Trainer's Corner Archives – Page 3 of 13 – The Northwest Horse Source

Move those Hips! How to Train the Turn-on-the-Forehand

July 1, 2021 by Kim Roe

The turn-on-the-forehand mobilizes the hips, supples the muscles of the horse’s back, hind legs, and haunches, and teaches the horse to yield to the inside leg. Photo by Kim Roe

One of the most basic lateral movements, the turn-on-the-forehand, maneuvers the horse’s hips around his forehand. This exercise teaches the horse to move away from the pressure of the rider’s leg, aids in control, and makes the horse more agile and supple. The mobilization of the hips and the consequential …

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Horse Training Concepts – Going Deeper with Horses Reaps Great Rewards

May 1, 2021 by Kim Roe

Photo by Aliena Hook

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 …

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No Bend, No Balance – Use Lateral Work to Train Your Horse to Bend

March 31, 2021 by Kim Roe

Horse training is mostly about these three basics: balance, timing, and rhythm. Horses trained and ridden with these priorities as the foundation of their training will be soft, relaxed, and maneuverable—a joy for both horse and human. Horses’ fear of falling is one of their greatest. Not only can a …

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Trail Obstacle Problem Solving – Mastering Logs and Poles

March 1, 2021 by Mark Bolender

Photo by Cambrie Caldwell Photography

Half a point may not sound like much, but boy can they add up! In Mountain Trail competition, each time your horse nicks a pole it costs you half a point. You lose even more if they try to step around them! Whether poles are short or long, thick or …

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Trail Obstacle Problem Solving – Master the Swinging Bridge

February 1, 2021 by Mark Bolender

Photo by Cambrie Caldwell

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 …

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Trail Obstacle Problem Solving – Master the Water Box

January 1, 2021 by Mark Bolender

Photo by Cambrie Caldwell Photography

The water box is a fun obstacle that’s a crowd-pleaser at competitions. But it can be tricky to train a horse to calmly walk through it—let alone do a 360º turn inside! If we break down these scary parts, it makes it easier for horses to overcome. We start everything …

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Trail Obstacle Problem Solving with Mark Bolender – Overcoming the Teeter-totter

December 1, 2020 by Mark Bolender

Photo by Mark Bolender

The teeter-totter is a very popular obstacle at many trail challenges, and it’s one of the more difficult ones. That’s because most people do not teach their horses how to deal with the ground moving under them. Suddenly, we get to a teeter-totter and we expect them to “just do …

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Confidence Lost and Found – Overcoming Fear

January 19, 2022November 1, 2020 by Anna Blake

“You have to let your heart be soft. You have to let your love be just an inch bigger than your fear.” Photo by Anna Blake

Ever notice how horse stories all have the same plot? We get a new horse, usually the wrong one. There’s a period of struggle. We get bad advice, we lose money, we get bucked off. We persist, two steps forward and one step back. In time, the horse ends up …

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Confidence Lost and Found – Overcoming Fear

November 2, 2020November 1, 2020 by Anna Blake

“You have to let your heart be soft. You have to let your love be just an inch bigger than your fear.” Photo by Anna Blake

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Training Your Horse to Hate the Arena – Less Correction, More Direction

September 1, 2020 by Anna Blake

“Ride like nobody's watching.” Photo by Anna Blake

Does your horse go better out of the arena? It seems like some horses just won’t go forward and no amount of kicking and yelling work. Sometimes they’re gate sour: fast toward the gate but then getting away from the gate is a wrestling match. Horses who are great on …

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Trainer’s Corner

Move those Hips! How to Train the Turn-on-the-Forehand

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Horse Training Concepts – Going Deeper with Horses Reaps Great Rewards

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

No Bend, No Balance – Use Lateral Work to Train Your Horse to Bend

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Trail Obstacle Problem Solving – Mastering Logs and Poles

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Trail Obstacle Problem Solving – Master the Swinging Bridge

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Trail Obstacle Problem Solving – Master the Water Box

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Trail Obstacle Problem Solving with Mark Bolender – Overcoming the Teeter-totter

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Confidence Lost and Found – Overcoming Fear

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Confidence Lost and Found – Overcoming Fear

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Training Your Horse to Hate the Arena – Less Correction, More Direction

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Join the conversation:

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Join the conversation:

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