Topics on general care, training and welfare of horses
I recently read a thoughtful post that addressed what I would agree is a forgotten area of horse training – that the horse is naturally programmed to make attachments. I say forgotten because, unlike the author, I have read many older training tomes that specifically refer to forming the kind of attachment she refers to … More Leader or attachment figure?
We have a running joke around here – that I get perfectly mannerly horses and ruin them. By some people’s standards that would certainly be true … and there are days that I’ll admit to wondering about it myself. Most people – vets, trainers, farriers – tend to comment on how well behaved my horses are. So, why do we … More Move over Mr. Ed …
If you are one of the thousands who bought into the “lead mare, “alpha”, “dominant/submissive” theories touted by the “Natural” horsemanship folk, then you may not like what I’m about to tell you. In a recent issue of Equus magazine (September 2014) was an item on a research study that showed the “lead mare” to be a … More Following the leader?
Not long ago I attended an annual local event in which numerous people from the horse world present themselves to the public with the intent of educating them. The presenters are of mixed, and sometimes dubious, background and expertise. I rarely attend the event, as it is strongly skewed toward the Western riding disciplines, with … More How close is “too close”?
I was recently reading a piece about a new Dressage competition that was started in Finland. The gist of it is that two competitors ride side by side, in mirror patterns “consisting of 5 or 6 ‘flashy’ movements”. The audience registers their approval by the level of applause, and three judges decide who moves into … More Alternative Dressage Competitions?
A real horseman must not only be an expert – he must also be able to think and feel like a horse, that is, to realize that a horse is not equipped with human understanding. Such a horseman should be both horse and man – a centaur, not only physically, but also psychologically – anthropomorphic … More A Real Horseman
Horse Crazy Once Again 