The Importance of a Solid Forward Cue
I believe that the forward cue is the most misunderstood and misused of the riding cues. It is...
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Back to Basics, Square-One in the Riding Arena
When a horse’s training is either lacking or confused, we often talk about going “back to basics.” Last month, I talked about basic training from the ground—and how important it is to have a well-mannered, attentive and cooperative horse on the ground—before moving up to training under-saddle.
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“Western Dressage: Finding a Suitable Horse”
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!”
The Use of Spurs
Spurs are a training aid to assist us to get a horse to go in the direction we would like it to go. We are looking for a well trained horse, whether we want the horse to be an eventer, a dressage horse, a reiner or just a good trail horse. You can look at spurs as the training wheels on a bicycle. At first the wheels are on the ground but as the rider becomes more proficient, the wheels are raised and eventually removed.
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Think Forward: Ride Yourself Out of Rough Spots
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?
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“Why is Western Dressage Such a Popular New Discipline?”
In 1997, I tried to upgrade my business of training and competing with horses in multiple disciplines into something else by changing my approach to basic training. I tried to use the term “Dressage Principles” as a basis for Palm Partnership Training’s teaching and education guidelines.
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Working With a Pushy Horse
I see a lot of rude, pushy horses. Probably 90% of the horses brought in to the barn for training are pushy and do not respect our space. As owners, we usually spend more time riding than dealing with ground issues. There is nothing wrong with riding and having a good time.
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Dealing with the Death of a Horse
It’s never easy to witness. There’s something about their power… their free spirit… the image of running like the wind, that makes it especially hard to watch a horse go down. Seeing a happy and carefree horse suddenly fall ill and struggle to survive or watching an old beloved friend suffer and grow weak…
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Dealing With Head Tossing and Pulling on the Bit
Head tossing and pulling on the bit is a very common problem and one that can be easily solved. Sometimes with this type of problem there can be a physical reason behind the behavior. Before we address changing the behavior through training, I believe firmly in ruling out any possible physical causes. With this particular type of problem,
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Working at Liberty: Changing Directions Alone
Don’t have a helper available to assist you work your horse at liberty? No problem! Here’s a variation of the neat method I gave you to change your horse’s direction when working at liberty in a paddock or arena when you don’t have an assistant. You can still ask the horse to change directions at liberty without “manually” stopping him and turning him around.
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