horseback riding Archives

Tips On Purchasing Your First Horse

"Golden girl" – Horses (unknown bree...
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When searching for horses for sale, there are a few factors which are worth thinking about in order to make the buying process easier, and to ensure you end up with your dream horse.

All horses have issues – just be sure that the one you buy has niggles that you can live with and that won’t affect your enjoyment.

Take an expert along, someone who is aware of your capabilities and strengths. Ideally take someone who is able to spot whether the horse is lame or any illnesses. Or even your instructor who will be able to tell if the chosen horse is suitable for the way you ride – your level of skill and confidence.

Check any relevant documents and passport.  A horse passport is not proof that the horse is owned by the seller so ask to see a receipt as proof of purchase. Remember it is against the law to sell or purchase horses minus a passport.

Ask if all innoculations are current. A course of innoculations can cost a lot of money and take many months to come into effect if you wish to compete.  You will not be popular if you move a horse to another horse if it is carrying an illness with it.

Once you have decided the horse is for you, engage a vet to perform out the highest check that you can buy. Don’t make a rush decision or be pressured into purchasing if you feel you need the horse examined by your vet.

If possible view the horse or pony demonstrating the trials you would like it to do. Having to reschool a horse adds considerably to the cost if you aren’t in a position to do this on your own.

Try to negotiate a trial loan in which the horse can be sent back if it is not suitable.

Be realistic when buying a young horse, ask yourself if you have the required knowledge to bring it on. Another thought is that, an older horse may just have the stability and experience to give you confidence and help you learn you the basics.

Don’t feel pressured to buy the first one you see and don’t be pursuaded by the many other people just waiting to purchase the horse if you don’t – very often this is just a ploy to push you into an impulse buy. Take your time when buying a horse.

As soon as the sale is agreed make sure you insure the horse before you transport it.  The majority of injuries happen in transit or whilst introducing a new horse into a new yard with other horses.

Trust your instinct – if you believe the vendor is hiding something from you then they probably will be.

Remember that your horse is a major investment of both time and money – be sure you have considered a budget for all the expenses that you will incur.

    Finally, enjoy your new addition and look forward to many hours of horse riding fun! Click here to find horses for sale online!

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    Horse Training Tips – The Simple Ground Work

    A Section C Welsh Pony of Cob type.
    Image via Wikipedia

    Horse training requires a firm basis on the ground before you can move onto saddle training; here are a few basic exercises outlined which can be used when training your own horse or someone else’s. It is important to get these exercises right first, as this is how you and the horse will become familiar with each other and build a trusting relationship. It is the groundwork that will pave the way for future training. It is important for your safety that your new ton-sized friend is taught to respect your personal space bubble.

    Successful horse training requires patience, persistence and lots of positive reinforcement. These three P’s can be applied to all current and future levels of horse training.

    1. Groom your horse. This is the perfect first exercise for you and your horse. You’ll get to know each other. Stand beside him and brush his neck and back. A horse will often turn to give you a little love bit at this time. Horses do this to each other, but may not do it to humans. You can discourage this easily enough by the wave of a hand or by pushing his head back to the straight position. Those teeth are HUGE so you must make it clear from the beginning that this is unacceptable. Use patience and keep calm. The horse will understand and cooperate before too long. It will do you no good to panic, stress, smack your horse or get otherwise agitated. This will only set you back with your trust levels.

    2. Lead your horse. Walk on the left side of your horse, holding the lead rope just below his chin in your right hand. Take a step and walk slowly forward. He should remain at your right side and never try to go ahead of you. If he tries to go ahead just walk around him to your left in a circle. Do this as many times as necessary. Show persistence. Use the circular movement to stay just ahead of him, where you should be. Should your horse not want to walk with you then stand slightly behind him, at his shoulder, facing the same direction. While holding the rope close to his chin, push forward gently. Give praise and positive reinforcement when he takes a small step. When he starts to walk willingly, take your place slightly ahead of him and walk on. Never wrap the lead rope around any part of yourself – this is for your own safety. If the horse decides to bolt you’ll be going along and it will not be pretty.

    3. Lunge your horse.This is a great exercise used by most horse trainers and owners. Many of the skills, commands and cues that your horse will require for saddle work can be taught by performing lunging exercises.

    In a large open area (an arena works, too, if you don’t have a round enclosure) clip your horse to a lunge lead specifically for lunging. The lungeing rope will be much longer than the lead rope at about thirty feet long. Clip the lead to the horse’s left halter side and hold the lead in your left hand. Face your horse’s left side to begin, whilst holding the lunge rope. Hold a lunge whip in your right hand which you’ll use to guide him along. Now step to your right sideways toward the rear of the horse while holding the whip out behind him. The horse’s natural reaction will be to step forward. Let the line out and follow the horse just behind and to the left side and make a kissing sound. Soon that sound will come to mean “move forward” to your horse. As you’re turning and the horse moves in a circle around you, hold the whip slightly behind his hindquarters. The whip is not for hitting. You only need to wave it just a little to get his attention.

    Now, as he moves forward, you should move yourself slowly backwards, so that you come to the centre of your training circle. Stand in the middle and turn in a circle with the lunge line fully extended and the horse walking around you in a good circle. Watch your horse’s hip area as he’s going round.

    The “whoa” command can be taught at this stage. In a low, calm voice, say the word “whoooaa”. At the same time, step toward your horse’s head and repeat the word. Be sure to give him a neck rub with lots of praise when he stops. Your horse needs this positive reinforcement if he is to remember what he needs to do.

    You can now change position so that you are lunging your horse anti-clockwise. This is done simply by swapping the lead over to be clipped onto the right of the halter, and holding the lunge whip in your left hand.

    These exercises are simple ways to get you started when traiing your horse. Bear in mind that a horse is a huge and powerful creature. This alone should be enough to remind you to have adequate horse insurance in place should either you or your equine be injured. Your success with training and all future activities depends both on safety and trust. As well as a loyal friend, your horse is also an investment, so remember to protect that investment against theft, accident or misadventure by making sure you compare horse insurance policies to ensure you are getting the best level of cover for both of your needs.

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    Black English riding field boots
    Image via Wikipedia

    When you are deciding on horse riding equipment for the 1st time you will almost certainly wish to stick to the basics. Buying only what you need when you are starting is a good idea as you’ll soon learn what is essential as your interest for the sport develops Nonetheless getting poor supplies may stop you from learning to ride properly so always purchase the best horse riding supplies.

    Helmets

    Helmets are essential horse riding safety equipment. The proper kind of helmet will keep you protected in the event of a fall. In no way skimp on your helmet or get something second- hand, always buy the best. Take an individual more experienced along if you are uncertain about choosing a helmet that fits you correctly.

    Boots

    Besides your helmet the type of boots that you select is likely the most important part of your horse riding gear. You want boots that fit you comfortably and also look great. The kind of horse riding boots that you pick depends largely on what type of riding that you might be doing. Should you be only into riding for fun then a low cut boot could be the best to buy for your horse riding gear. To make taking your boots off easier I prefer a boot that has a back zipper. Your boot ought to be a snug fit but at the same time it should also be comfortable.

    If you are intending to ride in shows thenyou’ll need tall boots. This piece of horse ridingsupplies not only looks great it also helps tokeep your leg position nice and stable. You might find that these are probablythe most comfortable type of boots to have.

    Glasses

    Despite the fact that glasses might not seem like the 1st thing you need to think about when getting horse riding gear, the proper type of eyewear is crucial. It is advisable to ensure that you can see correctly while riding. Many people opt for contacts if they normally wear glasses. This is specially true for cold months riding as glasses usually fog up quite a bit while in the cold air.

    Yet should you opt for to use glasses then safety glass in your frames are a good choice as part of your horse riding equipment. This can avoid terrible accidents that can come about if your glasses should break. Sunglasses are also something you should ponder when riding in the summer as the glare you may encounter can be very distracting.

    Please stop by Dressage Saddles for Sale for much further details about horse gear at http://dressagesaddlesforsale.com, thank you.

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    Horse Training Tips: Lead Your Horse

    Company (horse, Hanshin Racecourse)
    Image via Wikipedia

    Horse riders will of course see saddle training as the ultimate goal, but first it’s necessary to complete the groundwork. You will need to take your horse from trailer or barn to the tack area, tack up, and then you’ll ride. Not much point in teaching your horse point B, the saddle riding part, if there’s no way to get there from point A is there?. Your horse will need to cooperate with you so the two of you can act as a team. This cooperation begins with your ability to approach, catch, and halter him first. Then you’ll need to lead your horse about with a halter and a lead rope.

    With the primary objective of safety in mind, your horse needs to learn what is acceptable behaviour. Pulling against the lead rope, for example, is natural behaviour for a horse which you will need to teach him not to do. Whoever is leading needs to be secure that their personal space will not be invaded by the horse. Many an accident has occurred as a direct result of inattention to the importance of teaching your horse basic safety manners before attempting anything more advanced. Whilst a good equine insurance policy may cover you for accidents that happen in training, it’s obviously far more preferable not to have to find this out!

    The three Ps of horse training – patience, persistence and positive reinforcement – come into play when leading your horse. Having already accomplished haltering, it is likely that you have already discovered the effectiveness of the three Ps.

    Ideally you need to begin lead training with your horse when he is still a foal. Don’t leave it too late to begin teaching ground manners – a very young horse doesn’t need to know about saddles and riding yet, so you have time to focus on these important basics. The young horse will need to cooperate for farrier and vet visits, as well as for the various people moving about the yard, stables or paddock.

    If you’re lucky enough to have the dam on site, the foal will copy the behaviours of the dam. Don’t worry if the dam is not present, as it works as well with any horse which the foal spends time with. Young horses naturally learn from the older ones in the herd. For example, you don’t need to teach a horse in the pasture how to graze or go to the water and drink. They watch the other horses to learn these things. If your student is older, you can still use another horse’s example by haltering and leading the other horse first. Your student will be watching, as they do notice everything that happens around them, particularly if it involves other horses in their own herd.

    A good place to start is to lead a more experienced horse along with the foal; lead them simultaneously with you in the middle. The safest place for you to stand is to the left of your student’s shoulder, with the older horse to your left. A young horse could suddenly decide to bolt or to kick his heels, so make sure that you don’t wrap the lead rope around your hand or anywhere else that makes you vunerable. The last thing you need at this stage is complicating the process with an injury for which you may need to claim on your horse insurance.

    If you have a calm horse which you think the foal will follow you could also use the pony method. This is done by simply towing the student horse behind using a longer lead rope. It makes sense in fact to teach the lead in this way, as it’s natural for a young horse to follow an elders lead.

    You will need to fall back only on the three Ps of horse training in the absence of other horses to help the youngster learn what to do. It will still be viable, but may take a bit longer for your horse to understand what you’d like him to do.

    After satisfactory progress, it’s time to try it alone. Again, standing to the left of your young horse’s shoulder and with both of you looking straight ahead, gently walk forward and as you step out, tug very gently forward, then release any pressure on the rope as soon as the horse makes any motion to go forward. Understanding that release is a reward to your horse is a valuable tip used by professional trainers. It tells him that he’s doing things right.

    After you have him walking with you in straight lines with success, try turning slightly to the left, maintaining the space bubble between you. If he crowds you, use your right hand to push him out away from you and hold your arm out to the appropriate distance. Then try turning to the right with the same safety distance between the two of you, still using your right hand to guide him into the correct zone. Remember to release pressure on the lead rope and reward him every time he shows a step in the right direction.

    Lead training requires large reserves of patience. Stick with it and you’ll soon see big improvements. Do a little work every day if you can and this will put you closer to the day you can finally saddle up for a ride.

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    Caring For Your Horse During The Winter Months

    {{en}} A horse's herd in a meadow, winter. Sho...
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    When you care for your horse, it is essential to make arrangements for the winter months. Horses need to be able to tolerate the chilly climate and stay as healthy as possible. During the winter horses will have special requirements which you as the owner will have to take in hand. It is imperative to organize for winter ahead of time.

    Horses are naturally tolerant to chilly conditions. In fact, horses cope with icy conditions much better than hot weather. Regardless of this, there are some rudimentary things owners will need to do to make sure their horses remain healthy. Be sure the horse doesn’t have any fleas, and has been fully vaccinated. The costs for doing these things will significantly pay off during the winter months, as the expenses of feeding your horse will be lower.

    You may also wish to consult your vet in arranging up a health plan to care for your horses. Preparing your horse for cold weather will help it lower the need to eat greater amounts of food in order to retain its weight. Your horse shouldn’t lose any weight during the colder months. Allowing your horse to gain a slight amount of weight will help them during the winter months, as the additional fat will act as a guard to provide the horse with energy if it becomes stressed. Through the winter you should give your horse some additional calories.

    Probably the most effective protection for a horse in the winter is its actual winter coat. If allowed to grow, it will act as a warm jumper which will lessen the loss of heat that the horse experiences in cold environments. A horse’s coat is also glossy and will help brush off off snow and ice. If you keep your horses outside, you must ensure their coats grow long enough before the cold weather starts.

    To confirm the condition of your horse, you will want to feel its ribs. A longer coat may indeed hide the fact that your horse has lost weight Your horse should be lean enough so that you can feel the ribs, but not so lean that you can see them. Feel your horses ears. Are they cold? If this is the case, your horse is cold.

    Like all animals which are warm-blooded, horses must maintain their body temperature in order to survive. It is vital that they retain heat throughout the winter, so you must make sure they’re ready for the frost.

    Visit the Horse and Pony Directory for more information and horses for sale

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    Horse Training – Start With the Approach

    A young gray horse may appear roan, but will b...
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    When wanting to train a horse you first need to catch it. Although this may sound simple, it can be surprisingly frustrating when you attempt this for the first time. This is the most important step in horse training. The foundations of trust are laid in this step. It is important to remember the three Ps of horse training – patience, persistence and positive reinforcement – at every stage during the process of training your horse. These three elements work together to help you with each step of horse training.

    The most efficient way to begin the approach is to have the horse in an enclosure of easily manageable size. A round pen is the best type of enclosure to use, but you can use any large fenced area or paddock if you don’t have one.

    You should start by casually approaching the enclosure. Do your very best to relax and give the impression of calm. Leave your life’s stress outside the pen. Since horses are prey animals, they are easily intimidated by anyone or anything that emits stress or aggression of any kind. You wouldn’t want your horse to see you as a possible threat, which is how he will interpret those emotions. Trust needs to be built between you and the horse.

    Go in with the horse but not to catch him yet. This will happen in good time. For the time being the priority is familiarisation – you with the horse and more importantly, the horse with you. Walk inside and just stand around for a couple of minutes. Don’t look at the horse directly. Predators eyeball their prey and stare into their eyes to intimidate them. Your horse must not see you as a predator. The horse needs to see you as part of the herd.

    Take in a rake or a shovel next time and tidy up a bit. Do some basic maintenance checks on the fence panels. The horse should not be approached yet. Wait for the horse to approach and investigate your actions. A horse is a naturally curious creature. When the horse realises it’s you again, he will come to check you out with a good sniff.

    If the horse is unfamiliar with human contact this step can take some time. For some horses shyness is not a problem, and they will approach you the minute you enter the enclosure. Both ways are acceptable. However long it takes for the horse to become accustomed to you, it is important for trust that you let him get there in his own time. Patience!

    Don’t see this as an opportunity to grab the horse. The most important thing to remember here is patience. To build this foundation for training and for a lasting relationship takes time. It is important not to rush this step.

    When the horse at last approaches you, turn your back and walk away. Make sure that you walk away before your horse does. You will show the horse that you are the one in charge by walking away first.

    Begin to approach your horse, sideways on, only when you feel that you are familiar and comfortable in each others presence. Remember to use a slow, relaxed manner to walk towards the horse. A skittish equine can be approached more easily from the side. Without staring at the horse, move towards the side. Move closer to your new friend whilst glancing sideways. Do not ever attempt to fit the halter by sneaking up on your horse. How will you hold onto the horse when “caught” if the horse is frightened? Trust will be broken in this manner and you will be back to square one. And of course you could be hurt. The emphasis here is on patience and persistence.

    On being allowed to get close to the horse, ensure that you use plenty of positive reinforcement. The first moments you spend together should have nothing to do with work. This step is about bonding. Stroking your horse along his neck area, grooming your horse, and talking to him softly are all methods of positive reinforcement. The horse should see this as enjoyable interaction. Now is the time you are both ready for training.

    A word on safety:
    Never approach a horse from behind unless you are very familiar and the horse knows you. A swift kick can be registered before you can even think about moving out of a horse’s way. Horses are much faster than humans, particularly if they feel threatened or surprised. Always approach where you can be seen.

    Whether it is your own horse, or you are training the horse on somebody else’s behalf, it is always advisable to ensure that there is adequate equine insurancein place to protect you both should an accident occur during training. Horses, while very beautiful animals, are strong and powerful with the capability of delivering an incredibly debilitating kick. A good horse insurance policy will include third party liability, and it is definitely worth checking this before you begin with your training.

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    How to Keep Your Horse Happy

    Happy horses
    Image by Pieter Musterd (very busy) via Flickr

    Horses are incredibly sensitive and it is important that they get the care and attention they deserve. It’s not enough to only provide the bare necessities like food, shelter and whatever healthcare your horse insurance policy will cover. Like humans, it is those little extras that they need to be truly at peace with their place in the world.

    Horses, as herd animals, enjoy being in the company of other equines, so keep them in a shared paddock if possible. Owner’s are often viewed as herd leader. They will often show their affection by chewing or licking; here they are submitting to your leadership. Spending time with your horse will cement the bond of mutual trust. When this is achieved, it will have a positive effect on all areas in the horse’s handling and riding.

    Horses are naturally clean animals and it is important that they have clean stables which are warm with deep bedding provided. A deep bed will help to alleviate any stress on joints and legs, as well as giving them a place to lie down in safety and comfort.

    Mealtimes are important to a horse. You must ensure that you feed them little and often, as they will also graze outside all day. All appropriate foods can be incorporated into your horse’s diet to provide a healthy balance. Your horse needs lots of fibre for his digestive system, so lots of fresh grass or hay is essential. Grain is also superb, but not too much as it can upset the stomach. Water must always be available and accessible. Water prevents the food becoming solid by allowing it to ferment in the horse’s stomach. The food regularity is also important, as they are best when in routines. Always feed them at the same time every day.

    Horses enjoy the attention they get whilst being groomed – it makes them feel secure and loved. Give them lots of rubs, brushes and scratches. This is real quality time which you should both enjoy every day. Grooming your horse will not only keep his coat glossy and smooth, but can also help to keep pests and parasites at bay. Do not forget about your horse’s feet; hooves should be picked daily. They must feel comfortable on their hooves or they will become grumpy, not to mention that failing to take care of your horse’s feet will put him at risk of injury or infection which could cost you a claim on your equine insurance.

    A horse needs regular exercise to remain happy. You need to give your horse daily exercise. Vary your exercise routines to include things like jumping and cross-country. On the other hand, also let your horse have play time. Turn them out so they can be free in their paddock. Then they can socialise, play and have some time to themselves too. It’s as important to allow your horse to relax as it is to exercise him, or else his behaviour may become erratic.

    Part of the physical and psychological well-being of your horse can be taken care of by following these few simple but important tips. For more information and to become part of a horse-lovers’ community on the world-wide web, please visit AFI Horse Insurance where you can read and contribute to our brand-new equine blog.

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    The trot, a two-beat gait involving diagonal p...
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    Although it does depend on individual circumstances (e.g. whether you are an experienced trainer or not), most people buying a horse are better off getting a fully trained horse. If you are intending to use a horse just for basic riding, it is advisable to buy one already trained in the basics; if you are using a horse for advanced riding consider getting one already trained to the advanced level. Likewise, if you are using it for show jumping, get one which is already trained in show jumping.

    Of course, after looking at horses for sale, one can purchase an untrained horse or a partly trained horse. Such a horse will be less expensive to buy. Also, you can instruct a trainer on exactly how you want the horse trained, and you can have the experience and pleasure of participating in this. However, against these advantages, there are a number of disadvantages:

    • Training Expenses. With an untrained horse, training is an additional cost which one has to factor in. Aside from the direct costs of the trainer, unless the trainer comes to you there is the additional cost of transporting the horse to the trainer for each lesson, or stabling the horse with the trainer. The exact costs of training depend on individual circumstances, but they are under-estimated far more often than over-estimated. Frequently, once one factors in the final total training costs, it would have been cheaper to have purchased a horse that was already trained.
    • Accidents. Accidents can easily occur during training, even with a good trainer. These may result in vet costs or worse.
    • Incorrect Training. Some trainers are not as good as others. In addition, many trainers will rush training or under-estimate the amount required, to get the contract at an acceptable price. This may result in an incompletely or incorrectly trained horse.
    • Feel of the Horse. Two horses, with the exact same training, will feel differently to a rider due to the individual characteristics (build, personality, movement) of the horse. With an already trained horse, one can ride it before buying to know exactly how it feels, whereas with an untrained horse one can only guess what it will feel like after training.
    • Health Check. It is easier to evaluate the health of a trained horse than an untrained one, as one can ride it and also watch it while being ridden in each gait. With an untrained horse, health checks are not quite as complete.

    Because of these factors, buying an already trained horse is often less expensive, less risky and less stressful than buying an untrained or partly trained horse and then having it trained up.

    You should not try to train a horse yourself, unless you are a professional horse trainer or working under the complete supervision of a professional horse trainer. When non-professionals train horses, the horse will almost certainly pick up bad habits and behaviors (which are very time consuming and expensive to correct), as well as the risk of accidental injury to the novice trainer.

    Be wary of purchasing an incompletely trained horse on the basis that the seller will complete the training. Far too often in these circumstances the remaining training is rushed and not done to the highest standards. Insist on the horse being trained up first and pay no more than a holding deposit until this is done and you’ve ridden the horse to make sure that you are fully happy with the result.

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    The Right Horse Riding Equipment

    Tent Pegging at the Uxbridge Horsemen's Associ...
    Image by AkaashMaharaj via Flickr

    When you are choosing horse riding equipment for the first time you will most likely want to stick to the basics. Buying only what you need when you are starting is a good idea as you will soon learn what is necessary as your interest for the sport develops. However buying poor equipment will probably stop you from learning to ride properly so always buy the right horse riding equipment.

    Helmets

    Helmets are essential horse riding safety equipment. The exact kind of helmet will keep you safe and sound in the event of a fall. Never skimp on your helmet or purchase something second-hand, always buy the best. Take someone more experienced along if you are unsure about choosing a helmet that fits you properly.

    Boots

    Besides your helmet the type of boots that you choose is probably the most important part of your horse riding equipment. You want boots that fit you comfortably and also look good. The type of horse riding boots that you choose depends largely on what type of riding that you will be doing.

    If you are only into riding for fun then a low cut boot is the best to buy for your horse riding equipment. To make taking your boots off easier opt for a boot that has a back zipper. Your boot should be a snug fit but at the same time it should also be comfortable.

    If you are intending to ride in shows then you will need tall boots. This piece of horse riding equipment not only looks great it also helps to keep your leg position nice and stable. You will find that these are probably the most comfortable type of boots to wear.

    Glasses

    While glasses might not seem like the first thing you need to consider when buying horse riding equipment, the right type of eyewear is important. You need to make sure that you can see properly while riding. Many people opt for contacts if they normally wear glasses. This is especially true for winter riding as glasses tend to fog up quite a bit in the cold air.

    Though if you decide to use glasses then safety glass in your frames are a good investment as part of your horse riding equipment. This will avoid nasty accidents that can occur if your glasses should break. Sunglasses are also something you should consider when riding in the summer as the glare you might encounter can be extremely distracting.

    Please visit Dressage Saddles for Sale for a lot more information about horse equipment at http://dressagesaddlesforsale.com, thank you.

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    Spice Up Your Relationship With Your Horse!

    horses

    How long have you been dreaming of Horseback riding?

    Have you been considering taking Horseback riding lessons?

    There’s an old saying:

    Is Now the Time?

    If a horse is in a lot of pain and distress, due to an incurable injury or disease, the only correct action is to put it down as quickly and as humanely as possible. However, in some cases the decision is not as clear.

    For example, a horse may be in permanent pain but quite capable of happily living with it. This was the case of a draft horse pensioned with us, who had a chronic case of laminitis which made walking painful (especially over hard surfaces). As an elderly horse, he also had dental issues which made chewing uncomfortable. However, by supplementing his diet with soft food and giving him maximum time on soft pasture, his discomfort was minimised. He was a stoic horse, who seemed little bothered by pain, and obviously enjoyed life. He would trot around the pasture with his head held high and come to us for cuddles. Although retired, he was active in the pasture and obviously enjoyed life despite the constant pain in his feet and when he ate.

    For me, the question is not how much pain the horse is in, but rather is he still happy and enjoying life. One can tell this not only by how the horse behaves at the moment, but also how his behavior has changed in response to injury or illness. When life changes from a pleasure to a burden, that is the time for the horse to be put down.

    Okay, what this all really translates to is that some of us riders like to take the easy way out. We like to stick with what we are comfortable doing and not risk “rocking the boat” or more specifically “hitting the dirt!” What we are guilty of doing is creating dumb horses… dumb horses and dumber riders! We don’t challenge our minds or our horses minds because we stick to the same ole easy routine…We don’t ask our horses to think!

    Clinton Anderson refers to the horse as having two minds:
    1. Mind #1=The everyday ho hum routine mindless mind. (what is familiar)
    2. Mind #2=The Oh crap what is that? It’s time to run! (The Flight/Prey instinct)

    The flight instinct is the predominant natural horse instinct. So the trick to a good well-rounded horse is to get them to overcome this flight instinct and use their “thinking mind.” Using the thinking side of the brain is not a natural response, but it’s something a horse can develop and enhance. Horses develop this side of their brain by being challenged with new stimuli and tasks. Why not take your hunter out on trail rides… and laugh at those weenies who snub their noses at trail riding as being “not real work” They are usually the one’s most in need of a good trail ride; bock, bock BOOOOCKKK! Tell em’ your eating chicken for dinner and go enjoy yourself and your horse!

    Learn many of the secrets the professional instructors use before you ever put your foot in the stirrup. Imagine – trail riding in the hills, mountains or the beach. Enjoying the thrill of riding, handling your horse and fulfilling that dream.

    Act on that DREAM of riding – start soon with Horseback riding lessons!  You’ll be glad you did

    Resource Author Francisco R. Higueras
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    Encontrar un Trabajo – Empleo es fácil si sabe dónde buscar

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