Habits are mental shortcuts created by our brain to reduce the need to make conscious decisions every moment of the day, which would require far too much time and processing power. By associating certain events and experiences with specific actions and responses, our brain can respond quickly and efficiently without our conscious “input.” For example, when a horse pins its ears and shifts its weight, we typically have moved out of harm’s way before we have had time to think about what we are doing....
|
|
Being a popular and appreciative boarder at your barn ultimately benefits both you and your horse — your word will be better regarded, your disgruntlements better addressed, and you and your horse will be valued members of the barn community.
|
|
More than 33 years ago, Arnold Epstein, founder of Equiade and long-time horseman and pharmacist, was searching for an effective way to enhance equine performance. After spending time developing the product to find exactly the right mixture for maximum effect, he created Body Support....
|
|
Every spring, mare owners get excited about choosing a stallion for their mare, but many decisions need to be made before selecting the stud and breeding the mare....
|
|
If you have a pregnant mare in your barn, plan ahead to collect and freeze some of her colostrum — that all-important first milk — so you have it on hand if a foal is born without access to this essential liquid....
|
|
Our Early Summer issue is arriving subscribers’ mailboxes, and available at newsstands and other industry outlets now. Here’s a preview of what’s inside:
- Vaccination Guidelines for Healthier Horses
- Should You Breed Your Mare?
- Close Call: Saving a Newborn Foal
- How Stallion Housing Affects Their Welfare
- Livin’ the Good Life in a Paddock Paradise
- Commercial Horse Transport: The good, the bad, and the ugly
- Riding the Rail: Winning tips for flat classes.
- Are You Riding All Your Gears? 3 exercises to help
- Develop Emotional Resilience for a Better Ride
- Riding Canada’s Horse-Friendly Beaches
|
|
Operating family farms and ranches can be challenging, but according to these three Canadian families, there are plenty of benefits, too....
|
|
In India one can view the countryside through the heart-shaped ears of the Marwari horse. In Mongolia a small, strong Mongol horse will carry you through the desert lands. And the short, hardy Icelandic horse will smoothly tölt you along the rugged trails of Iceland....
|
|
Ticks are a nuisance that can often go undetected. Because of the risk of disease transmission (Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Equine piroplasmosis), it is important to frequently examine your horse for the presence of ticks, and to take steps to lower risk of exposure....
|
|
Savvy teachers adapt to the learning style of their students. Our horses do best when we tailor our teaching methods to the ways they view and make sense of things. While we’ll never know what it’s like to be a horse, we’re assisted by a growing body of research to inform “equine learning theory.” A lot of these findings verify the observations of those who’ve spent years watching and working with horses. Other evidence clashes with some of our long-held equine traditions....
|
|
Gulp. I tried to work up the nerve to let the reins out another inch or two as we cantered around, but I was having a really hard time doing it. First of all, my horse might run off. Second, if I got lucky and she did not run off, she would definitely fall on the forehand and careen about like an untrained plodder....
|
|
If you’ve ever had a gastric ulcer, you’re familiar with the burning or gnawing feeling in your stomach area that is typical of peptic ulceration of the stomach lining. This pain may last for anywhere from half an hour to four hours, and can occur after eating or even during the night, disrupting sleep. Nobody wants to live with pain or discomfort, and the average person would not hesitate to seek treatment for gastric ulcers. That being said, it is interesting and worth noting that, generally speaking, you would never know that a person has gastric ulcers just by observing their attitude or professional performance....
|
|
My conversation last month with renowned trainer and veterinarian Gerd Heuschmann did not lead where I thought it would, having started with muscles but ending with books. He said he believed many of the disappointments in modern training are due to students no longer being committed to the scholarship of dressage. In addition to physical practice, he wishes for them to read and study and think deeply. But most riders don’t see the point, he lamented....
|
|
Have you ever had a riding accident where you fell off your horse, or the horse fell on you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
