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"Cinchy Horses," from my FREE monthly newsletter

From the Saddle Breaking a Horse Series:

"It certainly doesn't take them long to learn that a saddle on their backs means they're getting put to work pretty quick – so it's no wonder that so many bad habits develop along this point. They weren't born yesterday: You approaching with a smile on your face, a saddle in one hand and "Riding for Dummies" in the other can only mean one thing: Work. It's no wonder they begin channeling the advice they've heard from their buddies: "Dance around," "Act like you're gonna bite," "Don't let him put the bit in your mouth. You get a bit in your mouth and you're done for." And, they're always trying something new, aren't they? I'd finally worked one of my mares through – what I thought was every bad habit at saddling time – only to have her lay down on me. (I cured this by being the ready the next time: The moment her legs began to buckle I screamed like a stuck pig and got her moving... anywhere. Trust me, she didn't go back and tell the others to try laying down.)

You can only deal with these crazy things they try in one way – and that's by keeping your sense of humor. They're going to keep coming like the tides – and the moment you lose your temper, they've got ya. Know why? Because your horse is dancing around, saying to himself "This is the part where he gets nuts everyday and smacks me." You lose your temper, smack the horse and prove him right. Every day. You do get the saddle on, the bit in his mouth – but each time it gets more difficult. Like the boy with his finger in the dike, new holes keep popping up."

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From John Lyons Trainer Keith Hosman

Stop Bucking Study Course
A Downloadable Book

A sample from Day 1:

"Your horse is most likely bucking for one (or both) of two reasons: Fear and/or disrespect for the rider. Both reasons can be arrested by building in more control. Here’s how to start getting just that:

Groundwork Step One: Disengage the Hips Like a motorboat, your horse powers itself from the back. Take the back legs out of the picture and the buck stops (or at least greatly dissipates). Can you simply disengage when the horse begins wildly bucking? Is that like a magic button? Uh, no. If you look back and see the horse’s back feet ABOVE his rear end, it’s too late. When you hit the ground, call me so I can remind you that you skipped a step.

It takes patience, practice, and hard work to build a safe horse. You gotta practice till the movements become second nature, till you’ve developed muscle memory in you and your horse and can perform a maneuver like Jackie Chan in the thick of it. There’s also a little matter of becoming an active, rather than a reactive rider - but we’ll save that for Day Four."

- Print out from home
- 5 Days, 5 chapters
- Learn at your own pace

Just $4.99

For more info:
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Available Downloads:
"Stop Bucking"
"Rein/Speed" (for Nervous Horse Owners)
"Round Pen First Steps"
"Trailer Training"

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GUEST AUTHOR ARTICLES History of the Quarter Horse

 
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"Understanding the Importance and Popularity of the American Quarter Horse"
By Phil Wiskell

Quarter Horse seems like a strange name for an animal, but only until you understand that Quarter horses are able to run a quarter mile faster than any other horse can run the same distance (in some situations, a Quarter Horse has been recorded at over 50 miles per hour while running at full speed), then its given name makes good sense. In part, that is a testament to the horse's athletic ability, along with its strong, well-muscled hind legs.

Combine versatility and an even temper with those characteristics (athleticism and muscle structure) and you can see why Quarter Horses are some of the most popular choices among those who are buying from a list of horses for sale. Not only is the American Quarter Horse common with a lot of general buyers, but the breed is popular overall; the majority of horses registered worldwide are registered with the American Quarter Horse Association.

Of the registered Quarter Horses, many run races thanks to their speed. Many others are participants in horse shows. Others work on ranches around the world. Still others - thanks to the Quarter Horse's compact body - are used in working with cows, calf roping, barrel racing, reining, cutting as well as other riding events. But don't think of the Quarter Horse as merely a workhorse: the Quarter Horse is equally at home in other equestrian events.

Sport and speed both create environments in which the American Quarter Horse feels at home. With Thoroughbred, Arabian and Morgan bloodlines all contributing to the genetic pool of the American Quarter Horse, it's not difficult to see why the Quarter Horse excels in most situations.

Because of this, the American Quarter Horse is often seen in show environments, in racing events, in rodeos as well as on the ranch, and even in stables that are home to horses that are owned by individuals and families, who just want a horse that they can take out for enjoyable rides on trails. It's important to note, however that just because Quarter Horses are used for ranch working purposes as well as for trail riding doesn't mean that they don't serve other purposes as well; for example, many quarter horses have been used for dressage and for jumping competitions.

As with anything else in life, not all Quarter Horses are created equal. Most grow to between 14 and 16 hands high with some growing to 17 hands. Stock Quarter Horses are agile and muscled, however they appear to be compact and a bit stocky. Halter Quarter Horses, on the other hand tend to be taller and have similar smooth muscling to the Thoroughbred.

Regardless of whether or not the horses are of the stock or halter variety, you're likely to discover that Quarter Horses are available in a wide variety of colors. Most commonly, you'll find them listed as sorrel - a brownish-red, chestnut brown shade. That, however, doesn't mean that you won't find Quarter Horses listed that are described as black, bay, gray, dun, palomino, red roan or a number of other shades. All of these colors - along with spotted or pinto colors - are found to be acceptable when it comes time to register a horse with the American Quarter Horse Association, provided the horse's parents were registered as well.

If you are looking for a family horse, lineage and registration with the American Quarter Horse Association may not be among your top priorities when you're looking through listings of horses for sale. Instead, you may be focused on a child's request for "a brown one," or on finding a Quarter Horse that is closer to 14 hands rather than 16 or 17, which will make it easier for even the youngest members of your family to ride.

On the other hand, if you are looking for an American Quarter Horse because you are looking for the right animal to help you around the ranch, when it comes to reigning in cattle, you may actually want to know whether or not the Quarter Horse is from a working line.

In other words, when you're making an effort to research Quarter Horses for any purpose, focus on your needs first and foremost. You will be more likely to find a Quarter Horse that will meet your expectations if you know what your expectations really are. This way you are sure to find exactly the Quarter Horse you need and want.

About the Author: Phil Wiskell is a writer for HorseClicks.com, popular classifieds of horses for sale, used trailers and ranches for sale.

Source: www.isnare.com
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