A flirt pole is a great tool for both training and exercising a pit bull or any breed of dog. A flirt pole consists of a pole a rope and bait. The best aspect of using a flirt pole is that it can be used with any age or level of dog. Also because it doesn’t require a large open area it can be used in a small area.
A flirt pole is easy to build. You can start by buying a lunge whip from the local farm supply or horse tack shop. At the end of the lunge whip simply attach an old rag or burlap cloth as a bait item for the dog. If you think the rag doesn’t create enough weight feel free to add a tennis ball by poking two holes in it and threading the line through.
Even though a lunge whip is the easiest way to get started, there are many other ways to build a flirt pole. Currently, I am using an old fiberglass tent pole with a cotton rope. I have used PVC pipe, Bamboo, an even a tree branch in the […]

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It is with obvious Hollywood trickery that the famous “Mr. Ed” the horse did not actually talk on the classic TV show of the same name. However, this does not mean that horses cannot communicate with humans. We just have to “listen” carefully. Here are some regulary horse expressions.
Instead of reading lips, try reading the ears of a horse. The ears of a horse can express a lot of what the equine is trying to say. When the horse’s ears are pinned back and he is showing you the whites of his eyes, watch out, he means business! There are milder versions of this expressions as his ears might be pulled back just because he’s annoyed or maybe he’s even listening to noises behind him. However, when the eyes are bugged out with ears pinned back flat, beware.
The ears of a horse can show signs of aggression as mentioned above or signs of boredom. When the ears of a horse are turned back and jutting out gently, it is usually a sign of ennui. Make sure that the horse is aware of your presence before your approach […]

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Despite mankind’s top level status in the evolutionary chain, understanding and making friends in the animal kingdom has a lot of rewarding benefits. Whether the formed relationship is for companionship, working purposes, or both, it helps to when one can learn the language of the animal counterpart.
The great thing about animals is their honesty. They give signs of what they are thinking and feeling and it’s up to you to decipher the message. It’s no different with horses as you have to understand their mindset of where they are coming from.
Horses are herd animals. They are also prey animals so they can get a bit twitchy if they perceive you as a hunter. In the wild, a herd is governed by a boss mare. She protects the herd’s safety by looking for dangers and motivates the herd into flight from predators. When the boss mare is on alert with her head up and her ears are pricked forward along with tense muscles, the herd knows it’s a danger sign and is prepared to run at her signal. However, when the lead mare is relaxed with her head down grazing, the rest of […]

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The Definition of “Horse Tack” is all the equipment that you need as the owner of a horse. Riding a horse and properly caring for a horse requires certain equipment to adequately take care of their needs. You will need to evaluate you and your horse’s activities and needs to evaluate what pieces of tack you should invest in. Bridles, bits, saddle pads, saddles, lead ropes, halters, whips, stirrup leathers are just a few of the basic supplies you will need.
The first time you go to the tack store you may feel like you’ve spent way too much, but don’t worry, if you take good care of all your tack it will last you for several years. Then you can just replace items as needed. Also, getting a good quality saddle and bridle will last you forever if you keep it clean and polished up after every use. The same goes with ALL your tack.
Horse tack ranges from the very simple, to the very elaborate. The first thing you will need for your horse is a halter. The halter fits over the horses nose and head to allow you to control the […]

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So you’ve got a love of the outdoors, you’ve taken some riding lessons and now you want to buy a horse. Just like any other animal you’re bringing into your life, this is a serious undertaking. However, because horses are not a household pet, there are unique considerations when buying one.
Here are some tips to help you find a horse that is right for you.
Education
Educate yourself on all things related to horses. Read as much as you can but also be around them as much as possible. Volunteer at a stable and see what taking care of a horse is really like. Take extensive riding lessons. Learn how to recognize a horse’s disposition and temperament. Also, talk to people in the horse community by going to horse shows. Talk to trainers and vets to truly understand the magnitude of what you are about to undertake. Can you afford to make the time and money commitment of being a horse owner?
Know Yourself
You have educated yourself on the responsibilities of being a horse owner and you have decided to go ahead with this venture. The next step is to make a list […]

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If you’re new to horses, you might be thinking “I want a horse, but how on earth do I go about getting one?” Following these steps will help you avoid scams, traders, lemons, and other “oopsies”. There are a lot of horses for sale, and you want to be sure that you find the perfect one.
1. If you’ve never owned a horse, don’t go into it unprepared. You need to have a secure paddock with shelter, adequate feed, and room to run; or else board at a stable. You need to read up on the aspects of horse care, talk to friends you know who own horses, and visit with your local vet in order to plan for the best possible home for your new horse. Begin riding lessons and help out around a stable, so you’ll be able to have a basic knowledge of horses before you tackle the responsibility of caring for your own.
2. You can ask your lesson instructor or horse friends to help you find a good horse for you to buy. Often they know of horse breeders in the area that are reputable for raising and training good horses. If you can find […]

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Horse quotes, equestrian quotes, dressage quotes, words of wisdom from the masters of classical riding: a single sentence can change the way you look at horses and horse riding forever.
Horse quotes and horse riding quotes can be inspiring, heart-warming, educational or amusing. Educational quotes can make us think, comical ones can make us laugh and when the quote touches on a subject close to our hearts, it can even bring a tear or two to our eyes.
Reading quotes and marvelling about how accurate and true they are is entertaining, but could they possibly have a more influential effect or our personal riding experience? Could a quote really make a difference to how well you ride, on how effortlessly you interact with your horse?
To master the art of classical riding, physical practice is not enough. Mental training is as important as physical training if you truly want to learn how to communicate flawlessly with your horse. This is not a new discovery, far from it, the concept was familiar to horseback riders and trainers more than a thousand years ago.
Modern Masters confirm this belief in no uncertain terms. There are endless examples of equestrian quotes validating this statement. One of the […]

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Some of us just love horses, regardless of age or sex, we just love them. I can remember being a very small child and always asking Santa for a pony for Christmas, or when birthdays came around or instead of an Easter Egg 0 any excuse for a present was an excuse to ask for a pony! All I ever wanted as a child was a pony of my own that I could spend time with day in and day out 0 and I was not unusual in that desire.
Some people outgrow that desire but the true equestrian never does 0 you live eat, sleep and breathe horses. Your every waking moment is filled with the thought of your horses, or just any horses to be truthful. If that is the case then you should look at working in an equestrian environment because you just won0t be happy anywhere else. Even if competition riding is not your strength there are so many other areas in which you can work with horses and these days it is a truly global career.

Equestrian Sports worldwide involve many millions of horses and there are numerous opportunities to work with […]

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Horses are amazingly beautiful and sensitive creatures. Horses require not only understanding and patience to have a horse as a pet, it also requires a whole lot of care.
Herd Mentality:
Observe horses in the herd system, each horse’s welfare in the wild depends upon an instinctive submission to the discipline of the herd. The instinct is for immediate action. To the horse, action is survival. When horses live in an herd environment, they often take turns sleeping and standing guard for any predators. When the leader of the herd signals danger they take flight.
Learning respect and ascending to authority starts on the first day of life for the foals, there is a distinct pecking order in herds of horses.
It is important to keep a quiet profile around horses. Horses naturally do not like unnecessary noise because in the wild their survival depends on detection of predators with their hearing. Extraneous noise interferes with this predator detection. This predator detection is tightly coupled with a horse’s flight reflex. Due to these survival genetics, horses have a physiological wiring in their brains that predisposes them to prefer quietness and to become bothered by unnecessary noise. Many horses can get startled easily from abrupt […]

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Horses are sensitive creatures and building a close bond between the horse and rider is an important aspect of riding. When horses have had a bad history with abusive owners in the past, it can be difficult for the horse to trust the new rider. However with time, you can still get the horse to trust you if you do spend time and effort to get to know the horse. In this way, it will be much easier to control the horse when it has confidence in you.If you have a horse that has a shy nature, but hasn’t been abused, it can also be difficult for the horse to trust you. All it takes is some time together. You need to think through how you wish to move towards him. Make sure you move slowly and approach the horse from the left. If you are walking towards him with anything in your hands, stretch it out in front of you to show him there is nothing to be afraid of whatsoever.Do not wear baggy outfits when you are moving close to a skittish horse. The wind could pick up your shirt or pants and cause a sudden clothing flapping […]

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