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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Rehabilitating an Anxious Horse
Any horse, at any stage of training, is going to benefit from
a confident rider, reassuring treatment, and lots of slow work. But sometimes
you buy a horse that already has problems, or you create problems yourself
before you learn to be a better rider.
Training and riding errors can create... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Ranch Horse Versatility
If you pay attention to the press, "specialized" seems to be
the name of the horse game. But before you decide to trade in good old Mr.
Reliable for a horse who can star in just one discipline--you might want to
consider getting involved in versatility ranch horse events.
There's... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Be a Great Partner
Do you remember a time when you needed to be at your very
best, so you took along a friend for support? Did you choose someone who was
constantly nervous, someone who picked at you, or someone who didn't believe you
would do well? Or did you take someone who was quiet, helped you just... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Seasoning for Timed-Event Horses
Preparing your horse for a competitive career takes time.
First you spend time at home teaching the basics, then the pattern. You add
speed incrementally, staying at the same velocity until that pace becomes your
horse's comfort zone. Then you add a little more speed and stay at that speed... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Dressage 101
Go to any local dressage show across the country, and you'll
see a variety of entries-- kids on ponies, newbie riders on first horses,
retirees on solid schoolmasters, and pros riding highly trained animals. You
see, in dressage, there's a place for everyone.
But the coolest thing about... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Training the Timed-Event Horse
Training a horse for any timed event takes time. We talked
last month about instilling the basics--giving to pressure side to side, breaking
at the poll, responding to your legs and your body position. Those are the tools
for learning and correcting any part of a timed-event pattern.
Once... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Keep Your Train on Track
To successfully run
timed-event patterns, you need to control your horse and communicate with him at
top speed. You have to accelerate, slow down, turn and speed up, all the while
staying on a specific path.
Those abilities are
all built on some important, specific skills. These basics... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Incredible, Edible Rewards for Your Horse
Have you ever been
told that you cannot train a horse by using food as a reward? Have you also been
warned that you should never, ever feed a horse by hand or you risk turning him
into an obnoxious biter?
Such statements sound
sensible and true. Yet our experiences at the Equine... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
10 Tools For Your Horse In Timed Events
It's natural to
assume that timed events with your horse are all about speed because, after all, the fastest
time wins. But to make those winning runs with your horse consistently, you have to understand
just how important it is to slow down! That's right. The key to success is to go
slow.... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Square Up Your Horse
Despite
your possible preconceived notion about the subject, squaring up isn't just for
show horses. The simple process of placing each hoof neatly on each of the four
corners of a "square" (which really is more of a rectangle) teaches your horse
obedience, patience and balance.
A... | 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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