Training a horse is a science and we have lots of top tips and advice to help you with one of the trickiest parts of an equestrians life.
One of the best ways to improve your bond with your horse is simply to spend more time with them. This means not just riding but also on the ground. If your horse lives out 24/7 then it can be easy to end up spending less touching time with them …
It takes on average 4-6 weeks to break in a horse in but that time span is based on several assumptions. If all the handling and preparatory work has been done properly then it should be plain sailing. The horse’s temperament and character can also dictate how smoothly the process …
Anyone who has been on the receiving end of an equine nip or bite will know only too well how painful it is. Probably less deadly than a kick, biting is nevertheless an unwelcome and dangerous habit. There are many ways to stop a horse biting but first we need …
Horse napping is when a horse refuses to move in the direction that you want to go. It is a behavioral pattern that can often be very tricky to correct. It can occur for a number of reasons such as a lack of trust, rider confidence, or a lack of …
Sitting trot is not without its challenges but is an important part of rider development and education plus a prerequisite in dressage once you reach a certain competitive level. More advanced movements like shoulder in and half pass can only really be executed in sitting trot and the rider needs …
Horses are flight animals and are therefore sensitive and constantly tuned to what they perceive as danger. Our perception of danger is not necessarily the same as theirs; some things trigger worry and fear in most horses but much of it is down to the individual character of a horse …
Horses that operate at the highest levels of competition in dressage, showjumping, and racing are some of the best looked after living beings on the planet. These horses are often worth astronomical sums of money and their health and well-being is taken very seriously as a result. Their diet, rest …
Manners on the ground are absolutely essential for any horse, the bigger they are the more essential they are. If a horse is not well mannered on the ground, it will be virtually impossible to do anything with him from grooming to shoeing, lungeing to loading. Rather than being simply …
If you have spent time around horses and stables you will be familiar with the practice of lunging. Lunging is a technique that involves the horse being lead around in circles on an extended lead rope. It is primarily done for training and exercise purposes but there are many more …
If you jump horses or have jumped horses in the past you are likely to have a experienced a refusal to jump. A refusal can come in different forms, the most common being a last second run out from the fence when the horse decides that they don’t want to …