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by Al Dunning and Deanna Lally A multiple reining, cutting and working cow horse champion, Al Dunning describes how to prepare your horse and yourself to meet the challenge of cow horse competition in Down the Fence. Chapters include a history of the reined cow horse, how to select …
by Laura Schonberg When my mare Poema first came home she had not been bridled, saddled, or ridden. I wanted to build on what I learned from developing working relationships with my first two horses and, in particular, avoid the mistake of going too far too fast. I naturally operate …
by Jackie Davenport Whatever the trail course or its obstacles, it can be a blast to watch the “go” of a well schooled horse that is confident, curious and athletic. Arena trail is not only fun to watch, more importantly some amount of trail training benefits all horses and …
Why Obstacle Training is Good for Every Horse by Mark Bolender Your horse’s mind is an amazing place, but understanding the basics is an absolute necessity in order to effectively train it. The reality is I want to change the horse’s natural instinct, reaction, and teach it to think …
The Ease of Handling Trial by Kim Roe Last month we covered the dressage phase of working equitation, now we explore phase 2: the “ease of handling” trial. This trial involves a course of 8 – 15 obstacles ridden slowly and precisely, like dressage through obstacles. The objective of this …
How to Properly Set Your Horse Up for a Lead Change by Allison Trimble When trained and executed properly, a flying lead change is a beautiful thing. However; it is a maneuver that many horses and riders struggle to perform. I receive loads of questions on how to teach …
Stay Safe Around Equines with these Awareness Practices by Ute Philippi, farrier I recently read a post on Facebook about another farrier being kicked by a draft horse. This prompted me to share some awareness practices I have learned over the years working as a farrier. These do …
If your horse throws a fit when you try to ride away from other horses, turn it into a training opportunity. Use the other horses to ride around. After hustling your horse’s feet for a few minutes, ride him away from the group and let him rest. With repetition, he’ll …
The Dressage Phase by Kim Roe As a dressage trainer and rider, I became interested in the discipline of working equitation because it includes a dressage phase. I appreciate the harmony between horse and rider that is developed in dressage, and the way that good dressage work can transform almost …
Four Keys to Finding the Balance in Your Journey I have been thinking of this stage of life as a convergence zone; the place where a day job, family and horse training all crash together. Like me, some folks have had the opportunity to devote themselves to horses before the …