Trainer’s Corner

One Woman’s Process for Obtaining and Training Wild Mustangs, Part 1 by Adrienne Devoe   Note: The author is providing information based on her knowledge and experience. In no way does she profess to have all the answers. She encourages readers to do their research for the most complete information. …

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The Three Rein Actions by Shelbie Fredenhagen   “The hands are the measure of a man’s intelligence.” – Maria Montessori Your hands are the most important aid you have. Because you are directly in contact with the most sensitive part of your horse, the mouth, it is paramount that you …

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3 Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a Mule by Ty Evans   We’ve all made mistakes when buying mules and horses, and I’ve made all the mistakes in the book. I’ve bought mules sight-unseen, at auctions, in back yards, on the trail, and in the arena. Some of …

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Find Your Body, Find Your Horse by Shelbie Fredenhagen   proprioception pro·pri·o·cep·tion (prō’prē-ō-sěp’shən) n. The unconscious perception of movement and spatial orientation arising from stimuli within the body itself. The American Heritage® Stedman’s Medical Dictionary Riding demands that we tie our awareness into our horse and ourselves. Riding is all about expanding …

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3 Body-Awareness Exercises by Shelbie Fredenhagen   “Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person’s physical, emotional, and mental state.” Carol Welch The first step to an effective leg while riding is to create body awareness and relaxed control. Without this, we either consciously or subconsciously block and hold …

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Understand How Mules Think by Ty Evans   Have you ever heard the term stubborn as a mule? As a clinician who specializes in mules, I hear people talk about how stubborn mules can be and how difficult they are to work with. Usually these stories are told by someone …

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Correct Position Controls the Cow in Working Cow Horse by Al Dunning   Working cow horse tests the agility, speed, and courage of a stock horse. In working cow horse classes, the horse must first hold the cow at one end of the arena, then run it down the fence …

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Performance Horse Health and Well-being by Al Dunning   Nothing is more important for my horse than his health and welfare. I want to share my appreciation for all the horse has done for me by taking the best possible care of him. Most of the things I do to …

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Selecting a Saddle by Al Dunning     Al Dunning has been in the horse business for over 50 years and has seen all kinds of saddles. Some are very functional, some are beautifully made, some are built to fit the horse properly, and others he calls ridiculous. The options …

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