By: Bob Goddard

When we were kids, spotting a horse trailer on the road was a big event. “Hey, look! Horses!” we would say. Then, as we passed the trailer, we craned our little necks to see if we could catch a glimpse of the beast lurking inside. The most we ever saw was a tail or a nostril.

These days, we see horse trailers all over the place. It’s nothing to get excited about. But I do feel a sort of camaraderie with people pulling the things. I have an idea of what they’ve been through. And it’s not good. I have yet to meet one who does not have at least one tale of disaster and woe.
continue reading "A Trailering Tale"

by Audrey Pavia

Few equine activities are as enjoyable as a relaxing trail ride in the woods or out in the mountains. It not only helps you feel at one with the natural world around you, but also strengthens and deepens your bond with your horse.

You may already be enjoying the occasional trail ride with your horse, but would like to do it more often, for longer periods of time. Maybe you have friends that go out on week-long rides and want you to go along. Or, maybe you have thoughts of competing in competitive trail rides or even limited-distance endurance rides.
continue reading "Conditioning for the Trail"

By: Lyle Jackson

One of the most difficult parts of training reining horses and cow horses is learning when to pull the reins and when to push with the leg. This is timing, and riders fail at training horses usually because they get it wrong.

The knowledge of when to pull, when to push, and when to let go is the difference between creating a trained performance horse that gets better with time and lasts for years, or a sour, resistant beast that is best to get rid of.

Most everybody that rides in our industry has read and heard about countless training methods. Direct rein, indirect rein, bump with the leg, build a frame etc. etc. And all these things work for the professionals, in a lot of different ways. There is no one, magic system; they all work for some people.
continue reading "Pushing & Pulling"

By: Peter Campbell

You’ve haven’t bought a horse before, but you’ve been itching for a while. Now you are ready for your very first horse! A lot of thought needs to go into this, but here are a few helpful hints.

Why do you want a horse?
Do you want to trail ride, show, race, or breed? Take a moment, sit down, and write all the things you would want to do with your trusty steed! Look at the right horse for the task – a little Quarter Horse may be better if you are interested in cutting, rather than a leggy racehorse!
If you are a beginner, consider the older horse that’s been around the block once or twice. The seasoned horse may have some age on him, but is a great starter horse for you to gain confidence and understanding.
continue reading "Buying a Horse"

If you’re an experienced horseman, you know that safety comes first. For the inexperienced, here are a few tips from the experts.

• Before you venture down the road, even if it’s just a short distance, both your trailer and towing vehicle must be in good condition, well-maintained, and properly equipped.

• Be sure your hitch and safety chains are in good working order, all lights and electrical check out, and tires are in good shape. Don’t forget to check the brakes!
continue reading "Trailer Safety Tips"

By: April Clay

We all worry to some degree or other. But worry out of control can really interfere with your ride. When you are in the grip of worry, you are either locked in the past with things you regret or stuck in the future trying to prevent disaster.

Unfortunately, this means you are not in the one place you need to be for your sport: in the present. In no other sport is this such an intimidating consequence. You are, after all, trying to manage a relationship with a very powerful animal.

Why Worry?
continue reading "Controlling your Worry"

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"