Category Archives: horse advice

Horse Safety for Kids and Beginners

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Cowgirl

For those of us who had the opportunity to grow up around horses, responsibilities and safe horse-handling practices became lifelong habits. But there are a lot of families with children who are starting from scratch, buying their first horse, and have no idea how to go about handling one. Here are some basic guidelines that kids and beginners should know about horses: Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Horse Info, Horseback riding, horse advice, horse riding, horse safety, life in the country, riding horses | Leave a comment

Spring Turnout

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Cowgirl

Here in the midwest things are changing. It’s unbelievable what a week’s worth of rain can do for the dried up roots of winter….everything in Iowa is magically green! Our horses are anxiously awaiting turnout, greeting me with whinnies whenever I appear. I love watching them canter out to graze, usually bucking or tossing their [...] Continue reading →

Posted in Horse Health, country lifestyle, horse advice, horse care, life in the country | Leave a comment

A Horse That Bites

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Cowgirl

Writing in response to a recent question from a reader of my horse blog, I’d like to address the issue of how to correct a horse that bites you when you’re handling it. In this day and age of political correctness, what kind of discipline is acceptable to train a horse to not bite? Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Horse Info, Horse Training, horse advice, horse training advice, horse training methods, horse training tips, horse vices | Leave a comment

Scars

Posted on March 19, 2011 by Cowgirl

Every body’s got a tale to tell, and if you’ve been as enthusiastic about outdoor activities as I have, chances are you have some scars as reminders of your experiences. I noticed a scar of mine the other day, which made me start thinking about how I got that scar, which made me wonder just how many scars do I have that are horse-related? I have to say, almost all of my scars have a horse story behind them. Continue reading →

Posted in Horse Stories, Horseback riding, cattle work, country lifestyle, horse advice, horse injuries, horse memories, horse riding, riding horses, riding horses bareback, training colts | Leave a comment

Rewarding the Try

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Cowgirl

Training a horse can be really hard and really easy. It depends on how well you can communicate to the horse and how well you can read what the horse is thinking. If you can recognize the moment in which the horse is trying to work for you and reward him for it, it creates a trust and a learning progression that will develop a strong foundation in the horse’s training. Continue reading →

Posted in Horse Training, colt starting, horse advice, horse training advice, horse training methods, horse training tips, training colts | Leave a comment

Choosing A Trainer

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Cowgirl

Whether you’re paying someone to train your horse, give you lessons, or simply choosing which trainer to watch and follow on RFDtv, it’s important to understand what you’re learning and make an educated choice concerning trainers. Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Horse Info, Horse Training, Horseback riding, horse advice, horse trainers, horse training advice, horse training methods, horse training tips, riding lessons | Leave a comment

A Horse of Her Own

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Cowgirl

I know what it’s like to want a horse of your own and work to find a way to make it happen. My dreams have always revolved around horses, and whether it was saving my allowance money to buy a saddle or mucking out stalls to secure a spot for my horse to live, I was willing to do whatever it took. Continue reading →

Posted in Horse Stories, Horse Training, buying a horse, horse advice, horse care, horse memories, my first horse | Leave a comment

Horse Conformation Tips

Posted on February 5, 2011 by Cowgirl

I’m no expert on horse conformation. I sometimes look at a horse and think, “Wow—he’s beautiful!” and totally miss that his shoulder is too straight or his stifle is weak. For the average horse lover, conformation isn’t a big deal. We just love looking at horses. But for a serious rider, it’s one of the most important things to look for in a horse. Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Horse Info, Buying/Selling Horses, Horse Health, buying a horse, horse advice, horse conformation | Leave a comment

Gentling a Spooky Horse

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Cowgirl

I had a reader contact me through my blog awhile back. She said that she and her family had acquired two yearling horses, and were having a little trouble getting them gentled down. These are just a few ideas to help you work through the first steps of gentling and training your horse. Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Horse Info, Horse Training, catching a horse, colt starting, horse advice, horse training advice, horse training methods, horse training tips, training colts | Leave a comment

Horse-Selling Strategies

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Cowgirl

Selling a horse in a tough economy can be a difficult thing to accomplish. And selling a horse in the middle of a harsh winter in snow country can be downright impossible. I’ve been helping my folks advertise a few of their Quarter Horses for sale in Idaho, and have found some tips and ideas to help their chances of finding a buyer. I’ll share them here, so if you’re trying to sell a horse as well, you might find these tips helpful as well. Continue reading →

Posted in Buying/Selling Horses, buying a horse, horse advice, horse auctions, horse sales, selling a horse | Leave a comment