Training

Braiding is a time-honored skill known by horseman and cowboys for the many centuries that people have been in partnership with horses. Cowboys have traditionally used many different kinds of materials including leather, rope and more recently paracord to create all manner of tack for horses. In this article we discuss the art of braiding … Read more

When choosing tack for your horse, pay close attention to the bit. This is, arguably, the most important aspect of your riding equipment. The bit is the part of the bridle that provides close communication between horse and rider. It is the metal piece that goes into the horse’s mouth. The bit is attached to … Read more

Lunging is a good tool for teaching horses to respond to your physical and verbal cues. It is also an excellent way to help your horse burn off steam. This is important after a long, inactive winter when riding season is just starting up. When you start your horse off with lunging, you can refresh … Read more

If your horse has a sore or weak back or is recovering from an injury, you may be wondering what to do to help him build strength, overcome soreness and develop a well-defined topline. In this article, we share ideas for exercises and stretches to help your horse recover from injury and/or build back muscle. … Read more

If your horse is chewing wood fence rails, barn doors, tree limbs and so on, you may not realize that this is not normal. Wood isn’t a natural food for horses, and wood chewing can cause complications in both barn maintenance and horse health. In this article, we describe wood chewing and share valuable information … Read more

If your horse is fretful, does it mean there’s something wrong with him? Not necessarily. Every horse is an individual, and just like people, some horses are more anxious than others. In this article, we discuss natural, common sense ways to calm a nervous horse. Read on to learn more about the best calmer for … Read more

You may think of indirect reining or neck reining as specific to western riding, but this really is not true. Even horses who are typically ridden under English saddle should know how to neck rein. Being able to guide your horse one-handed is an important skill that gives you freedom and versatility while riding in … Read more

Ground tying is a valuable skill for any horse to have, and teaching it also teaches your horse to be respectful of you when you are handling him or her on the ground. A horse who knows how to ground tie knows how to follow your directions by standing still and staying in one place … Read more

Horses kicking other horses, other livestock, pets or people can be very dangerous. Some kicking is normal and not a cause for concern. Horses normally kick at flies, and they kick when playing. Even the gentlest horse may kick when startled, but some horses pick up a bad habit of kicking aggressively at other horses … Read more