Trail courses are fun for horses and riders and can be beneficial for the natural environment. Landscaping a trail course with native plants can provide food and habitat for native insects and wildlife. Add in old logs and brush and rock piles, and you have the perfect habitat for other … Read More
Walk into any horse trainer’s tack room and you’re likely to find more than one kind of snaffle bit. Developed thousands of years ago, the snaffle is the most useful bit for daily training for horses of all levels. The snaffle bit is used by horsemen of all disciplines—from racing … Read More
Article by Kristina Lotz When people think of trail horses, the first thing that usually comes to mind is someone in a Western saddle walking down the trail astride a Quarter horse type mount. But this was an image that Bolender Horse Park owners and founders of the International … Read More
We shall take great care not to annoy the horse and spoil his friendly charm, for it is like the scent of a blossom—once lost, it will never return. – Antoine de Pluvinel Horses and people aren’t much different. Our basic needs for living a good life are essentially … Read More
Game#3 in the series of The Seven Games with Pat Parelli Have you ever wondered how “horse whisperers” are able to magically communicate with horses from across a pen? With suggestions that are imperceptible, skilled horsemen are able to have a horse respond as if it was the horse’s instinct … Read More
The Northwest Horse Source is celebrating Northwest trainers and instructors! Our newest column profiles trainers from all over the Northwest in multiple disciplines. We believe that connecting riders, trainers, and horses is necessary for success in the horse business. It’s our goal to support the equestrian lifestyle for all our readers. If you’re a trainer who’d like to be featured in … Read More
Game #2 in the Series of the Seven Games Last month we talked about the process of developing communication with a horse, and how yielding from physical pressure is a major factor. The two basic ways are steady, physical pressure and rhythmic, nonphysical pressure. A horse will move away from … Read More
Game #2 in the series of the Seven Games with Pat Parelli Horses naturally push into steady pressure. Moving against it or barging through it is how they escape predators in the wild. Mother Nature tells them to break loose of a predator’s hold or crash through an obstacle that’s … Read More
Some of the prettiest pictures and coolest maneuvers in mountain trail are done on the swinging bridge. It’s impressive to see a horse do a 360 as it sways or turn and back up the other side. An image of a horse with its head down, eye soft and ears … Read More
Conclusion of Game Number 1, The Friendly Game by Pat Parelli This is the continuation of the first in a series examining the Parelli Natural Horse•Man•Ship (PNH) Seven Games and their role in establishing leadership as well as building a language between you and a horse … any horse. The … Read More
