June 2010 Archives

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I heard someone once call grooming the process of moving dirt from your horse to you! If you haven’t seen it, feel free to check out the grooming video. So  once you’ve gotten nice and dusty, and your horse is shiny clean, it’s time for the feet! It’s a very, very important part of grooming. Imagine having to walk around with a rock in your shoe all day?! Not very comfortable–so let’s make sure our horses don’t have to do this either. This video shows you how to properly and safely clean a horse’s hoof.

After you’ve done all the important stuff, you might want to put the finishing touches on. Here’s a video that walks you through brushing a horse’s mane and tail. Remember, though, that a horse’s tail hairs are very long and fragile, and you don’t want to brush them very often! Save tail brushing for special occasions like shows. Read more on Horse Grooming part 2…

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A brief review of the proper clothing for riding. Good for beginning riders to know what if important to have to ride. Covers helmet, boots, pants, and chaps

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A little bit about the difference between Western saddles and bridles and English ones.

It’s very important that you get the right tack for the job! But even more important is that the tack fits both the horse and the rider. Briefly, a saddle fits when it doesn’t pinch or put uneven pressure on the horse anywhere. This means you should be able, when standing (carefully!) behind the horse, to see clear down through the gullet on the underside of the saddle. If the gullet is blocked completely by the horse’s withers, the saddle is too wide. If you run your hand underneath the front of the saddle on either side of the withers, and the saddle pinches your hand, it’s too narrow. A saddle fits you if you can put a hands-width on the cantle behind you when you are sitting comfortably in the middle. I really recommend getting a professional saddle fitter to come see what size your horse is and what saddle would best fit him.

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How to adjust stirrups on a saddle before you ride. Also check out “Running up your stirrups” for more about stirrups!

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A quick safety check you should do every time before you ride. How to stay safe AND have fun while riding!

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A quick video that shows you how to clip a horse’s whiskers and a bridle path. Great for beginner riders!

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A good review of how to get your horse ready to ride. Great for beginner riders just getting into the sport of horse riding!

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A good review of how to get your horse ready to ride. Great for beginner riders just getting into the sport of horse riding!

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A run-through of how to take care of your horse once you’ve ridden.

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A quick overview on how to properly feed a horse. This video covers a bit about basic horse feeds (hay and grain) as well as how to give a horse a treat safely.