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Training: Western
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Get the Canter You Want
Few things feel more
perfect than a quiet transition into a balanced canter, whether you're riding
a dressage test, setting up for a fence, or heading across a pasture. When it
all goes right, you barely have to do more than think "canter," and your horse
floats off on the correct lead... | read »
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Training: Western
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Overcoming the Grooming Grumpies
Some horses love to
be handled, and they'll stand quietly for everything from ear clipping to
washing their tails. But if your horse doesn't stand like a statue, don't worry.
We'll talk about what you can do to make grooming a better experience for both
of you and what cues you'll need to... | read »
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Training: Western
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Perfect Ground Manners
There's a long-standing comic line that asks, "Where does an 800-pound
gorilla sit?" The answer is, "Anywhere he wants to."
While it still gets a chuckle, the moral of the story is: The gorilla is so
big and dangerous, he can call the shots.
That's exactly the situation that we don't want... | read »
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Training: Western
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: Western
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: Western
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Stop Your Horses Prancing
At one time or another, you're likely to encounter a horse who just can't
seem to contain himself. He pulls against the reins, dances in place, tries to
push ahead, and generally seems unwilling or unable to settle down. Maybe it
happens when you start out on a ride. Or maybe it happens all... | read »
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Training: Western
from the pages of Trail Rider
Obstacle Training
Question: I own a
6-year-old Quarter Horse gelding. Whenever we approach a log or a ditch on the
trail, he'll balk, jig, and sometimes even jump over the obstacle, while I hang
on for dear life. What can I do to correct this? -- Nancy
Meadows, Little Rock,
Arkansas
Answer: You
need... | read »
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Training: Western
from the pages of Trail Rider
Raising a Paso Fino Colt
As I walked
into the office recently, a co-worker smiled at me and asked, "How's the brat?"
I knew full well she was talking about my colt, Clementino, whose antics I often
describe to friends and colleagues.
Raising
a trail horse from birth in my backyard hasn't been a cakewalk.... | read »
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Training: Western
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Bridlework Ballet
Imagine that you don't have a horse. Instead, you have a dance partner. You're not working in an arena, but on a dance floor. Rather than muscling your partner around, he will read your signals and move his own feet in the direction of the dance. The better you can dance with your horse, the more... | read »
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Training: Western
from the pages of Perfect Horse
Bridling Your Horse
Most of us can manage to bridle our riding
horses, even if it doesn't look pretty. However, this article isn't simply about
getting a bit into your horse's mouth -- or even about solving his
teeth-clenching problems -- although it will do that, too. It's about taking an
ordinary part of... | 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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