Horse Logic

Star's Foal Pics

2008-07-01T20:23:00.000-07:00

It's a boy!!!! Star had a beautiful baby colt on June 30th about 4:00 am. I am attaching some pics of him, not sure what to name him yet. But we are working on that.

Thanks
Sara

ALERT: Genetically Engineered Sugar to Hit U.S. in 2008

2008-06-13T21:17:00.000-07:00

ALERT: Genetically Engineered Sugar to Hit U.S. in 2008

(scroll to the bottom of this page to take action)

(Background Information: American Crystal, a large Wyoming-based sugar company and several other leading U.S. sugar providers have announced they will be sourcing their sugar from genetically engineered (GE) sugar beets beginning this year and arriving in stores in 2008. Like GE corn and GE soy, products containing GE sugar will not be labeled as such.)

Since half of the granulated sugar in the U.S. comes from sugar beets, a move towards biotech beets marks a dramatic alteration of the U.S. food supply. These sugars, along with GE corn and soy, are found in many conventional food products, so consumers will be exposed to genetically engineered ingredients in just about every non-organic multiple-ingredient product they purchase.

The GE sugar beet is designed to withstand strong doses of Monsanto's controversial broad spectrum Roundup herbicide. Studies indicate farmers planting "Roundup Ready" corn and soy spray large amounts of the herbicide, contaminating both soil and water. Farmers planting GE sugar beets are told they may be able to apply the herbicide up to five times per year. Sugar beets are grown on 1.4 million acres by 12,000 farmers in the U.S. from Oregon to Minnesota.

Meanwhile candy companies like Hershey's are urging farmers not to plant GE sugar beets, noting that consumer surveys suggest resistance to the product. In addition the European Union has not approved GE sugar beets for human consumption.

This post was copied off of the http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=12700 site.

I had to post it as I am against any GMO foods.

Sara

Neat Horsey Poem about Aging

2008-06-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

This was emailed to me by a friend, and I had to share it:)

Sara

When I am Old ...

I shall wear diamonds
And a wide brimmed straw hat
With silver and leather on it
and I shall spend my social security
On white wine and carrots
And sit in the alley of my barn
And listen to my horses breathe.

I will sneak out
in the middle of a summer's night
And ride the chestnut mare
Across the moonstruck meadow.
If my old bones will allow.

When people come to call I will smile and nod
As I walk them past the gardens to the barn
And show, instead, the beauty growing there
In stalls fresh-lined with straw.

I will shovel and sweat and
Wear hay in my hair as if it were a jewel.
And I will be an embarrassment to all
Who look down on me.
They’ve not yet found the peace in being free
To love a horse as a friend,
A friend who waits at midnight hour
With nuzzle and nicker and patient eyes
For the kind of woman I will be
When I am Old.

Author Unknown

Things you learn when you own a horse

2008-04-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

Very funny post I found in my E Iberian yahoo group, and had to share.

Enjoy and have a wonderful week.
Sara

THINGS YOU LEARN WHEN YOU OWN A HORSE

1. People who don't take care of their own horses will be the first ones to
tell you how to care for yours.

2. You should never buy a cheap girth!

3. A handsome horse who's badly behaved will become a lot less attractive in
about 15 minutes.

4. People who think they have nothing more to learn about riding, hit the
ground the hardest.

5. Children and ponies are natural allies and often have identical
dispositions.

6. The richest horse people most often look the poorest.

7. The closeness of a horse is one of the sweetest smells in the world.

8. A solitary ride through the woods is more beneficial then six months with
the best psychiatrist.

9. The worse a person rides the more likely they are going to blame it on
the horse.

10. The best thing about going to the barn first thing in the morning is
that horses don't care how you look.

11. If a dealer insists a horse is worth twice what he's asking he's usually
worth half that much.

12. The best way to appreciate how another person rides is to get on their
horse, but it can be a quick way to get hurt.

13. I can recognize another horse person no matter what town, city, state,
county or country I visit.

14. You can never have too many hoof picks.

15. It is not wise to argue with something that outweighs you buy 1,000
pounds

16. I'd rather have a horse with a perfect mind then a perfect head.

17. If you think you have left the water on in the barn you have, if you
think you have closed the pasture gate, you haven't.

18. When someone asks you if you like their horse always say 'yes'.

19. The happiest people I know own horses, dogs, cats and at least one
deranged goat.

20. If you're looking for the perfect horse you will never own one.

21. Owning a horse can either make a marriage or break it.

22. I'd rather lose my lipstick than my curb chain.

23. You shouldn't talk about your first place ribbon to someone that came
second.

24. If someone says that horse has a little buck, it has a BIG buck.

25. If we need rain, schedule a show.

26. I've never warmed up to someone that didn't want a walk down to the
stables.

27. A clean stables and a sparkling horse are among life's great pleasures.

28. Even free horses can be too expensive. Especially, free horses.

29. No matter how badly behaved you are, your horse always gives you a
second chance.

30. A more expensive horse doesn't make a better one.

31. I will never ever have an empty stable and I have accepted that fact.

32. Losing a horse can break your heart, but it will have been worth it.

'If you can't imagine life without a horse... DON'T

Understanding Horses

2008-04-08T06:33:00.001-07:00

Here is a video that one of my clients sent me via email. I wanted to post it, because it correlates strongly to my philosophy regarding training.

There are many horses out there that have had negative pasts. This video has horses on it that were not ridden/ trained correctly previous to the rider working with them. With correct training any horse can be a good horse. People need to take the time with there horses. Correct training does not happen overnight.

I hope that this illustrates what good training can do for a horse.

Have a blessed week.
Sara

Its Spring

2008-04-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

I apologize for not posting any new posts. Things have been very busy with the weather getting nicer. I will be updating my blog on a regular basis again.

Have a great spring.
Sara

Franny Update

2008-03-19T16:28:00.000-07:00

Frannie is continuing to get larger and larger in her belly area. We are going to be preparing her double stall in the next couple of weeks. I will keep everyone posted as to her progress.

Thanks
Sara

Frans Pregnancy

2008-02-27T17:22:00.001-08:00

I wanted to post some pics of Fran's huge belly. She has never been this chunky before. Any comments are welcome:)

Thanks
Sara

Training Tree: Freedom of Gaits & Contact

2008-02-04T20:01:00.000-08:00

Training Tree: Freedom of Gaits & Contact

By: Sara McKiness of Horse Logic

The next 2 steps of the Training Tree are Freedom of Gaits and Contact. These are very important steps in the basic training of any horse. However you do have to master the previous 2 steps in order to progress any further up the Training Tree. The higher up the Training Tree that we go, the more difficult it becomes for the horse. He has to work harder and also stay balanced with a rider on his back.

Remember to start out in a very rhythmical way (as described in my previous article). This helps to reinforce the trust that you have with your horse. Every time you handle your horse you are training him. Strive to always make it a positive experience that is horse logical.

Freedom of Gaits is the third step in the training tree. Freedom of Gaits means that the horse can freely move forward without any interference from the rider. Basically you want your horse to move however he chooses to, while finding his own balance with a rider. The rider does not want to interfere with a horses movement unless he is acting dangerous by bucking or rearing. The untrained horse needs to learn how to balance a rider at different gaits. Therefore you need to give him that opportunity. Otherwise when you pull you are un-balancing your horse and bumping him in the mouth. These are not going to give your horse positive experiences with riding. After he has learned to balance you the rider in different gaits, you can start to introduce contact.

I suggest using a round pen or other small area to use for the first several rides. Make sure that it is an area that is familiar to your horse. It would not be a good idea to take a untrained horse and introduce him to a new arena right before you are going to introduce riding. He will be worried about the new surroundings and this will interfere with your progress up the training tree. So by using smaller area to work and ride, you are making it safer for your first ride.

In order to be successful and safe with your first ride you need to have achieved all of the previous steps in the Training Tree. You need to have Rhythm, Relaxation and Freedom of Gaits during lunging and ground work. If you do not achieve success on the ground, then successes will not be obtained in the saddle. It is very important to be successful with the training tree steps on the ground first. This will then be carried over to the under saddle work.

The fourth step in the training tree is Contact. What contact means is to have an elastic, and relaxed connection with the horses mouth. You also have a relaxed, and elastic contact with your seat and legs as well. When you have a connection that is relaxed and elastic the horse will feel as if you can do anything with him. As a rider you must be relaxed in your body, as any tension will cause the contact to loose it's elasticity, and thus you bang the horse in the mouth. When you get correct contact with your horse he will be soft in your hand (ie, not pulling), and also lift his back to use it more effectively. You can not get correct contact until the horse has achieved the previous steps in the training tree. Once he has successfully achieved Rhythm, Relaxation, and Freedom of Gaits, you can start to work on contact.

You first introduce contact on the ground through side reins. These will help to teach your horse about correctly reaching for the bit, and they are steady and do not bang your horse in the mouth. Side reins need to be very loose when first introducing them. As your horse accepts side reins and becomes comfortable with them, you can start to shorten them. *A note of caution side reins should always start out loose and then gradually be shortened. NEVER leave them attached to your horses mouth/ bit when leading a horse. Your horse will first learn about correct, relaxed, and elastic contact through side reins. The side reins are an elastic contact because of the elastic in the side reins, but also because they dot not change in length. They stay the same regardless of what your horse is doing. This is not necessarily true for work under saddle. What commonly happens is a rider will start to get nervous when riding a young horse and as the horse starts to speed up, this makes the rider unknowingly shorten the reins. This causes confusion with a horse as he doesn't fully understand communication with the reins yet. When you are fist working them under saddle remember it is very important to remain quiet with your hands as this will help to prevent any negative experiences with the reins.

As your horse progresses in his training, all of the groundwork that you have accomplished this far will start to carry over to the under saddle work.

***Remember if at any point you are nervous, or unsure please consult a professional trainer. These articles are for educational purposes.***

I welcome any suggestions for future articles, or any questions that you would like answered in a future article.

Learn something new every month from Horse Logic. A new article will be featured every month in From the Horse's Mouth by: Sara McKiness from Horse Logic.

ÓHorse Logic 2008

Sara McKiness
Horse Logic
Saint Charles, IL
630-631-2746
sara@horselogic.net
www.horselogic.net

Funny Horse "Excercise" email forward

2008-02-01T13:13:00.000-08:00

This is very funny, and any horse lover has had these experiences before. I am not sure who wrote this, but I wanted to post it. Hope this makes you smile:)

Enjoy
Sara Chicago Riding Lessons

A show of hands for those of us that own the "Right Horse"!!

Read on......

Response to Dr Phil's comment on horse ownership as exercise:

At this time of year, after the holidays, ads for weight-loss programs saturate print media and the airwaves. Even TV talk shows devote time to the battle of the bulge. I caught part of a Dr. Phil episode in which the prominent self-help guru was evaluating the situation of one overweight guest. The woman commented that she'd like to buy a horse so she could get exercise via riding. "That's great for the horse," responded Dr. Phil drolly, "but what good is it for you?" Obviously, Dr. Phil has missed out on the cardiovascular workout we women get attempting to get into a sports bra and riding pants...

Clearly, the good doctor doesn't own a horse. At least, not the right horse. A quiet, well-broke, agreeable mount may indeed not offer much in the way of fitness training. But, the right horse (and most of us have owned 1 or 2, haven't we?) will provide a body-building, cardiovascular-enhancing workout that would make Richard Simmons envious. Allow me to explain...With the right horse, you begin your fitness program by walking out to the pasture. As you stride briskly, you carry the halter and lead rope behind you, pushed up high on your back so the lead doesn't drag. The purpose of this is to tone your chest and upper-arm muscles (because you're not fooling your horse- -for he knows what you carry). As you approach to within a few feet of him, he'll walk slowly away from you, but at a pace just so you can't reach him, then stop. This will be repeated several times in succession, until you're ready to jog. At that point, because you own just the right horse, he will trot, then gallop around the pasture.If you're at the advanced level of fitness, you may continue chasing after him for maximum aerobic benefits (or, just stop and start throwing rocks at him to give your rotator cuffs a workout. Make sure you switch throwing arms, not only is this a benefit to you, your horse will think it hilarious). Beginners may prefer to toss the halter and lead on the ground, bend forward from the waist, and engage in heavy breathing and chanting (that's what we'll call it, anyway -- chanting) as the horse continues to circle the field. For those of you that have experience with this exercise, you may choose to throw the halter and lead, walk briskly, bend, pickup, repeat. When the horse determines you've had enough of this warm-up session, he'll allow you to catch him.

Now comes the total upper-body workout of grooming. The right horse, of course, will be caked in dried mud. The cement-like consistency of it will require work-to-exhaustion effort of your biceps and triceps. NOTE: this exercise has added value, the dried mud will stick to your face with perspiration, instant facial!

Next comes the bending, stretching, and toning of hoof-picking. Bend over, pick up the horse's left front foot, then be prepared to jump back as he stomps it back down to the ground, narrowly missing your foot. (Keep your knees bent as you jump, to protect your lower back.) Reach down and pick up the foot again, hopping about with the horse to maintain your grip as you attempt to pick what seems to be dirt mixed with Super Glue from the hoof. Eventually the horse may stand still; you may be chanting by this time. Repeat the entire circuit 3 more times, with the remaining feet.

Once you can stand erect again, it's time for the insect repellent exercise. True, with this one, your horse may actually get more of a workout than you do, but you certainly get more of the repellent. It goes like this: Squirt!-circle- circle. Squirt!-circle- circle. Squirt!-circle- circle--- and so on, until you're completely misted with repellent and chanting 'whoa you son of a***** whoa'. To receive maximum benefit from this exercise, make sure you are at the beginning of a deep inhalation during the 'squirt' cycle and exhale after the last chanting 'whoa'.

With the right horse, saddling up provides both aerobic and strength building benefits. The trick is to keep your feet moving as you heft the saddle blanket over and over (and over), trying to keep it in place on a moving target. The blanket exercise warms you up for the saddle exercise, for which the routine is the same, only the weight is much greater -- perfect for buffing those hard-to-tone shoulder muscles.

Now comes the mounting exercise. With the right horse, it's left leg up, hop-hop-hop, left leg down, heavy breathing. Left leg up, hop-hop-hop, left leg down, heavy breathing. For balance, go around to the other side and continue the exercise (right leg up, hop-hop-hop, heavy breathing, right leg down, heavy breathing, etc.).When your heart rate begins to exceed your target range, look for a bucket. Bend over, pick it up, place it upside-down next to the horse, wait for the horse to move away, then bend over, pick it up again, place it next to the horse, and so on. NOTE: this is a cooling down routine not to be confused with the warm up pasture-routine.

When the horse deems you've had enough of these repetitions, he'll stand still and allow you to actually mount. At this point, of course, you'll be too exhausted to ride and your facial mask is dropping off in chunks. It's best not to overdo it, so dismount, grab a glass of wine, and head in to recover in a bubble bath.

Horse Riding Lessons Illinois By Horse Logic

Horse Playing Soccer !!!!! Hysterical !!!!

2008-01-28T19:41:00.001-08:00

Check out this horse playing soccer. It is super cute!!!

Bridleless Saddleless Classical Dressage

2008-01-28T19:33:00.000-08:00

Here is a neat video that I found on youtube. This is what classical dressage is about, having a great communication with your horse.

New Horse Magazine Article Series in the Kane County Farm Bureau Paper

2008-01-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

I will now be writing a new series every month about Dressage and also Horse Training. This article will be published in the Kane County Illinois Farm Bureau. Check it out in the Farm Bureau Paper, and it will also be published on my blog.

Waiora Nutritional Supplements

2008-01-10T21:57:00.000-08:00

Why use Natural Cellular Defense and Essential Daily Nutrients...Theory behind Remove,‭ ‬Replenish,‭ ‬and Restore.‭

If you do not get the toxins out of your body,‭ ‬it does not matter if you are ingesting the most powerful supplements in the world.‭ ‬Why‭? ‬Because toxins go in the body just like a nutrient does.‭ ‬They have a positive charge just like nutrients.‭ ‬The toxin has a higher charge so the body grabs it before the nutrient.‭ ‬As an example,‭ ‬if Lead and Calcium enter the body at the same time,‭ ‬the body will grab the lead thinking it is calcium.‭ ‬The lead has a higher plus charge.‭ ‬ The body does not know or understand the difference.‭ ‬It is chemistry.‭ ‬Problem is,‭ ‬once they‭ (‬toxins‭) ‬go in the body they don't just come out,‭ ‬they grab onto receptor sites.‭ ‬They get stuck in bones,‭ ‬tissue,‭ ‬cells,‭ ‬in your brain.‭ ‬ If your body ingests too many toxins you no longer can absorb nutrients.‭ ‬ Our food is already so mineral deficient that we are compromised as it is.‭ ‬Think of all the chemicals and preservatives in processed foods.‭ ‬Grab a box and read the label.‭ ‬That isn't even the half of it.‭ ‬Think about the toxins in your cleaning supplies,‭ ‬in the water you drink and better yet as you sit in traffic and breath the car exhaust fumes....Different toxin exposure is linked to specific illness,‭ ‬such as high aluminum is linked to Alzheimer's.‭ ‬Mercury is linked to ADD,‭ ‬ADHD,‭ ‬Autism and Lead is linked to calcium deficiency which is linked to osteoporosis.‭

Natural Cellular Defense has negative charge and pulls out the toxins.‭ ‬It is a critical part of helping the body heal itself.‭ ‬I believe in helping people with the‭ "‬whole picture.‭" ‬Imagine‭ ‬refrigerator magnets.‭ ‬There is always the magnet that falls down easily and then there is the one that holds‭ ‬15‭ ‬pieces of paper.‭ ‬Natural Cellular Defense‭ (‬a Zeolite mineral‭)‬ is the stronger magnet.‭ ‬It grabs and pulls the toxin into‭ ‬its cage and then it is excreted out via urination.‭

Once you remove these toxins from your body you can choose to take the Essential Daily Nutrient drink to replenish the body with much‭ ‬needed vitamins and minerals,‭ ‬even if you choose not to your own nutrition plan will work better now that the toxins have been removed.‭ ‬Receptor sites are freed up and the body now is able to absorb much needed nutrients.‭ ‬Once on this protocol for a few months you will find that people notice‭ ‬a huge difference-for the better in how they feel on a daily basis.‭ ‬Myself,‭ ‬family and friends all report-more energy-better sleep-needing less sleep-mental clarity and focus and fewer aches and pains-almost feeling‭ ‬5‭ ‬years younger‭! ‬Be patient and persistent.‭ ‬You did not feel the toxins going into your body and you might not feel them going out.‭ ‬I strongly recommend you do some research‭ ‬www.ewg.org and find out how much of a PREVENTATIVE THIS WELLNESS PROGRAM IS‭!

This is the real deal and a real good thing for our planet.‭ ‬There is a yin and yang in nature and this is natures own answer for our toxins to be cleaned up.‭

To‭ ‬your health and prosperity‭!!! ‬If you need‭ ‬any assistance please contact‭ ‬Sara McKiness‭ ‬(630‭) ‬631-2746‭ ‬or‭ ‬sara@horselogic.net

Horse Supplements - Horse Vitamins

‭

Very Funny "Dressage Test"

2008-01-05T15:44:00.000-08:00

The Amazing New Dressage Test
For Horses Unsuitable to Become Anything
By Joanna MacDonald et al

The Test

1. A. Enter at ordinary serpentine.

X. Sprawl. Salute.

2. C. Stop dead. Stare in horror at judge and shy to left.
Continue at ordinary working gallop.

3. E. Stagger left 20 or 15 or 22 meters in diameter circle or pear shape
or five pointed star. Avoid excessive crossing of legs.

4. K. Begin to halt.
Z. Keep trying.
F. You can do it.
B. Pulley rein. Give up. Continue at out of hand gallop.

5. H. Regain right stirrup. Continue at ordinary trot, bouncing.

6. MKT Change rein. Free Walk loose reins. Remove horse from judge's
luncheon table. Ask judge for leg up. Jump back into ring.

7. Z. Turn down center Line.
Halt. Grin. Scratch. Burst into tears. Leave area at free walk on long
reins, loose language.

History of the Amazing New Dressage Test
Submitted to the OADG Newsletter, July-August 1995, by Joanna MacDonald. Karyn Curtis, Ed.

1995 marks the 21st birthday of The Amazing New Dressage Test (For Horses Unsuitable to Become Anything). (There used to be dressage classes "For Horses Suitable to Become a Dressage Horse" - Ed.) Almost every dressage person in the English-speaking world has giggled over this test; it has become an anonymous classic. Hardly anybody knows where it came from. Karyn Curtis and I know. We wrote it. Here's the story:

In May 1974, some Spiritwood riders went to the OADG Spring Dressage Show at Copanspin Farm (then Marchcroft, now Riverside) in Dunrobin. There was Lorraine MacDonald, with her TBX mare Baska; my employee, Big Sue MacMillan, with her 3-year-old Quarter Horse, Flyer; and me with my 5-year-old grey mare, Azteca, known to her friends as Tattie. It was our first dressage show ever in our lives -- except for Lorraine, who had been in just one. A bunch of little kids came to help; Karyn was one of them. It turned out to be The Dressage Show From Hell. The rain came down in buckets all day without stopping. The show was held in the indoor arena with no place to warm up. We were up to our knees in mud outside. The ramp of the truck got slippery. The horses went crazy and we didn't get any ribbons.

We finally got home, soaking, shivering, miserable and disgusted. The word dressage was enough to make us throw up. We all sat around the kitchen table: Lorraine, her husband Angus, Sue, me and a lot of little kids. There was also, I remember, a bottle of wine. And we got silly and we wrote The Amazing New Dressage Test to express what we had just been through.

It went, anonymously, into the OADG Newsletter; then it went into the OVH Pony Club Newsletter; then the Corinthian (now Horse Sport) picked it up; then the Chronicle printed it; then , over the next ten years, it went into many regional U.S. dressage newsletters, to England, to California, back to Canada via Vancouver, and it's still travelling. Horse and Country printed it last year and, I ask you to believe, a friend sent it to me from Yellowknife, NWT, saying "Isn't this the funniest thing you ever read, who do you think wrote it?"

Do you want to know what happened to the cast of characters? Flyer was sold as a hunter/eventer and was re-named "Cashel" and, when I last heard, was still in retirement in Oxford Mills. Tattie achieved a respectable Medium 2/3 and ended her days as a school horse here at Spiritwood, teaching about a million people how to do shoulder-in. I don't know what became of Baska -- I last saw her picture in a tack ad for a Toronto store, modeling a blanket. Big Sue MacMillan went back to Edmonton and married a dairy farmer and has two children. The little kids all grew up; ponies were replaced by horses, horses by university, careers, husbands. Karyn came back to Spiritwood. I never left. Lorraine MacDonald is an FEI Dressage Judge for Canada!

So now you all know the true history of The Amazing New Dressage Test...

Training Tree:‭ ‬Rhythm and Relaxation

2008-01-02T18:54:00.000-08:00

Training Tree:‭ ‬Rhythm and Relaxation

By:‭ ‬Sara McKiness

Every person that handles horses should have a relationship with that horse,‭ ‬which is based on trust.‭ ‬With a relationship based on trust you accomplish a lot more,‭ ‬and it is also easier on both trainer and horse.‭ ‬The more the horse trusts you the more he is willing to do,‭ ‬and also the harder that he tries.‭ ‬With trust as the foundation your horse will also be much more responsive and obedient to what you ask for.

As training progresses you start to move up the training tree.‭ ‬The training tree‭* ‬is a systematic progression in training that is logical for both the horse and rider.‭ ‬The training tree has‭ ‬10‭ ‬steps that allow the training to be understood by both horse‭ ‬and rider.‭ ‬In this article I will go into more detail on the first‭ ‬2‭ ‬steps of the training tree,‭ ‬they are Rhythm and Relaxation.‭ ‬The articles to follow this will also go into more detail on the steps of the training tree.

Rhythm is step‭ ‬1‭ ‬of the training and the foundation for all horse training.‭ ‬This applies to both groundwork and under saddle work.‭ ‬The definition of Rhythm:‭ ‬a regularly repeated pattern,‭ ‬movement,‭ ‬beat or sequence of events.

Rhythm is the first step of the training tree because it is the foundation for all training.‭ ‬The reason for this is rhythm helps to establish trust.‭ ‬When your horse trusts you it makes training easier and quicker.‭ ‬Another reason that rhythm is the first step in the training tree is rhythm helps to show the horse that you are consistent in everything that you do.‭ ‬So you as the handler need to really train yourself to always be rhythmical anytime you are around the horses.‭ ‬This means that your breathing,‭ ‬footfalls,‭ ‬and anything else that you do need to have a consistent rhythm.‭ ‬Horses pay close attention to these details because in the wild it can mean life or death.‭ ‬This is instinctual for all horses and shows how much you need to pay attention to them in order to make it a positive experience for all.

So when you go to your barn and go out to the pasture to get your horse remember to stay very rhythmical and consistent.‭ ‬This will start out the time you spend with your horse positively.

One way you can pay attention to your horse's rhythm is through his breathing.‭ ‬If your horse maintains a consistent rhythm in his breathing than he has rhythm.‭ ‬You must also strive very hard to maintain your own breathing.‭ ‬It is very important to never hold your breath.‭ ‬This will interrupt any rhythm that you might have,‭ ‬and can cause the horse to lose his rhythm.‭ ‬Anytime that your horse‭’‬s breathing is not rhythmical he is worried about something and it is usually something that the handler has caused.‭ ‬ For example you introduce a new piece of equipment such as a saddle pad.‭ ‬This causes your horse‭ ‬to breathe‭ ‬faster‭ ‬and he has lost his‭ ‬rhythm at this‭ ‬point.‭ ‬By introducing the saddle pad in a non‭ ‬rhythmical way you have‭ ‬interrupted‭ ‬the‭ ‬rhythm‭ ‬and thus can‭’‬t proceed further up the training tree.‭ ‬At this point you need to back up a step with the training,‭ ‬and then‭ ‬when you have achieved‭ ‬rhythm once‭ ‬again,‭ ‬you can then reintroduce the saddle pad.‭ ‬Just make sure to go at a‭ ‬slower‭ ‬speed when reintroducing‭ ‬it.‭ ‬One thing to remember is you must keep your rhythmic breathing at all times,‭ ‬even if your horse spooks at something.‭ ‬He will start to figure out that you maintain your breathing and rhythm,‭ ‬which will show him that you are a safe place to be.‭ ‬This is a huge positive reinforcement of your relationship.

Rhythm is easier to maintain on the ground.‭ ‬Many riders will change their breathing as soon as they get in the saddle.‭ ‬This interrupts your rhythm.‭ ‬Remember to keep your breathing rhythmical especially in the saddle.‭ ‬If you have a hard time with your‭ ‬breathing while in the saddle try whistling or humming while riding.‭ ‬This way you can‭’‬t hold your breath.‭ ‬It will get easier every time that you do it.

Here are some things that can help you to maintain your rhythm with your horse:‭ ‬playing a radio in the barn,‭ ‬and using ground poles for walk,‭ ‬trot and canter work.‭ ‬Remember to pay close attention to both your breathing and your horses.‭ ‬This will make a huge difference in both of your training sessions.

Relaxation is step‭ ‬2‭ ‬of the training tree.‭ ‬Relaxation is step‭ ‬2‭ ‬because it follows rhythm very closely.‭ ‬Without rhythm you can‭’‬t have relaxation.‭ ‬In order to get your horse relaxed you must have rhythm.‭ ‬Your horse's breathing tells you whether or not he is relaxed and ear position will tell you what he is paying attention to.‭ ‬It is very important to pay attention to his degree of tenseness.‭ ‬These tell you how relaxed he is and about the mood he is in.

To get relaxation you must be very consistent and rhythmical in everything that you do.‭ ‬Nothing that you do with your horse should cause him any excitement.‭ ‬If it does you need to back the training down a level and accomplish that first,‭ ‬before returning to the next step.‭ ‬All training should be done in the smallest baby steps possible.‭ ‬This means that each step that your progress with your horse should not cause any reactions in him.‭ ‬You do not want‭ ‬any reactions that are caused by fear or nervousness.‭ ‬If you should get any sort of reaction again bring step back with what you are trying to accomplish.‭ ‬Once you have the relaxation again you can go back to what your were trying before the excitement happened.

Please visit my blog and check out new posts about training an untrained horse from the start.

I welcome any suggestions for future articles,‭ ‬or any questions that you would like answered in a future article.

Learn something new every month from‭ ‬Horse Logic.‭ ‬A new article will be featured every month in‭ ‬From the Horse‭’‬s Mouth‭ ‬by:‭ ‬Sara McKiness‭ ‬from‭ ‬Horse Logic.

‭*‬As Taught by Meredith Manor International Equestrian Center

Horse Logic‭ ‬2007

Sara McKiness
Horse‭ ‬Logic
Saint Charles,‭ ‬IL
630-631-2746
sara@horselogic.net
www.horselogic.net

Star's Natural Barefoot Trim

2007-11-28T16:49:00.000-08:00

Here is Star having a natural barefoot trim. Even though she has no saddle training, her ground manners are impeccable. She is very easy to work with once you have her caught. Star is a very good horse for any farrier work.

Here is a picture of myself rasping Star's hoof. She is very good for farrier work.

Here is a picture of her hoof when it is finished

Franny is Pregnant

2007-11-20T20:47:00.000-08:00

Franny was last breed on July 14 of 2007. Which puts her at 130 days right now. We are so very excited about this baby. Especially because the Sire is Santiago from Rothrock Andalusians. There website is: Rothrock Andalusians They have a wonderful site and a wonderful facility.

Thanks and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Sara

Dressage: Reasons that it is the foundation of any discipline.

2007-11-13T20:04:00.000-08:00

By Sara McKiness of Horse Logic

What is Dressage? Well first off the word dressage in French means training. Why do I believe it is the foundation for any discipline? Because of the ten parts of the Dressage Training Tree (as taught by MMIEC*), which are Rhythm, Relaxation, Freedom of Gaits, Contact, Straightness, Balance, Impulsion, Suppleness, On the Aids, and Collection. (These are however slightly different from the traditional German Training Scale.) Without the principles of the training “tree” the horse cannot have a close relationship with the trainer and will not have the correct basic training. Once you have moved up the tree and your horse understands the principle correctly you can work on further training that is discipline specific such as dressage, show jumping, reining, cutting, endurance, and combined training to name a few.

Dressage should be a large part of the first training that your horse will receive. This should also include groundwork.

The first part of the training tree is Rhythm. Your horse needs to have rhythm in his breathing and also rhythm in his footfalls. When your horse doesn’t have rhythm he is worried about something. You want your horse to have the rhythm, because he will further develop the relationship that he has with you and also allows the training to be understood. When he has rhythm, he is very relaxed and will pay attention to you in a positive manner. This will make the training a very positive experience.

The second step in the training tree is Relaxation. When your horse has relaxation he can have rhythm and will be a trusting partner for training. Having relaxation means that he will be responsive to training, but not worried about it. This will make the training a positive experience.

The third step in the training tree is Freedom of Gaits. This means that the horse can freely move forward without any interference from the rider/ trainer. When you are first starting a green horse, and you are on their backs for the first several rides you do not want to interfere with their natural gaits/movements. The only reason that you would want to stop any movement is if the horse gets dangerous and is bucking hard or rearing. This way the horse can learn to balance and carry the rider’s weight in his own way. After the horse can carry a rider’s weight while staying balanced then we can start to add rein aids to the training.

The fourth step in the training tree is Contact. Once the horse has rhythm, relaxation, and freedom of gaits, he will start to seek the contact of the reins. When he does seek the contact, the rider needs to make sure that it is very elastic. You do not want to start pulling on a young or uneducated horse’s mouth. This will only teach him that the bit can hurt, and he will not want to look for any type of contact. The first contact should also be very loose and again elastic. As riders you want to have a loose but slight contact that will follow the horse’s motion and not become locked up, or pull. Once your horse has accepted the contact he can move farther up the training tree.

The fifth step in the training tree is Straightness. This is a very misunderstood concept in training. When I am talking about straightness I mean a horse that is straight is following a particular imaginary line on the ground. With this imaginary line he should have both front and hind feet evenly on either side of the line. This line can also be straight or curved. But the horse is only straight if he is evenly following the line with feet evenly spaced on either side of it. It is very natural for horses to have an easier direction. Just as we are either left handed or right handed, horses move in one direction easier than the other. The direction that he can maintain straightness with more ease is his easier direction. It is the job of the trainer to work both sides evenly so that the horse can travel straight and do this with ease.

The sixth step in the progression of the training tree is Balance. Balance is when the horse is carrying his weight evenly on all four feet. This would seem a pretty simple step to train a horse, but horses have a large head that acts as a weight. This “weight” causes horses to put more weight onto their front ends or forehands. As riders we are trying to teach a horse how to carry more weight with his hind end. The hind end is his motor. Sort of like a motorboat. All of a horse’s power for speed and such comes from his hind end. So for this step in the training tree we are starting to ask the horse to carry more of his weight on his hind end. This will allow him to have correct muscle development that will enable him to excel in any discipline.

The seventh step in the training tree is Impulsion. Impulsion is when the horse pushes more from behind, and feels like a power surge. You do not have impulsion when the horse speeds up and has shorter strides. True impulsion is actually fewer strides covering a larger area. For example you can test to see if you have true impulsion, by picking 2 definite points in your arena (or wherever you ride). Now that you have the 2 points selected, count the number of strides between the points at a normal trot. The next step is to ask for impulsion by using more leg and count the strides between the same 2 points. If you have more strides this is not true impulsion. When you count the strides and have less, this is true impulsion. Having less strides means that your horse is lengthening his stride, and this is true impulsion. So just remember this exercise because it can help you determine if your horse is really giving you impulsion. This will also help you to feel what impulsion feels like.

The eight step in the training tree is Suppleness. This means is that the horse is able to bend in either direction without any stiffness. When you are riding you horse and he locks his jaw or poll, he is not supple. All he is doing is bracing against your hands. This causes the stiffness to go through his entire body and it effects his movement. Once your horse is completely supple it will be very easy to communicate with him where to put his body parts. You want your horse to be supple in all of his joints as any stiffness will affect to whole horse. Remember that in order for your horse to be supple you as the rider also need to be supple. Otherwise you transmit the stiffness to your horse, and he will never be completely supple.

The ninth step in the training tree is On the Aids. All on the aids means is that the horse is very responsive to our aids. At this point in a horse’s training, the actual training part should be invisible. It should appear as if the rider is dancing with his horse. When a horse is truly on your aids he will be responsive to your aids, but he will also be correctly connected from his hocks all the way through his mouth. Some trainers like to call this ‘being on the bit’. A horse that is truly on the bit needs to be correctly connected from the hocks through the mouth, while maintaining complete communication with the rider’s aids. At this point your horse is reaching upper levels in his training.

The tenth and final step in the training tree is Collection. Collection is when the horse shifts more weight onto his haunches and increase the bend of his hock’s and stifle’s. This also lowers his entire hind end. The horse also reaches under his body farther and carries more weight with the hind legs. The reason that this is the final step in training is because the horse has to have proper development of his muscles and accomplish all of the previous steps in order to have true collection.

This is why I believe dressage is the foundation for any discipline. In order to excel in eventing, cutting, endurance, or reining to name a few, your horse needs to have this type of training. A horse cannot correctly execute a sliding stop, or passage without the previously mentioned steps. If you are missing one piece of the training tree your horse will not be able to perform to the best of his ability.

Remember to give your horse the benefit of the doubt and always work on the basics. Without the proper basics your horse can’t succeed in your chosen discipline. But if you have correct basics he will be a pleasure to ride and it will appear as though you are not giving any aids at all.

Please visit my blog and check out new posts about training an untrained horse from the start.

I welcome any suggestions for future articles, or any questions that you would like answered in a future article.

Learn something new every month from Horse Logic. A new article will be featured every month in From the Horse’s Mouth by: Sara McKiness from Horse Logic.

*Meredith Manor International Equestrian Center

©Horse Logic 2007

Sara McKiness
Horse Logic
Saint Charles, IL
630-631-2746
sara@horselogic.net
www.horselogic.net

Franny is Pregnant

2007-11-13T20:02:00.000-08:00

Franny is for sure pregnant. My vet Dr. Kuhn did an exam on her to see if she was indeed pregnant. And she is. At this point she is 90 days along and looks very healthy. I will continue to post updates.

Thanks
Sara

Cute Halloween Costume

2007-11-10T14:10:00.000-08:00

I know that this is unrelated to horses, however my son was a Cowboy riding a horse for Halloween. And here is a pic. He was very proud of his costume.

Sara

2nd Work Session

2007-11-08T20:59:00.001-08:00

Here I am bonding with Star and also starting to follow her. As mentioned before she has an issue with being caught. Star is not afraid of being caught she does not always feel that she needs to be caught. This is something that I am going to work on along with furthering her training.

This picture is of me starting to bond with her and the second picture is with me following her. She does let me get close enough catch her, but it usually takes around 20 minutes or so.

My plan is to start catching her just to reward her with scratches and some apples (she is not a huge fan of carrots). One note of caution in regards to feeding your horse treats by hand, your horse can learn how to bite. I am not into hand feeding horses, however in this situation Star needs the reward right when I catch her and also as I have her (with a lead rope). This way she will start to associate me with positive rewards, and not negative experiences.

Also I want to note that she is not nervous with me at all. You can tell because her ear's tip towards me to listen to me. She also is not wild eyed, and she is not running way wildly. In fact you can see that she will calmly decide to just simply walk away.

Please check back for new updates regarding Star's progress.

Thanks
Sara

Starting From Scratch

2007-11-08T20:53:00.000-08:00

Here is a recently acquired horse. She is 18 and does not have any saddle training. About the only training that she does have is some basic leading training and also the "how not to be caught" syndrome. Apparently the only times she was caught in the past was to be examined by the vet and also to be breed.

I am going to be chronicling her training progress on my blog. By the way her name is Star and she is an Arabian. This is a very special horse that needs to have some serious quality time spent with her.

Please stay tuned for updates on her training.

Thanks
Sara

Reining saddle-less and bridle-less neat video

2007-09-21T21:15:00.001-07:00

Bridleless Reining (Free style) Pattern

2007-09-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

This is "classical reining". It is western's version of classical dressage. Anyway it is a neat video.

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