Relax and The Horse Will Too!

Relax and the horse will relax with you.

Lantana & Horses

Lantana is an ornamental shrub with colorful blossoms. Will cause liver damage, colic, and photosensitation.

Dressage, What Is It?

The word "dressage" (pronounced or rhymes with "massage") is derived from a French term that means to train. Dressage is not only a method of how to school, but also a competitive equestrian sport.

Competing to win vs. training

The prize in competition is not the reward but the bonus!!! The training and preparation of months and years create the "means" to the successful result- THE JOB WELL DONE: whether the prize is self-satisfaction that never sees the competition arena or a grand trophy.
In barrel racing, show jumping, dressage, driving, reining, equitation or any discipline, it is important to keep in our sights that the actual competition itself is a TEST of the SUM of the TOTAL skills developed thru the consistant progression of your (and your horse´s) training.
An accomplished Olympic showjumper does not practice jumping course after course between competitions but conserves and protects these capabilities so they will be available for the challenge of competition. Instead he works on each of the individual skills needed to complete the whole successfully. Always, he could be more attentive and intuitive to his rider, more calm in his nerve, his turns could be more balanced, his ability to adjust length of stride refined, his aerobic fitness more developed.
A world class barrel horse does not run barrels over and over between competitions but works on collection and balance and fitness, and may never see a barrel for days or weeks at a time.
You as the rider must train physically and mentally to accept challenges, especially if your goal is to compete. You carry the full responsibility for your "team". The homework you do in ALL subjects allows you to excel on the final test, which can begin at the ingate, or the start of the trail.

Choosing A Coach

Choose a Coach that likes & understands beginners. Ask around at schools to find other Coaches that people have. Ask also your Veterinarian.

BACK TO WORK

If your horse has been ill, lame, injured, or just in pasture for four or more weeks, starting back to training should be done slowly. Depending on the fitness level u left him at, and the length of the layup, a 15 minute training or riding session the first week, 20 minute the second week, 30 minute the third week, and so on works to bring him safely back to shape. Three days on and one day off is also a good rule to start. Prevent overwork or muscle soreness by monitoring your progress to avoid causing him to be tired and grumpy which will cause him to rebel or resist.

Questions To Ask A Coach When Choosing #1

In seeking a qualified Coach/Instructor you need to be comfortable around the person coaching. Then you should ask the following questions:

1) How long have they themselves been riding.

Before U Buy A Horse

Before you buy, research the disciplines that you really want to try out. Take lots of lessons. Compete on lesson/lease horses.

THEN take along a trusted coach, trainer, farrier, Vet and find the horse with the temperment that suits you, with the temperment, talent & ability that suits the discipline that you want to pursue with that horse!

Alfalfa Hay

Alfalfa hay is high in protein content, amino acids, chlorophyll and beta carotene. It is a legume hay.

Universal Love Of Horses

"A man that don´t love horses, there is something the matter with that man." Will Rogers.

Hauling safety

Whether you´re hauling your horse across town or across the country, safety is paramount. Keep yourself, your horse, and other motorists safe by completing and checking off each item on this handy list every time you hit the road with your horse in tow.

1. Safety point: Tires.

What to do: Check pressure, and look for signs of wear in truck, trailer, and spare tires.

2. Safety point: Wheels.

What to do: Make sure lug nuts are tight on all wheels.

3. Safety point: Hitch.

What to do: Look for loose bolts, hairline cracks, and other signs of wear. Check for proper hookup. (In conventional trailers, the socket should be seated on the ball and locked in place.)

4. Safety point: Safety chains.

What to do: Make sure chains are crossed and hooked to vehicle frame (not bumper).

5. Safety point: Breakaway brake cable.

What to do: Check cable length. It should be shorter than your safety chains, but not so short that it´ll break free when you make a tight turn. Weave the cable through a link of one chain, so it won´t snag and pull free. Make sure coupler is fully plugged in.

6. Safety point: Truck.

What to do: Check fluid levels and fill fuel tanks.

7. Safety point: Gear.

What to do: In addition to hay, water, buckets, and other horse supplies, pack emergency equipment in your tow vehicle.

Don´t leave home without:

Extra halter and lead rope for each horse, for off-loading in an emergency.

Emergency flares and reflector triangles.

Flashlight (rechargeable, with an adapter that fits vehicle cigarette lighter).

Jumper cables and spare fuses.

Spare tires, jack, chock blocks, torque wrench, and WD-40 for changing tires.

Tool kit: crowbar, hammer, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers.

Duct tape, for covering sharp edges in a damaged trailer and other uses.

Fire extinguisher. (Make sure it´s pressurized.)

Horse and human first-aid kits.

Cell phone and phone numbers on a laminated card.

Bits and Bitting

A bit does not make a horse work properly, proper riding does, the bit is supportive. While different horses have different mouth conformation, and different sensitivity levels that require the use of different types of bits, it is the riders responsibility to learn the horsemanship skills necessary to properly COMMUNICATE with the horse.

Fiddleneck & Horses

Fiddleneck is a weed that causes liver damage as will be seen by weight loss, lack of appetite, depression, colic, lack of coordination, edema. The chances of recovery are poor.

AGE TO START RIDING

A standard rule of thumb for the age a young horse should be broke and ridden is related to the completed growth in the knee or carpus joints. Between two and four years of age an xray examination can be performed to determine if the physical developement of the knee is sufficient to allow the horse to carry weight. Excessive strain to ligaments, bones and muscle should always be avoided when starting or training the young horse.

Selenium Toxicity and Deficiency- Tieing Up

Selenium, in conjunction with vitamin E, is necessary for proper functioning of the immune system and to protect the integrity of cell membranes. However, there is a delicate balance between too little selenium and too much.
Selenium is a mineral found in the soil in many areas of the country. Horses normally ingest selenium while foraging. In other areas--the Midwest for example--selenium is deficient in the soil, and without proper supplementation horses can have significant problems.
Selenium deficient horses will often ´tie-up,´ a degenerative condition of the muscles also known as rhabdomyolysis. It can affect the heart muscle,the muscles of respiration, as well as the large muscles of the back and limbs. It can also cause a decrease in the efficiency of the immune system, leading to opportunistic infections.A horse that has rhabdomyolosis will have severe muscle cramps resulting in sweating,
stiffness, and increased pulse. The breakdown of muscle cells can result in coffee-colored urine.
The most common obvious symptom is repeated "stretching" to urinate.
Do not walk a horse that is tied up. CALL YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY

A free-choice salt/mineral mix containing selenium is the safest form of supplementation but more radical supplementation is available in acute cases in the form of an injection.

The Secrets to Good Hands

Combination of Many Things.......
Soft, giving frequently to the horse...
Supple, feeling frequently the horse´s mouth...
Firm on the reins...
Demanding, always asking more of the horse...
Give and take equally on the horse´s mouth...
Talk to the horse, communicate through the reins...
Soft, tickle the horse´s mouth in giving direction...
Quiet...
Versatile, always changing and adjusting to the moment...
Flexible, bending with the motion of the front end...
steady on the mouth...
Quick to change as necessary in a moment on the mouth...
Patient, waiting for the horse to respond...
Are the greatest asset in riding...
Are the development into a gift to a horse...
Are earned through hard work and lots of patience.

The Sport Horse Definition

Sport horse refers to the intended use of the breed - as a competitive and recreational horse for the major international equestrian disciplines of dressage, jumping, 3-day event, and driving.

TOE, QUARTER, AND HEEL CRACKS

Each crack requires individual analysis with regard to the corrective treatment and shoeing. The general principle is to have the farrier or blacksmith use a toe clip on each side of the crack across it to prevent wall expansion and to lower the wall below the crack so it will not bear weight causing spreading of the crack. Plastics can be used to seal the crack and corrective staples can be used to prevent expansion and contraction of the crack during movement of the horse.

Wild Jasmine & Horses

Wild Jasmine causes excessive absorption of calcium, which leads to skeletal deformation, joint pain, hunching, weight loss. Recovery is possible if treated quickly.

Maples & Horses

Maple leaves changes the blood chemisty of the horse causing liver & kidney damage, and eventually death.

Choosing A Saddle

The saddle should be chosen for the type of riding that you will be doing the most frequently. It can be English or Western, and in those 2 Disclipline Divisions, you have a world of selections.

In Choosing a Saddle To Fit you, the Cantle should not extend more than 1 palm width past the back of your bottom when you are sitting in the saddle.

Your Knee should comfortably fit behind the Knee Roll in English. With a balanced amount of saddle in front and behind the point of the knee.

Let your legs hang naturally as you sit in the lowest point of the saddle, on the lowest point of your seat bones. Do you legs hang ever so slightly behind you...helping to assist you in maintaining a correct position (yet not making your body feel thrown forward at all)

Once you have put on saddle leathers (for English saddles)...(in the shop you should be able to put on leathers, and get a feel for how the stirrups will hang from the bars)...do they help your position or hinder it?

A perfect saddle for anyone, should ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS help to keep you in a perfect natural balanced position once on the horse. You worry about the heels down, the saddle should do the rest! It should be comfortable (even new) and it should not interfere with a relaxed and natural position in any way. The flaps shouldn´t extend down past the widiest part of the calf of your leg.

Remember, quality always has it´s own rewards...should you have to sell the saddle earlier than expected, a quality, well fitted saddle never looses it´s value; but value priced saddles almost never resell for what you initially paid. You will be riding in this saddle and want to be comfortable, thus your horse will be comfortable as well.

Better Be Safe Than Sorry!

Take a stirrup leather and run the end thru as for stirrups, then using Duct Tape, tape the end securely and slip it over your horse´s neck for a quick grab neck strap in case of a riding emergency. This is a great beginner jumping assist as well.

Competing to win vs. training

The prize in competition is not the reward but the bonus!!! The training and preparation of months and years create the "means" to the successful result- THE JOB WELL DONE: whether the prize is self-satisfaction that never sees the competition arena or a grand trophy.
In barrel racing, show jumping, dressage, driving, reining, equitation or any discipline, it is important to keep in our sights that the actual competition itself is a TEST of the SUM of the TOTAL skills developed thru the consistant progression of your (and your horse´s) training.
An accomplished Olympic showjumper does not practice jumping course after course between competitions but conserves and protects these capabilities so they will be available for the challenge of competition. Instead he works on each of the individual skills needed to complete the whole successfully. Always, he could be more attentive and intuitive to his rider, more calm in his nerve, his turns could be more balanced, his ability to adjust length of stride refined, his aerobic fitness more developed.
A world class barrel horse does not run barrels over and over between competitions but works on collection and balance and fitness, and may never see a barrel for days or weeks at a time.
You as the rider must train physically and mentally to accept challenges, especially if your goal is to compete. You carry the full responsibility for your "team". The homework you do in ALL subjects allows you to excel on the final test, which can begin at the ingate, or the start of the trail.

Timing is Everything

"Probably the most important part of training is timing. I am a firm believere it is just as important to know ´WHEN´ as it is to know ´HOW´." Marty Mueller.

Riding With Your Mind As Well

"You don´t just ride on the horse´s back, you must also ride his mind." Marty Mueller.

Riding With The Horse´s Motion

Riding with your horse´s motion, will create total harmony/unity between horse/rider center of gravity. Visually portrays elegance, harmony and smoothness. You can subtly collect, or extend each stride.

Equine Massage

Massaging major muscle groups, specifically back and hip muscles, will improve a the use of your horses´ musculature, and increase circulation. With GENTLE but, firm pressure, (preferably with a rubber grooma) or the use the heel of the hand, create circular massaging motions over the horses body. Usually begin at the poll, working down over the neck, shoulder, thru the back, sides, over the loin & croup, and down the rear quarters, first one side then the other, equally.

Spectators, Guests or Visitors

Spectators, guests, visitors should always make their presence known to the Ownership or the Management. Frequently, Barn/Farm insurance does not cover visitors that are not granted permission; or persons that do not own a horse on the premises, or persons that are not enrolled in a current lesson plan, in the insurance policy. Ask, and then comply.

VITAL PASTURE INFO

vital information on poisonous plants, pasture, drought, and manure management, and other topics geographically related to your specific area can be found through your county or state EXTENSION AND AGRICULTURAL SERVICE

PURCHASING YOUR FIRST SADDLE

FIT! FIT! FIT! Whatever u buy , it must FIT you and your horse and be properly balanced, for comfort, to assist positioning you, and to protect your horse from pain or injury.
A good rule of thumb for rider fit is four fingers space behind your seat to the top edge of the cantle, and three or four inches below your knee bend to the bottom of the flap, depending on the use. The saddle should allow you to feel balanced when on your horse, not force you to work to maintain proper position or balance.

There are many factors affecting saddle fit for your horse, including conformation, training, physical development and purpose. Some of the newer brands offer adjustable trees and air panel systems to assist in better fits. Generally, the saddle should sit balanced on the horse (center of the seat being the deepest point)without pinching at the shoulders and be gulletted wide enough to clear any back bone pressure. Certain tree and panel styles allow more shoulder freedom and distribute the weight across your horse´s back more evenly.
Money well spent on a quality saddle is never wasted, they hold value and often increase over time.

The Holsteiner

Traditionally, the Holsteiner has been bay with a preference for no or few white markings. He is well-balanced, maturing between 16 and 17 hands with round, generous strides and a natural, elastic movement. A lovely head with large, kind eyes is carried on a beautifully arched neck, rising upward out of his withers, producing elegance, lightness and self-carriage. His temperament is relaxed and willing, with good character and an eagerness for work.

Too Short Legs!

Children too short in leg length to reach even the double twist stirrup leather? Use the leather at the meet of the stirrup iron as the stirrup for little ones during walk and trot lessons.

Black Walnut & Horses

Black Walnut (from shavings) causes laminitis, edema, depression.

The Cleveland Bay History

In 1884, the Cleveland Bay Horse Society of Great Britain published the first volume of its Stud Book containing stallions and mares scrupulously selected for purity of blood, many of whose pedigrees traced back over a century. Since that date, the breed has been maintained free of outcrosses.