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"How to Teach a Horse to Pivot on Its Hindquarters," from my FREE monthly newsletter

From the How to Teach a Horse to Pivot Series:

"'Reverse Arc Circle' is a fancy way of saying 'your horse looks off to one side, but pivots on his back foot the other way.' Like I said, it's the first step to teaching the reining spin or neck reining. To continue on and teach neck reining or a reining spin, you'd begin as described, using the left rein to move right, for instance. You'd then gradually begin applying follow-up pressure with the right rein, asking the horse to look in the direction he's turning. Ideally, you'd practice the Clockwork Exercise until both your indirect and direct reins can tell the horse to step on any of the numbers of the clock. You'll work to make your direct rein (the left one if you're moving left, right if moving right) mean "step on four," just as the left rein (your indirect rein) spoke to the right leg/shoulder when you first began your lessons. Teach this and you'll have taught the horse two cues that mean "move left" or "move right." You'll have a solid means of communication and you will have built a horse that neck reins. (Becoming proficient at "spinning" requires follow-up exercises – but you have the tools now to teach the fundamentals.)"

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From John Lyons Trainer Keith Hosman

Trailer Training Horses
A Downloadable Book

A sample from Day 5:

"Do Do the Following:
- Put padded helmet (available at most feed stores) and boots on your horse if you feel that trailering might be anything other than sedate. Horses quite often slip off the lip of the trailer and bruise their legs when first learning to load (during that point where they're loading just the front one or two feet or stepping off with their back legs) so boots/wraps are a good idea
- Pause a moment before unloading when first pulling into your destination so the horse doesn't start associating stopping with getting right out – a sure invitation to bad habits such as pawing and trumpeting
- Practice loading from both sides of the horse
- FYI, when you travel with one horse, the common procedure is to put the horse in on the left side, the driver's side, so that you carry his weight on the "inside" of your turns
- Make sure you get your lights, hitch and brakes checked out a full week before needing your trailer. The rule of thumb is that "If it can break, it will be broken that morning." (And what mechanic will you find at 5am on a Sunday?) Make sure that you have the necessary adaptors to make electrical connections between truck and trailer. It's also a good idea to carry extra fuses and learn where they go. (They're hidden in several locations on some trucks.)
- Go online, call local authorities or ask a knowledgeable vet to find out what health papers you'll need to travel through specific states. Also, keep in mind that Coggins tests are valid for a certain period of time in one state, but a different period of time in another. Finally, a handful of states are pretty strict about brand certificates – be sure to find out which ones. Failing to carry any of the necessary paperwork could spell disaster on the road when you find yourself stuck (or even ticketed) at a state border crossing.
- Call the facility you're headed towards and ask about their requirements regarding health papers and shots. Most facilities won't even let your horse off the trailer without a current Coggins, for instance."

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Available Downloads:
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"Round Pen First Steps"
"Trailer Training"

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GUEST AUTHOR ARTICLES Your First Horse: Are You Ready?

 
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"Are You Ready To Buy Your First Horse?"
By RON PETRACEK

You've loved horses ever since you were a kid and have always dreamed of owning one. You've spent the last three years taking horseback riding lessons. You know how to tack up, muck out, and have read just about every book out there on the care and feeding of horses. No one can doubt that you've put your time in. Horses are no fleeting fancy, but are a hobby that is here to stay!

So, are you ready to buy your first horse? Well, before you break out your checkbook you need to take stock of a few things in your life to determine whether horse ownership is right for you.

• Do you have the knowledge? How much time have you really spent around horses, and has it been hands-on? If you ride at a fancy stable that tacks and untacks your horse for you then guess what? You aren't having the full horse experience! Make sure you know what is really involved in caring for, feeding, and cleaning up after your horse. A great way to learn about all that is involved in horse ownership, without making a long-term commitment, is to lease a horse. Try leasing a horse for a year or two and then decide if horse ownership is really for you.

• Now that you know what is involved, do you have the desire? Horse ownership is a tremendous amount of work. Are you up for it? If you aren't, that's perfectly okay. If you really love riding horses but don't enjoy all the extra stuff that goes along with them, then why not just keep taking riding lessons? Ask yourself what you really love about horses. If you love things like mucking out, grooming, feeding, and taking care of horses, then you would probably make a great horse owner!

• Do you have the time for horse ownership? No more showing up at the barn, riding for an hour, and then heading home to your real life. When you are a horse owner, horses are your real life. If you travel frequently, can't or don't want to commit to a regular schedule, or have a very busy work or family life, then this might not be the right time in your life for horse ownership. Remember, horses must be fed, watered, and cared for according to schedule, and it's up to you to be able to maintain that schedule.

• Do you have the space for a horse? You either need good accommodations at home, or you need to find a place to board your horse. If you are keeping your horse at home, at the very least he needs two grassy acres, a run-in shed, and an adequate water supply. If you keep your horse at home you also need to know that he'll appreciate some company. It's best if you have room for an additional horse, a goat, or some other companionable animal.

• Do you have the money for a horse? Horses are very expensive! Add up everything it will cost to keep your horse happy and healthy. Include food, farrier bills, veterinary bills, insurance, training, and board if you keep him somewhere other than home. Now, does this figure fit into your budget? On the fence about whether you can afford horse ownership? Again, leasing is a good option. When you lease a horse, you are responsible for all of his monthly bills for a certain period of time. If you find at the end of this lease period that your horse has eaten well but you haven't, then you may want to reconsider horse ownership when you are in a better financial situation.

Remember, owning a horse is hard work and can be extremely taxing on your time and resources. Before you embark on the exciting journey of horse ownership, make sure you are ready!

For more great information on buying horses please visit our horse network and find valuable information that will save you thousands in mistakes or vet bills.

About the Author: Ron Petracek was raised in Souther Idaho,with a black morgan as his adventure companion. His Love for horses has expanded into the largest equine classified network on the internet to date. Please visit 12 Equine Site Ad Distribution. Everything equine related! Get More Horse Classified Coverage and Distribution with less cost and work. Award Winning Horse Forum

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