Free Leather CPR Sample

Remember my Leather CPR review? Well, now they are giving away a free sample. I love that stuff, it's definitely worth checking out. Just click on THIS link, and fill out the form. While you're there, be sure and tell them I sent you!

They also have a great "Tell A Friend" promotion going on:

Would your friends, family members, Twitter followers, blog readers or Facebook friends appreciate a free product sample too? Feel free to share the good news by simply providing this link:
www.leathercpr.com/
specialoffer
The five people who refer the most friends/family will be rewarded with a CPR Cleaning Products Prize Pack valued at $50.
Be sure your friends and family members mention your full name on the free sample form!

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Horse Illustrated Magazine Subscription for $5

Amazon.com has a great deal going on right now, you can buy a Horse Illustrated Magazine one year subscription for only $5!  Hurry this offer expires February 28, 2010.  They also are offering a year of Young Rider Magazine for $7.99.  Be sure and check it out HERE.

Horse Quote of The Day - Fredi Castro

“Each time you ride your horse, he’s a different horse, ride it that way.” - Fredi Castro

I thought that was a brilliant statement. What he means is, every day is different. Don’t get on your horse today thinking he is going to be the way he was yesterday. Always start with a fresh mind. a light hand and light leg, you can always build from there. Don’t start out with heavy cues, because where do you go from there?

FeedDealer.Com - Info-Service and Support for Feed Businesses - HOW Webinar Schedule

FeedDealer.Com - Info-Service and Support for Feed Businesses - HOW Webinar Schedule

Register for a free HOW webinar. HOW is a Horse Owner Webinar. Check it out!

Horse Training Tips with Deanna Castro

Horse Training Tips with Deanna Castro

Posted using ShareThis

Horseback Riding Lesson - Rein Techniques

There are all kinds of types of reins to use when riding a horse such as:

• Neck Rein - laying the rein on the horse's neck to turn right or left. The neck rein is a Western type of rein technique where the rider rides with one hand. This type of technique is best suited to a bit with shanks and a solid mouth piece although if the horse is trained well enough it may be used with any type of or no bit.
• Direct Rein - this may be used in English or Western Riding. The direct rein is used when you directly pull the horse's nose in the direction that you would like to turn.
• Indirect Rein - this technique may be used in English or Western Riding. An indirect rein is a more advanced way of turning the horse. If you are turning right, your main rein with be the left rein and if you are turning left, your right rein will be the main rein. You indirectly use your rein to turn your horse as opposed to pulling his nose around to make a turn.
• Leading Rein - There are two possible descriptions for the leading rein, which can sometimes be confusing. Sometimes the direct rein is referred to as a leading rein, but a more accurate description is when you use an indirect rein to turn, your opposite hand/rein is the leading rein. It does not tip or turn the horse's nose into the turn rather it leads or guides the horse in the direction of the turn.
• Opening Rein - Same as Leading Rein

Introduction To Bits

There are many reasons we choose different types of bits and they put pressure on different places of the horse's mouth. There are entire books dedicated to this subject, but if you follow these general rules, you shold be able to ride your horse in your current bit most effectively.

When riding with an English Bit, a bit without shanks it may or may not be a snaffle, your elbows should be to your sides and your hands in closer together than your elbows. Don't allow your elbows to stick out to the sides like chicken wings. Keep them close to your body. The reason for this, is the bit is designed for optimum feel of the horse's mouth and bit performance in this position. Don't twist your hands when pulling back, pull straight back by moving your fingers or if you need more pressure bring your elbows back to shorten the reins. If you twist your hands to gain more rein you will no longer have a good straight connection to your horse's mouth. As with any type of bit, never break at your wrist. Keep a straight line from your elbow to your horse's mouth.

When riding with a Western Leverage Bit which may or may not be a snaffle a different principal applies. Training in a Western Snaffle is usually done with two hands. A solid mouth piece is for one handed riding. A horse doesn't learn to neck rein right away there are steps taken to get there. I'd like to talk about hand position for two handed riding with a bit that has a jointed mouth piece. As with an English bit, your elbows should not be out like chicken wings. The hand position is where there is a major difference, your hands should be out farther than your elbows for maximum feel of the horse's mouth and performance. The height of your hands will really depend on the bit and the horse, you will have to figure that part out on your own. But keep in mind that a leverage bit increases pressure when you lift your hands causing your horse to break at the poll. As with any bit, do not twist your hands when pulling up to the side or back. Keep a nice straight line to your horse's mouth without breaking at the wrist.

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The leverage bit needs less pressure from your hands than a non leverage bit. Any bit can can be severe, it all depends on the hands of the rider. A few more rules of thumb:

• The thicker the mouth piece, the gentler the bit.
• The thinner the mouth piece, the more severe the bit.
• The longer the shanks, the stronger the bit.

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This is a real simplistic explanation to a complicated theme, but it's just a basic introduction. There are hundreds of variations of bits, that require an in depth explanation, in this introduction, I just wanted to touch on the most basic how and why of English and Western Bits.

The Midas Touch

I have been at a teaching impasse lately. I see riders with no feel in their hands and hurting the horse or not taking a hold of the horse and the horse getting conflicting signals. It is taking forever to try and teach good hands. I don't want the horses to have to wait "forever". I'm a bit impatient these days. Pregnant and impatient, that's me.

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Fredi and I have been racking our brains how to help these riders have the "aha" moment. I finally realized what part of the problem is, I usually ride in on my lessons. I ride with my students. I cannot do that right now because I'm pregnant. I can't do much at this point because when I am pregnant, my body is practically useless around horses. Fredi was staying on the ground too because I can hardly touch a horse anymore without getting hurt. For some reason, one little pull or push and my back goes right out of place.

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Fredi is starting to ride during the lessons now to demonstrate which has helped. If you only see other riders ride incorrectly, how are you going to know what correct looks like? But, it still wasn't enough. Then I had to think back to I was the most successful at teaching a rider to use their hands and that was to sit behind them on the horse and take the riders hand into my hand and physically show them how it is supposed to feel. I also used my leg over the riders leg if needed to get the feel of when and how leg pressure should be applied. The rider often wants to use their hands with mine, but they shouldn't, they should just feel and not interfere if they want the full experience. Within minutes of using that technique, the rider will know what a horse's mouth should feel like and what a correct response feels like. They will know how much to pull with how much pressure, and when to release. The largest rider I have done this with was 200 pounds. We were on a big horse mind you, and the mare didn't mind.

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I know that riding double is not best for a horse's back, BUT what's 10 minutes of discomfort on the back for years of light feeling riding in the mouth? I am not allowed to ride right now, so Fredi is the designated double rider. We have a rather large saddle (19 inch) that comfortably seats two riders. If your child is having trouble learning how to feel a horse's mouth, this would be a great way to teach it. Or, if you have a professional with fantastic hands, let them be your guide. You will cut years off of your learning curve. Just be sure you are on a horse that can handle the type of weight that comes with two riders. Start out at the halt, then slowly begin the walk. If it's easy for the horse you can always add a jog. From there the rider should have the "aha" moment and can practice the rest on his or her own and have their own Midas touch, where every horse you/they ride turns to gold.