by Kathryn Kincannon

Dear Alpha Mare,

We have a good-sized ranch and I have started many young horses. I have learned a lot from both your column and your husband, Chris Irwin’s, training DVDs.

My 19-year-old daughter has just dropped out of college – not at all sure what she wants to do with her life -– and is living back home with her Dad and I. We have a young just-two filly that I am getting ready to work with, and as my daughter and I are struggling a bit with understanding each other, I wondered if it wouldn’t be a good idea for the two of us to work with the filly together.

My daughter has lived with, worked around, and ridden horses all her life, and I felt that maybe this could give us some common ground. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
High Hopes in Lethbridge
continue reading "Earn the Right"

by Kathryn Kincannon

Dear Alpha Mare,

I have a mare that has a tendency to rear when she is frightened or presented with something she just does not want to do. She is a nine-year-old Thoroughbred, a bit high strung, that was never raced, but is quite the drama queen.

Both being ridden and on the ground, she will create a scene rather than deal with a questionable situation. How can I encourage her to relax rather than throw a fit?

In Need of Some Mare Medicine
continue reading "Rearing"

Dear Alpha Mare,

I need some help with my Arab. He won’t do a slow trot or a slow lope. As soon as I ask for it, he turns on the speed (I used to use him in endurance racing, but I have quit that sport).

I think I messed him up by racing him so he doesn’t know anything but fast. I have been emailing trainers but no one responds. I’m getting discouraged because I don’t want to ride him as it is so uncomfortable. I just need to know what to do so I can have a relaxed ride. I hope you can help me soon, as the summers are short!

Hot To Trot in Alberta
continue reading "Ask the Alpha Mare - A State of Calm"

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) is forging new ground at the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Centre (MMSC) at the Kentucky Horse Park, home of the 2010 World Equestrian Games, in Lexington, Kentucky.

Canadian horseman and author Chris Irwin along with his wife and business partner, Kathryn Kincannon-Irwin, Horses All columnist and recognized coach, will oversee the MMSC. The Irwins will be enhancing the MMSC as a centre for teaching and promoting advanced horsemanship skills for retraining retired racehorses.
continue reading "Horses All Columnist to design programs at Kentucky Horse Park"

by Kathryn Kincannon

Dear Alpha Mare,

Ever since my Canadian horse, Logan, was born, he’s never liked needles. I don’t blame him! When the vet came out to give him his vaccinations, he took the first needle no problem, until the medicine got released into his system, at which point, Logan decided he and needles were not friends.

On the second needle, he moved around a lot, but the vet was able to give him the shot, albeit with effort. He even allowed him to give him the strangles shot up the nose, but Logan was obviously not pleased.

How do I encourage Logan to stay relaxed and stand still for a needle?
continue reading "Needles"

by Kathryn Kincannon

Dear Alpha Mare,

My mare is going to be having her first foal this spring – a first for both of us! We are very excited about it and, of course, want to make sure we do the right thing for both Katanya and her new baby.

I have been reading up on the practice of imprinting and find myself uncertain as to whether it is a beneficial or detrimental process to put a newborn horse through. My mare and I would greatly value your opinion.

Mary and Katanya
continue reading "Imprinting"

by Kathryn Kincannon

Dear Alpha Mare,

I have a gorgeous black Sport Horse (Percheron/Thoroughbred) mare that I raised from a foal and is now coming six. I love this mare – she is family to me – and yet I find myself having thoughts now about whether or not she and I are a good “fit.”

She is a very big horse, tends to be both pushy and aggressive (alpha mare of the small herd she lives with) and, all in all, is quite a handful, both on the ground and under saddle. Everyone else at the barn is quite afraid of her (which I am not as I know how she ticks) yet I am realizing that my goals (keen on dressage) may not be the best for her.

I can’t afford to have a second horse and keep her too, yet I can’t imagine parting with her. Any advice?

“On the fence” in Ontario
continue reading "Changes"