The TOP 7 Mistakes Horse Owners Make


Mistake #7 - Assuming You Can Get On Any Horse And Simply Ride

Not all horses are the same. Some you can get on and easily ride. Some are so green that you could be easily injured if you have little or no riding experience. The ones easy to ride are typically older horses. They have been ridden the most and will be the most forgiving of a beginning rider's mistakes. The younger horses will be the hardest to ride unless they have been thoroughly broke.

Mistake #6 - Assuming A Horse Trainer's Technique Is The Only Way To Train A Horse

When novice horse owners begin to experience problems with their horse, they go looking for answers. The first place they look is in books. When the author of the book explains a training technique, the reader assumes that's how it's done by everyone. But when they can't train their horse with that technique, they assume a dumb or untrainable horse. What novice horse owners need to know is that there are typically lots of ways to train a horse to do one thing. If you try something and it doesn't work, try something else.

Mistake #5 - Not Riding A Horse Enough

New horse owners experience problems with horses not because the horse suddenly went sour, but because they don't ride their horses enough. About the best thing you can do to have a good horse is to ride it and ride it and ride it. Don't ride him just once every couple weeks. Horses need to ridden a lot to make them a good riding horse.

Mistake #4 - Thinking A Problem With The Horse Is The Horse's Fault

Although a horse may have some problems, they are typically a result of the horse's owner. There are rarely horse problems - it's more likely there are problem riders. For instance, if you can't get your horse to ride away from home (this is called "Barn Sour") it's likely because you don't have control over him. You can establish control with various techniques such as Doubling.

Mistake #3 - Not Understanding How Horses Think

Horses do not think like dogs or cats. Horses are a prey animal which means they run from scary things. They have thousands of years of the "flight instinct" built in their brains. To successfully train them takes patience and understanding that they are naturally fearful and cynical.

Mistake #2 - Not Knowing That Every Interaction With A Horse Is A Training Exercise

Every time you interact with your horse you are training him. Even if your horse is well trained with the lead rope, you are training him every time you use the lead rope. Even when you pet your horse, you are training him. Novice horse owners must think through what they do when working with their horse because they can easily and unknowingly affect a horse's behavior.

Mistake #1 - Riding A Horse With Little Or No Understanding Of Horsemanship

A typical novice horse owner will ride their new horse not knowing horse-riding skills. It is important to have an understanding of riding techniques because horses react to leg pressure, how you sit in the saddle, whether or not the rider is tense, and a whole host of other things.

Let's face it. Horses need to be understood for a horse owner to be successful with his horse. The best thing novice horse owners can do is learn how to ride, learn how horses think, learn what works good to shape horses' behavior, and understand that constantly riding a horse is just about the best thing you can do to have a good horse.

About The Author

Andy Curry is a nationally known horse trainer and author of several best selling horse training and horse care books. For information visit his website at www.horsetrainingandtips.com. He is also the leading expert on Jesse Beery's horse training methods which can be seen at www.horsetrainingandtips.com/Jesse_Beerya.htm.


MORE RESOURCES:

Better Business Bureau

FDA looks into complaints about dog treats made in Mo.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The company said Thursday in a statement that it was saddened to learn of the illnesses and deaths of customers' pets, and that quality and safety remain ...
Dog owners: Frick's Dynamic Pet Products ham bones hurt, killed petsBizjournals.com
FDA looking into complaints about deadly dog boneKMOX.com
BBB warns: Locally made dog bones can cause death, serious illnessSt. Louis Globe-Democrat
KOAM-TV
all 15 news articles »


KHON2

Occupants, pets safe after fire guts Pālolo home
Honolulu Advertiser
PĀLOLO — Firefighters combed through the burned-out shell of a Pālolo home yesterday afternoon, after a fire destroyed it early that morning ...
Palolo House Fire Causes $600000 in DamageKHON2

all 8 news articles »


My pet camera: Fujifilm releases special camera for dog and cat lovers
Los Angeles Times
Pet lovers know what I'm talking about when I say it's really difficult to take a picture of your pets and accurately capture just how darnn cute they are. ...



Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)

Help available for owners struggling to afford food for pets
Tampa Tribune
Gonzalez is just one of many people who because of their financial situation are now being forced to put their pride aside to make sure their pets don't go ...
Casper's Kitchen helps feed hungry petsMyFox Tampa Bay
PET OHANA Some birds make better pets than othersHonolulu Star-Bulletin
Cat Food Needed!Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)

all 8 news articles »


USA Today

Pet food advice: 'Chow Hound' is a guide for loving owners
USA Today
In his new book Chow Hound (Health Communications, Inc., $14.95), veterinarian Ernie Ward looks at the processed foods we give our pets. ...



USA Today

No hungry dogs: New pantry to help people afford pets
USA Today
The Associated Press reports dozens of pet owners lined up over the weekend at the Cincinnati Food Pantry to receive a two weeks' supply of pet food, ...

and more »


Tampabay.com

Pet Expo to be held this weekend
Tampa Tribune
By HERNANDO TODAY STAFF BROOKSVILLE - The Humane Society of the Nature Coast will present their sixth annual Nature Coast Pet Expo from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm ...
Nature Coast Pet Expo offers fun, help for animals and their ownersTampabay.com

all 3 news articles »


HSUS News

Eldon veterinarians open pet food pantry
KRCG
Doctors Kathy Bisges and Joann Kunz at Lake Pet Hospital are on a mission to help pets in Eldon and the surrounding communities. "We pretty much maxed out ...
Cincinnati food pantry helps out pet ownersChillicothe Gazette
Meet Our 2010 KIND Kid of the Year!HSUS News

all 6 news articles »


KOMO News

Manufacturer expands pet food recall
The Associated Press
Nature's Variety has expanded its recall of chicken-flavored pet food because of concerns over salmonella. The Lincoln, Neb.-based company said Monday that ...
Some Nature's Variety pet foods recalledUPI.com
Nature's Variety Expands Nationwide Voluntary Recall to Include All Raw Frozen ...PR Newswire (press release)
Nature's Variety Recall ExpandedAbout - News & Issues (blog)
Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
all 301 news articles »


Coyotes Attack, Kill Pets In Greenville County Neighborhood
News Channel 7
Her family found the pet dead in their driveway after an attack. "It's like a dinner menu for coyotes around here," says Ruth DeVorsey. ...
Coyotes Attacking, Killing Pets In UpstateWYFF Greenville

all 2 news articles »

Google News




PetsFriends.com - the best dating site for singles who are pet lovers!

home | site map
© 2006