At one point, 30 days used to be the most common length of time for a young horse to go into training with a professional. But these days I see more horses staying between 90 to 180 days of training. Can you break a horse in 30 days? On average, Read more…
Usually, this process takes approximately 40 to 60 days. What age should you back a horse? Most horses, especially sports horses, should be backed by the age of three to minimise these issues. How do I get my horse back faster? So, to speed up a sluggish reverse, I ask Read more…
Many horses (and particularly ponies) are fairly hardy and will be able to live outdoors without a rug all year round, provided that they have a good natural coat and access to shelter. Can horses be left out in the winter? Provide adequate shelter: Horses can do fine living outside Read more…
The round pen work helps them develop rhythm, consistency and balance before they even carry a rider. Working with the horse from the ground allows Robert to watch the horse moving. He can observe the horse’s cadence, head carriage, use of the back and hindquarters, as well as other nuances. Read more…
1. Start in walk and, using the hand and leg individually to give the aid, ask the horse to come off the track 5m; he should be stepping across in front and behind. 2. Once he completes the lateral movement, ask him forward on the new line for four steps, Read more…
How to do: Place your horse as square as possible. In this way, he distributes his weight and maintains his balance during the exercise. Grab his front leg forward and always start low with his hoof towards the ground. Feel where his limit is. Perform the exercise on the other Read more…
Turnout provides ample time to form social connections that are important for your horse’s mental health. It also helps young horses learn how to navigate the social pecking order of the herd. What does it mean when a horse is turned out? What’s getting turned out mean? It means that Read more…
In young foals with so-called ‘ballerina syndrome’, where they suddenly go up on their toes, often during a period of hard ground conditions caused by drought, heel pain caused by bruising is undoubtedly involved. It is essential to examine foals daily for conformational changes during these conditions. What causes ballerina Read more…
Horses can eat cooked marshmallow treats including roasted marshmallows. Always make sure that any cooked marshmallow treat like Rice Krispie treats or roasted marshmallows are completely cooled before feeding them to your horse. What candy is safe for horses? Fruity candies, like Smarties, Skittles and Jolly Ranchers, do not contain Read more…
Keep in mind that generally a lost shoe is not a life threatening emergency. If it is the weekend and your farrier does not work weekends they may get back to you at the start of the working week. Horses were not born with shoes on and will generally survive Read more…