Horse Care For Beginners » Horse

The Soul of a Horse ~ Life Lessons from the Herd.

Russell — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 07:05:53 +0000

: Cover via Amazon

A book review.

I’ve not done a book review here before, but having recently being told about and reading Joe Camp’s book, The Soul of a Horse, I really felt that I should spread the word. I love horses and I love a book that makes me think. The Soul of a Horse did that and more. The book is clever and witty, but at the same time, inspiring. I actually felt quite sad when I’d finished the book because I wanted to read more.

Many of Joe Camp’s lessons can be applied to life … not just horses!

Being one of those exploring horse riding as a kid and finally coming back to it in my early 50s, this book was just what I needed to help weed out all the conflicting traditional information. In particular Joe Camp challenges his own perceptions and the perceptions of others as he seeks to learn what a horse needs, rather than what we think they need.

Throughout the book you’ll see three separate perspectives exposed; a wild herd of horses, a neophyte horse owner, and experienced voices of experts in their field. These three views create an ever evolving, ever building understanding. The choices made in the book are not always the easy ones, but prove to be the right ones.

Life lessons from the herd.

To use the words of of another reviewer, Ysabelle Dean (Victoria, Australia) “ The Soul of a Horse examines the biological, physiological and emotional needs of the modern domestic horse and how successfully these are met by widely used and accepted methods of husbandry, handling and training. A delightful blend of autobiography, critical analysis and storytelling, this book engages the reader intellectually and emotionally from start to finish. Joe Camp presents his ‘life lessons from the herd’ with the same humble, gentle yet persuasive persistence we admire in the very best horse trainers”.

If you’ve ever owned and loved a horse, then this book is truly a “must read”.

Be prepared however, once you begin to read this book you won’t want tp put it down! Joe Camp takes you on his journey into horsemanship and it’s a journey I’m sure you’ll enjoy. He weaves a fictional story alongside his real life story. Even non-horse people will love this book. He learns why natural horsemanship is a better deal, both for you and for your horse. His experiences are real and well-described. He admits to being a new horseman but you’ll find you will learn a few tricks from him. The Soul of a Horse is just a great book and a great read; one you’ll almost certainly want to read a second time.

A Lot of Horse Sense (Cents!).

Russell — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 10:28:05 +0000

How to capitalise on your love of horses.

If you have a little horse sense, you can turn your love of horses into a moneymaking endeavour. Teaching horse riding can be very lucrative and you don’t have to be an expert to do it. You do not even need to own a horse or stables.

Jenny Lee was a stay-at-home mother of four when she decided to do something about her desire to get back in the saddle again. In order fight off the guilt that all moms feel when they decide to do something for themselves, she found a way to bring some income into the home, as well.

Because she grew up caring for, riding, and showing horses, Jenny Lee has the knowledge and experience to market herself as a horse-riding instructor. From September through May, she charges $175 for ten one-hour sessions. She teaches all ages and ability levels, but most of her students are school-age children. During the summer months, she offers one-week camps to make even more money.

When she first started teaching, Jenny Lee advertised as frequently and as cheaply as possible. Eventually, her classes filled up and now the yellow pages and word-of-mouth are her main advertising media.

Minimal overheads.

The best part of Jenny Lee’s set up is that she teaches the classes at someone else’s stables. She uses their horses, their equipment, and their land. Because the stable owner is already being paid for the boarding and caring of the horses, Jenny Lee’s overhead is virtually nothing. However, she does purchase insurance as a safeguard; this is always a wise decision with any type of business.

Boarding stables provide a good opportunity for enthusiastic horse-lovers to find students. The average person boarding horses could use refresher courses too. Most could use more than just that. Moreover, not every horse boarder is interested in teaching.

When you haven’t got the experience …

If you have an interest in horses, but do not have the experience, you can still work your way into becoming a riding instructor. First, you could take lessons, yourself. In the beginning, it is true that you would only be able to teach the very basics. But you could pair up with someone like Jenny Lee and offer to instruct horse care classes, leaving the riding to the expert. In fact, if you aren’t afraid of a little hard work, you might be able to negotiate a trade. You could do the “dirty work” in exchange for training on how to become an instructor.

Once you’ve gained the appropriate knowledge and experience, you can become creative in your packaging of different classes. Some stables offer birthday parties on the premises, especially if there are enough barnyard animals nearby to make up a petting zoo. If the customer prefers, you could arrange to take a pony into town to a party. Classes could also be arranged through scouting and other youth programs. Your own imagination will reveal many opportunities to you.

If you have a little horse sense, and enough persistence, you can turn your love of horses into a moneymaking endeavour; in effect, into “horse cents”!

Helpful Resources:

http://hop.clickbank.net/?kimbarra91/rogerbee

http://http://4ebe5d-2-ou0f0ah17i7095v9u.hop.clickbank.net/

http://www.horsetrainingsuccess.com/?gclid=CLeV08SVi5QCFRaVggodQilGWQ

Horse Back Riding ~ Tips and Techniques for the Beginner Rider.

Russell — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 08:16:19 +0000

Making horse back riding easy …
This Post if a bit different to my previous ones in that I’m recommending a product … something that I only do if I’ve actually obtained the     product myself and believe that it’s a quality product and worthy of endorsement. The primary product is a substantial e-book titled “Introduction to Horseback Riding” authored by a horse lover and enthusiast, Roger Bourdon. Rather than ‘re-inventing the wheel’, in the following notes I’m using Roger’s actual words that he uses to describe his book.
So here goes …
Whether you are 5 or 50 and contemplating the grand new experience of horseback riding, don’t let a little thing like lack of confidence, good old fashioned fear put you off, or worry about whether you can afford it, put you off. No, the thing to do is to find a way to learn that both give you confidence AND saves you money at the SAME time!
     A little fear is a good thing. It stimulates the adrenalin that makes you perform better and makes you more in tune with your objective. They say that if you are going to do some public speaking and you are not at least a little nervous beforehand then you won’t give it your best. Adrenalin is a great stimulant to great things. But what you do need is the confidence to master your fear and to do it anyway. Susan Jeffers book ‘Feel the Fear and do it anyway’ is a bestseller; she shows very clearly what can be achieved if you go for it, and what joys overcoming your fears can bring.
     That’s the fear bit dealt with. That just leaves you worrying about the money – the cost of expensive riding lessons when you don’t even know how many you will need.
    So, what you need here is a way to feel in control of the fear and the excitement and expectation, plus a way to reduce the cost of this fabulous new experience you are about to have.
So, what’s different about my approach to riding?   Well, simply this. I absolutely know the value of riding lessons, and I would never suggest that you don’t need them at all. BUT my approach is that, in order to make the most of those lessons and greatly reduce the number you may need, you MUST do some preparation beforehand:
* First the new adult rider – if you knew how a horse moved, what to look out for, the technicalities of mounting and the basics of getting a horse to obey you, wouldn’t you feel better? Knowing something about the way a horse thinks and how he might react to you is going to give you confidence – isn’t it?
* The first time younger rider – the same applies doesn’t it? Young or older we all need some confidence to do new things and some understanding of what’s required. And again if you get in the saddle for the first time knowing a lot of the basics, then the instructors advice will not only sink in better but you will remember it more. You will be less terrified and be able to concentrate more on what you are doing because the instructor’s words will not be totally new to you.
What you really need to know to feel safe and confident the first time you sit in the saddle …
If you are just starting out with horseback riding, you want to focus on the information you need to get you in the saddle and to keep you there safely as you ride.   And let’s face it, when we are learning something new it is so difficult to take in all the information we are given verbally. If you have it written down, and can read it through several times before you get to the first lesson, how much better would that make you feel? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to take what the Instructor is saying because it is familiar to you – so that you can concentrate on staying in the saddle rather than the instructions that are being thrust at you so quickly. So many instructions all at once can send you into information overload, and then you can’t remember a word of it and feel silly – does this make you feel like a failure before you even start? I know it does with me.
   After all, how many of you passed an exam or learnt to drive without reading the manuals first? ? Did you pick up a chisel to do woodworking without first getting a book to show you how? This applies to nearly everything you can think of that requires some skill to master. So surely you need to prepare for your horseback riding lessons in the same way to make your new hobby a really enjoyable success right from the start.

“Introduction to Horseback Riding” covers the essentials of horseback riding, including:

What horseback riding terms you need to know to talk to tack shop owners and other horseback riders
What you need to know about horses to start horseback riding
How to choose the right equipment for riding. Learn all you need to know about gear you need, such as
- The helmet
- Shoes and footwear
- The right clothes, including pants and shirts
- Sunglasses and sun block
- Insect repellant
- The saddle
- Stirrups
- Reins

How to approach a horse so that the horse trusts you
The difference between English and Western riding
Mounting techniques
Dismounting instruction
Holding and using the Reins
Sitting in the saddle
What you need to do and remember once you are in the saddle
Getting the horse to start moving
Walking a horse
Turning left or right on a horse
Stopping and going backwards on a horse
How to stop a horse that is moving too fast
Stopping a horse from grazing grass during a trail ride
What to do if your horse wants a drink of water on a ride
What to do if your horse needs a “bathroom break”
What to do about branches and overhanging objects when riding
How to stay safe and calm down your horse if your horse starts getting anxious on a ride
How to get your horse to behave when other horses are around
Trotting or Jogging techniques
Cantering methods
Galloping your horse
Jumping tips and tricks
Safety basics every rider needs to know
The best ways to choose riding paths
How to deal with children on a horseback ride

Summary
Well, that’s the end of what turned out to be a rather long description of Roger’s e-book! To finish up I’d like to mention that Roger’s offering seven additional e-books free with “Introduction of Horseback Riding”. I’ve found all to be of a high standard in terms of the information they provide.
Additionally, Roger also has a club which offers access to a forum, a chat room, horse of the month, a section on horse health, books, DVDs, all the way through to dating. There is a low membership fee, but you can try first as he provides a free 30-day trial.

If you wish know more about Roger’s products and activities just click on this link.

Advisory: The product I mention is done with an affiliate link for which I receive compensation if you make a purchase. This does not cause you to pay extra for a product purchase, or cause me to give a favorable review or recommendation of the product.

Ten Money Saving Horse Care Tips.

Russell — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 05:07:13 +0000

Today, everyone is looking for horse care savings ideas. Fortunately, there are a lot of simple, practical ideas that can add up to big savings.

1. Prevention:

Keep everything running smoothly. That includes your horse, yourself and your equipment.

Pay close attention to your horse. Every day, do a daily horse checkup. Check for food and water consumption, manure production and general demeanor. Scan her body, pick out her hooves and watch her walk. You’ll both benefit if you catch problems early.

Keep up a regular program of dental checkups, hoof care, worming and vaccinating.

Use caution when working around your horse. Watch for kicks and foot tramples when you’re on the ground, and injuries sustained while riding. Stay limber and in shape so you can stay on top of your horse care (and your horse!)

Keep your equipment in good shape. Maintain your vehicles and tractors to save on gas as well as repairs. Clean your tack and store it properly. Good quality equipment can last for years if you take care of it properly.

2. Do It Yourself:

There are a lot of horse care tasks you can do yourself. You can learn how to give shots, pull and braid manes, clip your horse and clean his sheath. Ask your veterinarian for instructions on giving shots and cleaning the sheath.

3. Make It Yourself:

With a few simple tools and some skills, you can make your own jumps, tack boxes and horse clothes. And everyone can make horse toys-it’s as simple as stringing up a turnip!

4. Consign It!

Visit your local tack shop. They may have gently used items available for purchase. Blankets, tack, even clothing may be waiting for your keen eye.

Take a hard look at your gear, too. If you haven’t used it in a year, think about consigning it. Couldn’t you use those extra dollars? And the extra space?

5. Barter:

Do you have a special skill? Something you could barter in exchange for horse care services? If you can fix a car, design a website, setup a home theater, drive someone to the airport, babysit…you’ve got a barterable skill. Don’t be afraid to ask!

6. Don’t Waste:

Don’t waste hay or feed. Learn to reduce horse feed costs for big savings. Protect hay to minimize loss.

7. Don’t Overdo It:

Don’t oversupplement your horse. If your horse is healthy and eating a nutritious diet, she may not need much in the way of supplements.

8. Be A Cheapskate:

Prowl the dollar stores for great bargains on things like towels, storage containers, wipes, combs and measuring cups. Never pass up a garage sale-these are great sources of used tools, vacuums…you never know!

9. Buddy Up:

Your farrier or equine dentist may be willing to reduce fees if s/he can see more than one horse at a visit. See if you have friends that may want to participate in a group visit.

A group might help reduce hay costs, too. If you can gather a few horse owners together to purchase a larger quantity of hay, you may be able to negotiate a better price.

10. Offer Your Services:

Offer to exercise someone else’s horse. You can make money doing what you love!

Saving money on horse care is more important than ever. Take the time to look at your horse care routines-there may be room for some money saving improvements!

Let Practical Horsekeeping show you how to become an efficient, effective equine expert! Moira Clune and Noreen Girao provide helpful horse care information with a practical twist at http://www.PracticalHorsekeeping.com/ Our free horse care ezine shows you the fastest, safest, smartest ways to care for your horse and create an organized, appealing environment that works for horse and rider! Sign up today and get our free, veterinarian approved Colic Preparedness Report that shows you exactly what to do in a horse colic emergency. Join us today and start getting practical!

A Black Beauty – For Character, Strength And Elegance, You Must Look At The Friesian Horse.

Russell — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:19:22 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

My dream horse, a true black beauty.

Like many in the early years of their riding career I had this great desire to own a big, strong and beautiful pure black horse. Are you the same? Circumstances were in my favour and I found Midnight , a Percheron/Thoroughbred cross who turned out to be just what I knew I really wanted.

In those days, now some years past, I’d never heard of a breed known as a Friesian. Had I known what I know now, the Friesian would probably have been the first on my list.

Their origin.

I should mention here that as I have personally had little contact with owners of Friesians, I’ve drawn some of the following descriptive information from Wikipedia.

The Friesian (also Frisian) is a horse breed originating in Friesland, a province of the Netherlands. Although the breed’s conformation resembles that of a light draft horse, Friesians are extremely graceful and nimble for their size. During the Early Middle Ages and High Middle Ages, their size enabled them to carry a knight in armour. In the Late Middle Ages, heavier, draft type horses were needed.

It’s interesting to note that although the breed nearly became extinct on more than one occasion, the modern day Friesian horse is growing in numbers and popularity. They are popular in both Europe and the United States, and are often now used today for dressage competition, pleasure riding, and driving. Friesian horses can do well in dressage competition due to the breed’s movement, trainability, appearance, power, and body control. The breed is particularly known for it’s brisk, high-stepping trot.

The purebred Friesian

A hallmark of a purebred Friesian horse is its black color. While small numbers of them are known to occur in additional colors such as chestnut. Although the typical purebred Friesian horse does not bear any markings, some have a small star shape located on their foreheads.

Others have more elaborate white markings. Typically only plain, unmarked black ones or the ones wearing only the small star are selected for registration.

These handsome horses have, in addition to their typical gleaming black coats, a thick mane and tail, and “feathered” hair on the lower legs. This distinctive hair is not cut, but left on the legs to feather gracefully, giving the horses an attractive and unique look.

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.

Friesian horses were typically raised with dairy animals. Part of their early work was to help with the dairy farms. When mechanization became a way of life on the old farms, replacing the use and dependence on the horses, these elegant horses began to fall out of use. However, their well-known attributes enabled them to survive and continue as a viable breed.

Where to locate a Friesan horse.

While these beautiful animals are of European extraction, and enjoy a good market on the continent, there’s a booming Friesian sale market for the breed and you can usually find a local Friesian horse sale at well-advertised breeding farms that can be found on the Internet. This online listing of Friesian horses gives a comprehensive amount of detail of well-known horse farms and the horses they breed at those farms. The farms also share additional information about the breed, such as Friesian Sale

Breeding developments.

Friesian in a playful mood.

The breed continues to flourish today both as its conventional durable form, and with at least two new breedings, both of which are lighter, agile, attractive horses in the same form as the traditional purebred Friesian horse, which has graced the horse world for ages.

These newer breeds of the horse may be found under the names of the “Friesian cross” and the “Friesian Sportbreed.” These two outstanding horses are imbued with both the most valuable attributes of the well-loved Friesian breed but now carry the benefits of newer genetics from a well-chosen cross breed. However, that being said, ‘true’ Friesian enthusiasts will only own and invest in an ‘approved’ Friesian.

Should you think that a Friesian horse could be what you’re looking for, you could start your search at Friesian Sale Or you may care to email karen@FallsvaleFarms.com

Recommended reading: Torden, Hear the Thunder by Christy Kirkham

“This book is both timeless and ageless and very heart warming. I found myself going back to my childhood and my love of horses and reading the adventures made me feel as though I was there living them with each page. I applaud C. Kirkham for bringing the history of the Friesian horse into such a GREAT read and look VERY forward to the sequel. I highly recommend this book to everyone, young and old, it’s OUTSTANDING !” Ronda

Sipke’s Son – The Story of a Friesian Colt by Ruby Wooten and Rebecca Dennett

“This heartwarming, so wonderfully written & illustrated book is by far one of the best new books for children I have had the pleasure of reading in a very long time. I bought a copy as soon as they were available as my Grandson’s first book & will soon be ordering one for my very own. The love Ruby & Rebecca have for these amazing horses shines through in every page. I feel such joy every time I read it to my grandson & will have to buy him another copy too because this book will be well-worn! Thank you so much Ruby & Rebecca!”

Review by Lora L. Brewster

Equestrian Wear – Tips On The Use Of Horse Rugs, Boots, and Bandages.

Russell — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 06:43:19 +0000

It’s very important for the health and well being of your horse that you protect him from the elements and keep him comfortable by choosing the right horse wear such as rugs, boots, and bandages.

Horse Rugs – There is a variety of rugs which you can use for your horse but many types are types are designed for a particular purpose with a few that can be versatile.

Stable rugs are perfect for keeping your horse warm while in the comfort of a stable, but these rugs are not waterproof, they’ll just keep your horse comfortable. It’s not uncommon to use lighter weight stable rugs during the day when the temperature in the stable can be higher and use a heavier rug through the night as the temperature drops.

When your horse leaves the comfort of the stable, he needs a turnout rug to face the elements. These are waterproof and are designed to keep the rain and the snow off your horse while keeping him comfy, warm and dry.

Keep flies at bay by using a fly sheet.

As you will well know from per4sonal experience, flies can be a real nuisance. And just like you, horses don’t like to have flies attacking. ABut a fly sheet can keep the flies at bay. There is no need to worry about your horse getting hot under the fly sheet (rug) as it’s made out of mesh which allows adequate airflow. If you choose to do so, you can add a neck cover to a fly sheet to protect your horse’s neck from flies, too. Sun security is another benefit of fly sheets..

You can keep the flies off and your horse cool in the warm weather when you use a summer sheet as a fly sheet, and a stable rug in the colder weather. Dust and wind are also held at bay.

Travel Rugs and Sweat Rugs.

The discomfort of travel can be avoided by using travel rugs. Insects can be irritating as the horse travels. Dust can get everywhere. Keep the dust and insects at bay by making use of travel rugs..

Intense exercise creates a sweaty horse. Your horse has to be cooled down. Absorbing the sweat is what a sweat rug was designed to do..

You can everything you’ll need to know if investing in horse clothing by going to => horse wear.

Bandages.

You can protect your horse by using bandages. Described here are the various equestrian uses of bandages..

Use tail bandages to help make the transportation process of your horse easier. If you wrap his tail, you keep it from getting caught and ruining a beautiful piece of your horse.

And a great way to ensure healthy legs that are not getting injured is to wrap your horse’s legs with bandages. Leg injuries can be easily sustained when travelling..

Boots.

Boots are another form of horse wear that can be used to keep your horse healthy and minimize injury.

Look to tendon boots to keep tendon damage to a minimum. As your horse moves and jumps, his legs are moving amazingly quickly and many times his back hooves will connect and damage their front tendons. These boots can be critical in protecting your horse’s health. Overreach boots can protect your horse’s legs against damage from brushing up against each other..

It is vital that you protect your horse’s joints. Lessen the damage that can potentially be done to your horse’s joints by using fetlock boots.

The objective of all this equestrian wear is not just for dress up sake, or impressing a judge. Your main intent should be to guarantee the health of your horse.

To find out more info on horse wear take a trip over to http://www.equestriansuppliesshop.co.uk/ now. They have a vast selection of superb horse wear for speedy delivery.

How To Overcome His Fear While Grooming Your Horse.

Russell — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:46:32 +0000

Does your horse show signs of fear during grooming?

This article deals with the subject of grooming and, in particular, body-clipping. Although the following discusses the body-clipping of Gypsy Vanner horses, the principles outlined are common to the grooming and clipping of all breeds. The following is supplied with the compliments of Lisa the groomer for Gypsy MVP, America’s most trusted source for Gypsy Horses.

We all know it is body-clipping time if you work with Gypsy Vanner Horses. When the temperature in your area is above 70 deg F it is time to dispose of that fuzzy undercoat . Most Gypsy Vanners are used to being body clipped if they are from a warm climate area. If they haven’t ever been clipped, they may be afraid of the clippers. So if they have never been clipped before, you’ll need to take the time to introduce them to the clippers.

Introduce your horse to the clippers slowly.

We’ve found that if you hold the clippers on your horse and also give him some loving , he will begin to understand that the clippers will not harm them. Horses are prey animals in the wild , so they are naturally afraid of many things. As a horse groomer it is your duty to make this as good an experience as you can. Should the big clippers scare your horse, try starting with smaller ones (the ones used to trim the face). The large clippers (the ones used on the body) make a loud noise, so understand that it is a fear reaction, not misbehavior.

Start with a clean horse

: Gypsy Vanner

Brush and thoroughly clean your horse’s coat. At Gypsy MVP we use a medicated shampoo from EZ-Groom. We find that this shampoo prevents irritation.

Be sure you keep the clipper blades cool and clean.

This makes horse grooming job much easier plus it will give a better clip for your horse. Keeping the clippers cool and clean is very important. Clippers can get hot rather quickly , so make sure you study them often. And if they are dirty they are louder and clip slower.

Offer treat when you are finished with the grooming session.

When you’ve completed your grooming session , make sure you give your horse a treat, so it makes it a good experience for him . This way the next time you put your horse in a stall for clipping (or any other reason) he will look forward to the experience.

Snaffle Bits ~ How Different Types Work.

Russell — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 03:12:02 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

More about horse bits (refer also to previous Posts).

The Snaffle Bit and the Curb Bit

Generally types of horse bits are divided into either the Snaffle Bit or Curb bit. A somewhat simplistic division but in this post we’re looking in more detail at the different types of Snaffle Bit and some of the more exotic features you can find on this, what seems to be just a humble bit.

A snaffle bit covers quite a broad category of horse bits however they all feature a single common factor in that they allow you to signal your intention to your horse through direct force by the pulling of one or both reigns.

The basis of a snaffle bit.

For background , a snaffle bit is made from a bar or mouthpiece and on each side there are rings connected with different amounts of freedom to move at each end. The snaffle bit sits in the horse’s mouth resting on the gums not the teeth, in the space behind the front incisors and the molars behind often refered to as the “bars”.

For now we’re going to concentrate on just some of the different types of mouthpiece that you can get with your snaffle bit and what function these different types have.

The mouthpiece of a snaffle bit can take many forms but here we’re going to review the following mouthpiece styles:

one solid piece
single jointed in the middle
double jointed in the middle
multi-link or chain

Solid one piece mouth-pieces may be moulded rubber and sometimes gently curved, called a Mullen. They tend to be softer and it places even pressure on the mouthpiece, lips, and bars and works well for young horses. However you must be cautious about describing a bit as mild as the skill of the rider has a big impact on this, however all things being equal and when compared to other types, this is a mild mouthpiece.

For horses needing a little stronger signalling, the bit designers gave us the “broken” bit.

When the rider pulls on the reins, the mouthpiece breaks at a central join, forming an angle and applying a “nutcracker” effect on your horses tongue. Also, and depending on the height of your horses mouth, the “point” of the broken piece may touch the roof of the mouth providing a further “signal”. The mouthpiece can still be made from softer material such as vulcanite.

Remember, the skilled rider “signals” his intention to the horse so force should not be necessary the majority of the time. Observe how your horse behaves with these bits. If it’s causing discomfort such as spiking the roof of the mouth your horse may not only raise his head up and down but also poke his nose out, as a sign that he is trying to relieve the pain. If you have one of these you might want to put it over your wrist and close it like a nutcracker, then you’ll get some idea of what your horse is getting ! So learn to be subtle with your use of these bits. Try not to yank hard.

Double jointed mouthpieces.

Where the single jointed bit hits the mouth and causes the horse too much discomfort, double jointed mouthpieces were developed which also give the tongue a bit more room . Two very popular forms of this style of bit are French Link e.g. french mouth full cheek and the Dr Bristol style e.g. dr bristol full cheek. The Dr Bristol style compared to the French Link has a longer link i.e. the middle section . The link is also angled so that when the bit is pulled , the edge of the link presses into the tongue as a fairly sharp signal. The French Link has a shorter link and is flat or angled differently so that the flat edge of the link contacts the tongue therefore being milder.

The chain style bit.

The chain style of bits often attract a little controversy on their harshness or otherwise. At least in part a bit may be a problem if the rider is a problem so whether a bit is mild or harsh is not specifically down to the bit. A popular type of chain bit the waterford full cheek comprises a chain of three or more interlinking pieces. As such, this chain style of bit tends to slide back and forth across the horses mouth with the “nobbly” bits of the chain giving the signal as well as the chain engaging with the sides of the mouth. These bits are often chosen by owners of bigger horses or excitable horses that might take the bit and run . The chain style of bit because of its chain feature doesn’t offer the horse anything to fight against, it is too fluid so can work well in controlling such horses.

It pays to seek expert advice.

The effect on the horse of any bit can be drastic and so seek expert advice to ensure the bit will actually help you.

Remember there is a balance between being too soft on your horse and not firm enough. Going for the soft option can lead to bad habits that are then more difficult to address later on, and being too harsh can cause your horse pain and discomfort and is just bad in every way.

The snaffle bit offers a surprising amount of flexibility in its features so be sure to do your research to find the right one for you.

A recommended supplier of tack: Horse Saddle Shop

Recommended Resources:

Applied Posture Riding

Natural Horsemanship Training Videos

Trailer Loading of Horses

What You Need to Know About The Pelham Horse Bit.

Russell — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:34:09 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

More about horse bits (refer also to previous Posts).

The principle of the horse bit.

Most horse bits follow the principle of either direct pressure or leverage pressure. The Pelham bit, as does the Swiss Army Knife ,tries to fit all features into one. Basicially horse bits are split into two main categories. Snaffles are what are called direct pressure bits where the reins transmit the force directly to the mouth piece .

Curbs bits are leverage bits where the force is multiplied so a stronger horse can in theory be controlled by the same forces used with a Snaffle. It is much better to avoid using the term “control” when discussing how best to ride your horse.

Consider using the term “signaling” instead. . In other words the horse does what you want him to do happily because he recognises the signal, and your training together has formed a strong contract between the two of you.

Considering the concept of signals therefore, sometimes one needs to switch to a stronger signaling mechanism for certain situations. The vast majority of the time good snaffle use is sufficient to keep the horse in line but now and again the extra leverage of a Curb would just bring the horse back on track.

A common solution.

A solution to this is to fit a double bridal such as a weymouth and bradoon, where the weymouth provides the Curb mechanism and the bradoon is the Snaffle part. Separate reins are attached to the two separate bits and are used independently.

However a issue can arise with fitting two separate bits into a horse’s mouth. Is the horse’s mouth big enough ? . Do not go down the road of sourcing these two bits with very narrow wire mouthpieces just to force the issue of getting this to work . This is potentially cruel. Don’t to it.

The Pelham Bit can be the solution.

The solution to this issue if offered by the Pelham bit . It provides, in one unit, the features of a snaffle and a curb bit. The familiar “99% of the time” signal of the snaffle can be achieved with one set of reins via the single mouth piece and the “1% of the time” stronger signalling achieved via the curb rein again via the single mouth piece.

All the features that you may look for in a snaffle and curb can be obtained in a pelham such as high port pelham, copper mouth pieces or longer cheek lengths. If you are migrating from a Snaffle try going for one similar to the Snaffle you are already successfully using . Consider also going for a rubber mouth if not already doing so as you’ll be introducing the horse to curbing . However don’t necessarily expect the Pelham to work identically to the equivalent double bridal as the Pelham is a slight compromise.

One final final point.

Apply a liberal amount of common sense when considering your need for something like the Pelham and the needs of the horse must be paramount according to its individual circumstances. Be the best rider you can be first and don’t try and address lack of your own riding ability with a silver bullet horse bit!

A recommended supplier of tack: Horse Saddle Shop

Equestrian Bridles: 11 Tips On Bridling Your Horse.

Russell — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:34:01 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

These tips well help you to correctly bridle your horse?

Irrespective of what you may call them: equestrian bridles, horse bridles, or just plain old ‘bridles’, bridling a horse is not as easy as it may seem. If you do something wrong, it may be do long term trauma to your horse. And you may may be affected or injured as well.

Before putting a bridle on a horse, you must be aware that there is an area in a horse’s mouth known as the “interdental space”. It is an area with no teeth found on the lower and upper jaws. The area is between the back teeth, which are the “molars” and the front teeth, called “incisors”. The bit rests on this interdental space when your horse is bridled correctly. Horse lovers also call this area of bare gums, particularly on the posterior jaw, bars.

The interdental space is also a spot where you or your horse trainer can insert a thumb when you want to ask your horse to open his mouth. An example of this is to ask your horse to accept the bit when the bridle is being put on.

Horse Bridling Tips

1. Tie up your equine in a comfortable place with a halter on. Do not have your horse tied without wiggle room in case he has a habit of pulling back when scared. Although your horse can be bridled without the halter on, it is still best to bridle him while his halter is in place until you completely understand your horse and his needs.

2. Stand on the near side of the your horse, which is normally the left side, when mounting the bridle.

3. You may make use of schooling aids to make bridling easier for you. A running martingale may be used to keep your horse from throwing his head upwards. Drop nosebands can also make it easy to keep your horse’s mouth shut. Ideally you won’t need this type of equipment as your horse develops trust in you.

4. Allow your horse to lower his head and make sure the bridle is untangled and ready to put on. Put your arm over your horse’s neck and hold the bridle loosely on the opposite side of thyour horse. Put the bridle on the lowest setting possible to make sure it can fit on your horse’s head easily. You can adjust it once it’s on your horse.

5. Next, remove the halter from his face. Then replace it around his neck so your horse isn’t able to wandering off.

6. Be sure that you can reach the top of your horse’s head. If not, you can use a mounting block to make it easier.

7. With your right hand, grab the head stall. It is the piece fitting over your horse’s head. Then hold the bit with your finger and thumb so that it is stable. Introduce it to your horse’s mouth gently, placing a finger in the crack of his mouth to ask him to open it. A well trained horse should unthinkingly open his mouth. If you have a cue or command to get your horse to open his mouth, use it.

8. Gently slip the bit into his mouth. Never force it. When the bit is in place, slip the top part of the headstall over your horse’s ears.

9. The length of the face strap should be adjusted. Ideally, there is one small wrinkle at the corner of your horse’s mouth. Make sure his forelock is pulled out of the straps and none of the straps are tangled or broken.

10. Next would be the adjustment of the chin strap if your headstall has one. Keep this loose as it is a tool for pressure.

11. Your left hand should hold both reins while undoing the halter with your other hand. When walking with your horse, make him value your space. Never tie your horse with the leather headstall reins.

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A recommended supplier of tack: Horse Saddle Shop