If you’re lucky enough to ride a really good games horse, it’s sometimes easy to forget that he still needs regular training and fitness work to keep him sharp in events like pole bending or barrels. If you ride...
Q: I’ve read that bits hurt a horse’s mouth, hackamores can injure the delicate nerves and bones in the nose, and a sidepull can be too weak to offer control or severe enough to damage the nose. I know...
If the speed and precision of pole bending has ever called to you, it’s time to give it a whirl. This fun, fast sport requires many of the foundation skills that will help your horse succeed in all his...
Q: I have a 3-year-old filly that has been started under saddle. However, her natural inclination is to move backward, not forward. When she wants to evade a request, she slows down her movement and eventually pops up in...
Q: My horse likes to veer off the rail into the middle of the ring. How do I fix this?A: Correcting your horse’s crookedness is a two-step process. Step one is to teach your horse that wandering isn’t acceptable....
Q: My horse will not trot, canter or gallop without me applying lots of pressure. When she does this, she is very uncollected and sour. How do I fix this?Using a leading rein can help encourage your horse...
Location, location, location. Held in the Alltech Arena at the world-famous Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., one of the most awesome equine tourism opportunities is available right outside the event, not to mention...
Take a test of horsemanship skills, throw in some obstacles you might find on the trail or a working ranch, add the element of speed, and top it off with a big dollop of fun. This is extreme cowboy...
Q: When I try to halt my horse from any gait faster than a walk, she stops abruptly on her front end and I’m thrown forward. What should I do?
A: Let’s begin with the core principles of safe and...
If you think training a horse is difficult, you should try keeping a trained horse happy and interested in his job. Drilling on the same exercises and routines tends to cause horses to get bored and sour. I’m always...
