In many areas of the country, trail riding isn’t what it used to be. As development has crowded out farms and paved over woods and meadows, trail riders find themselves with fewer places to ride. Fortunately, some cities and...
Knowing how to warm up your horse is the key to a great performance. If you have a slow horse, you’ll want to make sure he’s listening but not tired out. For horses with lots of speed and energy,...
When it comes to liberty training, we start with teaching the horse to come on command, which was discussed in Part 1 of this series. After the horse is coming willingly, we start calling him to us while he...
An assortment of ranches dot the green summer pastures below as our plane descends into the Sheridan, Wyo., airport. Curt, wearing a cap bearing the words Spear-O-Wigwam, the ranch where I will begin a three-day pack ride into the...
Many equestrian sports trace their origins to horses’ practical uses. The need for fast horses as transportation led to racing. Ranch work begat rodeo. The multipurpose training of cavalry mounts led to eventing. More recently, the diverse traditional duties...
Working a horse at liberty is one of the most fun and rewarding ways to train them. When a horse is free to do whatever he wants, but he chooses to stick with you, it gives a certain thrill...
Animal behaviorist and equine welfare expert Emily Weiss, Ph.D., reveals the key to solving any equine behavior challenge: positive reinforcement.
If you’ve ever wondered why your horse behaves a certain way, or why you’re having trouble solving an equine behavior...
For many riders, summer brings the most time to spend in the saddle. Days are longer and horse activities abound. This season is also typically when heat-related risks are highest. With intense exercise in hot weather, the horse’s internal...
Training a horse to show in hand can be time well spent. The most obvious reason is that it helps the horse show at his best in breed classes or inspections. But beyond that, it helps the horse and...
If you’ve been around horses long enough, you’ve likely come across at least one who actively tries to evade being bridled. Perhaps this horse tries backing away, raising his head far out of reach to avoid the bridle, or clamps...
