It’s a scene riders dread: A tense, strong horse ignores your cues, moves straight ahead then begins bucking and kicking out. Your horse’s body is tight and you are out of control. How can this scene be avoided for...
Groundwork exercises that check communication between horse and human are a crucial part of my evaluation of a new horse or new horse and rider pairing. If broken down to its most simple form, riding is comprised of asking...
Just because many horses move off when their riders try to mount, it doesn’t mean that the issue isn’t a serious one. It can range from inconvenient to downright dangerous if your horse takes off when you’re halfway on....
Getting to know how your horse feels by doing groundwork before a ride is a great idea. However, the groundwork you do has to have meaning. Make sure that your groundwork doesn’t become routine and allows time for you...
In podcast episode 16 of The Horse Illustrated Episode of Horses in the Morning, sponsored by Straight Arrow Products, hosts Glenn the Geek and Holly Caccamise chat with a small business owner and one of Horse Illustrated's long-time contributing...
I’ve always come to the science of horse training from the empiric perspective, meaning I learn it from a practical standpoint first, usually only discovering its scientific significance later. Over the years, I’ve had many behavioralists and mental health...
Showmanship at halter is a class that showcases the harmony between a horse and his exhibitor, and the showmanship pivot is a key point in your performance. It’s a maneuver that requires precision and cooperation as you guide the...
What do hyenas, meerkats, hippos, rhinos, lions, tigers, bears, giraffes, llamas, zebras, goldfish, orcas, sea lions, Beluga whales, walruses, and dolphins have in common with horses? They can all be trained using positive reinforcement techniques. And nobody knows this...
In the 11th episode of The Horse Illustrated Episode of Horses in the Morning, sponsored by Title Sponsor Straight Arrow Products, hosts Glenn the Geek, Holly Caccamise and Sarah Evers Conrad chat with sports psychologist Laura King, clinician Jason...
Horses don’t naturally lie down to be mounted, much less stand back up with a rider, on cue. But horse trainer Nadia Heffner has trained a couple of horses to perform this difficult maneuver. And the mobility this move...
