posted by Tess on Nov 12
“So it must have been after the birth of the simple light in the first, spinning place, the spellbound horses walking warm out of the whinnying green stable on to the fields of praise.”
This famous line from Dylan Thomas’s poem Fern Hill evokes an age of peaceful bucolic equine life, an age that is rapidly disappearing for horse owners in growing metropolitan areas of the U.S. The country’s longest period of economic expansion has led to urban sprawl and a sustained boom in suburban development. As rural property in many areas of the nation is supplanted by housing and commercial development, professional and amateur horse owners have experienced several problems:
1. the rapid reduction of open, ride-able land;
2. more disposable income among the middle class, resulting in more horses and horse owners;
3. a correspondingly higher demand for stall, pasture, and exercise space.
Thus, for the first time, owning horses in many parts of the country has slipped the grasp of the less affluent. What was once a peaceful outdoor activity enjoyed by a broad economic spectrum is becoming a hard-fought luxury forced into tighter quarters.
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posted by Tess on May 15
At some stage in your life as a horse owner, you may find it necessary to stable your horse. It may only be for a couple of nights, a week or a more permanent situation. No matter your reason or the length of your horses stay, it is important that you clean the stable at least once a day.
So you arrive at your horse’s stable with a cheery “Good Morning!”. You organize their breakfast, change there pajamas (rugs), maybe go for an early morning ride (nice and chilly on those crisp winter mornings). But no matter what else you do, there is one thing every owner of a stabled horse must do. And that is to clean up the mess, from the night before.
What a mess!! It really amazes me the mess one horse can make within 8-10 hours! I have been greeted with a wide variety of “Good Morning” situations from my horses over the years. From finding poo in the feed dish (which is still hanging on the door!), to finding poo right in front of the door in the walk way! No matter the mess, it still needs to be cleaned up. Not only can a dirty or poorly cleaned stable cause diseases to fester but it will smell bad too.
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posted by Tess on May 5
Choosing a horse will be one of the most important decisions you ever make so for the sake of both you and the horse - take your time.
At 50 I was a bit older than the average first time horse owner, so should have got it right. I fell in love with a pretty little horse that I had ridden on a riding holiday when he was in his own environment and I was relaxed and had all the time in the world.
9 months later, after a lot of heartache I admitted that he was the wrong horse for my lifestyle and experience and fortunately he was able to go back to his original owner. Pretty traumatic for me, but less so for him as he was going back to where he was happy.
Our livery yard owner helped me decide what type of horse I was looking for by considering the following:
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posted by Tess on Mar 20
A horse is a companion like no other…it feels very mystical when you get a horse that’s right for you…
If you are venturing out to buy a horse, then that means you have done all of your homework and have researched and understand all that is involved in horse ownership–you are aware of the long-term commitment required and know the responsibility and costs involved in owning a horse. And you have made arrangements to provide a suitable home for your new horse.
That said, you will want to have some idea on the kind of horse you’re looking for before going horse shopping. What characteristics and personality do you want your horse to have? You can gain some idea by using your own past experience taking trail rides or riding lessons, going to horse shows, reading horse magazines or talking to horse owners. Knowing what sort of horse you want before shopping will help keep you focused and not get caught up in a spontaneous purchase, only to find out later on you ended up with the wrong horse. You also need to know what your horse-buying budget is and only concentrate on shopping for horses within your established price range.
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posted by Tess on Jan 3
Each horse is different in how it learns and how it reacts to outside stimuli. Certain methods of horse training may apply to some horses, but it does not mean that it will be effective to all breeds of horse.
To start horse training you must develop a communication system with the horse. This might take time. In the same way as children may not fully grasp the idea of things at an instant, baby horses in training may not get every pressure, pat or way of holding the reins at once.
When you apply a certain pressure, you expect a certain response. During horse training, you must make the horse understand that a certain pressure should elicit a corresponding response. We don’t expect full compliance in the beginning, but as time goes by, these actions will be part of the horse’s vocabulary.
Throughout the course of the horse training, one by one these actions will be added to his vocabulary. But these actions should still be broken down into minute details that the horse can take in one at a time. Learn how to pace with each individual horse. Training is something that should be done slowly and surely.
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posted by Tess on Nov 21
Do you own a horse? If so, then you have questions about the care, feeding, shoeing, cost, etc. of horse ownership. The least expense of owning a horse, is the actual purchase. Once you have bought your horse, then your expenses begin: shoeing, de-worming, vaccinations, training, boarding, etc.
Horse Training Tip: Timing
Say you’re trying to teach your horse to give to the bit.
When he gives you must instantly release the pressure. There are times I’ve seen people keep pulling on the reins “after” the horse gave to the pressure. No release, no learning.
The problem with that is the horse doesn’t learn that he’ll get a release. So if you keep pulling, there is no timing, there is no release, and you end up with garbage. Soon, the horse may fight you for control.
If he gets no release, then why comply. It is the release that teaches!
Timing is everything.
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posted by Tess on Oct 18
Have you ever had that synchronicity with your horse, -where he seems to do everything you have thought? It is an amazing feeling, and it isn’t usually “just by chance.” Is telepathic communication really a possibility?
If you have ever spent time with horses in a herd, you may have noticed when two horses are in new surroundings they seem “glued,” as if a rope is holding them together. Have you ever noticed how their fear spreads like a wildfire? These “natural instincts” are great for survival. It keeps the horses safe and connected to one another. So how can this help humans work with horses?
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