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Al
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i love horses!!!!!!i would love to take care of a horse to. ❗ 😆
😆 I have a horse called Tuscany. I am a bit scared on her, but I love her so much. This has helped me bond with her. Thanks!!!!!! 😛
❓ Why does my horse do just fine as long as we are ridding along with one or more horses? Other wise he gets very stubborn and wants to rearup and go back.
Pam
Sounds like your horse becomes herd sour, which means he doesn’t like to be alone or away from the herd. Has he been able to get away from the rearing, by you stop riding him? You can try to keep him away from his friends, or other horses until he realizes that he has to do what you want him to do, without his buddies around. If you can try using a roundpen, or a small area and get him doing what you want in that area before graduating to a big area. Start back to the basics, try more groundwork if he still doesn’t come around. I am going to college for training horses and hope this helps you.
Make the right thing easy, and the wrong thing difficult. Try riding alone and as soon as your horse starts acting up, make him move his feet! Do this by making him go in circles, go left, go right, go backwards. Then try again to continue on away from the other horses/barn. Every time he acts up, do this again. Eventually he’ll realize that when he acts up, he has to work harder. If he is uncontrollable, get off of him and do this…make him work! Then get back on and try again.
I used to have a mare. was pg without nobody knowing but the colt died 17 days later because the people that sold her didn’t check her when the stud got loose..He was a curly. still have the video of him, thou.
Horses are herd animals and it’s normal for them to be wary when asked to leave the heard. Those of us who use various “natural” horsemanship techniques have learned that the best way to do this is to persuade the horse that you and they can be a herd together, you will be the herd leader, and you will keep your horse safe from all those things that could harm a prey animal out there. This means getting the horse to have a great deal of trust in you. But once he believes it, he won’t be nearly so reluctant to leave the rest of the herd.
I have found a good way to do this is to do ground work with the sort of obstacles found in horse agility. Once they are used to following you on a loose lead rope through curtains, scary corners, etc., that trust will be well on the way to developing
Many “un-natural” horse owners (LOL!) just have not been shown the way, so to speak. Not shoeing your horse means it is free-er to move “naturally” and much cheaper than buying that iron ever so often. I searched and found a wonderful farrier who trims my horses’ feet when they need it…..not when he needs to make a house payment. Bitless bridles just plain make sense unless you are TRYING to hurt or piss off your horse. And GOOD hay is another no-brainer! I thank God (and my husband who had to fence it all in) that I have lots of pasture for my horses to graze on grass, but they are provided with hay and some grain “just because.” I look forward to your tips and knowledge:)
Kristy
I get the bit-less bridle, I have a horse friend named Princess who will continually bob her head. Most of the time we have to either ride her bareback or woth a halter (foot steering). But if you didn’t shoe your horse, wouldn’t their hooves be more easy to crack and get hurt? That would mean you’d have to go to the farrier more often. If I’m getting this all wrong please tell me.
Love,
Hawuh
@Hawuh…
If you keep your horse “bare-foot” it allows the frog to grow without barriers and it is actually much healthier for the horse. Shoeing a horse restricts anywhere from 10%-70% of the blood flow to the hoof. A healthy FROG leads to a healthy hoof.
I personally keep all 4 of my horses bare-foot and I have them trimmed every 10-12 weeks by my farrier. We ride in rough rocky terrain, pasture, sand filled arenas and on the road. They are not lame in any way!!! 😀
Not if you use hoof conditioners. You dont have to go pay high prices @ feed store either….Indians did it. I still do. 🙂
I agree, my horse is 12 and never had shoes on him. He is just fine. Feet are in beautiful shape.
pam
I learned to ride when I went to the family farm when i was 13.
I used horses just to check cattle at first since there went on same quarter as the house.
but the guy that taught me to ride did all his own farrier work with his horses and taught me to use the tools too. though back then I was not nearly strong enough to use the clips for the hoof. he did not use shoes either.
Thnxs to him I learned so much and got to participate in gymkhanna
Hello Hawah,
Actually, wild horse travel far more ground and for much longer distances with strong sturdy hooves. If your horse has hoof issues, than you may want to look at diet, as well as intestinal issues. Only if a barefoot trimmer has properly examined the hoof and decides they MUST have shoes are they really needed. I keep all mine barefoot and they are VERY happy.
@Hawuh…
If a horse hasn’t been shod before then their hooves should be strong and tough because their actual hoof has been exposed to the ground.
However, you may need to shoe a horse if they would be standing in places that are very wet for long perionds of time. (such a pen that is situated in a valley that collects water run off from the hills, or a horse that is kept in a stall that would be standing in their own urine…)In these situations a horse would need shoes to get their feet off the ground because lots of moisture causes the hoof to become weak, which causes cracking.
Going barefoot is best for the horses health as long as you have a healthy living environment, that isn’t extremely wet, to go along with their exposed toes.
Just letting you know, I have two horses. I use a normal bridle with a bit on my ridable horse (The other wasn’t trained properly, and was also probably hurt/beaten, and won;t let you put a saddle on him. I didn’t do that to him, and even though the people who did or allowed that to happen to him are family, I still despise them for that, because they hurt my baby.). My horse who is ridden with a bit and bridle has never once been hurt by the bridle. Yeah, it pisses him off, but only because he’s a lazy horse. My point is, just because somebody ride there horse with a bit, doesn’t they are bad people, or “TRYING to hurt or piss off your horse.” Okay?
A bitless bridle can be more detrimental to a horse especially if you use a bosal. The bit helps communicate to your horse and helps your horse know what you are asking. Yes some horses are better in a bitless bridle but this is not always the senario. If a bit is interferring with your horse then maybe he needs his wolf teeth taken out or his teeth may need to be worked on. In most cases using a bitless bridle is more severe especially if it is the bosal, even more important if your heavy handed or jerky with your hands, and you can damage the cartilage in the nose. Using a bit does not mean you are trying to piss off your horse, it means you are trying to gain respect from your horse and have more communication. It is completely rediculous to say that a bit is pissing off your horse because it isn’t. You are right with the shoeing thing, because horses are better off without out shoes if they have the feet for it because shoeing is what is known as a necessary evil, which means some horses or some discilpines need to shoe the horses but it weakens the hoof as it puts nail holes in the hoof. Some horses do not have the foot they need so shoeing a horse is putting the foot they need where the horse does not have hoof. I am currently in a Farrier Science class and we are currently covering this. Good hay is a no-brainer like you have said, and any responsible horse owner knows that. But I would rethink before saying the stuff about the bitless bridle, and do some more research on it. It doesn’t make anyone an un-natural horse owner to use a bridle with a bit. Like i said i am currently going to college for horses and horse training, not to say that i know everything cuz i dont thats why i am in school, but i wouldn’t openly say what you have, unless you do the research. You are more than welcome to your own opinion by all means, but just because this works for you doesn’t mean other horse owners are un-natural, because your method may not work for them.
I have 2 horses and both NEED to wear shoes … I have tried to go barefoot but I found it to cruel with continual stone / hard ground bruising (I tried transitioning for 12 months). It also is very dependant on your horses breeding, conformation and genetics whether they can go barefoot. There is nothing wrong with having to wear steel shoes if your horse is more comfortable with them. They both get a spell from wearing them during the year for around 2 months.
Shoeing or not shoeing has always been a big debate same as bitted or bitless. Everyone has their reasons for doing what they do with their horses and we are all only interested in their comfort and we are not bad owners or un-natural so by all means have an opinion – we all do – but keep the inuendos and name calling out of it
You are a very kind person .My name is Maria . I am a Physical Therapist and plan to go to school hor horse rehab.
If you have any advise olease let me know. Maria
i love horses 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛 😛
some days my horse is just so friendly and does exsactly what i ask her to do 😀 and some day she acks likes she hates me and nips and bites and bucks and kicks and all that 😥 so i camt wait to do what you email will bring to us! 🙂
Hi Kari i have this issue with my mare too, some days she is a freak and others she is a pussy cat can you send me the advise that you were sent or any suggestions that you have heard that work thanks for your time 😀
Try using substituting some magnesium or some calming aids. Try to even desensitize her. Groundwork will probably be your best friend for a while, and just making her not want to disrespect you. Some horses sense how you are too, so if you’ve had a stressful day and she is this way then try to calm yourself down and clear your head. If your unsure your horse will be able to sense it. Just remember to breath and relax and clear your mind before you go to ride. Good Luck.
I am looking foward to getting this email. I am always wanting to learn how to further increase my bond with my horse. And extra knowledge never ever hurts. 🙂
i would love to just get her to relax quicker and make a really strong bond that cant be broken i have 4 horses so i cant weait to see your advice ! 😀
I’m hoping to conquer my fear of cantering. Although I don’t have a horse, I take lessons. I’m hoping this will increase my knowledge on horses!
For those who say it’s bad to shoe a horse, my horse HAS to have shoes or her feet literally, just crumble and totally fall apart. Honestly, in my opinion, natural is just another word for CHEAP! And bitless bridles? Yeah I might use one, except for the fact ones such as hackamores can leave a permanent lump where it got so tight. Believe it or not, they actually hurt the horse worse than a bit (depending on the rider, horse, and bit of course). Natural is just the way for penny pinchers with UNHEALTHY horses.
Hi there ,
I read what you wrote on Albany gateway about natural horse. you have got a lot of it wrong. please do a it more reading to increase your knowledge and then you will start to understand that natural does not mean cheap at all.I have been barefoot trimming my horse for a year and a half now and his feet were oh so cracked with huge splits from farrier work done in the past. the farrier said he would never get rid of the splits . so I took up barefoot trimming and trimmed the feet every week.Now you wouldnt the difference in my horses feet it’s amazing. it wasn’t cheap I had to attend courses to get it right but I believe I have it now.So look a bit more closely at everything before you make judgements please.
and seek out information
I rescued a horse with similar problems. With proper nutrition time and ONLY natural trimming his feet are in exhalent shape. No it was not cheap! By any means proper nutrition of an emaciated horse is never cheep
Apparently, you have never heard of a Dr. Cooks bitless bridle! It doesn’t put any pressure on the horses nose, as does a traditional hackamore! Plus, if a hack is fitted properly, it shouldn’t leave a “permanent lump”. Before berating those of us who choose to go natural, you should really do your homework! You are simply put, not clearly educated enough….As for your horse needing shoes, I am aware that some horses have more problems with their feet than others, but there are all sorts of supplements available to maintain hoof health – and believe me they are not “cheap”! One of my horses is an OTTB – off-track Thoroughbred – and thanks to his previous racing and the way they keep their feet, he had horrible feet when I purchased him! He is currently barefoot and on 2 different supplements to strengthen his hooves – again not “cheap” and his feet a healthy & beautiful now! So before you label those of us who choose to use a natural & pain-free approach for our horses, you should really increase your knowledge as to what is available & necessary to maintain a natural & pain free life for your horse!!!!
I totally agree with LaLamar and Nancy and Mary. Its how its used as to how bad it is whether its with a bit or bitless, if your heavy handed u will hurt ur horse. I have used both bitless and with bit and bosal, and they are all good and I prefer bitless really and I think my horse prefers it too, even though im slowly breaking him in at the moment and first got on him in a halter and reins. All horses are different and you can not put all of them in the same basket as they r all different in character. I also have my horse with no shoes on, and his feet r good and I oil them in summer so they don’t crack to much, and I will be competing with him barefooted.
You must not forget that some horses that wear shoes, do so, because the confirmation of their foot and changes as they have aged, dictate the use of shoes. It is not always a hoof wall problem.
Isabelle is right with what she has said , that it could happen. That does not mean that she needs to do her homework or that she was trying to offend anybody. She was meaning that some bitless bridles in combination with riders with jerky or hard hands could be even more harmful to the horse that just a bit. Just because you have your opinion on how things are supposed to be but it may not work with someone else. Each horse is different and works better a certain way. That said everyone on here needs to do a little more homework on this instead of just assuming everyone is wrong for what works for them. It doesnt mean that they are un-natural owners or riders, just means they figured out what works for them and their horse.
I totally agree, I have my OTT TB mare I have owned for 6 weeks and I am slowly transferring her to natural. May I ask though, what supplement do you feed them for their hooves to help?
Cheers,
J
Yeah, actually , a Dr.Cook Bitless does leave permanent lumps on a horses face, when used improperly. My best friend’s horse has two on either side of her face, where her previous owner put pressure by using a rope halter with the knots on them (I’m not knocking rope halters, I use them, but this used them wrong.) and where his bitless bridle (Dr.Cooks) put pressure on the poor horses nose. And sometimes barefoot is cheap. The same guy was a cheap dead beat who never shoed his horses, and trust me they needed to be shoed. They were inbred (cheap lazy dead beat couldn’t even afford to breed. Shouldn’t have ever been allowed to own horses.) and had defects because of it. Nearly all of the defects were soundness related (i.e. hoof. leg, bone, tendon, ect.)
Okay… I have read what others have said and I have to agree with Mary, LaLamar, & Nancy!
I have 4 wonderful horses and I keep them as natural as possible. NO IT IS NOT CHEAP!!!!!
I have a vet (DVM) who does Holistic Medicine and she is not inexpensive!
I have a farrier who is ELPO Certified , and she does “Natural Balance” and not only did she attend school to do this, but she also takes continuing education classes every year!
It is not cheap to have a farrier come to my barn every 10 weeks to do trims!!!
I also use a “bitless bridle” or a SIDE-PULL! I have been working with one of my horses that was beat so severely with a 2X4 that it broke his face and a bit is not able to be used! He is happy and healthy and has absolutely no marks or “lumps” on his nose from the PROPER FITTING SIDE-PULL that I use!
AND YES….. I DO EVERYTHING AS NATURAL AS I POSSIBLY CAN!!!!!!
Holistic Veterinary Medicine, Natural Balance Farrier and the most natural of feeds!
I am not cheap and it is not cheap to care for my babies!!!!!!!!!
I use my horses in Parades, Trail Riding, Jumping, Mounted Search and Rescue and my own favorite thing….My mental health!
I PREFER TO BE BARE-FOOT, DON’T YOU?
Has anyone tried feeding whole flax seed? I prepare by pouring boiling water over to crack the hulls and release omega 3s. My 3 barefoot horses love and their hoof and coat quality is amazing. I make a big batch and store it in the frig, 1/2 a cup a day will do it. Also much cheaper than hoof supplements (with no additives too), A 50lb bag will last my 3 for about 5 or 6 months.
So i’m not trying to be a “know it all” but I have 5 horses that don’t have shoes and are just FINE. Believe me I do pamper my horses but not in that way. Have you ever seen wild horses??? Their usually the healthiest creatures around and they NEVER have ANYTHING “unnatural” done. And I agree with you with the bridal deal. I use both(whatever they respond better to) and I have one horse that i used to use a hackamore and she hated it. It bugged her and so i used a bit bridal and she responded wonderful. And does to this day.
And FYI I wouldn’t ever try to do anything to hurt my horses. I’m NOT a cheap skate when it comes to things I love. Just because I do things the “old fashioned” way doesn’t mean i hurt them. Its better for them actually. The reason some horses “need” some things is because of a fault the breeder/owner/trainer did. And to fix it you’ll just have to start over. Thanks for reading.
i am the very proud owner of a wild mustang that was abused and she was not at all into trusting her human. but let me tell you after two years of working with her i have gone from not being able to touch her to doing anything i want to her including triming and filing her hooves and i use a hack on her as well after many different bits in her mouth that she would not respond to so i think its all about trial and error and what works for your horse !!!! And your right in the fact that they are the healthiest horses. i have ownwed a few in my time!!! i do not give her all kinds of supplements as i did with others i have owned and the reason is that she was a wild horse and didnt have all that stuff before she became domestic and as long as she is healthy and happy i feel no need to mess with what nature has made. which leads to natural is not a bad thing i think messing with mother nature is not a wise move!!! in my experience it has cost my horse as well as my wallet!!!! thats not to say if my horse needs something i will by all means provide it for her but i do say if its not broke dont fix it!!!!!and for all those out there that think they know everything there is to know then your just showing how much you really dont know because you will learn somthing new with every horse and every new horse person you deal with so keep yourself in check and your mouth as well because inevitably you will sound….um, not so good! HAPPY TRAILS TO ALL
p.s.a little natural horsemanship tip tobacco is good for keeping your horse worm free.
I read this blog and subsequently re-read trying to pay attention to details that affect each of the bloggers’ horses, ie: surroundings day to day, history both purchase and health, climate, regions, rainfall excessive or excessive snowfall, desertous terrain, detailed information regarding each horse’s diet, forage intake, pasture grazing, crimson clover or other high carb pasture content, colic, founder history, lamenites, riding terrain, sporting, stall kept or pasture kept and of course there is the ultimate question, were they always shod or always barefoot? Although a few stuck to the topic so we can learn different points of view, this forum provides readers and horse owners interested in appropriate effective health care for our horse family members, but instead insulted each other like cat fighting teenagers do in high school. Save your time if you have the impulse to say you don’t or didn’t have a cat fighting teenager, it matters far beyond that idiom to allow the really open minded owners the opportunity to see real situations and process information that could be very useful in the present or future to our wallet and/or the well being of our horses. I am disappointed to find that the participants of this blog, for the majority, are only interested in being right. This type of immature behavior and wrecklessly mud slinging is only a caution flag for that specific entry. How narrow minded must we appear in the horse world or otherwise, to express that our discipline is the only method that works straight across the board print it in a textbook right? No discussion for the most part. Instead of firing off a letter in your reply that makes you feel good about yourself, try listening and providing actual information and let’s get back to thinking about things. Who knows. You may Lear something that one of your multiple horses can benefit from and hey it might be cheaper or not. Just because we haven’t heard of something or we do things differently doesn’t mean you are one hundred percent effective one hundred percent of the time. I believe we are still priveledged to invoke. Social awkwardness and scrappy behavior makes even the best turn and walk away. Whether you are in school or never have you attended school is irrelevant. Perhaps one of these bloggers is one of your instructors. There is no pride nor justification for bad behavior when owning a horse. Anyone can, and unfortunately as we see on the news a lot of ignorance is reflected there. I’m not saying ignorance exists in this conversation, quite contrary. Make an effort to make this enjoyable so the new horse riders can ask and learn, not ask and get bullied or ruined about caring and learning. Let public opinions expressed on a forum be just that and take something out of it. There is more ignorance in the horse world that proves detrimental. Why teach it by being rude and high and mighty. We all need to learn more and every horse is different. They typically come from different backgrounds and live in different surrounds than others. It’s not black or white. Be good to your horse and learn something new about horsemanship every day. Then you can stand proud and pass information along that actually makes a difference. Who knows, you may find yourself looking for the answers one day and possibly you will be in crisis without a lot of time to make decisions. These blogs help is become well rounded if we participate or dictate. Look into the eyes of your horse today. Be still and communicate in total silence. It is very inspiring.
I have a fear of picking horses hooves cause when i was pickin my friends horses hooves it steped down on my toe 😯
That happened to me too! Except it was my horse. I’ve never cleaned my horse’s hooves again.
When I first tried hoof picking the horse nearly stepped on my toe but I managed to pull my foot away just in time. 😐 Phew! And somehow I always manage to pull my arm away just in time to aviod being bitten by the horse.
I to was petrified of cleaning my horses feet after he stomped on one of mine. When I took him for 2 mos of training I told his trainer one of the things she would need to work on with him is foot cleaning. After she tried this with him, she agreed he needed work in that area, and agreed to show me what I needed to know about hoof cleaning, and how to NOT get stomped on. Simply, stand parallel w/both of your feet together about 4-6 inches from his/hers. Just remember to work with him/her for a few times picking up their feet and give it back before they ask before you attempt to clean them, and do that exercise several times a week, rewarding them for giving you their foot. In a short time you will find that they will be more cooperative with the cleaning 😀
I’ve been run over by horses when i’v tried to do stuff like that. You just need to remember to wear boots and learn to walk it off. Don’t worry 🙂 You’ll get over your fear 🙂
also love horses 🙂
i was picking my friends horse when we got done riding and when i got to the back feet i asked if she wanted me to do them too? she said yes and of course i tried and she kicked at me….she has always been a little stubborn. now she is pregnant and i told my friend not to let the foal get as stubborn as her! no matter how nice i am to her on trails she manages to buck me off now it is almost like it becomes daily and now i think im building up fear for her but i still love to groom her but the part of getting back on her is scary my friend dont know so i always make excuses not to so she says if i want i can ride rocky but i love annie (the stubborn one) anyone have some advice????? 😐
So this horse does not belong to you right??? Can you work with her??? I have a horse kinda like that and it just took patience and bonding time. And i’m training a horse right now(shes 8) and her last trainer(when she was 3) got bucked off her and was put in the ER. So i highly recomend that if you do work with her have your friend right there to help. I am totally in love with horses and they are my life but be very careful cause they can be dangerous. And i’m just curious. What is the set up at your friends house?? is there a round pen?? and what about the country?? is it Mountains or rocky or just flat???? hope this helps and good luck!
iam buy a one year old colt for the first time so if anyone can give me some advice feel free 😉
Hi I have just brought a shetland pony but she is in a bad way by this I mean her ribs and spine are really visible I know ponys lose weight in the summer I am sorting it to get her under the vets but there not any in my area that will take her on can anyone give me any tips on how to build her to what she shoud be. She is a lovely pony very timid an shy I have only had her 2 days and we already get on great togeather 😛 we would be great full for any ideas thanks
Try adding corn oil to her grain and/or beet pulp , but soak the pulp first.
Hi Peta,Sorry your Shetland is in a bad way. I have two that actually would get very fat if I let them on the summer grazing! I suggest you get a vet to her as it sounds as if she has a problem, could be that she needs worming or that she needs an equine dentist. Good luck 😀
Umm.. this poor mare has obviously been mistreated. You need to report the previous owner to the ASPCA or someone similar. To help with the weight issue, take her to the vet and make sure she dosen’t have worms. Your vet should advise a certain brand of feed or at least a certain type (e.g. senior feed, healthy feet, healthy mane/tail and coat, stable weight, winter feed). If not, ask. Whatever your vet says, you should do.
well, feed her grain with lots of protein to help build her muscles up and like Mary said, give her corn. Something we did with my gelding when he started to thin badly was we gave him grain and bread with peanutbutter and molasses. 🙂
Feed Burmuda in the morning and Alf. in the evening, give your horse alot of love,and treats,every other day-and it will put on weight, but you don’t want to over feed them.Also my horse is barefoot too,and has been ever since I got him-7 years ago. But when I got him he was underweight, where the bones were showing and that’s what I feed him; now he’s beautiful and at the right weight-he should be. It took about a year to start to see the differance. But Like I said give your horse or pony alot of love and you will be best friends.
I do horse rescue and Mid South Feeds has a wonderful line of healthy feeds for helping your horse recover. Don’t feed too much corn as it could cause Colic. I use Canola oil instead of corn oil with great results. Compare Canola and Corn oil and you will see higher higher nutritional values.
Feed grain and hay at 2% of your horse’s weight is what my vet recommends and start them out slow when you change their diet. Alfalfa and Timothy extruded {Tractor Supply} added at 1/3 ratio to grain should help you put on a healthy coat and slowly gain weight results. You don’t really want a fat horse but well nurtured animal. He/she will love you for it 😎
Hey Peta.
I agree with the other people somewhat but (and i know this was written in July) be careful with what you use. with your ponies condition it sounds like she is undernourished. and if you give her to much of anything she could colic. And colic is often fatal. I(if this ever happens again) would start with a little water and hay and build up from there. If you over feed that would be worst then under feeding because she could colic. We had a pony die when I was really little from colic. I’m not sure how it was brought on though. I think it was something like she ate some sort of weed or something that was out in her pasture. Good Luck!
try some rice brand on her hay or with her grain
I have owned horses all of my life and bonding with them is extremley important. They are very sweet and beautiful animals that need a lot of TLC and common sence. I tried to post common sence information for a horse rescue to check for sand colic that only cost the amount of water that is used, and the local horse health care store in that area attacked me on line for trying to assist these people for the horses and finances because some passed away due to colic in an area where they were starving due to no food.I was so shocked and suprized. But I would love to learn more and see more about horses all of the time !!
I like to hear more about the prob;em and maby I can help you out. I myself have been in a simular seat so I may have the right info for you , get in-touch if you will.
My husband and I bought a pony, and this is the first horse I’ve ever owned- my husband’s dad had many horses when he was growing up, but for me- this is all new. I’m a little scared of her when she gets feisty. She knows it! 🙄
show her who’s boss.i dont mean beat her or anything even along those lines. i just mean assert your dominance. she needs to respect you and listen to you. she should know that you’re in charge and you are the leader. try joining up with her. 🙂
I have a horse and i need help trying to neck rein her because she is about 2 an a hhalf years old
elizabeth – a horse that young should be barely started, or “green broke”, so she wouldn’t be trained yet to neck-rein. use 2 hands & direct-rein her for now, adding leg/weight pressure to help, till she understands all the exercises at all 3 gaits. only after the months it takes to get really good at that level do you start, at the end of a session, moving both hands to one side (for a left turn, both hands go left a few inches) then gently begin to draw her around with the direct (left)rein. You can practice neck-reining at the walk to cool her out at the end of every ride until she turns without needing the direct rein…then you do the same at the trot and later the canter. do not use a leverage/curb bit until she’s neck-reining consistently & introduce it slowly, at the end of a session, at the walk only. this takes a lot of time & patience…if you rush her she will react with all kinds of bad habits. be sure to ask for help at the first sigh of trouble. good luck!
Ref – shoeless -v- shoes. I hae just purchased a 15.2 4 year old cob type which has been running wild with a herd since birth. Her feet are in a terrible mess, cracks so long that I fear they may well split in two ❗ I have had them trimmed and intend to have them trimmed and treated again at the end of the month – I am now thinking that by keeping her shoeless she may recover sooner.
have just started my own horses on heath diet. this way when you purchase new horses you know what ale,s him or here because you have gone throw their system.now you can see what works and what doesnt.good hay, fresh water. wormer program.good teeth.steady ferrier. you should have good success.
I had my horse barefoot for a year – Welsh Cob with fantastic feet, but when he stopped being so forward out on rides and going on the grass wherever possible I realised that it wasn’t working for him and bruising was making him footsore. I had his shoes put back on and he is 100% better. You need to do what’s right for your horse and every horse is different.
Thank you!!!! Someone understands!!! I completely agree. Every horse is different and so is every owner. Some people don’t know how to use a bitless bridle properly, and some farriers don;t know how to trim a barefoot horse’s feet. Every horse has different variations. It just depends.
my horse Siena can really benefit from this she has a major attitude and lots of speed i would love ways to relax her. She is must more comfortable in a bit though she throws her head like mad ein a bitless and dosent lik ethe metal on a hackamore. 😥
:grin:I like to give my horses fresh apples and carrots off and on thru out the day,increasing the bond we already have ,they know im there for more than halters,leads and riding
everymorning m awakened to my mare nickering into my kitchen window if that dont get me out fo bed she bumps our trailer until i come out to feed her 😛
i have a 9yrs horse that is not broke to ride can he be broke to ride or he is to old to break ❓
18 months ago I bought a 12year old partbred arab nightmare who was unbroke and abused.Today she is happily hacking out,popping the odd jump and the most gentle.loyal envy of the yard.Study hard and help your horse have a life! :grin:She is also kept barefoot (and bitted) but my other horse couldnt cope and has just had his first shoes and what a different lad (he rides bitless)I love natural horsemanship but not everything suits all
since we don”t “break” horses, we train them, yes your older horse can be trained to be ridden. the question is, what has he been doing for 9 years? well-cared-for and handled properly produces a different attitude than neglected, or worse yet abused. you can certainly start connecting with him by grooming & doing ground work, but unless you are a very experienced horse trainer yourself, I’d recommend you let someone else do the first 90 days of saddle training. a horse this age may have been badly started, roughly handled, or scared into dangerous habits like bolting or rearing. be wise & stay safe!
hey,Al I was wondering what can I do natural for a bad case of founder?
How bad is the founder? If its bad enough to cause the coffin bone to come out the hoof or the hoof to have abcesses all the way around the coronary band then the hoof wall will fall off. In this case the best way to treat her would be to put her down. If it is not to this point then find a really good farrier and give bute if you are going to try to ride, but i wouldnt ride a horse with this condition until the feet are as sound as can be.
My grandpa is a natural barefoot trimmer. He is always talking about how the natural way is the best way. Even for sensitive horses. He says a boot is better than a shoe. What are your opinions on leaving your horse barefooted? 🙂
Listen to your grandpa :)you can read my earlier comment about my opinion on the natural way 🙂
I just recently bought a 20 yr. old tennessee walker, he’s a kind gentle boy, but i can only get him to go about an1/8 of the mile down the road we live a 1/2 mile but he won’t go that far, he will with another horse but not by himself any suggestions????
I have a little Foal who just got taken from his mom and he’s my Best Friend thank’s to this. I love the bond we have. Thanks! 😛
Refuse to let your horse turn around.
By not making him go further you are letting him be the boss of you. Be firm in making him walk forward. Don”t give up even if it takes the whole day to encourage him forward!
by letting him turn around you are letting him do what you don’t want him to do thus teaching him the wrong thing.
ask with effort! don”t give up
I volantarily work at a riding school and have no problem with any of the horses but one every time i put it girth on it reer up. now the rearing up isnt that bad but then it runs oround the stable it only does this to me and it aint safe if a little kid put its girth on whiloe im not there. what shall i do when it runs round the box is there any different way i can put the girth on. i always put the girth on the first hole first then gradualy move it up. 😉
The horse either has bad manners or has never really been trained with putting on the girth. You can try rubbing his/her belly to get him/her use to something being there but your doing a good job by putting the girth on the first hole then gradually moving it up. Do not let him/her get away with rearing up then running away!!!….Are you putting it on in the front or back?? If its the back you dont really need it on the back. 🙂
Hi can anyone help?? What is laminitis? I know it can be cause by over eating and rich grass. What els can cause it and once a cob has it can you get rid? 😐
laminitis is also known as founder it ruins the horse hoof but can only be caused by eating too much rich grass once a horse has it you can get rid of it but the horse will but prone to getting it again there are products that can stop a horse from getting it. if a horse has had founder before it needs to restricted from rich grass in spring
Hi. I was just given a small Morgan mare that has been left alone in a field for about six years. Her previous owner is short and let the horse walk all over her. The mare is about 15 and has been neglected since she was weaned from a colt which was removed from the property. the mare’s feet have been allowed to break off rather than be trimmed. She listens well to me when I lead her and ask her to stop and move different ways. But she can be barging about if she wants to do something. She decided to break out of one corral which is now reinforced. She obviously did not like being penned up. She got in with two other mares and has shown herself to be a bossy kicker. I did let her out into the pasture with the two mares with no feed to fight over and she was fine and enjoyed herself. However, at feed time she had to be separated due to kicking. A horse even approaching the water trough near her means it is time for her to kick. I have only had her a couple of days and she was previously ridden western. I am going to start her over and ground drive her with a harness on as it would be nice to drive her. However, the kicking strap will be in place! I need to train this horse out of kicking other horses or she will not be able to join the herd. Any comments or suggestions please. I have trained quite a few horses and they are all so nice to be around. Taking in this horse is something different and I will not be hiring a trainer as I will be doing the work myself. The mare obviously wants to be with other horses but is extremely dominant. Thanks for advice, keep the criticism.
as you said she is a dominant horse. it might be best to just let her work it out. you could just keep her separate but with other horses nearby but the kicking would still be a problem on rides 😕
I have a 5 yr old thoroughbred gelding i’ve had him for 4 mths he has a beautiful nature with only 1 fault and unfortunately a big 1, he bucks when he gets spooked well thats 2 faults i suppose, I aswell as my daughter have been bucked off him, im thinking it could be my lack of confidence because of the lack of history I hardly know a thing about him as I had no contact with the previous owner so im not sure if they also had this problem with him, i’m keen for advice i’ve had a little i’ve changed his diet and he seem a little calmer but am nervous about riding him.
I would say start a phase 1. Ground work. and then build up trust and friendship from there
I bought a horse for my 12 year old daughter. She is a 20 year old quarther horse. My daughters friend rode her the other day and she pulled the rains so far back that the horse fell. Flicka is fine but is now shying away from letting my daughter on her and acting spooky, when only 3 days ago they were riding like the wind and the best of friends. Anyone have any ideas on a way I can get her back to her normal self. Should I have my daughter just get on or rebuild on he trust they had. Im not sure.
Flicka is scared that the pain she went through before will happen again. i waould say it was better to let her know you wont hurt her before mounting
I am in the process of getting an older horse (ten) to keep as a pasture buddy. Never had a horse before so this should be interesting. Other than the obvious, food, water, etc what do I need to know?
I train dogs so have a good understanding of what an animals needs to be healthy and live an enriched life. We don’t plan to ride this horse, but would like to take him for daily walks when I walk my dogs (on our property). I would like him to get out and see outside his pasture..or would that be highly unlikely? 🙄 lol I also wonder what things I can do to keep him challenged and interested. I hate the thought of him just standing out there alone and having nothing to do when we aren’t there. I try to keep my dogs busy doing things for themselves so would like to do the same for a horse but not sure what kinds of things to do.
I’m mostly wondering about feet and health issues. Do i have to trim their hooves if I’m not riding him? Do they need salt licks? I see those all the time and have no idea. I will be talking to owners in my area and the gal we are getting him from but thought I would start here.
Signed,
Greenhorn.
Susan
you will still need to trim the horses hooves. as too salt licks that depends on the horse and also were your keeping them. if there in a pasture a salt lick is most likely unneeded, and they might feed themselves but you check that the grass is all they need. I’m sure you horse will appreciate a walk every now and then but just spending some time with them whenever you can is probably all the emotion schallenge they’ll need
some may disagree with me but i would say play with him alot and let him live like mother nature has his kind live 🙂 sorry that sounded weird 😛
I just got a pony for christmaa and i dont know what to do for my welsh pony named azzie to make him a better boy!
what do you want them to “be a better pony for”
what do you want them to do?
is he trained??? I would say just play with him and have some good ol bonding time 😉
😀 excellent advice on each account.
Good advise from all. 🙂
thanks so much for all the help
❓ when I get my horse out to ride he bucks and rearup with me and when I go to put him up and take the bridle off he rearup as far as he can go then he falls how can I stop this?
if i wanted to change to bare foot what is maximum i can hack out. i have a coloured cob who is a big ol boy, he is used for gentle hacking out by me walk and trot and in sand school and my friend takes him hunting about one mth tops.
i was advised maybe just have front shoes ???
I just got my first horse given to me I’m nervous because I’ve been around horses alot but never had my own.she a paint horse and is about 9 yrs old,free spirited fast and has’nt been road much in the past year I visiting her on a daily basis now befor we move her she’ll be alone at first.and shes not use to that.If I spend time with her everyday will that be enough for her fter we move her how much time should I spend with her in the begining of this wonderful journey we are going to have..
I enjoyed reading everyone’s comments on here…it really helps to hear how everyone else is doing things with their horses! 😆
I did get another one from a tack shop that is all leather (black) & love it too. My horse responds really well to either one. 😉
I did barefoot trimming for awhile, but my horse has always been “big”, seems like no matter what she’s fed (she may be insulin dependent)? and that was fine in the summer, but found she did better with old fashioned trimming in the winter, so I switch back & forth between two farriers. 🙂 I have ridden with bits & bitless bridles and find that the bitless is safer for me & my horse in many different ways. Bitless doesn’t hurt their nose, mouth or teeth & is actually easier to control, with a light hand. 😀 I barely have to touch her neck & she responds by turning whichever direction I want her to go! 😎 I ordered one of Dr. Cooks nylon (hot pink) bitless bridles & love it.
❓ Throughout the years, I have been told to breath into a horses nostrils and it will calm down and do whatever you ask of it…….
Is this anything you have done in training horses?
Having read this I thought it was very enlightening.
I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this informative article together.
I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and commenting.
But so what, it was still worthwhile!