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01/2007 | 02/2007 | 03/2007 | 04/2007 | 05/2007 | 07/2007 | 08/2007 | 09/2007 | 10/2007 | 12/2007
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Q: We have replaced the roof and redone all the electrical on our barn. Does this affect our insurance policy?
Elaine Osburn is the Farm Manager of The Co-operators in Guelph, Ontario.
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A: If you make any major renovations (structural or esthetics) it is always advisable to contact your insurance agent. The renovations may increase the value of the building but they may also reduce the risk of loss which could result in a lower premium. Each insurance company has a different way of calculating your premium, so you should contact your company for further information on the specifics of reducing premiums through improvements and reducing the risk of loss.
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Q: How do I train my horse to lower his head and front leg so I can get on bareback?
– Josee Marte
Jan Sharp from Ashtabula, Ohio, is the author of Trick Training Your Horse to Success, and has been training high schooled trick horses for 43 years.
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A: People wanting to know how to teach their horse to bow, so they can get on, is probably the most frequently asked question I receive. A horse that will bow down helps riders mount bareback and makes mounting easier for those who have a hard time reaching the stirrup.
The “ curtsy ” bow is where the horse drops his head and bends his knee down, lowering his shoulders enough for his rider to mount, without actually putting his knee all the way down on the ground. It is easier to teach than the full bow and usually the horse dips (or bends) enough to make mounting easier. Keep your training sessions short and praise him for all his attempts. Make it fun for him, not something to be feared. The curtsy bow is taught in two steps – teaching him to drop his head and then to bend his knee and lower his shoulders enough for his rider to mount.
First, teach him to drop his head. Halter him and put the lead rope chain over his nose. Lightly give little tugs down on the lead, asking him to lower his head. At first, most horses will resist and pull up. Don ’ t try to pull his head down, or bribe him with treats held under his nose, but give repeated little “ on and off ” tugs until he lowers his head. You are teaching him to give to the pressure placed on his nose. When he does, even if it ’ s just an inch or two, reward him with praise and maybe then a little food tidbit. With practice and repetition over the course of several days or weeks, you will be able to give a little tug on his lead rope and he will drop his head clear to the ground and hold it there until released. Once he has mastered this cue, you are ready to teach him the next step.
For the second part of this training, cue your horse to drop his head and at the same time, lightly tap behind his left front knee with a dressage length (48 inches) whip until he slightly lifts and bends his knee. Reward him for each good attempt to show him he ’ s on the right path. Rewards can include voice praise, pats, or a small food treat. After he has mastered those two steps, cue him to shift his weight rearward by asking him to drop his head, bend his knee, and then begin to shift this weight back more and more until his shoulders get closer to the ground. Cue him to drop his head and bend his knee. Then, pull down and back on his lead to encourage him to rock back a little. If he tries to back up, pull him forward and repeat your cues. What you want is for your horse to drop his head down real low, bend his knee, shift his weight slightly to the rear, drop his shoulders lower, and hold that position long enough for you to mount. When he can do that consistently, you are ready to try mounting. From then on, praise and reward him, only after you are mounted. You are asking your horse to perform a series of steps, so expect this to take weeks, even months to be perfected. Eventually, your cues can be transferred to a simple jiggle of the reins and at the same time, a tap behind his knee with your toe.
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Q. Which are the best colt starting DVDs to get? I am mostly interested in Stacy Westfall, Clinton Anderson, John Lyons and Buck Brannaman.
Researched by Western Horse Review.
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A. While we can ’ t say exactly which colt starting video is the best, we can give you a rundown of what each trainer is about and what they have produced to date.
Stacy Westfall
Westfall ’ s focuses on achieving a high degree of communication between horse and rider. She ’ s become well known for her bridleless and saddleless reining demonstrations.
Westfall was the first woman to compete, and win, in the prestigious Road to the Horse competition which pitted some of the top horsemanship trainers against each other in a colt starting competition. Her top performances include 2003 and 2005 NRHA Open Freestyle Reining Champion (Bridleless), 2006 Tulsa Reining Classic Champion (Bridleless and Saddleless) and other year-end awards.
Westfall is a University of Findlay graduate with a major equestrian studies/equine business management. Her DVDs include Basic Groundwork, Starting Young Horses, Basic Body Control, Teaching Your Horse to Bow, 2006 Road to the Horse, Bridleless with Stacy Westfall and Can Can Lena (2003 NRHA Futurity) – the latter of which is reviewed in this month ’ s Riders Journal on page 22.
By the way, you can view Westfall ’ s winning bridleless run online free of charge at www.westfallhorsemanship.com/images/ 2003.mpg
Clinton Anderson
Down Under Horsemanship ® has become synonymous with Clinton Anderson. His tag line, “ no worries training for you and your horse ” has brought fans flocking to see his demonstrations. Anderson ’ s focus is about working through natural resistance in a horse and using your horse ’ s own natural inclinations to your benefit.
According to his website www.downunderhorsemanship.com, “ you will have a willing, respectful and responsive partner ready for you to enjoy. ” Along with his easygoing attitude and horsemanship philosophy, Anderson also promotes a variety of products to achieve the horsemanship results you desire. He uses these products fairly regularly in his DVDs as well. He has 27 DVDs and audio CDs currently for sale including Advanced Riding, Barrel Racing Success, Problem Solving on the Ground and Under Saddle, Starting Under Saddle, Gaining Respect and Control on the Ground Series (3 DVDs), Correcting Problems on the Trail.
As a preview, you can listen to Anderson ’ s weekly podcast at this website: www.downunder.podshowcreator.com
John Lyons
America ’ s Most Trusted Horseman. If there is one clinician who can claim this title, it ’ s John Lyons. He is definitely a pioneer not only the natural horsemanship method, but also in the clinician movement. While natural horsemanship has been around as long as humans and horses have coexisted, the method of traveling to teach clinics has really been Lyons ’ frontier.
Lyons forwards a very practical, problem solving approach to horse training. He approaches the horse as a partner, as was apparent with well-known Appaloosa sidekick, Zip a horse he owned for 27 years. He emphasizes the responsibility of horseownership and believes that we are called to be caretakers of the horse here on earth.
Lyons has over 30 videos and DVDs and 10 audio CDs including The Best Start for the Unbroke Horse, John Lyons ’ Troubleshooting, Ground Control Series (5 DVDs) and Controlling Your Horse ’ s Speed. These and others are for sale on www.westernhorsereview.com.
You can preview Lyons ’ methods in Perfect Horse magazine.
Buck Brannaman
Known as the inspiration behind the Robert Redford movie, The Horse Whisperer, Brannaman has been starting horses since the age of 12. Brannaman has a certain cowboy appeal and his approach to horse training is quiet and simple. For 2007 the only chance you have to see Brannaman will be on video as he ’ s decided to take 2007 off to work on a new book. He ’ ll be back on the clinic trail in 2008.
His approach to horsemanship is holistic, believing that the horse and human bond is so spiritual that much healing can happen in the heart of a human when they work with a horse.
His videos include The First Ride and The Making of a Bridle Horse Series, in three parts: the snaffle bit, the hackamore and the two-rein and bridle. Some of his videos are for sale on www.westernhorsereview.com.
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