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Training Tips

Training Tips
January 16, 2018

Training Tip: Green + Green = Disaster

If you are a relatively green or inexperienced rider, the last thing you want to do is go and buy a horse that has limited training, regardless of his age, and take him out on the trail. You don’t even want a 4- or 5-year-old, unless he’s an exceptional horse. A rider with no experience […]

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Training Tips
January 9, 2018

Training Tip: Ask Clinton: Kicking Out At Other Horses

Q: I have just started fox hunting on my green mare, and when another horse and rider come up beside her, she kicks out at them. One trainer says ignore it as the mare is green and another says smack her hard. Your opinion, please!

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Training Tips
January 2, 2018

Training Tip: Balance Impulsion with Suppling

All riding maneuvers you do with your horse can be broken into two categories: impulsion exercises and suppling exercises. Impulsion exercises focus on getting the horse to move forward. These are the exercises like the Cruising Lesson, Follow the Fence, Controlled Cruising and Confused Loping that help to get the cobwebs out of the horse’s […]

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Training Tips
December 19, 2017

Training Tip: Ask Clinton: A Proper Warm Up

Round Penning Your Horse and the Proper Warm Up Q: Does a horse need to be warmed up before he hustles in the roundpen, or should he canter fast immediately? – Christie G. A: Warming up and cooling down a horse before and after exercise is always a smart idea. Horses are no different than […]

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Training Tips
December 12, 2017

Training Tip: People for Horses

Some people and horse personalities just don’t mesh. There are probably people in your workplace that you just don’t get along with. There’s no specific reason why; your personalities just don’t click.

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Training Tips
December 5, 2017

Training Tip: Horses for Courses

Just like people, horses’ attitudes and abilities vary from one individual to the other. Some horses are more naturally talented at a certain task than others. Sometimes the hardest thing for people to realize is that not every horse suits every course. For example, I breed reining and cow horses, but not every horse I […]

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Training Tips
November 28, 2017

Training Tip: Why You Should Train Your Horse on the Trail

No matter what sort of horse we have in for training at the ranch (Performance Horse, Signature Horse or Academy Horse), we always follow the golden rule: long rides, wet saddle pads and concentrated training. A huge part of that formula is getting your horse outside the arena. Riding outside the confines of an arena […]

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Training Tips
November 21, 2017

Training Tip: Ask Clinton: Giving a Horse Confidence

Q: I am struggling with my older horse that is losing his confidence. Do you have any recommendations for me to get him back on track? I ride him about two to three times per week, and do some arena work but I mostly trail ride. When he is feeling insecure, I can talk him […]

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Training Tips
November 14, 2017

Training Tip: Great Trail Horses Aren’t Born; They’re Trained

The biggest misconception about trail riding, in my opinion, is that people think that every horse should be a good trail horse. Most people think, “Surely if he’s a good riding horse in the arena, he’ll make a great trail horse.” That couldn’t be further from the truth. The number one thing I want you […]

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Training Tips
November 7, 2017

Training Tip: Ask Clinton: A Bit or Hackamore?

Q: I’m ready to start riding my horse. Should I use a bit to begin with or do you recommend I use a hackamore? – Kathy C.  A: I like to ride all of my colts in a hackamore during their first 10 to 15 rides because it gives them a chance to learn how […]

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