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Training Tips

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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Training Tips
December 15, 2015

Training Tip: Mouthy Horses

When a horse gets mouthy — he nips or nibbles shirt sleeves, jackets or the lead rope — the behavior is often brushed aside. This is especially true with young horses, the most likely culprits of this behavior. A foal mouthing your shirt sleeve doesn’t seem like a big deal; in fact, a lot of […]

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Training Tips
December 8, 2015

Training Tip: Arena-Shy Horses

Like any problem you’re having with your horse that involves him not wanting to be where you want him to go, make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult. You’ll do that by hustling the horse’s feet where he wants to be (outside the arena) and letting him rest where you want him […]

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Training Tips
December 1, 2015

Training Tip: Tying a Horse in the Trailer

I often get asked if it’s OK to tie a horse in the trailer using my rope halter. The answer is absolutely. I tie all my horses in the trailer using my halter and lead rope and an Aussie Tie Ring. Whenever you tie a horse using a rope halter, make sure the halter is […]

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