Horsemanship | Ride Magazine

Breathe Life into your Riding

by Jenny Rolfe | | Horse Training, Jenny Rolfe

Introduction This is a series of articles which will help to transform your relationship with your...

Softening To The Bit

by Ken McNabb | | Horse Training, Ken McNabb

Whether you are starting your horse under saddle for the first time, or re-training an older horse with bad habits, teaching your horse to soften to the bit is a foundation exercise that you will use to build up to all other aspects of your training. You may hear softening to the bit also referred to as giving to the bit, getting a horse’s face vertical, suppling a horse’s neck, or getting a horse’s face soft. These are all basically the same thing.

Round Pen Reasoning

by Richard Winters | | Horse Training, Richard Winters

Round pens are very popular at stables and ranches across the country. Yet, I’m not sure that people always have a good plan on how they’re going to work their horse once inside the round pen. Any time we work with our horse, it’s important to have an objective and be able to clearly communicate our ideas in a way that our horses can understand.

Promising Prospects

by Ken McNabb | | Husbandry, Ken McNabb

When you are looking at young prospects for your next horse, it’s important that you start with some key things. If you get the right characteristics and the right personality from the start, then you can save yourself lots of wasted training and time on a horse that’s simply not cut out for what you want to do.

Ask Julie Goodnight

by Julie Goodnight | | Horse Training, Julie Goodnight

I purchased your DVD, Lead Line Leadership, and I have been searching your library and need some basic clarification. What is the difference in lead line circling (from Lead Line Leadership) and longeing?

Competitive Trail Obstacles

by Ken McNabb | | Horse Training, Ken McNabb

Whether you compete in trail classes or not, trail obstacle courses are a great way to get your...

Dressage Training For All Breeds And For All Riding Disciplines, Part 2

by Lynn Palm | | Dressage, Horse Training, Lynn Palm

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.

Pre Flight Checklist

by Richard Winters | | Horse Training, Richard Winters

I train horses in southern California. That means I have more riding days available to me than probably anywhere else in the United States. I was recently presenting at an expo in Wisconsin and realized that many of the attendees had not been able to ride for the last five months! Right about now, theses hardy mid-westerners will be getting out their horses to prepare for some spring and summer riding.

How Do I Handle Riding A Spooky Horse?

by Julie Goodnight | | Horse Training, Julie Goodnight

Question: Dear Julie, I usually ride some type of warmblooded horse (not exactly sure of the exact type) during riding classes. He’s often very nervous about a certain corner of the riding circle.

Ask Julie Goodnight

by Julie Goodnight | | Horse Training, Julie Goodnight

Question: Dear Julie, I am switching from English to Western and am hoping to get one of your Peak Performance saddles. I am looking at the Monarch Arena/Trail saddle or the Wind River Trail saddle. I really like the sounds of the close-contact design, the narrow twist and especially the memory foam in the seat for my tired old rear-end! But not knowing too much about Western saddles, I am confused by a couple things.