I’ve had some more great tips sent in.
If you have one, please do mail it to me: al@horsecaretipsandtricks.com
Please keep ’em coming.
Best
Al
“Granted, a horse does as he’s asked with two reins and a bit. But only because he’s forced to out of pain.
Although I accept some choose this method, nobody should skip to two reins, without mastering one rein riding. It forces you to understand the horse, and work with him to get what you want. And you’re forced to concentrate on every aspect of your riding position.
It’s immediately clear to me. Horsemen, who control their horse harshly with two reins and the bit, have never mastered these early steps. Try riding your horse like that with one rein, and you’ll be in for a nasty shock.
Carly”
“Hooves only strengthen with movement – but horses only move as far as they needs to. Space your horse’s hay, shelter, water and mineral blocks far apart within his pasture. This will encourage as much movement as possible.
Rob”
“Why groom a horse before a ride? I’ll tell you – placing a saddle on top of dirt will irritate the hell out of your horse. I’ve even seen them buck from this. ALWAYS brush down your horse around the saddle’s area, and where the cinches tighten and look for any cuts or scratches that may catch”
Vicky L”
Nobody ever strokes a horse the wrong way to his hair so don’t saddle pad get away with it either. It’s an enormous comfort to your horse for zero effort. Just place your saddle pad too far forwards. Then slide it back.
Ruben”
“cinchpinch!
After you’ve tightened the cinch, raise each of his front legs. This stretches the joints and skin, ironing out any hidden pinches. It takes 30 seconds and can really make a difference to your time together
Simone”
And now onto Billy.
“Owning or working with horses is always an adventure, and there’s always something new to learn. Whether you’re a seasoned equestrian or just starting out, these handy horse tips that can make life with your horse a little smoother and a lot more fun.”
“First, keep a stash of treats handy—but don’t overdo it! Horses love a good snack, but moderation is key. Treats are great for rewarding good behavior or bonding moments, but you don’t want your horse turning into a cookie monster who mugs you every time you walk into the paddock. Stick to classics like carrots and apples, and make sure to slice them up to avoid choking hazards.”
“Next, master the art of the quick groom. On busy days, you don’t always have time for a full spa session. Instead, focus on the essentials: brush the areas where the saddle and girth go, clean out the hooves, and give their face a quick wipe, this horse tips will really help your time management. Your horse will still appreciate the attention, and you’ll save time. Pro tip: baby wipes are great for dirty noses and surprise splatters.”
“Always check your tack before every ride. It only takes a minute to double-check your girth, stirrups, and bridle, but it can save you from an unexpected slip or an awkward “unplanned dismount.”
“Nice little tips-Don’t forget to bond with your horse outside the saddle. Not every interaction has to involve riding. Spend time hand-grazing, playing in the arena, or just hanging out in the stall. The more time you spend together, the stronger your partnership will be.”
“Finally, never skimp on hoof care. Healthy hooves are essential for a happy horse. Pick them out daily and watch for cracks, thrush, or loose shoes. When in doubt, consult your farrier—they’re your go-to expert. Billy”
Next up
I liked these tips. EXCEPT -that – when pulling horse’s forelegs out – do NOT do it TOO vigorously – cos you could tweak a muscle and cause worse problems.
ALSO – if you have a “Traditional” cob or Heavy Horse with VERY long feathers and he/she keeps tripping -they are prob treading on feathers. Suggest cut/clip/somehow shorten feathers – and then problem may be solved.
Riding isn’t always what you think it is…
I know of MANY people who have wanted to ride, and I got that wish three years ago at a summer camp. One of the biggest things you need is a good instructor. Without a good instructor, you’re wasting your time. I know someone who wasted $1000 on an unproffessional horse instructor when the stable next to them offered not that much with a good instructor. I’m riding better now with my new instructor.
Just a comment on picking hooves. All my horses are trained the same,. I approach the left front hoof and in the beginning squeeze the tendent and say up. At first i am not concerned about picking the hoof just so the horse knows the command. If he does it i rub his neck saying good boy.
Then to the left rear hoof doing the same; as i go to the right rear hoof I rub him on his rump to let him know where i am. (of course you are always facing towards the rear of the horse–standing close and your shoulder on him) approach the right rear hoof and say up. In a very short time, the horse will learn as soon as you say “up” he will pick up his hoof. This is also great for the farrier.
I have just decided to place a comment after comming from the shops;
I realised again I spent half my budget on the fight against God’s little creatures;
– Flies
– Ticks
– Fleas
– Mosquitos
– Mange etc
I have now decided to try garlic powder(20mg) 2 x day with their food, hopes it helps
Francois
Too much garlic is very bad for horses.(there are numerous studies about that) I use a very small tsp. once a day before winter sets in – just to boost their immune system. ( for about 4-6 weeks)
As for flees, mosquitoes etc.. make up a mix of 1 part apple cider vinegar/ 2 parts water and a few drops of lavender Oil – put in a spray can and spray your horse with that –
If your horse doesn’t like being sprayed, then soak your grooming brush with it and starting with the legs brush him/her with it.
It does the trick and your horse will also be calm because of the lavender!
Caution: DO NOT use it anywhere above or near the eyes!!
long term use of garlic in a horses feed can cause anemia in a horse best do it as a seasonal thing not as a all year round 😆
Just thought I would ad a comment about horse garlic. I have used this powder in the horse bucket starting in early March. I have been doing this for years. My horses have not had any flies around them nor in the manure. Once I started this for a week everyday, I back down to three times a week. I have neighbors wanting our manure for their gardens. No pests and no flies around their home either.
Keep this up and you will see a big difference
Our horses have garlic in their food every day and don’t seem to have a problem with any of the above apart from ticks which are endemic in the tropics. For ticks we use a SUBCUTANEOUS injection of ivermectin [one designed especially for horses] approximately every 3 months. This pretty much keeps them clear, but the injection needs very careful administration by someone who knows what they are doing. Clean animals,stables, paddocks and fields help to reduce flies etc. If you do get problems with skin parasites a bath with Neguvon works wonders.
I am having an issue with an Appaloosa gelding that I just bought. He is very rude when it comes to feeding time. He rushes the grain bucket and will literally bump me with his head to get at it. Otherwise he is a great guy, but feeding time is not a pleasent time. I do know that he was raised with and has always had a round bale, so food was readily available at all times. What can I do to change this behavior?? Thanks
🙂 Hello..a tip on your rude Appaloosa gelding. He’s simply pushing you around because he doesn’t see you as being dominant over him. A few strict rounds in the ring will do the trick. Do this with a lunging wip, keeping your shoulders and the whip directly to his shoulders. Try doing a join-up with him. Then when giving him his food keep the wip.with you, but only tap him slightly when he comes without asking. If he does not react, tap harder. Keep on doing this until he stands still. Do this every time you feed him and have a comand when he may come to you. When you ask him to come, see your bellybutton as the pulling point. Consentrate and look in his eyes. Ask softly and calmly for him to come while leaning backwards((do NOT move your feet!!! He wil then see you as giving in and he’ll thing his dominant over you again!! You’ll have to start all over again!!)) Hope this works..it worked wonderfully with my horses. (:
This is a great tip! I will try holding my lunging whip in my hand when I feed my rude mare and see if she stops trying to push her way to the trough. She knows I’m the boss in the lunging pen, but in her stall, she still thinks SHE’s the queen.
I have an 10 yr old Andelusion/welsh gelding, he is lovely to ride out on his own but very silly and just jiggy jogs when out with others,this is very frustrating as i have just joined a trekkers club and want to enjoy a nice ride out with others! when he does this i sit deep in the saddle, bend his neck slightly to calm him (which works for a minute then he is off again)he also gets excited when others trot or canter in front of him and he starts tossing his head and does a couple of pig roots 😕 I do lots of 1 rein stops with him ,that works for a while, does anyone have any more suggestions?
On the rude feeding behavior , when I help feed or hay, I make the horses back up before I give them their feed. I claim the space then invite them to move forward. Even if its one step, they are yielding to you as herd leader..
As I’m sure there are other “newbies” to the horse world, is there a website that would explain all of the terms that are being used? There have been many valuable tips provided but I don’t know how to do a join-up nor the belly button thing. Can anyone give me a hand, pls?
Hi, about the join up:
– Look up Monty Roberts on youtube. He really pioneered this method and explains it well. However this is the basics of join up (I’ve never tried it by the way but it really makes sense)
– The whole method is based on a horse’s instinct as a herd animal. You take the horse to a round pen and unclog the lead rope. Then you send them away from you, taking on an ‘aggressive’ posture by facing them with squared shoulders and making eye contact. Flick the end of the long lead rope towards their hindquarters and push them into a trot or canter. After a few circuits send them the opposite way. You may need to do this a few times but the horse should start showing signs that they wish to join you in the middle of the circle.
– The signs are, first, the inside ear of the horse pointed towards you and a will to slow down and not work so hard. Keep going until you see the next sign: a chewing action of the mouth and a lowering of the head to the ground. This means that they accept you as being ‘above’ them in the herd.
– At this turn your back and let your shoulders drop. This is the horsy way of saying “I will be your friend.” Your horse should come over and when they do turn slowly and gently stroke them. They should follow you round the ring wherever you go. And you’re done!
This is a long post I know, and I’m sorry if I wrote some stuff down that you already knew. But I hope it helped. 🙂
You can join up more than once and the bond will grow stronger each time.
*unclip* the lead rope!
😳 I had one like that. charge for the grain. I just gave him a pail full of rocks for a couple days, that changed his attitude. big enough so he can’t eat them. But its not fun to bang your nose. 😈
never stretch cold muscles 🙄
Hi, I have a pony that is fine being ridden with other horses, but when she’s being ridden by herself she backs-up without me asking and tries to canter home. I pull back on the reins and tell her to ‘Woah’ and that stalls her for a little while and when she does listen to me I praise her. Any suggestions??
thx wonderful tips
I have a mare, Boereperd, she likes to play games with me when I need to catch her, she runs rings around me throwing her front legs in the air with her ears facing backward. As soon as she gets close to me I will walk toward her, then she dashes off again so now not to waste anymore time I stand with a bowl of carrots and apples and she will walk up to me I then take the opportunity to slowly put a rope around her neck then she is fine.. or when she is in her stable, she often keeps turning around showing me back… and her ears are back .. can be quite intimating .. I know she wont kick me , but sometimes I don’t like to take that chance. She is also quite skittish, came off her 2 weeks ago .. help please !!
You might try using a catch rope instead of carrying a halter or bridle. Just hang the rope over your shoulder. Some hard to catch horses are easier this way.
What are some practical and fun tips for making life with horses easier?
There are plenty of ways to make horse ownership or care more enjoyable and manageable! First, always keep a few treats handy, but don’t overdo it—use them as rewards, not bribes, and stick to safe options like sliced carrots or apples to avoid choking hazards.