Posts Tagged ‘temperament’

Horse riding can be both exhilarating and frustrating sometimes during the same ride. A failure to appreciate and understand the basics of horse temperament or riding mechanics can make the experience less than enjoyable. The opposite is just as true, having a genuine interest and respect for the horse and its capabilities coupled with a natural or acquired aptitude for communication and riding techniques then you are likely find horseback riding an exciting and relaxing leisure pursuit.

In order to develop effective communication between horse and rider the first and most important aspect is simply TRUST. A trusting relationship developed on the ground (through ground work) enables you to develop an understanding of your horse’s attitude, behaviour and demeanour. This work helps to learn whether your horse is is shy and needs encouragement, bold and forward and so requires a confident rider, or are they compliant and so able to follow your direction and leads.

One of the major areas to work on whilst on the ground is the area of ‘respect for space’. This applies to both the horse’s respect for your space and your respect for theirs. Physical touch is a great manner in which to establish a pleasing relationship between the horse and yourself–for example, rubbing the horse’s shoulder, back, and head– then progress to applying pressure to instruct the horse to move into or away from your space. In addition to ground work, riders will benefit greatly from an understanding of horse physiology and mechanics (how they move), I their communication efforts with their horse.

Dressage is the art of training the horse through the rider employing a variety of aids such as legs, hands, seat, spurs and whips by which to communicate with the horse via negative and positive reinforcement (comfort and discomfort). For example, applying pressure from your legs urges the horse to move, while placing your legs in a different place tells the horse to hold its position. You can also use your seat to slow the horse or push the horse in one direction or another.

Understanding the horse’s behaviour ahead of time allows you, as the rider, to anticipate the horse’s reactions and conduct. For instance, if a horse normally appears willing and ready to work, but on another day exhibits anger and reluctance, then you should consider that something is wrong–either with the horse or with you, the rider. Anticipating the horse’s reactions can help you decipher what aids to use, and how to stay one step ahead of the horse.

Riders should remember that horses only do things for to reason; to obtain comfort or avoid pain. This is the primary focus of any training with horses; making the position or situation we want the most comfortable for the horse, and any other reaction that we do not want uncomfortable for the horse. Riders should remember that rather than blame the horse, they should realize that a misbehaving horse is often the result of a rider who is not effectively communicating.

Find more information at http://everythingbutthehorse.net

Author: Robert Curtin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Whether you are looking for a new horse or considering breeding or buying young stock, there are certain qualities of a good horse that you should be aware of and look for. Here is a list to consider in order of priority:

1) Temperament.

This is absolutely the most important quality in a good horse. Whether you are a trail rider, dressage rider, hunter/jumper, reiner, barrel racer or just a person on a horse, temperament is key. You can have all the talent in the world, all the looks, all the moves, but without a good temperament, you have nothing. When the going gets tough, the horse with the better temperament is more likely to see the job through.

2) Willingness.

Two months ago I would have put this into the same category as temperament, but recent experiences have taught me otherwise. I just had a horse in training with an amazing temperament. Nice to work around, loves to go new places and do different things, no problems there. But putting her to work was a whole other story – she just didn’t want to work. I didn’t understand it at first, and it took me awhile to figure it out. Although temperament-wise she was a solid character – no bucking, rearing, or bolting, she would have none of working. I have another horse that is hot to trot! Likes to show off and throw a little buck into the mix, just for fun. However, he loves to work! He is excited to come out everyday and try his hardest. That is what makes him a champion, willingness to do the job and work needed of him.

3) Conformation.

This ones a bit tricky and there are exceptions to the rules. Some horses are just made to do the job. They have powerful hind quarters, strong loins, sloping shoulders, straight legs and good neck sets can make a rider’s job a lot easier. Things like solid bone and good feet also help a horse stay sound. Different breeds are designed to accentuate different conformation qualities based on the discipline that breed is made to perform. For example, quarter horses are low set to the ground, are compact in the body and have very powerful hind quarters. They are built for sprinting short distances and fast turns, ideal for working cattle, running barrels and reining.

4) Bloodlines.

Tried, tested and true. For centuries bloodlines carry the genes that indicate successful show horses that go on to reproduce champion after champion. They act as a guide line for qualities you may want in a good horse and there are still risks when buying a young horse based on bloodlines alone, but your odds are considerably better when choosing a performance horse from a proven pedigree than from all the rest.

5) Health

What are the horse’s physical capabilities? Does the horse have endurance, stamina, power, longevity, soundness? There are lots of horses who possess all of the qualities above, but lack the physical soundness to perform to the highest levels of sport. Health can still deteriorate, but with proper nutrition and development your horse is more likely to stay sound and healthy. Other hereditary factors such as osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and navicular can stop your horse in his tracks. X-rays can determine these complications and are always recommended when doing a pre-purchase exam.

There are also others factors that make one horse better than the other, but this list is a good guideline to follow when you are looking for or breeding your next performance horse. You will often also see horses that look like camels and donkeys out performing the best of the best. This is because they have the temperament and willingness to do so. Every horse is different, but in the end, a good horse is a good horse and this list of qualities of a good horse will help you find exactly what you desire!

Terry Christoph is an author who writes about a variety of equine topics including dressage, natural horsemanship, barrel racing and the best methods to Sell Horses.

Author: Terry Christoph
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Buying a horse is buyer beware. Not to make you frightened, but it is your responsibility to make sure the horse you choose is what you expected you were getting. Check all claims made about an animal out for yourself.

To start with, take someone you know who knows horses. If you don’t know anyone who will volunteer their time, consider paying a trainer or riding instructor for their time as it will be money well spent. There is so much to take in when viewing a prospective horse that many eyes alone will give a more accurate picture. Different people will ‘see’ different things. A beginner may see an affectionate good looking animal. An experienced horse person may observe an arthritic joint and a tendency towards pushiness.

Also on a general note, take lots of pictures. Consider making notes. If you have particular questions in mind, write them down beforehand and note the answers when you ask. This way you’ll cover everything and remember a lot.

Health. Although the domain of health is for the experts, look for a general impression of wellness. In a well lit place, is the coat shiny and smooth to the touch? Are ribs showing? Does he have a pot belly? Are the hooves broken, cracked or poorly cared for? Is the horse alert or half asleep? Are the eyes bright and clear? The ears scanning for sounds?

Temperament. How is this horse around other horses? Watching him being walked past other horses as he is brought in from the pasture or out from the stable will give you and idea of how he relates to other horses. Does he kick or bite? This might be forgivable when directed at other horses, but not at humans. Do not buy a horse with bad manners.

Training. Ask for and watch the horse being caught, led, tied and groomed, including having all hooves picked out. Have a demonstration of the horse being put on a trailer. Watch the horse being saddled and mounted. In short, ask to see everything demonstrated that you’d do with this horse yourself. How does he behave?

Riding. Let the owner ride first and put the horse through all it’s paces and special skills. How smooth are the horse’s responses? Are there any signs of resistance or fighting? Head tossing, leaning on the bit, laziness, tugging?

Your Turn. Ask your knowledgeable friend to try the horse out and then you have a go too. Watch for how the horse reacts to you. Go back to the basics and try all the everyday stuff as well. Leading, grooming, hoof handling, saddling up.

Paperwork. If this horse is a registered breed, ask to see the papers.

If the horse does not behave, that’s kicking, biting, rearing, bucking, bolting etc then don’t buy it. Did you hear that? No matter how stunning you think this horse may be! Don’t buy it. Yes you want to feel a strong commitment to your animal AND you also want a well-behaved animal, especially if this is your first horse. Don’t settle on a gorgeous looking bucker. It’s not worth it, and the well behaved ones come in ‘stunning’ too.

It can be worth making a second visit. Ask the questions you forgot the first time. Repeat the same questions from the first time. Do the answers match? Is the horse behaving in the same manner?

Phil Tragear
http://www.HorseTrainingSuccess.com
All the questions you’ve asked, answered.

About the Author
Phil is author of the comprehensive book ‘Horse Training Success’, full of answers to the most asked horse training questions. Stop by http://www.horsetrainingsuccess.com for a huge selection of information regarding common problems, training of horses, equine psychology, how to get the best behavior and so much more!

Please feel free to use this article on condition that you maintain a live link to the http://www.horsetrainingsuccess.com website, acknowledge that the content is Phil Tragear 2006, and keep this paragraph included!

Author: Phil Tragear
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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So, you have a horse crazy child, and you are thinking about getting him or her that first horse. Whether you have experience with horses or not, finding the perfect horse for your child can be like finding a needle in the proverbial haystack. There is no shortage of horses and ponies that are advertised as “kid safe”. Unfortunately, the actual percentage of horses that are truly “kid safe” is very small. Here are some tips on finding that perfect horse or pony that will become a member of your family and take care of your precious little one.

First of all, consider the age and skills of your child. For a very young child who hasn’t had lessons in horsemanship, an older “babysitter” horse is a must. Often there is a misconception that like with puppies, young horses and children can grow up together. A young horse needs the guidance and experience of a trainer or very experienced rider. It takes many months, even years of training to teach a horse his job, and this is something well beyond the scope of an inexperienced child. A “been there, done that” type of horse is much better suited to a young or inexperienced rider.

I initially look for several things when considering a safe, kid’s horse. First of all, the temperament of the horse is crucial. Will he stand tied quietly (for hours) without getting impatient, pulling back, or jumping around? Is he calm under pressure, like loud noises, sudden movements, and being touched all over? He should be easy and safe to saddle, bridle, have his feet handled, easy to catch, and trailer load.

Then I look at his past history. What has he been used for? A horse that has had a lot of miles on him may be a good bet. If he’s been sitting in a pasture for much of his life, he doesn’t have the exposure to the many situations that an old veteran may have. I also look at his age. Not that there can’t be a great kid’s horse that is younger than 6, but it would be much less common. I don’t discount the older horses at all, even the much older horses. My daughters all learned to ride on horses that were 20 years old and older. These horses were worth their weight in gold, and they took care of my girls. In return, we gave them a loving home in their golden years with light work, good feed, and lots of love. We lost the last of these great horses at the ripe old age of 36. The criteria I mentioned before still apply to these older horses; you don’t want one that is highly spirited, and some are, even at 20+years.

Also of equal importance is the horse’s training. “Whoa” is much more important than “Go”. The horse should have a good handle, and he should be easy to stop and steer. A horse that is hard to control is not only frustrating for a child, but dangerous as well.

Then, I look at the overall condition of the horse. Does he have any lameness issues? Some very mild lameness in a kid’s horse wouldn’t necessarily be cause for me to rule him out. A veterinary inspection should be done prior to purchase to rule out any serious health issues. Lastly, and probably most importantly, your child should be comfortable with the horse and you both should feel safe with him. If possible, a trial period of a week or two would be ideal. That way, you can determine if the horse or pony is a good match for your child. I always encourage horsemanship lessons because knowledge and safety are the key to a great relationship with horses. When you find the perfect kid’s horse for your child, you will be amazed at the partnership and bond they will form together, and the peace of mind you will have knowing that your child is being taken care of by his equine friend.

Article written by Adrienne Pietrafeso. Adrienne and her husband Ron own Missing Creek Ranch Cutting Horses, raising, training and showing cutting horses with their three daughters in Colorado. Visit them at http://www.MissingCreekRanch.com

Author: Adrienne Pietrafeso
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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I have been pretty lucky in my selection of horses… until now. Starting out, I had trainers who helped me pick the best horses for my temperament. My temperament can be summed up in a single phrase: “I want to win!”

Luckily, my trainer helped me pick out a good match for my first real long-term equine partner: Marcus. Marcus didn’t necessarily want to win, but he did want to please. In wanting to please me, we won a lot. Marcus had an Earth horse personality, so he was always willing to please as long as I brought treats, plenty of treats. Earth type horses work for food.

Next, I had a couple of geldings I did fine with, and then I moved into the big adventure of training mustangs. When you go to pick out a mustang to adopt, unless you are planning to adopt one that has already been halter-broke or started under saddle, you basically get to choose your horse from a distance.

Mustangs: A Whole New World

I get all of my mustangs from the Canon City facility in Colorado, where BLM and the inmates at the prison facility work together to house, maintain, and train a bunch of mustangs (soon to number around 3,000). When I want to adopt a mustang, I drive 6 hours to facility on a scheduled adoption day, join a group of adopters, and wander through this giant facility.

Most of the mustangs are fairly wild, so mostly you stand outside a pen that holds between 30 and 500 mustangs, and you try to “pick” one that you think you would like. I’ve been lucky. My first mustang mare was Bella (you can read about her here), a gentle mare with an Earth horse personality. Again, as long as food was present, everything was fine.

My next mustang mare, Valentine, had a Wood horse personality. Her motto, “I will win!” matches mine pretty well. As long as we both want to win at the same event, we are unbeatable. On the events where we don’t agree, forget it. You can’t “make” Valentine do anything she doesn’t want to do. But generally, I “ride the horse in the direction she’s going,” and we get along fine.

After that came three more mustangs, all with suitable horse personalities. All of them had strong personalities and could withstand some fairly tough training in multiple events. We do everything from team penning and sorting, to hunter/jumper and barrel racing. Fun stuff.

Along Came Walker

Then I got interested in the sport of reining, and I was told in no uncertain terms that my mustangs had neither the conformation nor genetic background to be reining horses. So I bought Walker, my first “expensive” luxury-model horse in a very long time (it costs only $125 to adopt a mustang). Wow, Walker was genetically and conformationally built to spin, stop, and lope circles. He was the perfect reining horse.

The only problem was that Walker was not the perfect reining horse for me. He and I do not have matching personality types. I have to admit that Walker was an impulse buy and that I never stopped to consider his horse personality type before I bought him. It turns out that Walker is a Shao Yin (Fire/Water) horse personality, which means that he is eager to please but also among the most fragile of all the personality types.

When Walker gets a small cut on his leg, his entire leg swells up like a balloon. When one of my mustang mares gets a cut, they don’t even notice it. When Walker gets a stone bruise, he limps like he needs hit foot amputated. When the mustangs get a stone bruise, they lope a little slower on trail but otherwise don’t care. When Walker gets his feelings hurt, he doesn’t react outwardly, but immediately develops some kind of earth-shattering ailment. When the mustangs get upset, they have great fun refusing to be caught. Are you starting to see the difference here?

There is, of course, nothing wrong with Walker. He is a dream horse for most people. He will try his heart out for me and I love him dearly for his kindness, gentleness, and sweetness. I’m just not used to dealing with horse personality types that are “hothouse flowers.” Had I known Walker was a Shao Yin before I bought him, I would have never bought him because I know that I am not the nurturing type. I’m a no-holds-barred tough zen cowgirl who needs a horse just as tough.

The Moral of This Story

So, while Walker and I are learning to get along together, I thank him for teaching me a valuable lesson:

Always test the personality of the horse you are about to buy before you buy him.

The test, which is the equivalent of eHarmony for horses, is free online at Horse Harmony Test. You can read short summaries about the different horse personality types on the Horse Harmony website. Better yet, get the full scoop by reading the Horse Harmony book.

Figure out what type best suits your personality, the discipline in which you ride, and the management style you have. Pick the right type and you’ll have a match made in heaven. Pick a type that’s a little bit of a mismatch, and you may be looking for a different horse within a short period of time. So take the test (you can test yourself as well as any potential horse) and learn something about you, your existing horse, or a future horse. It is fun, it is free, and it is a learning experience!

Stephanie Yeh is a zen cowgirl obsessed about horses, healing, natural remedies, herbs, magic, MLM, and more. Check out natural horse care tips, ways to fund your horse obsession, natural health products, and more on her blog ( http://zencowgirl.blogspot.com ) and order XanGo mangosteen products on her website ( http://www.mangosteengood.com ).

Author: Stephanie H. Yeh
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Curly horses are horses which have a certain gene, inherited from their parents, which makes their hair curly. Not only their coat, but also other hair (mane, tail, fetlocks, even eyelashes) can be curled. They are becoming increasingly popular for three reasons:

• Hypoallergenic. Most people who have an allergy to horses find that they have no allergy to curly horses or have a reduced allergic reaction.
• Appearance. The appearance of these horses, due to the curls or waves in their coat, is not only unusual but many people find it exceptionally attractive.
• Temperament. These horses are reputed to be particularly calm, sensible and intelligent. As such they are especially suited to children and for therapy.

Although the genes which produce curly hair are relatively uncommon among horses, they are found in many different types of horse, from miniatures to standard sized to draft horses. These horses also vary in color and build.

The nature of the curl also varies from horse to horse. In some cases it consists of large, heavy curls but in others it is smaller curls or even fine pin curls. It may even be waves. In some cases, the hair is straight as in a normal horse (no sign of curl), but the horse is still considered a ‘curly horse’ because it is descended from curly horse parents and retains other characteristics such as being hypoallergenic even though it does not display the characteristic curly coat.

Consequently, there is tremendous variety in this group of horses. Curly breeders and associations are still working on defining the breed standard and implementing a breeding program based on this standard, in order that curly horses can be bred towards a standard type (one of the requirements for being recognized as an official breed). Therefore, if you thinking of buying a curly horse, the first thing to keep in mind is that there is no standard appearance for curly horses, so you need to look around to determine the type (size, color and amount of curl) which most appeals to you.

When choosing a curly, also keep in mind that the extent of the curl changes with age and also with season (it is most pronounced in winter). In summer, the hair is not only less curled, but is also shorter and thinner; in some cases the manes and tail hair are extremely short. If appearance is very important, before making your final decision you should see what the horse looks like (even if just from photos) in both winter and summer. You should also check the bloodline which the horse is from as an indication of how the coat will change as it ages (the nature of the changes vary from bloodline to bloodline).

If you are choosing a curly because these horses are hypoallergenic, be aware that the extent of this quality varies from horse to horse and that the benefit varies from person to person. Consequently, any combination of horse and person may exhibit no allergy, a reduced allergy, or the usual horse allergy. Therefore, one should test the person with the horse to determine the extent of the benefit. If one has extreme allergic reactions, take medical advice on how to do this test safely.

Unlike other horses, these horses are normally not clipped for show purposes. This is because, unlike most breeds, its winter coat is considered particularly attractive and its distinguishing characteristic. Curly horses are also known as Bashkir Curlies, American Bashkir Curlies, or North American Curly Horses

Doug Stewart writes articles on Horse Care and other horse topics such as this Curly Horse description.

Author: Doug M Stewart
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Like any career be sure that is really want you want to do before registering for horse training course, you must answer the following questions truthfully.

1. Is horse training your passion?

2. Have you participated in horse shows and watched horse races before?

3. Are you willing to gain new information about the kinds of horse feeds on the market, as well as the required dietary allowance for each type of horse?
4. Do you mind grooming horses every day?
5. What do you think if you are asked to talk to them? The reason for this is, studies have shown that horses obey more through human contact, especially the human voice.
6. Are you encouraging?

7. Can you be a leader?
8. Would you be able to put tacks or harnesses on the horse in order for them to be habitual to the tools?
9. Are you willing to ride the horses and to observe their behavior with each temperament when required?
10. Are you going to be calm when training them?

Why do you have to answer the ten basic questions? These questions are usually asked by horse training instructors to whoever that like to be around horses. It is important that horse trainer is there because he wants to because it can be very dangerous being around horses.

There are usually some expectations from each horse trainer when you choose horse training as a career because it is just like any other career. Mostly the owners would like the trainer they chosen to handle their beloved horses can stop from kicking, resisting grooming and bolting every time their reins aren’t secured.

You must know you job as a horse trainer even before you choose horse training as your career. Therefore when answering the ten questions, answer truthfully. As a horse trainer you are responsible to teach the riding, driving and racing techniques to the horse. If you can bestow the horse the knowledge, the plan training as well as the techniques, you are doing your job well as a horse trainer. The owners have the option to pay independent operators or have their horses put at a training school. Whatever their choice, horse trainers are in demand.

Finer breed of the horse are more expensive. Even the ordinary ones are expensive. Since it is a good investment there are some horse trainers who are knowledgeable about the mating of horses pair up a stallion to a mare, depending on the horse type, in order to come up with a good breed of foal.

Horse training as a career can be a good choice which will give you good returns but you must love what you are doing. That is the bottom line.

Getting as much information on the basic care for your horses is important, make sure you check Heidi Edris’ excellent free report on Horse_Training_Aids

Author: Heidi Edris
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Like any career be sure that is really want you want to do before registering for horse training course, you must answer the following questions truthfully.

1. Is horse training your passion?

2. Have you participated in horse shows and watched horse races before?

3. Are you willing to gain new information about the kinds of horse feeds on the market, as well as the required dietary allowance for each type of horse?
4. Do you mind grooming horses every day?
5. What do you think if you are asked to talk to them? The reason for this is, studies have shown that horses obey more through human contact, especially the human voice.
6. Are you encouraging?

7. Can you be a leader?
8. Would you be able to put tacks or harnesses on the horse in order for them to be habitual to the tools?
9. Are you willing to ride the horses and to observe their behavior with each temperament when required?
10. Are you going to be calm when training them?

Why do you have to answer the ten basic questions? These questions are usually asked by horse training instructors to whoever that like to be around horses. It is important that horse trainer is there because he wants to because it can be very dangerous being around horses.

There are usually some expectations from each horse trainer when you choose horse training as a career because it is just like any other career. Mostly the owners would like the trainer they chosen to handle their beloved horses can stop from kicking, resisting grooming and bolting every time their reins aren’t secured.

You must know you job as a horse trainer even before you choose horse training as your career. Therefore when answering the ten questions, answer truthfully. As a horse trainer you are responsible to teach the riding, driving and racing techniques to the horse. If you can bestow the horse the knowledge, the plan training as well as the techniques, you are doing your job well as a horse trainer. The owners have the option to pay independent operators or have their horses put at a training school. Whatever their choice, horse trainers are in demand.

Finer breed of the horse are more expensive. Even the ordinary ones are expensive. Since it is a good investment there are some horse trainers who are knowledgeable about the mating of horses pair up a stallion to a mare, depending on the horse type, in order to come up with a good breed of foal.

Horse training as a career can be a good choice which will give you good returns but you must love what you are doing. That is the bottom line.

Getting as much information on the basic care for your horses is important, make sure you check Heidi Edris’ excellent free report on Horse_Training_Aids

Author: Heidi Edris
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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