In this month's story on healing horses we talk about how poor proprioception adversely effected one little child. In this article we discuss:

• So what exactly is proprioception?
• Why is it important for all of us?
• How is proprioception important for all riders?
• Can we learn to have better proprioception?
• Are all proprioceptive exercises equal for us, as riders?
• Which exercises can actually help us as riders?

"We did measure him when he arrived and he clocked in at something like a massive 14h3 with shoes!! Bless him.

Three years later I was rather surprise to find him clocking in at something like 15h2 without shoes and at rest!!! That's a lot, but he has been through some extremes."

Andy Vacanes

Join us in looking at the explanation of the changes that are possible in the horse, from a training and riding perspective, based on the physical structure of the horse.

So what does a pair of red long johns have to do with riding?

Read on... to find a fun perspective of what your horse needs from you.

"The Loose Ring snaffle is a bit in which the mouthpiece attaches to free sliding rings. If the horse tries to "take a hold" of the bit, it will rotate on the rings, making it difficult for the horse to grab the bit and evade the rider."

Maybe its time that we stop and examine very carefully the effects of the loose ring snaffle. How does "the bit rotating on the rings" effect the horse, effect the rider, effect our training in the short term and the long term? Does it truly bring about more possibilities, or does it limit long term training possibilities?

Decarpentry on our two alternatives for bending our horses through a volt or a turn. And which is truly correct!

How we ride and train our horses through the corners affects all of his movement. A gauge of whether he is beginning to engage through the hind end, or is he just fooling you, or are you fooling yourself.

Truly interesting when we use this information to examine the practices of those around us, especially at the higher levels of competition, and we often see horses that are working with tight backs, unable to properly working through the corners and turns.

Do you know where the horse lives? Where he is right now? Not physically, but mentally. Because if your not where he is mentally, how can you talk?

Riding is all about communication. Communication with the horse. Requiring riders to bring the same strengths, the same ability and focus of attention that meditation brings.

Seunig talks about how “there is probably no subject in the whole realm of horsemanship about which there has been so much mysticism as crookedness, …. "

Hear how Seunig views crookedness. How his effective yet understandable and clear explanation help us to understand exactly what crookedness is. And thus how to effectively deal with it.

From a lack of experience, to a lack of education, to the just plain misinformation that is out there, we as riders are put into a very difficult position. One where we need to be able to judge the quality of the knowledge, the veracity, the truth of the words of our own instructors. But HOW can we do this? HOW can we judge someone who supposedly knows so much more then we do. And we have to, our horses are counting on us!

But "How can we judge?"

Cavessons have changed tremendously in the past few decades. Perhaps it is time to ask why? Why is it necessary to have a padded cavesson on a bridle? When the masters of the past seemed to do quite well without them.

Cavessons have become a tool to take control over horses, a tool that takes away any of their choices. They take away their voice.

We encourage all riders to read this article and the next on the infraorbital nerve, before ever deciding again to tighten up the cavesson.

To the welfare of the horse.

n avid dressage rider and trainer, Brie Hamblin was amazed to discover some very interesting information on the horse during her dissection class at a teaching veternarian hospital.  She was in the process of examing the head of the horse with the skin removed, a stage where you can see all the muscles and nerves of the horse fully exposed. Creating a very different reality than just looking a pictures or drawings in school text.

She took up the challenge presented to her, to take pictures and share her discovery.  So that more riders would understand the impact of their choices.

Do you know the three methods of teaching?

ere you aware that there is only three methods of teaching?

As an instructor, as a rider, do you know which method is the one you personally prefer?

Have you examined the different teaching methods? And having done so, do you see area's that you could improve in for your riders?

The moment we come into contact with our horses we challenge ourselves to grow and learn more. This article does that and  more. The first in a series of articles that examines not only our teaching methodology but our riding and our training. One that asks many questions, and gives a few answers.

Invaluable for instructor, horse and rider.

Bonnie Perreault addresses this age old question on the crookedness of the horse, from a very different and ORIGINAL perspective.

A welcome addition to this issue of HORSES For LIFE and the subject of crookedness in our horses.

Asking questions about crookedness and the evolution of the horse that deserve to some serious attention and thinking.

For many, the least appealing aspect of learning to ride and train is the theoretical side: gathering knowledge, finding out about the structure and mechanics of things, tangible facts on which to base a methodical schooling, etc. To many, these are probably quite unimportant. They just get up and get on with it! But the more serious will want to know why as well as how.

Of immense value are the five practical applications that the Baron shares with us, at the end of the article. But first the Baron shares his extensive biomechanical knowledge of the horse thus not only are we presented with the what, and the how, but the Baron respects our intellect in explaining the why.

"None of us have gotten where we are solely by pulling ourselves up from our own bootstraps.  We got here because somebody bent down and helped us." - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall

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Cover Picture:  

Equestrian Portrait of Thomas, 3rd Baron Fairfax (1612-71) by Gonzales Coques probably painted during the 1650s. The Baron of Fairfax referred to as "Black Tom" served as commander-in-chief for Parliament against Charles I.

Graphics Editor:  

Mellanie Hee is a professional graphics artist and web designer. She brings unique skills with her experience with illustration and computer-based graphic designs for online and print media. She currently lives in Texas with her horse Cassy.

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October 2005 • Volume 2 

HORSES FOR LIFE™
Published Monthly

Please note all resources presented are © copyright protected by the original owners and reprinted with permission OR © Copyright Horses For Life™ 2005
And Castlemare Enterprises™
All Rights Reserved -

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