Training: English
from the pages of Trail Rider
Raising a Stallion Colt
On a balmy fall afternoon back before the turn of the century, in 1999 to be
specific, Vanessa and I stood at a paddock and looked at Kovat, our magnificent
purebred Arabian stallion. He was snorting and prancing as usual. I gave a nod
of agreement when Vanessa commented that life on our... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Trail Rider
Creative Control
Imagine riding a wiry mustang at full gallop into a herd of racing buffalo
and maneuvering at top speed for the best shot. You can't rely on your hands to
guide your bareback pony, since you're holding a bow and arrow, aiming for the
kill.
Talk about a solid seat! The Plains Indians were... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Trail Rider
Halter a Hard-to-Catch Horse
Question: I board my 7-year-old Quarter Horse gelding at a farm near my home.
He's in a small pasture by himself. Whenever I try to catch him, he runs away
from me. Treats worked the first two or three times, but he got wise to that,
and now it takes me hours to catch him. Do you have any... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Get a Better Back-Up
From left to right: Still riding forward, John works on getting control of the horse's hip. He picks up on a single rein to ask Preacher to step over behind. Center: He again uses his rein to move the horse's hip over, but notice how Preacher's front leg has naturally begun to move backwards.... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Mounting Tips
To get on with the fun of riding--whether during a formal
riding lesson or climbing onto grandpa's old gray mare--the first thing we have
to learn is how to mount up. And, of course, what goes up must come down.
However, once we get on--and off--our horses those first few times, it's easy to... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Control Your Energetic Horse
A cool breeze and frisky horses seem to go hand in hand. but
a chill in the air isn't the only reason a horse may be high-spirited. Too much
barn time, too little exercise, or an exciting environment can leave your horse
feeling full of himself, and you wondering how to ride him safely.... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Trail Rider
Teach Safe Tying
My 7-year-old Paint Horse gelding trailers well and does well on the trail,
except for when I tie him. When I tie him to my trailer, he dances and pulls
back so much, it's hard to tack up. When I stop for a lunch break and tie him,
he does the same thing. I'm worried he'll hurt himself.... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Equine Education
Winter is a good time to condition your tack, give your horse
a vacation, and put up your feet by the fire. But frigid weather and bad footing
don't mean you can't improve your horsemanship and horse-management skills
during the non-riding months. Use your downtime to brush up your equine... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Getting the Mail Horseback
One of the best things about horses is the limitless variety
of things you can do together. Even the most mundane activities become fresh and
interesting if your horse joins you in the process. Not only that, but the more
diverse tasks you undertake with your horse, the more opportunities... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Trail Rider
Creative Control
For avid trail riders, "the road less traveled" is usually the most appealing. It's all about discovering what lies around the next bend and getting there on the back of a good horse. In this series, Lynn Palm shares guidelines and helpful exercises on how to increase your on-trail control and... | read »
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| Bonding Exercises |
| Question: I have a 7-year-old grade-horse gelding that’s very receptive to training. I'm aware of the importance of bonding — that is, building mutual respect and trust to create a positive relationship. I was wondering whether you could suggest some specific exercises... | read |
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