Horses

Today I shall be discussing different breeds of horses. Horses are very unique due to their coloring and genetics. Here are some of the popular breeds worldwide: American Paint, American Quarter, Clydesdale's, Palomino, and Arabian Horses.

American Paint horses are easy-going, friendly and can be very smart. The horses have different coloring also, like spots. Their markings fall into two classes: tobiano and overo. Tobiano is a horse with white and dark markings, while an overo is dark with light markings.

American Quarter Horses have more muscle and are very great riding horses. Their hindquarters make them very fast in competition than other horses. Their color varies from bay, tobaino, and etc. Usually they are a solid color with white hooves.

Clydesdale's are the biggest and prettiest horse I've ever seen. Their color is one solid color with a white belly. They are great for plowing, hauling materials, and for pulling wagon's. The Budweiser Clydesdale's are black with a white belly and I got to see them last summer in Spearfish. When I stood by them they were taller than myself.



Palomino horses are beautiful, fast, and competitive. These horses are in almost all events such as: racing, ranching, rodeos, parades, and etc. In the fourth of July parade the rodeo laides usually ride palominos because they are so magnificent.

Arabian horses are very close to their owners and caring. These horses are also very great for races because of their stamina and agility. You would want an Arabian horse for racing because they are so fit.



Horses

Trail riding can be fun and enjoyable. Some places you can rent a horse and go trail riding for your own enjoyment. Trails can help make the horse stronger by going up hills or down them. Trail riding helps the horse with different terrians.

There are trail ride competitions where you must open a gate and walk through or cross a puddle of water. A lot of horses are afraid of water and will go around, so you need to find a way to make the horse go through. It takes a lot of time a practice but practice makes perfect. When you approach a gate you turn your horse sidewase, open, walk through, and shut it. There are more obstacls but these are common.

Horses

There are different types of jumping courses. Here are some of the different kinds of jumps: vertical, wall, triple bar, cross rail, hogsback, and filler. Some jumps include water obstacles to challenge the horses and trainers. Some horses are afraid of water and this can cause disaster.



Vertical jumps consists of pole or planks placed above each other with no space. Wall jumps are bricks but made out of lighter material in case the horse knocks one off. The wall resembles and actually brick wall. A triple bar has three bars placedd at different heights. A cross rail consists of two poles crossed like an X with on end on the ground, this helps the horse learning how to jump. Hogsback  has three rails where the tallest pole is in the center. A filler is like a box of flowers or water under the jump.

Equestrian Events

In Equestrian Events you work towards points, and championship awards. Your points are based off events, such as: Jumping, Cross Country, and Dressage. Each event except Dressage are timed. Depending on how fast you complete race determines how many points you earned, and you can also be penalized for hitting an obstacle. If you hit to many obstacles you will be disqualified.

There is three different events: Dressage, Cross-Country, and Jumping. The first event is Dressage, this shows the judges how beautiful the horse can move and listen to the rider. Riders use different movements to make their horse impressive. The scoring chart is based from zero to ten, and ten being the best.

Cross-Country is the second event, this consists of water, jumping, and trail riding. The goal is to be as quick through this event without falling off and getting disqualified. You cannot do a jump more than once if you make a mistake.

The final event is Jumping. In this event they have props for you to jump and if your horse knocks one down you get a penalty. You want to be a quick and precise in this event to do very well.  

Horse Training

To ensure your safety while riding a horse, it's important to have correct posture and seat. This helps the horse make the appropriate moves and will also help it move it's feet freely. You must make sure your stirrups are your length, otherwise you will fall and get hurt. To make sure they are the correct length you would stand up in the stirrups and check the gap between your seat and the saddle. You should be able to slide your hand vertically in between you and your saddle. You want to the the stirrups to be your length  every time you ride.


If you ride bareback you can feel every muscle and movement of the horse. Never practice riding bareback on a young or inexperienced horse. It's best to learn bareback by riding a broke horse. As you are riding, focus on developing what is called an independent seat. An independent seat means that your hind end is separate and independent from your legs and your back; your seat is what moves with the horse. The best way to develop an independent seat is to spen a lot of time riding bareback on a nice horse.

Horse Training

When you are ready to mount the horse, it's important to practice both sides. This helps the horse be equally developed and have less of a risk of scaring your horse. Start by putting both reins in your left hand and turning your stirrup so you can put your foot in it. If your horse is to tall, you may hold onto the horn to help pull yourself up. As you pull yourself up don't kick or pull on the reins.Once on the horse, sit and pet the horse.

When dismounting you don't want your horse to start walking because you could get hurt. The first step is to stop the horse and stand. Once the horse is relaxed place both reins in your left hand, with the left rein shorter than the right. Lean froward and swing your right leg over the back of the horse until you are back in the standing position.

 

Horse Training

To avoid getting bucked off a horse, take a lot of time reading the horse. The reason why people get bucked off their horse is they ignore what the horse is trying to say. If you get bucked off you missed the signs telling you that the buck was coming. Bucking, rearing, and running off are signs of a horse being emotionally immature and being pushed too far.


Once you have your horse safely saddled and feel confident in the horse's ability to carry the saddle and individual. Before getting on your horse you want to exercise the horse by doing circles. You make the horse walk, trot, and lope to help the horse breathe with a saddle on.  If the horse does great one day riding, the next day might not be so great. Horses and people are the same because we all have our bad days and good days. The next day might not go so well but as long as you exercise the horse you will be fine. Once you have exercised the horse you may get on and ride.

Horse Training

The most important thing in saddling your horse is to make sure it's emotionally and mentally prepared. Having the horse prepared prevents any pulling back and flipping. You want to use your understanding of the nature of horses to make saddling easier. If you do a good job preparing the horse, then you will have no major problems.

When approaching your horse with the saddle pad, keep the pad down low to introduce it to the horse. The proper position is about one foot in front of the shoulder, with a small amount of slack in the rope. The saddle pad relaxes the horse. Once relaxed your ready to put the saddle on. Approach horse with saddle while watching the horse. If the horse is still relaxed then you may get closer. Pet the horse and let it know you are there. Grasp your saddle with your left hand on the pommel and the cantle with your right. Then swing the saddle around to place on the horse. Then you put all the straps together and ride.

Horse Training

What if your horse doesn't tie well? You would start by taking it out with just a halter and lead rope. Find a place your horse doesn't like to stand. Your horse has to agitated so that you can teach it something. The spot you chose must be safe so the horse doesn't get cut up. Once in a safe place, stop your horse and step about 5 feet in front of it. Most horses will stand for a minute or so then attempt to eat. Don't let the horse eat, because it isn't allowed to eat when tied up.

If your horse steps forward, back it up. If it steps sideways, put it back where it came from. Don't support the horse. It will be your most natural instinct to want tobe next to the horse. Make sure your horse learns something or else the horse won't understand. Continue putting the horse right back where it started, but don't move your feet. This exercise ties into ground tying.

Horse Training

When you first begin to led your horse you don't want to get runover. So here is an exercise to help with personal space. If your horse is crowding your space, stop walking, and let the horse run into you. Then back into your horse while flapping your hands and stomping your feet, which causes the horse to back out of your space. To help train your horse to stay out of your space is to let him bump you, understanding the horse was in your space. Once your horse is out of your space, led it forward. Walk a short distance, and repeat the process if your horse begins to crowd you again.

Ninety percent of horses don't lead correctly in that they lead with the human trailing along at their shoulders. These horses feel pushy and nervous because they have no leader present and need to fend for themselves. You want to be in charge of the horse, but be kind. If your aggresive and demand the horse to do a task at the exact moment then you have a problem. When the horse knows your angry then the horse is scared to do the task and refuses. If your calm then the horse will be.

Horse Training

Halters have many benefits for different uses. Some ranchers only use rope halters, because those halters make horses more responsive. The rope halter doesn't hurt the horse. As the owner you want to try many different halters to see what works best for you and the horse. The rope halter is effective when it fits behind the horse's jaw. When you pull the horse forward, you are putting pressure on the horses jaw instead of the poll. When you apply pressure the response from your horse is better. Once your horse is safely halter, it's time to make sure it leads respectfully. You want the horse to see you as its leader and follow you.

The opposie of having your horse pushing and running you over is what this horse is doing, called balking. The horse will move forward a few steps, stop and refuse to lead. You fix this issue by stepping off to the side of the horse. Horses are strong straight, but not very strong when you pull from the side. When the horse takes a step forward release the pressure. If you release at the rigt time the horse comes forward with a trot.

Horse Training

What if my horse doesn't like to be caught? If a horse doesn't like to be caught, the worst thing you can do is catch it. You want to have quality time with your horse. The first step is to walk to the horse bodly. As you walk, keep your halter in front of you and in the horse's sight. If the horse walks away, it's ok. Then twirl your rope toward the horse and chase it off. Next go to the center of the horse's circle. Some horses will pace up and down the railing, when this happens try to make the horse pace around you. Just let the horse run around you until he notices you. Once the horse has notice you it will curve its body to the inside of the circle. The point of the horse moving around is to allow it to learn and pay attention to you.

Once your horse has let off some steam, step in front of the horse at the halfway mark of the circle. Make sure you have enough space between you and the horse. As the horse is coming around, he will be pointed straight in front of you. Once he is walk slowly backwards, this encourages the horse to come to you. If he doesn't come forward the first time, then repeat the process. Itr make take a couple of days but eventually it shall work.

Horse Training

Today I will be discussing the first step in training a horse. First you walk up to the horse talking so he knows where you are. When he stops and looks at you, pause, then pet him if he lets you. If he runs away let him don't chase the horse. Once the horse has let off some steam, he will notice you. One way to start a trusting relationship is to use this exercise listed above. This exercise is to also have fun while establishing trust.
 The biggest thing is your first impression. You want to be confident and calm while trying to catch the horse. One sign of you being scared the horse assumes it is in charge instead of the owner. First impressions can send good messages or bad ones to the horse. When approaching the horse have the halter and lead rope beside you in plain sight. Walk with the attutide that the horse will stay in his spot. This will encourage the horse to stay. You must have trust between you and the horse otherwise you never will.

Introduction: Horses

The topic I choose to inform you about is horses because I  break, train, and show horses in many events. I am qualified because I have been taught how to ride and lead horses. I shall be using a critical eye and review the performance of other contestants worldwide. I will be upbeat and perky for people who know very little about horses. I will try to be funny by telling a funny horse story that has actually happened. I will be writing in 1^st and 2^nd person. I believe I will have enough events to discuss for the time needed. I will also be discussing how to break your horse as well of the different events that you can be involved in.