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Think Forward: Ride Yourself Out of Rough Spots

Think Forward: Ride Yourself Out of Rough Spots

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When was the last time you felt a lack of control while riding your horse, even if only for a moment? Was he spooked? Did your horse freak out because the other horses took off? During a tantrum your horse threw about leaving his herd mate?

In the moment of panic—let’s say right after your horse spooked at a rabbit—most riders grab the reins and clench hard when they first feel a lack of control. Often, they fail to shorten the reins first, so the reins are too long, causing the rider to lean back, hands flailing and out of balance too.

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What is a Clinician and What Qualifies a Person to be a Clinician?

What is a Clinician and What Qualifies a Person to be a Clinician?

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A clinician is an individual who works with a horse in front of an audience coaching and demonstrating training methods and techniques. A clinician must have several qualities and to me, the primary one is to be a good horseman. I should really say horse person as there are may women who do an outstanding job with horses. I believe that the key to being a good horseman is communication. Not only must a clinician communicate with the horse, but also with the audience or student.

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Sympathy and English Mints

Sympathy and English Mints

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Walter is a brave little pony.

But then, the “brave” is a special story, the “little” is a special story, and the “pony” is a special story. If I’m going to tell one, I might as well all three.

Walter was brave going in for colic surgery.

Well, wait a minute; I’m getting ahead of myself…let’s start at the beginning.

I was in need of a pony horse to use at the race track. (Pony horses usually have a little age on them, are stout, with mild dispositions, rugged bone and plenty of stamina.)

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Aids Communication: The Bending Aids

Aids Communication: The Bending Aids

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I have been reflecting on the importance of the turning aids compared to the bending aids a rider uses. This issue is so important, I would like to revisit our discussion of these aids and add some clarification.
To review, the turning aids are the outside leg and outside indirect rein, supported by the inside leg and inside rein.

Bending is when the horse arcs his body, from the poll (top of the head), through his spine, to the dock (top of the tail). The bending aids are inside leg and inside open rein, supported by the outside leg and outside rein

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Fly Spray Ingredients

Fly Spray Ingredients

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I read product “ingredient” labels.

But reading the ingredient list on horse fly spray is like reading a foreign language.

What is that stuff? Well you better know…some ingredients are toxic, some are poisons and some are just irritating.

Some of the ingredients are natural, some are synthetic, some are repellents (provides a barrier or drives off insects) and some are insecticides (kills insects through contact, ingestion or inhalation).

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