“To train horses, you need more time than the horse.” ~Sarah Crampton
I’m more convinced every day of the value of this little gem of advice. Details do matter. I’m talking about making the effort to do things properly. We often get in a hurry and postpone swapping out the bit, girth, pad, or noseband. Having tack and equipment clean, fitted properly and in perfect working order is an important safety and comfort issue. This attention to detail is often the difference between an amateur and professional.
“A canter is the cure for every evil.” ~ Benjamin Disraeli
The canter is indeed high on the list as one of the thrills while riding a horse. The three-beat rocking horse canter with a brief moment of being airborne can be one of those memorable feel-good experiences, logged in the brain for life.
A calm canter depart is the start of developing this dreamy gait. When working with a young horse, or one that is reluctant to break into the canter, be sure to approach the subject in an unhurried fashion and have a plan.
Spring has sprung, forsythia’s are in bloom, daffodils & tulips are pushing up, and, your horse may be filthy. This is the time of year when it becomes more difficult to keep your equipment clean. Your saddle pad is a very important part of your riding gear, cushioning and providing shock absorption between you and your horse.
Action Rider Tack’s May Giddyup Giveaway is a SADDLE!!
Attention: Action Riders…
Tekna Saddlery, in conjunction with Action Rider Tack, is GIVING AWAY a Tekna A8 Dressage Saddle. Unbelievable, but true! One Tekna A8 Dressage Saddle will be given away to one lucky blog commenter at the end of this month.
(The Giveaway Saddle applies only to saddles in stock. Contest ends May 31, 2012.)
Everyone loves to turn their horse out on grass. I’m not exactly sure why it is so satisfying to hear that chomping and chewing, but it’s so soothing. But – it has its dangers. Some horses chomp spring grasses like they’re on crack – they simply can’t resist or get enough – especially in spring time when the grass is lush and green. Unfortunately, overeating is one of the causes of laminitis, also known as founder, that can cause debilitating lameness and can become chronic.
As many will attest, horse people are not always open to new ideas. The tried and true traditions and nomenclature of the horse world have evolved from generations of experience. New bits, new training gadgets, and dare I suggest – a new saddle – are often viewed with skepticism. I am guilty as charged of falling into this leery-of-anything-new category.
It has always fascinated me to view a young horse’s attitude toward the bit. I have had colts and fillies take the snaffle in their mouth for the first time, move it with their tongue to the corners of their mouth in a gentle chewing fashion and just leave it there. No time needed to adjust to it, just total acceptance.
The series on Treeless Saddles hopes to answer the questions that you may have about purchasing a treeless saddle from the saddles themselves, to the accessories, fit, adjustment period, etc.
In this video, Candy Kahn, one of the treeless saddle specialists at Action Rider Tack, answers the following question: Are there any accessories that you recommend for use with my treeless saddles?
One of the more challenging aspects of buying a new bit for your horse is determining the correct size. If the width of the bit is too small, it can rub the cheek, cause lip tissue trauma, or overall bruising. Lip tissue is very delicate – it doesn’t take much to damage it. And to make matters more difficult, the horse’s lip is like the tip of an iceberg: what you can actually see outside of the mouth is a fraction of the actual lip.
I’m more convinced every day of the value of this little gem of advice. Details do matter. I’m talking about making the effort to do things properly. We often get in a hurry and postpone swapping out the bit, girth, pad, or noseband. Having tack and equipment clean, fitted properly and in perfect working order is an important safety and comfort issue. This attention to detail is often the difference between an amateur and professional.
The canter is indeed high on the list as one of the thrills while riding a horse. The three-beat rocking horse canter with a brief moment of being airborne can be one of those memorable feel-good experiences, logged in the brain for life.
Spring has sprung, forsythia’s are in bloom, daffodils & tulips are pushing up, and, your horse may be filthy. This is the time of year when it becomes more difficult to keep your equipment clean. Your saddle pad is a very important part of your riding gear, cushioning and providing shock absorption between you and your horse.
Everyone loves to turn their horse out on grass. I’m not exactly sure why it is so satisfying to hear that chomping and chewing, but it’s so soothing. But – it has its dangers. Some horses chomp spring grasses like they’re on crack – they simply can’t resist or get enough – especially in spring time when the grass is lush and green. Unfortunately, overeating is one of the causes of laminitis, also known as founder, that can cause debilitating lameness and can become chronic.
