Learn the proper way to use romal reins with AQHA Professional Horseman Jay McLaughlin.

Jay demonstrates how to properly hold the romal reins.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

Romal reins are an extension of braided material attached to closed reins and can be found in many western events from reining and working cow horse to western pleasure and trail.

AQHA Professional Horseman Jay McLaughlin regularly uses romal reins with his reining and reined cow horses. Read the rest of this entry »

Learn how to extend your horse’s lope and slow back down.

Illustration by Jean Abernethy

By AQHA Professional Horsewoman Lynn Palm

This article is a continuation of last week’s training update. This week, we show you how to get an extended lope from your horse.

What to Do

1. Use correct aids. Remember, changing speed in any gait is a transition, just like changing gaits. As a rider, you must: 1. maintain a perfectly balanced position; and 2. prepare and clearly cue the horse with coordinated aids for the changes in speed. To properly execute an extended lope and slow it back down, here’s what you do: Read the rest of this entry »

Young horses give us a sense of renewal, hope and purpose.

Willow, left, and Zen are the apples of my eye.

There’s such a sense of hope and renewal that comes with a new crop of prospects. I’m feeling it myself right now; I think that’s a big part of why I love working with young horses: They could do anything. They could be anything. They’re a blank slate, waiting for us to write their stories upon.

I’ve got two 3-year-olds whose futures are about to start unfolding. I actually like to start my young horses in their 3-year-old year to make sure their joints are closed and their bodies are ready for the physical demands of being ridden. This year, there were also some personal dynamics that put us in the fall of their 3-year-old year before serious work could start, but hey … it’ll work. And I’m excited.

By the time you’re reading this, Willow should be on her way to a very well-respected horseman who will start her for me. I adore that sweet girl, but I also know that she’s quick and catty enough to put me on the ground. (Which thankfully isn’t too far away; she’s short!) So he’ll put a great foundation on her … and maybe even keep her beyond that. We’ll have to see where her talents lie. Either way, it’ll be a wonderful learning experience for me and her both. I’m struggling to keep the exclamation points (!!!!) to a minimum. Suffice to say, I can’t wait to see the next few months unfold.

Zen is the other young-horse project. With the help of AQHA Professional  Horseman Brent Graef, she got her first ride and several thereafter back in February, but I’m just now starting to work her again. When I heard about a colt-starting clinic put on by ranch cowboy and respected horseman Buster McLaury in early October, I thought that would be a great way for us to make some progress. Plus, it gave me a set deadline. (I am a journalist, after all.) I’d have just a couple of weeks to firm up our foundation and see what more progress I could make. I won’t try to rush her into anything for the sake of the impending clinic … but it is an incentive for me to work with her every day and just see where we get.

It’s amazing what a sense of pride I get when I see Zen standing tied, hip cocked, as I fly spray her, toss a saddle pad and saddle across her back, and then step aboard. I know, that sounds incredibly basic … but there was a lot of work put into each of those elements, and I’m so grateful for her sweet disposition and tractable mind. She’s such a joy to work with.

So what will their futures hold? World championships? Wreaths of roses? Dunno. Probably not. Don’t care, really. For me — for us — it’s the journey that matters most. As I work with these young horses, I’m expanding both my mind and theirs. I’m learning tricks that will help with other horses down the road. I’m meeting new mentors. And I’m helping them become equine good citizens, well-rounded ponies that I’ll be proud to own. (Not that I’m not proud already …)

And truth be told, I’m eyeballing the yearling out in the pasture, who’s oblivious to the dreams pinned to his chestnut coat. Already, I’m wishing that it was time to start him, too. There’s a lot of years of hope still out there.

Happy riding!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

It was like nothing I’d ever seen before.

It was a packed house to see the reining at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. (Tonya Ratliff-Garrison)

The vehicles on Germany’s autobahn were backed up for miles, all trying to exit to the 2006 World Equestrian Games show grounds in Aachen.

“They are all here to see the horse show?” I asked AQHA International Director David Avery, who was driving the van in which seven of us were riding to the event. He just turned his head toward me and grinned.

The throng waiting to get onto the grounds looked like something you would see in America for a big sports event like the Super Bowl or the World Series. I’d never seen a crowd like this for a horse show, though.

Once on the grounds, it was even more amazing. There were people everywhere and the facilities were incredible. It was much like a smaller version of the Olympics with people of different nationalities everywhere and state-of-the-art show facilities.

For the next four days, I was in awe as I toured the grounds, visited with other horse lovers and watched some of the best equestrians in the world.

Of course, I also spent a good amount of my time covering the reining events for the Journal, and the crowds continued to amaze me. The reining stadium held 8,000 people but there must have been more than that in there. You couldn’t even see the aisles. So many people were standing in them to watch the world’s top reiners and their American Quarter Horses perform. Read the rest of this entry »

The perfect horse probably doesn’t exist, but there are plenty of good horses out there.

By Gerrie Barnes, Certified Horsemanship Association Riding Instructor

Experienced horse people know that there is no perfect horse. However, there is agreement on the basic elements of a good horse. For a novice buyer and owner, a good horse is:

A horse with a pleasant and willing personality who has the maturity to be patient with your inexperience, is safe to be around and has the conformation and training required to meet your needs.

Let’s take a look at this definition and see why it is important to you.

Some horses are very skilled. But their personality has a “make-me” attitude. It takes a more skilled rider to get the horse to perform. A “pleasant and willing personality” means that the horse will willingly perform when you ask and will try to understand your cues. Read the rest of this entry »

Solutions for a horse who rushes violently out of the horse trailer.

Question:

What do you do with a horse who rushes out of a straight-load horse trailer? We have gotten our 10-year-old horse to get into the trailer. But when we try to back him out slowly, he pulls out of our hands and rushes backward.

Susan and Ronald Marcotte Sr.

Answer:

Your horse is rushing backward out of the trailer out of fear. When horses are unsure of themselves, the flight response kicks in, and they get in a hurry. Read the rest of this entry »

The impact the multiple foals rule change has had on the Quarter Horse industry – so far.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

Back in 2003, it was anyone’s guess what would happen. As of January 1 of that year, AQHA rules allowed a mare to have more than one registered foal per year, pending parentage verification.

Immediately, AQHA saw a 41 percent increase in embryo transfer enrollments: In 2002, 1,849 mares had embryo transfer enrollments filed; for 2003, there were 2,614. By the end of the breeding season, facilities offering embryo transfer services testified to a surge in business. Royal Vista Southwest in Purcell, Oklahoma, reported a 50 percent increase in transfers performed.

There were all sorts of questions on how the multiple foals rule would affect the industry. Read the rest of this entry »

Take a look at the most popular FREE reports on Daily right now.

Download some of our FREE reports, print them out and relax in your favorite chair while you learn more about your favorite animal – the American Quarter Horse.

Here are the top-10 most downloaded reports on Daily:

1. How to Tie a Leadrope: Learn how to tie your horse safely.
2. Riding Lessons with Richard Shrake: Learn how you can have a better relationship with your horse with these Tips from AQHA Professional Horseman Richard Shrake.
3. Horse Arthritis Treatment: Learn about a new treatment that may help your horse cope with arthritis.
4. How to Make a Rope Halter: Follow these easy steps to create your own knotted rope halter for your horse.
5. Horse Clipping Tips: Learn how to give your show horse the perfect clipping job.
6. Halter Horse Expression: Insider tips for getting expression from your halter horse
7. Potomac Horse Fever: Learn everything you need to know about this late-summer danger.
8. Chubby Horses: Learn how to keep your horse at a healthy weight.
9. Showmanship Basics: Learn the fundamentals of showmanship so your next pattern is perfect.
10. Horse Trailer Loading Tips: Training your horse for the trailer requires time and patience.

America’s Horse Daily has many more free reports, so be sure to collect them all.

Be sure to use the comments feature on any page to let us know what you think about our free reports. We’re working hard to give you more great information to help you enjoy your horse!

Don’t forget to share your free reports with your friends.

Summer is a favorite season for riders, their horses and, unfortunately, snakes.

By Dr. Thomas R. Lenz for The American Quarter Horse Journal

A rattlesnake bite can be deadly.

The most dangerous snake to a horse is the rattlesnake, most commonly found in the southwest and far west United States. Other venomous snakes include copperheads and water moccasins, found in the woods and streams of the central and eastern regions of the country.

Because horse owners seldom witness their horse being bitten, it is critical that they recognize clinical signs of snakebite and take appropriate action. Rattlesnakes, copperheads and water moccasins belong to the pit viper family, and their venom contains toxins and digestive enzymes that cause extreme local swelling, marked tissue damage and direct effects on the heart. Read the rest of this entry »

Teach young halter horses to set up in five easy steps.

From The American Quarter Horse Journal

It looks like magic. A young halter horse, standing so still, so perfectly, with his head held high and his ears perked forward. He almost looks like a beautiful bronze statue. But it’s not magic. All it takes is repetition and patience, says Team Wrangler member and AQHA Professional Horseman Ted Turner Jr. He offers these five steps for achieving the perfect setup.

Step One

The first thing a young horse needs to learn is the word “whoa.” This should be your favorite word when teaching a young horse to set up. It not only means stop, it also means to stand still. Read the rest of this entry »

Tips for teaching your horse an extended lope.

By AQHA Professional Horsewoman Lynn Palm

When a horse performs correctly at an extended lope, he maintains the same rhythm but with a longer stride. The horse is not running with his body flat, like you see in a racehorse or some reining horses, but he lifts his back, steps under himself with his hind legs for impulsion and lifts his front legs, shoulders, neck and head.

When you want to slow down, again there’s no change in rhythm, just a compression of the horse’s stride. The horse should gather himself – rounding his body more, engaging more behind and lifting the back and forehand – before transitioning right back down to the lope without losing any smoothness. Read the rest of this entry »

A near-disaster is a good reminder: Be safe on the trail.

Ready to ride: The Randall County (Texas) Sheriff's Posse Search and Rescue Unit. Photo by Lynda Harris.

I got an e-mail last week from a friend who rides on the local mounted search and rescue unit. She and her husband, with other members of the unit, participated in a search for a horse who had gotten loose in Palo Duro Canyon, which is the country’s second-largest canyon and is just south of Amarillo, Texas.

This horse and rider had gone riding by themselves, and apparently it began raining upstream while they were in the canyon. The creeks swelled, and in order to get back to base camp, the rider was faced with a deep, difficult crossing. The horse did not come out the other side. The rider was able to pull off his bridle, and he began swimming upstream. Now on foot, she wasn’t able to catch him, and help – in the form of the Randall County Sheriff’s Posse Search and Rescue Unit – had to be called in.

Fortunately, they located the horse, and this case ended with both horse and rider safe. But it doesn’t take much imagination to think how easily it could have been disastrous or fatal for either one of them.

After skipping through a few doomsday scenarios, my thoughts then settled on our outlet here at America’s Horse Daily. Although we’ve mentioned safety tips numerous times, there are some things you can never say too often. If it keeps even one horse and rider safe, well, we hope the rest of you will forgive us for the nagging!

Our friends, AQHA Professional Horsemen Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard, agreed to let us borrow some safe-trail-riding tips from their Web site, www.twoasonehorsemanship.com.

Photo by Lynda Harris.

Their first tip is particularly relevant in this case:

• The first thing you can do is to let someone know how long you expect to be gone and, if possible, what route you’ll be following. If you have a map, bring it with you. If not, and you’re riding in an unfamiliar area, stop and turn around every once in a while to take note of what the scenery should look like when you’re returning home.

More tips worth remembering from Bob and Suz:

• Always take along a halter and lead rope. We prefer a rope halter and a 10- to 12-foot lead rope, which can be rolled up in a hangman’s knot and hooked over the saddle horn. This will allow you to remove the bridle and bit if you chose to stop and rest. Should you tie your horse to a tree, make your knot at wither height or above and allow only about 2 feet of rope length between knot and buckle to prevent your horse from getting tangled. Your lead rope/halter can also double as a bridle and reins should you break a rein or a bridle piece. We all know those Chicago screws can come loose at the most inappropriate times (you can fix this by applying nail polish into the hole before inserting the screw).
• If you ride with friends, have a prearranged meeting place should something unforeseen occur, forcing you to scatter in different directions (bee or wasp attacks, for instance). Anyone who is allergic to insect bites or stings should carry the appropriate medication.

Get more tips before you head out on your next ride!

Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!