In every issue of Horse & Rider you'll find articles on training by the country's leading experts, the latest on equine health care from top veterinarians, trail riding tips from savvy back country riders, and much more!
IF you’re like most horse people, you’ve encountered a balky horse or two. When it happens, though, do you know what’s causing the behavior and how to handle it? There are actually various causes of balkiness, each requiring a different approach. Using insight I’ve gleaned from working with countless horses at clinics, I’ll explain the different forms of balkiness I’ve identified, explore what causes the behavior, and show you how to overcome it. Physical pain can cause a reluctance to move, but once a veterinarian has ruled that out, there are three key types of balkiness—herd-bound, lack of confidence, and rider-induced. I’ll discuss each in turn. Herd-Bound Behavior: Your horse resists leaving the barn or a herdmate. He hates moving away from things he enjoys or finds comfort in. At…
Adopting a horse is tempting in so many ways. If you’re the emotional type, you’ve saved a life. If you’re the practical sort, you’ve saved a lot of money on purchase price. And if you’re both kinds of horse enthusiast, isn’t this a great idea? Not so fast. Unless you do your homework, taking in a horse from a rescue facility (which places otherwise “unwanted” horses with new owners) or from any other “free” source could spell trouble or even disaster. We’ll tell you how to proceed with caution, getting your head and your heart together for what could be the most wonderful equine adventure of your life. A DIFFERENT KIND OF HORSE Many rescues are seeing a different kind of surrender situation now than in earlier years. Before it…
Myths and misunderstandings about smooth-gaited horses abound. Here, we’ll bust 10 common myths, taken from real questions posed by horse owners from around the country. We’ll explain why each assumption is wrong—and why you should consider a gaited horse for trail riding. MYTH #1 Smooth gaits are artificial “The walk, the trot, and the canter are normal gaits for normal horses. Gaited horses bother me, because their smooth gaits are manmade and artificial. I’m into natural horsemanship, and I want my horse to enjoy our trail rides. I could never ride a horse that was forced to perform an artificial gait!” Busted! Relax. You can safely enjoy gaited horses, natural horsemanship, and trail riding—these three things go together very well. The show ring and the trail are two very different…
