How To - Horse Training

The events of 2020, continuing into 2021, have changed the way many run their business. Livery yards and equestrian centres have been particularly hard hit; not only by the effects of closure or reduced income, but also by the lack of clarification in rules and the subsequent people management involved when the rules have not been particularly clear. It has made many yard owners consider how they can improve their yard for the better moving forward.

While the option of loaning a horse – rather than buying – is often dismissed as a risky endeavour, with the right guidance, loaning or part loaning/sharing a horse can be a great opportunity for all three parties; the owner, the loanee and the horse itself. I started out my equestrian journey by loaning my little Welsh pony, Buster – who is actually still living with me after we made him a permanent part of the family many years ago – and I have been loaning two ex-racehorses, Jake a...

In my last article, I wrote about the rider's seat. Now I would like to follow up with the rider’s aids; how we communicate and how we influence our horse. The rider can only give correct aids if they can sit in balance, are supple and able to adapt to the horse's movement. As riders, we influence the horse with our seat, legs and reins. These aids form the basis of our communication with the horse. In order to be able to purposefully use them, we need to know exactly how they affect the ho...

I have wanted to document our journey for a while now and what better way to do so than by sharing it with all of you. Hopefully, at the very least, it will be an interesting read for most of you – written in total layman’s terms – documenting the reality of treating and rehabbing a horse with Kissing Spine. At best, I hope it may help, encourage or inspire someone going through the same thing themselves while they’re trying to find their way in making the right decisions for their own h...

Do you ever feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day? Juggling work, family, social life, horses and everything else life throws at us in between can be overwhelming at times. We leave the house at the crack of dawn and don’t get home till after dark, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Now, I know most of us wouldn’t change that for the world; we are dedicated to the sport and love our horses too much for that. But, when we are constantly on the go and rushing through life at 10...

I’ve finally read this cover to cover rather than dipping in and out, and boy I wish I hadn’t waited so long, although it was worth the wait! I feel I’ve got to know Denny’s ‘voice’ from his blogging on Tamarack Hill Farm, and I love his unflinching ability to say it as he sees it, which is generally pretty accurate! I would go so far as to say this is a ‘should read’ for any equestrian trying to get to any level. For starters, this is not a book for someone who wants to const...