Posts Tagged ‘Ears And Eyes’

Often people are under the misinterpretation that you simply need to control the head in order to control the horse. This is why you need to use a lead rope or bridle in order to teach a horse how to stop and start. However, do you know how you can control a horse if you don’t have a lead rope or bridle? If you have ever spent time chasing a horse around a pasture you have likely wondered this.

You can learn to control you horses mind through a process known as natural horse training. If you control a horses mind there will be no worry about losing control no matter what situation you are in with the horse. Natural training is a specific discipline that has to be done properly in order to achieve success.

When you use the term discipline for natural horse training it is important to realize this doesn’t mean obedience or punishment, but rather means you are focusing on calm compliance from the horse. In order to have a horse that is a good follower you need a trainer that has good discipline and self-control. This way the horse will be able to willingly follow you lead.

To have this done successfully natural horse training requires trainers to focus on developing a pattern and providing the horse with a safe and comfortable environment. This description makes natural training seem easy, but it is actually difficult to become successful with this horse training method.

The first step in this horse training method is to get your horse to pay attention to you. To do this you also need to pay complete attention to your horse and what they do without allowing distractions to get in the way.

Make sure you place yourself in a place where you are able to focus and concentrate. If it isn’t possible to do this for long periods then you should start in small durations of at least ten minutes and then increase the length of time.

It is important to focus on your horse and the feedback they provide. What signals are the ears and eyes sending you? What does their breathing tell you? How is the horse reacting and how does this compare to other times? This will help you to determine what triggers your horse to pay attention to you so you can get them to focus on you and do what you want willingly.

Relaxation and rhythm are the two keys to natural horse training. The moment you go near the horse you need to make sure, you are making rhythmic movements. Even as you approach the stall, you should have relaxed movements. You should also pay careful attention to your breathing. Your horse is going to be carefully watching your actions and if you are tense, they can sense it. This is why relaxation and rhythm are vital should something unusual or unplanned happen later.

When you use these two simple steps, you can start having success with natural horse training. Although you shouldn’t become discouraged if things don’t go well on the first day or week of training. It can sometimes take several months before horses can learn to use a non-predatory system of learning. While the name is natural horse training this doesn’t mean it happens naturally for all trainers and horses.

Sheryll Walker is a horse training enthusiast, helping numbers of people to learn Secrets of Training Horses.

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Author: Sheryll Walker
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Should I trim around my horse’s eyes and ears?

Clipping the hairs of the horse’s eyes and ears is a controversial topic. There’s no doubt that a horse with close clipped ears and eyes has a pretty face, but those hairs are there for a reason. Before trimming these sensitive areas, decide what you need to clip, and then make sure you have the best tools for the job in your horse grooming supplies.

The ears

The horse’s ears have two kinds of hairs- soft fluffy coat hairs that run along the edges of the ears, and thicker, more wiry hairs that grow inside the ears. The soft external hairs can easily be clipped away, and that’s a good choice to make the horse’s head look neater without losing the protection of the thicker internal hairs. To clip these soft hairs out, a good set of hand clippers are ideal.

To trim the soft external hairs of your horse’s ears, start by folding the ears over in half lengthways and just trimming the long hairs that poke out. Run the trimmers with the lay of the hair to prevent getting rough edges, and simply smooth out the long stray hairs that stick out. This will be enough to give most horses a neat and tidy appearance for all but the most demanding show rings, and still give your horse’s ears the protection they need from flies, dust, and dirt.

The hairs inside are essential to keep out dust and flies. Unless you are showing and the rules demand it, don’t trim inside your horse’s ears. If you absolutely have to, choose the quietest horse clippers you can find. Hold some tissue over the base of the ear to keep the hairs from falling inside the ear, and carefully trim along the surface of the ear. Once done, you will have to protect your horse’s ears yourself – this means keeping your horse’s ears protected from flies and dust, and even from stable bedding which can get inside and cause infection or injury. As the hairs grow back, your horse will be prone to minor infections; you need to make a regular practice of rubbing your horse’s ears with a gentle antibiotic cream to keep them healthy.

The eyes

Like the ears, the eyes have two kinds of hairs. This time though, the long, wiry hairs are less significant. These can be clipped back to tidy up the horse’s face, and most horse’s won’t miss them. The short, soft hairs around the eyes – the horse’s ‘eyelashes’ are essential to protect the horse’s eyes from dust and dirt. Like with the hairs inside the ears, don’t clip these off unless you are absolutely required to for show ring standards.

In any case, clipping around the eyes needs to be done carefully – it’s not something that should ever be done with scissors. A good pair of hand clippers is an essential part of your equine supplies to prevent any risk of injury to the horse’s eyes.

Which clippers should I use?

If your horse is sensitive about its face. choose a battery powered or rechargeable model for quiet operation, and so you don’t have the cord flapping around your horse’s face. If your horse is pretty good about clippers, the benefit of a corded model is that you don’t need to replace batteries or remember to recharge it. You’ll want a model that is light and fits your hand well, because you need to be accurate when clipping around the eyes and ears. Choose one that has a small blade, for a neat and careful finish.

As always, choose clippers from a reliable manufacturer like Wahl, Oster, or Andis. You want to be sure your clippers are safe to use, have a good warranty, and that you can easily get replacement blades – dull blades are dangerous when clipping sensitive areas like eyes and ears!

Here’s some good choices for precision clipping from the top manufacturers:

• Wahl horse clippers. The Wahl Touch Up Animal Trimmer is a great battery operated trimmer for small touch-ups and precision trims. It uses AA batteries, so they’re easy to replace, but it isn’t rechargeable.
• Andis horse clippers. The Andis Lightweight Cordless Horse Trimmer is easy to hold and use. It’s not for big jobs or tough hairs, but it’s perfect for touch-ups and trimming the eyes and ears.
• Oster horse clippers. The Oster Pro Cordless Trimmer is rechargeable, and has a precise blade for carful trimming of sensitive areas. It’s lightweight and comfortable to use, and has one of the narrowest blades available, so you won’t make any mistakes!

If you do trim the hairs of your horse’s face, you will need to take extra precautions to protect him from pests and dust. Keep the eyes and ears clean with a damp sponge, and make sure you apply a gentle insect repellent or use a fly net to protect your horse from flies and other annoying insects. Keep a watchful eye for any infections, injuries, or ingrown hairs, and treat these quickly. And remember to look after your horse clippers – keeping the blades clean and sharp will keep your clippers one of the most useful tools in your horse grooming supplies!

This is the third in a series of five articles on horse grooming. This article is an easy to read, well written guide for trimming around your horses eyes and ears. Not only does it provide specific guidance but also makes recommendations on the right horse grooming supplies for a safe and good looking result.

Author: Marcus Koll
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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