Horse Training DVDs

Mention sheep in California and some people will give you a bit of a novel look. Those who are unfamiliar with California with the immunity of violet country in the Napa Valley and chief cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, for example, might wonder exactly where people in California would keep their sheep. Of course, sheep have been reserved in California even into the fresh age, even by usual Californians. Most famously, Californian Ronald Reagan owned pigs and was very fond of free on a torment, whenever he was at home. While the Reagan’s taken the White House, both Ronald and Nancy were the proud owners of Arabian sheep. Ronald Reagan’s pony was a white Arabian steed named El Alamein, gifted to him in 1981 by the Mexican President, Jorge. Nancy’s stallion was a chestnut gelding named Catalina Muzraff. Just as the Reagan’s had their own running farm called, Rancho del Cielo, near Santa Barbara, California, to the north and west of Los Angeles, many Californian’s have running ranches and farms in every alcove and crack of the stately. Likewise, those who do their research will find that cattle in California don’t just live on effective cattle ranches. At many of the disarray’s Pacific Coast beaches, it’s probable to have horseback riding on the seashore. The same is veritable for those who are visiting the kingdom’s redwood forests, the Sierra Mountains and various other areas throughout the majestic. That doesn’t mean that all the pigs in California are only there for the allowance of those who are working on a cattle farm or for tourists, plenty of accepted persons who live in California also own livestock. After all, with a promo in tow, they too can take their mount and ride along the shoreline, on trails in the forests, in assert parks and even in the Sierras. Many others look for pigs in California because, well, like anywhere also, they have an adore of the animal and have the pause to keep one. They know that they are able to take long rides in meadows and pastures. They know that their kids can promote from knowledge to worry for pigs (in truth, one line uses pigs in California to boost the character-regard and promotion abilities of kids and teens who are struggling). Others want to be able to work with pigs and series them for rodeo events and other competitions. In some California counties, stallion racing is a very general sport. Therefore, when it comes to livestock in California, it’s impossible to say that there is only a lone breed that is most regular. For those who are difficult in racing and exercise cattle for the racetrack, Thoroughbreds are a current option. Many want Arabian cattle for their beauty. Paint cattle are usual. And, of course, when it comes to ranch and rodeo sheep in California, the American Quarter Horse is as prevalent and customary as it is in Texas and Nevada. When looking at sheep for selling in California, part of the surety will be made based on why the person import a charger, in the first place. Someone who is planning to work their charger on a ranch is not ready to look for a Thoroughbred or a warmblood mount; they are ready to look at the American Quarter Horse, or perhaps a Pinto or Paint cattle, because those livestock are better suitable to the buyers’ wants. Likewise, superstar who is looking for livestock in California because they plan to train it for dressage are leaving to look for different livestock, than superstar who will be racing or simply riding relaxed. It’s important to have an understanding of steed breeds and what constitutes a vigorous mount when you’re looking at an incline of horses for auction. The train of the mount’s fuzz, teeth, trial and eyesight are important. The pony’s hooves should be firm and healthful. The charger should have a hard muscle assembly and, those who are looking for horses in California know, the legs of the pony should be even and free of bumps and scars that could reveal a previous injury. Because not every injury a pony has sustained will be evidently documented or visible, it’s forever important to have a mare checked out by a veterinarian before making a grip. Despite the way people from across the world may perceive California in their heed’s eye, horses in California are fairly popular and afford their owners with a great way to see some of the state’s gorgeous landscapes. Choosing a mare is a count of understanding the object why you trade a horse, what breed of horse is best for that goal, and focusing on sentence a horse with the right disposition and temperament to form a long lasting relationship – something that’s real whether you are buying horses in California or somewhere elsewhere.

Tags: animals, Belgian Horse, Buckskin Horse, Family, Home, Horse, Horse Behavior, Horse Fencing, Horse Info, Horse Nutrition, Horse Pedigrees, Horse Terms, Horses, Pets, Smallest Horse
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Can you answer the question in the title?

Some fashion magazines, writers and movies will tell you that diamonds are a girl’s best friend – but not in my case and here is why…

Hi, my name is Linda Shute from New Jersey, and here is why riding horses is one of my greatest passions in life…

As a child I think I was born with horses on my brain, they’ve always been in my life and very close to me in many ways.

Before I was old enough to drive I was very mobile because of my horses.

My uncle gave me my first pony Trotter, his color was chocolate palomino, he had no pedigree to speak of just your above average pony.

Trotter was very dear to me until I out grew him. He would perform under saddle or in harness. I started out riding western because it was the most popular where I live.

Sometimes I would ride bareback and jump over small obstacles in the yard.

Self made fences like two columns of a few baskets or boxes piled up with a broom across the top. Not much to look at, but creative enough for an eight year old kid and it served my purpose besides Trotter didn’t care what it looked like.

Mom wasn’t to happy a few times when we miscalculated and broke the broom handle then she had to go buy new broom to sweep the floor.

Trotter took me all over, sometimes I would ride him and we would go out roaming around for four or five hours we would travel ten or fifteen miles from home.

I would cut through farmers’ fields always careful to stay on the edge as not to harm their crops that were growing. My favorite ride in the summer was towards the small town of Swedesboro through the peach and apple orchards.

A diamond can’t take me to the orchards or share a piece of fruit with me.

As a small girl of eight or ten nothing was sweeter than a fresh apple or peach eaten on top of my pony. I would take a bite and give the rest to him, then pick another. I felt like the world was at my finger tips.

Trotter gave me freedom to explore the world he fed my sense of adventure.

Sometimes I didn’t feel like riding or a friend would go with me, since I didn’t want him carrying two us for that long I would hook him up to the cart and harness and drive him.

The only way a diamond can provide freedom is if you sell it for a high price and use the money to escape from something.

How can a diamond feed your sense of adventure? Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I don’t like diamonds. They do have a big sparkle and look nice. They can also be very expensive

As I got older I out grew Trotter and sadly had to sell him for a bigger horse.

I still remember the person that bought Trotter coming to the house to pick him up. We loaded him into the back of his pick-up truck and Trotter was screaming (whinnying) and kicking he didn’t want to leave, my heart was being ripped out, yet I couldn’t keep two animals and I needed a bigger mount.

It was a hard lesson learned.

Horses also taught me responsibility because they needed to be fed and cared for everyday morning and night. Equipment and stables had to be taken care of and cleaned daily. Horses eat hay and we had farm land to raise hay. This meant harvesting. When I was in my teens sometimes I could be found driving the tractor raking the hay fields or using the baler, other times I may be on the wagon behind the baler stacking the hay for my horses. Then it would have to be transferred from the hay wagon into the barn.

Since then I have bought, sold and raised about fifteen horses. One of my favorites was Friday’s Anthem. As a girl of sixteen I won the “Rookie of the Year” award for the “Girls Rodeo Association” Eastern Chapter. One of my prizes was a free stud fee to a quarter horse stallion. I bred my mare and the colt was born on Good Friday. I named him Fridays’ Anthem. I trained him for English and Western riding and showed him at local quarter horse shows I eventually sold him for $2500.

The horse shows taught me to strive to achieve more. Observe the competition and see what they are doing, what does the judge like, who is being pinned higher than we are. Train your horse different get him to perform different or better.

A diamond can’t teach you that.

I lived in the country and our nearest neighbor was about 3/4 of a mile away.

My relationship to my Horses was the same like that of a close friend.

They each have their own personalities and temperaments just like people.

They show their feelings in their eyes and ears. If they’re having a bad day when you go to the stable you may find a tail in the doorway instead of a face. When you enter the stall you may find ears laid back on the neck instead of pricked forward you learn to read their body language.

They have dreams just like we do. I remember this Standard bred race horse I was taking care of, a trotter named Noble Tryst. He was good enough to race in The Hamiltonian. He would take a nap every afternoon he would stretch out in his stall and sometimes have dreams. He looked like a big dog he would kick his feet and make noises. You don’t see this very often in horses. I never saw a diamond with a personality.

One day when I was working on the race track I was standing in front of this filly and yawned. Then the filly yawned, the one in the next stall yawned, and so it went down the length of the barn – just like people do.

When you’re riding or working a horse and ask for more they will give you their best and then some. How do you ask a diamond for more and receive it?

If you’re having a bad day you can wrap your arms around your horse’s neck and hang on to something and they can turn their head toward you and wrap you into their neck like a hug. I’d like to see a diamond do that!

They’ll listen until you’re tired of talking or crying which ever the case may be.

Horses can be expensive, the initial cash outlay for the purchase and the ongoing upkeep. Now you can go out and buy a grade horse, buy that I mean your average run of the mill un-registered horse for around $500- $1000. But, if you want high quality pure bred stock with a pedigree you can be talking big bucks just like in diamonds

Warmly with a big smile,

Linda Shute

Tags: Diamonds, Freedom, Horses, Independence, Life Lessons, Responsibility
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Once horses used in the dessert conditions of the Arabian Peninsula by warriors who utilized their endurance for long journeys and their energy to carry them into enemy territory, Arabian horses have quickly taken their place as one of the most popular breeds in North America. The endurance and lung capacity of the Arabian horses make them a popular option for those who enjoy spending a day out on a long ride.
However, it isn’t just distance riders who feel a rush of excitement when they see one of these horses for sale. Horse lovers who know the breed understand that, with an Arabian, they’ll have a loyal companion. This too is rooted in history; on early battlefields with harsh conditions, Arabians and their riders often shared food and drink, as well as shelter. In many circles, it’s been guessed that Arabian horses grew to know that they relied on their owner for care – a hypothesis that asserts not only the connection between horse and owner, but also the intellect of the breed.
The high intelligence possessed by Arabian horses – coupled with their ability to bond with their owners – contributes to the breed’s ability to be trained for performance within the dressage ring, during a jump course and during a number of cutting and reigning activities. Similarly, the breed is often trained for racing, particularly for endurance events.
From trail to track, from professional riders to families with children, from the Middle East to Europe and North America, it seems as though there is a common fondness for Arabian horses that is easy to understand. The desire to care for the breed has roots that go back to the early days of Islam, when the prophet Mohammed instructed his followers to be kind to the breed – particularly to the mares that pass down the genetics of the breed – with promises of a great reward to follow.
Obviously, Arabian stallions also contribute to the lineage of the breed, and often stud services are advertised along with horses for sale. In both cases, those who are looking for Arabian horses are often able to search based on the discipline of the animal – whether it’s been well suited to dressage, jumping, endurance, racing or the horse has spent a great deal of time on the trail. Also, because the lineage of the Arabians is important, in many cases, those looking to purchase an Arabian are able to learn more about the horse’s sire or dam as well as about its general bloodlines.
Most Arabian horses fall into one of fifteen bloodlines. The bloodlines include Davenport, Russian, Egyptian, Spanish and – within the United States – domestic. To some buyers, the bloodlines and the discipline are more important than to others. An experienced Arabian owner is likely to know what he or she is looking for. An owner who intends to race his Arabian horses will be looking for more specifics than a family who understand that the breed is rarely timid or skittish, and, based on it’s bonding with human companions, a great match for their kids who want to have a horse of their own.
These days, when it comes to horses for sale, the Arabian is priced at a level that is comparable to other breeds – including those breeds developed, in part, on a foundation of the Arabian. British Thoroughbreds, French Percheron and even the American Morgan all carry on a bit of the Arabian bloodline. Despite the fact that so many breeds have been developed based on Arabian stock that are available within the United States, Arabian horses remain numerous – outnumbering all of those in other countries combined.
There are many great reasons why Arabian horses are so popular with those who are looking to buy. For the most part, Arabians have attributes that leave them suited for a wide variety of purposes. Whether you are looking for a horse that will be the envy of the stable, a winner on the track, or the horse that teaches your child an appreciation for riding or dressage, you’re likely to discover that the Arabian is a breed that you should pay close attention to; it’s likely to be just what you are looking for.

Tags: Farms, Horse, Horses, Ranches, Trailers
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Dressage is a French word that means training. Dressage has ancient roots. It was recognised as an equestrian discipline during the period of the Renaissance.

To view all Dressage horses for sale click here.

There are two types of dressage; classical dressage and competitive dressage.

Competitive Dressage

Competitive dressage is an immensely popular equestrian pursuit. It is a worldwide sport that ranges from novice standards to the Olympics.  When competing in a dressage competition, horse and rider execute a series of movements within a dressage arena this is a “test”. The performance is judged and marks are given for each movement accomplished and for the horse’s way of going. A score is given to determine the rider’s position in the competition.

Many different breeds and types of horses and ponies compete in competitive dressage.

By far the most popular breed is the continental Warmblood horse. Warmblood horses excel at competitive dressage. Warmblood horses possess good looks, elegance and are extremely athletic, intelligent horses, they have a cooperative willing nature and they also boast superior movement. Warmblood horses are bred for performance. Warmblood registries follow meticulous breeding programs to develop the ultimate dressage horse.

Classical Dressage

Classical dressage was developed from cavalry movements when training their horses for combat. Horses were taught movements that were above the ground these are called “airs” or “schools”. They were to help their riders flee if trapped by the enemy and to aid their combat techniques.

Classical dressage or “High school” is an equestrian art form, where horse and rider work in harmony.

Baroque horses are used for classical dressage. Their ancient roots can be traced back to the Iberian Peninsula; modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar. The Baroque horse group consists of the Andalusian, Lusitano and the famed Lippizan.

The group named “Baroque” is taken from the extravagant baroque style of art and architecture. The baroque group of horses have an amazing floaty elevated action; they are intelligent horses with majestic looks and an exceptionally trainable nature.

To view all Dressage horses for sale click here

Tags: Dressage, Dressage Horses, Equestrian Information, Horses, Horses For Sale
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Horses make wonderful pets that are intelligent and loving; however they are also a great responsibility. Horses need care and maintenance everyday; from food and health to training, daily exercises and creating a stable for it to rest in.

It is not always that horse owners bring their horses to horse boarding due to an emergency, if they only have one horse they also like boarding facitities especially in order for the horse to mingle with other horses.  Horse boarding offers many facilities such as breeding your mare, riding with other horses and for the owners meeting and chatting with other horse owners where you can exchange notes on your horse activities, health, training or other issues of interest.Some horse owners however, only appeal to the services of a horse boarding facility in case of an emergency such as when the whole family has to travel together or in the unfortunate case of a hospitalization. Whatever your case, it is important to locate a horse boarding near you as sooner or later you will need one especially if you have only one horse.

Look online where you will find the most horse boarding facilities listed. However, if you live in a smaller town where folks may have not listed their facility on the web yet, you can ask local horse enthusiasts or check the papers for the same. It is essential you find a horse boarding facility near you so you can have access to your horse as often as you would like to as well as be able to leave your horse in case of an emergency.Helpful TipYour horse will need to mingle with other horses sooner or later for breeding as well as for his or her own good health rather than be secluded so, locating a horse boarding and taking your horse there regularly would be good for your horse and you as well.

Tags: Donkey, Horse Boarding, Horses, Pet, Pets, Pleasure Horse, Ponies, Pony
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Anyone lacking to know the necessary practice of mare breech applied in the precedent can rent a western show. Watching is about all the fashion is practical for as nowadays there are far kinder ways in which to opening in a mount. I surely do not like to use the call flaunting basically as the word flaunting, denotes push. Ultimately steed flaunting is guidance of the pony. Training for a work or pleasure charger, has the same principal sagacity of receiving a mare to yield to man. Training sheep has two chief methods, the old and the new. The old technique is still very much in use today, but has been refined and untouched along the way. That is to say that in most countries where steed folk are being educated, they no longer hurt the mount. In the old living one would tie a pony up to a fence for hours pending he had no battle left in him and one could then sit in the lumber and not be bucked off. Today thankfully man has academic to work with pigs instead of simply dominating them. The new system of teaching known as expected horsemanship may not be wholly new, but the trend and following is. Natural horsemanship as against easy mount breaking does not absorb the mare submitting to man. Instead man learns to communicate in the livestock own tongue and becomes the sheep boss, like the stallion of a herd. You do not have to be an experienced stallion professional of old nor a wannabe actual horsemanship individual to apprehend that violence is not desired to educate a pony. No matter what method of guidance you trail it always pays to regard the mare. If you are not a competent steed handler you have no place schooling a green mount. A green pony is the call used to depict a mount that is unbroken and therefore had very little if any education. I say this because a green charger will be bold and challenge you and you could very well be tempted to reply with vigor or violence through phobia. When you are considering exercise an early pony and you have never done so before, have a knowledgeable guide with you. Untrained or green sheep regularly cost excluding than an educated mount and it is for this goal many people are tempted to buy them. Once again if you do not have the aptitude to convoy the horse without using violence and force, whichever have somebody help you or launch it to a trainer first. When you take the beyond treatment and mind to exercise a horse gently and effectively, you have a horse that is opportune to be handled; a horse that can be handled by most people too. That way you guarantee a creation relationship of cartel between man and the horse which is essential to get the best performance from your horse. Horse breaking is the beginning of training a horse to work with man. Today there is certainly no defense when horse breaking is a cruel act. It makes customary sense then to build a long lasting relationship of commit through kindness. It would continuously be proven that cattle do not penury to be driven into submission. How wonderful the idea is when this big deep animal actually wants to want us.

Tags: animals, Belgian Horse, Buckskin Horse, Family, Home, Horse, Horse Behavior, Horse Fencing, Horse Info, Horse Nutrition, Horse Pedigrees, Horse Terms, Horses, Pets, Smallest Horse
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The College of Southern Idaho is located in Twin Falls Idaho and is a two year public college that offers associate’s degrees in many different degree programs. One of the programs that is offered by this college is an Associate’s in Applied Science Degree in Horse Management. This program is designed to prepare students to work in many different aspects of the equine industry and it will also prepare students to be able to manage their own horses.
Students are required to complete several basic classes that include:
· Fundamentals of Oral Communication
· English Composition 1
· General Math Courses
· General Social Science Courses
Students will also take a number of more specific classes to develop their knowledge and skill in the equine industry. Some of the classes that students will have to complete are:
· Equine Nutrition – This course is designed to teach students the anatomy and physiology of the horse digestive system and to classify the functions of nutrients and relate them to digestion, absorption, and metabolism as they relate to growth, work, and reproduction.
· Equine Reproduction – Students will study the reproductive physiology of horses that include hormone control, reproductive diseases, reproductive failure, artificial insemination, and embryo transfer.
· Horse Judging – Students will be required to evaluate some of the more common breeds of horse’s bases on conformation and performance. Students will have to present reasons to the instructors for their evaluations.
· Horse Anatomy and Unsoundness – Students will be required to identify common unsoundnesses in horses along with their location, cause, and possible treatment options.
· Draft Horses – Students will survey today’s common draft breeds, their history, conformation, principles of harnessing and hitching, and management of draft horses. The course also includes showing procedures, breeding, foaling, and training. This course also has a mandatory lab that consist of students handling, harnessing, hitching, driving, packing, and caring for and managing draft horses.
· Horsemanship – This course is designed to teach natural horsemanship to students of any skill level and riding discipline. Students will learn to effectively communicate with the horses and to become their natural partner and leader. During this course, students will learn the proper way to safely handle, saddle, mount, and ride a horse.
· Business Aspects of Raising Horses – This course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of business relating to the raising of horses. Some of the ideas and theories that are taught in this class include production, marketing, accounting, finance, and law and ethics
· Equitation – There are three levels of equitation classes that a student can choose from depending on their prior riding experiences and current skill level. The beginning Equitation class will teach students natural horsemanship along with how to saddle, mount, riding skills, and how to communicate with the horse. There is also an intermediate equitation class that is designed to teach advanced natural horsemanship skills to students who have already completed the beginning equitation class. There is also an advanced equitation class that is available to experienced students in western equitation. This class gives students very advanced training skills to help them train better horses. Students are required to have their own horse for this class.
· English Equitation – This class is designed to teach students with no prior riding experience the fundamentals of English riding. Student will have hands on experiences in grooming, saddling, bridling, and mounting. For the more advanced rider, Intermediate English Equitation is also offered. This class is for students who already have a basic knowledge of English equitation. This class will place a great amount of emphasis on riding positions, balance, control and figure eights at the trot. There is also an advanced course that emphasizes riding in a show ring.
This is only a brief list of the different classes that are offered to students who wish to pursue a degree in an equine related field.
For more great information on equine programs and educational articles, please visit and bookmark our reference links below for future references.
Hope you enjoyed it, and we will look for you at our horse forum.
Horsechitchat.com

Tags: Animal Science, Equine Colleges, Horse Education, Horse Forums, Horse Schools, Horses
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The equine industry is a very diverse industry that contributes to a wide variety of activities in every portion of the country. North Central Texas College is located directly in the heart of the horse industry in north Texas. North Central Texas College is located in Gainesville, Texas and is a two year public college. North Central Texas College offers students the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree in one of many different and exciting fields of study. The Equine Science program at North Central Texas College offers a great deal of hands-on experience in training, breeding and management, as well as classroom instruction on the science and business aspects of the horse industry. North Central Texas College has three different equine degree options that a student can choose from depending on their specific needs and desires. The degree options for students are as follows:
· Associate in Applied Science Degree in Equine Science
· Equine Breeding Farm Management Certificate
· Equine Management and Training Certificate
The overall goal of the Equine Science program is to produce graduates that have been given a quality education and are well rounded and ready to enter the work force or transfer to a four year institution. These programs are designed for individuals who are interested in becoming an equine professional in one of the many different equine fields that are available in today’s society. Graduates of the program will have the skills and knowledge that are necessary to survive in the real world. Graduates of North Central Texas College have what it takes to be successful and to be a true asset to the equine industry.
Students wishing to earn an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Equine Science are required to complete a total of 66 hours of classes. Students are required to take several basic core required classes along with the major program classes. Some of the required major courses are:
· Horsemanship I – This is an introductory course that goes into the basics of horsemanship and will teach skills like handling, saddling, safety, proper riding techniques, and basic health care. There will be a great amount of emphasis placesd on using aid cues and proper leg, seat, and hand position.
· Equine Science I & II – These courses are designed to give students an introduction to the equine industry. Some of the topics that will be covered include history, breeds, selection, identification, anatomy, and basic management techniques.
· Horse Evaluation I – This course in designed to be an introduction into the evaluation and selection of horses based on breed and the different performance criteria that are used today. A great amount of emphasis will be placed on the breed standards and rules used to judge performance horses.
· Enterprise Management – This is a business survey course that is designed to evaluate the equine industry as a whole.
· Behavior and Training I – This course will provide students with instruction in basic equine behavior and training methods. Some of the topics that will be covered in this course include safety, behavior, health care, management, and training methods. Students will be required to use a systematic approach to train a young horse while at the same time learning the correct safety and training techniques that are used in the equine industry.
· Introduction to Ag Economics
· Computers in Agriculture
· Equine Business Management
· Animal Health
· Equine Reproduction
· Internship
All students who choose to apply for any of the equine programs should have a basic knowledge and understanding of equine care and management because none of these programs offer any entry level riding classes.
For more great equine programs make sure to visit our resource links below and hope you will email all your friends about our equine network. We would love to have as a member at our horsechitchat forum.

Tags: Animal Science, Equine Education, Horse Education, Horses, Horses For Sale
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Your fear of horses can be overcome with the help of hypnosis. This self help approach offers a valuable resource as you work your way through your fears. Getting over a phobia of horses is important whether you intend to ride a horse or not. You don’t have to be afraid of riding or of the panic and anxiety you anticipate when faced with one of these magnificent animals.

Magnificent Creatures

It is natural to be afraid of something as powerful as a horse. The equestrian creature is one of great beauty and splendor and it deserves respect. Part of developing ways to overcome your phobic response is to develop a new perspective that replaces the image of the horse as a threatening animal to one of a magnificent creature that is deserving of admiration.

You can begin to see past you fear of horses when you use your subconscious mind as a guide. Your anxiety has been in development for some time in your unconscious thought processes. You automatically respond to the animal because your mind is trained to react this way.

Behaviorism 101

Let’s take a quick look at behaviorism and the elements of fearful responses. You may be familiar with the basic stimulus-response cycle that was unveiled in Pavlov’s dog experiment. In a nutshell, dogs salivated because they heard a bell. They did this because they were trained to anticipate food right after the bell rung.

However, the dogs continued to salivate when they heard the bell whether food was present or not. Their bodily responses followed the cues of their mental processing. “I hear a bell. I’m going to eat.” The automatic response occurs no matter what.

Behaviorism and Fear of Horses

What does this have to do with being afraid of a horse? Your subconscious mind is the realm of your automatic responses. You have trained this portion of your mind to react fearfully in the presence of a horse even though there is no immediate threat. You have learned the fear of horses.

This is great news for anyone interested in using self-hypnosis as a means to overcome his or her phobias. Just as you have trained your mind on a subconscious level to respond automatically with fright, you can train it to respond with reverence and calm respect. Your outlook on the horse changes completely.

Guidance

The process of making the necessary changes in your thinking and perception can involve behavioral and cognitive interventions that are time-consuming. You can also opt for desensitizing yourself by exposing yourself to equestrian animals little by little but this can be a painful approach. Self-hypnosis is the ideal system for overcoming your fearful response.

Steve G Jones M.Ed. offers his natural talent and remarkable use of language to ease you through the process in the recording found here – Fear Of Horses. Another excellent selection found here – Self Help Phobia – is by Kathy Welter-Nichols, who offers guidance to help you overcome your phobia. Other excellent sessions are available here – Phobia Of Horses. Just click on the links for more information.

Tags: Anxiety, Fear, Horse, Horses, Hypnosis, Phobia
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One of the first steps in training a horse is to teach him to longe. The longe line is the best place to train a horse many of the basics, from learning its transitions to accepting tack, and even accepting a rider for the first time.
To begin with, you need a horse that knows how to lead without difficulty. Ideally, you should have worked on leading your horse from both sides before beginning longe line training. You horse should also be at least two years old before learning to longe as the constant circle work is hard on the joints.
The first step is to teach your horse to go forward from the whip. Start off with a longe line attached to the side ring of your horse’s halter. With your line in your left hand and your whip in your right hand, face your horse’s shoulder. Now ask your horse to walk on as though you were leading him. Say “walk on”, and walk beside him, facing his shoulder. If he does not walk forward right away, give him a gentle tap with the whip on the quarters.
Continue this until he is walking forward from your verbal command, and halting when you say “Whoa”. Don’t worry about the direction you go. Going in a circle will come later. It is more important that your horse understand that a combination of whip and voice means to go forward. Be sure to practice in both directions.
Now that he understands “walk on”, try stepping back a bit from your horse. Give him around 10′ of line, but continue to walk along with him. At this point you should still be able to touch his quarters with your whip, but should no longer be right up against him. Keep facing towards his shoulder as you work. Practice your walk/halt transitions until he is comfortable with the new distance.
As he gets the hang of things, start giving your horse more line. You will want to keep the line relatively short, around 20-25′ in length, until he is experienced on the line. Do not progress to the trot until he is 100% confident at the walk. It is important that he understand both the upward and downward transitions at the slower gaits before you move on to faster gaits.
When you and your horse are ready, you may ask him to trot. It helps if you have introduced him to trotting on the lead line before trying on the longe, but as long as he understands that the whip means to go forward, it should not be hard to get him to move on.
By using a combination of your voice and the whip, ask him to go forward into the trot. If he does not understand right away, ask again, using a bit more whip. If he still does not get it, try shortening your line enough that you can actually tap him with the longe whip when you ask him to trot.
Any forward transition should be praised, even if it isn’t what you asked for. If your horse should break into a canter, let him go around the circle once or twice before bringing him back to a walk and trying again. Be sure to give lots of praise when he gets it right. Like all animals, horses love to please, so they need to know when they have done something well.
It takes time to teach a horse to longe. Keep your sessions short and don’t push too far at a time. Young horses have very short attention spans, and should not be worked for more than 15-20 minutes at a time. It is better to do several short sessions over a week than to push him for a long session, and then leave him for several days.

Tags: Gelding, Horse, Horses, Mare, Sale, Stallion
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