Posts Tagged ‘horse tips’

TIps on how to prepare a horse for any potential spooky things at a horse show. It’s my horses first real show in a couple of weeks. SO what did you do for your horse.My horse does like to kick other horses so any suggestions there?SO pretty much what do you do to prepare a horse for his first show?

Tips to help your dressage horse (or any horse!) enjoy the benefits of riding a musical freestyle or just riding to music.

So whether you want to ride competitively or just want to enjoy riding to music at home, here are some free tips.

6 Tips for Picking Out Awesome Freestyle Music for Your Horse

1. Know your horse’s ideal BPM (beats per minute)

2. The average horse has the following BPM:

o Walk 90-106 BPM
o Trot 138-160 BPM
o Canter 96-108 BPM

3. Pick music that matches your horse’s BPM within 4-6 BPM range.

(For example if your dressage horse has a canter of 104 BPM, choose music that is between 100 BPM and 108 BPM)

4. Choose music that has a very clear downbeat. (You’d tap your toe to the downbeat.)

5. If you CAN’T tap your toe or clap your hands easily to the beat of the music, it’s not great freestyle music!

6. Choose freestyle music that will help you achieve your horse’s ideal tempo.
For example: If your horse is a bit on the lazy side, choose an upbeat and energetic piece of music that will help YOU ask for more energy. If your horse is hot or nervous, choose freestyle music that will help you feel calm and steady as well as help your horse with rhythm and relaxation.

7.Choose music that has dynamic changes. Dynamic changes are audible changes within the music (either volume or intensity) where you can make transitions. (for example, the music should FEEL or SOUND like there is a transition to an extended trot) When you are riding a freestyle for competition, the dynamic changes of the music need to match your transitions both within the gate and from gait to gait. Meaning, when you begin and end a half-pass, the observer should see and hear the transition and hear the change in the music occurring together. When riding a transition from gait to gait, such as the canter to walk for example, the observer should hear and see the transition to the walk occur with the change in the music.

8. Choose music that has appropriate back ground music. Even when a selection of music has the correct BPM for a trot; for example, the music that is in the back ground has an impact on the FEEL of the music. If you have a hot nervous horse, a high pitched frantic violin in the back ground will NOT help you or your horse maintain rhythm and relaxation. On the other hand, if your horse is always lacking impulsion or is lazy, more upbeat and forward moving back ground music will help you increase his energy level. For example, a soft and slower piece of jazz music might be appropriate for a nervous horse, but would allow the quiet or lazy horse to have even less energy.

Ruth Hogan Poulsen
http://www.Ruthhoganpoulsen.com
Ruth@Ruthhoganpoulsen.com

Author: Ruth Hogan Poulsen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: WordPress plugin Guest Blogger

When I jump, sometimes the stirrups leave my legs, but it gets back on when I go canter. Now it has gone, but I am wondering why that happens in the first place. Or is it normal? I can trot perfectly. I’m worried about the cantering. My horse canters smoothly but sometimes it is bumpy and i don’t know why.

I used to ride this horse with a really nice trot, but then my teacher put me on this horse with a really, really bouncy trot (even my teacher said she was bouncy), so it’s really hard to do a sitting trot on her after I got used to the other horse….

Any tips?

I just take her out of her stall and she starts prancing when I walk her, and calling to the other horse. I put her in a pasture today to let her graze, and she took a few bites but then started to pace and run around. She is not the youngest horse and she isn’t one to know her limits, so I’m afraid she’ll hurt herself is this keeps up. And, in the cross ties she gets really anxious and nervous and calls to the other horse too. Any tips are greatly appreciated.

So, your little girl has been taking riding lessons for a year now and
(surprise) she wants her own pony. Heres how to begin.

First, talk to your childs trainer. He or she may have an experienced
lesson horse they would be willing to lease to you. Thats a good way to
get your feet wet before you commit to the full-time obligation of caring
for your own pony. Leasing arrangements vary, but usually you pay a
monthly fee for riding privileges any time you want, as if it were your
pony. You can ride, train and show the pony. You may also have to pay
for farrier services (usually a hoof trim and/or reset shoes every six
weeks), periodic de-worming and veterinary services.

If you cant find a suitable leasing arrangement and are still interested in
owning a pony, here are some tips and things to consider along the
way.

1. What age do you want your pony or horse? An ideal age for a
beginner rider horse is 10. You can go a little younger, if you want, but a
well-trained 10-year-old horse has already experienced a lot of life. He
probably wont be as frisky as a younger horse and will be less likely to
spook or act unpredictably. You are looking for a “bomb-proof” horse,
especially for your childs first mount. Ten years old is great, as well,
because as your child grows, the horse will have many healthy years
ahead of him for riding and showing.

2. What gender should your pony be? Common experience tells us that
geldings are the best beginner mount, however, some mares can be
excellent babysitters as well. The main drawback to a mare is that some
get moody during their monthly cycles, and can even nip or kick. The
other consideration is if you are ever going to have additional horses
and plan to turn them out in a pasture together, its better not to have
one mare and several geldings. Even though they are gelded, the males
will still want to fight over the mare. You can avoid that headache by
sticking with geldings. However, if you plan to always keep your horse in
a stall in a stable with individual turnout, a mare can work out fine. Of
course, a first-time owner should never buy a stallion.

3. Do you want a horse or pony? A small horse may be a better option
than a pony for several reasons. First, your little one is going to grow up
and may be faced in the future with having to sell her beloved pony
because she’s outgrown him or her.

Second, horses are a little easier to care for. Ponies are famous for
foundering, a condition that occurs especially when a pony overeats rich
grass. The safest bet for a pony is to never let him eat grass. Feed hay, a
little grain and turn him out on dirt. Horses can founder as well, but not
as easily as ponies.

If you have a pasture-only boarding situation, opt for a horse, not a pony.
Some stables, however, have many ponies they turn out together on dirt.
If your barn is set up to care properly for a pony, go ahead, if not, stick
with a horse.

3. Look in the newspaper, on the internet, ask around at horse shows or
call other trainers. Many trainers will help you find the perfect horse for a
finders fee. It can be more expensive, but well worth it in the long run to
have professional assistance. Taking along a trainer to look at a horse
with you can give you confidence as well as an expert set of eyes and
ears in the situation.

4. Once you have a prospect located, find out as much as you can about
the horse or pony. What is its training or background? Has it showed
and where? Does it have any bad habits or fears? Is it friendly toward
other horses? Does it load in a trailer and can I do it myself? Does it or
has it ever had any health problems? Why are you selling now?

5. Get a veterinarian check before you buy. This can cost up to $200, if it
includes x-rays, but it can be well worth the expense and trouble.
Coming home with a horse that immediately is lame can be a big
disappointment. Consider the possibility, too, that the current owner may
be giving the horse bute (horse aspirin) to hide lameness when you are
looking at the horse.

6. Check out the horse unannounced. Show up at the horses stables or
pasture when you are not expected. Ask to take the horse for a ride or to
trot him on the lead rope to check for problems. Unfortunately, some
people drug their horses to make them appear more calm than they
really are. Arriving unannounced helps you see the pony as he really is.

7. Get ready for expenses. Make sure you understand and budget for all
the expenses associated with owning a horse or pony. There are
monthly boarding bills, which include food and care. You may also want
to supplement your horse or pony with a hoof, coat or joint supplement.
Your horse needs its hooves trimmed or shoes reset every six weeks.
You also need an annual check from the veterinarian, which at least will
include shots, teeth floating and a coggins test. Many owners give their
horses twice yearly shots, as well as de-worming at least four times a
year.

Of course, now there are expenses for saddles, blankets, bridles, bits,
riding clothes, lessons, helmets, riding lessons and showing fees. If your
trainer will transport your horse for you, great, if not, add a horse trailer
to the list.

Finding the right horse or pony can be a long adventure. Dont be
tempted to pick one out of the paper and surprise your child with it at a
birthday party. Considering the investment on your part, you want your
child to fall in love with this animal, so his or her opinion needs to count
as well. Finding the right equine companion for your child can begin a
relationship that will last for years.

Author: Diane Samson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera News

Before you be present at the excellent expense of purchasing a horse, you require to evaluate how best a rider you are, & only how much do you actually understand about horses & horse care.  Make no mistake, you require to really be honest with yourself whether this is a huge commitment. Consult yourself what size & age of horse will work best for you whether well.

Okay you have just fallen in like with a flashy looking equine and today what?  What do you seek to reach and is THIS the horse for you? Are you bound for be hunting, driving, barrel racing, trail riding or jumping?  Are you intended for ride at all?  You can get horses just to drive.

What about this horse’s temper?  Quiet, feisty, pushy, amenable, or grumpy?  If you aren’t comfortable by horses, do not find a pushy horse, as you will obtain it ruling you and not the other path around.  When you’re planning to only trail ride, don’t buy an eventing horse.

Wheter you don’t have horse experience then do not buy a young horse & try to train it.  Two newbies who don’t understand much do not make a good mixture.  Wait until you have more experience or pay the price for your mistakes – such as injuries to you and your horse because you didn’t understand what you were doing.

Choose an experienced friend with you to check out horses.  Better they aid you assess the horse thus you do not wind up over horsed (purchasing a horse that’s path too much for you to handle).  Your experienced friend could also ride the horse for you to assess if it would work for you.  When the existing owner is riding the horse, & they insist you don’t need to try the horse – run, do not walk whether far away as you can, & remain appearance. Checkout more other useful information about dog weight, pregnant dogs and small puppies

Whether through anything that you do by a horse, when you begin lunging, start slow, soft and fluent.  Think young horse, short attention span, still developing knees and short sessions. (5 to 7 minutes).  This is not to say an older horse would not advantage from lunging, but generally speaking you are beginning this through a younger equine.
1st and foremost, the horse should know what’s being asked of them and ultimately, both of you want to be on the equal page while “communicating” with every other.  Thus, we begin through lunging to open the lines of communication, and produce accurate movement with your horse.  While it may sound bizarre to say working your horse in a circle actually teaches them something besides the actuality that they can run in circles – this really does work.  Why?  Because of it sets up the pecking order between handler and horse with controlling the horse’s space.  It also acts to condition your horse no matter what their age.
Pecking order communication starts through your horse reading your body language & vice versa.  Over occasion, and with lots of tolerance, the horse learns to wait for your signals rather than run love a basket case around in fixed little circles.  When commands are learned on the ground, it makes them easier for the horse to know when you’re mounted.
.& why the circle?  Why not a square or several other pattern, like a figure eight?  The circle usually encourages your horse to purpose his legs correctly, pick up his feet & place them properly.  And, once you find to the stage where you bit your horse, it teaches them to offer to the bit.  Of course you will have already done your prior ground-work with the horse, to educate them to offer in the poll and drop their head to pressure. You would have schooled them offer to the bit sideways (to the left and correct) and down, through the least amount of pressure.  Again with horses, the least amount of pressure to find a answer is the best (and this unquestionably depends on the horse) and in small learning increments. Read more other useful articles about dog car seat, miniature dogs and dog pounds