Horse Listening

Little Known Qualities of Great Farriers

At Horse Listening, we are emphatic life-long learners of all things horsey. You will be reminded time and again about how there is so much to be learned from horses and other horse people, if only we listened.

This guest post is by Kaleigh Arbuckle, a professional farrier, riding instructor, trainer and breeder of quality horses. Visit her blog, www.farriersnotebook.wordpress.com, a blog for the horse owner who wants tips about shoeing and trimming advice for today’s equine.

The farrier as an artist

The farrier, though required to scientifically balance and shoe a horse, is an artist working with a living canvas. In order to create a balanced and beautiful foot, the farrier must understand movement, anatomy, break over, "air time", and conformation. To be a successful farrier, practice and theory must work in harmony with one another.

If the farrier is open minded, a great relationship can develop between farrier, owner and veterinarian when problems arise. Farriers must acknowledge any limitations they may have in dealing with a hoof issue. It's the experiences of competent farriers and vets, working together, through trial and error and past case studies, that make lame horses sound and prevent sound horses from going lame.

Horse shoeing is a rewarding profession as long as the farrier has compassion for, and is passionate about horses. After all, what would posses a human being to sacrifice his/her body through years of physical stress, and at the risk of injury?

What makes a GREAT farrier?

Good farriers can trim or shoe a horse correctly and in an efficient manner.

Excellent farriers can shoe a horse correctly but have a finesse in the way they go about the whole shoeing process:

- they can "use their gut" to stay safe around dangerous horses.

- they use their instincts to address a mysterious lameness.

- they have many tools to pull from when shoeing gait imbalances.

- they have a gentle touch when trimming foals.

- they can keep peace with a fractious equine.

The farrier as a horse rider

Farriers with riding and training backgrounds have an advantage over non-riding farriers because they understand the terms used when a trainer or rider comes to them with a gait issue or when "something just isn't right". The "feel" used when riding a horse is developed over time, with many miles under saddle, and can be invaluable when trying to solve a soundness issue.

The educated farrier can:

- tactfully assess the current state of training of a horse.

- identify any rider errors.

- suggest age appropriate strength building exercises for the horse.

- encourage use of longitudinal and lateral suppling under saddle on the lunge line, or in hand.

The benefits of farriers that actually ride are simple - they know what the owner wants, have felt it for themselves, know the heartache when an equine partner is not able to give its best, and have the same feeling of fulfillment when a problem is solved and goals are achieved.

Be aware!

Be aware of farriers who think their idea of quality shoeing is superior to other farriers and the opinions of veterinarians. This type of thinking is an unfair and dangerous practice. One cause for concern is when farriers consistently trim heels too low. These farriers want to trim the foot to the widest part of the hoof and fit a very large shoe. The end result is a horse that has low heels, long toes, and incorrect angles. The horse suffers from fatigue earlier in the ride, causing gait abnormalities, and heel or suspensory pain.

The horse owner should feel as comfortable about having a farrier work on their horses as they do a veterinarian. Competent farriers are in demand everywhere there are horses; farriers willing to communicate with owners and veterinarians, enjoy the work involved, and are keen to put the horse first, have a bright future.

They should be able to put a personal stamp their work, and with the feel of an artist, produce a beautiful, functional, balanced hoof.

What qualities do you like about your farrier?

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If you enjoyed this guest post, click below for more!

Scoring The Hunter Round: Ever wondered what the judge is looking for at a hunter show? Read this post to find out!

Enjoys Being Brushed!: A hilarious post about the foolishness of some horse sales ads!

An Ode to Kayla Queen – As She Turns 30

Kayla Queen

Kayla collage — 30 years young and living the life!

The dream-come-true horse

The hold onto my beautiful, long, flowing mane and I'll show you the ropes of horse-ownership horse

The sure, I'll stand here while you groom me for TWO HOURS! horse

The I'll go anywhere you want to go horse

The I may not be able to canter very well, but hang on for a great gallop horse

The I can give 'em a good run for their money on the Racing Stretch horse

The let's go celebrate Canada 125 and walk through some strange town horse

The don't pull steady on the reins or I'll go faster horse

The let me teach you about gaitedness - want me to trot or pace? horse

The Ha! Ha! I can pace as fast as most horses canter horse

The trailer loading/round penning/despooking/walking up to you horse

The Competitive trail riding? LET'S GO! horse

The Want me to run down the dog that is scaring our friends and their horses? horse

The Yes, Kelly can be my second Mom horse

The Sure you can try on me what you just learned at the clinic! horse

Truly, Kayla Queen is a "dream-come-true" horse and everything else has been beyond my wildest dreams!

Happy 30th birthday, dear Kayla, the exhilarating horse with a never-ending zest for living!

*P.S. For you picky (like me) readers - I know this isn't really an "ode" but I liked the way the title sounds! 😉

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The Top 8 Perks of Horse Keeping

Keeping horses at your own place can be a daunting task. Going out in freezing/hot and humid/pouring rain/ snow storm weather is not for everyone. Early mornings and late nights, staying home when others go out/on vacation/sleep in (occasionally) can be enough to keep most people far away from barn management. The work is physical and thankless and it MUST be done regardless of your mood or health condition, because the horses depend on it.

So, in contrast to all the negatives, here are a few positives that keep us going when everyone else is enjoying their leisure time.

8. Feeling the "bright and early" (in the dark of winter) crispy air freshness drag you out of your first-thing-in-the-morning-sluggishness before even the birds start chirping!

7. Hearing the soft, encouraging "Welcome! Now get our breakfast going" nickers as you walk in the barn.

6. Hanging on to the lead rope, speed-walking beside the bright-eyed, perky-eared, energetic horse on a mission to the paddock - every day is a new discovery!

5. Listening to contented munching sounds mixed with occasional heartfelt snorts as the horses start on their hay breakfasts.

4. Getting a chance to "read" the stalls to know how your horse spent the night and is feeling in the morning.

3. Knowing what is fed and when it is fed - no arguments/negotiations to deal with about the feed you want your horse to have!

2. Being at the barn at least twice a day makes for an easy "check" to make sure all is well with the horses, and a good excuse to ride since you're already there.

1. No gym membership needed - especially after moving the hay bales and mucking stalls (strength training), walking back and forth to and from the paddocks (cardio training), interspersed with wheelbarrow dumps (interval training). It's all covered each and every day!

What are other perks that you enjoy as a "keeper" of horses?

Ready for something completely different? If you liked what you read here, you might be interested in the Horse Listening Practice Sessions.

This is NOT a program where you watch other people's riding lessons. Start working with your horse from Day 1.

Click h ere to read more and to join one of the most complete programs on the Internet!

How The “Not Canter” Can Drastically Improve Your Transitions

Imagine experiencing the dread that comes along with having to do something particularly undesirable. Except in this case, in some miraculous way, the "powers that be" come to your rescue - and actually rescind the request. Can you imagine the relief you would feel when you realize that you would NOT have to do the task?

Some horses get into the same emotional (and physical) bind when it comes to transitions. At times, it can happen even to the best of horses - a new learning phase with higher expectations might spark either mental, emotional or even physical stress. There may be ear pinning, tail swishing, hopping, kicking out, teeth grinding - so many signs that your horse might be finding the task too difficult.

Every time you ask (with the correct aids), the horse resists. The situation becomes ugly - you have a hard enough time just sitting the bounciness, never mind getting the transition. You kick, use your voice, use the crop, rock your body over the forehand of the horse - anything to get that canter!

The horse's response can range from a mild hesitation to an outright buck or rear. Eventually, you win - the horse launches himself into a lurched, scrambling canter, running off at warp speed just to keep the three-beat gait. Ears are pinned, tail is swishing, and the strides feel awkward and unbalanced.

Many riders feel that the discomfort must be a sort of right of passage, and the horse must be driven through this awkward and unbalanced phase. Surely, the horse MUST give in one day and eventually settle into a nice calm, rhythmical canter - it only takes time and enough repetition. Right?

Well, probably not.

It is true that some horses do "give in" and eventually canter more promptly - but there will always be an element of tension and lack of balance. What needs to be changed is the pattern of asking - the horse needs to be shown how to be calm and confident in the canter departure.

There are many methods to teaching a good transition but the "not canter" works easily and well if performed with gentleness and empathy. It is actually very simple - the difficult part is the waiting and patience that is required.

How to "Not Canter"

Establish a good calm, slow, rhythmical trot.

Apply the aids for the canter.

Then do not canter.

That's it!

Of course, your horse will react the same way he has the past hundred times. He'll pin his ears, shake his head, grind his teeth. He'll tighten his back and brace himself for a launch into the canter universe.

And you will NOT.

You will keep trotting - keep the rhythm, staying steady, slow, calm. Wait until he releases the tension, finishes the hops and tail swishes. Wait for the sigh of relief when he realizes that he doesn't have to perform on the spot.

Re-establish the trot.

Then, ask for the "not canter" again.

Keep doing this and wait for the horse to respond more calmly to your aids. He may be confused at first - why ask for something when you don't want it? But eventually, he'll see that the canter aids don't have to cause all that tension.

Celebrate!

If he happens to reach further underneath himself with his hind legs, you will celebrate. If he snorts and swings better in the trot, you will celebrate. If you discover that he takes larger trot strides, you will celebrate. Because even though these are not the canter, they are all the prerequisites to a good canter. They are all mini-steps in the right direction.

Then ask for another "not canter". And another. And another.

One time (probably sooner than you expect), the horse will canter. But it will be hesitant, slow stepping, breaking back to the trot. And you will celebrate that too!

Stick to the program - calm, slow, rhythmical trot. Put on the aids again: "not canter".

Wait for the next canter attempts, and once or twice, accept the canter. Do your best to follow the movement - but don't force it. Accept tentative attempts. Encourage by petting and ONE time, ask for a real canter. If there is a hint of tension, back off and "not canter" again.

Feel free to quit at any time that you feel your horse has somewhat calmed. You can always pick it up again tomorrow.

And be sure in the knowledge that this "not" path to the canter is much faster and truer than any method that requires force. Your aim is to prove to the horse that you will always give him the benefit of the doubt, and that you are willing to wait for the "results".

Happy riding!

Note: The "not" technique can be used for any movement: the "not trot" (from a walk), the "not walk" (from a trot or canter), the "not shoulder-in", etc. It is essentially a frame of mind - can be used anywhere and any time!

**Caution: The "not canter" might not be helpful in all circumstances. If a young horse is cantering for the very first time, this would be counterproductive. Also, there may be instances where a horse might become too excited if the energy is contained too long. Always use your best judgment in using any techniques, and seek the help of a more advanced rider/trainer if necessary. And always let the horse be your guide - you should be able to identify fairly quickly if the horse appreciates the technique.

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening Book 2 – Forward And Round To Training Success

Stop printing off the articles! Your favorite training articles are compiled in this beautifully bound paperback book. Have everything at your fingertips - this book can be taken to the barn as a quick refresher or leisurely read at home.

From the book:

"Regardless of discipline, what would be the most significant effect a rider would want to have on her horse?

We all want our horses to improve in their athletic

development, skill acquisition and connectedness. Much of our rider development and training efforts go into working toward our show or personal goals....

But the best riders aspire to do one essential thing each and every day, regardless of goals and lesson plans: they work hard to improve their horse’s way of going.

Because proper balance and weight carriage is essential to a horse’s longevity. Each and every minute of each and every ride has the potential to contribute to your horse’s health and well-being.

Or not."

Just as with all the Horse Listening Collection Books, this book is focused on helping the rider improve for the sake of the horse. But this book goes deeper into the best training articles from the blog - horse-centered theory, strategies and ideas you can try with your own horse.

The book begins with the horse's hind end (!), considers the horse's back, moves on to rider development, and fills it all in with the fundamentals of horse riding so your horse can be:

happier in his body

happier in his "work"

better balanced all-around

Available as an eBook or paperback.

Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Riding

10. Use your outside rein (do your best to keep the horse "straight").

9. Follow the horse's back with your back (ride "in" the movement).

8. Refine your aids - hands, legs, seat, weight.

7. Video your rides and analyze.

6. Set realistic goals (small and achievable).

5. Ride regularly.

4. Lesson regularly.

3. Ride in and/or audit clinics.

2. Read, read and read some more.

1. LISTEN TO YOUR HORSE!

* Do you have any other New Year's riding resolutions? Comment below! *

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The #1 Rider Problem: The Outside Rein!

Among all of our riding challenges, this problem is the one that should be on the top of the list.

The outside rein is the most underused and poorly understood of all the aids, and here's why. Human beings, as bi-peds, are hand-fixated.

That is, we do EVERYTHING with our hands. Being vertically inclined, we lean forward and almost in all interactions, reach toward something with our hands. It stands to reason that we should use this same mechanism when it comes to riding. For example, steering a horse is as simple as steering a bike - just grab the rein on the turn side and pull! The horse's head turns in that direction, and the legs must follow.

Right?

WRONG!!

One of the most incomprehensible things that we humans have to deal with when we decide to ride horses, is to reprogram our natural tendency to lean forward and pull on the rein. It is a most unfortunate undertaking, as this natural inclination is so hardwired in us that it feels wrong to stay balanced on top of a moving horse and use our leg and seat aids before our hands. And so we start on a long journey of "re-wiring"...

... and one of the most difficult concepts in riding happens to be the use of the outside rein. We become experts at riding with a tight inside rein and a loopy outside rein. We teach the horse to stiffen on the inside jaw and "pop" the outside shoulder. We ride up the rail with the shoulder "out" and the haunches "in" - almost moving diagonally without knowing it. If we only knew how simple it would be to allow the horse to move straight - using a straightening outside rein!

What to do?

The solution to the outside rein lies in the inside leg and seat bone. You've heard it time and again: "inside leg to outside rein". Well, it's not really about your leg - it's about the horse's balance. The horse needs to "step away" from your leg in order to take his weight more to the outside. This will help him stretch the outside of his body, bend toward the inside and "fill" your outside rein.

Your inside seat bone encourages the weight shift. It accepts the thrust of the inside hind leg and then shifts the weight even more to the outside. In this way, you help your horse balance as you go around the ring. And somehow miraculously, you discover you have an outside rein!

Now, it is your responsibility to maintain this new connection. That is, use the "contact" - don't abuse it by throwing it away! Give when needed, take when needed, resist when necessary (or preferably, do all three in a split second!). But by all means, keep it connected! If you can keep the rein straight, you will also keep your horse straight - through the shoulders and neck (your legs are responsible for the horse's hips).

So on your next ride, remember the outside rein. But remember even more, that it's not just about grabbing the rein - it's about setting the horse up through its body so that he "fills" the outside rein. Then, when you have one, do something with it!

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. This is just the "irritating" thought - the one that sparks you on to delving deeper into the subject. We all know that finding that outside rein (correctly) is no easy feat. The best path to this solution is to find a competent instructor who can give you consistent, accurate feedback.

Good luck and happy riding.

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

From the first book in the Horse Listening Collection: Horse Listening, The Book

"There are many reasons why we enjoy riding horses. Maybe one of the most appealing facets of riding is the sense of freedom: freedom from our own limitations, freedom from gravity, freedom to (literally) roam the Earth. Time stands still while we have the privilege of feeling movement from the back of our four-legged friend.

Riding gives us the place to just be.

Of course, there are other purposes too. Some of us revel in the challenge of learning the skills required to becoming a good team member of this unlikely duo. Riding is like no other sport or recreational pursuit simply because of the equine partner that must not only carry us, but also do so effortlessly and gracefully. As we develop our specific skill sets, we also grow as human beings in character, emotional maturity and mental acuity.

But there is one other motivation that drives some of us to persevere in the never-ending learning process that is horseback riding: improving the horse. As your own skills develop, you begin to realize that not only can you meet your own needs through riding, but also that you can even become an instrument of benefit for the horse."

And so begins the book that reflects on the most important learning I have had in all of my riding years: that I want to be the best rider I can be for the sake of my horses.

This book is geared toward the rider:

- the rider's motivations

- the essential skills for the rider

- some specific strategies

- solutions to common problems

- and the results: the great horsey moments we get to experience

Along the way, you will find chapters that discuss everything from the seat to the leg aids to the reins, discussions on half-halts, imbalance, halts, straightness and more!

Special in this book are the "In The Ring" sections that give specific suggestions based on the preceding chapters. Take these to the barn to try with your own horse!

Available as an eBook or paperback.

How to Have Fun on the Trails in the Middle of Winter

Hard, unforgiving ground,

chilly winds and cloudy sky.

Slap on your winter woolies,

throw on the saddle pad,

tighten the girth

and head off into the beautiful trails

with leafless trees

and strangely open fields!

How can you have fun with your favourite equine in the middle of winter? Just head off into the bush, with careful step and controlled feels-like-she's-gonna-explode-any-second excitement. Take it easy at first - gently walk until you can get a good handle for the footing. Then take the first tentative steps into the trot - ahh.. the ground is good. Enjoy the bouncy pleasure and the exuberant snorts, but don't let the young mare get past the point of no return (=start a bucking spree!). Let the energy out judiciously....

Now that she's settled, and we have a slow and steady (but animated and still threatening to explode) trot, let's start playing a game: shoulder-in left, haunches in left, renvers left, (very careful and short as there isn't much room) half-pass left. Good girl! Now try the right - shoulder-in (keep the outside shoulder straight darling!), haunches in, renvers, and now three half-pass steps right. That's it!

Do it again! And again! And AGAIN! What fun!

What? She wants to canter!

Well, only if she steps verrrry carefully over this hard ground. She'll have to stay in a tight little ball, no real speed. But you can try...

No! She can't buck! Didn't she say she wanted to canter? You love her enthusiasm, though!

That's it - careful, super-controlled three-beat. Right lead first? OK - just a few strides. Oh the snorts! That feels soooo good!

How about the left lead? That one's a bit harder and stiffer... set up gently first - straighten the body, steady the trot, wait for it! Wait for it! OK now take a stride. And another - and another! What fun!

And finally, a long-stepping, muscle-releasing, casual walk up the hill and turn for home. Breathe in that super fresh air and take a look at the beauty of the foliage, that even in its shriveled, brown, winter form, has a charm that delights the mind and thrills the soul.

Get home before the cold really settles into the body.

And that is what winter fun is all about!

If you’d like a structured, but personal tool to set goals, take a look at the new Goal Setting for the Equestrian: A Personal Workbook. The pages are designed for you to set and keep track of your progress over the course of a year.

Included in the book:

design your overarching goals
long- and short-term planning,
debrief your special events such as clinics or shows
reflect on, plan and evaluate your goals
sample goals and pages

The Workbook is available for instant digital download so you can print the pages right off your computer. There is also the option of a paperback version if you’d rather have a professionally bound book to hold in your hands.

Click here for more information.

Best of the Web

What is so great about the Internet? The many web sites that are available for Horse Listeners to peruse and ruminate over! We accumulate monthly links to sites deemed especially Horse Listening friendly, in order to provide you with a few "tried and true" links. These sites have distinguished themselves by contributing something special in their own way to the accumulated knowledge on the Internet. Please visit the sites and enjoy them for their unique perspectives on horses and riding.

For more "Best of the Web", go to the BoW page here.

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School Your Horse

Get Your Horse Connected, by Lorraine Jennings

I've worked with horses all my life. I'm a groom and a writer of equestrian articles. I've written for Pony, Horse and Rider, Ireland's Horse and Pony and Equestrian Life. Now I'm writing a book - School Your Horse - there's more than one way.

Check out my blog www.schoolyourhorse.blogspot.com

Look to School Your Horse for accurate and in-depth information about all things riding from a dressage perspective. Lorraine tackles common issues that you might run across, and her insight would be beneficial to all disciplines of riding. In the featured post above, "Get Your Horse Connected," Lorraine goes through several essential building blocks that are required to keep your horse working correctly in order to be able to carry the rider in a comfortable manner.

But don't stop there! The web site is loaded with so many useful posts that you can probably find many posts that will be directly beneficial to you and your horse! Additionally, Lorraine puts it all into no-nonsense, easy to follow language that takes the mystery out of the more complicated concepts of riding. Enjoy!

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Professional Equine Grooms

Why do we have this website? To educate anyone who wants to learn about what it takes to become a Professional Equine Groom. To further the educations of Professional Equine Grooms. To share ideas, dilemmas, and concerns. To come together as a community, to unify the job across all disciplines, and create a foundation of respect within the horse world.

You may think you don't need grooming advice (really - how much is there to grooming anyway? (- JUST KIDDING!!) but Liv, the owner of the website, has accumulated so much useful information here that once you start browsing, you won't be able to stop! Find information about pulling off a loose shoe, feeding grain and cleaning saddle pads. Best of all, you can find a guest post by yours truly about Zen and the Art of Grooming from a Horse Listening perspective! 🙂

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The Intention al Horse

Riding Right Starts With the Horse's Back

Kay is an internationally known Bio-Nutritional Consultant and Photopuncture Educator specializing in alternative health and nutrition approaches for horses and pets. As the Owner and Director of Grand Adventures Ranch – Holistic Equine Wellness Center, she has developed therapeutic programs for horses afflicted with a wide variety of metabolic problems and protocols for assisting people to bring their equine partners back into Optimal Wellness.

Stacey Kollman is a Tucson, Arizona, horse and rider biomechanics coach and horse rehabilitation expert whose work centers on helping horses live healthy and happy lives. She accomplishes this through innovative education programs, challenging horse owners to discover new levels of awareness, connection and responsibility.

Go to The Intentional Horse to find information about alternative therapies and holistic nutrition. With contributions from professionals in the field, you will find everything from nutritional supplementation to how to develop a partnership with your horse in unmounted activities. The featured article above explains the importance of developing the range of motion of the horse's back.

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Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Don’t miss a single issue of Horse Listening!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Horse Listening – Book 2: Forward and Round to Training Success

How to "Not Canter"

Establish a good calm, slow, rhythmical trot.

Apply the aids for the canter.

Then do not canter.

That's it!

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening Book 2 – Forward And Round To Training Success

10. Use your outside rein (do your best to keep the horse "straight").

9. Follow the horse's back with your back (ride "in" the movement).

8. Refine your aids - hands, legs, seat, weight.

7. Video your rides and analyze.

6. Set realistic goals (small and achievable).

5. Ride regularly.

4. Lesson regularly.

3. Ride in and/or audit clinics.

2. Read, read and read some more.

1. LISTEN TO YOUR HORSE!

What to do?

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Buy the book for many more riding tips! Horse Listening – The Book: Stepping Forward to Effective Riding

Finally! The Ultimate Rider-Centered Program!

Get Your Horse Connected, by Lorraine Jennings