today is one of the most recognized show ring horses and he is a very intelligent horse that is relatively easily trained. Having a sweet disposition  makes the breed a favourite with horse owners and riders everywhere.

FRIESIAN  – Along with their genuine beauty, these horses are sturdy, dependable animals who have routinely functioned both for “harness work” that is, as hitched to a wagon or plow for farm work or other device, or “saddle work,” being ridden as seen at shows and horse races.  Well disciplined, these horses are able to perform well in both types of use.

PERCHERON – My favourite, but I’m biased as my horse was a Percheron/Thorobred cross.  The Percheron is proud, alert and has an in-built intelligence and a boldness of character combined with a gentle willingness to perform well under almost all conditions. The encylopedia,Wikipedia, describes Percherons as”easy keepers and easy to work with and train”.

As a last note, please don’t forget to test any horse you have your eye on to be your DREAM HORSE  before closing the transaction.

Your farrier is one of two most important people contributing to

your horse’s well-being. 

by markpeate under CC BY-SA  with wpseopix.com

Farrier

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Number one is your veterinarian … number two, your farrier.

 Over the years I’ve had my horse’s feet looked after by a number of farriers and have not only relied on them, but also come to find them to be extremely interesting and informative to chat to while they’re doing their work.

My most recent farrier is a real character. His name is Red Amor which is a very appropriate name. He’s a burly man with flaming red hair and beard and someone who’s ability I really came to respect.

Apart from the importance of your horse’s hoof care, you’ll be spending significant amounts of money for the hoof and foot care of your horse. So it’s obviously even more reason for you to be sure you have the right farrier.

Horse shoes and your farrier.

Horse shoes are especially crafted to help horses maintain their overall standing posture and speed when running.

Shoe makers are for humans as farriers are to horses. Horses need their own expert hoof care specialists. However, in many areas there appears to be a shortage of qualified farriers.

Those areas where there is a horse population are fortunate if they have a few farriers around. I guess it goes without saying that a farrier is a person who is specially trained and experienced to make horse shoes and take care of  horses’ hoofs.

To the ordinary horse owner, the expertise of a farrier isn’t as vital as for those who are very keen and meticulous over their horses’ health and overall health. But as I said earlier, the farrier is one of the most important aides an owner could provide for their horse.

When hiring a farrier

Once upon a time, farriers were considered as estranged bed fellows to the blacksmiths because it had been assumed that the nature of the two jobs were one and the same.

But through the years, the distinction between the blacksmith and the farrier eventually surfaced. Though, the two are considered almost the same, their expertise is different. However, both professions command great recognition because it takes a significant amount of training, skill and talent to practise in both of them.

The work of farrier is as complicated as the work of the blacksmith because trimming hoofs and making special shoes for horses is as tedious as crafting glasses and furniture.

That’s why when hiring a farrier for horses, you should pay particular attention to the expertise and knowledge base of the farrier you decide to employ.

What to look for when hiring a farrier.

The first thing you should look at when selecting a farrier from those available is his history of experience. Though, it would somehow seem unfair to the new farriers, the old and seasoned farrier seems to be more favored.

This is probably because experienced the farrier know what to do when he come across a difficult situation. Whatever challenge or problem that may arise, the experienced farrier will definitely know how to handle each obstacle.

Experience must have also taught the farrier how to get along with horses, especially those which are bred and raised to race or participate in other equestrian events.

Your farrier must know when to shoe horsesand what to do when there are problems fitting your horse for shoes. Importantly your farrier must also be experienced on trimming hoofs. This is particularly important if you run your horse without shoes, a practice which is becoming increasingly common in some areas.

In my case, I rode my horse, a Percheron/thorobred cross with large and very well-formed hoofs, shoeless for many years.

The new farriers are not forgotten however. Some horse owners prefer them over the veterans because their services are often less expensive.

Interviewing a farrier.

Of course, hiring a farrier is just like hiring regular employees. Other than just looking at the work experience sheet, you should take time to interview the farrier.

It’s through casual talk that you can get to know the prospective farrier. Ease and rapport between you and your farrier is very important so that you and he understand each other and can work hand in hand in maintaining the overall foot care of your horse.

By all means ask strategic and inquisitive questions that allow you to gauge the personal knowledge and experience of the farrier.

Through questions and general discussion about your horse’s hooves and hoof care you can tell how the applicant would fare when faced with various situations. For instance, you could ask the applicant about his experience on doing gaited horses.

If the farrier tends to be too know-it-all he should be screened out because based on the experiences of other horse owners, such a farrier won’t be helpful in maintaining the overall health of your horse. This type of farrier
would probably disregard any suggestions and comments that you might make, which would be a source of a irritation between you.

Overall, when hiring a farrier, you, the horse owner, should consider the advice and recommendations from horse-owning friends and acquaintances. Asking your local veterinarian about who is a good farrier would also be helpful.

Decide well and be inquisitive enough so you’ll get to hire a deserving and trustworthy FARRIER for your horse.

Youngsters :  training,  raising and riding their horses

Youngsters love their horses

Youngsters nowadays indulge in different hobbies like video games and cartoons. Although this is so frequently the case, there are also those youngsters who are horse enthusiasts and would rather go horseback riding than sit on the couch or in front of the computer all day long.

I have to admit that I’m now far from being a youngster, but I can still look at my leisure time from the perspective of  youngsters. I recognise that video games, Facebook and Twitter are all great. So my recommendation for youngsters is try and achieve a balance between activities such as these and to at least explore the exercise, stimulation and healthy fun that horseback riding offers.

Now to the point of this article. I recently came across an article that impressed me. It is titled …

“How to Help Youngsters in Training and Raising their Horses”

I don’t know who wrote it, nor how old it is. I’m assuming that the references it contains are still valid, but if it’s of interest to you I suggest you go to Google to be sure. I did Google FFA and also Ike and they are both valid.

For youngsters, and those just generally interested, here’s the article.

“There are many programs that will involve youngsters in activities with horses. Future Farmers of America for example offers training for young people.

Some subjects being taught are herd behavior to learn the movements of the horse and the 2 way communication using body languages to improve the bonding of a youngster and his horse. When positive relationship with the horse is developed, the riding skills will also be improved.

Rural areas in America hold country fair week for 4H youngsters. The youngsters usually exhibit their horses for competition and are obviously excited if they achieve a first place trophy or ribbon. Interestingly, some of the youngsters appear very small in size compared to their horses.

The youngsters prove their abilities in handling their horse. The enormous love of the youngsters towards their horses is clearly seen in the project. Endless hours of feeding, taming and grooming of their horses are spent to have their best show to impress the judges.

Camaraderie is also developed during 4H and FFA shows. This is regarded as a family event where youngsters are assisted by their moms and dads. The youngsters are also taught responsibility, character and good work ethic through FFA’s training.

With a great tradition like this, FFA and 4H draw a good picture of the future horse lovers and care takers.

Other competitive activities for youngsters under FFA are:

• Youngsters are allowed to watch competition and FFA horses’ Shows

• Youngsters are required to participate in various horses’ activities such as public speaking and riding events.

Just recently, around 500 young horse lovers joined in FFA Horse Show at Ike Exposition Center. Many youngsters came from Louisiana and they’ve won from various competitions like demonstrations, roping and riding.  The youngsters have proven that they can be excellent in their crafts through hard work and dedication. Among the activities are:

Timed events such as breakaway roping, tie down roping, stake race, pole bending, barrel racing. All participating youngsters are 14 years old and below.

There is also public speaking, quiz bowl and demonstrations for open and junior divisions. Riding events on the other hand include western horsemanship, western riding, trail, reining, working hunter, hunter under saddle, hunt seat equitation, English showmanship and miniature horse showmanship;  in this case all participating youngsters are over 14.

Horse related activities are just a part of the development programs of FFA. They also cover the topics regarding nutrition, public speaking, photography and character education.  The youngsters who participated are well supported by their parents, teachers and volunteers. Focused on the youth, FFA’s horses’ competition is designed to honor the skills and general knowledge of the youngsters.

The influence of trainers on youngsters

There are a lot of trainers but only few can touch the youngsters’ lives and bond with their horses. The lives of the youngsters can radically change when being enriched and when skills are being enhanced. Among the good trainers of youngsters are the following:

1. J.J. Rydberg is the 2006 Faculty of the year in Lamar Community College. He joined the Horse Training and Management in 2000 August. Before joining the community, he had spent most of his life training horses and competing for professional rodeos. He had been ranked as one of top 20 horse trainers. He teaches clients of all ages with horse roping, barrel racing and cutting.

2. Jason Kravig spent 3 years in horse training and rodeoing. He gained other insights and techniques from professional trainers like J.J. Rydberg.

3. Jill Chase coached successful FFA national champions. She started horse production, reproduction, management and evaluation. She has been involved in horse business since nine years old. She graduated from Colorado State University of Equine Science.

4. Van Sant is the daughter of Vicki and Ernest Van Sant. A 10 year experienced equestrian who often wins in horse shows. She is a member of FFA for almost 4 years. She enjoys photography and her usual subjects are horses.

Helping youngsters in riding, raising and competing with their horses is a tedious yet enjoyable task any trainer can love if they have enough patience and dedication. Youngsters have the enthusiasm to learn new things and they’re very passionate once they get involved in any activities. Willingness to teach and develop the skill of youngsters can be essential for a smooth learning process.

As one trainer stated, “the most important thing in training youngsters is setting a good example.”

It’s my hope that this article will help motivate at least some youngsters to experience the great feeling that horse ownership, training and riding can bring. It’s something that I didn’t experience until much later in life … but something that I’m extremely pleased I didn’t miss out on!

I’d really appreciate if you’d leave a comment, good or bad, so that I’ll be able to assess whether I’m including the article subjects that horse lovers like to read. In particular, I’d like to hear from beginner riders and youngsters.

Finally, I’d like to invite you to fill-in the form on the right to join-up with “the easy horse care family”. You’ll receive periodic emails on horse-related topics, free ebooks, links to special offers, products and services, and anything else of value to horse owners and riders. This will be of special value to horse riding youngsters.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

Natural Horsemanship Training videos

Horse training system teaches natural horsemanship with 17 training videos

CLICK HERE

Pilates and Applied Posture Riding

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Tips On  Winter Care For Your Pony

Caring for a pony

I know that many horse owners started out the same way… loving and caring for ponies. They look back on their pony owning years and a distant far away expression comes over their faces. And, of course, there are few horse owners who don’t have a pony story, some good some not so good.

I must admit that I’m not one of these horse owners as I’ve never owned a pony and I started riding very late in life. This is not entirely true as I recall that in my early teens I took it upon myself to travel to Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens to have lessons and to ride around the Garden’s picturesque Tan. I guess that at this time I probably did dream of having my own pony or horse.

But on with my article about caring for your pony.

For the most parts ponies are tough. They seldom seem to be affected by the illnesses and maladies that seem to strike their larger equine counterparts. Their toughness is one of the reasons that a pony is so often a good match for a child.

If you live in northern climates and keep your pony outside during the frosty winter months there are a few things to do that will ensure your pony stays sound and healthy.

Snow can be dangerous for your pony. Each time your pony takes a step on the the snow he’ll start to gather snow in the bottom of his hooves. Each time your pony takes a step the snow becomes harder packed until your pony will be forced to walk on rounded balls of ice. Not only is walking  on the ice balls treacherous, but if your pony missteps or slips he can strain or twist a leg.

An injury like this could create a lameness that could plague your pony for months. Smearing petroleum jelly on the bottoms of your pony’s hooves every couple of days can help prevent the snow from gathering on the hooves of your pony.

My beautiful pony

Your pony will need dental work.

Regular dental work is as important to ponies and horses as it is to their human caretakers. If you notice that your pony is suddenly losing a great deal of weight, have your vet take a look at his teeth. If your vet notices any sharp edges on your ponies teeth make sure the teeth are floated. Going into the winter months it is especially important to make sure that your pony’s teeth are in good shape.

Your pony will need fresh water. Make sure your pony has plenty of access to good fresh water. If you don’t have a water heater for your buckets plan on breaking the ice several times a day.

Caring for a pony

Your pony will need shelter.

If your pony is kept outside he should have access to shelter. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, a simple three sided lean-to facing away from the wind is enough. The most dangerous condition is if the weather is both wet and cold.

Many people tend to take the cold blustery winter months off, preferring to stay inside rather than ride. That doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with riding during the winter.  Riding through snowdrifts can be almost as good for conditioning as riding in a deep sand arena. It’s also invigorating and great fun for you, the rider!

(When writing this article, riding in the early morning snow reminds me of the dramatic scenes in the film, The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans. If you haven’t read the book, I suggest you do. It’s a great read!)

If you choose to work your pony it’s important to make sure he’s dry and free of sweat before you put him out in the field. A heavy dense winter coat can sometimes make this difficult. Some pony owners opt to body clip (remove all the long winter hair).

If your pony has been body clipped he shouldn’t be turned loose in the elements without some form of protection. So if you decide to keep your pony clipped and want to turn him out, be sure to use a warm turnout rug to protect your pony from the elements.

Finally, if you use a turnout blanket make sure the blanket it’s well fitted and clean. Check underneath the blanket for rubbing and chaffing on a daily basis.

I hope this article helps you keep your pony happy, warm and well right through this winter!

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Is catching your horse a problem?

How to catch a horse

As catching a difficult or problem horse can be difficult,  I figured it might be worth talking about the issue.

Keep in mind that a newly acquired horse or a horse that may be herd bound needs a little assurance & patience from us. They want to know that you’re not going to harm them or abuse them in any way.

As the owner of this type of horse you need to create a friendly, but “I’m the boss” relationship with your horse. That’s if you want a long and rewarding partnership with him as I’m sure you do.

Horses, no matter what age, are constantly learning from their interactions with us. Whether or not you think your interactionwith your horse is a “formal training session” your horse is always learning.

This is the case whether you are riding, lunging, feeding, playing, bathing, your horse or just walking through your horse’s pasture or in his stall. Your horse will come to trust in you as you work, play and interact with him.

To start this process you should make every experience with your horse an enjoyable, learning experience.

For instance, if you are having problems catching your horse in the pasture then you probably don’t have a working relationship with him.  But with a little  patience and persistence from you you’ll find you can overcome this.

First you should  reassure your horse you mean him no harm and that it’s a pleasant experience when he’s with you. When you go out into the pasture don’t just go with the intention of “grabbing” your horse for a quick ride, workout or training session.

Instead, walk up to him with a treat in hand; a carrot or apple will do. He may be stand-offish at first but his natural curiosity will eventually win out and he’ll accept the treat.

As he reaches for the treat try to pat him gently on his head and neck. Maybe you won’t be able to pat him today or tomorrow but I’m sure it won’t take long before you can.

Persistence is the key to having your horse remember!

Do this every day, several times a day until he realizes you aren’t there just to catch him and put him to work. Eventually he will learn to enjoy these “little get togethers” and these “little get togethers” will build his confidence in you. Before you know it he’ll be coming to you whether you have a treat for him/ her or not.

Horses actually enjoy being with us as our partners and friends! Horses are by  nature very curious creatures and are always interested in someone or something in their space. Take advantage of this! Maybe you need to work on your fencing, or round pen and chances are that if he sees you in his space he will come to see what you are doing. Seize this opportunity to just talk to him and give him a gentle pat. I don’t know about you but when I’m in the pasture working my horses come to see what I’m doing and I always take a few minutes to ask them how their day is going, and give them a gentle pat or two.

You should be persistent and patient in your efforts. Rome wasn’t built in a day and your horse may not let you catch him in a day either. This will take a few days or possibly weeks but your horse will come to trust you and enjoy your company.

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