Posts Tagged ‘horsemanship’

Horses don’t lie. A horse is not going to put his ears forward and pretend he is happy if he is not. If those ears are plastered flat back, and his tail is wringing a vicious circle, you can be certain he is not happy. What you see is what you get.

Training and attitude are two different things. Training teaches the horse to react to cues; attitude is how the horse responds. A negative horse resents and resists. He may go through all the motions, but his performance will be tense and sullen.

The apathetic horse drags himself around dull and oblivious, saying, “I’m bored; I’m brain dead; I don’t care.” But a horse with a positive attitude shows powerful, focused action.

The Beginning

Let’s look at where attitude starts. First of all, if we were to place the horse on a Freudian couch, we would find that he likes to be comfortable. A comfortable horse is content. He is confident in his rider and in his role in the partnership. At the core of this relationship is trust.

Trust is an expectation. When the horse trusts you, he has learned from consistency what will happen if. In other words, if he refuses to stop, he will feel the pressure until he does. If he refuses to turn, he will feel the pressure until he does. If he responds correctly, he will be rewarded.

When the horse knows where he stands, his actions develop power because his confidence increases. If you can plug into the horse’s confidence, you can channel that energy into a powerful performance. He becomes a horse who knows his business.

Trust is understood through communication. Communication is a system that sends and receives messages. In order for this system to work, it must be a language that can be exchanged between the two communicating. It means we must do more than tell the horse what to do; we must also listen. Refinement in horsemanship is in direct proportion to the ability to read and react appropriately to what the horse is saying.

Lack of communication is a frustrating thing. If the horse cannot make sense of what you are saying he will be confused, and in reaction to this confusion, he will either tune you out or get hostile. This attitude will manifest itself in apathetic or negative action.

Through communication and attention to his reactions, we teach the horse to accept his role in the partnership, even when he’d rather be out under a shade tree with the breeze blowing his mane.

The Key Element

In order to work, all language must adhere to consistency. Imagine what would happen if you said “Pass the salt,” when you really meant, “Where is the milk?” Salt is salt; milk is milk; and whoa is whoa.

Based on your consistency the horse learns the language. He learns to trust his actions. This gives him the courage to be bold and to show his athletic power. To clarify, trust is an expectation, and consistency is how those expectations are established.

Horsemanship’s language is called the aids. It is a body language that uses a consistent pressure and release from pressure to express what is being said. If you do not understand the aids, the horse will not be capable of trusting you.

The horse may not want to do what you ask, but his attitude will improve as he learns to expect follow-through from you. Follow-through is a pattern of cue and enforcement that teaches the horse to expect your pressure and release from pressure when he responds to your cues.

The cue always remains the same. The enforcement gets increasingly stronger until the demanded response is given. It looks like this:

cue > enforcement > wrong action

cue > ENforcement > wrong action

cue > ENFORCEMENT > correct action > reward (release from pressure)

The cue doesn’t change. It remains consistent and present with every escalation of enforcement. Eventually the horse will respond to the first cue because he seeks the release from pressure. In other words, his obedience and confidence will increase as his expectations are reinforced.

His nature can make him happy in a world of obedience as long as you are fair and he knows what the rules are.

Inconsistencies are mental surprises that make the horse uncomfortable and destroys his ability to trust you. He does not want to be shocked, nor is he delighted by surprises. Shocks and surprises will damage his attitude, especially in the area of communication.

Another element of trust is respect. A respectful horse will pay attention. I’m not talking about a horse walking on eggshells, afraid of every move you make, but the respectful horse who is just aware of you and what you are doing. This a a calm and comfortable kind of respect based on the equine custom of pecking order.

The Natural Order

The horse is a herd animal and pecking order is a natural part of his life. He knows it. He understands it. He is comfortable with it. The horse may occasionally challenge his position, and some horses are spoiled and rebellious because they have been allowed to maintain a superior attitude. But if it is made clear, through consistent use of the aids, that you are his leader, he will accept it as normal and be happy about it.

Respect has a natural awareness for space. Both animals and humans have what is called “their space,” and as the dominant steps into the space of the submissive, the submissive moves out of the way.

If the horse moves into your space he is challenging you. When I’m talking about space, I’m talking about that area where we protect ourselves, that place when we feel pressured to move. The horse’s attitude toward you will improve when he is not allowed to enter your space and push you around.

This respect for space will carry over from the ground into the saddle as the horse learns to stop challenging your authority. He can enjoy your affection or you may push him around; if the pecking order is intact, it will be comfortable for both of you.

Healthy respect also tunes up the horse’s level of responsiveness because the horse’s natural desire is to keep track of what is happening up the pecking order. He will be paying attention to you.

Attitude is absolute. It is there in one form or another, and as we teach the horse to trust us we encourage his positive side.

It is your responsibility to establish communication on the horse’s level and to understand his needs. You must be fair in your expectations and encourage him toward his potential at a reasonable pace and also take into account that his personality, level of training, and physical condition should match the work he asked to do.

With trust, his performance will gain power from the confidence he has. Good attitude shows. It gives the horse that sparkle that takes him over the line from average to exceptional.

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Horses are not cheap to own because of the many horse tack supply items that they require. Consider shelter, food, tack supplies, and a whole lot more and you will understand why. While not everyone would want to own a horse, ranchers find horses to be very interesting and useful creatures. They are willing to go the extra mile just to provide their horses with all the necessary tack supply items they need.

Horse clippers are primarily used for keeping different parts of a horse neatly trimmed or shaved, whether for vanity or showing purposes, or for health reasons. That is why it is important to think about the important aspects of choosing the right horse clippers before you finally decide to buy. There are hundreds of types and brands of these clippers available today; however, there are four things to take into consideration, which include the motor, the size, the power and the speed. Clippers with decibel ratings are also efficient since most horses are easily startled by loud and strange noises.

Tack trunks are also very important tack supplies. There are a lot of beautifully designed tack supply trunks sold these days and your options are really endless. But regardless of the design and overall look, the functionality of tack trunks is also very important. Find those that have built in wheels so that you can easily maneuver them around without worrying about heavy loads. Since these trunks are designed to keep and properly organize your horse equipment, it is normal to see them with compartments. These compartments are basically add-ons to a trunk but they are very useful as well, especially in storing horse tools like combs, accessories, grooming tools, and a whole lot more.

When buying a tack supply trunk, be sure to check for a proper lid. During a horse show, the trunks with a treaded rubber lid are multi functional, as they are useful for standing on when grooming or braiding a horse’s mane. When purchasing any tack supplies, keep in mind that a trunk with multi functional uses is always a better deal. Visit www horses com for additional equine info.

If you are looking for good, highly quality Western saddles, then the best place to go would be the markets where there are horses for sale, as well as pre-owned horse tack supply items. You should be able to find some great used saddles and to choose the one that suits the horse and yourself the best. Pay very close attention to the fit of the saddle, as this is what matters when you ride; if it is too loose or too tight, leave it. Go for soft buffed, used leather that not only looks good but also is very comfortable.

When you are looking for proper pre-owned saddles, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind, such as the brand of the saddle, the model of the saddle, the fit to the horse and the present status of the saddle. The brand and the model of the saddle will tell you the actual quality of the saddle. Good brands saddles, no matter how old, are as good as gold. The fit and status of the saddle is important, as this will influence your ride; the horse will not listen to your body language if it does not accept the saddle. This is why it is very important that you find a saddle that not only matches perfectly with what you have in mind, but also is comfortable for your horse.

Do not buy any used Western saddles over the internet, no matter how beautiful and perfect they look. Buying anything that is even remotely connected with horse supply should never be bought unless it is checked, by putting it on the horse, and also inspected for quality. The horse is not an animal that can be trifled with. Many horses refuse to listen to their riders if they are unhappy with their saddles and other gear. Check out the Western horse tack shops as well. For information on what to look for, speak with a veteran horse-rider or educate yourself online.

The best Western saddles are those which are sold as pre-owned at horse supply shops or anywhere where horse equipment is sold. This is because the most important factor is comfort when it comes to saddles. Never buy over the internet since you can’t try it out on your horse before purchasing.

If ever there is a chance of you considering ownership of a horse, then you need to understand that this is not an easy responsibility. Besides providing food and shelter, a lot of equipment and materials are needed to keep them strong and healthy. Stable supplies are very important when it comes to taking care of horses.

With so many tack supply and equipment choices these days, you might get confused as to what to consider first. In any situation, saddle blankets are one of the most important. Aside from keeping the horses warm, they can also protect them from insects and flies, thus keeping your horse healthy and clean. Horse blankets greatly provide these animals with better blood circulation too.

When they are already in the stable, these blankets play a very important role. When choosing blankets, be sure to go for the ones that are durable, breathable, water proof, and made from the highest quality of materials. However, keep in mind that horses can withstand even the coldest of temperatures. It is ideal, therefore, to consider the weight of the blanket and the weather conditions in your area before you decide on which horse tack equipment item is suitable for your animal.

Horse fences are the second most important stable supplies or more correctly stable accessories. For ranchers and estate owners who want their stables to be secured and safe, proper fencing is very important. Keeping horses away from unwanted predators is crucial and the only solution is strong and reliable fencing construction. There are some factors that should be considered, such as the number of animals to be fenced, the nature of the field, and the budget. Additionally, the age of the horses in the pasture is just as important. Young, untrained, abusive, and highly spirited horses need special fencing. When it comes to horse fencing, there are basically three types of approaches, which include rail horse fencing, wire mesh horse fencing, and electric horse fencing. Whichever your preference is, it is still best to have a horse-care professional around to help you make the correct decision.

When visiting your local horse tack shop, consider purchasing tack trunks to store your stable supplies. You can easily organize your stable accessories in this way. This can help keep your horse tools from becoming lost. With so many things to consider about horsemanship, be sure you know how to properly care for the animals. For more information on horse care and supplies, visit www horses com.

Taking care of a horse is not as easy as one may think. Your horse’s health, shelter, food and horse tack supplies are all very important things to consider, with regard to the care of these giant animals. Tack supplies include bridles, crops, brushes, horse shoes, saddles, and a whole lot more, and because there are so many types and brands of tack supplies available today, choosing the right ones can get confusing. Here is a guide on how to choose the right supplies for your horse.

Bridles are one of the most essential horse tack items that you, as a rider, should have. These are used to communicate with your horse. Normally, the most common is the dressage bridle that can fit over the head of the horse and onto his mouth. The reins go back to the rider who uses them to command and control the horse. Horse bridles vary in quality and price, and by standard these bridles should be made of high-quality leather.

Avoid buying poor quality leather as they will crack easily and wear over time, which is not ideal, especially during harsh weather. Check the reins and the cheek-pieces and make sure they are reinforced. The buckles should also be made from stainless steel to avoid rusting. When buying horse bridles, the best advice is to visit a reputable manufacturer that will provide you with some sort of warranty on the product, so you can return them should they not function effectively.

Saddles are very important; not to mention highly expensive horse tack supplies. Basically, there are three types of horse saddles: the Western saddles, English saddles and the side-saddles. Additionally, Western saddles have varied types, including the roping saddle, the endurance saddle, and the barrel racing saddle; while English saddles have the dressage saddle, the polo saddle, and the jumping saddles. Ideally, saddles are made with genuine pure leather. But the more common ones sold these days are those made of suede or synthetic leather. Since there are a lot of options, have a professional horse-care expert with you when you shop.

Another essential in the genre of horse tack supplies are horse boots, which will protect the legs of your horse. In choosing the right horse boots, make sure to go for those that are sturdy, well-constructed and comfortable. When chosen properly, these boots can last up to several years. If you own a horse, and horsemanship is important to you, then it is paramount to provide them with their basic needs. The right horse saddles, horse boots, or horse bridles are but some of the most important things you need for your horse.

Taking proper care of a horse takes a lot of patience and understanding. In fact, most people don’t know how to care for horses. Not only do they need the basic, like food and shelter, they also need the proper horse tack supplies. Saddles, saddle blankets, horse blankets, horse boots/shoes, and other horse supply products are just some of the essential things that equines need.

Also known as horse shoes, they are generally designed to protect the feet of horses. This is a very simple notion but requires quite a serious approach. Generally, aluminum and steel are used in making these types of shoes. Most of them have an underneath grooves that also provide a better grip. The grooves also make the horse shoes lighter. But did you know that the front part of these shoes is circular in shape and the backs are diamond shaped?

Aside from being sturdy, another factor includes the trimming of the hooves for proper fitting of the shoes. As well, there are four important aspects in shoeing a horse. These are the balance, the support, the shape and the expansion. Such evaluations should be done at least a week or two after a shoeing job. Although it might sound difficult, you only have to have a pencil and a level ground where your horse can stand so that you can evaluate the said factors.

Understand that horse boots/shoes should not be worn all the time. In fact, during very cold winter seasons, it is ideal to remove those shoes from the horses. After all, you won’t be riding horses in the middle of a snow anyway. However, winters vary from one place to another, so if your local climate is not that cold, even if its winter, then try adding pads under the boots. This can help with proper blood circulation of the horse, while improving his expansions and movements.

Horse boots are indeed very important for horses. That is why you should seek the services of a farrier, who is a professional that creates boots/shoes for horses. This means that he is highly-knowledgeable, as far as finding the most ideal shoes for your horse is concerned. Take time to discuss with him the basic things you need to know. Taking care of a horse indeed takes a lot of effort, but as long as you know the necessary things, horsemanship can also be very rewarding.