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"Then
thundered the horses' hoofs— galloping, galloping go his mighty steeds." ~Judges
5:22
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Article Spotlight
Round Pen Training
Most round pens are fifty to sixty feet to allow the horse to bend and achieve proper bend and
balance at the walk, trot, and canter. The round pen can be used for simply exercising the horse,
as a temporary paddock, a place to confine your horse while you work with it without having it tied
up, and many other ideas. You should concentrate on driving the horse around the round pen at all
the gaits. While you're driving your horse, you should start to notice him consider looking toward
you - when this happens you should move, while backing - increasing the distance between you and
the horse. This is called drawing. If he doesn't pick up on this, move back behind him and make
him travel onward. Think of pulling him off the fence with an invisible rope, and to pull you must
back up...try approaching and petting him. If he won't stand still, just start over and draw him
in again. (continue reading)
Horses in the News
Blind 'Superman' Saves Colorado Teenager After Fall From Horse
Federal Horse Population Control Bill Backfires: Slaughter Increases
Treating Newborn Horses: A Unique Form of Pediatrics
Horse Blind Date Could Lead to Loss of Foal
Quote of the Day:
"I've spent most of
my life riding horses. The rest I've just wasted."
~Anonymous
Training Tips:
Some horses buck when they're young and unbalanced, especially at a canter. They simply haven't
learned to carry themselves, and a rider at the same time. When you start jumping your horse,
it gets even worse! Imagine running around a ring by yourself - you're fine, and it's easy to
jump things too! But then try carrying a child piggyback around the ring doing the same things.
It gets a lot harder, doesn't it? If your horse gets into the habit of bucking or kicking out
while cantering or after he jumps, check several things. Make sure his teeth haven't grown too
long, or that his back isn't sore. Check to be sure that you're not causing the horse pain or
discomfort by pulling in his mouth or sitting too heavily on his back. If you've checked everything
possible, and your horse is still having problems, consider another approach. again, many your
horses are simply unbalanced. I have a mare, though, that it's merely an attitude problem! She
learned that by bucking, she would get out of working at a canter (my own fault, I know). Once
the horse has learned this, it's hard to work them out of it, but it IS possible. Your best choice
is to put a western saddle on your horse, for your own balance and safety. When your horse bucks,
or kicks out, push him through it HARD - get him over the idea that misbehaving gets him out of
work. Every time he misbehaves, he has to work harder! This is the easiest and quickest way to
train your horse out of a bucking problem.
Check out this new article on horse movies:
Equine Movies |
Horses in History:
1845: The Great Sectional Match, the North versus the South, was run at Union
Course in New York. Fashion, representing the North, raced against the South's Peytona in a match
race won by Peytona. Three years earlier, Fashion had defeated Boston, who represented the South,
in another North-South rivalry.
1891: Kingman, the only African American-owned
horse to win the Derby, did so with jockey Isaac Murphy in the irons. Kingman was owned and trained
by African American Dudley Allen. The win gave jockey Isaac Murphy back-to-back Derby victories
and made him the first jockey to win three Derbies.
1939: Louis Schaefer
became the first person to have ridden and trained a Preakness Stakes winner after he saddled
Challedon to victory. Schaefer won the 1929 Preakness as a jockey, riding Dr. Freeland. Schaefer's
double was replicated by jockey-turned-trainer John Longden, who rode Count Fleet in the 1943
Preakness and trained Majestic Prince to win the race in 1969.
1973: Secretariat
worked five furlongs in :57 2/5 at Pimlico Racecourse in preparation for the May 19 Preakness
Stakes. He was eased after completing his workout distance, but still ran six furlongs in 1:10.
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