Practical Horseman

Ever had a bad fall? Share your story.

Stacey-mod — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:20:24 GMT

In the August issue of Practical Horseman, we published a story with Danny Warrington and Mike Pilato on making falls safer ("Heads Up! Rethinking Fall Safety").

Have YOU ever had a bad fall? If you were taught how to fall, did it help you during the situation? Would/could you have done anything differently if it happened again? Do you currently do anything to help prepare you for future falls? Share your experiences.

Do you think the USHJA Hunter Derby concept is the future of the hunter sport?

Stacey-mod — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:02:38 GMT

In the upcoming November 2009 issue of Practical Horseman, we have a feature with John French on his winning strategies with Rumba at the inaugural 2009 USHJA International Hunter Derby Finals. If you've been following this "new" concept at all, what are your thoughts about it? Do you think this is the future of the hunter sport? Why or why not?

Blanketing the Body-Clipped Horse

Fjord_Luver — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:56:59 GMT

I am about to body clip my horse for the winter, and I don't know how many blankets I need for him. I think layering is the best option because of how crazy Middle TN weather is, but layer what? I have been researching, and there are so many opinions.

Advise anyone?

Who's your favorite riding clinician and why?

Stacey-mod — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:37:42 GMT

The upcoming December 2009 issue of Practical Horseman is focused on education. In it we bring you reports from two recent clinics: one with Olympic show jumper Joe Fargis and another with eventer Jon Holling. This got me to wondering, who is your favorite riding clinician, and why? If you haven't taken any clinics, who would you want to ride with?

Question about November's article with John French

Brenda Thoma — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:14:00 GMT

Clearly Mr. French is a more advanced rider than I will ever be, but I have a question about his technique. Each week in my lesson I must hear "look to your next fence!" or "EYES UP!" at least ten times. Yet, I see that in each of the photos that accompany the article Mr. French is peering down over Rumba's shoulder, looking directly at the ground. Even in the cover photo he seems to be closely examining his mount's left knee. Assuming he isn't in the witness protection program, and trying to keep his face from being photographed, I wonder if someone could help me understand this technique. It is not my intent to question Mr. French's horsemanship, I am an amateur rider that would sincerely like to learn from this article and wonder why the photos don't mesh with what I am being taught.

Thanks!

Horse Adoption

Stacey-mod — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:47:47 GMT

In the October 2009 issue of Practical Horseman, there's a story on how to successfully adopt a horse. Have you ever chosen to adopt? Share your experiences with other readers!

Has anyone taken the USHJA Trainer Cert Program?

Andrea — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:50:53 GMT

Hello all,

I have been looking into maybe taking the USHJA Trainer Certification Program and I am wondering if anyone has taken it? And what are your thoughts about it?

NEW! Rider-to-Rider Question: What's your favorite book?

MORizzo — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:55:21 GMT

Question: What's your favorite equine-related book?

Send your answer via

e-mail to Practical.Horseman@EquiNetwork.com

fax to 301.990.9015

postal mail to 656 Quince Orchard Road; Suite 600; Gaithersburg, MD 20878

The writer of our favorite letter will receive a copy of the book Training the Three-Day Event Horse and Rider by Jim Wofford

Responses to this question must be received by December 1, 2009.

Col. Jim Wilson - The Voice of Confidence

kim apicella — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:24:42 GMT

Here it is, a rainy day in September 2009, I pulled one of my several horse magazines out of the back seat of my car to read while my 15 year old daughter had her piano lesson. I breezed through the many articles to finally land on the last page under the "My Life" section. My heart stopped, and I instantly recognized the photo of my riding instructor, Col. Jim Wilson, who taught and inspired me while I grew up in Fairfax, Virginia. He was a person who changed my whole life.

This article could have been written by myself, it was worded so clearly. I too was blessed to have him as my weekly instructor for at least 6 years until I graduated and went on to college. I remember him driving up in his pickup truck, maybe with a camper on the back because he so loved to travel up to Maine to go fishing. He would always arrive with a smile on his face and say in a booming voice, "Helloooo Kim! How is the riding doing?" Always a big smile, wearing his tweed cap looking quite the distinguished equestrian. Part way through a lesson, he would fire up his pipe, which smelled of autumn leaves in the fall, and puff away as he encouraged me over the most amazing obstacles. He would never yell and scream like many an instructor I have encountered, but would encourage you straight from the heart. I always looked forward to seeing him the following week.

Col. Wilson helped me through several events and Pony Club ratings/rallies. Fantastic lessons at Frying Pan Park, flying over fences that I wouldn't dream of jumping now. He also helped find me a young TB mare who turned into quite an eventer for my Novice self. Unfortunately those days came to an end when we go off to college. I tried to take my horse for a year but it proved to be too difficult. I lost contact with Col. Wilson and years later sent a note to tell him how things were going. I unfortunately received a letter back from his wife informing me of his passing due to cancer. I still have that letter after all these years. Wishing I was able to tell him in person what he did for me instilling confidence that will never be forgotten. I still hear his voice as I too enter the dressage arena and try to conquer cross country fences once again now in my 40's married with 3 kids. I ask my self why do I keep doing this? It's because you can do it. "Great job Kim, well done."

I hope this letter finds it way to his family in Hume, Virginia. I know he held a special place in our hearts.

Kim Apicella (Andrew)

Eventing Saddle Advice / County Despri Saddle?

Fjord_Luver — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:41:20 GMT

I currently have a Courbette Vision Event Saddle...... love it! However, my very hard to fit horse (a 15.2 Appendix QH) is always changing shape, even in consistent work, so it doesn't fit him more than it does. The other problem is that I am 13 and 5'6" with VERY long legs(hip to knee). My leg is at the very end of my horse's belly in jump length. The vision fit my leg when I bought it, but now in jump/xc length my knee goes over the blocks. I also have an older custom Schleese dressage saddle. We were looking at used ones and the first one we tried fit! And for only a thousand!But it is almost to straight for me. But I'm willing to keep it.

So I'm wondering if anyone knows of a good FORWARD event saddle for 1200 and below. I would prefer something with a change gullet so I was looking at the Wintec Pro Jump. I'm going to try someone at my barn's. Also the Ovation 4* Event. Heard it was good for long legs.

Also, does anyone know how forward the flap goes? With money being so tight right now, I thought it might be a good Idea, but I've never actually seen one so does anyone know about them? It looks nice, but it all depends on how forward the flap will go. I like to ride in super short stirrups for jumping.

So I really just don't know what to do. Any advise appreciated!

George Morris Clinic Article

lawfilly99 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:24:22 GMT

Can you submit photos for possible inclusion?

very aggressive mare

southren gal — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:01:52 GMT

We have almost 4 year old quarter horse mare that is so aggressive towards all of our other horses. We have had her for about 6 months or so. Shortly after we got her we got a 3 year old gelding, witch she quickly put in check. She has always showed some aggression, but it has gotten really bad now that we have gotten 2 new much older mares. One is 8 years old & the other is 17 years old. We are keeping them away from each other(it has been over a week), but yesterday she pushed the gelding into the fence to bust through to get to the others. We fixed it then latter that night she did it again. This time she went nuts, like she was going to kill them. We couldn't get a hold of her before she pushed the 17 year old mare through the fence (witch we had to cut her out of) . We caught her and put her in a stall. She then pushed her way through the chainlink fence and the wood(witch was a very small hole at the time) to get out again and go after them again. We got them seperated and put up more hot wire. That is wroking for now, but is there any thing that we can do to put them together at some point? What can we do with her? Also the 2 new mares are in heat now, could or whould that have any thing to do with her aggresiveness?

Were there any times in your riding or training when you tried to rush something without success?

Stacey-mod — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:28:37 GMT

A common theme in the September 2009 issue of Practical Horseman was slow and steady training. Editor Sandy Oliynyk discussed this in her editorial. My question to you: Were there any times in your riding or training when you tried to rush something without success? What was it, when did you realize it and how did you go about fixing it? I think this is something every rider has done at least once and probably learned a lot from it. Share your experiences.

Sink into heels - tips,please!

charlee73 — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:51:48 GMT

How do you do this? Ijust don't seem to get it,though I practice on and off my horse. I am doing calf and achilles stretches, but if I am nervous at a jump or a transition, up come the heels. Especially trot to canter.

new eventer, old legs.

Thanks for all the great feedback on my music article!

Ruth Hogan Poulsen — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:52:30 GMT

Thanks everyone for the notes and email about the article You Can Ride to MUSIC... mid winter issue... My Riding With Soul clinics inspired me to do the article... I have learned so much over the years about riders and horses and the affect that music has on them both physically and emotionally... I wanted to share that with you! I have started a news letter that focus' on riding to music, and the use of music for everyday training. Sign up on my site

www.ruthhgoanpoulsen.com

and receive free articles, tips, clips and other FUN stuff!!

Ruth Hogan Poulsen

Actual measurement distances for G.Morris Training Session articles

Dr.Goodyear — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:11:13 GMT

The last several issues have had articles from the George Morris Horsemanship Training Sessions. There have been a ton of great exercises in there, but many of them don't actually have measurements between the jumps. Several of the exercises center around changing the number of strides between elements, stride lengths, etc. I would love to know that I had my jumps set at the same distances so that I am doing the exercise as it was intended. Especially for Beezie Madden's and McClain Ward's exercises and courses. Were these distances posted somewhere or does anyone know who I should contact about this information?

Thanks.

Whatever happened to the Thinking Horseman?

ClickMini — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:50:45 GMT

I am sad that once again Kip is missing in this issue...hope she is coming back soon??? I LOVE the column, it is always the first one I flip to, followed by George Morris.

Thank You, PH

Solaris — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:41:32 GMT

I was impressed beyond words this month when I opened my newest issue of PH to find not only an excellent article on the TRUE costs of helmetless riding but an ever better one from Danny Warrington on falls.

Thank you as well to Phillip Dutton for allowing the use of the photos of his recent rotational fall. I actually took those out to the barn and passed them around, pointing in amazement at his perfect balance and composure in every instant of this horrific fall. I have long admired his horsemanship and profressionalism, now the bar has just been raised.

It is not only a breath of fresh air but an important example of facing the very real and very important issues that face us as horse owners and riders. Not everyone events or even jumps, but, despite denial, we ALL face the risk of a nasty fall at some point in our horse career. Heck, you don't even have to be RIDING to get hurt. So thank you, PH, for rising to the challenge that these issues present and being a publication I am suddenly proud to subscribe to. Whoever your editorial staff is right now, KEEP THEM, and you'll certainly keep my business!

Spooking

Lorrainel — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:52:49 GMT

I board my horse at a stable that backs up to a home that is now being used as a landscaping business. My horse has gotten really concerned about the cows that arrived next door, followed by the pigs, chikcens , and now the landscaping equipment that is parked next to the ring. Some days he is fine working around in the ring other days he is extremely distracted looking over at the trucks and mowers. Spooking along that line. My trainer has had me get on his case and really wrok him hard in a circle when he spookeds or tries to bolt. It doesn't really seem to be helping a lot. I've taken him over to let him look. I work him down that line trying to keep the bend and use leg yeilds. Also lots of circling and changes of directions around the fences to get him thinking. Some days he is good others its a battle, are there any suggestions on what I can do to make him more confident and less distracted. Any movement over there tends to set him off, he use to be a joy to ride but this had made it difficult. I can't figure out what the issue is to get him to relax and over come it. tTe other day it was one of the neighbors walking along the fence.

If you could ride like any top rider, who would it be?

Stacey-mod — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:14:13 GMT

I look at lots of photos every day for the magazine, which got me thinking: If I could ride like any top rider, who would it be--and why?

The first person who came to my mind is Beezie Madden. No matter how big the jumps, she always has the perfect, classic equitation position that epitomizes the American system of riding. And she also seems fearless, concentrated and determined as she attacks every course.

For dressage, either Steffen Peters or Guenter Seidel. They present such beautiful lines on a horse and just look so in sync with their partners it's hard to tell where the horse ends and rider begins.

What about you? (It can be any discipline of course!)

July Editorial: Simple, Not Easy

Stacey-mod — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:36:22 GMT

In her July 2009 Editor's Note, Sandy Oliynyk shares her experience trying Beezie Madden's opening-rein flatwork exercise described in the article "Small Jumps, Big Results" in the same issue.

Beezie's exercise sounds simple enough: Use an opening inside rein toward your knee while using your inside leg to keep your horse out on a circle. ("Too often, riders use indirect inside reins--pulling their inside reins toward their outside hips--to try to push their horses out with their hands. That can make a horse strong and interferes with his balance.") Despite myriad dressage lessons, Sandy found her horse Merlot falling to the inside when she did this. This was a good reminder that simple isn't always easy.

Sandy challenged you to try the exercise during your own riding sessions and discuss your experiences. Did you try it? What was the outcome of your test? Do you have any other examples of exercises that are simple but not easy? I know I'm up for a challenge!

Become a Fan of Practical Horseman on Facebook!

Stacey-mod — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:54:42 GMT

Practical Horseman magazine has recently joined the online social networking scene! Become a fan of Practical Horseman on Facebook for news, show results, online articles and other fun stuff updated daily.

If you're already a member of Facebook, you can reach our page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Practical-Horseman-Magazine/66630714161 or just search for Practical Horseman in the search box. If you haven't yet registered, what are you waiting for?!

NEW R2R Question: Any pre-show rituals??

practicalintern — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:06:48 GMT

Okay readers, share your secrets!

Question: Do you have any pre-show rituals or superstitions?

All answers can be sent via:

-E-mail to Practical.Horseman@EquiNetwork.com

-Fax to (301) 990-9015

-Send post mail to:

Rider to Rider

Practical Horseman

656 Quince Orchard Rd. Suite 600

Gaithersburg, MD 20878

The writer of our favorite letter will receive a copy of the DVD Cross Country Clinic with Jim Wofford!!

Responses to this question must be reveived by September 1, 2009.

Thanks!

Wrapping your horse around your leg

874019 — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:28:20 GMT

My horse is relly having some problems with circles. i beliee he is not responding consistenetly to my aids. I an trying to gethim to understand to srap around my inside leg. I am using my inside leg at the girth, my outside leg behind the girth. He tends to lean on his inside shoulder especially to the right. Recently at a clinic the instructor had me tap his shoulder with the dressage whip to keep it ove. I am able to get it over but it just comes right back in about three strides. I ride him western also and he neck reins very well and stays centered in his circles. I feel I must be confusing him in some way. Any ideas?

Old Age Home Feeding

Don Lincicome — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:36:23 GMT

On our farm we have horses that have been retired from Children's riding stables. These horses have served " Humans " well over their lifetime and now enjoy the title of " Pasture orniments " My three daughters ride but not in competition. Only on our farm.

The question: The horses range in age between 15- 27 years of age. I grain them well in the winter and they always have plenty of grass and hay during the simmer months. All are standard/mid-size ponies. How much grain should I be feeding during the summer for these friends of mine that are not...shall we say...very active

Don Lincicome

Bellville Ohio