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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
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
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
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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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Is Stallion Ownership for You?
Stallions are animated, vital creatures that awe and intrigue us. And whether
we're new to horses or have years of experience, most of us understand that
stallion ownership is a step above and beyond mare or gelding ownership because
of the additional responsibilities caring for a stallion... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Equine Education Options
Judy Dawley, a children's therapist, began riding at age 50 and later
realized her childhood dream of owning a horse.
She felt she owed it to her mare to learn more about horse care, and so she
signed up for classes at Rochester Community and Technical College in
Minnesota .
Chris... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Handling Reins
We communicate with our horses primarily through the reins, and yet our
instructions to our horses are often too abrupt and hurried to get the results
we want. The best way to develop a softer, more responsive horse, according to
John Lyons , is to slow down our hands.
Rather than snatching... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Leading Like a Pro
Ever had a horse go too fast while you're leading him? You hang on for dear
life, hoping that he won't pull away from you or mow you down before you get him
under control. The opposite problem--trying to drag your old slowpoke--can be just
as frustrating, though less life-threatening. If... | read »
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Training: Performance
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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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Extend Your Horse's stride
One horse
walks on as she swings her head and takes long, ground-covering strides down the
trail. Meanwhile, the second horse is left in the mare's dust before finally
jigging at the jog to catch up. The lagging horse transitions to the walk,
starts to relax, and then falls behind once... | 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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