Mar 09 2021
Foxtrot The Missouri Fox Trotter is a horse breed that originated in the state of Missouri in the United States. It was developed in the Ozark Mountains by settlers in the early 19th century, and quickly developed into a gaited breed appreciated for its stock horse abilities, stamina and smooth gaits. It performs an ambling …
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Mar 09 2021
Pace “The pace is a lateral two-beat gait. In the pace, the two legs on the same side of the horse move forward together, unlike the trot, where the two legs diagonally opposite from each other move forward together. In both the pace and the trot, two feet are always off the ground. The trot …
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Mar 09 2021
The Five Gaits of the Icelandic Horse Make it a Breed Apart “All horse breeds have three natural gaits — the walk, the trot, and the gallop. A natural gait is one that is performed by inherent, natural impulse and without training. Some horse breeds canter naturally, but not all. Few horse breeds have more …
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Feb 09 2021
Hitched Horsehair Bridles Have a History Behind Bars BY JODY MARTIN “The flowing mane and tail of the horse have been used for many purposes, both utilitarian and aesthetic, ever since humans paired up with equines. The strong, waterproof, dye-able strands of hair became a component in the creation of ropes, girths, and war bridles …
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Feb 02 2021
UP AND D0WN HILLS Riding on hills is part of my daily program. Going up and down hill strengthens the entire musculature, promotes conditioning, and is good for the horse’s balance and steadiness. This is my favorite as it gets horse and rider out of the arena and out on the trails! (fig-1). I am …
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Jan 17 2021
The Importance of the Thoracic Sling The goal of riding should be to have as healthy a sling as possible and have the horse use his sling as much as possible. Riders may often focus on the hind end pushing through the back’ or more often the position of the head. Learning to feel …
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Jan 10 2021
down and forward Aiguisons nos yeux encore ! Penchons-nous aujourd’hui sur la question de l’extension d’encolure. Illustration by Eitan translated from French “Let’s sharpen our eyes again! Let’s look at the issue of neckline extension today. First of all, what is the purpose of asking our horse to extend his nose down and forward? …
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Dec 12 2020
Just Let Him Be! When you are riding, is your horse carrying himself, or are you in-fact carrying him? Self-carriage is the horse’s ability to maintain his balance with my weight on his back. When my horse is in self-carriage, I feel that the next step, or stride will be the same as the last, …
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Dec 08 2020
I love to walk! Riding the walk will improve the quality of the relationship between horse and rider. In the walk, the risk for resistances is considerably lower and the chances for establishing a light, soft contact are considerably higher. “The most important of all the gaits—and the gait most often neglected in the training …
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Dec 07 2020
Pedaling (following the horse’s rib cage). Improving Your Horse’s Walk How pedaling can help your horse develop rhythmic suppleness in his back. The walk has no suspension and, therefore, no momentum to help your horse keep the rhythm as in the jog or the lope. In the walk, your horse’s rib cage swings once …
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