Horseback Riding: horseback riding

Showing posts with label horseback riding. Show all posts

Monday, March 31, 2014

Horseback Riding From The Comfort Of Your Computer Screen

2014 AQHA Horseback Riding Program Has All-Breed Division ...

http://www.equinechronicle.com Fri, 28 Mar 2014 13:56:49 GMT

AQHA Publicity. The American Quarter Horse Association Horseback Riding Program, sponsored by SmartPak and Professional's Choice, rewards AQHA and AQHYA members for the time they spend in the saddle. With two ...

http://internetbrothers.org Sat, 29 Mar 2014 16:49:42 GMT

The Molalla River Trail System is loaded with so many trails that one could visit it several times and never repeat a hike or ride. There are dozens of loop options to customize your own adventure. It is located 12 miles ...

http://www.rightthisminute.com Mon, 24 Mar 2014 07:40:00 GMT

It's a perspective you've probably never seen before, unless you've gone horseback… more. Helmet cam footage puts you right on the saddle of this jumping horse, Sunny. It's a perspective you've probably never seen before, ...

http://iamnecole.com Wed, 19 Mar 2014 16:59:34 GMT

A horseback ride is everything it's cracked up to be! Earlier this year, when a few close friends and I returned from vacation,we made two vows; To spend more time with each other, and to try something new and adventurous ...

What to Wear Horseback Riding!

Hope this is helpful! Watch Maria's version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itCC2C5KHTc SUBSCRIBE! Our Channels: My channel: http://www.youtube.com/horsechic...

Kevin Hart - Let Me Explain - Kevin went Horse back riding! Hilarious and Last Clip of the film. Aight see you guys Later hehe bye bye =) Thanks for Watching...

North Texas Kids

Mon Mar 31 18:04:05 +0000 2014

Trot your children off to horseback riding camp at PROSPERING FARM. This summer day camp is all about horses and... http://t.co/ObWXKS0faG

Nina Elle

Mon Mar 31 17:41:35 +0000 2014

Yay! Going horseback riding today!! 🎠🐴🐴

http://baskingridge.patch.com Tue, 25 Mar 2014 17:32:39 GMT

BASKING RIDGE, NJ – The Somerset County Park Commission will be conducting registration for spring horseback riding classes and other seasonal programs at Lord Stirling Stable, located at 256 South Maple Avenue in ...

http://www.playdateyakima.com Mon, 10 Mar 2014 18:44:19 GMT

Horseback Riding Lessons. Tiger Lily Horsemanship and Spirit of Hope Equine Center are teaming up to provide Summer 2014 horse lessons! Combining hands-on learning experience with an emphasis on the importance of ...

http://www.crewtrust.org Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:56:11 GMT

The CREW Trust is partnering with Caloosa Saddle Club members to offer a first-ever guided horseback ride at CREW on Friday, March 21, 2014. The ride will be approximately 15 miles through parts of Flint Pen Strand and ...

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Horseback Riding in Hawaii

There are lots of places to go horseback riding on the beautiful island of Hawaii. You can choose from trails through its exotic, untouched mountains and valleys with fabulous waterfalls and scenery to privately-owned, horse ranches and stables with beautiful landscapes. Following are two options where you'll no doubt experience the horseback adventure of a lifetime.
Top of Waipio
Top of Waipio is located on a ridge way above the Waipio Valley, where you will find some of the most breathtaking scenery on the Island of Hawaii. This area remains untouched as the sugar cane companies have restricted access to it. You can only get to the overlooks by horseback, foot, ATVs or mountain bikes. Helicopters are not even allowed to get close the rim of the base of the valley!
On horseback, you will ride for two and a half hours through lush, open fields where you'll encounter cows, sugar cane, wild flowers and views of the magnificent Haleakala volcano, twenty-five miles away. You can also opt for a fantastic five-hour Hidden Waterfall ride. This includes the same beautiful experience of the shorter ride, but continues back along the stream that feeds into the Hi'ilawe Falls. You will ride deep into the rainforest and encounter a series of smaller waterfalls and secret pools. You can tie up your horse and hike down to a very private waterfall which spills into a stunning, ginger-lined pool. Then enjoy yourself as you picnic and swim in this hidden, magical place. For more information on this heavenly adventure, go to www.waipioridgestables.com and click on the horseback riding link at the bottom of the page.
Dahana Ranch
Dahana Ranch provides safe and fun horseback rides and activities and prides themselves on their 'Aloha' spirit. They offer several different riding options and welcome families with children as young as three-years-old. You can take a one and half hour, open-range 'Ranch Ride' which covers about four miles of spectacular territory where you'll encounter cattle, sheep, horses and more including fantastic views of the Mauna Kea and Waipi'o Valley. They also offer a 'Range Station' ride for the more adventurous. You can get as loud as you want helping to move their herd of Brahman crossbreds across the ranch. Dahana Ranch accommodates riders of all skill levels but does offer a two-hour Advanced Ride tailored for owners and competitors with lots of freedom on open land. They are open seven days a week with rides daily and by reservation. Visit them at www.dahanaranch.com.
For a full list of locations where you can go horseback riding in Hawaii, visit the Alternative-Hawaii website's Sports and Recreation / Horseback Riding page at http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/activity/bisrhb.htm.
Article Written By J. Foley
http://abouthorses.net

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Horseback Riding In Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California is home to quite a few facilities which will help to fulfill just about any of your equestrian interests. There are parks, stables, horse centers and two of the finest horse racing tracks in America. It is a very horse-friendly county with many residents owning their own horses. If you'd like to take a horseback ride and don't have the pleasure of owning your own, there's some great places you can go to rent horses.

Griffith Park in Los Angeles has become known for its great trails and stables in and around the park. The trails interweave through every section of the grounds and you can ride to each attraction, including the Park's zoo, by horseback. You can also take a trot up to the park's highest point which is 2,500 feet above the city, for a stunning, unobstructed view of Los Angeles. There are watering stations along the way and beautiful gardens to enjoy. There's even plenty of space take a spirited gallop.

At Griffith Park, you can rent a horse and ride without an escort, Western style. The stables are very accommodating; helmets are not required and basically anything goes in the way of attire. Griffith Park Horse Rentals is open 7 days a week from 8 am until dusk and has a wonderful selection of horses to choose from. It's only $15 for the first hour with a $30 deposit. Every other Friday night, they offer one and a half hour group Western BBQ trail ride for $40. For more information, call 818-841-4024.

The Sunset Ranch Hollywood Stables are located in scenic Beachwood Canyon, right under the Hollywood sign, on the Hollywood side of Griffith Park. You can take part in one of the night-time horseback riding caravans to a wonderful Mexican restaurant situated inside Griffith Park and return to the stables around midnight. They also offer riding lessons, lunch rides and horse rentals at very competitive rates. You can call Sunset Ranch Hollywood Stables at 213-469-5450 or 213-464-9612.
Just two blocks south of Riverside Drive is the Circle K Stables on Mariposa. They're open all year from 7:30 am until dusk, except for Christmas day. They also sometimes offer special evening rides. You'll pay only $15 dollars for the first hour and $10 for each additional with a $25 deposit. Their phone number is 818-843-9840.
Will Rogers State Park is located west on Sunset Boulevard. The park has polo fields, equestrian trails and a delightful, circular stable. They don't rent horses, however you are welcome to bring your own and ride their trails. They also offer professional instruction if you're interested in taking lessons. The information number for the State Park is 310-454-8212.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Horseback Riding Lessons

If you've invested in a horse of your own, want to take riding lessons so that you can visit the stables and go riding with some previous experience or even if you're planning a horseback riding vacation, horseback riding lessons are a definitely a good idea, especially for the beginner or novice rider. But even if you're experienced in certain areas, you might want to go further still and advance your skills by training for competition riding or racing.

There are several different kinds of horseback riding lessons you can take, depending on where your interests in the sport lie. There are clinics devoted to every age group and include training for ranchers, competition riding, lessons for the recreational rider and even classes on learning how to deal with problem horses. You can take one-on-one or group lessons or special classes taught by internationally renowned horseback riders.

The length of the lessons will vary and but most are normally for around one hour or so. Usually, when you arrive for your lesson, you will be given an initial assessment of your skills. Then the you and your instructor can evaluate what goals you want to reach and set up the type of lessons you'll need based on that information.

Here are a few different categories of horseback riding lessons available, based on levels of experience, to help you determine which area you fall under.

Beginner: A person who has limited experience, is unable to post the trot (set the pace) and does not canter (cantering is slower than a galloping pace, but faster than trotting).

Novice: A rider who is capable of mounting and dismounting the horse without assistance, can apply basic aids, is comfortable and in control at a walking pace and who can ride for a moderate length trot and short canters.

Intermediate: A rider who has a firm seat (balanced and comfortable in the saddle), is confident and in control at all paces including posting trots, two-point canters and gallops, but does not ride regularly.

Strong Intermediate: An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly and is comfortable being in the saddle for at least six hours a day.

Advanced: A rider who encompasses all of the above skills in addition to an independent seat, soft hands (light but commanding control of the reigns) and who is capable of handling a spirited horse in open country.

There are numerous horse stables across the United States and internationally that offer lessons at various levels. Browse around online to find one in your area, and be sure that you choose an instructor who you feel comfortable with so you can get the most out of your learning experience.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Tips for responsible horseback riding in nature

By CHUCK MYERS; McClatchy-Tribune

Published: 04/14/1012:10 pm | Updated: 04/14/1012:11 pm

Some people like to roam the wilderness aboard all-terrain vehicles. Others tackle challenging hills and slopes on mountain bikes.

But as one special group of outdoors enthusiasts will tell you, nothing beats navigating trails on horseback.
As with hiking or camping, Horseback riding on a nature trail involves some key dos and don'ts, which are designed to keep riders and foot traffic safe, and protect the integrity of the natural realm.
The nonprofit organization Tread Lightly! offers the following guidelines for responsible horseback riding:
- At trailheads or staging areas, park vehicles and secure horse in a manner that provides a safe distance between the horses and passing traffic.
- Riders should match their skill level to the temperament and ability of their horse. Less experienced horses and riders should ride behind more "trail-wise" horses and riders.
- Travel responsibly and stay on designated roads, trails and other areas open to horse use.
- Ride single file to reduce trail damage.
- Don't cut switchbacks (a turn on a trail).
- Spread out in open country where there are no trails, rather than following in each other's footsteps. This riding method will disperse impact and avoid creating a new trail.
- Comply with all signs and respect barriers.
- If you are "ponying" a horse (leading one horse from the back of another), go slow and never take a loose horse on the trail.
- Buddy up with two or three riders to reduce vulnerability if you have an accident.
SOURCE: Tread Lightly!

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

SpiritHorse gives outdoor therapy to those with disabilities

By LES COCKRELL / Denton Record-Chronicle
lcockrell@dentonrc.com At first glance, the tree-shaded facility might look no different from any of the small ranches or horseback riding stables that dot the Denton County landscape.
Horses graze in a fenced pasture, and riders on horseback wind their way down a nearby trail. In a small corral, an instructor offers support to a young student who seems delighted to be in the saddle.
It appears idyllic, but a closer look reveals that serious work is under way. This is SpiritHorse, which provides private equine-assisted therapeutic riding lessons. Clients include people with disabilities, at-risk youth, battered women, young people who have completed drug rehabilitation and abused children.
"We don't provide recreation, we provide health care," said Charles I. Fletcher, founder and chief executive officer of the Corinth center.
Fletcher combined a passion for horses and a love for children when he started SpiritHorse seven years ago after retiring from Rockwell International. Now 71, he estimated that he works about 100 hours a week at the center.
SpiritHorse serves about 425 clients, and 90 percent of them are children. Lessons are offered for free. The center receives no government funding, and financial support comes from donations and grants, Fletcher said.
"This is a ministry, and these kids deserve it," Fletcher said.
Staff members meet with client families to discuss therapy goals and directives from physicians before beginning a program.
Hourlong sessions include horse management duties such as leading, grooming and saddling, based on students' abilities.
"It's a learning experience," said Stephanie Wilhelm, a horse care specialist and instructor at SpiritHorse.
"Children saddle and unsaddle their horses," Fletcher said. "It builds trust, self-esteem and motor skills. No matter what their disability, they participate.
The center operates under two guiding principles, Fletcher said: "Love the children" and "Make all decisions in favor of the child, not the center."
Parents take part in the sessions, he said, a feature that separates SpiritHorse from some riding centers.
"We require parents to participate," Fletcher said. "They are the experts on the child."
Having parents get involved also helps transfer the learning process to the home, he said.
The center has a staff of seven full-time and 10 part-time instructors and relies on assistance from more than 500 parent-volunteers and about 50 community volunteers.
A seven-member board of directors sets policy and raises funds, Fletcher said. Five members of a medical advisory board work closely with the center's staff.
SpiritHorse serves clients in Denton, Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Grayson, Kaufman, Rockwall, Tarrant, Wichita and Wise counties and typically receives about five new applications a week. The organization has "graduated" 365 riders in the last seven years, Fletcher said.
In addition to its operation in Corinth, SpiritHorse now has licensed centers throughout the world – from Georgia, Iowa and Virginia to Scotland, Hungary and Uruguay.
For more information, visit www.spirithorsetherapy .com or call 940-497-2946.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Little-known club team has big aspirations

by Molly Young

Vanguard Staff Writer

October 12, 2009 —

Three years ago, two students created a club sport that regularly competes with about ten schools in Michigan and one in Canada. Do you know which sport this is?
Here’s another hint: the 20-person team holds regular practices to learn to control animals weighing ten times as much as them.
Give up? It’s the equestrian team.
About four times throughout the fall semester, the equestrian team travels around Michigan to compete with schools such Western, Michigan, Michigan State, Oakland and Grand Valley (who they beat last year).
There are two different categories for competitions. These categories are called stock seat and hunt seat.
If a person rides a stock seat, they do Western style horseback riding. In this style, riders are expected to show a well-controlled position while doing a walk, trot and a canter. In this seat, the rider must have excellent form and position.
“It might look like [the rider] is just sitting there, but they’re giving the horse subtle cues,” communications major Courtney Trares said.
“It’s really difficult, because if you shift your weight even an inch forward or an inch back, the horse responds to it,” nursing freshman Kara Daniels said.
“During competitions, you have to be able to adjust to different horses, while at the same time, keeping your technique,” Trares said.
On the other hand, if they ride hunt seat, they do English jumper style horseback riding. Often called the forward seat, English riders dress in the attire typically found at horse shows. Likewise, the horse is clean-cut and well presented. During competitions, Hunt seat riders are judged on not only form, but also how well they complete a pre-determined course of jumps and turns.
“The hardest part is knowing how to handle your horse when you come up to a jump, and your horse just stops,” occupational therapy senior and hunt seat rider Anna Sandelich said.
“Sometimes they’re stubborn and refuse to do what you tell them to. It’s hard figuring out how to persuade them to do something they just don’t want to do,” accounting senior Jessica Kovl said. Last year, Kovl’s individual score from competition qualified her for nationals.
As of now, the team agrees that as a whole, they are “middle of the pack” when it comes to competing, because some new members on the team have little or no experience.
According to Sandelich, riders have never even seen the horse they will ride for competition, and don’t even know which one it will be until they draw a horse’s name from a bucket.
“You can practice all you want, and look really great with your horse, but that doesn’t mean anything when you get to competition. You have to adjust to different horses, and get inside the mind of a thousand pound animal and learn to control it,” Sandelich said.

Monday, October 12, 2009

A horse lover’s heaven

published: October 10, 2009 09:25 pm

A horse lover’s heaven

Kentucky is the place for equine enthusiasts
BY MARY WICOFF
The majesty, beauty and speed of horses have captured people’s imaginations and hearts for centuries. Books, movies and songs have raised some to almost mythical status.

For horse lovers — and there are many in the Danville area — one of the best places to learn more about the magnificent creatures is the Lexington, Ky., area. Farms, museums, racetracks and parks help horse fanciers indulge in their passions — whether you’re a child wishing for a pony or an adult who’s owned horses for years.

One popular place is the 1,224-acre Kentucky Horse Park, located just outside Georgetown, Ky., near Lexington. During its main summer season, the park is home to some 115 horses representing about 50 breeds.

Anne Morris of Danville has been to the park three times.

“If you like horses, this is the place to go. Anything you want, it’s there,” she said.

The first couple of visits to the park were quick trips. But, the third time, she visited the farm in 2004 as part of a tour, and was able to spend more time there.

She especially enjoyed the International Museum of the Horse, the blacksmith’s shop and the Parade of Breeds, during which the audience learns about different breeds.

The park also is the burial place for the great Man O’ War, the most famous thoroughbred racehorse of the 20th century. Buried with him are some of his offspring, including Triple Crown winner War Admiral, who was upset by Seabiscuit in their famous match race in 1938.

Morris also enjoyed a short movie about how America was shaped by the horse. In addition, the Hall of Champions is a place where visitors can meet retired racehorses, many of whom have made a name for themselves.

The park also offers horseback riding, but Morris passed on that because she has a horse of her own stabled near Danville — a Tennessee walking horse named Blackjack.

Candace McMaster of Champaign and her husband, Steve, took a short a trip to Kentucky several years ago “just to see this amazing place,” she said.

McMaster also is a sponsor/volunteer with Crosswinds Equine Rescue in rural Sidell. Crosswinds rescues at risk-horses, brings them back to good health and condition, and places them in good quality homes.

At the Horse Park, McMaster enjoyed the museum with the history of many famous horses, such as Secretariat, and the exhibits.

They also saw at least two live performances — one of past Derby winners and the Parade of Breeds.

“It was very exciting to see actual champions like Cigar,” she said.

“For anyone who loves horses this is a wonderful experience ... and you can walk around at a leisurely pace, decide what shows you want to see, wander through the museum, visit live horses in the stables.

“If you love horses, it is so much fun and very family friendly.”

Meeting the horses was the best part of the park, she said, as well as learning about the history and different breeds of horses.

OLD FRIENDS

Kentucky has many other horse tours and activities.

McMaster said she visited Claiborne Farm and met the great Secretariat, adding, “I will never forget him — he was like an ancient horse god you read about in mythology.”

Another interesting site is the 92-acre Old Friends, a retirement farm for racehorses. More than 40 thoroughbreds are enjoying their golden years at the site, just outside Georgetown, Ky.

The farm has several famous names, including Black Tie Affair, the 1991 Horse of the Year, and Awar, who earned millions during his career.

Another favorite is Popcorn Deelites, who was cast as one of the six horses to play Seabiscuit in the 2003 film starring Tobey Maguire and Jeff Bridges. In the film, Popcorn can be seen breaking from the gate, as it turned out that was his on-screen specialty.

Another celebrity at the farm is Ogygian, the last son of Damascus, a horse of the year and the 16th ranking greatest thoroughbred of the 20th century.

During the free tour, visitors may feed carrots to the horses and pet them, while learning more about their illustrious careers.

ON THE WEB

— http://www.kyhorsepark.com is the site for the Kentucky Horse Park. According to mapquest.com, the park is about a five-hour drive from Danville.

—http://www.oldfriendsequine.org is the site for Old Friends near Georgetown, Ky., a retirement farm for racehorses.

— In Vermilion County, you can learn more about Crosswinds Equine Rescue by visiting its Web site, http://www.cwer.org or calling (217) 649-7915. The site is located at 8182 E. 200 North Road, Sidell.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Horse riding holidays in Russia

To spend your vacation in the open air on the horseback is an amazing adventure, which can be dangerous or pleasant; it depends on you. It is more comfortable than hike, because you don’t need to walk all the time, carrying your things on your back. Riding a horse is healthily, and horsed trip is a good possibility to gain some skills in riding. Moreover, the regions, where this tourist service is provided, are famous with their beautiful nature and various landscapes.

Where? The most popular regions for equine tourism are Altai, Ural and Northern Caucasus. Traveling through these mountainous regions, the tourists can see different types of the wild nature, from the subtropics to the alpine meadows; enjoy the sights of the valleys and mountains, cross the rivers. The Caucasus Mountains are relatively young and high ones, their tops are covered with snow, the mountains systems of Altai and Urals are very old, have bizarre forms and make an impression another type.

Who can participate? The organizers usually write on their websites, that they provide tours different level, and the some routes are suitable for every healthy person. Anyway, you must decide if you are healthy enough. The people, who has not any riding skills, are usually instructed on the first day of the tour, how to ride. The horses walk all the time, so it is not very difficult. All the animals are usually calm and quiet enough to avoid excesses.

How long? The trips take from 6 days to 2 weeks, depending on the route and level of the participants. Everything depends on your skills and time you dispose. Some people would be fed up with the wild nature in 5 days others would need minimum two weeks, instead of all the delights of the camp life.

Meals and accommodation As for the delights of the camp life, the cost of the tour includes three meals daily. The products are transported with the group, and the meals are cooked by the participants and their guide on the camp fire. It bonds the people, isn’t it? Accommodation during the tour is camping, except the first and the last night, when the group spends the night at the tourist centre. The baths or Russian sauna is provided in the tourist centre as well. It doesn’t mean that there is no possibility to have a wash during the trip. The rivers and lakes on the route substitute the shower in the summer time.

Equipment The equipment for the equine tourism includes your private things, personal hygiene products and special clothes. You should have in view, that the weather changes, and also you should take two sets of the warm things if it rains and riding boots. Tents, all-weather raincoats, sleeping bags and things like that can be hired in the tourist centre.

Yulia Buzykina

Sources:
www.sibaltay.ru
www.horse-ride.ru
www.russiadiscovery.ru

Monday, September 14, 2009

Horse lovers by hundreds turn out in Thousand Oaks to help groups

By Mike Harris

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Hundreds of people celebrated the equestrian lifestyle Saturday at the fifth annual Day of the Horse gala in Thousand Oaks to benefit two local nonprofit organizations.
The free event at Conejo Creek Equestrian Park featured riding demonstrations, equestrian-related vendors, a children’s scavenger hunt, a silent auction, pizza and refreshments for sale, and more.
Hosted by ETI Corral 37, the celebration benefited Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship, which teaches horseback riding to people with physical and mental disabilities, and California Coastal Horse Rescue, which provides food, shelter, rehabilitation, medical care and adoption services for horses that have been abused, abandoned or neglected.
Proceeds from the auction and the food sales went toward buying hay for the two organizations.
“Today has been incredible,” said event chairwoman Barbara Kloster. “We’ve had more people than we’ve ever had before. The pizza is selling. The silent auction is going great. So many people have donated different things. And these equestrians have put on the most phenomenal show for free.”
Pointing to the packed grandstand where spectators watched the riding demonstrations, Kloster said, “These people haven’t moved. They’re just so rapt with what they’re seeing.”
About 1 p.m., there were a few hundred people in attendance, but Kloster said the overall attendance at that point was closer to a thousand, noting that people had been coming and going throughout the day.
Watching eight women equestrians in traditional Mexican dresses and sombreros ride in formation for the crowd as traditional Mexican music played over loudspeakers, Eric Meyer of Thousand Oaks said he has attended all five Day of the Horse celebrations.
Attending the event with his daughter Annalise, 12, Meyer said he appreciated seeing “all the different riding styles. This is the first I’ve see the Mexican styles.”
Joy Woodruff of Westlake Village attended with her two young daughters, Kendra and Amanda.
“We’re all big horse lovers, especially my little one, Amanda, who is here to watch everybody and hopefully someday be just like them,” Woodruff said. “We all ride a little, but we’re not lucky enough to have a horse.”
Lynne Mann, a member of ETI Corral 37, walked with her two miniature horses.
“They’re here to demonstrate that miniature horses are horses, too,” Mann said. “They’re called American miniature horses and they’re actually horses, not ponies.”

Friday, August 21, 2009

Special needs day gives youth chance to bond

By Argen Duncan: PNT Senior Writer

Halley Manley said her reserved daughter with Asperger’s syndrome, attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactive disorder became outgoing and made physical and emotional improvements, all thanks to horseback riding.

“She has self-confidence now and is willing to try anything,” Manley said of her daughter, 9-year-old Emma Purcell.
Manley and Purcell took part in Wednesday’s Roosevelt County Fair Special Needs Day, which included rope tricks by County Commissioner Bill Cathey, a Special Olympics horseback riding exhibition and a pet show for people with disabilities. This year is the second the fair has held a Special Needs Day and an indoor exhibits competition among disabled people.
“More people with disabilities should come out so they can intermingle with people in the community,” said Pat Dodson, who leads the organization of the events.
Dodson said the riding exhibition aimed to show how disabled people can ride and compete in Special Olympics.
“It gives them something to do, and it gives them a sense of accomplishment because they’re able to compete,” she said.
Dodson’s 18-year-old son, Garrett, has a rare genetic disease that affects his motor skills, and he has gained strength and balance from his years of horseback riding, including participation in Special Olympics
“It’s fun,” Garrett said.
Cindy Vaugan, 48, has been part of Special Olympics since she was 8 and competes in a variety of equestrian events. She said she loves every part of it and has learned that horses are bigger and stronger than she is.
Emma, who competes in Special Olympics and takes lessons locally at Abrazos Adventures, also enjoys horseback riding.
“Everyone should learn how to do it,” she said.
Abrazos Adventures owner Wendy Toombs said she’s found little difference between normal and disabled children.
Toombs believes many problems in children come from unmanaged energy and technology allowing them to bypass learning to use their bodies. Once they learn to control their energy, she said, it helps with their disabilities.
“They learn how to focus; they learn how to apply themselves to something,” Toombs said.

Monday, June 08, 2009

Helmets mandatory for young horse riders

Reported by: Katie Brace
Email: kbrace@wptv.com
Contributor: WPTV staff
Last Update: 5:41 pm

LOXAHATCHEE, FL – For the Hornstein family watching a group of horseback riders with helmets brings some comfort. A new law, named in their daughter’s memory, will soon require helmets for kids riding horses.

Their daughter, Nicole, did not have one on when she was thrown from a horse and killed.

Gary Hornstein, Nicole’s father, says,”There's no margin for error. Nicole did not have a second chance. It happened once and it was horrific."

Motivated by their pain, the Hornsteins made it their mission to mandate helmets for kids.

"It had to be done no questions asked,” says Gary Hornstein.

When Nicole died three years ago, she was riding a friend’s horse down the road. The horse stumbled and Nicole hit the pavement. She was just twelve year old.

For the past two years, her family has been relentless in their pursuit of preventing a similar tragedy.

Gary Hornstein says, "She went through things no man woman or child should go for and all for a helmet."

Monday their efforts were realized. Governor Charlie Crist came to Loxahatchee to sign a new law in Nicole’s name.

Governor Charlie Crist says, "I give all the credit to the family."

“Nicole’s Law” requires children under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet while horseback riding on a public road. The law goes into effect October first. If a child is not wearing a helmet, the person responsible faces a 500 dollar fine.

Monique Hornstein, Nicole’s mother, says, "We're just grateful, grateful. We love her every day."

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Guelph man horseback riding across Canada for charity

April 04, 2009
GuelphMercury.com/News Services
Web edition

Kimball Foord of Guelph is horseback riding across Canada to raise awareness and money for children.

Foord, a 50-year-old father of five, expects to leave Guelph on Saturday, April 11 on his Ride for Dreams and complete his journey on Sept. 9 in Vancouver in support of the Sunshine Foundation of Canada, a charity which supports children with severe physical disabilities and life-threatening illnesses.

It will be the second such attempt by Foord, who in 2006 covered 1,700 kilometres from Guelph to the Ontario-Manitoba border. Foord will take only what he and his two horses can carry. He will camp out and rely on the kindness of strangers to provide water and hay during his journey.

A Dance for Dreams fund-raiser will be held in support of Sunshine and also help serve as a kickoff to Foord's cross-country ride. The Dance for Dreams is scheduled for Saturday, April 11 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Fergus Community Centre. Tickets are $10 per person or two for $15. They will be available at the door or by calling 519-265-8111.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Miami equine program grooms business executives

An equine-assisted learning program helps CEOs and other executives overcome business obstacles.

BY HILARY LEHMAN
hlehman@MiamiHerald.com

Michelle Salerno has only known her student a few hours, but already has some penetrating insights into her psyche.

Salerno says Maria Carrillo of Miami, a 56-year-old sales coach for AT&T, is intimidated by ``powerful male energy.''

She asks Carrillo about her husband and father, looking for the root of the problem.

And how does she know all this? A horse told her.

Shakespeare, a 1,600-pound Arabian mix, helps Salerno teach sales professionals like Carrillo how to overcome fears about leadership or learn how to work as part of a team.

Salerno's conversation with Carrillo took place during an ''equine-assisted learning'' program at Hunting Horn Stables in Miami, where she conducts leadership training and team-building exercises using horses. Clients from big businesses like Sara Lee and AT&T pay up to $900 to find flaws in their leadership techniques.

Salerno said horses have been used before to ''train'' humans, but they're often used in work with children, gaining prominence as a therapy for autistic children. Salerno also does some similar work -- she's licensed to provide behavioral redirection training with children and families -- but the work she does with professionals is all her own.

Cathy Pareto, who runs her own financial planning and investment firm, Cathy Pareto & Associates in Miami, said the program has affected the way she works. A big take-away for her has been communication -- she's learned a lot about how much conveys to people with her body language.

Equine-assisted learning programs are based on the idea that horses can sense what a person is thinking and feeling. If the student is fearful or calm, angry or loving, a horse will react in a like manner, Salerno said.

''They are . . . mirrors,'' she said.

Horses don't care if someone is a CEO or drives a fancy car, she said. They don't listen to cajoling or threats. The intimidation tactics that might work in a business setting don't work here, she said. Working with horses forces people to think about the effectiveness of their own techniques with humans.

All that matters when a businessperson is standing in front of an 1,800-pound animal is raw leadership skill.

''However good you lead is how good that they'll follow,'' Salerno said.

Salerno wasn't always the corporate equivalent of a horse whisperer. Since 2004, she's been conducting customized emotional fitness training for corporations and individuals in her MPowerMentor programs. Before that, she was in software sales and management for 10 years.

The horse program is a relatively new venture. She started the program in August and did her first training session in October.

When Salerno started horseback riding with trainer Monica Gerritsen, she realized that many of her MPowerMentor techniques could be combined with Gerritsen's horse program.

Typically, Salerno and Gerritsen do two to four trainings a month, Salerno said. Ideally, she said, they would like to do two to three every week.

Rates range from $295 to $895 per day or per program, depending on what students want to do and the length of the program. There are half-day, full-day and multiday options.

In all the programs, Salerno assesses what the participants came in to work on, and gives each person a follow-up call a week later.

Salerno also offers a mastery program for advanced students who want to keep working on a specific exercise. Those one-hour sessions cost $150.

She and Gerritsen developed the leadership program, along with components that help with empowerment issues, team-building and redirecting children's behavior.

While other programs exist using horses for therapy or team-building, Salerno said the hands-on aspect of using the horses to teach leadership skills sets her program apart.

Participants in the team-building exercise groom the horse and take turns leading it around, making sure it doesn't eat grass -- which means it doesn't respect the leader -- and follows direction. They're instructed to lead the horse around a ring, getting it to speed up, slow down and turn.

They learn horses don't respond to touch or commands, but pay attention to body language.

''A horse isn't a puppy,'' Salerno said. ``It won't come if you stand and call it.''

While Salerno said the feedback she gets is unanimously positive, one of the participants in the team-building exercise wasn't so sure.

Carrillo, the sales coach who was taken aside when a horse shied away from her during an exercise, said she doesn't see how it affects her work.

She works from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. most days, she said, and while she was with the horses she was only worried about what her numbers would be at the end of the day.

Horses aren't relevant, she said, especially when she's being told that men intimidate her. She works mostly with men and has been married for more than 20 years.

Salerno later said she meant Carrillo is intimidated by situations out of her control, which Carrillo said she could accept.

In this economy, people need feedback and help now, Salerno said. They need personalized tools to help them overcome their obstacles, she said.

Horses provide the answers people need to help them change, she said.

Whatever people dream of becoming, she said, ``The horse makes you be it.''

Monday, March 23, 2009

Riding the Atlantic's waves

Gauchos take Kate Kellaway on a week-long trail ride along Uruguay's stunning coast, and teach her how to herd cattle on a working farm

* Kate Kellaway
* The Observer, Sunday 22 March 2009

Gauchos take Kate Kellaway on a week-long trail ride along Uruguay's stunning coast, and teach her how to herd cattle on a working farm

Our guide stood in front of a map of South America and pointed to Uruguay, squeezed next to Brazil and tiny in comparison. "Look, it is heart-shaped," she said. Patting herself on the chest, she added: "We have big hearts here." It was a line that from the wrong lips would have sounded contrived, but five days into one of the most wonderful riding experiences of my life, what Rosa said was incontrovertibly true. Uruguay, as well as being heart-shaped, is beautiful - a green and uncrowded land (with a population of only 3 million).

This is South America's undiscovered country, its best kept secret. And it is a perfect destination for horse riders. Had he not picked on Norfolk first, Noël Coward might have commented: "Very flat, Uruguay." But one thing is for sure: he would have approved of its gauchos.

Every Uruguayan trail ride comes with at least two gauchos to organise the horses (reliable, forward-going criollo crosses) and to readjust saddles (rough affairs, topped with sheepskin), stirrups and cinches. I had pictured these guys as casually scuffed cowboys. But our gauchos, Alexis and Fabian, were dandies. They dressed immaculately in stylishly baggy riding trousers - bombachas - secured by belts into which silver knives were stuck at dashing angles, and they had a repertoire of rakish hats. (I have returned with a hopeful wardrobe of boots, hats and sashes, all too improbably colourful for English riding.)

Watching the gauchos ride was one of the great joys of this trip. It was like admiring apparently effortless dancing. In particular, I noticed - and marvelled at - the tremendous stillness at the heart of their horsemanship, as if riding were not actually about movement at all.

This holiday was a present from my sister, for my 50th birthday. She knew what it would mean to me. I'd become a convert to riding holidays a year ago, in Andalucia, and have, since then, been riding in England as often as life allows.

Before settling on Uruguay, I enjoyed many luxuriously indecisive months, wondering where in the world to go, studying Ride World Wide's excellent brochure. And in the end, I chose Uruguay because it is the ultimate coastal ride - and I adore riding by the sea. Also, I wanted to go somewhere right off my map.

The coastal riding exceeded even my dreamy expectations: the thrill of those hours spent riding on wide empty Atlantic beaches in Rocha Province, and by the Laguna Negra further north (where the water is an inky blue and where I swam after a hot morning's riding) will stay in my mind forever.

By the Atlantic we sighted two whales. The first seemed to greet us in a momentary salute; the second was a melancholy spectacle - vast, dead, stranded on the beach. But for me, the greatest thrill of all was the sight of hundreds of sea lions basking on rocks. And I loved being introduced to armadillos too (said to be lucky). What extraordinary beasts they are, with their armoured vulnerability - like warriors that have forgotten how to fight.

Inland, the landscape was sometimes sinister (rather as I imagine Coleridge's Xanadu), randomly dotted with palm trees, with rivers running across it like threads of mercury. Sometimes vultures gathered above us like bad news. Yet the weather tended to be warm and forgiving, saving its dramatic storms for the nights. One afternoon was exceptionally hot, though, and I watched as one of the gauchos, Alexis, reached into his saddlebag for a bottle of water, took off his hat, poured the entire contents of the bottle over his head and then stuck his hat back on. I wondered whether I dared do the same, until the weather changed.

This was a trail ride, and we were staying in good, comfortable hotels and working farms (estancias) where the idea was to work with the gauchos and "help". This, the part of the holiday I was looking forward to least, I enjoyed most of all. One estancia, El Sauce, was run by a charming and cultivated Uruguayan (who jokingly dubbed himself Don Juan). He explained that he had "120 horses" and, with a twinkle in his eye, added: "Something for everyone."

I was lucky enough to spend the day with a fabulous grey mare, Cerrazon (Spanish for "fog" or "mist"). There was nothing vague or misty about Cerrazon's approach to covering the ground at speed. One of my most cherished memories of the trip will be of the moment when Alexis showed me how to calm Cerrazon, as you would an overexcited child. She had broken into a thrilling, unplanned gallop that seemed to guarantee our early arrival in Brazil. Alexis (who speaks no English) indicated that I must say "Sssh" to Cerrazon. And the extraordinary thing was that she responded (many of these horses are trained to react to the voice).

But it was anyone's guess how she and I would take to the job of herding cattle. It was our task to herd Herefordshire cattle from one corner of a huge, featureless field to another. What I found novel (and intensely enjoyable) was seeing horses working, knowing their jobs - rather as sheep dogs do. And, gratifyingly, whenever Cerrazon cantered anywhere near the cows, they bustled away from her.

"Gosh, I am rather good at this," I told myself with fatal smugness before realising that I was enthusiastically herding my Herefordshire victims in the opposite direction to where they were supposed to be going. The rest of our party were not doing too well either. One did her best to round up a dead cow. Another was stopped in her tracks by a cow who had chosen that particular moment to give birth. The gauchos looked on from the middle of the field and laughed.

Easy-going laughter is characteristic of this country. Uruguay is defined by its calm, its spaciousness and its amiability. Montevideo, the capital, where the holiday begins and ends, is a safe, sympathetic city - ideal if you are a woman travelling on your own. But of course, on this holiday, you are not on your own for long and the experience of riding together is bonding. I am sure most groups end up feeling friendly and connected - ours (there were 10 on our trip - the maximum permitted) certainly did. But it is essential to be fit before going on such a trip. There is a lot of fast riding and you are on horseback for between five and seven hours a day.

The second, less serious, advice would be: don't automatically disdain mate, the gauchos' drink of choice. It is definitely one for committed tea drinkers - it tastes like overbrewed Earl Grey and steams away in a small cauldron. You suck it through a silver straw. Rosa cheerfully explained that Uruguayans are a nation of addicts. I have an unopened packet of the stuff on my mantelpiece right now. I keep wondering whether it is safe to brew up a pot - if only to transport myself back to Uruguay.
Essentials

Kate Kellaway flew to Montevideo with Brazilian airline TAM, then joined Ride World Wide (01837 82544; rideworldwide.com) on its eight-night Atlantic Coast Ride. The trip costs US$2,400 per person based on two sharing, which includes transfers, all riding, guides and equipment, eight nights' accommodation and some meals, but not flights. The last departure for this season is 11 April, and trips start again on 17 October.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Magic Moments facing ‘very serious situation’

By Todd G. Higdon
Carthage Press
Tue Jan 06, 2009, 11:51 AM CST

IAMOND, Mo. -

A riding therapy center who helps people with developmental disabilities is facing possible closure.

Magic Moments Riding Therapy, 272 County Ln. 125, Diamond, made the announcement on Monday.

“Our situation is very serious,” said Jeanne Brummet, director. “We depend on donations to cover the majority of our operating expenses and this year, everyone has cut back. We are nearly out of money right now. We are literally down to our last few thousands dollars. And will not be able to feed our horses or pay our bills after January unless we get assistance now.”

The center began in December 1998, when Brummet’s daughter, Rachel, went through a riding clinic.

“Then we moved here, there was not a (riding therapy) center in this area and we felt that it was important,” Brummet said. “We work with a lot of developmental disabilities. The movement of the horse as the person rides, causes changes in the human brain, and during the time when they are riding, you can work with them and target different things that they might need help with. You can work on balance, posture and speech and muscle strength in different areas of the body. And when you are in the field of therapy, providing that you studied it, it is kind of like you have honed your craft to actually target different areas, using the horse and using your knowledge to make improvements in specific things. We work a lot with autism; we work on getting these kids out of their little world that they stay in most of the time and brining them into our world, through the use of the activities and movement of the horse. We work with kids that cant walk. We have gotten children out of wheelchairs and off of their walkers and be able to walk and run like other children. But it is a question to how to use these horses to get these things accomplished.”

Horseback riding is therapeutic because the motion of the walking horse stimulates the human brain and has an effect on 25 sensory-motor systems in the human body, promoting improved muscle tone, improved walking gait, flexibility, self-confidence, speech-language, balance, posture and more, according to information provided by the business.

Contrary to belief, therapeutic horseback riding is not a new technique. It was used extensively in Europe after WWII to treat victims of polio. It was brought to the United States later on and it is gaining recognition in the medical field.

During the last 10 years, Brummet said they have helped more than 300 people. They also have worked with area Girl Scouts by teaching them about horses, teaching them how to ride, etc. during the summer camp.

And as far has how they have helped those with disabilities, Brummet said it shows.

“I just had a mom today (Monday) that called me, whose son rides here, that is frantic, because her son literally can not get through school without riding,” she said. “For this kid, he goes into sensory overload and he can't function at school. And she had to take him out for a couple of months and she had to bring him back. They could do absolutely nothing with him, nothing. Not at home, not at school. She is frantic and she doesn’t know what she is going to do if we go under."

Now it is time for the public to help Magic Moments Riding Therapy Center.

“To operate for a year, we need $50,000,” Brummet said.

Brummet is asking for any donations. Donations can be taken to any Arvest Bank or mail to 272 County Ln. 125, Diamond, Mo. 64840.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Group exercise helps disabled kids

WASHINGTON: Group exercise programs, treadmill training and horseback riding can benefit kids with developmental disabilities, according to a new review of studies.
According to research analyzed by Connie Johnson, PT, a physical therapist with the Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, by doing these kinds of activities, kids with disorders such as autism, mental retardation and cerebral palsy can improve their coordination and aerobic fitness.
The researchers said that the findings are encouraging, since studies show that children with developmental disabilities tend to be less fit than their peers.
Johnson analyzed 14 studies and three other evidence reviews to determine how youth with developmental disabilities might benefit from physical activity.
The strongest evidence of benefits came from studies of group exercise, therapeutic horseback riding and treadmill workouts.
Skiing and swimming programs might also be beneficial, but the evidence from those programs was not as strong.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Hilltop Stables named best riding place

Bonnie Heater Signal staff

Until recently one of the best kept secrets on post was the Fort Gordon Hilltop Riding Stables.

According to Kate Kluna, an employee at the stables, stable managers were notified Dec. 15 by "Columbia County Magazine" that they were selected for an award for being the best place to ride a horse in Augusta. The publication publishes annually the "Top 100 Best Places in Augusta to visit."

Hilltop Stables which is located off North Range Road at 16th Avenue offers more than 250 acres of trails for horseback riders.

It's considered a basic beginner barn, according to Kluna. "We offer lessons for beginners to advance riders," she explained. "Presently we have 13 government horses and 6 ponies available to ride. We also board horses," she said.

"We now have 15 boarders. In addition, we offer hay rides, pony rides and organized trail rides for groups too.

Both the public as well as military members and their Families are welcome.The hourly riding rate for military members in the rank of E-5 or below is $23, E-6 and above $25; and civilians $30.The stables are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Trail rides are available, if you call and make a reservation, at 11 a.m. Wednesday through Friday. Guided trail rides are conducted four times a day on Saturdays and Sundays.

To make a reservation or to learn more information about what is available at Hilltop Riding Stables call (706) 791-4864.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Still thorny: Mexican tradition or animal cruelty?

Horseback Riding

Still thorny: Mexican tradition or animal cruelty?

Dec 15, 2008
By Michael Moore

A debate over proposed new restrictions on rodeo events in Santa Clara County has developed a three-way faceoff among county officials, animal rights activists and Mexican rodeo participants.

Numerous county officials, including Supervisor Don Gage, have supported a new animal cruelty ordinance that would ban the practice of "steer tailing" at local rodeos, which they say is particularly brutal compared to other submission techniques used on farm animals at American rodeos.

Those opposed to the ban say that steer tailing is an essential aspect of Mexican-American rodeos, or charreadas, and singling it out among other rodeo events is discriminatory.

And animal activists support the ban, but say it doesn't go far enough in eliminating the cruelty that is generally characteristic of rodeos and circuses, which are also a subject of the ordinance.

For nearly a year the draft ordinance has bounced around among various county agencies and public hearings. At the November meeting of the Housing, Land Use, Environment and Transportation Committee, Director of Agriculture and Environmental Management Greg Van Wassenhove reiterated county administrators' support for the current draft.

Van Wassenhove said the ordinance will likely be back in front of the board of supervisors at a January 2009 meeting, possibly for a vote, but the issue is not yet officially scheduled.

Although only one aspect of the possible ordinance has proved contentious, its purpose is to address the treatment of animals at rodeos and circuses. Supplementing state laws regulating the events, the ordinance would require a veterinarian to be present at all circuses and rodeos, clean water to be available to participating animals, and would ban the "horse tripping" event which is already prohibited by state law.

The decision to include the ban on steer tailing is based on a study conducted by staff members of the HLUET Committee, Animal Advisory Commission, and the board of supervisors, Van Wassenhove said. He and these staff members have attended American rodeos throughout the year, and watched videos of Mexican rodeos depicting steer tailing. No Mexican rodeos that would be subject to the new ordinance occurred in unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County during the study period, he said.

Steer tailing, known as colas at Mexican rodeos, consists of a cowboy, or charro, riding on horseback and pulling up beside a cow running loose in the arena, grabbing its tail and wrapping it around the charro's stirrup, causing the animal to flip onto the ground.

Colas are unique to Mexican rodeos, causing charro advocates to question why the county hasn't considered banning American rodeo practices that many animal rights activists say are equally inhumane.

Toby De La Torre, president of the Federation of Charros, USA, said the county's view is based on race discrimination. He said colas is an essential part of Mexican rodeos, and there have been no reports of animal abuse at these events in California.

"We are just carrying on the traditions and the sport that our ancestors have taught us," said De La Torre. "(The county) wants to pit the American rodeo versus the Mexican rodeo." He noted that charreadas are not supported by the corporate sponsors that promote American rodeos, and thus as widely recognized as a mainstream sport, and this lack of influence may be contributing to the county's stance.

"We are the weak link of the rodeo," said De La Torre. "We don't have as much money and we're not everybody's favorite."

Animal rights activists say that steer tailing is inhumane and should be banned, but so should calf roping and steer wrestling, which are performed frequently at American rodeos.

Eric Mills, a coordinator for Action for Animals in Oakland, said, "I would ban all of it," referring to any rodeo event that could cause injury to animals. He said he has videos of steers getting their tails ripped off in charreadas, and calves getting their legs broken at American rodeos.

Van Wassenhove explained that steer tailing is more likely to injure an animal than the other two events because in steer tailing the cowboy is essentially above the target animal on horseback. In calf roping and steer wrestling, the cowboy pursues the animal on the ground.

"There's more potential for injury in free falling than being wrestled down by a cowboy," said Van Wassenhove.

It is uncertain how much the ordinance, if the board of supervisors approves it, would affect South County. The Rancho Grande arena in Morgan Hill holds bull-riding events during the summers, and many of the participants are from South County. But there were no rodeo events that charged a paid admission and included steer tailing anywhere in the county in 2008, and Van Wassenhove said the law would only apply to rodeos and circuses that charge admission.

Nevertheless, De La Torre, whose office is in southern California, is worried that the ban could cause a snowball effect throughout the state. "The animal rights activists could go to other counties and say 'Look, (steer tailing) is banned here.' They could turn it around and say, 'If you pass the banning of steer tailing, you have to ban calf roping and steer wrestling."

Michael Moore
Michael Moore covers county and law enforcement issues for the Morgan Hill Times. Reach him at (408) 779-4106, ext. 202, or mmoore@morganhilltimes.com.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Horse Walker as Equestrian Equipment

Horseback Riding

Horse Walker as Equestrian Equipment By J. Foley

There are many people who show their fondness to their pets. Even so, a lot others fancy taking care of a horse for a pet. Ranches are common in various countries. Horses are most of the times used not only as favored pets but are treated for industrial and at times for commercial uses as well. As people search for some formal training with regards to rearing horses, they seek to become full fledged equestrians. Part of the training includes getting to know the appropriate equestrian equipment. Among of which are the horse walker and the horse tack.

Horse Walker for Equestrian Exercises

For a person who is definitely serious in getting on with bringing up horses and then its stabling, you must know how important the horse walkers can become. What benefits can be derived out of the horse walker? For one, the horse walker is a recognized equestrian equipment to saving time when exercising or practicing your horses and in the attempt to have them cool down after a long day's ride. Among the rest of the uses of a horse walker is for halter breaking and the other is for nursing back the health of the animal should any illness has occurred. The everyday use of a horse walker is certain to make the horse stronger and then more physically able. Furthermore, the utilization of a horse walker before any ride starts up would mean that the animal would be able to focus at the task that is at hand as soon as it is taken out of the stable and get to be tacked up.

The Varieties of Horse Walkers

There are several kinds of horse walkers to choose from but the common denominator among them is that they have the same features. Many of these horse walker types are capable of handling four up to six horses at a given time. Likewise, there are horse walkers which are put up for sale in the market and are able to cater to all numbers of animals to be taken out for a ride.

The common models of the horse walkers include the flatly packed and readily assembled ones right there on the site. However, for some other specifications, there are those which may be bought along with roofs and fencing. Various controls and speeds are also included in the features. The horse walkers involve the forward and reverse motions too.

On the other hand, the higher end models of the horse walkers permit the taking off of the pressure from all parts of the body of the horse which are too prone to injury. Moreover, this equestrian equipment stops it from bucking especially in relatively open fields. When the animal gets any wound, it is important that it fully heals. With this equestrian equipment, such is possible. Be certain that the equestrian equipment has enough space that would allow the animal to relax especially during long rides.

Safety must be a top priority as always. Inquire on the safety precautions that come together with the purchase. You may also seek the help of the experts in horse rearing because they are knowledgeable enough in the field. Before you purchase any horse walker, be sure that it would work well both for you as the handler and for your horse.

Article Written By J. Foley

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