Choosing Your Child's First Horse

Too often dreams, sometime bones, or worse shatter when an inexperienced rider is given the wrong first pony or horse. Parents sometimes naively choose young and untrained horses for for their children.

Young, green-broke, or untrained horses can be less expensive but can be dangerous for an inexperienced rider. Some parents have been heard to say "They can grow up together." That may be true with a puppy or kitten, but is does not work with equine of any size.

A quite and respectful pony in the 13 to 14 hand range maybe a go choice. Such a pony is big enough to be trained by an adult or older child and will not be outgrown too quickly. A young child can cope with well mannered, well trained pony both physically and psychologically. This type of pony would be a great start to a lifetime of equine enjoyment. Would it not be great to see your child catch, groom, and saddle his or her own steed. A pony is a logical choice.

Don't kid yourself children do fall off. Think of a fall from a right sized pony versus a fall from a big horse.

Consider a well trained gelding at least 7 years old. Mares can have moody periods when they become unpredictable and dangerous. The exception would be an elderly mare who is beyond her productive years. Do not be afraid of age and wisdom as ponies often remain useful and sound well into their 20's and beyond.

First and foremost, the pony or horse must have a gentle, trusting disposition. The pony must have unquestionable respect for people, especially your child. Watch for pinned ears or other body language that indicates disrespect or aggressive behavior, such as striking with forefeet and the hindquarters toward the handler. The pony should never think of biting or kicking.

Buyers check list:

• Can the child catch the pony and put a halter on?
• If the pony is in a stall or catch pen when you arrive, ask to see the pony in a more open area.
• If tied up and saddle when you arrive, be aware this maybe a cover for a pony that is hard to catch and/or not gentle or is not easily saddled and bridled.
• Can the child lead the pony easily? The pony should lead obediently and quietly, both toward and away from the barn and other horses. The pony should not crowd the child, should stop when the child stops and walk when the child walks.
• Will the pony stand quietly to be groomed and saddled?
• Will the open his mouth to accept the bit, and be patient while a new rider fumbles in getting the headstall over his ears and adjusted properly?
• If possible, take the pony on a trail base for a couple weeks. The owner may request a legal document and insurance for this. It will be worth it.

If the pony passes to above tests, you should have a veterinarian check him out.

A child with a new pony needs instruction on how to lead, groom, saddle and care for the pony. More important is guidance in understanding how equines thinks and the body language of horses. A child can learn valuable lessons about being kind, firm, and fair. Remember the child is being asked to take a "parent" role in the ongoing training fo the pony. If you are not equiped to do this teaching, get a good instructional book or professional help.

These are some basic considerations in selecting a fun, safe pony for the child in your life. There can be years of growing love, trust, and fun ahead for both child and pony.

Problem Horses-Breaking Bad Habits

Back in the day a horse with nasty habit alot of the time got pretty rough treatment to correct the the problem. Whether it was a Calvary soldier and a cowboy on the range they didn't have the time or patience to fix the bad habit. The Indians probably were gentler most of the time because their horse was as much a friend as a mode of transportation. But if need be they could be rough in correcting a bad habit.





Today training and correcting bad habits is much gentler process. With the advent of The Ray Hunt method of training and many other similar programs that teach the horse we are a friend, not just trying to break their will. We start working with our horse at a much younger age making it easier gain their trust and train them the way we want. The thing we must be careful of is developing bad habits in our horse because, just like developing a well trained and behaved horse that will be that way for the rest of their life, they can develop habit that are hard to change. But if your horse has developed bad habits over time or came along at purchase don't worry I have help for you. Here is a book that can help gently correct the bad habits.

Horse Training Secrets Revealed

Learn How To:

• How to tame and train a wild horse naturally and gently - in plain and simple language even a child can understand!
  
• How to remove a horse's fear of certain objects by using this little known secret of how a horse really decides if an object is safe or dangerous.
  
• How to use the horse's most important sense to empower your training techniques. (Do you know what it is? Most folks get this totally wrong!)
  
• The sure fire key to building a deep bond or connection with your horse - from a long lost European manuscript from 1811, reprinted and improved upon in this book!
  
• How to control a horses movements as you approach - using your own body movements. It's like 'remote control' for your horse!
  
• How to ensure your horse won't pull or rear when haltered and exactly where you should stand when you halter a horse.
  
• How to use the reins in ways that "will stop any horse from jumping ahead, rearing up, or running away" and gently make a stubborn horse move, even "when whipping would have no effect."
  
• The simple and fail safe technique to break a kicking horse "without any possible danger of hurting himself or you either".
  

And Much Much more!!!

You will not be disappointed with HORSE TRAINING SECRETS REVEALED

Horse Riding for Beginners Review

Horse riding for beginners can be a very enjoyable fun experience when the proper steps are taken first. I reviewed a few books about horse riding for beginners and found two to be full of helpful information and lay out basics.

Both books give an overview of the history of horses and their uses throughout history. They cover the styles of riding and the gear needed as well as behavior and personality that the rider needs to be aware of to be safe around the horse. The horses behavior can give the rider advance warning of dangers ahead.

Basic grooming and preparing the horse for saddle is a very important topic that is well covered, a beginner should be able to groom and saddle their own horse with very little help after reading either of these books. Mounting and dismounting is explained in detail so a rider with no experience can ride with out worry.

The first book I reviewed is The Beginner's Guide to Horseback Riding

• This guide has most comprehensive information for a beginning rider.
• It covers history and uses of different horse types.
• Gives you an understanding of horse behavior.
• Tells what do to prepare yourself and the horse for a ride.
• Walks you through the gates of the horse and body position for each gate.
• Overall this guide covers everything a beginning rider needs to know before their first trip.

The Beginner's Guide to Horseback Riding comes highly recommended.

The second book I reviewed Introduction to Horseback Riding was a close second.

• This book take a little different approach to walking us through the history of the horse and their importance to the development of the human race.
• One important element that is not cover understanding horse behavior as it relates to safety.
• It does talk about things to look for in an instructor and where to look for one.
• Overall this covers the most important points for a beginning horse rider.

Introduction to Horseback Riding is also recommended.

You won't go wrong with either book and definitely have all your bases covered to go on your riding adventure. If I can help you in any way or answer your questions email me at thehorseman2@gmail.com.

Horses from the Beginning

Horses have been love and a way of life for me from shortly after birth. This blog will hopefully be fun and informative for the casual horse lover all the way up to the serious showman and breeders. I am a visual person so that is going to be major way of communication is through videos and I plan to check out some books and ebooks to give you my opinion of the content base on my 35 years of experience working with horses. I have started horses from the beginning halter breaking on to the saddle and taking a horse to a finished horses that most anyone could riding. Growing up with horses there are some things I may take for granite, so if anywhere along the way you have question feel free to ask and I'll do my best to give a good answer, if I don't know I'll do my best to find an answer for you. I am in the middle of ranch country so we have access to the best large animal Veterinarians in the United States, plus alot of old time horseman that know nothing but horses. Over the next few months I look forward to getting to know new people and provide help and exciting information. My brother and I are putting together ideas for videos to make, starting out with the basic of owning a horse all the up to the advanced horsemanship methods, so if you ideas of topics you would like to cover email me at thehorseman2@gmail.com and we will try cover all the topic you request. Next post will probably be a review of beginning horse riding books. Til then may the Lord watch over us. God Bless