My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
This post over at Horse Listening got me thinking. I have had my share of naughty horses, and the one thing that I can take away from my cumulative experience is that what works for one horse may not work for another. I have a zero tolerance for actual naughtiness (bucking, kicking out, getting light […]
Read MoreUsing the half halt (or as Jane Savoie puts it, the half go) is a great way to rebalance your horse, get them to work through their back and maintain their impulsion. I’m working on this a lot with Zelda right now. This video gives a very good and clear explanation of the aids to […]
Read MoreWhen Freedom doesn’t get ridden enough he gets cranky. He starts to forget where he is in the hierarchy of life and gets a bit too self important. He starts to give you the evil eye or cocks a hind leg at you when you adjust a blanket. I’ve been seeing this emerge lately. The […]
Read MoreSince my trail ride with Sheldon I’ve been trying to find ways to get him to relax and stop constantly chomping on the bit and grinding his teeth. Seriously, sometimes he’s moving his mouth so much that it’s a wonder he can still remember how to walk! With most ex-racehorses, I just focus on keeping […]
Read MoreSheldon is settling in nicely. Already he seems more relaxed — meal time is no longer quite so emotional and he’s stopped running the fence line every time he can’t see another horse. I suspect he’s starting to count on the fact that we do feed twice a day and he almost always has hay […]
Read MoreFreedom’s abscess from hell has taken its toll on our hunting season. He’s been sound on the foot, but the location of where the abscess came out of the heel bulb has been problematic because he cannot tolerate his hoof boots. I’ve thought about just putting shoes on him but haven’t for two reasons: first, […]
Read MoreHorses, like people, are generally one sided. Not to the extent that you or I might be if asked to write with the “wrong” hand, but enough so that if left to their own devices they will canter on the same lead or throw you up on one diagonal. Over time, this can result in […]
Read MoreYesterday our hunt sponsored a Learn to Hunt clinic. Freedom and I were there, with some other members, to answer questions and demonstrate the behavior of a proper field hunter. I was very proud of Freedom. He behaved impeccably. He worked in the crowd on a loose rein, stood like a statue when asked, and […]
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