As your horsemanship skills improve, it will benefit you and your horse to find ways of putting things into practice by playing with more obstacles and challenges. Below are some ideas photographed at various fun days and tournaments. Before trying the advanced versions such as at liberty or bareback/bridle-less, try them […]
More Interesting Challenges Read More »
The idea of this event is to have fun and complete as many of the challenges as you can in the allotted time. The total time is 30 minutes and each task successfully completed scores 5 points. You will be able to add 5 extra points for every additional part
Tasks featured at the Agfest Challenge Tournament Read More »
Many properties will have natural obstacles that can develop your ground skills, and turn tasks into fun. Just be sure to asses them thoroughly for safety first by checking for sharp areas, things that could snag a rope or small spaces a horse could trap a hoof. Kristen and Snowy discovered many
Finding Challenges around Your Farm Read More »
I wonder if you can help me. I have been practicing natural horsemanship for over 5 years and am learning every day. I have overcome some huge problems with emotional abused and damaged horses but am stuck on the current one. I normally allow a horse to chill a bit
Ask Cynthia – ‘Hoof Handling Problem’ Read More »
How to give your young horse the best start to riding. by Cynthia Cooper ‘Starting’ a young horse is a more positive than ‘breaking’ so I will use this term rather than the traditional ‘breaking-in’ that has become common language for training a horse to be ridden. After all, who wants
Starting Young Horses Under Saddle Read More »
Yesterday at my Young Horse Day workshop I met a wonderful soul in Boronia, a young shire mare. I was asked to work with her because she wouldn’t be caught, especially in the paddock with the other horses. She would give up in the yard as she knew she was
Giving Horses Choices – The beautiful Boronia Read More »
by Cynthia Cooper To horses, a treat is not a bribe unless you use it as one. I see it as a reward, or payment for a job well done. It offers incentive for the horse to earn more and they look forward to their work when payment is forthcoming.
Treats for Horses – Why Use Them? Read More »
by Cynthia Cooper Comfort zones are a survival mechanism for horses. If they aren’t familiar with something they become wary, putting them just outside their comfort zone into a ‘not too sure’ zone. When they become truly afraid for their survival, they go into their ‘Oh no I’m in danger’ zone
Comfort Zones – what are they? Read More »
by Cynthia Cooper Over the many years of being a student of the horse, pony club, Parelli, horse psychology, clicker training and many other great horsemen and women, I have learned a lot. In fact I’m a ‘learn-a-holic’! Learning is something I will continue to do until the day I
Educating My Horses Read More »
WARNING! Some people reading this article may think I’m taking an unfair swipe at various aspects of the horse world and those people who are involved with horses in one way or another. My only intention in writing this piece was to have a good, hard look at “what is”
Enslaved by Glenn Wilson © Read More »
by Cynthia Cooper Recently we had Melbourne Cup Day where the whole of Australia comes to a standstill at about 3pm to listen to, watch and cheer on the elite of the horseracing world. A huge amount of money will be won or lost, and the government will be happy
Spare a thought for the average racehorse Read More »
At an agricultural field day, I came across a small metal pen housing cute young miniature ponies. Three of them were in a tiny pen and as I got closer I saw they were all for sale. They were grumpy and bored and occasionally one would be aggressive to the
The Plight of Ponies By Vanessa Read More »
