Equestrian Sports require a great deal of training for both horse and rider. We are well aware that we get stressed by the ups and downs – but what about your horse?  What do you do to keep the training sessions as stress free as possible.

There are three simple things that I do which make our sessions a great deal more pleasant and productive for both of us.  First and foremost – talk to your horse, tell him when he is doing well and let him know by the tone of your voice how pleased you are.  I keep up a constant stream of conversation, talking my way through the session, which is both calming and relaxing for both us.

Make sure you give yourselves some breaks, training sessions are demanding both mentally and physically and you need to take a breather.  Give your horse lots of encouragement during the break, especially if he has done something well.  In an ideal world you should try to take breaks so that they fall just after a particularly successful moment.

Last but not least, at the end of a session. let yourselves unwind.  Let your horse walk round and stretch on a long rein for a while so that he relaxes slowly and lets go of the mental effort as well as the physical.  None of these take any time at all and will ensure that you and the horse both end the session feeling you have achieved something and you feel better for it.

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Horse Health – Avoiding Training Stress

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Horse Health – Avoiding Training Stress

Back Problems bring many a Rider’s career to a grinding halt. As well as taking care of our horse’s health, we need to take care of our own, especially the structural wellbeing of your body. One of the most vulnerable parts of any Rider’s anatomy is his or her back. The Rider’s Pain-Free Back has been around for a few months now and is receiving some excellent reviews. The description reads:-

“Explaining the impact of horseback riding on the human back in easy-to-understand terms, this guide illustrates how various movements in the saddle affect a rider’s back and outlines straightforward steps that can be taken immediately to help keep riders ready to saddle up. Too many riders suffer from back injury, stress, or strain and consequently experience pain when in the saddle or are unable to ride at all. This indispensable guide has step-by-step exercises for strengthening the body for riding, guidance on horse selection and tack selection, and tips on which horse sports are appropriate for riders with various back problems. Traditional and alternative treatments for back pain are also discussed, as are the special considerations of pregnant and elderly riders.”

The writer, Dr Warson, is both a neuro-surgeon and a rider so he has full understanding of the issues involved – and doesn’t blame all your back problems on riding which makes a pleasant change! Full of practical advice with useful exercises and helpful comments I would suggest that a copy of The Rider’s Pain-Free Back should be on every Equestrian’s bookshelf.

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The Rider’s Pain Free Back – Book Review

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The Rider’s Pain Free Back – Book Review

Tying up syndrome can be a major health risk for any horse. Tying up syndrome, or Rhabdomyolysis, is found in horses that are often tied or do not get enough exercise. If you have a horse that will be tied up for any length of time, make sure that you talk to your vet about ways to prevent this and ways to treat it if you horse should develop this distressing condition.

There are three main symptoms you should watch out for, firstly your horse will walk very stiffly. Just think about how you feel after a lengthy journey – your legs will be stiff. Imagine being tied up somewhere and being forced to stay in that position for hours on end with very little scope for movement. The horse will have trouble walking and in severe cases, may not be able to move at all without help. Secondly, the horse will also probably have rear muscles that are hard to the touch and very painful. If you do touch them the horse will certainly react to demonstrate his pain. The last symptom is sweating, which will happen if the pain is very severe.

Tying up your horse for extended periods of time has additional affects on a horse’s health. You horse may develop the so called ‘Monday Morning Disease’ from eating too much when tied up (as he might be over a ‘weekend’) and could easily be injured when starting to exercise. Horses that are tied up too much are also are often unaccustomed to people or to being untied and may not be able to perform well in shows or cope well amongst a group of people or horses.

If the horse has a moderate to severe case of tying up disease, you would recognise it, but mild cases may seem similar to other medical conditions or simply laziness. Only your vet can properly diagnose your horse if there is a problem. Blood tests are most likely to help your vet determine if you horse has tying up syndrome. There are many courses to take if a horse has this medical problem. An Electrolyte imbalance may contribute to tying up syndrome, so it is important to work with a Vet to make certain that your horse is getting appropriate nutrition. If you horse simply has a mild case of the condition, walking him on a hand rein will allow him to loosen up. In more severe cases, medication can be used to relax the horse. If the horse seems to be in pain, the best thing you can do is call your vet promptly. Do not try and force the horse to move, as this can cause injury and extreme pain.

In a nutshell, make sure that you have the time to take care of a horse before you get one. If you don’t, he may spend a lot of time tied up. This is detrimental to the horse’s health and an act of cruelty. I have seen the tragic results of a horse being tied up far too often.

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Horse Health – Tying Your Horse

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Horse Health – Tying Your Horse

Success in any equestrian sport is dependent on the rapport between horse and rider and it takes hard work to achieve that. Horses have personalities just like people and it is just as necessary to bear those in mind and work with them as it is with any social interaction. Dancing with Horses is an excellent book that I would recommend to anyone who is working to communicate with their horse and develop their relationship. Klaus Hempfling’s book has been around a while but is only recently getting the coverage and recognition it deserves.

To quote from an article in The Library Journal by Deborah Emerson

“The author’s approach combines his backgrounds in communications, theater, and dance with more traditional means. The result is an unusually harmonious relationship between horse and trainer, in which there is complete understanding and communication through body language. Hempfling’s method has proven successful with all breeds of horses and makes the learning process fun for both horse and rider…. “

There have been many reviews of the book but one particularly caught my eye as I think it summed up the benefits that can be achieved – it came from Tuike Ekroos of Helsinki and summed up the desperation some riders can feel

“I have a so called problem horses. He was almost dangerous to handle and not so much interested in me. Now I have found my way to communicate with him without using violence. This book is really easy-to-understand with its advice. On this book there is the Hempfling’s key philosophy but you can also find really concrete advice from this book. I really have to say i love Hempflings way to communicate with horses.”

Given that one can have so much success with a problem horse, you can imagine the benefits with a horse that is less difficult to handle. Dancing with Horses is a great investment for anyone who takes part in Equestrian sports.

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Dancing With Horses – A ‘Must’ For Equestrian Sports

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Dancing With Horses – A ‘Must’ For Equestrian Sports

I came across an excellent ebook the other day which was drawn to my attention by a fellow rider when discussing training methods to help deal with some of the behavior problems you can encounter with your horse. When you first buy your horse you have to spend some time getting to know each other and it is during this time that you may discover problems that have not been addressed by the previous owner.

Horse Training Success is full of very practical information on how to train your horse into good behavior patterns presented in a step by step fashion that is easy to find your way around. The book is based around real problems presented by real riders of real horses rather than just a theoretical, airy fairy approach which does nothing for you or your horse. Problems such as biting, bolting, kicking and bucking which can cause nasty injuries are dealt with in a no nonsense fashion which will help both you and the horse to get rid of those unpleasant habits. There are a number of practical approaches to the things that make your horse skittish and jumpy like cars, blowing rubbish and other animals, not to mention getting him into a trailer without a fuss. Feeding time can often cause issues, especially if you have a strong willed horse that likes to take control and I was impressed with some of the solutions presented in the book.

The manual doesn’t only deal with horse behavior problems but also with basic training and riding techniques in plain English with no jargon or waffle – invaluable! Phil Tragear has put together an enormous amount of information and shared the benefit of years of experience both in basic horse training as well as problem management. Horse Training Success is one of the best all round manuals I have come across in a very long time.

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Horse Training Success

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Horse Training Success

As a species human beings enjoy competition in all its forms whether it be a simple kick around in the park or taking part in a major event, either as part of a team or as an individual. Equestrian Sports fulfil this desire to compete ion every level, either as part of a team or as individual. You can represent yourself, your club or at the very highest level, your Country.

Riding demonstrate the harmony between Rider and Horse in a way that nothing else does. Men and women can both take part on level playing field which is rare in any sporting event. The speed and dexterity with which they and their mounts flash around the course can be quite astounding to a novice. This is the result of many months of training and developing the relationship between the pairing. Before this can be developed you first have to choose the horse you want to ride.

The size of the horse has to be one of the first criteria – what good is it to have a horse that can run like the wind and jump a mile if your feet dangle on the floor or you are too heavy for him. Next comes temperament, you need a horse that you can work with, they have personalities just like people and sometimes personalities clash. If you find that you rub each other up the wrong way it will show in the competition and you will always be fighting to control your mount. That can be disastrous in Dressage for example, where you need to work as one. The precise movements are almost a ballet and any disharmony would be like the orchestra playing out of tune.

In any Equestrian Sport the condition of the horse plays a major part, he needs to be healthy and happy, well fed, watered and groomed so that he is comfortable and ready for the excitement of the competition – after all you want to win a Rosette don’t you?

There are many competitions in the world of Equestrian Sports but there are some that stand head and shoulders above the rest – the Burleigh Horse Trials in the UK where the best three day eventers compete. The National Horse Show in America covers many fields of equestrian endeavour and is held in Palm Beach under the auspices of the National Show Horse Association of America who focus the competitions on good horsemanship.

One of the most popular events in the calendar is the Horse of the Year Show at Olympia, London, which is held in December each year. A huge party atmosphere prevails throughout the show which specializes in Show Jumping but with lots of other competitions thrown in as well. I have many happy memories of competing there, it was like the beginning of Christmas. The ultimate competition is of course, the Olympic Games where Equestrian Sports are one of the oldest categories.

Any competitive rider will love taking part in their chosen branch of Equestrian Sport and so will their horse providing an exciting show for spectators, the buzz is tremendous and if you win….

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Equestrian Sports – Competition

Post from: Horse Facts and Equestrian Sports

Equestrian Sports – Competition