Sonoma County FREE! HORSE JOURNAL

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Sonoma County FREE! HORSE JOURNAL Sonoma County FREE! HORSE JOURNAL 1 SONOMA COUNTY HORSE JOURNAL |WINTER 2020 Volume 17 • Issue 1 • Winter 2020 | Published by the Sonoma County Horse Council Jennifer Knef approaches luxury real estate marketing from an investor’s perspective even if her clients are buying or selling their primary residence. She helps homeowners sell at the highest possible price in the least amount of time and also helps buyers uncover hidden opportunities for upside potential. With a professional career that spans over 30+ years in Real Estate, Banking and Finance, Jennifer’s focus is representing the most distinctive wine country, rural and equestrian estates of Sonoma, Napa and Marin Counties. 707.537.2370 d 707.483.7345 c [email protected] Jennifer Knef.com DRE#01503867 SONOMA COUNTY HORSE JOURNAL | WINTER 2020 2 SCHC Board of Directors President Elizabeth Palmer [email protected] Sonoma County Vice-President Sahar Bartlett ORSE OURNAL Volume 17 • Issue 1 • Winter 2020 [email protected] H J Published by the Sonoma County Horse Council – Home of the Equus Awards Treasurer Mark Krug [email protected] Inside this Issue Directors Contributor Biographies 4 Henry Beaumont President’s Message – Elizabeth Palmer 5 Denise Gilseth News & Newsworthy 6 Greg Harder Equus Announcement 7 Ted Stashak, DVM Chatwin – Patti Schofler 8 Sandra Van Voorhis Our Evacuation – Melissa Kalember 10 Galapagos Horses Find Support – Sandra Van Voorhis 12 Where East Meets West 14 The Horse Journal Editorial Committee Horse Books Linked to Northern California 16 How Horses Teach Us to Lead – Catherine A. Held, Ph.D 18 Managing Editor Horsing Around in the Snow – Daniel J. Demers Patti Schofler 20 [email protected] Winter Riding in Sonoma County – Robin Everett 21 Were You Ready for the Kincade Fire? – Sandra Van Voorhis Graphic Design 22 Lynn Newton Get the Low Down on Horse Teeth – Mechelle Beko, DVM 23 [email protected] Hiring a Hauler – Alisha Robinson 24 Copy Editor Getting to the Roots of the Matter – Amy Young 26 Eileen O’Farrell Winter Care Solutions – Elizabeth Denison 28 HaHa! Ad Sales Manager 29 Laurie Waissman Ad Specifications and Rates 30 [email protected] Photography Photos: Marcie Lewis Photography Marcie Lewis The scene is reminiscent of the Great Hall at the [email protected] famed Spanish Riding School of Vienna, only it’s Sonoma County’s Spring Hill Estates of Tomales William T. Stacy and the stars are Jaclyn Pepper of Santa Rosa and [email protected] her own Cooper QLF, a 2010, 18 hand Hanoverian Distribution Diva successfully competing nationally at Intermediaire I Lisa Thomas level dressage. [email protected] Cooper is home grown, bred at Queens Lane Farm in Petaluma, the city where Jaclyn runs her Printing training business. AD-Vantage Marketing, Inc. Spring Hill Estates which includes this elegantly ad-vantagemarketing.com refurbished barn and three homes is the venue for weddings and events and is owned by Larry Peter of the Petaluma Creamery and Washoe House. Helping to make this photo shoot happen we thank Bob Bailey, Loren DeRoy, Marsha Busekist and Cliff Busekist. Contact Us © Sonoma County Horse Council. All rights reserved. The Sonoma County Horse Council is a non-profit Sonoma County Horse Council volunteer organization. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. It is PO Box 7157 published for informational purposes only and has been written and edited in good faith with no will- Santa Rosa, CA 95407 ful, negligent, malicious, or fraudulent activity in mind. Please contact us with any errors or omissions www.sonomacountyhorsecouncil.org so that corrections may be made in future publications. 3 SONOMA COUNTY HORSE JOURNAL |WINTER 2020 CONTRIBUTORS Patti Schofler is the managing editor of the Horse Michelle Beko, DVM, has been an equine veteri- Journal, a publicist and freelance writer for na- narian since 1991. She enjoys spending time with tional equestrian sports magazines. She began her husband and daughter, eventing her horse her writing career as a reporter for the Chicago Zeke, hiking and traveling. She can be reached at Tribune and is author of the Lyons Press book on Empire Equine, (707) 545-3903. Arabian horses Flight Without Wings. Passionate www.empire-equine.com about journalism and dressage, art and travel, she is a graduate of the USDF L Judges Education Program and trains her eight-year-old PRE Toledano. Alisha Robinson grew up in West Marin and Petaluma eventing and fox hunting. When she Melissa Kalember is a U.S. Equestrian Federation was 15, her mom, farrier Laura Gish, insisted that R judge, Sacramento Area Hunter Jumper As- when they returned from horse shows, Alisha was sociation judge, equine masseuse and intuitive to back the horse trailer up their windy driveway. trainer at (707) 363-1258 or melissa@kalembere- By 18 she was a polo groom, driving 12-horse quine.com goosenecks, and a dressage groom flying with horses back East. When she couldn’t ride, clip horses or manage a barn because of a broken shoulder, she bought a four-horse trailer and announced she was in business. After 15 years, she is in high demand, as she was Sandra Van Voorhis is a 30-year resident of during the 2017 Sonoma County fires when she ran logistics for a fleet Sonoma County. Horses have always been a of trucks and trailers around the North Bay. passion from her first feisty pony Shasta to her “When people asked me what I wanted to do, having a suc- current herd of two-gaited horses Shadow and cessful business hauling horses wasn’t on the radar. But my skill set, Timber. Best of times have been on the local trails everything I’ve done up to this point, makes me the perfect person or in the high Sierra with her posse of like-mind- to do this.” ed equine enthusiasts. She serves on the Sonoma County Horse Council board of directors and continues to enjoy a long career in the food industry. Amy Young is the equine outreach manager at the University of California, Davis, (UCD), Center for Equine Health. After completing her master Depth psychologist Catherine Anne Held, Ph.D., of science in genetics at UCD, she spent several hangs out with Primo, a thirty-something Peruvian years researching genetics and health of com- Paso. The Petaluma author’s forthcoming book is panion animals, horses, and livestock at the UCD Called by the Horse: Women, Horses and Conscious- School of Veterinary Medicine and Department ness. Find out more at www.catherineheld.com. of Animal Science. She is a hunter rider and a judge for the Sacra- mento Area Hunter Jumper Association, Interscholastic Equestrian Association and Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association. Information about the Center for Equine Health is available at https://ceh.vetmed. ucdavis.edu/. Danny Demers and his partner Chrissy Nich- ols are former owners of McT’s Bullpen sports bar in Guerneville. Danny holds a BA in History Elizabeth Denison of Simply Wonderful Living is a from George Washington University and an MBA wellness consultant and educator with 40 years of from Chapman University. Demers is a history re- knowledge in wellness practices, including certifi- searcher and writer. See www.danieldemers.com cations in yoga instruction, massage therapy and energy healing modalities. Her passion is the use of therapeutic grade essential oils to help others build nuanced, respectful and healthy relation- Robin Everett is a freelance bookkeeper and 35+ ships with themselves and with their horses. She lives with her hus- year resident of Petaluma. She has been a board band in Santa Rosa and enjoys trail riding and dressage training with member of Golden Gate Arabian Horse Asso- Kali Rose, her beloved Morgan mare. (707) 477-1824 or elizabeth@es- ciation since 2004, and holds the position of trail sentialoiloracle.com coordinator. Although horse-crazy her entire life, she did not purchase her own horse until age 50. Her equine sport of choice is endurance, and she has an AERC record of 4,720 miles since 1998. She currently owns Be a Member of the Horse Council three horses, two of which are retired endurance horses and a third who is an excellent trail horse. SonomaCountyHorseCouncil.org SONOMA COUNTY HORSE JOURNAL | WINTER 2020 4 PRESIDENT’S CART) was exemplary in its as- sistance at the Sonoma County MESSAGE Fairgrounds and Sonoma Horse Park, creating an organized, safe environment for evacuated ani- his past October was disturbingly familiar, yet completely mals. The Horse Council is hon- Tdifferent from recent years. ored to be part of CART’s large Fire once again forced many of us to flee with our animals, animal sheltering team. We are many in the early hours, with roaring winds around us and the also grateful for the commercial future uncertain. And once again, we populated the Sonoma services, retailers and other orga- County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa Equestrian Center, Sonoma Horse nizations that donated time, effort Park and private ranches with our horses and other large animals. and supplies. We are all better at evacuations, a somewhat sad, yet encour- We live in extraordinary times aging development. Most did everything right, getting out early, in an extraordinary place. We ac- coming to the designated large animal evacuation centers. There cept that we have unique respon- Elizabeth and Greycie were still challenges and some problems, but we’ll learn from sibilities to our animals, neighbors them and respond even better next time. Yes, our reality includes and ourselves. The Horse Council will continue our mandate and a next time. improve upon it, providing information, news and training while So, as president of the Sonoma County Horse Council and as fostering the relationships necessary to keep our community safe, one of dozens of volunteers who worked to coordinate and sup- informed and prepared.
Recommended publications
  • The Upside-Down Horse
    The Upside-Down Horse THE UPSIDE-DOWN HORSE By Lee Ziegler, revised 1997 Does your horse travel with his nose in the air, looking for stars? Does he have a concave curve in his neck, just in front of his withers? Is he awkward going downhill? Does he have trouble turning sharply or going in large circles? If he has these problems, it is a sure bet that he is an "upside-down horse." This doesn't mean that he spends his time lying on his back with his feet in the air! It means that when you ride him, his neck, back, croup and belly form a series of concave curves. This "hollow “position is bad for the horse and not very attractive to look at; it also works against a smooth, rhythmic fox trot. Fortunately, being upside down is not a permanent state for most horses. You can avoid teaching young horses to travel in this position, and you can retrain older horses out of the habit. If there are no gross physical reasons for a horse to travel upside down, you can help turn him right-side up. WHAT IS WRONG WITH AN UP SIDE DOWN HORSE? High Head: An upside down horse is usually one that carries a high head. This may not be a problem if he is ridden only in smooth riding arenas. However, it is a problem if you try to ride him out on the trail over rough ground, through brush, or up and down steep banks. With his head stuck up in the air like a peacock, he can't focus on where he is going.
    [Show full text]
  • Pat Parelli Combines En
    (7) ‘, :` (b• i 4e. Pat Parelli combines `e:,(‘% centuries-old horse training c.''.eN c`b' -.• Sei N' techniques with modern ' 11' ei concepts of behavioral science. C').Q A New Look at Old Methods Part ONE of Three Parts By ROBERT M. MILLER, D.V.M. PAT PARELLI looks and sounds like two diffe- rent people. What you see is a lean, tall, tobacco- chewing cowboy. And, he is that. The 28-year-old Californian is an all-around hand who has done very well in rodeo competition, both intercollegiate and PRCA, especially in the bareback bronc riding event. What you hear is an articulate, energetic man who sounds like a college professor. His speech, when he talks about training horses, is sprinkled with terms like "bonding," "positive reinforcement," "con- ditioned response," and "transitional process." What amazes me is how much understanding of the mind of the horse Pat has accumulated so early in his life. I'm twice his age, and after working with horses all of my adult life, I feel that I am just beginning to understand the art of equine communication. (See my series on "Horse Psychology," Western Horseman, January, February, and March 1979.) It is pure pleasure to watch Parelli start a green colt and see the consistent and intricate responses he can elicit in a couple of hours, and witness the smoothness and relaxation with which his started horses work. In this introductory article Pm going to tell you about the man and his philosophy. Next month, I'll describe how those principles are used in his training techniques.
    [Show full text]
  • Anrc National Equitation Championships Rules and Specifications
    ANRC NATIONAL EQUITATION CHAMPIONSHIPS RULES AND SPECIFICATIONS Revised August 2019 Overview: The ANRC National Equitation Championships are an invitational competition for collegiate, junior, adult amateur, and ANRC alumni teams that pay an annual ANRC team membership fee. There is no need to qualify. Everyone is welcome to join us in 2020. Membership opens September 1, 2019. The ANRC National Equitation Championships are traditionally held on the second or third week in April. The championship for each group is held on the same weekend and judged separately. In each championship, teams may compete in a 3′ National Division or a 2’6 Novice Division. Participants may compete on a school-owned horse, a leased horse, or a privately-owned horse. The competition is judged and scored on equitation skills and sound horsemanship practices. The highest score in each phase will be awarded to the rider who demonstrates excellence in equitation and produces a smooth, cooperative performance exemplifying quality hunter movement both on the flat and over fences. The scores are added to produce an both individual and team standings. The four phases are described below: • Written test based on riding theory and a selected stable management topic worth 5% of the total score • Flat Phase (includes USEF Hunter Equitation Tests) worth 35% of the total score • Equitation Derby Course (natural jumps in a field) worth 30% of the total score • Hunter Seat Medal Course worth 30% of the total score Teams: A college or high school/organization that pays a team membership fee may field one team in each division. Each team can have a minimum of two riders or a maximum of three riders.
    [Show full text]
  • Adventures.Pdf
    Adventures of the Blue-Eyed Stallion Printed by Palominos & Arabs Fallbrook, Ca 92028 Copyright 2002 No part of this book may be reproduced by any means, nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted , or otherwise copied for public or private use, without written permisssion from the publisher. THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO MY HUSBAND BRYAN WHO HAS OR MANY YEARS INDULGED MY PASSION OR HORSE TRAINING, AND TO GINA ALLISON WHOSE LOVE O HORSES IS MATCHED BY HER CREATIVE LAYOUT IDEAS. AND TO LINDA TYGANHO, ANOTHER HORSE LOVER WHO INTRODUCED ME TO COMPUTERS ENABLING ME TO PUT THIS TRUE STORY TOGETHER OR PUBLICA- TION. 6 Part 1 Banquo Arrives 7 The many trees cast shade everywhere 8 As the trailer door opened. I could see a very different world than the high desert of extreme cold and heat and severe sun where I had been. In this new place the air seemed softer and full of interesting odors. There were other horses curious about my arrival. I could hear them neighing and prancing. When I backed out of the big four-horse trailer, I saw lots of flowers lining the arena. They looked delicious. The orange trees around the arena were short enough that I could easily reach the sweet fruit. The huge oak trees were circled with more pretty flowers. And flowers were also by the trees that lined the property. The many trees cast shade everywhere, which is very important to me 9 because I am a cremello colored stallion with sensitive pink skin. I thought, how nice, I wont have to wear that ridiculous fly mask.
    [Show full text]
  • Prepping Yearlings for Sales How It’S Done at Elm Tree Farm
    FARM MANAGEMENT brought to you by CYNTHIA McFARLAND Prepping yearlings for sales How it’s done at Elm Tree Farm BY CYNTHIA MCFARLAND In 1989, Jody and his father before the prepping process begins. bought the original property that After yearlings start staying up in “CHOOSE A JOB you love, and became Elm Tree Farm in Paris, the day,they are groomed thoroughly. you will never have to work a day Kentucky. While getting this ven- Stiff brushes are the only thing used in your life.” ture off the ground, he also man- on tails because a comb pulls out the When Confucius uttered those aged the equine operation at the hairs. Yearlings begin wearing a words, the Chinese philosopher University of Kentucky, a position Chifney bit in their mouths during likely wasn’t referring to farm life. he held from 1989 until 1996. He grooming and are hand-walked with No matter how much you love it, and Michelle married in 1994 and, this equipment so they are very ac- making a living with horses involves after their daughter, Caroline, was customed to it before the sale. long hours and plenty of hard work. born in 1996, they made Elm Tree After exercise, most horses are At Elm Tree Farm in Paris, Ken- Farm their sole occupation. rinsed off and receive a shampoo tucky, owners Jody and Michelle At Elm Tree Farm, which now bath only once a week. Horses that Huckabay have been working side encompasses 600 acres, the Huck- go in the swimming pool are bathed by side making their dreams a re-abays offer a full range of services, with antibacterial shampoo every ality for many years.
    [Show full text]
  • Every Horse Owners
    ef>" I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.! f|lrap...?X....4o^^^^^^^^^ I ^/^.//.M ;.: I f UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. I || <!' /olio, A EVERY HOUSE OWNERS' TRAINING MANUAL HORSEMAN'S GUIDE CONTAININO FULL AND COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS IN BREEDING, BREAKING, TRAINING, AND EDUCATING THE TROTTING HORSE, BOTH IN THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC STATES. C. GRANVILLE JOHNSTON. SAK JFHAKdlSCO, CALl^OMIAt PtJBLISHEt) BY C. GRANVILLE JOHNBTON & COMPANY, Office No. 3t Stjt±£a StBEai. 1871. 5.F34 Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1871. BY JOHNSTON & COATES, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. PKINTED BY Jos. "WiNTERBUBN & COMPANY, 417 Clay Street, San Francisco, Cal. PREFACE I believe that it may be asserted, without fear of con- tradiction, that no book has yet been published in the English or any other language, which even professes to give a complete description of breeding, breaking, train- ing and educating the Trotting Horse in a form and style suited to the country gentlemen of the nineteenth cen- tury. It is true that some of these departments are described, but very imperfectly, in separate works; but they are generally written in technical language, suited rather for the professional student than for the use and comprehension of the ordinary reader. For these rea- sons the author of this work has thought that a book combining the above subjects, and confined strictly to those subjects, treated in a practical manner, and in a style popularly intelligible, would supply a deficiency which has long been complained of by all who are in- terested in the proper production and management of the Trotting Horse.
    [Show full text]
  • 2017 NC Statehorse Bowl Contest Junior Division Round 1
    2017 NC State Horse Bowl Contest Junior Division Round 1 1) Q: What is the name for the wooden or metal frame of a saddle? A: Saddle tree S: H&H2001(29) 2) Q: Describe the color "sorrel." A: Reddish or copper-red; the mane and tail are usually the same color as the body S: AYHCYL(B117-2) 3) Q: What part of a bridle or halter goes over the head of a horse? A: The headstall S: BH(59) 4) Q: Which teeth are used for grinding? A: Molars S: HS2001(10) 5) Q: What breed is known for performing the running walk? A: Tennessee Walking Horse S: H&H2001(5) 6) Q: In what hand should you carry the halter when you are preparing to catch a horse? A: Left hand S: BH(21) 7) Q: Which gait is characterized by a slow, naturally flat-footed, four beat gait? It is also known as the foundation gait. A: Walk S: H&H2001(17) 8) Q: Any bit with reins attached to the end of shanks is classifed as what type of bit? A: Curb bit S: BH(35) 9) Q: Describe the proper way to use a hoof pick when cleaning out a horse's feet. A: Smoothly pull the pick from the heel toward the toe S: BH(26) 10) Q: In horse judging terminology, what term describes a horse with correct alignment of the bones and ligaments? A: Structurally correct or structural correctness S: 4-HJM(9) 11) Q: Toe, quarter and heel are specific areas of what part of the horse? A: Hoof S: H&H2001(46) 12) Q: What is the term for a registered mark of identification that is typically located on the hip, neck, or cheek? A: Brand S: H&H2001; Newhor(4, 37) 13) Q: When working with a back cinch on a western saddle, which should be fastened first, the front or back cinch? A: Front S: BH(29) 14) Q: What is the most commonly used tool for estimating a horse’s body weight? A: Heart girth tape S: AYHCYL(A303-2) TOSS UP WITH A BONUS ATTACHED 15) Q: What term describes a horse whose upper incisors overhang the lower incisors? A: Parrot-mouthed or overshot jaw S: HS2001(15) BONUS QUESTION 16) Q: Name three of the four pieces that make up a halter.
    [Show full text]
  • TIMING and RATE of SKELETAL MATURATION in HORSES, with Comments on Starting Young Horses and the State of the Industry
    TIMING AND RATE OF SKELETAL MATURATION IN HORSES, With Comments on Starting Young Horses and the State of the Industry ©2008 By Deb Bennett, Ph.D. Introduction One of the most widely-read and widely- requested pieces of information contained in our ESI Website has been the following article which we familiarly refer to as “the Ranger piece.” By 2008, with our permission this article has been re-printed in more than 75 magazines and riding-club newsletters in countries as far away as South Africa, Scotland, and New Zealand. Without our permission it has also been posted on about a gazillion websites and “boards”, and, I am sure – one way or another — read by many thousands of people. Originally posted on December 14th, 2001 as part of the old “conformation analysis” section of our website, it was taken off line in January of 2004 with the restructuring of the site. It ran from 2005 to mid-2008 in the “Knowledge Base” section of our upgraded website, and a newly-revised version, which for the first time includes data tables and a Fig. 1. Barbaro at the Preakness, before his catastrophic bibliography of technical references, is here bone fracture. presented in PDF format. We continue to post this article in the belief that you might appreciate having a downloadable copy, so as to more readily be able to share it with friends and neighbors whom you think might want or need to see it. Of particular relevance are recent conversations I have had with breeders, owners, the officials of several different humane organizations, news reporters, veterinarians, and numerous members of the general public who have been concerned over the well-publicized deaths of such racehorses as Ruffian, Barbaro, and Eight Belles.
    [Show full text]
  • Longe Line Training Melvin Bradley, Department of Animal Husbandry, College of Agriculture and Sam Sabin, New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
    u M GUIDE - C P116/islted 611 tlte lb1iversit11 of )lisso11ri - eu/111116i11 £Kte11sio111Jivisio11 Longe Line Training Melvin Bradley, Department of Animal Husbandry, College of Agriculture and Sam Sabin, New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Longeing is a procedure in which the horse travels in a large circle around the handler on a long strap or line. It is useful in training young horses and in exercising others. Longeing affords the horse an opportunity to improve balance and develop stride and action. It is also a good way to reduce energy in overactive horses before they are ridden. Longeing can be started after weaning, but be careful not to let a young horse hurt himself by being jerked off-balance on a longe line. Equipment Needed You will need a halter (or longeing cavesson), whip, longe line, and halter shank. The cavesson has various places that the longe line can be attached. It is well padded for protection over the nose and under the chin. Longeing cavessons may be expensive, but cost can be justified when they can be used on several horses. - If you have only a few horses, you may use a good fitting halter to which the longe line can be attached on either side. Use web or nylon longe lines as they are lighter and stronger than rope and leather lines. A longeing cavesson has various places to which the Ionge line can be attached. It is well padded for protection over the nose and under the Preliminary Preparation chin. Before horses are longed they should be taught to lead from either side, and to stop, stand, and back.
    [Show full text]
  • 4AF-03RD:4-H Horse Project Record
    4AF-03RD COOPERATIVEEXTENSIONSERVICE UNIVERSITYOFKENTUCKY—COLLEGEOFAGRICULTURE 18 U. S. C. 707 4-H Horse Project Record For Kentucky 4-H Horse Club Members Reviewed by: Dr. Robert Coleman, Extension Specialist, Department of Animal Sciences Name ________________________________________ Club _________________________________________ Leader(s) _____________________________________ __________________________________________________ Age __________________________________________ Birth Date ___________________________________ County ______________________________________ Year _________________________________________ Agriculture & Natural Resources • Family & Consumer Sciences • 4-H/Youth Development • Community & Economic Development Keeping good records is an important part of your 4-H work. Accurate records will tell others about your work and progress and will help you to become a better horseman. You should answer all of the questions under “General Information” at the beginning of the project. Some of the questions will ask you to establish goals for the coming year. Each 4-H horse club member is encouraged to set at least one goal which he or she plans to attain during the project year. General Information Name of horse _________________________________________________________ Age _____________________ Breed _________________________________________________________________ Reg. or grade _____________ Sex ___________________________________________________________________ Height ___________________ Color and markings _________________________________________________________________________________
    [Show full text]
  • Farmers'bulletin
    Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FARMERS' |Has bean rrw • •—see rev«eà# BULLETIN > binders at ^ end of file» ^ ■^ WASHINGTON, D. C. 667 MAY 22, itfM). ¿-^ ^ Contributions from the Bureau of Animal Industry, A. D. Melvin, Chieî BREAKING AND TRAINING COLTS. By V. G. STAMBAUGH, Animal Husbandry Division, INTRODUCTION. The breaking and training of colts is of prime importance, because their future value and usefulness depends to a great extent on whether or not they are well broken. By a broken colt is meant one that is safe to handle in the stable or on the road and that will promptly obey the orders of the driver or rider. Memory and habit are the two main factors with which we have to deal in training horses. A horse acts through instinct and habit, and one of its greatest characteristics is uniformity of conduct. What a horse is once trained to do he will nearly always do under like conditions. The first thing in training a horse is to get his attention. The second is to make him understand what is wanted. The education of the horse is based on reward and punishment. The reward, a pat on the neck, etc., should immediately follow the act of obedience. The punishment, to be effective, must immediately follow the act of disobedience. Few horses are inherently vicious. Many horses are made vicious and unreliable by the carelessness or unnecessary brutality of their trainers. If a horse kicks because the harness hurts him, or shies at something of which he is afraid, punishment is not justifiable.
    [Show full text]
  • Historic, Archived Document Do Not Assume Content Reflects Current
    Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. IfMIIBIItS , U. S. DEPARTMENT fITMP AGRICULTURE FARMERS' BULLETIN No 1368 BREAKING AND TRAINING COLTS ■ THE VALUE AND USEFULNESS of horses de- pend to a great extent on how well they are trained. The horse is taught to do things by the association of ideas. A deflnite word should always be used for the same command. The word " whoa " means stop to him for the reason that he has been trained to stop when he hears that word. Begin the training early and later lessons will not be difficult. Handle the colt regularly, as frequent short lessons are of more value than occasional long ones. The horse does things largely because of habit, and therefore much care should be exercised in estab- lishing good habits. Kindness is essential in training horses. Few horses are inherently vicious, but many are made vicious by carelessness or brutality. To train horses successfully a man needs to exercise patience, gentle- ness, and firmness. Overloading the young horse is apt to cause balki- ness. Punishing him for something that he can not do may also have the same result. The well-trained horse that " walks up on the bit " is demanded by city trade. This bulletin describes methods of properly break- ing and training colts raised on the average farm, and is not intended as a treatise on the training of horses for special purposes, such as trotters, saddle horses, hunters, polo ponies, etc. The training of such horses requires the services of men especially skilled in particular phases of horsemanship and should not be attempted by the novice.
    [Show full text]