Horsemanship

DIP ED Equine Podiotherapist – In laymans terms – I am a specialist hoof consultant. I trim your horse for optimal long-term soundness, corrective hoof treatments for problems you cannot seem to get rid of.

• Advice and supply of herbs & minerals for the health of both the horse and its environment
• Advice on the needs of your horse through the changing seasons of the year
• When to slow down feeding and what not to feed
• Example:  sugar content in grass and its effect on hoof growth and horse temperament
• Pain management – Example:  laminitic issues, injuries, muscle stress etc.
• Correct weight management
• Controls for flies and other pests
• Various equipment to help control all these issues

Setup of your property to provide the optimum environment for your horse in the amount of acreage available

What you need to supply for hooves, health and happiness.

Temperament issues may be easily solved by balancing nutritional needs ie; a jumpy or easily excitable horse may need magnesium supplementation.  It is amazing how different a horse becomes when the correct supplementation is given.

A highly strung horse may also be experiencing pain-related issues from its body or feet.  Many years of experience with a wide range of horse breeds/disciplines has put me at an advantage when I’m presented with a horse with these issues.

I have had extensive training in horsemanship. A gentle approach = a gentle horse.

Sometimes horses that have been abused or just plain ‘spoilt’, can be extremely dangerous to handle in the hands of a novice – I can assess your horse and offer training for you to learn how to address the issues that arise. One on one training may be best for your particular situation – or a group may benefit.  Your horse may be a ‘bully’ around feed times, or not lead very well.

I run clinics for that special ‘extra’ ie; desensitising your horse to obstacles, pulling logs and branches around, (you just never know – you may want to use him to collect branches around your property to put on the fire-pile! I have done this – makes the job fun and helps the horse become a little more useful!)going over wooden bridges (trails are full of these – and many horse simply will not go over without dramas) there are many other things we could teach your horse to become accustomed to.

I have a very experienced horse and pony you can learn on – from ground skills to saddle. They have been in the show-ring for many years and are very soft to handle, but also know when you ‘do it wrong’! And don’t hesitate to take advantage.

Buyer beware!  There are those unscrupulous sellers who will sell you a horse regardless of the suitability and often going to any lengths to do so – ie; drugging a horse so it “appears quiet. I can tell you if this has been done – if you take me with you. I can also determine how sound a horse is, from my extensive hoof experience and muscle work knowledge. Of course, if I see a problem, I have no issue with advising if a vet attend for further diagnosis

• How much land is needed?
• What are the nutrition requirements
• Exercise & training responsibilities
• Human training for the horse’s wellbeing
• It’s more than just sticking the horse in the paddock & feeding carrots to make you feel good

I have had at least 20 years experience  in showing my own horses, from agricultural shows – B grade breed shows and at state level. Etiquette in the show ring is very important for your own self esteem – therefore transferring that ‘leadership’ quality to your animal. Confidence and the ‘right’ knowledge is important, in the ring and outside the ring. I also have a sound knowledge of what a judge requires to ‘view’ your horse correctly (ie; how to stand and align your horse to its best advantage) These critical points will gain your advantage over other competitors – as the judge only has a few seconds to ‘see’ your horse. It is crucial to stand out from the crowd of maybe 20 competitors, I have done this with a mediocre horse and been given placings over better bloodlines! Not a trick – it is showmanship at its best! I have been trained by instructors who show at National levels. This is fun! Also very good for showing your horse/weanling for sale or just because.

There is a certain etiquette in trail riding too! Being a member of a club can be a lot of fun. It is more fun if you are regarded as a polite and knowledgeable participant. Ignoramuses tend to get ostracised – ignorant horses usually have ignorant owners.  Don’t be that! I can show you how to be a courteous member with all the know-how to safely negotiate hilly trails without hurting your horse or annoying others, how not to get your knees taken out by those corner posts and trees, therefore making it the social function it should be.

After many years of being a breeder and ‘showy’, being trained by top trainers who have shown at National and International level, I have an understanding of how to maximise the horses muscles for optimal show-ring shine but within the keeping of future soundness.

Lunging and in-hand exercises can start to re-train atrophied muscles that have been injured, or overused.

Lunging is never to be used for punishment or to calm and excited horse – it only creates a fit, excited horse who can be rude for longer! Lunging done correctly makes the mind fit and the body able to keep up with it.

This is explained in relationship building and retraining.  Most things are transferred into the saddle with a confident rider, and after the ground handling skills have been learnt. Once a basic trust has been acknowledged by the horse – things will often fall into place with the right training.

Saddling a horse can be stressful for both owner and horse – many horse who have been injured through incorrect saddle fit, rubbing on skin, too tight girthing, etc..will present with behaviour issues – even running away from the handler who wants to catch him. ‘Catching’ with a bucket of feed – then tricking the horse into being haltered usually creates trust issues that can easily lead to bad habits under saddle.

Often a horse will be acting out in a defensive manner – we think he’s playing up, when in fact he is saying something quite the opposite. He may be trying to tell us he’s confused or just plain old jacked off! He may be in pain, or it has triggered off a distant memory of something unpleasant. Just because he’s always done it, does not necessarily mean he is ‘that way inclined’ – there are a number of ways to softly retrain a nervous or anxious horse. Or mayb your horse is ‘bullying’ you? He may be questioning your leadership – in that case we can redirect that behaviour into a more ‘acceptable’ form of communication. Either way – usually there are many ways of building a more acceptable behavioural pattern that will transform your partnership into something more stable.

Advanced riders quite often ‘miss’ the tell-tale signs of sourness in their horses, as displays of ‘attitude’.  It may be pain or just plain ‘boredom’.