In general, seeing a horse with a reasonable amount of foam/saliva around his mouth is an indicator of a correct, soft acceptance of the contact, resulting from good posture, not directly from the action of the bit. Why do dressage horses slobber? This excessive salivation usually results from horses eating Read more…
OCD is usually caused by a combination of several factors acting together, including: Rapid growth and large body size. Nutrition: Diets very high in energy or have an imbalance in trace minerals (low copper diets) Genetics: Risk of OCD may be partially inherited. What age do horses develop OCD? Most Read more…
Horses of any breed, size, and shape are at risk of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), a developmental orthopedic disease, if predisposing factors are present. For years, researchers have believed that genetics play a role in the development of OCD, and science supports this assertion. What causes OCD in horses? OCD is Read more…
One great horse-riding discipline that many partake in for pleasure is trail riding. What discipline do you ride horses? Equestrian consists of three disciplines − the Endurance, the Jumping, and the Dressage. Each discipline has both individual as well as team events. What is the hardest discipline in horse riding? Read more…
Dressage is one of the three Olympic equestrian sports and a FEI recognized discipline. The sport takes place at different levels, judges have different rankings and the sport involves showing off the horse’s training by performing prescribed movements in front of the judges. Do you use your own horse in Read more…
Before taking off your horse’s bridle, your horse needs to ride well with one on! The best horses for bridleless riding are the ones that stop well off seat and voice cues, turn well off leg pressure, and respond to neck reining. DO NOT ride bridleless if your horse cannot Read more…
Horses experiencing pain or discomfort will frequently grind their teeth when a bit is placed in their mouth; in addition this sort of grinding may also be caused through tension or conflict. How do I know if my horses teeth hurt? Difficulty eating, bit evasions and antisocial behavior are signs Read more…
To keep any horse from becoming head-shy, move slowly around the head (no fast motions). If you touch his head, start and end in a positive way. If you have to treat an eye or ear problem, when finished go back to something that’s positive and not upsetting to the Read more…
The phrases “on the bit”, “behind the bit” and “above the bit” are equestrian terms used to describe a horse’s posture relative to the reins and the bridle bit. A position on the bit is submissive to the rider’s rein aids, given through the bit. How do you tell a Read more…
Horses have to keep walking in order to continuously find new plants. Horses that are kept in yards or stables must either be turned out daily onto pasture (preferably with other horses) or a large area (again preferably with other horses) so that they are able to not only move, Read more…