“That trot — the overly big one, where power isn’t quite perfectly controlled yet — that is where you can really see potential AND build good strength and muscle. So with a soft hand and slightly more upright back, I ask them to hold that big trot as long as they can.” (more…)
“These horses are bred to have ‘go’ and to have the heart to be able to reach into the deepest depths of their beings and pull out even more ‘go’ when the rest has been exhausted. And even then they are able to dig deeper and pull out even more than that.” (more…)
Having a horse that is a good citizen isn’t just a way to earn brownie points — it’s absolutely necessary for the safety of you as well as others who may have to handle or treat your horse at some point. Therefore, there are a few basic skills every horse needs to have. (more…)
When it comes to competing in speed events, a lot of us have heard the adage, “You can be a trainer or you can be a jockey.” I recently heard a different take on this, and it really clicked: You can be the mechanic or you can be the race car driver — but you can’t be both.
The training scale is a method with which to order your thoughts within the training process. It is a logical progression of how a horse is developed from untrained (feral) to fully trained (mostly civilized).
Introducing your young horse to bath time can be an adventure… to say the least. Here are some tips from SmartPak on making it a positive experience. (more…)
“[T]he other day a new student came down to see the place and as we stood and chatted, the lovely human kept apologizing for interrupting the ride. Nope. This was helpful — this was a chance for him to just hang out…”
“[T]his is a mindset of being flexible and creative — of listening to the horse and trying to figure out solutions … is recognizing that so much of owning or even leasing horses is about constant learning and spending time with them …” (more…)
“…if you can get your horse balanced . . . they can collect, they can turn, and they can do all of those things as slow or as quickly as you’d like without the necessity of using speed to balance themselves.” (more…)
“… what I do create here, and what this article is about, is a horse who ties well enough, ground ties well enough, and learns to stay calm and independent whether there is pressure on the other end of their line or not.” (more…)
Getting great movement from your horse requires the combination of a number of elements, but hind end engagement is one of the key factors. Without it, impulsion is nearly impossible. Read on for a great exercise to get your horse to engage his hind end: (more…)
Today, Candace introduces Max, a talented Irish Sport Horse with a propensity for drama. She shares her observations from watching Victoria Teuton work on Max’s confidence, calm and patience. (more…)
“My goal for this three-part series is to spare horses the sad (and sometimes catastrophic) results of over-eager, in-a-rush, trainers/riders. Part I: Waterstone emerged as a treasure for a ‘quid.'” (more…)
Meet Koda, a not quite 14 hand high shaggy little Mustang with a BIG personality. This first of three articles introduces us to the lovable guy as we get ready to follow him and Ashley on their training journey.
Many horse owners try to calm their horses’ nerves to make them more manageable through supplements and sedatives. However, for trainer Aubrey Graham, addressing a horse’s nerves is more about rider relaxation and equitation than chemicals. (more…)
Channeling the energy of a sensitive horse can be incredibly rewarding — if you can channel it in the correct direction. Today, Chelsea Canedy offers some tips on riding the sensitive horse. Learn more: (more…)
Chelsea Canedy offers tips on horsemanship, training, mental training for riders, jumping, flatwork and beyond. Today, she discusses two behavior issues she addresses with positive reinforcement training.
Aubrey Graham loves the first post-track rides. They often are simple versions of “let’s see how you move and what you know,” but they also can be exciting tests of rider skill and tact. First rides are a simple way to gather information on the horse’s history and gauge their potential. (more…)
“And while I go trotting or cantering along, I might be hoping for a walk, but I’m not pulling for it. Instead, I work to get their brains engaged, craft a steady rhythm and semblance of straightness, and then aim towards a functional bend and good hind end engagement.” (more…)
Sometimes your horse seems ready and eager to learn. Sometimes it is… less so. So how can you tell if your horse is ready to learn and help it get to a place where it is? Lindsey Partridge of Harmony Horsemanship is here to offer this advice. (more…)
In this excerpt from her book Beyond the Track, Thoroughbred Program Director for New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program Anna Ford explains the four things you need to consider before beginning a retraining program for your off-track Thoroughbred. (more…)
There are a number of factors the separate the good trainers from the rest. According to trainer Jonathan Gauthier, these 10 things are the critical elements that make a good trainer. (more…)
Untraining fear is one of the hardest things to do, which is why building a horse’s confidence slowly and correctly is imperative. Editor Ema Klugman discusses just that in this week’s Best of Jumper Nation.
