May 10, 2012
How do you know when your horse is a little off?
Horse Lameness Check
Lameness clues can be subtle. Veterinarian Eleanor Kellon gives you six ways to detect lameness in your horse.
Lameness can be definitively diagnosed only by your veterinarian, but the detective work of the diagnosis is best performed as a team. A prognosis for a full and speedy recovery often corresponds with diagnosing problems as soon as possible, so the ability to spot problems early on is crucial.
Here, I’ll give you five ways to detect lameness: (1) Look for nonspecific signs (physical and attitudinal changes); (2) look at the whole horse; (3) watch your horse move; (4) listen to his footfalls; (5) feel for under-saddle clues; (6) observe his feet. More info...
May 2, 2012
What does your horse spook at?
Control a Spook
Teach your horse to control his spooky behavior by working him on an obstacle course with Linda Tellington-Jones's help.
A fine spring morning finds you and your horse trotting along a familiar trail. You’re feeling at one with your horse and the world around you, when suddenly he spooks violently to one side with no warning whatsoever.
To help your horse to feel more connected with the ground, stroke his legs and tap his hooves.
Once you fully recover your seat, you aren’t sure whether to reprimand or soothe him. You continue forward, but at a brisk walk instead of a trot. As you do, you can’t help but take up a little more rein and keep your legs closer to his sides.
Horses do spook because they’re tense or fearful. But some may spook out of habit, playfulness, or because they don’t see clearly.
“In certain bloodlines, it might even be genetic,” observes Linda Tellington-Jones. “Lady Wentworth, the famous Arabian Horse breeder, once wrote: ‘If they don’t shy from a butterfly, they should be shot.’ More info...
May 2, 2012
Do you love to trail ride? Are you concerned about the future of your beloved tr...
Lexington, KY
Do you love to trail ride? Are you concerned about the future of your beloved trails? Learn how to get involved at The 2012 Southeastern Trails Conference. It will be held on July 12-14, 2012 in Lexington, Kentucky, the “Horse Capital of the World.” More info...
Apr 30, 2012
Ponying to Improve Riding
Mary Marten
The horseman’s journey plays out in two dimensions, the mental and the physical. The horseman’s journey plays out in two dimensions, the mental and the physical. 
I normally help folks with the mental dimension, with understanding the nature of the horse and how they can use that nature to reach their goals in safe, effective, and moral ways. There’s lots of meat there and I can talk for days about that. On the other hand, the main suggestion I have for success in the physical dimension is incredibly simple: Ride more. That’s it. Just get on a horse and ride. Anytime, anywhere, for any purpose, and on any horse. While you’re at it, forget the old saw, “Practice doesn’t make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect.” This just begs the brain to get in the way. I find that most people who want to improve their riding are not seeking perfection; they’re seeking greater enjoyment of their riding.I normally help folks with the mental dimension, with understanding the nature of the horse and how they can use that nature to reach their goals in safe, effective, and moral ways. There’s lots of meat there and I can talk for days about that. On the other hand, the main suggestion I have for success in the physical dimension is incredibly simple: Ride more. That’s it. Just get on a horse and ride. Anytime, anywhere, for any purpose, and on any horse. While you’re at it, forget the old saw, “Practice doesn’t make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect.” This just begs the brain to get in the way. I find that most people who want to improve their riding are not seeking perfection; they’re seeking greater enjoyment of their riding.
Apr 30, 2012
Red Cliffs and Rugged Canyons
Head to the Texas Panhandle
Trail riding at its best. Welcome to a land of red sandstone cliffs, rugged caprock canyons and hills covered with ragged mesquite. More info...
Apr 27, 2012
Does your horse willingly cross water when you're on the trail
Dan Aadland explains how to cross a river on horseback.
“Don’t look at the water!” That was my father-in-law’s advice to my wife, Emily, as we rode our horses picked across the rocky bottomed swift stream.
The horse, Elmer, had never been particularly fond of taking unscheduled swims. I learned many years later that he and a neighbor had once upset a wagon in the middle of this same river.
Fording the stream at high water, pulled by a team of draft horses, they’d experienced a near-fatal wreck as the current shoved the wagon sideways and then pushed it over. Luckily, both men and horses survived. More info...
Apr 26, 2012
Where did you get your trail horse? Have you ever thought of adopting from a horse rescue?
The Right Way to Adopt a Rescue
n her role as a horse trainer for Colorado Horse Rescue, Cate Lamm has learned that horse rescues can be great places for you to find a special equine partner. Plus, you’ll be giving your adopted horse a second chance at life. Thinking of adopting a rescue horse? Here are Cate’s 10 tips to help you through the adoption process:1. Consider all costs. The adoption fees may be low, but the cost of owning and caring for a horse is ongoing. Before you adopt, create a budget that includes all horse-related expenses. To determine your expenses, talk to local horse owners, farriers, and veterinarians
More info...
Apr 25, 2012
Ask Julie Goodnight: Your New Trail Horse
By Heidi Nyland with Julie Goodnight
Q: How can I increase trust with my new horse on a new trail? I look forward to riding my new horse on the trail but our relationship is brand-new, and he hasn’t left the arena too much in the past. I just brought him to a boarding barn near my home, and there are lots of great trails we can get to easily. These trails are new to me, though. What can I do to calm my nerves so I don’t make him spooky? How else can I prepare for trail challenges?
Connie Tyson
via e-mail
A: Connie, you’re starting off right by making sure you have a plan before you hit the trails with your new horse. Everything is new for you right now. How you start off this relationship with him will affect many future rides.
Start by building confidence with your new horse — getting to know him and his reactions at home and on the trail. Take these steps slowly. Give yourself time to gain confidence with your horse, the trails you’ll ride, and your own riding skills. More info...
Apr 24, 2012
Does your tack fit? Learn how to prevent common horse problems by performing a p...
Lynn Palm
Does your tack fit? Learn how to prevent common horse problems by performing a point-by-point tack check including evaluating saddle fit with world champion trainer Lynn Palm.
Join world-champion trainer Lynn Palm as she guides you through a tack check to optimize the safety and comfort of both you and your horse. Lynn Palm will teach you how to check your saddle, saddle pad, bridle, and bit to prevent horse problems in the future. More info...
Apr 21, 2012
Trail Ride Safety Tips
Stay safe on the trails!
Trail riding is one of the most rewarding and relaxing activities you can do with a horse. It gets you both out of the arena, experiencing new sights, and breaks up a monotonous training routine. But it is not without its dangers.
AQHA’s FREE Trail Safety Tips report will keep you and your Quarter Horse out of harm’s way when you’re on the trail.
Experts on three different areas of trail riding offer tips and advice on how to better enjoy trail riding while keeping your horse’s health and the environment in mind.
Veterinarian Rick Hill discusses how to deal with emergencies on the trail such as cuts, thrown shoes, colic and infection.
“You are not going to take the same things for a one-hour trip like you would if you were going to be gone for three or four days. It’s going to depend on how long a ride is, and how far you are going to be away, the more you are going to want to be able to handle anything you might be facing,” Dr. Hill says.
Hoof care is extremely important when you are trekking out in the open, and Doug Butler, professor of equine sciences at Colorado State University and renowned farrier, has advice to keep things moving smoothly. More info...
Horse Trails News Continued
