Pets Information

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:

Baltimore Sun

Keep your pet safe this Fourth of July
Los Angeles Times
With the Fourth of July upon us, pet experts are urging owners to keep their furry friends' safety in mind. Although dogs and cats (like the stars of our ...
Fourth of July safety for petsExaminer.com
People fun can be scary for petsGainesville Times
Pets and FireworksWCTV
SunHerald.com (registration) -Carroll County Times -WLFI.com
all 193 news articles »



KOMU-TV

Keep pets safe amid noise, lights
Deseret News
The Best Friends Animal Society wants to remind pet owners to consider their pets' safety this holiday weekend. According to a release from the group, ...
Adopt a pet for $4 on the Fourth of JulyWTHR
Shelter Hopes $4 Adoptions Match Pets With Happy HomesINDYchannel.com
Winslow Pet of the WeekAzJournal.com
Beaufort Observer -Rolling Meadows Review -Daily Comet
all 17 news articles »


Orlando Sentinel

Noise, excitement of July 4th can frighten pets
Seattle Times
Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks can be stressful for dogs, cats and other pets. Here are some tips on how to keep pets calm and safe through the ...
Watch out for your furry friends on the FourthKansas City Star

all 5 news articles »


Pet-supply shops grow while other retailers fade
Seattle Times
Pet-supply stores have won the hearts of shoppers who refuse to be cheap with their animal companions even when their wallets are thin. ...

and more »


San Francisco Chronicle

The truth about pets and parasites in California
San Francisco Chronicle
Once upon at time, pet parents living in California didn't have to worry too much about nasty things like parasites and zoonotic diseases (diseases ...

and more »


PR Web (press release)

Hurricane Season... Plan For Safety of Large Pets
Promenade
Hurricane season is here and Broward County Animal Care and Regulation reminds all pet owners to prepare to safeguard their pets and large animals before, ...
Tips for keeping your pet coolBradenton Herald
Your cat question could be featured on reality TVOxford Press
Dogs riding in open bed of pickup truck safety concernsExaminer.com
Animal Friends Pet Insurance -Bend Bulletin -Animal Friends Pet Insurance
all 22 news articles »


Examiner.com

Hundreds Of Mass. Pet Stores Warned About Meds
Boston Channel.com
BOSTON -- The state's top consumer advocate wants pet stores to be aware of growing concerns about certain flea and tick treatments first raised in a Team 5 ...
Choose flea and tick products wiselyExaminer.com

all 2 news articles »


Examiner.com

No hot dogs on the Fourth of July? Summer pet safety tips
Examiner.com
Please don't leave your pets alone in parked vehicles. Even with the windows open, a parked car can quickly become a furnace. While the temperature outside ...
Summer safety for pets Posted On: Saturday, Jul. 4 2009 01:26 AMKilleen Daily Herald

all 2 news articles »


Fireworks and pets don't mix
Examiner.com
If you have pets, be cautious and consideration of your pet's needs during the Independence Day patriotism. For many dogs, and some cats as well, ...
Fireworks Mean Anxiety For PetsKOLN

all 2 news articles »

Google News

home | site map ZLX.com home
© 2006