How do you break a horse from pulling back from tied? Find out how from AQHA Professional Horsewoman and Certified Horsemanship Association Instructor Tara Reimer.

Question:

Do you have any suggestions on how to break a horse from yanking back when tied? My mare is a calm horse, but when I put her in a halter and tie her to a trailer, phone pole, etc., she just starts yanking until either the ring, halter or lead rope breaks. She hasn’t tried it once in the trailer when she’s tied. I am guessing that it is a fear thing, but I would like to hear the best way of getting rid of this dangerous behavior, as I don’t want her or anyone else to get hurt.

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Learn more about one of AQHA’s new classes, ranch pleasure.

Question:

I was really intrigued when I heard that AQHA is going to be offering a ranch pleasure class, but what really is ranch pleasure? How is it judged? What is the horse and rider required to do? And what makes it “ranch” pleasure?

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How do you handle a sweaty horse during the winter?

Question:

I’ve stabled my horses in the winter until we moved to northern Canada. They are outside this winter, and it is cold!

One of my horses barely grows hair at all and my other horse looks like a mammoth. I have blankets on them when I’m home. They are also groomed four to six times a week.

Is there anything else I can do? “Mammoth” takes two hours to cool down and dry after a ride, and both of them look scruffy and dirty. They’re on extra protein, hair shine vitamins and a good diet for older horses.

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Harvesting semen after a stallion’s death.

Question:

Is there any way to save semen after a stallion has died?

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Take a look at stalling a horse vs. keeping a horse on pasture through the winter.

Question:

For spring, summer and fall, I usually keep my horse out to pasture all day and all night. He has a covered shelter, and with our moderate weather during those seasons, he stays quite comfortable.

However, every year I always ask myself, “Should I keep my horse in a stall this winter, or should I keep him out to pasture?”

Are they any negative effects from keeping a horse stalled during the winter? Or am I better off keeping him outside?

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Does your horse have a scar?

Question:

My mare had to have a tumor removed, and I’m told that the patch under it will grow back white. The patch will be about the size of a quarter under her right eye.

Will I need to change her markings on her papers?

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Try your hand at foal-heat breeding.

Question:

What’s a good strategy to use to get your mare bred on a foal heat?

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Set your stallion up for behavioral success with tips from AQHA Professional Horseman and judge Gene Parker.

Question:

I’ve got a colt that was born this last spring, and he’s already starting to show stallion behavior. How do I work with him and train him so that he’ll be a good-mannered stallion? If he is too pushy, am I better off just gelding him?

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Find the perfect seat when riding hills.

Learn how to find the perfect balance in your seat when riding hills with AQHA Professional Horsewomen Angelia Robinette-Dublin and Jenny Lance.

Question:

I do a lot of trail riding with my American Quarter Horse, and we primarily ride in the hills. I’ve been trying to find my balance riding up and down hills, but I always feel like I’m getting in my horse’s way. How should I sit when I’m riding hills?

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Our expert explains an uncomfortable ear problem horses can face.

An America’s Horse Daily reader submitted a question about a horse who she thinks has horse ear mites.

Tom R. Lenz, D.V.M., M.S., Dipl. A.C.T., offers some sound advice about horse ear problems. Dr. Lenz is an American Association of Equine Practitioners member veterinarian and a regular columnist in The American Quarter Horse Journal.

Question:

I am pretty sure my 14 year old mare has horse ear mites in her left ear (her right ear is fine). She will not let me touch her ear and it is a challenge to get the bridle on (I had to take the bridle apart the other day when I rode her, and she was fine). I do not see any swelling or any kind of abrasions around the ear.

How do I get the mite medicine in her ear? Her ear must be very sore. She normally will put her head down for me to put the bridle on. She has already broken her lead rope twice by sitting back when I approach the ear. I do not have a stock to put her in. I have tried treats, showing her the bottle, rubbing the bottle around her face and she is fine with all that but the minute I get near the ear, she throws her head or sits back. Any suggestions?

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Does your horse have teary eyes? The American Association of Equine Practitioners sheds some light on the issue.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners offers great advice for this horse owner. AAEP is an AQHA educational marketing alliance partner.

Question:

My 8-year-old mare’s eyes are always tearing. I have had her tear ducts flushed and she has been on antibiotics for her eye, but nothing seems to help. It occurs all year, and she is outside most of the day.

Do you have any suggestions on how to clear it up?

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Are you trying to breed for a black foal?

Question:

I am breeding my chestnut mare with a black stallion and have been looking for reliable indications of what the foal’s coat color will be. Apparently the stallion has only produced black, bay and liver chestnut foals. The stallion has only black and liver chestnut heritage from the research I have done.

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