When you meet someone who has had no experience with horses, do they ask you “Is it simple to ride a horse?” I usually reply that it is simple, but not easy! Simple means that there is a step-by-step process to learn the A, B, C’’s (Attitude, Balance, Control) to minimize the risk and to maximize the effort. But if you think it is easy, then no! If you want to ride horses then you should have the right - attitude to challenge yourself both mentally and physically often further than you have ever done before - balance to stay on top of a moving, living animal that can go right, left, forward, backward, up and down in a split second with no warning - control to move this animal by a light touch to your wishes, often against their own wishes and … [Read more...]
The Reason Why It Is Simple But Not Easy To Ride,Teach Or Have An Equine Business
Are You Half Way Towards Achieving The Goals You Set Six Months Ago?
Are you half way towards achieving the goals you set six months ago? This is a great time of year to reflect on those New Year’s Resolutions. But if you haven’t saved for that saddle yet, or your competition plan isn’t going as expected . . . are you going to extend the timeline for another year? Instead of changing the timeline, why not change your strategy? If you have truly tried your best to work consistently towards your New Year’s Resolutions, but have come up against an unexpected vet bill or a lameness that means you horse needs some time off then don’t use this as an excuse to extend your timeline. Changing the timeline can develop into a bad habit so it is far more preferable to change your strategy! Changing the strategy may mean that you spend less to budget … [Read more...]
What Would You Do With Your Horse In This Situation?
In a place where I used to work, one of the horses (Sunshine) was injured. After months of treatment and rehabilitation it became painfully obvious that Sunshine would never recover properly. Tom (the owner of the business) decided that the best thing would be to have Sunshine put down, but Bec (the girl who looked after the horse through his ordeal) disagreed. ‘But he is such a kind horse, I will take him and look after him’ ‘He will cost you a fortune and you will never be able to ride him’ said Tom ‘That is ok, I just want to let him live his life in peace’ After much begging and pleading, Tom gave Sunshine to Bec and that could have been the end to this story. However, a couple of years later I caught up with Bec . . . “I will never forgive Tom for giving me … [Read more...]
Your checklist for Your Horse’s Satisfaction Rating
Methods to measure students’ satisfaction during their riding lessons are fairly well researched, but the horses’ satisfaction in their lessons is also important. Children may jump out of the car and quickly find their favorite horse to say ‘hello’, does your horse have their ears pricked and look forward to visits from humans? When a student is getting ready for their riding lesson they could be excited about their lessons. While you may not want your horse to be excited, are they entering the arena pleasantly without napping, snarling their face or swishing their tail? Even when a student is concentrating on improving their riding, they should be enjoying themselves. Does your horse understand what you ask and do their best to perform? A keen student will want to continue … [Read more...]
Remember Black Beauty?
Remember Black Beauty, the timeless classic written by Anna Sewell? http://studyhorses.com/fhs/ebks/Ebook-Black-Beauty.pdf There are some words in that book about the first time Black Beauty had a bit in his mouth. I remember them every time I am on a sensitive horse with a ‘fussy’ mouth. “Those who have never had a bit in their mouths cannot think how bad it feels; a great piece of cold hard steel as thick as a man's finger to be pushed into one's mouth, between one's teeth, and over one's tongue, with the ends coming out at the corner of your mouth, and held fast there by straps over your head, under your throat, round your nose, and under your chin; so that no way in the world can you get rid of the nasty hard thing; it is very bad! yes, very bad! “ We, as humans choose to … [Read more...]
Windy Days Horse Problems
Horses are notorious for being ‘fresh’ and ‘excitable’ on windy days. These reactions are part of the reason that horses have evolved and are still alive in the twenty-first century. They have survived by being ‘on guard’ against predators as their sense of smell and hearing has been minimised by the wind. Learn to look at the world through your horse’s eyes. Remember why your horse is ‘on guard’ on windy days so understand them, accept that they will behave differently and be ready! If you are not confident to ride on these days, take the time to improve your ground work or lunging skills. Live your passion and enjoy your horse, Glenys :-) … [Read more...]
How Is Your Horse’s Satisfaction Rating Of You?
This is a checklist for your horse’s satisfaction rating Methods to measure students’ satisfaction during their riding lessons are fairly well researched, but the horses’ satisfaction in their lessons is also important. Children may jump out of the car and quickly find their favorite horse to say ‘hello’, does your horse have their ears pricked and look forward to visits from humans? When a student is getting ready for their riding lesson they could be excited about their lessons. While you may not want your horse to be excited, are they entering the arena pleasantly without napping, snarling their face or swishing their tail? Even when a student is concentrating on improving their riding, they should be enjoying themselves. Does your horse understand what you ask and do … [Read more...]
Tips for Caring for Horses Who Live Outside
The care of horses involves many tasks. This article looks at some of the basic necessities and tasks you need to know when you are learning about how to take care of horses correctly. You may be required to undertake these as a horse owner and/or carer when you are caring for horses who live in a paddock/ field/ pasture (depending on the country where you live). A horse is a much bigger commitment than other family pets, if fact everything about them is bigger, feeding, veterinary bills, worming not to mention all the accessories that go with them. With the right care and knowledge you can keep your horse happy and healthy. Routine Checks When Caring For Horses Horses which are kept outdoors will require checking at least once a day. If you have poor quality or little pasture you may … [Read more...]
How to Take Care of Stabled Horses
Many new horse owners are not sure how to care for a horse and the main points as well as a few horse care tips are listed below. This article may not teach you how to take care of horses who live in a stable completely but it will certainly point you in the right directions for your equine care. Taking Care of Horses Twice Daily Horses kept in a stabled environment will need attending to at least twice a day. This is because they are confined to a small area, with no access to grazing and no opportunities to self exercise. The horse's digestive system is designed to take in small quantities of food at regular intervals therefore a stabled horse will need more feed, in particular roughage, to maintain weight because it will have no access to pasture. Another essential part of equine … [Read more...]
How You and Your Horse Can Have a Winning Day
While winning first prize at a horse competition is wonderful, it is not the only way to have a winning day. Some may consider the final proof may be on the competition day, but the real winning is in the training. Consider the progress you are making in your own training, your horse’s training and/or your student’s training. A simple explanation of the stages of learning (using the rising trot as an example) could be Unconscious incompetence This might be some-one who is having their first ride, are walking quite happily but have not yet experienced trot Conscious incompetence This could be once they realise there is a much easier way to sit on the horse at trot, but haven’t quite fallen into the rhythm of the trot Conscious competence Then the beginner … [Read more...]
Have You Ever Been In This Position?
Have you ever been in the position where you know that you are totally right, but you also understand the position from the other person’s point of view? With horses and students this is often the case if they have been training previously with someone else. You may clearly give your horse the correct classical aids to lengthen the trot . . . and then your horse canters. You may ask you students to stretch down with their lower leg . . . and then their heels are forced down and their lower leg swings forward. With both horses and students . . . lower the level of expectation, create the basic groundwork and reward them when they ‘get it’ with a simple ‘good boy’ and a break or positive feedback for your student. Happy Riding, Glenys … [Read more...]
Do You Know Any ‘Sour’ Horses?
A ‘sour’ horse is often described as one that is reluctant to go forward, usually giving some of the following behaviours kicking out laying ears back slowing down stopping rearing jibbing When a horse becomes sour, there is no one single ‘magic’ cure. The first thing to do is to find out the reason they are sour. Horses don’t change their behaviour for no reason. It is one of their ways of communicating with you. Many people blame their horse for bad behaviour, but a horse becoming sour is often caused by bad management. It could be that they have some type of soreness/ stiffness and someone is asking them to do a task that causes them pain. It could also be that they consider themselves higher in the pecking order than you! When a horse has over exerted themselves or has … [Read more...]
Does Your Horse Riding Instructor Use Double Negatives?
As a Coach Educator, when I am training horse riding instructors I like to encourage them to use positives (look up) as opposed to double negatives (don’t look down). This teaches students what to do, not what not to do There are many qualities that make a good horse riding instructor, but there is yet to be a perfect one that is perfect for every student in every situation. If you have a great instructor who uses double negatives regularly then a technique that is commonly adopted by many non-English speaking background students may come in handy. When they hear a word, it is ‘filtered’ and translated into their native tongue before they react. Initially their reaction time is a little slow but as they pick up the new word/s and they become familiar with the word/s their reaction … [Read more...]
