Now that Star can back-up with the slightest jiggle of the lead rope (read A Star Reborn Part 1) it is time to begin desensitizing him, teaching him to lunge with changing direction and perform a one-rein-stop on the ground which will translate under saddle as his emergency handbrake. As … Read More
When he arrived his mane was dread-locked, his body covered in numerous flesh wounds and his knees were skinned. The beautiful buckskin paint Arab had just been gelded at the age of 5, only two weeks before coming to my place for training, (that explained the skinned knees). Frightened and … Read More
Maintaining and Developing Your Performance Horse by Theresa Rice With this month’s focus on performance horses, I wanted to give a perspective that some may not have considered: The-do-it-yourself (DIY) performance horse owner. Many performance horses are in full time training with a professional trainer. However, my performance horse … Read More
Part 3: The Importance of Your Posture, Position, and Timing by Gerry Cox As an aspiring horseman, I try to glean any piece of information I can and implement it into my daily routine with the horses I train. I will never learn it all, but I do attempt … Read More
Careful Training Leads to a Bold, Confident Horse by Mark Bolender Riding a horse through rugged mountain trails is something many people do on a daily basis, especially in the western United States. It’s anybody’s guess what sort of obstacles you and your horse might encounter on these trails, … Read More
Part 2: How to Teach Your Colt to Bridle by Gerry Cox Have you ever been assigned the task of teaching a horse to take his first bridle? When we were little kids on the ranch we used to lure the horses to the feed bin, talk the horse … Read More
With a well-planned training program The sun is shining, birds are singing, flowers are blooming and the temptation is to launch full-on into your horse-training endeavours. You may have kept fit throughout the winter on the ski slopes or at the gym but what about your horse? Unless you … Read More
Part 1: Becoming a Student by Gerry Cox I don’t claim to be an expert horseman, by any stretch of the imagination, but I have had the honor and privilege of riding with great horsemen that are experts. I will never become a great horseman, heck maybe not even … Read More
Keep Your Obstacles Safe with Spring Maintenance by Mark Bolender Spring is here and the mountain trail obstacles are being put to use again. Now is the time to check all the obstacles for safety and needed repairs. When obstacles are used on a daily basis one does not … Read More
Educated Hands and the Action of the Bit by Shelbie Fredenhagen The hand is the instrument of all instruments. -Aristotle Working the horse by applying what is known of physics, and the animal’s musculature system, provides the rider with an osteopathic way of working the horse. In this way … Read More
