“There’s always more to do, always more ways to do it. But, even if you’re like me and you hate lunging, getting the horses through this basic set of skills is worth it in the long run.” (more…)
“These names are the ties that allow people who loved that horse during their lifetime to find them. They are a trackable link to their purpose-bred past and a testament to their versatility as they carry on …” (more…)
“Ever see someone assume that they can just kick into the trot on a spicy horse? I bet that went… interestingly. Incremental asks folks, incremental.” (more…)
“… this is where clinics are cool. So when 10 Thoroughbreds and around 40 folks who share a common interest in these horses came together, the process and the progress became central. At the very least, the horses got to experience somewhere else that was not ‘home’ and which was also not the track.” (more…)
“One trick to showing and enjoying it — and therefore a trick to owning, loving, and competing your Thoroughbred (or really any horse for that matter) is to keep the bar low and set your hopes high… and then adjust up or down as you go.” (more…)
This week’s Thoroughbred Logic tackles the age-old question: nature vs. nurture? How much does a horse’s pedigree play into its personality and abilities? Here’s Aubrey Graham’s take: (more…)
“I loved all of them and now I love watching them grow and learn in some of the best places! It really means so much to me to watch them shine in their second careers.” (more…)
“Circles are great for both identifying . . . underlying patterns and foundational holes and using that very same consistent turn to fix them. You just have to think ahead.” (more…)
“I use their amount/shade/type of green to set the bar and therefore my expectations. Such expectations translate into when to praise, when to request more from a horse, and when to call the day a ‘success.'” (more…)
This week’s Thoroughbred Logic discusses what you can do to keep these smart, sensitive and capable horses balanced, consistent, relaxed and maybe just a little slower. (more…)
“…with patience, a healthy dose of good equitation and amply honed ‘ignoring’ skills, it usually doesn’t take too long before their natural desire and ability to work over their back begins show.” (more…)
“In short, the better information one has, the more complete the story, the better a shot one has of not only training successfully, but also of fueling the horse’s desire to learn.” (more…)
Welcome to the next installment of Thoroughbred Logic. In this weekly series, Anthropologist and trainer Aubrey Graham, of Kivu Sport Horses, will offer insight and training experience when it comes to working with Thoroughbreds (although much will apply to all breeds). Come along for the ride as she offers her logic on the importance of trail riding. (more…)
“…thus began the process of learning many, many things that I did not then know about an essential but often left-out element of horse ownership: saddle fit.” (more…)
“Especially when dealing with the ‘out of arena’ form of cross training, I hear a lot of ‘but we’re not ready.’ When riding intentionally … folks will regularly talk themselves out of the fun and back into circles at one end of the arena.” (more…)
“Intentional riding cannot be a rigid thing — plans and responses must be flexible. Critical thinking and smart training kicks in here. It is enormously important to, first, be able to recognize when what you are doing is not working, and second, pivot, adjust, or change.” (more…)
“For most young/green Thoroughbreds… too much leisure and unfocused hacking can be a contributing factor for distraction, and all sorts of ‘bad’ behavior. Yes, knowing how to mosey about is good, but repetitive schooling without intention can get dicey for these horses.” (more…)
Aubrey Graham has brought home a number of fresh-off-the-track Thoroughbreds. In this week’s edition of Thoroughbred Logic, she discusses how she helps them make the transition to her facility. (more…)
Last week’s Thoroughbred Logic centered on typical post-track Thoroughbred feet and their commonly long toes and low, under-run heels. This week’s article centers on a more extreme case: Mountain Holiday and his horrible hooves. (more…)
To shoe or not to shoe? That is not the question in today’s Thoroughbred Logic. Or, more accurately, it may be the question, but the answer isn’t so simple. Each horse has its own set of needs. Learn more. (more…)
“If they are going to go, best to set them up for success and go forward with them. There’s trust to earn there. Hold them back, and you may add to the worry, anxiety and fear. At the end of the day, they simply weigh more, and they’ll go despite you.” (more…)
“Just like his transitions, progress is incremental. We might take a few steps back before we go forward, but if communication stays clear, slowly but surely, accuracy will take the place of anxiety.” (more…)
