There is a rule of thumb that we should try to follow. That is that, our horses should return to the stable as fresh as when they left. This of course does not mean that if the horse is hot when we take him out that he should be hot and jumping around, bucking or rearing. What this means is that, we try most of the time if not all the time to make sure we don't over work the horse.
I see many riders/trainers lunge their horses for an hour or thirty minutes before getting on the horse. Whether it's in a round pen or on the lunge line, the horse uses up a lot of energy doing this, if we then add forty five minutes of a training session, patterns, or school figures we risk over working the horse.
I like to teach all my young horses to stand quiet until asked to move away. This is important because, no one likes a nervous horse fidgeting about. If I am breaking in or rather backing a young horse, I will spend a considerable amount of time on lunging lessons. But, not just running around and around in circles, NO. I will spend a great deal of time teaching the horse to balance itself without the weight of the rider, then with the weight of the saddle, and finally I will ad a bit and side reins with time. I try to never spend long time with a horse, because I don't want to get it annoyed or frustrated, I want him to enjoy his work. So, some of the time that I spend on the lunge line with the young or green horse will be to teach him to stand quiet and ignore his surroundings. Some of the early lessons will be to do nothing but to stand quiet for the whole lesson. Boring? Perhaps a little. Necessary? You Bet! Once the horse has been backed I will only lunge occasionally and this will be done, on straight lines, large circles, spirals and to teach the lengthening and shortening of the strides and other transitions.
When the horse is at a certain level of his training, I will not lunge him but rather get him out of the field (most of my training horses, geldings and mares, live at pasture 90% of the time) or out of the stall or turnout ring, in the case of stallions, saddle them up and ride them out on a loose rein. That's my warm up. A nice loose relaxing walk, in the open or in the arena if for some reason I can't ride in the open. In this way the horse has already learned to stand quiet in the early lessons and to stay calm.
So now I don't need to worry about the horse spooking, shying, running away, bucking, etc. I have spent the time necessary in the basics for this.
Some times a lesson will go for 15min including my warm up at the walk. That is all! 15min! Especially during hot, summer days. I can drill a horse over and over for an hour, but the horse will learn to hate his work and the more he hates it, more he acts up, and the more he acts up the more the rider feels he needs to get him to sweat it out, and the more the rider gets him to sweat it out the more the horse get his stamina going, until one day the rider will call me and ask me for help. Yes? Yes. It happens more than you would think, sadly it really does. An average lesson is about 45minutes to 1hour and 15minutes if worked correctly. As long as the horse is stressed, there will be no learning on the part of the horse, only frustration on the part of both parties.
We need to push the horse right to the line, but not cross it. Kind of like teasing a bear behind the bars at the zoo. We don't want to bear to get out of the cage, we just want it to get used to us being there so we can continue to have fun teasing it. We want to push that horse slowly forward, until he has gotten used to being worked longer and has acquired the right state of mind.
This is why it is better to workout 15minutes and not break a sweat, but do it with correct form and with the right meal plan, than to workout for two hours a day and stuff your face with carbs, saturated fat, sugar, and the stuff that makes you put on the weight. No matter how much we work our horses if we don't do it with the right goal and the right plan to accomplish the goal, we won't be able to make it. All of the old masters say, "ride your horse, forward, calm, and make it straight" the key word in this case is "calm". If the horse is not calm, it is up to the rider or the trainer to make him calm, even if it means taking the horse out and letting him just stand there for ten minutes and then put him away. This alone can and should be a lesson at times. When we talk about bringing the horse back to the stable as fresh as when he left, it is not meant that we do nothing at all with him, unless of course we are doing the previous lesson, but this however must be done at the right time, that is why the rider or trainer must learn to discern when or at what moment, how, and why. Always why.
Yes there will be times when, we must work the horse for a little longer than normal, and yes there will be times when we will not be able to bring the horse back to the stable as fresh as when he left, because some times it will be impossible to follow the rule. This is when we must think, and act accordingly.
http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Colic! An equine emergency, arm yourself with knowledge | Posted: Nov 30, 2010 |
ColicThe term colic refers to abdominal pain in horses. Every horse owner or person handling horses should not only be aware of the signs and symptoms of colic but also the causes, potential risks and ways to reduce risk.
Symptoms: - The horse is restless, of particular relevance if the other horses around continue to remain relaxed,
- The horse is unusually quiet,
- The horse has left it's food,
- The horse is lying down, either lying still or rolling,
- The horse may pass fewer droppings,
- The horse may appear as though he/she wishes to urinate however the penis may not protrude of tail lifted which happens for regular urination,
in severe cases
- The horse may sweat, especially behind the elbows and on the flanks,
- The rolling may become violent or frequent,
- The horse becomes less oblivious to its environment,
- The abdomen is obviously distended,
- Rapid breathing even when the horse is not moving,
- A change in the colour of the horse's gums from salmon pink to a grey or purple, or
- The horse's pulse rate becomes rapid – over 70bpm and becomes weaker.
CausesBeing that colic refers only to abdominal pain there are many causes for and different severities of colic. Cause for mild colic (medical colic) may be;
- A dramatic and sudden change in diet or feeding a high amount of starchy cereal grains (Sutton, 2006),
- Spasm of the intestinal wall,
- Lack of water (Davies, 2009),
- Recent worming,
- Distension of the stomach – after the horse feeds on large amounts of unsoaked sugar beets or grass cuttings.
Some causes for sever colic (surgical colic) may be;
- Torsion of the bowel along its length,
- Entrapment of a portion of the intestine through an internal opening, the entrapped section swells and blood flow is cut off,
- A large intact of sand with feed, which stores and has to be surgically removed (Rush, 2009),
- Strangulation of the intestine,
- in essence twisted or trapped intestines.
Treatment and PrognosisIf a handler suspects their horses is suffering from colic then veterinary attention should be sought immediately. There are various things that the handler can do whilst waiting for the vet to arrive, these include; remove any food or water from the environment, if the horse is laying down but not rolling then cautiously provide generous bedding and remove other items from the area, if the horse is rolling in a small stable then allowing it a greater space where it can be supervised and roll without injuring itself can assist (O'Brien, 2007). If a horse is presenting unaware of his or her surroundings, as with severe colic the handler should not enter the environment due to a high risk of being kicked or trampled. Collecting information for the vet will also be beneficial, such as working schedule, recent changes in diet, resting and healthy heart and breath rate. Veterinary treatment is required as only a vet can check for the severity of the condition. The older practice of walking horses presenting with colic is now viewed as more dangerous, being that if the horse has a surgical colic walking will likely increase the pain or problem (Rush, 2008).
Approximately 90% of colics respond well to medical treatment and 10% will require surgery (Rush, 2008). This 10% requiring surgery will have a better prognosis if detected early and surgical intervention is attended to early, hence the initial requirement to contact the vet at the initial concerns of colic. Medical colic can involve the vet treating the horse with pain killers (Davies, 2009), and possibly something to relieve cramps (Rush, 2009). Of course treatment will only be offered after a complete medical examination including respiratory rate, gut sounds, circulation, heart rate and hydration and may include a rectal examination (O'Brien, 2007) or passing a stomach tube through the nostril (Rush, 2009). Should the vet determine that the colic is severe and due to an obstruction of blood flow then the vet may suggest immediate surgery, this is considered a veterinary emergency as horses may quickly go into endotoxaemic shock (Davies, 2009) and horses may die within several hours if not treated. Surgery should only be considered on otherwise healthy horses. The surgical procedure may or may not include the removal of a portion of the gut (Davies, 2009). Post surgical care involves restricting dietary and water intake, a maintanence ration of quality fibre and water should follow with vitamin suppliments. Cereal grains may only be included in the horse's diet after several weeks (Davies, 2009). Post colic care if treated medically and not surgically, diet can return to normal at a low level initially in case the cause of the colic was in fact that food regime in the first place (Davies, 2009).
Prevention of colic includes monitoring food intake and reducing rapid changes, reducing starch in the diet, increasing dry forage, adding live yeast culture to feeds to increase the bacteria in the hint gut and promote increased fermentation and maintaining a good working regime (Huntington, Myers & Owens, 2004).
References
Auty, I. (2005). The BHS Complete Manual of Stable Management. Kenilworth Press: Great Britain.
Davies, Z. (2009). Introduction to horse nutrition. Wiley-Blackwell, UK.
Huntington, P., Myers, J. & Owens, E. (2004). Horse Sense, 2nd Edition. Landlinks Press: Victoria.
O'Brien, K. (2007). Essential Horse Health. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Pavord, T. & Pavord, M. (2007) Complete Equine Veterinary Manual. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Rush, A. (2008). You Horse's Health First Aid. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Sutton, A. (2006). The Injury Free Horse. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Symptoms: - The horse is restless, of particular relevance if the other horses around continue to remain relaxed,
- The horse is unusually quiet,
- The horse has left it's food,
- The horse is lying down, either lying still or rolling,
- The horse may pass fewer droppings,
- The horse may appear as though he/she wishes to urinate however the penis may not protrude of tail lifted which happens for regular urination,
in severe cases
- The horse may sweat, especially behind the elbows and on the flanks,
- The rolling may become violent or frequent,
- The horse becomes less oblivious to its environment,
- The abdomen is obviously distended,
- Rapid breathing even when the horse is not moving,
- A change in the colour of the horse's gums from salmon pink to a grey or purple, or
- The horse's pulse rate becomes rapid – over 70bpm and becomes weaker.
CausesBeing that colic refers only to abdominal pain there are many causes for and different severities of colic. Cause for mild colic (medical colic) may be;
- A dramatic and sudden change in diet or feeding a high amount of starchy cereal grains (Sutton, 2006),
- Spasm of the intestinal wall,
- Lack of water (Davies, 2009),
- Recent worming,
- Distension of the stomach – after the horse feeds on large amounts of unsoaked sugar beets or grass cuttings.
Some causes for sever colic (surgical colic) may be;
- Torsion of the bowel along its length,
- Entrapment of a portion of the intestine through an internal opening, the entrapped section swells and blood flow is cut off,
- A large intact of sand with feed, which stores and has to be surgically removed (Rush, 2009),
- Strangulation of the intestine,
- in essence twisted or trapped intestines.
Treatment and PrognosisIf a handler suspects their horses is suffering from colic then veterinary attention should be sought immediately. There are various things that the handler can do whilst waiting for the vet to arrive, these include; remove any food or water from the environment, if the horse is laying down but not rolling then cautiously provide generous bedding and remove other items from the area, if the horse is rolling in a small stable then allowing it a greater space where it can be supervised and roll without injuring itself can assist (O'Brien, 2007). If a horse is presenting unaware of his or her surroundings, as with severe colic the handler should not enter the environment due to a high risk of being kicked or trampled. Collecting information for the vet will also be beneficial, such as working schedule, recent changes in diet, resting and healthy heart and breath rate. Veterinary treatment is required as only a vet can check for the severity of the condition. The older practice of walking horses presenting with colic is now viewed as more dangerous, being that if the horse has a surgical colic walking will likely increase the pain or problem (Rush, 2008).
Approximately 90% of colics respond well to medical treatment and 10% will require surgery (Rush, 2008). This 10% requiring surgery will have a better prognosis if detected early and surgical intervention is attended to early, hence the initial requirement to contact the vet at the initial concerns of colic. Medical colic can involve the vet treating the horse with pain killers (Davies, 2009), and possibly something to relieve cramps (Rush, 2009). Of course treatment will only be offered after a complete medical examination including respiratory rate, gut sounds, circulation, heart rate and hydration and may include a rectal examination (O'Brien, 2007) or passing a stomach tube through the nostril (Rush, 2009). Should the vet determine that the colic is severe and due to an obstruction of blood flow then the vet may suggest immediate surgery, this is considered a veterinary emergency as horses may quickly go into endotoxaemic shock (Davies, 2009) and horses may die within several hours if not treated. Surgery should only be considered on otherwise healthy horses. The surgical procedure may or may not include the removal of a portion of the gut (Davies, 2009). Post surgical care involves restricting dietary and water intake, a maintanence ration of quality fibre and water should follow with vitamin suppliments. Cereal grains may only be included in the horse's diet after several weeks (Davies, 2009). Post colic care if treated medically and not surgically, diet can return to normal at a low level initially in case the cause of the colic was in fact that food regime in the first place (Davies, 2009).
Prevention of colic includes monitoring food intake and reducing rapid changes, reducing starch in the diet, increasing dry forage, adding live yeast culture to feeds to increase the bacteria in the hint gut and promote increased fermentation and maintaining a good working regime (Huntington, Myers & Owens, 2004).
References
Auty, I. (2005). The BHS Complete Manual of Stable Management. Kenilworth Press: Great Britain.
Davies, Z. (2009). Introduction to horse nutrition. Wiley-Blackwell, UK.
Huntington, P., Myers, J. & Owens, E. (2004). Horse Sense, 2nd Edition. Landlinks Press: Victoria.
O'Brien, K. (2007). Essential Horse Health. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Pavord, T. & Pavord, M. (2007) Complete Equine Veterinary Manual. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Rush, A. (2008). You Horse's Health First Aid. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Sutton, A. (2006). The Injury Free Horse. David and Charles Limited: UK.
Horses in Art
by: Andrea Balch
The History of the horse in art is one that spans thousands of years, and goes back to before the horse was first domesticated. The discoveries of rock paintings at Lascaux and Avignon in France have provided us with an insight , not only in to the very early artists, but also of the physical appearance of the primitive horse. That these paintings have survived at all is unbelievable, but when you consider their date of approximately 20,000 BC, and compare this to the condition they are in, is it quite astonishing. Significance of Cave Paintings. Both the Sites at Lascaux and Avignon are buried in deep underground caves, and perhaps this has largely contributed to their preservation. It is interesting to consider why these paintings were done in such inaccessible places and whether they were depictions of what early man considered to be spiritual or god-like animals. Alternatively , they could simply have been portrayals in admiration of the fierce and wild spirit of the early horses. One vivid drawing is the picture of a horse at Niaux, in the mid-Pyrenees. Carefully drawn with the heavy black outline, it bears a striking resemblance to Przewalski's horse. Others, at the site at Vallon-Point-d'Arc, are depicted with flowing lines and bold colour and are so detailed that it is possible to pick out spotted markings similar to the Appaloosa. Carvings of Nineveh and Nimrud. Pictures of the horse through the centuries provide us with a tremendous information, ranging from the horse in society, to how the horse developed. Another great source of pictures comes from the Assyrian people of the Middle East, and the best of these are in the Assyrian Ashurbanipal Hunting Relief Large. This relief was found in the Ashurbanipal Palace, Nineveh. It is from 645 B.C. and can now be found in the British Museum. Form of bas-reliefs carvings in the palaces from Niveveh date back approximately to 645 BC and give a vivid portrayal of the times. They include carvings of an exotic lion hunt with the king in his chariot. Standing alongside are the beautifully and evocatively displayed horses, tense with the excitement of the chase. They even showing the harnessing and tack that were being used on the horses. The horses appear muscular and in good condition , obviously well looked after, but are depicted with a typical, straight legged movement it is many years before horses were shown with a natural movement in their gait. The relief's at Nimrud, which date to approximately 865-860 BC, are equally as vivid as those at Nineveh. They show mounted archers riding mounted bareback on powerful looking stallions, while aiming their bows. Again, the relief's show the elaborate bridles that were in use and a type of decorative neck hanging with tassels. Horse Sculptures, perhaps some of the most early amazing sculptures are the four figurines of the early gilded copper horses which reside in the Basilica San Marco, Venic. These horses date back to the third of forth century BC and stand larger than life size. They are believed to have been produced by the Greek sculptor Lysippus and are wonderfully proud and mascular. They are fairly atomically correct, very life like. Horses have been depicted in the history af art for their strength and beauty. This such depiction has been the subject of many an artist, that has continued to this day. And, being a very popular subject, can only enrich art as a tribute to the horse.
Don't forge to visit my site, http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com
Monday, December 26, 2011
The Seat
The Seat
by Antonio Topete Diaz
Western, English, Dressage, Australian, Stock, Mexican, Spanish, Portuguese, Maremano, Gaucho etc. etc. These are just some of the riding saddles that are most popularly used today. But, does it really matter what kind of saddle is used for the training of a horse? And more importantly, does the kind of saddle matter in the ability of the rider to ride? The answer, is both yes and no. Why do I say this? Well, for the inexperienced, the kind of saddle does give the rider a sort of comfort and mental assurance that he/she will not fall off the horse. For the rider that has been riding correctly for some time, feeling safe on a horse's back will depend very little on the kind of saddle being used. On the other hand, a more comfortable saddle for the horse and for the rider will always make horseback riding a more pleasant experience. Some saddles that have knee rolls or something like it, gives the rider a sense of feel that if the horse takes off running or bucking, the saddle will keep the rider in place. For training, the saddle will depend on the kind of training that the horse will be put under, or on the kind of work that will be expected of the horse.
When we Speak of the seat, it does not mean we are talking about the seat of the saddle, but of the seat of the rider. The seat of the rider plays an important role in riding and in training horses. The rider that develops a strong seat, also known as an independent seat will be more apt to train a horse or to ride a schooled horse. For this reason at Spanish Riding School, the riding masters first teach their pupils how to develop a strong seat, and nothing else, the same was true at the Centaur Institute of Classical Equine Studies (CICES). This is done with a gentle horse on the lunge line under the eye of an instructor/s to assure that posture, relaxation and correctness are developed. Only in this way can the student develop the ability to use body weight, legs, and hands or seat,legs, and hands with greater ability.
The horse, even when young or green, will be able to move more relaxed and freely under a rider who does not depend on a death grip of his legs or of the reins to stay in the saddle. As the rider advances in his/her riding education, he/she will feel more relaxed and comforatable riding a horse in what ever discipline they are studying. As the rider gets more comfortable the horse too will become better schooled, given that it is prepared carefully and diligently. In time the rider will learn how to use his/her seat to turn, stop, reinback, and collect his/her horse. Only thru the proper use of seat, legs and hands can the rider ever accomplish high levels of horsemanship regardless of the riding sport in question.
"It takes time, riding takes a long long time." -Walter A. Zettl
Don't Forget to visit my website at http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Things to consider when buying a horse trailer. by Rick McKeithan
Top five things to consider when buying a horse trailer. Use these tips to make an informed and educated decision when you're in the market for a horse trailer.
Horse Trailers are a fact-of-life for anyone involved with horses, whether riding, training, showing, buying and selling or all of the above. For anyone who has ever dealt with transporting horses, or who plans to in the future, we've put together this guide to help you prioritize some of the important factors when considering purchase of a new horse trailer.
Horse Trailers are available in a variety of styles and sizes with any number of add-ons and accessories. You can find basic 2 Horse Trailers to 4 Horse Trailers with Living Quarters, trailers with tack rooms, saddle racks, storage, and feed doors, and with a bumper pull slant load, bumper pull straight load, or gooseneck hitch. With all of the styles and features available from leading manufacturers, it's important to get an idea of what you need and expect from your horse trailer. The following 5 tips can help make sure you get the most out of your horse trailer for your intended purposes.
1. 2, 3, or 4 Horse Trailer - First you need to consider how many horses you will be transporting at any time. Here you need to think about your plans for the future and your goals with your horse business. If you know that you have a smaller operation or a side hobby with your horses, a 2 horse trailer might be ideal for the foreseeable future. However, if you intend to grow and expand your business, or breed your horses, you might think about getting a 3 or 4 horse trailer to accommodate future needs (or current needs if you already have more horses). Also, many horse trailers allow you to remove the stall divider if you are transporting fewer horses than the trailer can accommodate.
2. Bumper Pull or Gooseneck Hitch - Horse trailers can be found with either bumper pull or gooseneck hitches for your vehicle and here you need to consider the configuration of your transporting vehicle as well as the size and weight of your load. Bumper pull horse trailers are used with vehicles that have a ball hitch and the trailer is attached to the rear of the vehicle. Gooseneck hitches are used with pick-up trucks and are generally considered to be much stronger. The gooseneck hitch is located in the truck bed above the rear axle and the trailer is then secured to it. The horse trailer in this case has a front end protrusion that extends beyond the main structure of the trailer. The type of hitch you choose depends largely on the type of vehicle you're using as well as the weight of the cargo load.
3. Slant Load or Straight Load - A slant load horse trailer has stalls that are slanted from right to left to accommodate 2 or 3 horses riding at a time. This configuration allows for transporting more horses without adding to the width of the trailer. A straight load trailer loads 1 or 2 horses straight into the trailer and generally gives the horses more room. Depending on the manufacturer, both slant load and straight load trailers have dividers to separate the stalls and may have tack storage rooms for the horse's equipment. Choosing between slant load and straight load really depends on how many horses you will be transporting, the size of the horses, and the load capacity of your vehicle.
4. Living Quarters - Some horse trailers are equipped with Living Quarters to accommodate the driver or owner or caretaker during overnight or longer expeditions. Living quarters may be a necessity if you plan on regularly transporting the horses on longer trips. This feature will make the trip more safe, restful, convenient, and economical overall. Depending on the manufacturer, you can expect a bed, wardrobe, shower, and kitchen area with stovetop, sink, and microwave. Sounds a lot better than trying to catch some shut-eye in the cab of your truck!
5. New or Used Horse Trailer - In your search for a horse trailer, you will find many options on the resale market as well as all manner of new horse trailers. Here you want to consider whether you want customized options and what warranties are available. These might be the deciding factors in choosing new over used. For example, a new Sundowner horse trailer comes with a 3 Year Hitch to Bumper Warranty as well as an 8 Year Structural Warranty. The 3 Year Warranty even covers all items in the Living Quarters units (please see http://www.trailershowroom.com/Sundowner_Warranty.htm for complete details on the Sundowner warranties). You'll want to weigh in these factors when shopping for your horse trailer while also considering the source of the trailer (respected dealer, personal sale from the classifieds, etc).
As you can see, shopping for a horse trailer requires some homework and smart planning. Let these 5 factors provide a starting point in your process to successfully choosing a horse trailer. It is a big investment and takes into account the safety and comfort of you and your horses as well as reliability, durability, and affordability.
Of course, there are more details to consider and compare as you get further in your shopping and buying process but we hope we've helped get you started on your way.
Rick McKeithan (author) is owner of The Trailer Showroom, an online store for horse trailers, cargo trailers,enclosed trailers, and car haulers offering discount prices on all custom manufactured trailers. The Trailer Showroom is an authorized Sundowner Horse Trailer dealer with competitive online pricing.
don't forget to visit my website http://classicalspanishequitatio.weebly.com
Horse Trailers are a fact-of-life for anyone involved with horses, whether riding, training, showing, buying and selling or all of the above. For anyone who has ever dealt with transporting horses, or who plans to in the future, we've put together this guide to help you prioritize some of the important factors when considering purchase of a new horse trailer.
Horse Trailers are available in a variety of styles and sizes with any number of add-ons and accessories. You can find basic 2 Horse Trailers to 4 Horse Trailers with Living Quarters, trailers with tack rooms, saddle racks, storage, and feed doors, and with a bumper pull slant load, bumper pull straight load, or gooseneck hitch. With all of the styles and features available from leading manufacturers, it's important to get an idea of what you need and expect from your horse trailer. The following 5 tips can help make sure you get the most out of your horse trailer for your intended purposes.
1. 2, 3, or 4 Horse Trailer - First you need to consider how many horses you will be transporting at any time. Here you need to think about your plans for the future and your goals with your horse business. If you know that you have a smaller operation or a side hobby with your horses, a 2 horse trailer might be ideal for the foreseeable future. However, if you intend to grow and expand your business, or breed your horses, you might think about getting a 3 or 4 horse trailer to accommodate future needs (or current needs if you already have more horses). Also, many horse trailers allow you to remove the stall divider if you are transporting fewer horses than the trailer can accommodate.
2. Bumper Pull or Gooseneck Hitch - Horse trailers can be found with either bumper pull or gooseneck hitches for your vehicle and here you need to consider the configuration of your transporting vehicle as well as the size and weight of your load. Bumper pull horse trailers are used with vehicles that have a ball hitch and the trailer is attached to the rear of the vehicle. Gooseneck hitches are used with pick-up trucks and are generally considered to be much stronger. The gooseneck hitch is located in the truck bed above the rear axle and the trailer is then secured to it. The horse trailer in this case has a front end protrusion that extends beyond the main structure of the trailer. The type of hitch you choose depends largely on the type of vehicle you're using as well as the weight of the cargo load.
3. Slant Load or Straight Load - A slant load horse trailer has stalls that are slanted from right to left to accommodate 2 or 3 horses riding at a time. This configuration allows for transporting more horses without adding to the width of the trailer. A straight load trailer loads 1 or 2 horses straight into the trailer and generally gives the horses more room. Depending on the manufacturer, both slant load and straight load trailers have dividers to separate the stalls and may have tack storage rooms for the horse's equipment. Choosing between slant load and straight load really depends on how many horses you will be transporting, the size of the horses, and the load capacity of your vehicle.
4. Living Quarters - Some horse trailers are equipped with Living Quarters to accommodate the driver or owner or caretaker during overnight or longer expeditions. Living quarters may be a necessity if you plan on regularly transporting the horses on longer trips. This feature will make the trip more safe, restful, convenient, and economical overall. Depending on the manufacturer, you can expect a bed, wardrobe, shower, and kitchen area with stovetop, sink, and microwave. Sounds a lot better than trying to catch some shut-eye in the cab of your truck!
5. New or Used Horse Trailer - In your search for a horse trailer, you will find many options on the resale market as well as all manner of new horse trailers. Here you want to consider whether you want customized options and what warranties are available. These might be the deciding factors in choosing new over used. For example, a new Sundowner horse trailer comes with a 3 Year Hitch to Bumper Warranty as well as an 8 Year Structural Warranty. The 3 Year Warranty even covers all items in the Living Quarters units (please see http://www.trailershowroom.com/Sundowner_Warranty.htm for complete details on the Sundowner warranties). You'll want to weigh in these factors when shopping for your horse trailer while also considering the source of the trailer (respected dealer, personal sale from the classifieds, etc).
As you can see, shopping for a horse trailer requires some homework and smart planning. Let these 5 factors provide a starting point in your process to successfully choosing a horse trailer. It is a big investment and takes into account the safety and comfort of you and your horses as well as reliability, durability, and affordability.
Of course, there are more details to consider and compare as you get further in your shopping and buying process but we hope we've helped get you started on your way.
Rick McKeithan (author) is owner of The Trailer Showroom, an online store for horse trailers, cargo trailers,enclosed trailers, and car haulers offering discount prices on all custom manufactured trailers. The Trailer Showroom is an authorized Sundowner Horse Trailer dealer with competitive online pricing.
don't forget to visit my website http://classicalspanishequitatio.weebly.com
what is dressage?
In simple terms dressage is the French term for Dressing/training horses and a dressed horse is nothing more than a trained horse. The interesting part is that until the introduction of dressage sport in the Olympics of 1912, Dressage or the Dressing of horses was reserved mostly for the military and royalty.
Today, just a century later there seems to be a great distinction between classical Dressage, or classical riding and modern or competition dressage. Modesty and Humility that often accompanied skill and mastery of the riders of the past is in recent times absent and almost non existent, being replaced by arrogance, indifference and ego. Not by the true masters, but by those who feel superior to all others.
Any horse, doesn't matter what kind of horse it is, can be a dressage horse. It all depends on, what exactly each rider prefers. That also means that any horse of any breed can benefit from the classical training principles. In recent times, most riders prefer the horses with lots of movement, and even are often times prejudice against horses with a lack of extension or suspension in the trot. True an extended trot looks very spectacular when performed under an expert rider but lets not forget about other movements like, the pirouette or zigzag half pass. After all, aren't these movements also part of competition?
What ever the case, all horses can be training horses, or dressage horses. All horses should in my opinion be trained in the classical form. Only in this way can the horse be fully transformed and then directed with ease in any discipline, sport or job the rider has to offer. Dressage still means training today as it did in older times, we as human beings have made a new meaning for Dressage as a form of riding sport, that resembles but not always matches classical riding the way it was intended to. When you hear a person saying, "this horse has dressage movement" or "this is a dressagy horse" or "this is not a dressage horse" they are usually talking about the sport of competitive dressage, the horse's natural suspended movement at the trot, conformation qualities, or don't truly understand the original meaning of the word.
In some countries Spain and Mexico for example, every riding style has a "Doma" in front of it. Doma, being the Spanish word for Dressage, refers to the different riding or training styles, such as Doma Americana (reining/western riding), Doma or Rienda Charra (Mexican Charro/Mexican Cowboy riding), Doma Gaucha (Argentinian riding style), Doma Vaquera(Spanish Cowboy Dressage), Domado en Alta Escuela (Trained to High School).
visit my website at: http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com
Today, just a century later there seems to be a great distinction between classical Dressage, or classical riding and modern or competition dressage. Modesty and Humility that often accompanied skill and mastery of the riders of the past is in recent times absent and almost non existent, being replaced by arrogance, indifference and ego. Not by the true masters, but by those who feel superior to all others.
Any horse, doesn't matter what kind of horse it is, can be a dressage horse. It all depends on, what exactly each rider prefers. That also means that any horse of any breed can benefit from the classical training principles. In recent times, most riders prefer the horses with lots of movement, and even are often times prejudice against horses with a lack of extension or suspension in the trot. True an extended trot looks very spectacular when performed under an expert rider but lets not forget about other movements like, the pirouette or zigzag half pass. After all, aren't these movements also part of competition?
What ever the case, all horses can be training horses, or dressage horses. All horses should in my opinion be trained in the classical form. Only in this way can the horse be fully transformed and then directed with ease in any discipline, sport or job the rider has to offer. Dressage still means training today as it did in older times, we as human beings have made a new meaning for Dressage as a form of riding sport, that resembles but not always matches classical riding the way it was intended to. When you hear a person saying, "this horse has dressage movement" or "this is a dressagy horse" or "this is not a dressage horse" they are usually talking about the sport of competitive dressage, the horse's natural suspended movement at the trot, conformation qualities, or don't truly understand the original meaning of the word.
In some countries Spain and Mexico for example, every riding style has a "Doma" in front of it. Doma, being the Spanish word for Dressage, refers to the different riding or training styles, such as Doma Americana (reining/western riding), Doma or Rienda Charra (Mexican Charro/Mexican Cowboy riding), Doma Gaucha (Argentinian riding style), Doma Vaquera(Spanish Cowboy Dressage), Domado en Alta Escuela (Trained to High School).
visit my website at: http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Spanish Walk
The Spanish Walk is not recognized as a classical movement amongst the leading classical institutions, with the exception of Spain and Portugal.
In the past it has been thought of as nothing but a trick, and therefore has been frowned upon by classical riding masters world wide as a circus trick. Baucher and Fillis two of the most celebrated riding masters of the past, Baucher for inventing the one tempi flying change, Fillis for making popular the Fillis manner of holding the reins and the canter in reverse, used this "trick", the Spanish Walk, in their circus exhibitions and in their performances, and also acknowledge it as a high school movement.
Without a doubt the Spanish Walk, is one of the most spectacular movements that a horse can do but for centuries has been controversial as to whether or not it can be considered a high school movement.
Why?
According to the classical principals, the horse should only be taught to do under saddle what he naturally does at liberty. According to some classical riders, the Spanish Walk, and the Spanish Greeting, ARE things that the horse does by nature. When two stallions are in a dispute about a mare in the wild, they usually strike out with the front legs, one at a time resembling the Spanish Walk or the Spanish Greeting. For this reason it IS allowed to be introduced amongst different high school movements not found in the FEI or classical styles of riding.
The Spanish Walk however, goes beyond having the horse march in a one front foot after the other sort of fashion. The distinction between a correct Spanish Walk and a poorly performed Spanish Walk is often times hard to see. First of all, if we are to consider the Spanish Walk amongst high school moves, we must not begin its training until the horse is at the end of his basic and intermediate schooling. The walk must be very well established both in the lengthening and collecting form. Also the Spanish Walk must be made in the form of the walk, that is, in a four beat sequence and not in the sequence of the trot which is so often seen. The reason why many riding masters disapprove of the Spanish Walk as a high school movement is because very few riders, and trainers in the world and in history, have had the ability to teach this move correctly in a four beat walk sequence like it should be. And most of the time we see the Spanish Walk being performed pre maturely acquiring the diagonal sequence of the trot.
So, even though this movement will continually be used as an exhibition trick, it cannot be considered high school, unless it is performed in the correct manner. In Spanish Alta Escuela (Spanish High School Riding), the Spanish Walk is required in the riding tests, but are often times judged, not on the height or length of the extension of the front limbs but on the correctness of it's execution, the sequence of the walk. The more correct the move the more points the Spanish Walk accumulates, in conjunction with the extension and height of the front legs of course. A very easy trick to teach our horses when done for fun or other purposes, very difficult if we even think of ever wanting to call it High School.
But having this in mind, all horses can easily be taught to do a Spanish Walk for the purpose of adding diversity in the training of the horse, for stretching and warming up purposes, and for breaking the some times boring cycle of drills and routines. And, there is no rule that says we cannot teach our horses the Spanish Walk in the best way that we can, in the form of a trick if you will, and build on that, to eventually try and get it as clean and correct as possible in hope to one day call it High School.
Visit my website http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com and tell your friends of my new book called El Caballo de Baile (The Dancing Horse)on sale at amazon.com check it out below
In the past it has been thought of as nothing but a trick, and therefore has been frowned upon by classical riding masters world wide as a circus trick. Baucher and Fillis two of the most celebrated riding masters of the past, Baucher for inventing the one tempi flying change, Fillis for making popular the Fillis manner of holding the reins and the canter in reverse, used this "trick", the Spanish Walk, in their circus exhibitions and in their performances, and also acknowledge it as a high school movement.
Without a doubt the Spanish Walk, is one of the most spectacular movements that a horse can do but for centuries has been controversial as to whether or not it can be considered a high school movement.
Why?
According to the classical principals, the horse should only be taught to do under saddle what he naturally does at liberty. According to some classical riders, the Spanish Walk, and the Spanish Greeting, ARE things that the horse does by nature. When two stallions are in a dispute about a mare in the wild, they usually strike out with the front legs, one at a time resembling the Spanish Walk or the Spanish Greeting. For this reason it IS allowed to be introduced amongst different high school movements not found in the FEI or classical styles of riding.
The Spanish Walk however, goes beyond having the horse march in a one front foot after the other sort of fashion. The distinction between a correct Spanish Walk and a poorly performed Spanish Walk is often times hard to see. First of all, if we are to consider the Spanish Walk amongst high school moves, we must not begin its training until the horse is at the end of his basic and intermediate schooling. The walk must be very well established both in the lengthening and collecting form. Also the Spanish Walk must be made in the form of the walk, that is, in a four beat sequence and not in the sequence of the trot which is so often seen. The reason why many riding masters disapprove of the Spanish Walk as a high school movement is because very few riders, and trainers in the world and in history, have had the ability to teach this move correctly in a four beat walk sequence like it should be. And most of the time we see the Spanish Walk being performed pre maturely acquiring the diagonal sequence of the trot.
So, even though this movement will continually be used as an exhibition trick, it cannot be considered high school, unless it is performed in the correct manner. In Spanish Alta Escuela (Spanish High School Riding), the Spanish Walk is required in the riding tests, but are often times judged, not on the height or length of the extension of the front limbs but on the correctness of it's execution, the sequence of the walk. The more correct the move the more points the Spanish Walk accumulates, in conjunction with the extension and height of the front legs of course. A very easy trick to teach our horses when done for fun or other purposes, very difficult if we even think of ever wanting to call it High School.
But having this in mind, all horses can easily be taught to do a Spanish Walk for the purpose of adding diversity in the training of the horse, for stretching and warming up purposes, and for breaking the some times boring cycle of drills and routines. And, there is no rule that says we cannot teach our horses the Spanish Walk in the best way that we can, in the form of a trick if you will, and build on that, to eventually try and get it as clean and correct as possible in hope to one day call it High School.
Visit my website http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com and tell your friends of my new book called El Caballo de Baile (The Dancing Horse)on sale at amazon.com check it out below
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
What is a false flexion?
I was asked what a false flexion is so with as little words as possible I will try to describe what it is.
When a horse is put behind the vertical, or is behind the bit. In other words the horse is bending at the base of the neck and not at the poll, giving what appears to be a beautiful frame, but without collection.
A horse that has a false flexion, CAN be soft in the mouth but has its weight on the forehand and thus is not collected. A false flexion has no place in true riding, or in equestrian art. The horse is usually over bent by excessive use of the riders hands, or improperly used equipment, such as tight side reins, martingales, draw reins etc.
http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com
When a horse is put behind the vertical, or is behind the bit. In other words the horse is bending at the base of the neck and not at the poll, giving what appears to be a beautiful frame, but without collection.
A horse that has a false flexion, CAN be soft in the mouth but has its weight on the forehand and thus is not collected. A false flexion has no place in true riding, or in equestrian art. The horse is usually over bent by excessive use of the riders hands, or improperly used equipment, such as tight side reins, martingales, draw reins etc.
http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com
Monday, December 19, 2011
The engine of the horse in on it's rear end. so lets stop worrying so much about frame, and bits, and all of that other crap. Lets focus on the engine, transmission, steering, and brakes, because if everyone was an automotive engineer, there would be no consumers. Yes we must fit the right bit on the horse, but it is not as important, as developing it's thrusting power (engine), it's calms (transmission), straightness (steering), and a solid whoa (brakes). Basics are key.. don't worry so much about frame, because a horse that looses it's contact only needs to be pushed in to the bit in a rising trot, or transitions. A horse that is heavy on the hands, only needs to whoa on command and the half halts, to regulate speed. The horse that is calm will learn what we want to teach. Don't worry so much about, neck rein or direct rein, because a horse that is ridden correctly will learn both automatically. The horse that refuses to go forward, we don't need to kick him, we just teach him impulsion and develop it's revving power.
Who gives, if the horse is third level dressage, or reiner, or cutter, they are all horses and they all have the same anatomy, and they all are trained in a certain way. Get with it people, it's about developing the horse, about making a nothing horse into a decent or good horse. It's about making a good horse into a great horse, and about turning a great horse into a legendary icon. it all starts and ends with the horse's frame of mind, then with the way we train it. If we do it right and develop the engine, we don't need to worry about the frame, it will be automatic. But... a sports car with no steering is dangerous, and even worse a sports car with lots of power and no brakes can be fatal.
don't forget to visit my site. http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com
Who gives, if the horse is third level dressage, or reiner, or cutter, they are all horses and they all have the same anatomy, and they all are trained in a certain way. Get with it people, it's about developing the horse, about making a nothing horse into a decent or good horse. It's about making a good horse into a great horse, and about turning a great horse into a legendary icon. it all starts and ends with the horse's frame of mind, then with the way we train it. If we do it right and develop the engine, we don't need to worry about the frame, it will be automatic. But... a sports car with no steering is dangerous, and even worse a sports car with lots of power and no brakes can be fatal.
don't forget to visit my site. http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Tears of Joy
Such a great feeling.
When Michele stopped by to look at her horse, I knew she was expecting him to be doing well, but when I showed her how he is now doing some clean, smooth flying changes of leg, her excitement flew off the charts. In the middle of the training session with her horse, Michele burst into tears. At first I worried, I thought maybe there was something wrong or something bad had happened. Then I realized that not only she had tears in her eyes but she also had and incredibly big smile on her face. She was looking at her gelding perform short step trots, Spanish walk, and flying changes; moves that she knew he might have talent for but that never crossed her mind that he would ever do. "Tears of Joy" she said.
Don't forget to visit my website http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com and tell your Spanish speaking friends about my book El Caballo de Baile now for sale.
When Michele stopped by to look at her horse, I knew she was expecting him to be doing well, but when I showed her how he is now doing some clean, smooth flying changes of leg, her excitement flew off the charts. In the middle of the training session with her horse, Michele burst into tears. At first I worried, I thought maybe there was something wrong or something bad had happened. Then I realized that not only she had tears in her eyes but she also had and incredibly big smile on her face. She was looking at her gelding perform short step trots, Spanish walk, and flying changes; moves that she knew he might have talent for but that never crossed her mind that he would ever do. "Tears of Joy" she said.
Don't forget to visit my website http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com and tell your Spanish speaking friends about my book El Caballo de Baile now for sale.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Horse Training
Many people think that training horses as a career is a real walk in the park. Well, true horsemen know that this is not always the case. Most of the time we have to work six or even seven days per week, and depending on how many horses are at our care, we must work twelve hour days or more every day. Some days are very easy and rewarding, others very frustrating, scary, or even painful. We must get exposed to the potential danger of being with un trained horses, to know in what areas the horse in question needs to improve.
Horses that come in that suddenly pull back, rear and strike out, kick, bite, buck etc. have to be dealt with and often times the horse owner will not admit that their horse has these vices, so we as trainers and professional riders, have to find out the hard way, some times, the painful way. Not only do we have to deal at times with potentially dangerous horses, but once we have fixed the problem, given the problem can be fixed, and we form a bond with the horse, we have to say goodbye to make room for the next trouble maker.
Some trainers have to deal with obnoxious clients as well. Lucky for me all my clients LOVE ME and think the world of me, and me of them ; )
Most trainers, myself included, have to have at least a basic understanding of every trade in the horse world, shoer, vet, groom, stall person, sales rep, breeder, etc.
And we must all have an exact knowledge of the psychology of the horse, to better understand him.
We must practice great patience at all time, we must be persistent, we must be trust worthy and trusting.
All of these things cannot be bought with money, they cannot be learned over night and we cannot be born knowing it all. We must pay attention, listen, ask, study and apply all that we can just so that we can decently do our job as horse trainers.
NOT A WALK IN THE PARK ALL THE TIME, BUT CERTAINLY A BEAUTIFUL CAREER.
don't forget to check out my website http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com and to let your Spanish speaking friends about my book El Caballo de Baile which is now for sale. You can check it out at http://caballodebaile.com
Horses that come in that suddenly pull back, rear and strike out, kick, bite, buck etc. have to be dealt with and often times the horse owner will not admit that their horse has these vices, so we as trainers and professional riders, have to find out the hard way, some times, the painful way. Not only do we have to deal at times with potentially dangerous horses, but once we have fixed the problem, given the problem can be fixed, and we form a bond with the horse, we have to say goodbye to make room for the next trouble maker.
Some trainers have to deal with obnoxious clients as well. Lucky for me all my clients LOVE ME and think the world of me, and me of them ; )
Most trainers, myself included, have to have at least a basic understanding of every trade in the horse world, shoer, vet, groom, stall person, sales rep, breeder, etc.
And we must all have an exact knowledge of the psychology of the horse, to better understand him.
We must practice great patience at all time, we must be persistent, we must be trust worthy and trusting.
All of these things cannot be bought with money, they cannot be learned over night and we cannot be born knowing it all. We must pay attention, listen, ask, study and apply all that we can just so that we can decently do our job as horse trainers.
NOT A WALK IN THE PARK ALL THE TIME, BUT CERTAINLY A BEAUTIFUL CAREER.
don't forget to check out my website http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com and to let your Spanish speaking friends about my book El Caballo de Baile which is now for sale. You can check it out at http://caballodebaile.com
Collection
What is collection?
I often hear people give different opinions about the subject, the problem is that most of the so called experts are wrong. Yep. I said it they are mostly wrong. The reason I say this is simple, I hear things like, "a collected horse must bring his head down and his belly up." I also hear things like, "I like my horses to be collected before I ever get on them." Also I hear, "The collected horse is that which bends it's neck beautifully, and carries it that way." More sophisticated comments are, "the horse has to bring up his head and flex at the poll." or, "I like my horse to touch his nose on his chest and lower his haunches, to ensure he/she is soft."
All of the latter comments hold some sort of truth, but they are all wrong. So here is my definition of the collected horse, and I hope it is of some help to those who are not sure what to believe.
Collection first of all requires time and work, lots of hard work and patience. We can not collect the horse if the horse cannot even balance himself under the weight of the rider. For this reason we must back the horse and allow time for him to find his balance with the weight of the rider. The best way to do this is going along the whole arena at the rising trot, changing rein through the diagonal line. Later simple school figures can be added. Fast forward, we finally arrive at the time when we want to introduce collection. But, how can we do this if we are not sure what collection is?
Collection means- The compacting or collecting of energy from the horse so that the rider can use it at any given moment that he wishes. Collection also means that the horse carries sixty percent of his body weight or more on his hind quarters, allowing the rider to move the horse in any given direction and at any given time with ease. The classical masters of the past referred to this as, turning the horse into a sphere or ball on a flat surface, it can go in any direction with no difficulty or extra effort at any moment. The horse that is collected will of nature raise it's front end flexing its poll, back, and the joints of the hind legs, by lowering the croup in a way that the natural carriage of the horse will become more beautiful without force.
A horse that raises his head and flexes at the poll without lowering his hind quarters or flexing it's back is not properly collected. In contrast, a horse who flexes its back and some what lowers his croup but drops his head is actually on the forehand and cannot possibly be collected since the hind legs are forced to far forward, forcing the horse to balance himself by dropping it's head. And, a horse who is flexing his neck to the point of touching his nose on his chest or close is over flexed and behind the bit, usually not collected.
Don't forget to visit my website http://classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com and let everyone know about it. And if you have Spanish speaking friends let them know about my book El Caballo de Baile, Formas de Entrenamiento Manejos y Aclaraciones.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
No hoof no horse. If you have not heard that expression before, it basically means to take care of your horse's feet. Here is the thing, the ideal time for hoof trimming is every six to eight weeks. The ideal in between time for shoes is eight to ten weeks. Fees to get shoes or trimming on horses can get expensive especially if you have several horses. Some people don't care, they just wait for the hoof to break off on it's own. The question is..What happens when the horse gets laminitis or some other hoof related disease? But also.. Do horses in the wild ever get farrier work done?
If you don't own a wild mustang in the ranges of the wild west, do yourself and your horse a favor. Trim or shoe on schedule, it will save you thousands on vet bills in the future by preventing illnesses on your horse's feet.
http://www.classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com
If you don't own a wild mustang in the ranges of the wild west, do yourself and your horse a favor. Trim or shoe on schedule, it will save you thousands on vet bills in the future by preventing illnesses on your horse's feet.
http://www.classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com
Thursday, March 24, 2011
I was talking to a woman yesterday about horsemanship and skill. To my amazement she began to talk a lot of bad things about some well known horsemen such as Pat Parelli, and Monty Roberts. She made comments such as "Pat is nothing but a dam sales man, and Monty is a f....n' liar." Unfortunately this is not the first time I hear these comments, I have even been shown a video on youtube where Pat unsuccessfully demonstrates his skills and goes completely against what he teaches. Monty on the other hand has been called a liar and a fake, because according to people who have personally known him, he never spent any time in the wild like he says in his books. I would like to make a comment regarding these gentlemen. First I have attended some of Pat Parelli's clinics and I must say that they are very amusing, but it also demonstrates that even though pat does perform a lot of circus tricks, he also rides some really well schooled reiners and high level dressage movements, and to top it off he has been complimented by one of our last remaining classical masters Walter Zettl. As for Mr. Monty, well I just want to say that in my opinion no horse should be raced or competed under saddle at age 2, because to do so such horses will have to be started as yearlings or before they turn 2. Many only worry about their reputation, and wining. A young horse whose joints have not fully developed yet are more prone to being hurt or having permanent damage, and no matter how much join up you do with these horses their physical development and their mental acceptance are two different things. To close I want to say that we all have good and bad days, and no matter how great any trainer/rider is there are always those who dislike or disagree with what they do. I would like to say too, that everyone has an opinion and we should take what these trainers have to offer that works for us and leave what doesn't.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Seat
by Antonio Topete Diaz
Western, English, Dressage, Australian, Stock, Mexican, Spanish, Portuguese, Maremano, Gaucho etc. etc. These are just some of the riding saddles that are most popularly used today. But, does it really matter what kind of saddle is used for the training of a horse? And more importantly, does the kind of saddle matter in the ability of the rider to ride? The answer, is both yes and no. Why do I say this? Well, for the inexperienced, the kind of saddle does give the rider a sort of comfort and mental assurance that he/she will not fall off the horse. For the rider that has been riding correctly for some time, feeling safe on a horse's back will depend very little on the kind of saddle being used. On the other hand, a more comfortable saddle for the horse and for the rider will always make horseback riding a more pleasant experience. Some saddles that have knee rolls or something like it, gives the rider a sense of feel that if the horse takes off running or bucking, the saddle will keep the rider in place. For training, the saddle will depend on the kind of training that the horse will be put under, or on the kind of work that will be expected of the horse.
When we Speak of the seat, it does not mean we are talking about the seat of the saddle, but of the seat of the rider. The seat of the rider plays an important role in riding and in training horses. The rider that develops a strong seat, also known as an independent seat will be more apt to train a horse or to ride a schooled horse. For this reason at Spanish Riding School, the riding masters first teach their pupils how to develop a strong seat, and nothing else, the same was true at the Centaur Institute of Classical Equine Studies (CICES). This is done with a gentle horse on the lunge line under the eye of an instructor/s to assure that posture, relaxation and correctness are developed. Only in this way can the student develop the ability to use body weight, legs, and hands or seat,legs, and hands with greater ability.
The horse, even when young or green, will be able to move more relaxed and freely under a rider who does not depend on a death grip of his legs or of the reins to stay in the saddle. As the rider advances in his/her riding education, he/she will feel more relaxed and comfortable riding a horse in what ever discipline they are studying. As the rider gets more comfortable the horse too will become better schooled, given that it is prepared carefully and diligently. In time the rider will learn how to use his/her seat to turn, stop, reinbeck, and collect his/her horse. Only through the proper use of seat, legs and hands can the rider ever accomplish high levels of horsemanship regardless of the riding sport in question.
"It takes time, riding takes a long long time." -Walter A. Zettl
http://www.classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com/
Sunday, March 20, 2011
mane and tail
Have you ever seen a horse with a long mane and tale, to the point of almost hitting the ground? I saw a lady ride a grey Andalusian Stallion at a show once and the mane and tail of that thing where so long it amazed me. I have been around horses my whole life, and especialy the Iberian breeds, and well those things generally have lots of mane and tale. This horse that I saw though had so much hair, even I was very impressed. The first thing that came to my mind was "WOW" the second thing was "I feel sorry for who ever has to wash that" anyway in my last post I added a link to both my website and a link to a website of some hair growing tips for horses yes I got the program and yes I am using it. It was not as great as the ad says but I did get my money's worth. If you didn't get the link here it is:
http://off-to.net/fairytalehorsehttp://www.classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com
I don't know about you, but for me, a lot of mane adds a lot of "look at me" to a horse. The down side to this is that it requires a lot of work. If you don't have someone to help you groom maybe a lot of mane and tale is not such a great idea, unless of course you like to groom.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Horses of Today
In the past, lets say one hundred years ago and if we go even further, to a couple of centuries ago, we find that almost every person knew a thing or two about horses. Why? you may ask. It is simple, the horse was a means of transportation and warfare. So, most people, at least most head of house holds, had some kind of interest in horses during those times. And although not everyone could afford a horse back then, never the less did most people have a sort of interest in these amazing animals. For recreation, courtships, transportation, or work, the horse was a necessary tool in every day life. Today the horse is still widely used. Think about it for a minute. Have you ever seen a commercial on T.V. about the newest sports car? have you noticed that they will often use X-amount of "HORSE POWER!" to advertise the greatness of the vehicle? That's right and what about movies. If you have seen Tangled you will notice that they used a white horse. Polo, Dressage, Reining, Jumping, Gymkhana, all these are recreational sports in which people spend a lot of money and time, around and with horses.
http://www.classicalspanishequitation.weebly.com/
I found something that you might enjoy, check it out and see what you think.
http://off-to.net/fairytalehorse
I found something that you might enjoy, check it out and see what you think.
http://off-to.net/fairytalehorse
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)