Taking the Horse’s Thinking into Account

http://centraloregontrailcourse.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/images4.jpgby Danica Yates (reprinted with Permission) Too often with dressage training and horse training in general, methods are forced upon the animals without attention being paid to what the animal is thinking. Horses will often submit to pressures but never …

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Trail Ride Etiquette

Trail riding has its rules and regulations pertaining to trail use and manners.  How a person rides a trail can determine not only his own enjoyment but the safety of himself, his own horse and other trail users too. What …

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Walk Breaks

by Danica Yates reprinted with permission The significance of taking walk breaks can often be overlooked in the process of training sporthorses. Each of the three gaits is important and should be developed evenly. Developing a relaxed, forward free walk …

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Hiring a Horse Show Judge

by Kristen Janicki, Department of Animal and Food Sciences – 4AF-06MO reprinted with permission Hiring a judge for a horse show is one of the most important aspects of horse show management, but it may also be the most difficult. …

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‘Pet Him’, Properly Releasing with the Inside Rein

http://s1.hubimg.com/u/756496_f260.jpgby Danica Yates (reprinted with permission) What happens when you ride your horse and give with the inside rein? Next time you ride, try it out. At any gait, establish contact and softness and then reach your inside hand forward …

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Don’t do so well at trail course competitions? Want to improve?

Didn’t do so well at your last Trail Course Competition?  Want to know why? Or just want some helpful hints on what to do (or not do) next time? If you have a question, please post a Reply/Comment below, so we …

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The Critical Riding Errors Atop A Rearing Horse

by Jeffrey Rolo (reprinted with permission) Every year horse owners experience serious injuries or even tragic deaths while riding their cherished equine companions. One of the more significant causes of rider injury is a rider being tossed from a rearing …

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Quite Hands

by Danica Yates (reprinted with Permission) My partner is tree guy, not a horse person. But he is interested in dressage and asked me one morning at breakfast, “So when you are riding, doing like a half pass or something, …

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Western to Dressage

http://centraloregontrailcourse.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/1924450_f520-300x224.jpgby Danica Yates (Reprinted with Permission) Each discipline in equestrian riding has training specifics that make the disciplines what they are. Western disciplines are characterized by short, slow movement and minimal contact on the reins. Dressage is founded on forward …

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Soft Hands for Free Movement

by Danica Yates reprinted with permission In past articles, we have looked at axioms of Classical Dressage. Here is a very important one, ‘ride back to front.’ All too often, we see dressage horses who are pulled together with the …

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When headed out on the trail, what do you make sure is in your saddle bag?

Scroll down to see what other say and scroll further to post your reply…

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Getting your horse ready for trail course obstacle training

http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=centralcom-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0028EBTOCBy Shari Maguire If you haven’t read “Making a Pleasure Horse – Part 1 & 2”, than I suggest you do so now; the exercises mentioned in those articles should be applied to all horse training before you begin any …

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How to make a Pleasure Horse – Part 2

by Shari Maguire Now that you have developed the comfortable cadence and rhythm from the day to day repetitive exercises of bending around your inside leg, flexing the head and neck, suppling the five body parts we talked about earlier, …

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How to make a Pleasure Horse – Part 1

by Shari Maguire

The training sessions are easier and more successful if you start with a horse that has the conformation suitable for this particular discipline.

Ideally, the Western or English pleasure horse should be long across the topline of the neck and short on the bottom line. This makes it easier and more natural for the horse to carry its neck in the right spot. Not too high or too low, just about level from the poll to the withers, the nose no more than 3-5 inches in front of the vertical not behind the vertical or “behind the bit”.

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Here’s An Inexpensive Strategy To Convert Prospects Into Clients

by Doug Emerson reprinted with permission Our oldest son invited us recently to see his new apartment.  It’s his third since leaving home.  Instantly, memories of the tour of his first apartment  flashed through my mind.  You may have seen …

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