The Eye Of The Rider

What makes one rider better than the other? How do you measure talent in a rider? These are very good questions that I get asked quite often. I believe a rider can be taught many, many things, such as position, style, horsemanship, and strategy, but the one thing that is nearly impossible to teach is the rider's eye for a distance. You either have it or you do not. Michael Jordan had "it," in a different sport, yes, but, he had it. Alex Rodriguez has "it" in baseball, Beezie Madden has "it" in riding.

So what is it in our sport of show-jumping? I believe it is the rider's eye for a spot or distance. The ability to judge a take off place from a top a horse from quite a ways a way is very difficult, and very few riders get this naturally. A rider with talent, will naturally "see" distances, and are able to judge what they need to do to adjust to those distances. A rider without an eye will struggle to gain this perspective, and often miss their distances.

All riders can improve, but it is far easier to teach the child who has a natural eye than one that does not. Strength of position can be drilled with constant repetitive practice. Ring savvy comes from ring experience, or just showing a great deal, the will to win can even be instilled, but the innate talent of riding comes from that ability to judge distance. Yes, you can rehearse and practice and find that you do have an eye, many young riders do not show promise at first, but all of a sudden reach a riding epiphany and can finally see. It is like the blind man who tells his doctor, "hey, I think I am seeing some light when I wake up in the morning." Just because you do not seem to have it at first does not mean you will never get it, but if you are going to be a talented rider, either by hard work, or good luck, the ability to judge a distance is already a part of your D.N.A. Michael Jordan was not a good basketball player at first, in fact he was cut from his high school team his freshman year. Yet Jordan had that secret ingredient, the talent, the eye, and when you combine talent with practice, you get greatness.

There are thousands of good riders out there, many with talent. The great ones are the ones that have that ability, and work to bring it out. I have also seen riders with little natural talent succeed through tremendous hard work and brain power. Take what you are given and develop it into riding success, if you do not think you have a good "eye," work at it, practice, you might be delighted to suddenly realize that you can see a distance. Just because you "keep missing," does not mean that won't stop, and just because teaching someone to see is very difficult, does not mean that it is impossible.

I do believe that talent lies within the ability to see a distance. I also believe that with hard work you can bring out what great amounts of talent you are blessed with, or develop what little talent you might have. Either way, once you are out in the show ring, you are judged on your ability to see, and the good riders do not miss much.

By Alan Korotkin

Alan Korotkin has over twenty years of experience in the horse business, his clients have won over 150 year end south Florida riding titles, and he himself has placed in over 150 grand prix competitions. He can be contacted at http://www.castlewoodfarmsales.com

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Horse Show Beginners

The first few horse shows for a beginner can be a very intimidating experience. If possible before your first horse show just hang out and watch a veteran. If you know anyone who is experienced ask to tag along at his or her next show. It will be apparent pretty quickly who is still in the beginner category and who has the process mastered. Pitch in and assist if you can. That is the best way for a beginner to get a feel for everything that is involved.

Watch and learn. You will see a multitude of different styles. They will range from beginners who are not organized at all to veteran horse show participants who are extremely organized. Most people fall somewhere in the middle. You will notice the more organized groups will also be much less stressed. As a beginner you should try to make your first show casual and non-threatening. Try to enlist the assistance of an experienced friend.

If you are showing with a child draft a family member to help. Just someone to get the kids dressed and ready for you will be a huge stress reliever. Plan for your first show to be at a small local/open show if possible. Do not attempt to enter every event under the sun. Beginners tend to make that mistake. Pick a few classes that you know you excel at.

Know the rules for your breed or type of show you are attending. Are their age limits or requirements? Do you have to show proof of ownership? Do you have to have a veterinary certificate of health or proof of vaccinations? There is nothing worse than getting to the show grounds with your horse, your kids and all of your equipment, only to be turned away because you don't have all of the required paper work.

Trust me, telling them "I'm just a beginner" does not help. Most horse shows will print a show bill that will list the events and requirements prior to the show. Obtain a copy in advance. If you have any questions at all call them. The promoter should be able to answer all of your questions or at least be able to direct you to someone who can.

Your breed association is also a great place for beginners to obtain general information. Decide which classes you are interested in. This is especially important if you have more than one person riding and sharing the same horse or tack. Try to avoid back-to-back classes where a tack or rider change is involved. Unfortunately this is sometimes unavoidable.

If you have a tack change let the ringmaster or gate person know. Be prepared have everything ready at the gate so you can just switch out tack and rider without delay. Horse shows can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make them. My suggestion for beginners and experienced alike; keep it simple. You will have a lot more fun.

For more helpful information for the beginner and more experienced horse show participant go to http://www.horseshowprep.com.

By Kathy Mcclelland

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How To Find The Right Horse Breed for You

Horses have been one of the most popular domesticated animals for hundreds of years. In the past, before the automobile and the airplane, horses were on of the most commonly used ways of transportation. However today we see horses primarily used for hobby riding and racing while one very few use them as actual transportation.

Horses were not just owned by a geographically small group of people but by people from all over the world. Horses have not been used for the same kind of labor all around the world and that, together with the different climates, resulted into many different types of breeds. There is however only three main categories in which all horses can be grouped: Pony, Light and Heavy classes. If you don’t know anything at all about horse breeds then this will be a good place to start.

Besides these three main categories you will find that horses can be grouped into a much larger amount of sub categories. To name a few examples you will find sub groups such as Warmbloods, Gaited horses and Draft horses. But in order not to confuse you if you are new at this will stick to just the three main categories I mentioned earlier.

When I now go into the three different types of horses I hope to give you a better idea of what kind of horse will suit your situation and you will know what type will be good for children to ride, what will be an all family horse for riding, what you need if you want a racing horse and last but not least what type of horse will assist you the best if you need a working horse.

The Pony Category

A pony is a very popular horse and one of the best know and also one of the smallest is the Shetland pony. Because of its minimal size this is a great horse for children. Shetland ponies are normally peaceful and calm animals and because of that they are great with children. Unfortunately it can become feisty occasionally and it is recommended that children are always supervised by adults.

If you have teenagers or fast growing younger children you might want to go for the Connemara pony instead. The pony is a bit larger than the Shetland and this together with the Welsh pony (somewhat larger than the Shetland pony) will be perfect for young children.

The Light Horse Category

If you don’t know that much about horses you might make the mistake of believing that a miniature horse and a pony is the same thing but they’re not. The Miniature horse doesn’t share the same characteristics as the pony but I won’t go into all the specific details here. You will often find miniature horses around children and disabled humans.

The most commonly known horse is an Arabian and it actually falls into the category of light horses. The characteristics of the Arabian horse are that it is sweet, graceful and very loving but it is also extremely fast and very attractive. There really isn’t anything negative to say about the Arabian because what more could you want from a horse? Because of its speed and endurance it is often used for racing.

The Heavy Category

In the heavy category there are only two types of horses. One is called the battle horse and the other is called a draft horse. Battle horses were normally used in warlike situations and were trained to be a part of battle.

The draft horse on the other hand was trained to work on farms pulling wagons and carts. You can call them the typical work horse.

You might have heard about the Clydesdale horse and it is probably one of the most popular draft horses there is. Not only will you find it very attractive but it has also been bread to work hard, while maintaining its friendly nature and therefore it’s also a good horse for riding.

Other popular draft horses are the Belgian, the Shire and the Suffolk Punch horses.

To mention one of the horses used for war the Lipizzaner is probably the one that were used most often. But the horse breeds that I have mentioned above is just a very few of the many different types and breeds there are.

I hope to have given you some inspiration as to what category horse you are looking for but I would also encourage you to meet with any horse you are thinking of purchasing. Interaction will the horse is what really counts and you and your family needs to visit the potential new horse before you can make a good decision.

By Hank Westwood

If you want to know more about horses and horse breeds you can come visit us at HorseTrailerUniverse.com where you will find everything from different types of horse breeds to information about buying a used horse trailer. You will also find information about horse nutrition and health.

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The Importance of Formal Horse Riding Lessons

Horse riding is an incredible joyful experience. Learning to ride gives you a sense of mystical pleasure as you are able to communicate and become one with the horse.

Lessons are not just for professionals or competitive riders, even the occasional rider can enjoy the benefits of a lesson. Riding lessons enable a person to develop their skill in communicating to the horse with aids.

Lessons can help you to correct any bad habits you have picked up over the years. Formal horse riding lessons give you the advantage of having some one who is trained in horsemanship, watch you and guide you.

Many times a rider can feel that their horse is not moving correctly, but may not be sure how to change it. An instructor has all the tips and expertise to get you and your horse moving in the correct direction.

When you start to ride it can be the beginning of a lifelong love. A single accident can change the entire experience and put a complete stop to your desire to ride. I remember when we had a horse and my neighbor came over to ride with me. My father an in-experienced horse person put both of us up together, bareback.

Well in no time at all we both fell off and my neighbor refused to ever get back on a horse. If you have any doubts, concerns, fears or apprehension when you are first starting to ride, you will be able to work through these and overcome them in a controlled environment of a formal riding lesson.

Now I am not saying that you will never fall off when you are taking a riding lesson. I think that I fell off more in lessons than any other time in my riding adventures. However the horses that are used in riding lessons are accustomed to beginner riders.

When you are first starting to ride you can tend to bounce like a ball on and off of the saddle, so falling off is quiet natural. If you get on a horse for the first time in an open field and lose your balance, a horse can respond in various ways.

The horse is a good judge of character; the horse will know who is really in charge. He may very well take a hold of the reins, get a swing in his step and encourage you to bounce off. You land on the ground and the horse is charging across the field.

When you fall off whilst having a riding lesson, there are usually staff to pick you back up onto your feet and others to track down your horse. Not much time is wasted and you are once again learning the essentials skills to deepen your seat and relax.

Another reason to take formal riding lessons is so that you do not teach your horse bad habits. A horse that is not taught correctly is harder to sell than a horse that knows and responds well to horse riders aids.

Horses back riding lessons are hard work, they can be tough, but man they are rewarding when you get it right. If you cannot afford to have a lesson on a regular basis like once or twice a week, that's okay. I do strongly recommend treating yourself to a riding lesson at least a couple times a year, if you get hooked, don't blame me.

By Benjamin Wise

Horses Explained.

Get information on buying, owning and caring for your horse, learn about horseback riding lessons. Learn about Horse riding safety.

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Questions To Ask When Buying A Horse

More questions!! This time to ask the owner over the phone. Things to find out are:

* Whether this horse is suitable for a beginner. Most people will be honest here, not wanting to endanger someone.

* The horse's age, height and build. Does it match your criteria?

* Color and markings, if these are important to you.

* What sort of temperament he/she has. Quiet, calm, bombproof, gentle.

* If she is a mare, what to expect with any mood swings, if any.

* The suitability for your chosen horse activity. This is an opinion only, and should be taken with a grain of salt unless there is a solid reason for that opinion. For example, if you wanted a horse for jumping and the owner advised you this horse always refuses...

* Any vices or bad habits. Charging, biting, kicking, bolting, bucking, rearing. Any of these and you can thank the owner for their time and end the call.

* Easy to catch and shoe and trailer and worm? A horse that won't do these is a pain in the behind and you should consider carefully if you want to put up with these bad habits.

* Any fears ie dogs, bicycles, cars. These aren't ideal either.

* Any health issues. So you can research if an issue would be a problem for you.

* Any soundness issues or physical limitations. A vet check will show these up, but why visit a horse that is known to be very lame?

* What the horse has been trained and used for, now and with previous owners. Has the horse had experience in what you want to do? You'll have a lot more fun on a horse that can teach you rather than the other way around.

* How long the horse has been in work (ridden regularly) and has it been in work recently. Some horses aren't trained until later in life. Sometimes horses are trained and worked and then put in a paddock and left for years.

* Any quirks of personality to be aware of. Just so you know.

* Why it is being sold. You may not get an honest answer, but it's worth asking anyway.

By Phil Tragear

http://www.HorseTrainingSuccess.com
All the questions you've asked, answered.

About the Author

Phil is author of the comprehensive book 'Horse Training Success', full of answers to the most asked horse training questions. Stop by http://www.horsetrainingsuccess.com for a huge selection of information regarding common problems, training of horses, equine psychology, how to get the best behavior and so much more!

Please feel free to use this article on condition that you maintain a live link to the http://www.horsetrainingsuccess.com website, acknowledge that the content is ©Phil Tragear 2006, and keep this paragraph included!

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Basic Rules for Horse Feeding

You have probably heard the saying that “you are what you eat” and the fact is that this doesn’t just apply to humans. The saying applies to all beings and that means horses as well. If you want to keep your horse in its best possible health and shape you must know what you can and can not feed it, when the right time for feed is and what the right amount of food would be. There are some rules to follow to make sure you meet the horse’s nutritional needs and they are simple. But even so they will need to be followed consistently to have the optimal effect.

First Rule:

Find out how much your horse weigh because this must be reflected in the amount of food it will need for a optimal nutritional balance. But do try to make your horse stand on your bathroom weight because it won’t work. An easy way to measure the weight of a horse is to measure the hearth girth with a horse tape. An alternative option will be to take it to a weight for live animals. Some of the larger farms have them for their cattle.

Second Rule:

Hay is a very important ingredient for your horse but you will know how much you will need to feed it. The best possible mix will consist of a high percentage of bulk and a low percentage of grain. An often used measurement is to feed your horse with 1.5 pounds of hay per 100 pounds of the horse’s body weight. Depending on how many times a day you feed your horse you will have to divide the grain into equal portions. It is extremely important that you do not give your horse to much grain. Make sure to weigh the horse flakes as they can vary much in weight.

Third Rule:

Next step is to determine your horse’s need for grain and for the most part young and growing horses will need it in their diets. Horses that work heavily will also need grain to keep up the ability to work hard. When feeding grain you need to weigh it because every type of grain weighs differently. Corn as an example is much lighter than bran and if you in doubt then ask your veterinarian.

Fourth Rule:

Overfeeding your horse will need to more pain than pleasure for both of you and even though it is said that the way to a horses heart is through food the results of overeating can be founder and colic. Remember to have any additional food locked away because as horse that starts eating grain will not stop until is has finished or becomes sick.

Fifth Rule:

On the other hand underfeeding a horse can be just a much dangerous as overfeeding because it will leave your horse vulnerable to illnesses. A horse that lacks energy and has a weak immune system might be suffering from lack of food so pay attention.

Sixth Rule:

Fresh water is just as important to a horse as it is to humans. Without good clean water in fair amounts it is hard for anyone to maintain a good health. Colic is one of the many things that can be caused by the lack of water. If you live in an area of the world where winters are very cold you need to remember to give your horse easy access to sufficient water.

If you follow these six basic rules you will be able to have a healthy and powerful horse for many years to come.

By Hank Westwood

If you want to know more about feeding your horse you must come visit us at HorseTrailerUniverse where you will find everything from horse trailer insurance over used horse trailers to horse nutrition.

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Horse Riding Apparel What To Look Out For

Horse Riding Apparel

Any type of horse riding usually begins with the rider buying riding clothes. Even a person simply going for a pleasure ride will benefit from the correct riding apparel. Horse riding apparel protects you and is designed specifically for being on a horse. Comfort and protection come in several styles and designs.

Depending on your style of riding whether western or English, your wardrobe will look slightly different, but consist of the same basics.

Riding Pants - Breeches, Jods and Jeans:

Jodhpurs (English Riding) could be described as kind of riding pants. The legs on these pants extend all the way to the ankles. At the end of the pants there is a cuff. This cuff fits over the top of a low riding boot. Modern breeches (English Riding) are skin-tight; they have either zippers or Velcro fastenings where they end at the calves.

Riding Boots:

Typical English riding boots are long to prevent the saddle leathers from chaffing the leg of the rider. The heel of the boot protects the rider's foot from sliding out of the stirrup and the toe should be sturdy to protect the rider's foot when on the ground. The sole of the boot is smooth enough so that in the event of a fall, the rider's foot will not be caught on the stirrup.

Western riders wear cowboy boots. The heel of the boot varies depending on the style of boot, such as the "roper" style heel that is similar to that of English boots.

Riding Shirt:

Riding Shirts can come from your existing wardrobe unless you are riding in competitions where a more formal type of show shirt is called for.

Helmet:
A riding helmet is an essential part of riding; it is specifically designed to protect your head. Do not overlook the use of a helmet.

Riding Chaps:

There are two basic types of chaps - full or half length. Chaps in the case of full length is used to protect the complete leg whilst working; they also help to keep the legs warm and dry. Half chaps are worn with Jodhpur boots. Jodhpur boots are short and the chap covers the leg from the ankle, overlapping the boot slightly, up to the knee. Half chaps provide protection to the leg from chaffing and help the jodhpurs stay in place whilst riding.

There is no harm in checking out what is in fashion and what is not. You do not want the focus placed on you in a show ring instead of the horse. Many local tack shops stock new and used riding apparel for you to try out. What ever your budget your ride will be far more comfortable in the correct horse riding apparel.

By Benjamin Wise

Horses.

Get information on buying, owning and caring for your horse, learn about Horse Riding Apparel. Learn about your horses anatomy.

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