On Board Farrier And Equine Services
Box 33 Stoughton, SK, Canada

I wanted to start with some videos that I recently took of a student and a horse that I've had in for training for the past three months. There are a series of videos I will be going through that are jam packed with some great stuff. To begin with, I'm going to open with what my expectations are for a horse with three months training. Number one: It should be quiet. Every horse has the ability to be quiet. Some will be lazier than others, some will be more sensitive, but eve...ry horse can and should be quiet. A quiet horse is one who is aware of its surroundings and accepts the things happening to it without being reactive. There is a difference between being responsive and being reactive which I'll discuss later. A quiet horse is one who can change environments without changing its personality. A quiet horse is one that can be handled by anyone regardless of experience. Obedience also comes into play here as well and I'll be discussing that later. When I accept a horse for training my goal is to put forth a horse that remains calm and quiet in nearly all situations. A calm horse is a safe horse and that is my number one priority when I send a horse home. If I can't guarantee the owner/ riders safety, then that horse is not ready to go home. If I feel that a horse is not likely to get to that point within three months, I will offer my opinion that the owner should prob not spend their money on that horse. A quiet horse has endless potential and is worth every dollar spent.

Good Morning! I would like to spend some time this fall reflecting on some of my personal Horsemanship theories. As always, feel free to share your own thoughts and reflections See you soon!

Tip #350 - many horses suffer from being herd bound. It's a habit that is much easier to avoid from the beginning than it is to fix later. The root of the problem is a lack of partnership between horse and rider. When a horse is asked to leave the comfort of his home he relies on those around him to give him confidence. If he has not established a relationship with his rider he'll be more likely to rely on other horses around to give him that confidence. A few habits that you... can practice to avoid allowing your horse to become reliant on others rather you are: 1) Make your first couple trail rides solo rides. This shows him that all he needs is you to be safe. 2) If solo riding isn't your thing, try to be the leader of the group not the follower. 3) Practice things that you do when you're riding at home while you're on the trail. This helps your horse make the connection and boosts his confidence. See more

Tip #349 - learning to post the trot can save your butt a lot of unneeded bruises. Learning to post on the correct diagonal will make trotting easier for your horse. To do this, start by sitting the trot and shifting your weight left and right as your horse trots. When the left front foot is on the ground shift your weight to your left stirrup, when the right front foot is on the ground, shift to your right stirrup. If you are traveling around your arena to the left, you are... going to want to go up, when the left front foot is on the ground. This optimizes your horses trotting stride. So as you shift your weight to the left stirrup you're going to stand-up at the same time and begin posting. If you were traveling to the right, you would stand-up as your weight shifts to the right. The key to this success is to perfect the sitting trot rhythm before beginning to post. Do not rush the posting:) See more

Tip #348 - reins are not handle bars. When you are riding your horse, your reins should not be used for balance. To help break this habit, always give your horse a loose rein when you're not working - even if its only for 5 steps. This allows you to shorten up and feel more in control when you're working, but also allows your horse to stretch out and relax his neck when you're not. The more often you loosen your reins the more balanced and independent your seat will become.

Tip #347 - getting back on the horse - easier said than done. It takes many positive experiences to undo the damage from one bad experience. The most important step is to leave your baggage in the barn. Carrying your worry with you will set you up for repeat of the bad experience. Every horse you ride deserves a fair chance to prove themself trustworthy, but not every horse is. If your relationship with your horse isn't working don't force it. A bad partnership with your horse isn't just bad for you, it's bad for your horse as well. If you can't forgive and move forward then it might be time to move on.