D Tands

Several years ago one of my horseshoeing accounts was for a small ranch in Woodside California. There were about 10 horses on the ranch owned by several different people. A Cute little ranch right off a main road, quiet and friendly, big oak trees and an old very old barn. It was one of those ranches that I felt good about going to. The easy going family oriented atmosphere somehow makes the hard task of shoeing easier. Quite frequently while I was on the job at the ranch a gentleman with big handlebar mustache and cowboy hat would come to take care of his horse. We rarely if ever spoke more than just a polite hello to each other. He seemed like a good enough fellow, we just never quite[..]

A well-broke horse is a joy to work around. A horse that always tries to get his own way can be a nuisance. They can also be dangerous. Proper training can put the respect back in a horse and make him more enjoyable to work around. Training shows a horse that it is easier and more comfortable to do as we ask than to do otherwise. A horse should respect you and your cues, not fear them. I've compiled a list of handy tips that if used consistently, should put the respect and trust back in your training program with a minimum of effort. As your horse gains in respect and understanding, you'll find that he tests you less and less, making him easier and more enjoyable to work with. If you are[..]

Sometime in most of our lives we all have dreamed about riding a beautiful horse like we see in the movies or on TV. Like everything else it looks easier than it really is. But if you go about it in the right way you can reap all of the rewards and pleasures that comes from riding a horse. First, start with a horse that is suitable for you based on your riding skills. Don't fall in love with a horse just because it is beautiful. You must choose an animal with a temperament and a gate that suits your personality and riding skills. Nothing will turn a new rider off faster than starting with a horse that is way too advanced for them. A horse must have a suitable gate for a novice as well as[..]

What is the most important building block when it comes to your riding? The way you sit, of course! That's right, the way you sit will have a huge impact on the way you ride. A good seat should accomplish two simple things: it should make it easier for you to stay on your horse, and it should also be comfortable for both you and your horse. Sitting wrong, on the other hand, makes it not only more difficult for you to ride correctly, it can also hurt your horse's back. Sitting correctly takes a little know-how and practice, but in the long run it's well worth it. Pay attention to the following suggestions when it comes to seat, feet, legs, head and eyes, and shoulders, arms, and hands,[..]

Horses are fascinating animals. They are hard workers and wonderful friends. If you treat them good, they will give it back to you 100 times. One way to make your horse happier is to give him a stable rubber mat. Horses support all their body weight all day and sometimes all night on their feet, making their stall's surface an important component of their comfort. Placing a rubber mat on the floor will help lessen the amount of stress put on their legs and joints. Concrete floors can also be very cold during the winter. A horse's rubber mat will help preserve its body heat, keeping it healthier. Natural insulators are usually used to create those mats. If the concrete gets wet, it can[..]

The problem with horses is they won't do want you want unless they are trained to respond to your cues. Most folks like horses already trained, at least to some extent. Further, most folks are unaware of the multitude of simple and easy, training methods available. A trip to the library will yield hundreds of books about horse training. A look on the Internet will reveal thousands of articles about horse training. Go to any horse expo and attend session after session watching people train horses. It is easy to take some of it home and implement it, but for the big picture, you are still going to need a book. After a tough day, relax with one or more horse training books and fill your[..]

Horse training is a very fun and interesting thing to be enthusiastic about. Horses are a few of those animals who have a different level of intelligence, which is why they're popularly used in shows, sports and competition. But training a horse takes time and so much caution as it could be risky and dangerous, especially with tricks such as rearing and jumping. When you train a horse to rear, they usually come to a halt or just stand still and then raise up with their front legs when hearing the cue 'up'. The reason why this is risky is because a horse my fall back on the handle. How to train a horse to rear is quite a difficult procedure if the horse is not partially trained and[..]

The situation starts out innocently enough. While you are standing next to your horse, he steps in a bit closer to you than you find comfortable. Automatically, you take a step back. What pivotal event just occurred? Who's Directing? By moving into your personal space, the horse put pressure on you. Had you responded with enough pressure in return to cause him to move back instead, your position of being the one doing the directing would have been maintained. Unfortunately, by stepping back, you have told the horse that it's okay for him to crowd you. From here, things usually go downhill...fast. Rather than you being able to use pressure to direct your horse's movements, he's now the[..]

So, you are ready for your first dressage show. First, you should pick a small show for your very first show experience. The test you choose should be simple for your horse and yourself. You should always be schooling a level above what you decide to show. This way it is a pleasant experience for both yourself and your horse. To prepare for your test, get a copy of the current USEF or FEI tests. You will want to run through the test a few times so that you know how it rides. You will want to make sure you do not practice it too many times, otherwise your horse may anticipate the upcoming movements. When you ride your test, be as accurate as possible. This will help your score go[..]

At Australian Natural Health and Healing, we believe in natural feeding. This means that if possible, provide your horse with feed as natural as they can be, that is less processed and as close as possible to what a horse would eat naturally. Of course grass is the most natural feed available. However, our lands are not as prosperous as they used to be and the variety of grass on a small acreage property would be limited. The soil is also likely to be poor in nutrients, meaning that the grass will not be very nutritious, hence the need to provide extra feed. The closest feed to grass is hay and chaff. It is important to provide plenty of those. There are different types of hay like[..]

Weight loss is a condition that many horse owners have had to deal with at one time or another. A horse that appears thin may be suffering from weight loss due to a number of causes. However there are three common causes of weight loss in horses: malnutrition, parasitism and dental disease. If a horse is suffering from malnutrition then the number of calories it is consuming is less than the number it is using, it may also suffer from an incorrectly balanced diet. Causes of this include feeding poor quality feed, supplying inadequate amounts of feed or the horse maybe missing out on feed due to competition at feeding time. Parasites can rob your horse of much needed nutrition as the[..]

Eventing is a horse competition where horse and rider compete in several disciplines of riding. It can be compared to a triathlon as it consists of cross-country, dressage and show-jumping in a single competition. The first phase of a three day event is dressage. The aim of dressage is to demonstrate that a fit horse capable of completing the cross country phase, is also able to perform dressage which requires a precise and relaxed manner from horse and rider. The next phase in the competition is cross-country. Horse and rider compete on a long outdoor circuit and jump several fences. The fences are solidly built of natural objects like stone walls or large logs. There are also a number[..]

It is far more enjoyable riding a horse that trusts you than one who isn't. Getting your horse to trust you though is not one of the easiest tasks, especially when your horse has a history of being abused in the past. It is indeed possible to befriend a horse who is shy and haven't got a history of past abuse. Always approach a horse from the left and always show him what is in your hands, even if it is a hoof pick which is meant to be used on him. This will help in getting your horse to trust you by showing him that you hide nothing from him. Another thing to remember is to always wear tight clothing. Loose clothing will only flap in the wind and might unnerve your horse. Once you have[..]

Do you have horses? Are you wondering what is the best way to build a fence to keep them in their paddock? As the husband of a horse fanatic I have had many years experience of building fences and I would like to share with you some of my findings and expertise. Electric Fences I consider electric fence as a temporary solution if you are using it on its own. It can work well to a certain extent but not all horses respect it and simply rip it down when they get excited and start running. If you have calm horses that get along then it my work. When I put it up I usually use two strands. One at approximately two feet high and the other at approximately 4 feet high. For horses I prefer to[..]

A good sound knowledge in horse feeding is important for any horse owner. Even if your horse is stabled and fed by the staff at a yard, you ought to have a basic understanding of horse nutrition. A healthy horse fed a proper diet is a horse that will have the balanced energy to suit you. If your horse is lacking in energy he may seem lazy to you, but have you looked at his diet? Are you feeding him enough of the right food? A diet consisting mainly of hay or grass is good for a horse living out in a pasture. Of course if that same horse is exercised on a regular basis that hay should be of high quality, good protein, and no doubt he would be having a grain too. Besides low energy, a[..]

When looking at horses' feet it's typically understood the hoof is quite hard. It's not generally understood that in spite of the hardness the hoof can change shape and drift. The worst cases of hoof drift is when the feet become wet such as during winter conditions, the horse standing in water for long periods of time. The foot/hoof becomes soaked by water and softens. While in this state the hoof wall can become pliable and if a horse is standing on a sloped spot as his favorite spot to stand the hoof can get very out of line with where it needs to be. Every horse's foot will have a particular spot on the ground surface of it's foot where a wear pattern will show. This is called the[..]

Wearing the right pair of riding boots is essential for every equestrian. However, boots are not just solely meant for the person riding the horse. They are also essentially worn by the horse. Horse boots are worn by the animal to protect its legs from injuries during racing or traveling. Horse boots are typically wrapped around the legs of the horse with the feet left uncovered. Most of them are made of leather or padded fabric and can be secured with buckles and straps. Get your horse a set of speedicuts You should considering getting speedicut boots for your horse. These boots are similar to brushing boots that are used for prevention of scratches caused by friction when the horse's[..]

There are a lot of blogs on horseshoeing on the internet. What typically takes place on the blogs is quite a bit of arguing, it's as if the industry itself can not come to terms with each other. It's whether or not horses should only go barefoot or whether they should be shod. It's whether or not this style over that style of shoeing is correct compared to the other. Obviously there is a reason for the differences. The industry still struggles for the truth. One particular blog post was all about a negative opinion of the Natural Balance shoe. The Natural Balance shoe was developed with many aspects of shoeing taken together as a whole. 1. The shoe has wide side bars which help protect[..]

Popularly known as 'Show Jumping' or 'jumpers', equestrian events has a huge fanfare among sports lovers across the world. An integral part of Olympics, these events include dressage, eventing, hunters and equitation. A game of tactic, these events call for immense concentration and training on the part of the hunter who guides his horse to jumping the obstacles or Horse Jumps without gaining penalty points. Basically, a Horse Jump is an obstacle that is built out of ready-made components like straws, wings and poles. In fact, a Horse Jump proves to be a determining factor of the success of the competitor. Some of the jump types that are used in different competitions include Vertical[..]

Studies have shown there's a 98% chance most horses feet are pigeon toed. This fact puts the horse at risk of lameness due to instabilities in its gait or motion and way of travel. Farrier textbooks suggest and define perfect conformation as feet, cannon bone and knees pointing straight ahead. Since 98% of horses are afflicted with less than perfect conformation the question then becomes how to understand what are the results of conformation defects and what to do about them to prevent lameness. Pigeon toed horses are the most common. In this condition the horse is not "breaking over" directly dead center of his foot. In fact examination of the horses shoe will reveal an uneven wear[..]

Strangles is an infectious disease that affects horses. It is caused by the bacterium, Streptococcus Equi and is the most important infectious disease to effect our horses today. Strangles is highly contagious and spreads quickly from horse to horse. Some of the most common signs of strangles will be pus discharging from the horses nasal passages. Abscesses will form in the lymph glands under the jaw and often burst and exude a thick yellow pus. Horses of all ages are susceptible, though strangles is most common in animals less than 5 years of age. Weanlings and yearlings are especially susceptible. Foals are usually protected by their mothers colostrum-derived passive immunity.[..]

A frequent question asked by a new horse rider is how to horseback ride confidently? It is natural for you to feel scared the first time you ride a horse. Being able to overcome your fear will ensure you to ride confidently. Here you will find useful tips on how to horseback ride confidently. Your emotional control If you can't control your fear, riding a horse will never be fun and exciting. Never let your fear distracts your confident. Let yourself stay calm and cool as it will train your subconscious mind to feel confident and eliminate your fear. Take a deep breath and talk to yourself 'I want to enjoy every moment I ride a horse. No fear just confident'. Soon, your fear will go away[..]

Even among experienced riders, fear or anxiety can seem like an insurmountable obstacle in riding or just being around horses. Your horse spooks and you get hurt, you experience pain and lose the ability to be relaxed and supple, you see someone else get thrown. All of these events can cause anxiety and excessive fearful responses. Because horses tune in to our emotional states, our anxiety can cause unwanted behavior like shying or what seems like disobedience. When we are calm and confident our horses tend to be the same. Anxiety is a learned response to the perceived possibility of danger. Riders can learn to overcome negative responses to anxiety, stay in the moment and enjoy the[..]

The German martingale is a specialized piece of training equipment for experienced riders. It differs from other martingales as it allows lateral movement with little restriction. Unlike draw reins, which only allow longitudinal flexion and never really gives relief from pressure, German martingales will release the pressure on the bit. They also allow the rider to adjust the level of 'confinement' of the head and jaw. It is a multi-discipline tool, used in western and English training. They cost anywhere from $29 to $140. I would not use the cheaper one, as you are opening yourself up to equipment failure from poorly made products. Learn softness from the start Getting your horse soft[..]

If your horse suffers from hair-loss caused by rubbing blankets, try these ideas. Have you ever noticed a bald spot as you take off your horse's blanket? It might be that you notice that some of his hair is disappearing from his shoulders. Unfortunately the severe version of this problem can even lead to the top layers of skin being rubbed away. So what can you do to prevent this happening? First of all make sure that the blanket fits correctly. A blanket can be either too small or too big. If it is too small it can become tight around the shoulders where it rubs especially as the horse moves around. If a blanket is too big it can move and slip and then start to rub. Again, the shoulder[..]

Generally, when I'm working horses, I'm either alone or with one or two students; there are no spectators. However, on one occasion in recent months, I had a few "spectators" show up while I was intently focused on working a particularly troubled horse in the round pen. "We've just dropped by to watch," they said enthusiastically upon arrival. But since they weren't there to actually learn, these folks soon got bored and began visiting amongst themselves. Their talking, however, instantly shattered my concentration and broke the connected feeling I had just established with this troubled horse. To my surprise, I could not get my concentration nor the connection back. So for the horse's[..]

In order for your lateral work such as shoulder-in, haunches-in, and half passes to be effective as collecting exercises, your horse must BEND. Think of the following equation as it relates to your horse. Bend+Sideways=Engagement. (Engagement means the bending of joints. As your horse bends his hind legs, his croup lowers, and his forehand goes up-kinda like a seesaw or an airplane taking off.) So here are 3 quick tips to help you determine if you're bending your horse correctly to get maximum benefit from your lateral work. 1. Shoulder-in-Look at the hindquarters. Are they parallel to the wall as if you're just riding straight down the track? If so, your horse is bending. If not, he's[..]

Choosing the Right Saddle Pad As a Physiotherapist I treat many horses for back pain due to poor fitting saddles. Many riders do not use a saddle pad because they think it is not necessary. The withers are often crushed and the gullet is often too narrow. Pressure is constant for the poor horse. Bad behavior is the result. The horse is so often blamed and punished. Look at your saddle and fit a good absorbing pad every ride you ride With so many pads on the market it is difficult to choose a product that is what you want. As a Physiotherapist and an elite horse rider I look for the following in a saddle pado Function, it must reduce pressure areas under the saddle and lift the gullet off[..]

cl Horseback riding has been so much a part of most American child’s life. However, this kind of fun and enjoyable outdoor activity only started to gain its popularity in Mauritius just recently. Since this is something new in the island, it is definitely considered a must try! You will certainly be easily drawn to the activity because it is definitely fun and enjoyable to do. To prove that this type of vacation package has become extra popular in Mauritius at present, a lot of vacation packages are now offering this one of a kind activity. This type of activity can not only provide you with a fun experience it can also ensure that you will learn a lot of things and information when[..]

Black boards, or chalkboards as they are popularly called, were developed by a teacher who found it impossible to solve long mathematical equations on every child's personal board. Some chalkboards were as simple as wooden boards painted with black grit; others were made of porcelain and imported from the United Kingdom. Eventually, chalkboards made of large slabs of slate were being shipped across America with the growth of the railroad industry. Today chalkboards come in different types and sizes. Some examples of chalkboards are porcelain on steel magnetic chalkboards, composition chalkboards, free-standing reversible chalkboards, display/menu chalkboards, A-Frame sidewalk[..]

Installing lighting under the cabinets in your kitchen gives off a great effect and is not as difficult as you may realise. You don't have to be a fully qualified electrician to install them as there are simple kits you can purchase from your local home improvement store which makes this job very easy. If you purchase one of the kits for lighting under the kitchen cabinets, you will find a socket at the end of each unit. This is to allow you to add more lights if needed. It is a case of buying a few more and adding to the existing lights like a daisy chain. To keep the look of the lights professional, mark a straight line using a rule or spirit level with a pencil in the place where you[..]

It may seem that choosing a desktop stapler would be easy. After all, a stapler is a stapler, right? Well, yes, but if you want to save money and get a device that you can use for a long time, you'll need to put a bit of thought into your purchase. This article will fill you in on the five things you need to think about when choosing a stapler for your desk and give you some recommendations, as well. 1.) Brand name. The most common name in the stapler world is definitely Swingline. In fact, Swingline is so well-known it's practically become a cultural icon with references to the company in the movies such as "Office Space." Swingline definitely produces some of the best products[..]

Minor dents are perfectly suited for non-intrusive dent repair. Working from the backside of the dent, a trained technician can gently work the metal outward using plastic-tipped punches. When the process is completed the dent completely disappears without the need for body fillers or paint. Such dent repairs are less expensive than traditional bodywork methods. The technicians often perform these repairs in the car owner's driveway or garage, eliminating the inconvenience of dropping off the vehicle and arranging alternative transportation. If the dent is deeper or has caused permanent distortion of the surrounding metal, the repair will become much more intrusive, time-consuming and[..]

Dr Mel Siff discusses someresistancetrainingfundementals,as takenfromhis yahoo group at the best of whichcan be also seenat This is an extractfromhis landmark textbook - Supertraining. RESISTANCE TRAINING FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES Siff MC Supertraining2000 Ch[..]

It is sometimes easy to forget when it is British summer time. Frequent rain showers, high winds and low temperatures make it feel far more like autumn or spring. The last few months have had their ups and downs in terms of weather, and there have been some truly glorious sunny days. A lot of people look forward to summer activities for the whole year, whether their interest is in gardening, walking or sports. At about this time of year nature has well and truly awoken after a winter slumber, and the countryside across the UK is absolutely gorgeous

Every wealthy person who had to work to get that way - (include successful online marketers), understands that trading time for money is silly. We all have to sleep. Working limits your income to what you can do freely in 24 hours a day. The way to cut through that limitation is to figure out how to produce passive income. That means not toiling and sweating over making your own products, supporting customers, building and maintaining massive content websites, and so on. With affiliate marketing, all you have to do is promote other people's stuff and rake in the cash. Affiliate marketing businesses provide several advantages in this area. First, you are marketing products that are[..]