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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
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
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
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
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
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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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
20 Questions About Your New Horse
Warning: if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone. I'd gone to a
regional horse sale merely as a curiosity seeker--something to do on a mild,
midwinter's day. My pre-tense was to see how the horse market was faring.
Although the bleachers were full, it quickly became apparent that... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
An Open and Shut Gate on Horseback
If you and your horse head for the trail, the two of you must be prepared for
obstacles, both natural and man-made. You can ride around some of them, but when
you encounter a gate, you have to know how to work it, dismount and open it from
the ground, or give up and turn around.
Working a... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Does Your Horse Have Cow Sense?
Think of a horse and rider herding cattle across the plains, and your mind
immediately conjures up the American cowboy. Certainly, other regions with open
space -- South America, Australia -- have used horses extensively to move cattle,
but that image is intertwined with U.S. history.
Those... | read »
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Training: Performance
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Read Your Horse's Mind
Why can the
best competitors get their horses in and out of the show ring without a single
mistake while our horses cut the corners when we ride in the arena or won't
stand still when we mount them?
The flip
answer is that the show horse costs much more money than our trail companion,... | 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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