I am so excited to do this series on western dressage. I am positive this new discipline following classical dressage with a western horse is going to give the western industry its next step in developing better horsemen. Dressage promotes “Riding Well” and “Being the Rider Your Horse Deserves!”
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Last month we talked about being prepared for riding in winter conditions. In this article, I’ll share some tips on how to stay safe while riding in the winter.
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Keep your horse in top health by paying close daily attention. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That old saying especially applies to your horse’s health and safety. You can head off many potential problems—or catch them early—by doing a daily wellness check. When you do a daily check, you can often catch the “little things” before they turn into serious, expensive issues.
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Most horse trainers with solid skills can load almost any horse into a trailer in under 15...
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There are certain qualities every horse needs to succeed, no matter what discipline. Every horse should be forward, straight, and balanced. Let’s look at these concepts in closer detail.
Forward does not mean fast. What it does mean is that your horse is using his
hindquarters to propel himself forward rather than pulling himself forward from his front end.
Dressage education is based on a scale of training where a solid foundation is laid down and then added to as the horse progresses. The image of a pyramid is aptly used for this scale with rhythm as the base and collection at the top.
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Often, riders who are unfamiliar with the discipline of dressage think of it as a pretentious style of riding that requires boring repetition to achieve the end result of riding pretty patterns. There are probably some of you reading this right now who are thinking, “What does dressage have to do with my discipline of Western Pleasure?”
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An equine nutritionist should be a member of your team of professionals who help you maintain a healthy and happy equine partner.
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Health care, hoof maintenance, and nutrition are so important because, let’s face it, if your horse does not feel good due to an illness or poor nutrition, or if his feet hurt, or his mouth is sore, then he is not going to perform to his best ability.
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Because all other equine health issues hinge on your veterinarian’s medical expertise and recommendations, he/she is the most important equine professional that you will work with
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