Horsemanship Journal Library

Patrick Hopgood concludes his series on training a young reining horse with the final steps in his programme.

At the end of this 12-month training programme, a horse should be able to perform every manoeuvre correctly and should be ready for a few schooling shows where they have a strong chance of running a solid 70. Just remember every horse is different so work with your horse and go at their pace.

If you observe and listen to a group of western coaches chatting about their sport, you will notice that each one has their own favourite method of coaching particular exercises be it lope over poles, transitions or reining manoeuvres. None of them are necessarily wrong, as long as the correct technical model is achieved (and the health and welfare of horse and rider is considered) but it does highlight that we are all individuals with our own preferences. Why then should a coach assume that every rider who comes to them for instruction should prefer to learn the coach’s way?

For a rider, controlling the mind and re-defining its output can breathe life into an otherwise lacklustre performance or ride. Controlling the mind is one of the more difficult tasks that a rider faces.

Western Type Equine conformation and biomechanics analyst Ross Brunt explains the common conformational traits of the western horse and how to assess a horse’s suitability to a particular western discipline.

A potential western or stock horse’s conformation is obviously a key factor in its selection. A horse’s proportions and conformation traits, through nature, are effectively providing a hint of its suitability/potential to a given task. Nature provides equines of varied types and shapes, but these variations all have a purpose and detailed conformation analysis can help identify these hints/traits within the athletic horse, and highlight how they can be used to advantage.

The road to winning isn’t what we thought, writes AQHA Professional Horsewoman and judge Tina Kaven.

As I write this article, I am communicating (via text message) with a young lady in Iowa. I'm coaching her from Texas in my living room. How can I possibly help her when I am thousands of miles away? I’m not on horseback, I can’t even see her, so how can I help? The power of coaching is all in the mind.

Linda Durochershares her philosophy on ‘sucking it up’ in the show pen. At the end of day it probably isn’t that bad! When the show season is upon us, I know it plays on my clients’ minds. Their nerves get more on edge as the first show of the season gets closer.