As you all know.. horses like to groom and be groomed. A magazine article I read suggested that you nail a few old horse brushes (the bristly ones) to the sides of the stall so the horse can rub against them to get at those annoying itches.

A good thing to remember is to always clean and oil your tack/fittings after each ride or as often as possible. This will ensure that everything is in good repair and will help it stay supple to decrease breakage.

A really good friend once told me something, that I will never ever forget. “The only thing predictable about a horse is that it’s unpredictable”. This is very true! Horses are animals, thereby they have animal instincts.. flight or fight. Always be careful around them!

This is common sense, but PLEASE… for the sake of safety, if you’re close to a horse that’s lying down… DO NOT stand in front of it or close to its hooves! 1: If a horse rolls, you’ll get kicked and hurt, 2: If the horse spooks, you’re in the way and in trouble and 3: When a horse gets up, they put
their front hooves directly infront of them and push forward and into you - if you’re in the way. So, stand away from the front of it and stay close to its back.

Riding Tips

I recieved this from my email and hope it helps you riders… :0

This page is going to have horseback riding tips (all disciplines).
1. The most important rule in horseback riding is…. KEEP YOUR HEELS DOWN!!!!!! Why?? Because not only does it make you more secure, but it also stops your foot from being caught in the stirrup should the horse spook.

2. The second most important thing is…. keep your head and shoulders up and sit straight up and down or lean slightly back. This puts you in a secure position for riding. For instance, if your horse were to buck and you were leaning forward, you would find yourself on the ground.

3. If the sport you choose to ride in requires speed for the most part (ie: eventing, games), it is best to choose nylon-backed stirrup leathers (for english saddles) as these can stand a lot of wear and tear and are almost unbreakable.

4. If you horse is going strong on the forehand or is lazy, you might want to try leaning back a little with your shoulders behind the perpendicular. This will make your seat stronger (as long as your legs stay in the correct position) and push your horse forward into better movement. But Beware… don’t overdo this as it may put strain on your horses back.

5. DO NOT WEAR JEANS when you’re riding english. Western is okay…but not english. They make you slip extremely easily..especially on a leather saddle and the seams can be very uncomfortable. Riding breeches are best because they are designed for riding.

6. Some horses are troubled by riding through water. Having a friend ride a calm horse through while you and your horse watch will show your horse there is nothing to be afraid of, or gently leading your horse through the water if it isn’t too deep can both help your horse overcome this problem.

7. I strongly advise anyone wanting to get involved with horses to take riding lessons with an instructor. When I first started riding, I didn’t have lessons and therefore adopted an incorrect seat - that was 6 years ago - I’m still working on correcting that fault. Riding instructors will teach you proper riding techniques, ground handling, etc… that will benefit you very very much! Please take the time to read my “Finding a GOOD Riding Instructor” page.