A half-halt isn't: pulling the reins. To start out, riding instructors often teach beginners very simplistic aids to take the place of certain skills until the rider's balance and body control improves. This is particularly true of the half-halt....
Horses are rescued for many reasons, including neglect, abuse and lack of handling. Each horse will react to life changes in his own way, yet there are basic steps rescuers take to bond with these special equines.
The following was...
BEFORE YOU GO...You will probably want to spend many hours in the saddle to see as much country as possible. Do yourself and your horse a favor and make sure the two of you are fit enough for a...
By Cary L. Szuwalski
When you are preparing to travel with your horse, packing is an organizational challenge. Every horse traveling is more than likely to be accompanied by a mound of equipment. The key to efficient packing is to...
A riding vacation can supply memories for a lifetime. To ensure those memories leave you with smiles instead of regrets, explore your options and ask the right questions before choosing a trip.
If you want to take a cattle drive,...
If you've used spooky, cinchy or head shy to describe your horse, trainer Ken McNabb prescribes a round pen sacking out at liberty.
Ken introduces new sights, sounds and sensations using the relationship established in his basic round pen steps....
Like contestants in a Miss America pageant they strut and parade their exceptional beauty and perfect bodies. Their glossy coats reflect the sunlight like varnish, emphasizing every movement and highlighting the sinuous curve of muscle rippling as they walk...
Have you noticed that your horse is flipping his head when you take up contact with the reins? Does he seem to open his mouth as a form of resistance? How about the position of his headset? Is your...
Headset Defined
The ideal headset for the western pleasure show horse can be seen on a horse that carries its neck flat with the rest of its topline."He will have a totally level topline from his poll all the way...
Neck reining to a western horse is like a steering wheel is to a car. Without it, you have no control over where you go. It's one of the first fundamentals a western horse learns, and without good neck-reining...
