There is only one way to ride when it is this cold, bareback! Improve your balance and feel with your horse while staying warm on your hack. Luckily, the forecast calls for warmer days.
Check out the January issue of the Yankee Pedlar which features RJ aka Hidalgo on the cover with an interesting profile story about the Horse Wisdom Training DVD’s now available.
This uniquely designed tool, the Sugar String will help you teach your horse to put his head down whenever and where ever you ask him to. Designed by Rex Peterson as an easy and humane way to teach a horse to drop his head and open his mouth for effortless bridling and clipping around the head. Taken to an extreme, the Sugar String can help teach your horse to walk next to you with his nose at your ankles. In the movie Dreamer, the horse had to walk next to Dakota Fanning, the kid and safely keep his distance. He also learned to carry her backpack and nudge her gently along. Everyone wants a well mannered horse, and this tool is ideal to train your horse to drop his head and become submissive to you on command. Check it out on the following web site!
Vanessa is already following in her parents hoofprints.
It is never too early to start to ride.
Winston Churchill said “No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.”
Last week I had the pleasure to view the new film “The First Saturday in May” about 6 Kentucky Derby hopefuls. Here is the press release from the American Horse Council:
“With the Triple Crown races fast approaching, we wanted to make sure you know about a unique documentary film that will be shown in more than 20 theaters over the next few weeks.
The award-winning film is called “The First Saturday in May,” and it features a captivating, behind-the-scenes glimpse of six trainers and their horses as they take aim on the 2006 Kentucky Derby. Barbaro is one of those horses.
The film, produced by John and Brad Hennegan, has won numerous awards and rave reviews at film festivals throughout the country. It will open in 20 theaters Friday, April 18.
In a generous gesture to “give something back to the industry,” the Hennegan Brothers have decided to donate 25 percent of box office revenues to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, the worldwide leader in equine research.
To see a short preview of the film or to get additional information, including an up-to-date list of theaters and starting dates, visit www.thefirstsaturdayinmay.com or http://www.grayson-jockeyclub.org/tfsim.asp .
And you may wonder what happens to all the horses who do not make the grade? Here is an example of a TB bred for racing, the grandson of the uber race horse Secretariat, Mashantum failed miserably at the track, however he went on to qualify for the Atlanta Olympics in Three Day Eventing and then pursue a career in Dressage.
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Ten lucky kids can sign up for the Kids Clinic at Windrock Farm this summer,
bring your pony or horse or lease one of ours to learn how your horse thinks, how to ride in balance with confidence,
ride on trails, compete in monthly competitions at the farm for ribbons and prizes.
contact cari@cariswanson.com to sign up
Muscle tone refers to the degree of tension in the muscles, even at rest. Each animal has a unique basic muscle tone, which may range from low to high. Very supple horses usually have low muscle tone–thei movement is thus free and loose-whereas horses with high muscle tone usually have short, choppy movement. Muscle tone is increased through excercise, tension and anxiety.
Biomechanics-the mechanical principles by which a living body functions
The importance of stretching
The objects of muscle stretching are to improve performance by maintaining or regaining optimum mobility and suppleness, and to reduce injury by reducing the tension on joints, tendons, muscles and ligaments.
Competition horses are athletes and as such, they need to have their maximum potential developed. When training horses for athletic or gymnastic performance it is essential to keep them free from injury. Maintaining suppleness in a competition horse is an important element in preventing strain injuries. Doing passive, as well as active, stretch exercises will maintain suppleness in the horse. The muscular problems experienced by horses in competition have similarities to those experienced by their human counterparts. These problems are caused by the strain and exertion required in pushing the athlete to ever greater levels of achievement.
Take the time to stretch your horse after a work out and learn his range of motion and normal stiffness. Awareness will help you prevent injuries in the future while creating a stronger bond between you and your horse.
Did you know that horses have around 56 vertebrae which form a supporting framework for the neck, back and tail? There are 7 cervical (neck), 18 thoracic (withers and saddle region), 6 lumbar (loin region), 5 sacral (croup region) and about 20 caudal (tail region) vertebrae. The degree of movement varies greatly in different regions.
Consider the degree of range of motion in flexion and extension of the following joints;
90 degrees the atlantaoccipital joint which is between the skull and the first cervical vertebrae
15-35 degrees in the remaining cervical vertabrae
10 degrees in the first interthoracic joint, just in front of the withers
1 degee in joint at withers
3-4 degrees in joints under the saddle
30 degrees of motion in lumbosacral joint, between the last lumbar vertebra and the fused sacral vertebrae
This image demonstrates RJ/Hidalgo rounding his back, activating his abdominal muscles as he extends his back extends. Studies prove that the movements between the vertabrae are created by the forces of locomotion and are controlled by the horse’s back muscles. Thus, the back muscles do not cause the spine to round and hollow, the forces of locomotion do. The back muscles control the amount of rounding and flexing.
These findings are fascinating, allowing us to better understand our horses ability to move while training. You can find more information from Hilary Clayton at her web site www.cvm.msu.edu/dressage
The cold weather does not bother RJ, he loves running around in the fresh snow.
However, these cold temperatures can be hard on horses, so take care to make sure they have plenty of fresh water at all times to prevent dehydration. Horses tolerate cold better than heat, however be sure they are warm under blankets if their natural coats have not grown in to keep them warm.
When you are tense, let me teach you to relax.
When you are short tempered, let me teach you to be patient.
When you are short sighted, let me teach you to see.
When you are quick to react, let me teach you to be thoughtful.
When you are angry, let me teach you to be serene.
When you feel superior, let me teach you to be respectful.
When you are self absorbed, let me teach you to think of greater things.
When you are arrogant, let me teach you humility.
When you are lonely, let me be your companion.
When you are tired, let me carry the load.
When you need to learn, let me teach you.
After all, I am your horse.
****And now, the REAL story……..****
(by Mary Green)
When you are tense, let me teach you that there are lions in the woods, and we need to leave NOW.
When you are short tempered, let me teach you how to slog around the pasture for an hour before you can catch me.
When you are shortsighted, let me teach you to figure out where, exactly, in 40 acres I am hiding.
When you are quick to react, let me teach you that herbivore’s kick MUCH faster than omnivores.
When you are angry, let me teach you how well I can stand on my hind feet, because I don’t FEEL like cantering on my right lead today, that’s why.
When you feel superior, let me teach you that, mostly, you are the maid service.
When you are self-absorbed, let me teach you to PAY ATTENTION. I TOLD you about those lions in the woods.
When you are arrogant, let me teach you what 1200 lbs of YAHOO-let’s-go suitably inspired event horse can do.
When you are lonely, let me be your companion. Let’s do lunch. Also, breakfast and dinner.
When you are tired, let me remind you of the 600 lbs of grain that needs to be unloaded.
When you are feeling financially secure, let me teach you the meaning of “Veterinary Services, additional”.
Is your horse telling you something? One of the most important things for any horse owner to know is how to read his horse. Each horse is an individual and will express himself differently. Although there is the common language the horse speaks, there are always exceptions with each individual.Carrot stetches are very important to assess the suppleness and mood of your horse. Here you see this mare reaching around in response to a massage on her belly, her head is lowered so she is calm and her ears are soft telling us she is receptive to hearing what her friend has to say.Many people spend hours observing horse behaviour in an effort to understand the dynamic between horses themselves and horses and humans. As an owner it is critical to spend time on the ground with your horse as much as in the saddle.