Most people have never seen a horse roll over, so it’s not surprising that one of the questions I hear most often about horses – especially from kids – is whether horses can roll over. In fact, horses can roll over, and in this post, we will explore some norms about how often horses roll …
For humans, ice-cold water after working outdoors on a hot day can feel like heaven, so it’s only natural that many new horse owners or horse novices may want to give the coldest water possible to their horse when it is overheated after being exercised. Many of these novices are surprised to learn that giving …
Everything you ever wanted to know about horseback riding lessons – from your first lesson to becoming an instructor. Horseback riding lessons are many people’s first experience of horses. Unlike generations past, few of us have lifestyles that allow us regular contact with horses. Instead, horseback riding has become a rather unusual hobby, often accessible …
Although most horses are friendly and generally easy to ride, most horses are pretty lazy! Millions of years of evolution helped horses learn to expend the least amount of effort to survive. While this helps horses thrive in many environments, sometimes it means that horses will be a little bit disobedient just to save …
One of the most frustrating parts of being (or living with!) someone who rides horses for fun or as part of professional work on a farm, barn, or stable is dealing with the horse manure smells. A lingering barn odor sometimes makes the clothing we wear horseback riding stink! In this article, we’ll be talking …
Sometimes the technical terms and jargon used by horse owners and horseback riders can be confusing to beginners and those outside of the “horse world”. Recently, we’ve been exploring some of these concepts through a blog, and today we are going to talk about what it means to say a horse is “heavy on the …
There are many ways to cue your horse when riding. One of the most popular ways, unique to the Western style of riding developed in the United States, is called neck reining. Neck reining is in some ways the “opposite” of what is called direct rein riding. What is Neck Reining? In direct-rein riding, the …