It’s tricky for horses to balance while travelling, and this increases the risk of bumps and scrapes. Therefore, it’s important that your horse wears well-fitting clothing to protect him. Travel boots or bandages will protect and support his legs. Should you use travel boots for horses? For those horses who Read more…
From temperatures below -5 degrees most horses should be covered. What temperature should I put a rug on my horse? Temperature Guide to Rugging a Horse 15 degrees and warmer. Stable Sheet. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. 10 to 15 degrees. Stable Sheet or Lightweight stable rug. Nothing or Stable Sheet. Nothing. Read more…
Treats: apples, carrots and peppermints all carry the potential for allergic reactions in a horse. These can often be overlooked when investigating an intolerance so it is important to include them when discussing your horse’s feed with a nutritionist. Why are apples not good for horses? Most people like to Read more…
A trace clip is where only a portion of the horse’s body is clipped. This reduces the sweat produced during work, as well as the time it takes a horse to cool down and dry off after work. How long does it take to trace clip a horse? A full Read more…
A diet high in protein is often thought to contribute to conditions such as laminitis, colic, tying up and excitability. In truth, it’s high levels of starch and sugar that present a nutritional risk factor for such conditions, not protein. What nutrient causes laminitis in horses? carbohydratesNutrition-induced laminitis is often Read more…
Riding uphill To avoid placing to much strain on your horse’s body increase the frequency and steepness of the incline gradually. Cantering uphill also has benefits. The thrust from both hindlegs created when you canter uphill develops jump and elastic recoil. What does an uphill horse mean? If both are Read more…
Long-reining is a method of exercising and educating your horse from the ground. Whether your horse is experienced or just starting out, long-reining is a great way to train your horse and keep them fit and supple without the weight of a rider. Plus, it allows you to see your Read more…
Your hands should be an extension of your lower arms. It’s important for you to carry your hands and close your fingers, enabling you to feel the horse’s mouth and communicate through the rein aids. Your wrist should remain straight with slightly bent thumbs on top, securing the rein against Read more…
Consider an incremental process like the following: Allow your horse to graze for 15 minutes for a few days. Increase your horse’s grazing time by 10 minutes each day until the horse can comfortably graze for 3 to 4 hours. Maintain a 4-hour grazing period for two weeks. Allow unlimited Read more…
To perform rein-back, the rider applies both leg aids and pressure down the rein. The leg aid asks the horse to move, and the pressure down the rein to the horse’s mouth stops them from going forward, so instead the horse will release the energy created in a step back. Read more…