I recently came across this article written by Adam Di Cavallo and I was impressed by his obvious love of horses and horse riding. So I thought I’d share it with you on this site. After you’ve read the article I’d be appreciative if you’d leave your comments.

If you want to make the most of your horse riding instruction and learn to ride horses really well in the shortest amount of time possible, here are a few secrets just for you:

Multiplying Your Practice Time

Learning to ride horseback, like anything else, is a skill that comes with practice. But horse riding instruction can be expensive and often your riding time is limited to one or twice a week, usually on weekends. So how can you practice enough to get really good when you are limited to an hour or two a week? After all, it is said that to become good at any skill you need to have put in about 500 hours of practice …and about 3000 hours to become a master! Well, by that rule, with a weekly horse riding instruction session of 1 hour, it would take you about 9 and a half years to get good! I don’t know about you but that seems an awfully long time. Fortunately there are some ways you can multiply the effects of your horse riding instruction that won’t cost you a fortune. And you’ll become a better horse rider in the process.

The Riding School in Your Mind

You can use mental rehearsal to practice horse back riding in your mind! The reason little girls get so good at riding so fast is partly due to the fact that they obsess about horses and horse riding and spend so much of their freetime thinking about horse riding, talking about horses, reading equestrian books and day dreaming about being on horseback. This is the perfect recipe for getting good at something. Added to good instruction of course! So when you have your riding lessons, make sure you pay full attention. Be right in the moment and be aware of how your body feels as you ride the horse.

Really observe everything about being on horse back as you ride around the ménage or riding school area. Listen to the sounds of the horses hooves, its breathing, the clink of the harness or the clicks and taps of its shoes as its feet occasionally clip one another. Notice any smells in the air and store all this sensory information in your memory banks. As soon as you get home, make some notes about the major things you learnt in your lesson that day, and any things that you have to work on for next week. Also note down any observations you had during your lesson — even if they seem unrelated to riding — like the fact your instructor had a coffee stain in the shape of Kansas on her T-shirt. This will all help to lock in your lesson. Then at odd times when you can, just sit quietly and replay your horse riding lesson in your mind’s eye. Go through it again and again. Feel yourself back in the saddle, holding the reins, your feet in the stirrups. And relive that lesson — only in your imagination you can do it better. When you are practising in your mind’s eye, you can be a perfect rider, totally confident and skillful.

The ideal time to practice mental rehearsal is last thing at night as you go to sleep, and first thing in the morning when you wake up. But the more you do it, the better it is. You should see rapid improvements in your horse riding ability as you go to your weekly instruction classes.

In the Hoofsteps of the Masters

Another secret to accelerating the affects of your horse riding instruction is to copy great riders. There are 3 simple ways to do this.

1. Get a mentor.

You can watch someone who is a great rider at your riding school and try and copy the way they ride. Just spend some time observing them around horses. Be like an actor rehearsing for a part. Gradually build up your inner picture of what it is to be that person. Notice everything about the way they get on a horse, how they sit in the saddle, the way they hold the reins. Look closely at the set of their face. Are they tense or relaxed? Are they comfortable enough to smile? Notice their breathing… and imagine yourself getting on a horse, sitting in the saddle, holding the reins, and breathing, just like that great rider. Befriend that person if you can and get their advice and tips… otherwise just observe them secretly and absorb what they know about riding confidently.

2. Create an equestrian book library.

Your mind will benefit by absorbing the principles of riding, so plunder your local library for books on horses and riding, or create your own personal library of equestrian books to which you can refer frequently. Seeing pictures of people riding will fill your mind with the images of ‘how to ride’ that it needs. Reading actual written instructions can help you cement the lessons you are taught at your horse riding instruction sessions. If you have fallen in love with horses and with horse riding, you’ll be happy to read all about them — it will fuel your passion and excitement and your mind will gallop to help you achieve what you want: to become a great horse rider.

3. Watch DVDs of great horse riders.

When I first learnt to ride, one of my heroes was a famous British showjumper called Harvey Smith. I used to think he was brilliant and wanted to be like him, so I would always watch the showjumping on TV and cheer him on and imagine I was him. I also bought or was given a set of Pony Club videos. These showed some Pony Club kids getting riding instruction in a beautiful part of Great Britain. And again I used to imagine I was there, riding my horse over those training poles. The more opportunities you get to see and observe horse riding, the more information your mind has to work with. By feeding your brain with movies of good horse riding you help form a mental map of what great riding is all about. If you have a particular equestrian hero, you can create an imaginary meeting with that person, in which you have them stand in front of you with their back turned to you, and the you ‘step inside’ them and ‘become’ that person. You imagine looking out of their eyes, feeling what they feel, hearing what they hear. And you get on your hero’s horse and you ride that horse as your hero. This little exercise has been used successfully to accelerate ability in many fields of endeavor — so why don’t you use it to accelerate your horse riding instruction?

Copyright 2007 Adam di Cavallo

Adam di Cavallo grew up watching cowboy movies and took to the saddle at the age of 9. Nearly 30 years later his passion and enthusiasm for horses and horse riding is as strong as ever and he is delighted to have this opportunity to share with you some of the equestrian secrets he has discovered over the years….

If you enjoyed this article, you might like to discover the secrets of how you can learn horseback riding from home without expensive lessons at: [http://www.horseyhorses.com/horse-riding-made-easy.html]

Accelerated Horse Riding Instruction Secrets [http://www.horseyhorses.com/horse-riding-made-easy.html]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Di_Cavallo

Related posts:

1. Horse Back Riding ~ Tips and Techniques for the Beginner Rider.
2. Horse Riding Helmets ~ Are They Really a Necessity?
3. Safe Riding: Tips On Keeping You And Your Horse Safe

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.

Related posts:

1. Horse Racing Games
2. Lucinda Green’s Equestrian Challenge.

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.

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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.

Related posts:

1. Make it easy for your Farrier to pick-up your horse’s feet.
2. Horse hoof care ~ this is one of the primary responsibilities you have as a horse owner!

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

This is a really excellent program.  See details by …

CLICKING HERE

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Picking up your horse’s hoof is not difficult

Picking a horse's hoof

The thought of picking up your horse’s hoof could well intimidate you as a well-placed horse kick would really hurt! So caution is good, but in reality if you pick up a horse’s hoof in the correct fashion 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:

Start with the front hoof and approach your horse diagonally from his front so that he clearly knows where you are and that you are there – you don’t want to surprise him. Place yourself even with his shoulder and make sure to face his rear. You’ll both be facing opposite directions during the hoof picking process.

Making sure that your feet aren’t too close to your horse’s hoof, run your hand parallel to him down his shoulder and along the length of his leg, finally stop just above his ankle. Gently grasp the ankle portion and click (or otherwise verbally cue him) to ask him to raise his leg. If he’s well trained, that small cue will be more than enough and he’ll do just what you requested. You’re now free to begin picking his hoof.

If your horse is being a bit stubborn or hasn’t learned how to pick up his legs yet try leaning into his shoulder as you run your hand down the back of his cannon bone. You can also gently squeeze/pinch the tendons to further cue him to what you would like. As you perform these physical cues make sure you provide a verbal one also (I make a clicking sound) so the horse later associates your sound with the requested response. Increase the weight you push against his shoulder until he finally lifts his leg as requested.

Picking your horse’s hoof

When picking your horse’s hoof you want to remove all debris from the hoof clefts as well as the rim and frog. Be careful around the frog because it can sometimes be a bit sensitive, particularly if your horse has thrush.

Once you have finished cleaning the front hoof carefully guide it back to the floor. The last thing you want is to allow your horse to slam it down, potentially hitting your foot in the process. Praise your horse and pat him on the front shoulder a bit so he understands that you’re pleased with his cooperation, then run your hand along his back to his rear leg. Place yourself in the same position as you did with his front leg and do the process over again.

Here’s how to pick up your horse’s hoof.

There is a slight difference between lifting a rear foot and front foot, even though your basic positioning and actions are nearly identical. When you lift your horse’s rear foot he will probably give a little jerk that you might misinterpret as a kick. This is a common reflex reaction among horses and nothing for you to worry about.

Secondly, when you raise your horse’s rear leg you’ll want to step into him a bit so that your hip is underneath his leg. Rest his leg on your thigh, grab his hoof and gently flex it upwards. By doing this you lend him some support and more importantly the position of his leg and his flexed hoof will prevent him from being able to kick you.

So go ahead and pick up your horses’s foot, clean the hoof, lower it cautiously as you did the first and praise him. The opposite side will be done exactly the same way, but try to return to his front and start the opposite side rather than move around his rear. It’s bad practice to approach or circle all but the most trusted horses via the rear in such close quarters since a horse would be within range to strike.

When lifting any hoof try to make sure your horse is properly squared (balanced evenly on all four legs) so that when you lift one hoof he can easily balance on his remaining three. At no time should your horse actually lean his weight on you! Even when you rest his rear leg on your thigh you’re not allowing him to use you as a crutch.

Once you have picked your horse’s hooves a few times it will probably become very simple and take less than 5 minutes to clear all hooves. Most trained horses will raise their hoof for you the moment they feel your hand run down their leg.

It is a very good idea to control your horse’s head while you are picking his hooves. This can be done by attaching his halter to crossties or asking a partner hold your horse’s head. By controlling his head you ensure your horse can’t move away from you while you’re trying to do the “picking your horse’s hoof” routine.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE:

Natural Horsemanship Training videos

Horse training system teaches natural horsemanship with 17 training videos

CLICK HERE

Related posts:

1. Make it easy for your Farrier to pick-up your horse’s feet.
2. Horse hoof care ~ this is one of the primary responsibilities you have as a horse owner!
3. The Importance of Hoof Care.

 Once again, as a change of pace for my Posts, this time I’m talking about a “horse game”.

Lucinda Green is a record holder in the Badminton Horse Trials. She won the trials for an astounding six times! What’s more, she rode six different horses during those trials! Isn’t that just amazing? Now, you can share her experience in the thrills of being an equestrian through Lucinda Green’s Equestrian Challenge.

The game challenges players on three fronts: cross country, show jumping and dressage. The ultimate goal of the game is for you to win all four-star events in Adelaide, Badminton, Burghley, and Kentucky. Before you get ahead of yourself, however, you need to cover the basics.

The game starts with you as a young two-star equestrian taken under the wings of Lucinda Green. Full customization of the character allows you to create a rider that truly matches who you are or, at least, who you perceive yourself to be.

You also get to take care of your own horse. This is a very important aspect of the game, as your success depends on the amount of work you put into training and caring for the horse. It must be fed, watered, brushed, among other things. You also need to make sure that its attributes are distributed properly so that you will be able to grab the prize every competition.

There are four “stats” or attributes that you need to balance. They are: Speed, Stamina, Jumping, Agility, and Trust. Each person will be able to develop a horse differently by simply adjusting the allotment of stats.

Lucinda Green teaches you and trains you until you can compete in the four-star competitions. At this level, you will pit your character in various contests against the biggest names in riding today.

Graphically, the game is stunning. That is, if you compare it to other equestrian games today. The customizability of the character is also a nice touch. However, the gameplay is nothing revolutionary. The game just does not push any gaming boundaries.

It is less tedious than other games, which means you can enjoy yourself more and take care of the details less. After all, gamers who buy equestrian games are more interested in the competition rather on the simulated horse-care lessons, right? The life of the game is also quite good: you are able to enjoy the different challenges and you don’t end up feeling a bit disappointed because of the length.

However, the repetitive motions that one must go through in order to compete and the actions involved in taking care of the horse can be very dull at times. The menu is also quite clumsy and this means that you might have a hard time navigating around the controls.

Not many people are bound to buy equestrian games. It just doesn’t seem like a genre that appeals to the common couch soldier/strategist/athlete. Equestrian challenge attempts to change this through lots and lots of eye candy. However, its sticking to realism doesn’t really help in making it more popular with gamers. Even a little bit of imagination could surely have helped this game.

The bottom line is this: Equestrian Challenge is a great game. In fact, it’s superior to any equestrian games available today. However, if you are not fond of the sport, you might not see enough in this game to try it out. You should get this game if you love horses, but if you are the typical point-and-shoot guy, you might want to skip it.

Related posts:

1. Equestrian Bridles: 11 Tips On Bridling Your Horse.
2. Horse Racing Games
3. Equestrian Wear – Tips On The Use Of Horse Rugs, Boots, and Bandages.

Money saving tips.

I thought I’d start off with something that affects our hip-pocket, money! The welfare of your horse must come before all other considerations and most certainly before money matters. Horses are some of the most expensive and time-consuming animals you can own. Small ways to save time and money soon add up. Some of these tips will help you save both; some are unfortunately a trade off between time and money. With this said, where-ever applicable, my general strategy is one of sharing.

• Why not get together with other horseowners, possibly other members of your pony or saddle club, and keep all your horses in one place, taking it in turns to look after the horses and doing the chores.
• For equipment such as clippers, it would be an idea to organise a mutual lending arrangement.
  For routine farrier and vet needs, club together so that the farrier and vet can visit you all on the same or successive days.
• When you’re going to buy something, ask yourself “do I really need it”. If you decide “yes”, whether it be equipment or feed, buy the best quality. It will last much longer and be better for your horse.
• You may have thought about not shoeing your horse in an effort save money. Going barefoot with a horse that can’t cope will cost you more in the long run. The difference in having a horse shoed and have a horse trimmed is marginal or non-existent. Ask your farrier’s advice.
• Turnout your horse as much as possible as this will give him gentle exercise and reduce the amount you have to ride. Also lunge your horse. Lunging provides more intense exercise that riding. Just consider that 20 minutes of lunge work is the equivalent to an hour ridden work. Further, this time can  be used for grooming or tacking up. A further saving of time.
• Only groom where tack goes to remove anything that might irritate your horse, rather then do a full groom. This is great if you need to get to a riding lesson quickly, but you should do a full groom every day so that you can bond with your horse. A full groom also gives you chance of finding health and body problems sooner rather then later.
• Use a hair brush to brush out your horse’s tail and mane as it’s faster than using a mane comb. There are costly tail brushes on the market, but a cheap or old hairbrush will work just as well. Brush mane/tail conditioner into your horse’s tail and mane regularly and this will make it easier to brush out and keep clean.
• Judging feed amount by eye isn’t very accurate so weigh feeds. Overfeeding wastes food and leads to an overweight horse. Feed the best quality you can get as feeding cheaper, but poor quality feeds is just a false economy. You’ll finish up feeding more and also risking your horse’s health which could lead to more vet costs.
• Look for feeding supplements from your local shops. Supplements like cider vinegar, garlic, oils, and salt can be obtained at a lower cost at a local shop that at a feed merchant.

Summary

What I’ve suggested here is only a start in terms of saving money and time with your horse care. If you read these tips and stop and think a little,  I’m sure you’ll come up with lots more time and money savings ideas that you can easily apply.

Related posts:

1. Ten Money Saving Horse Care Tips.
2. Grooming Tips For Horses ~ A Major Part of Easy Horse Care.
3. A Horse First Aid Kit Could Save Your Horse’s Life ~ A Few Helpful Tips!

 Different Club types.

Depending on where you live, and I guess on your age, Clubs are called different things, ie. Pony Club which is normally for younger riders, Saddle Club which in Australia is the normal name for riders of all ages, and Horse Riding Clubs which is common for us older riders! In my case I joined the Merricks Saddle Club on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia when I became a horse owner and started out riding. This was when I was in my early 50s. For the purpose of this Post I’ll be referring to all clubs as Saddle Clubs.

So why join a Saddle Club?

 I’ll talk about what I see as the benefits in more detail but I think the core benefit is that it gives riders the opportunity to learn and progress in many riding disciplines under the guidance of qualified instructors and at relatively low cost.

It doesn’t really matter whether you’re a total beginner, slightly experienced, or very experienced. You’ll find that most clubs break-up the member riders into small groups, this being done in relation to your riding competence. And as your competence increases you’ll get moved up into a higher group.

The facilities.

A great benefit of a Saddle Club is that your have access to a full range of facilities, this obviously being dependent of the structure of individual clubs. You’ll find that you will probably have extensive grassed areas where your group can work, confined areas like a menage which are great for quite concentrated work, walking, trotting, cantering, and for dressage.

For jumping, jumps are normally set-up in the open grass areas. Then depending on the locality of your Club, you’ll have access to land for cross country riding and trail riding. However, this is often confined to clubs in country areas,

The safety aspect.

I sure that when you ride you take care to be sure you and your horse are safe. At a Saddle Club, if it’s like mine, on each Club day, before you ride instructors check your tack and how you’ve saddled up your horse. They’ll look for worn out tack and also check things like bridle fitting and girth positioning and tightness. These things are very important and can be overlooked when you’re riding at home because repetition can cause the best of us to become a little lax.

The social aspect.

I think this is significantly important. You’ll have the opportunity of meeting with a diverse range of people who all have one common interest. Horses and riding! At my Saddle Club lunch time is often a BBQ break and I have learned a lot during this break just chatting to other members on a variety of topics.

And of major importance is the fact that your horse is socialising. As is often said, horses are herd animals so being with, and mixing with, other horses is of great benefit.

Bulk buying.

Some clubs arrange for the members to form ‘bulk buying groups’. This is where horse supplies, in particular food items like hay, are bought in bulk at competitive bulk prices.

My recommendation.

I’ll finish this Post by suggesting that if you are not already a member, seek out your local Pony Club, Saddle Club, or Horse Riding Club. I’m sure you’ll not regret it. Ask any club member why they joined and the answer you’ll quite likely get will be “because it’s fun!”.

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Horse transport or more specifically, floating or trailering.

Have you ever seen  a half-frightened horse surrounded by a number of people who are flapping their hands in the air and shouting in an effort to get the poor horse into a horse trailer? It does happen, but it need not. To load or unload your horse into or from a trailer just requires a lot of patience and time spent on training. In this process the most important thing to avoid is giving your horse a bad experience. Here are some thoughts that may be helpful to you.

Float preparation.

I’ll be using the term ‘float’ rather than ‘trailer’ as this is the word most commonly used in Australia. So, take time to prepare the float and your horse before actual loading. Early on the float should ideally be backed into an area such as a gateway in a fence or against a building to prevent your horse attempting to dodge up the side. If you have a proper loading bay or a small safe yard with an opening just wide enough to take the ramp of the float, great!

In line with all aspects of horse handling quietness but firmness are the keys. At the beginning of your training you’ll find that repetitions of the loading process are needed. This is demonstrably shown  in the Monty Roberts video that follows. If your horse keeps on refusing, try picking up one front foot and then the other and graduually ‘walking’ your horse up the ramp. Allow plenty of time and give some pats and encouraging words. This often works, but you may find that your horse ends up rather stretched out before he finally moves his back legs!

Now some general tips.

• Ideally loading your horse should be done by two people, at least during the training process.
• Stand to one side of your horse, not directly behind. If you have a two-horse float lead your horse into the left side while you stand on the right side of the divider, or vice versa.
• Make sure that the ground area behind and around the float gives you good footing before you load or unload.
• Remove all tack (bridles, saddle, etc) before loading and use your halter.
• When unloading it’s wise to untie your horse before opening the door.
• Check the condition of your fload frequesntly. Look for weakened floor boards, rusting, weak door hinges, broken hitch welds.
• When driving double check lights, brakes, hitch and safety chains. Be certain all doors are securely closed. Drive carefully, make turns slowly, start and stop slowly and evenly.

Finally, if you really have trouble with loading or unloading, relax and take a few deep breaths, and get experienced assistance!

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