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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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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
Keeping Kids Safe Around Horses
Of course you want to
share the joys of horse ownership with your children and grandchildren. Horses
are a wonderful teaching tool for kids. Working with horses builds confidence
and instills responsibility in children. But nothing--nothing--is more important
than their safety.
A... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Longe Your Horse with Confidence
There are lots of
good reasons to longe your horse, as long as you do it well. One objective in
longeing is to create a pattern of control. But that doesn't mean you have to be
heavy-handed. We know that horses learn patterns and feel safe when they're
working with familiar exercises, so... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Longeing Lessons for Your Horse
Longeing involves
working a horse on a large circle, while you stand in the center and direct his
efforts. Just as if you're riding, you should be able to make adjustments in
your horse's gait, speed and posture through longeing.
What would it be like
if every time you put your horse on... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Trail Rider
Gaits Made Simple
"I know my horse has a
smooth saddle gait," a gal told me at one of my clinics. "When we're headed for
home or he's rushing to catch up with other horses, it suddenly feels like I'm
gliding along on ball bearings. But I don't know how to achieve that gait the
rest of the time. When I try... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Trail Rider
Speed Control
Question:
I need
your advice regarding my riding mare, Lady. One problem has been very
troublesome for me, as it takes a lot of the pleasure away from our rides. She
doesn't want to stay in the speed or gait that I tell her -- she continues to
speed up. How can I get her to listen? --... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Trail Rider
Introduce a Crupper
A
crupper (a strap that runs from the back of your saddle and
loops under your horse's tail) helps to hold your saddle in place on steep
downhill grades. Your horse will quickly learn to clamp his tail onto the
crupper when he heads down steep slopes; his tail contains a large bone with... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Trail Rider
Pony A Horse
Pony boy, pony
boy. Won't you be my pony boy? Don't say no, here we go, ride across the
plains. Marry me, carry me, far away with you. Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up, let's
go. Whoa, my pony boy! It's been almost 50 years since I was a toddler, when
my dad bounced me up and down on his leg --... | read »
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Training: English
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Ponying
It's easy to see the potential benefits of riding one horse and leading
another. Also called "ponying," it may be the only way you can give your second
horse the exercise he needs. Or perhaps he's young or untrained, and ponying him
helps you build his confidence and teach him to cooperate... | 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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