| ISSUE #28 |
Tips for Buying Horse Tack
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| Training Horses with snaffle and curb bits by Larry Trocha |
Barrel Racing Sponsorship
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| Build a Safe Ride by Jerry Tindell |
Virtues of Sharing Territory-by Farah Dejohnette
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Buckaroo Deal
Reg Price- $147.50
Sale Price-$127.50
Finest quality Hermann Oak Harness leather with soft chap lining
features an over the neck adjustable strap as well as adjustable billets
& down strap. This 2" breast collar is especially suitable for
mountain and trail riding, but is equally suited for the weekend
pleasure trip. Buckaroo Leather Horse tack is simply-THE BEST! Available
in Regular, Large Horse/Mule and Draft Horse size.
Be apart of the excitement and learn fascinating Old West History, see new products, meet some amazing horse trainers!
Helpful Links
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Tips on Buying Horse Tack
on the Internet
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9/25/11
Buckaroo John
Buying Horse Tack on the Internet can be a daunting experience.
There are so many venues for buying horse tack on the internet, from eBay and other Auction sites, Forums and the manufacturer's or representative's Web Sites.
But the consumer needs to be aware of a few things to Buy Horse Tack safely on the Internet.
Most internet purveyors of new and used horse tack on the Internet are
honest people, trying to provide the best in service and quality, but
as in many businesses, there are unscrupulous characters:
The following are a few suggestion when ordering you next Internet Horse Tack purchase and be assured value delivered. Tack safety should be a major concern, regardless the price.
*If buying from a Manufacturer's Website, check and see if there is a page dedicated to Real testimonies.
*Are there phone numbers readily available to contact the company.....and are they answered and call returned?
*When buying from a company, it should prominently display the country of origin of the leather and country of manufacture.
*If buying from individual, ask origin of leather and manufacturer known
*If buying from an Auction site , such as eBay, research the sellers feedback.
*Stay away from any request to have you pay with wire transfers. (Western Union).
*Be cautious at VERY low prices...usually an indication of very poor quality or other problems.
*Examine the photos carefully and if questions speak to the selling Company or individual and ask for more.
*Always pay with your credit card (or PayPal). Easier to settle most disputes.
*Probably best to buy from Your Country .....local laws would be more in your favor
With the proliferation of Social Media today, check and see if the Company or individual has a Profile or Facebook Fan page. Find out how interactive they are with their customer base.
Buying Horse Tack on the Internet can be a pleasant experience and save some money in many cases.
But there are real advantage to be able to walk into a well stocked
and well managed Tack Store and be able to Touch and Feel the
merchandise.
This 3/4" Buckaroo Cowboy/Cowgirl Style Headstall is hand crafted of the
finest Hermann Oak Harness leather, it features a double/two or single
ear, scalloped cheek pieces and is finished with decorative stitching
and easy bit change nickel buckles at the bit end connection. Each piece
is hand edged and rubbed. This headstall is perfect for the pleasure
rider, working cowboy, barrel racers are loving these one/two ears. All
those who appreciates and enjoys quality horse tack. Now available in
small/cob, Large Horse/Mule and Draft Horse size. With proper use and
care, this headstall will wear well and retain it's beauty for many
years to come. Email us with your measurements for a custom fit if
needed. Also you can spiff up with concha options.
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Training Horses with Snaffle Bits and Curb Bits |
9/25/11
Larry Trocha
Let's start with snaffle bits.
Most colts should be started in a snaffle bit. And, many older horses that need fixing should also be schooled in a snaffle bit.
To my way of thinking, a horse should be ridden in the mildest bit that
he will respond to for the job that he is intended to do.
Here is the reason why:
Most horses will lose some of their sensitivity as they get older.
A two year old colt will have a much more sensitive mouth than a ten
year old horse. The more pressure or abrasiveness the horse's mouth is
subjected to, the quicker it will toughen and lose its sensitivity.
That is why I want to use as mild a bit on the horse as I can get away with. I want to preserve the sensitivity of the horse's mouth as much as I can.
Now, don't confuse a mouth that is merely "sensitive" with a mouth that is "educated".
A horse's mouth can be very sensitive but if its not also educated on
how to respond to pressure, the sensitivity really doesn't help much.
Ideally, you want both... an educated mouth that responds and is sensitive to light pressure.
With that idea in mind, a green colt will usually be ridden with an
o-ring snaffle that has a smooth 7/16" mouthpiece. And you stay with
that mild bit until the colt doesn't respond to it well enough anymore.
Here is where a lot of folks get confused.
They don't know what bit to go to next. Should they go to a snaffle bit with more "bite" to it or should they go to a curb bit?
Generally, the horse should stay in some form of o-ring snaffle bit
until he is well along in his training. Ideally, the horse should be
taught to do everything that you want him to while being ridden in the snaffle bit.
So, if you want your horse to be a reining horse, you should teach him to stop, spin, change leads etc. in the snaffle bit.
Once he knows how to work, then you can step him up to a curb bit. Curb bits are for "refining" the training that you have accomplished with the snaffle.
Same goes for a cutting horse. He should be in a snaffle bit while he learns to stop, turn and rate the cow. I believe the snaffle bit is the best tool for teaching a horse how to position himself and use his body correctly.
Any performance horse needs to learn to give his head to the direct
rein, move his shoulders off the indirect rein and position his ribcage
and hindquarters from leg pressure.
Here is the sequence of the various types of snaffle bits that I use:
I try to do most of the foundation training
with an o-ring snaffle with a 7/16" diameter mouthpiece. I stay with
this until the horse is too heavy in it and I can't get him to respond
as lightly as he should.
To get the horse to lighten up and respond, I'll try schooling him with a
snaffle that has a mouthpiece that is smaller in diameter... usually a
3/8" mouthpiece.
With some really sensitive horses this is all the snaffle I'll need. But for the majority of horses it won't be quite enough.
Most horses are going to need a snaffle with a thinner mouthpiece so I'll go to my absolute favorite snaffle...
My favorite training snaffle has a thin, smooth mouthpiece that is 3/16" in diameter. I call it a "thin, smooth-wire
snaffle".
I love this bit because it gets the desired results but isn't harsh or abrasive to the horse's mouth.
I'll use this bit to lighten a colt up for a few days and then I'll
switch back to the regular snaffle. After a while though, this is the
bit I'll be using to do MOST of the training.
I'll stay with the smooth-wire snaffle just as long as I can. The horse will be taught the majority of what he needs to know wearing this bit.
To Subscribe to Larry's newsletter please click here......
Larry Trocha Training Stable
24846 N Tully Rd
Acampo, Ca 95220
Cell# 707-480-0507
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Barrel Racing
Sponsorship
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9/25/11
Buckaroo John
Buckaroo Leather is proud to be one of the sponsors of the 2011 12th Annual Wine Country Classic in Clements, Ca. It is held this weekend, September 23, 24, 25.
The Wine Country Classic (WCC) is produced by C Bar T Productions. The WCC was once the biggest and best race in California. C Bar T Productions goal is to make the race great again!!!
Buckaroo Leather is proud to be apart of this event. We are donating 4 headstalls for the winners. We will be posting pictures of the winners on our facebook fan page, check back to see the winners.
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Building a Safe Ride
by Jerry Tindell
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9/25/11
Jerry Tindell
Building a Safe Ride
Have you ever evaluated the behavior of your mule? If he is hard to catch, spooky, nervous, snorts, high headed,stiffed necked, or is easily distracted, you may not have a good ride. If you don't pay attention and are unaware of these behaviors you will not realize the power in their hindquarters until it is too late. The more these animals are in control, the more out of control we become. When they lift their head high in the air, push on the bridle, or lean against your legs, they are unable to listen to the subtlety of our signals and their mind is going to take them away from us. It is the human's responsibility to read and be able to build body control through the feet in order to get to the mind to re-gain control. It is about being aware of and identifying the body language of the animal to make sure we have control of the mind and the feet. For a ride to go from safe to sorry, these are the behaviors that are left unattended by the human. It is time for the human to take these matters seriously and stop waiting and hoping they will disappear. Especially when in the back of your mind you feel something is wrong but you don't act on it to fix it. If you do not act you will be acted upon. You need to formulate a plan today.
The training program I use is based on Six Steps of body control in order to address behavior building on a progressive sequence from the round pen, to ground work, to riding.
The Six Steps are:
The backup
Shoulder control
the forward flex circle
hindquarter control
the stop
and stand
Each one of those steps helps me determine if things are going to flow nice and smooth or if there is going to be a problem. These six movements are identified and used in the round pen, on a halter, or when I ride.
To read more of Jerry's article please click here......
You can become a fan of Jerry on his facebook page and I encourage you all to visit his website to sign up for his newsletter and see when his next clinic is in your area..... www.jerrytindell.com
Jerry Tindell of Tindell's horse and mule school is a professional horse and mule trainer, he has been training and shoeing horses and mules since 1971. His unique training abilities help mule owners understand and apply proven techniques to communicate in a soft, safe, and secure manner, with their animals. You can reach Jerry by phone 760-403-3922 or email jerrytindell@verizon.net
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The Virtues of Sharing Territory
by Farah DeJohnette
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9/25/11
Farah DeJohnette
When I first started working with Carolyn Resnick's Waterhole Rituals, I had no idea it would become my favorite Ritual.
As a professional, I am paid to be agenda driven with horses. But I have
my own horses and I wanted to improve my already good connection with
them by doing this Method.
I listened to Carolyn's instructions and opted not to read but to just
sit and "Be" with my horses. My Mare lived with a small herd that
consisted of another mare, a mare pony, her filly, and my mini gelding.
Mercury, was often by himself as prescribed by Carolyn. So, I got to
practice this Ritual two different ways. With a single horse, and with a
small herd.
I'd like to share some of my experiences that made this my favorite
Ritual. First, let me paint a picture. We feed round bales and the
horses LOVE to nap in the round bales as they break down. On a sunny
Spring or Winter day, I would often sit with them while they napped in
the round bale in the sun in the Mare Paddock. Sometimes I would go in
to get Phoenix to work with and I couldn't resist their beckoning me to
sit with them. What is more peaceful then sitting with a herd of napping
horses!
Other times, I found that Phoenix and her BFF would also sometimes
create a triangle with me and stand over me napping. I found this very
soothing and and felt their energy washing over me. I often sought out
their paddock over the boys because this energy was so soothing. My
friend who works with Qigong and horses said they were balancing me with
their Yin energy and that I was seeking it out. I thought that was
pretty cool.
It's to the point now where I can go into their paddock and sit down in
the round bale and they will all slowly lay down around me! What else is
there to say about that. It is pure bliss.
As for my favorite boy Mercury, He was the one I started to sit with
first and I just observed things with him. I watched him, I paid
attention to any things I noticed in myself and just stayed open to
whatever may "Be". Mercury and I have been together since he was a
yearling so we had a bond before I started the Waterhole Rituals but how
much deeper it got and continues to get is hard for me to put into
words. You can only know if you experience Carolyn's Method. Mercury is
now 7 and I have been practicing Waterhole Rituals with him in addition
to his regular performance training and Liberty work for a few years
now. It has taken me places I never thought we could go and beyond.
The first few times I sat with him, I just enjoyed the time and
relaxing. At the time I wasn't getting enough of that, so it was a
welcome rest period in my day! After some time I became aware that
Mercury was showing me the awareness level that a horse has. I began to
experience his connection to all things in his environment. Everything
that had a life force within his area right down to a butterfly. A
Presentness and Awareness that was so much more "Awake" then we humans
walk around in everyday. I now can shift in and out of that space when I
want to and use it in my Yoga teaching and practice.
When I realized how much it impacted my horses connection to me, I
started to learn the importance Sharing Territory with yourself, with
other people you sought strong connections with and other animals was. I
saw my Connection to myself and other people weaken and or strengthen
at different times depending on how much or how little I did. I now use
the term "Sharing Territory" with people, friends, and family. The
balance of together doing nothing or together doing something is always
in my mind.
When I got my new Puppy recently, The first thing I did was set up my
office in the kitchen so he and my other dog and I could Share our space
together while I worked. He would sometimes sleep on my lap while I
worked or near my feet. At night I would let him sleep with me in my bed
until he was old enough to sleep downstairs. We have a very strong
Connection now from my awareness of our time together.
In these days of over stimulation, rushing around, over filling our time
and so on. Sharing Territory has become for me, a soothing balm. A
place I can go to calm and prepare myself to "Be" and work with the
horses. If I am stressed out or upset when I get to the barn. I can sit
with them and work out of it. If I have not been able to see my animals
for some time due to travel or other reasons, It is a way to get
Connected to them that I did not have before I learned the Waterhole
Rituals. It should be mandatory for all horse owners!
Even though, I am often on a tight schedule, I found creative ways to
weave it into my work with clients horses to build rapport with them
before we have to do our Technical work. But mostly, I have found, it is
for me as much as it is for my horses well being. It is one of my
favorite things to do with my horses...
http://fdhorsetraining.com/
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