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My Horse Has Had Mouth Trauma. What Bit Should I Use?
Q. My rescue Tennessee Walking Horse mare is 23 years old. I am thinking about purchasing one of your 2nd Generation Imus Bits because they are pinchless and have plenty of tongue relief. Should I go with your 2nd Generation Imus Comfort Gait Bit or 2nd Generation Imus Training Transition Bit? Thank you, Sky A. As for your approach with your mare, she is blessed to have someone like you come in and take care to do what’s best for her. It sounds like you are doing exactly the right thing. An old trick my mom taught me is add a little...
Ode to the Faithful Trail Dog
Ode the Faithful Trail Dog In barns and fields and pastures lay The ever-present dog upon they hay Dirt and grass and trails ahead Bounds the faithful dog Put a bell upon her collar We know she’s coming, no need to holler Danger ahead! She’ll alert the steed Protecting her horses and humans indeed A snake taking a bake? He’ll let you know. A bear in the bush or a brand new doe? He scents a big bird? Signal the herd Ever on alert, the faithful trail dog Tongue hanging, tummy growling She signals it’s resting time...
Rosie and Marybells Drill Team
Rosie Rosenthal is the proud mom of Marybells. Rosie and Marybells are members of their mounted drill team, The Spirit of Long Island. Marybells is a Tennessee Walking Horse, which lends another degree of difficulty when a gaited horse is asked to move in coordination with non-gaited horses. This speaks to the versatility of gaited horses. Keep up the excellent work you two! Hopefully we'll be able to see you live in action one day :) PS--Marybell is able to move with complete freedom of movement and comfort in her Imus 4-Beat Saddle!
What is a Half Halt?
A half halt is (in brief), when you use your seat, legs and hands to begin to ask for a halt, but then push the horse on while keeping a firm rein, before it actually loses momentum. Firm rein does not mean 'yank and pull.' Half halts help to round the horse up into a more collected frame, and keep its hind end engaged for greater impulsion. It prepares a horse to make a transition (from walk to gait, for example), and can enable the horse to balance well under the rider before going downhill. All in all, it's a...
Reforming a Horse You Believe Has Been Abused
I just received an abused 4 yr old Fox trotter. He belonged to Mexicans who "Gouchoed?" him. I'm not sure what they did to him, but he's an emotional wreck. He then moved on to a very inexperienced trainer who tried to tame him using Clinton Anderson and John Lyons round penning techniques. Though he was not abusive to the horse, he pushed it way beyond what the horse was emotional able to handle. He taught the horse to go to the corner, where this trainer would approach, touch, and try to desensitize the horse. I believe that this further...