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Training Tips

Training Tips
March 1, 2016

Training Tip: Stand Still for Mounting

A horse that constantly moves around when you try to slip your foot in the stirrup is not only frustrating, but potentially dangerous. A well trained horse stands quietly while you mount and waits for your cue to move off once you’re situated in the saddle. People who have trouble with their horses fidgeting when […]

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Training Tips
February 23, 2016

Training Tip: First Saddling Success Tip

The key to successfully introducing the saddle to a colt is to get his feet moving forward and to give him time to get comfortable wearing the saddle. A lot of horses will stand calmly while you do up the cinches, but once they start moving and feel the cinches pulling on their bellies and […]

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Training Tips
February 16, 2016

Training Tip: Pinny-Eared Horses

When we see horses being worked and their ears are pinned back, we often assume the horse is cranky or upset. While that can certainly be the case, it’s not always true. When a horse is working really hard and paying close attention, he’ll often tip his ears back to his handler or rider, showing […]

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Training Tips
February 9, 2016

Training Tip: Hard-to-Catch Horse

If your horse gives you the runaround when you go to catch him, don’t be so predictable. Most horses balk at the sight of their owners coming to the pasture with halter in hand because they know it’s likely that they’re going to be taken to the barn, thrown in the cross-ties and saddled up. […]

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Training Tips
January 26, 2016

Training Tip: Respect Before Treats

Despite what most people think, we do give our horses treats at the ranch. In fact, you’ll find me carrying a treat in my pocket on most days. Here’s the thing–treats themselves aren’t bad or good; it’s how you use them that determines whether you get positive or negative results. We don’t give any treats […]

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Training Tips
January 19, 2016

Training Tip: Thinking of Starting a Colt? Be Realistic of Your Ability.

When it comes to starting colts, you need to be as realistic of your ability as you possibly can be. One of the first requirements is having an independent seat, which means that you can walk, trot and canter on a loose rein and you don’t need to squeeze with your legs or pull on […]

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Training Tips
January 12, 2016

Training Tip: A Blanketing Mistake to Avoid

The biggest mistake people make when blanketing their horses is sneaking the blanket up on the horse. If you reach the blanket up towards the horse and he has a heart attack, repeat the same motion another hundred times. When he relaxes, retreat and rub him.

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Training Tips
January 5, 2016

Training Tip: Reactive on a Group Trail Ride

It’s common for horses to ride well on the trail by themselves and get excited and ignore their riders when they’re in a group. When you get two or more horses on the trail, they have a tendency to want to race one another and get reactive. The more horses in the group, the more […]

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Training Tips
December 29, 2015

Training Tip: Horse Bites When Being Saddled

If your horse tries to bite you when you saddle him, first make sure your tack is clean and it fits your horse properly and your horse has no health problems. More than likely, though, your horse is nipping at you because of a lack of respect. How do you earn a horse’s respect? By […]

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Training Tips
December 22, 2015

Training Tip: My Training Bit of Choice

When it comes to training a horse, there is no better type of bit than a snaffle. Snaffle bits are direct pressure bits, meaning that they apply pressure directly to the horse’s mouth. The reins attach directly to and are level with the mouthpiece of the bit. A snaffle bit applies pressure to the horse’s […]

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