Rope halters are very easy to use, and fasten simply when you tie them up. They’re very light weight, and very effective. Although they’re barely there, they’re effective even when handling headstrong horses. They don’t require too much care, look neat, and are available in sizes miniature to full size. They come in a range of great colours, and are easy to use.

They’re more adjustable than buckle halters and are very comfortable for the horse. They make a great gift, or a fantastic prize !

It’s just like musical chairs !. Use a circle of mats as chairs, make sure there’s one less than the number of riders playing. Either play music, or use a sound as the dismounted signal (like a whistle). Riders must keep control of their horses at all times, and lead them to the mats.

The rider who doesn’t get a mat is out. Another mat is removed and the game goes on !. To make it harder or more interesting, why not have riders ride bareback ? Or try trotting or cantering around the mats to make dismounting a little bit more difficult.

Tips When Riding Bareback

• Never clench your calves to keep balance on your horse, you may only tense up and encourage your horse to go faster.
• If you need to, hold the mane, but don’t lean on your hands. The point of bareback riding is to improve your balance. If you’re leaning you’ll never learn.
• Make sure you’re looking ahead, and try to adapt as close to a normal seat as possible, heels down still applies !

• Trotting and cantering will be the true test of balance, make sure you relax into each gait gently, give yourself time to adjust.
• Take time to feel the horse move underneath you. Practise your aids and see just how long it takes your horse to respond.

The findings were that horses universally prefer to drink from a bucket, probably as it is easier to get to, had a greater diameter and was the closest to resemble their drinking habits in the wild. Not only that, but when restricted to the two automatic watering systems, it was found the horses spent more time using them to drink, yet got less water, causing an overall loss of body fluids.

So if your horse has an automatic watering system, it might pay to supplement this with a plain old bucket of water, especially during a hot spell or after exercise.

Artificial aids should be used sparingly. They are generally harsher than natural aids, and have a stronger, less friendly effect.

Encouraging your horse with natural aids will get you alot further than forcing or frightening your horse into doing something for you. It is understandable that some horses require their riders to carry crops, or use them, but careful consideration should be made before striking a horse. A small tap with a crop can often reinforce the aid, and is usually enough to encourage the stubborn horse to work. A rider who can communicate with their horse properly shouldn’t need a whip. Using whips on young horses, or flightly horses is likely to make them resentful, and break down trust between horse and rider.

It’s best to think of a crop as an extension of the arm, nothing more.

Many believed he was fed peanut butter but that would have been a tad messy, plus given Mr Ed an almighty belly-ache. His trainer, Les Hilton, used nylon fishing line. The fishing line was attached to the headstall (which is why you never see Ed speaking without his headstall on) and runs through his mouth.

When Mr Ed is required to speak, Hilton gently pulls the line and Ed responds by moving his lips. It’s not a specially trained action but a natural response to something moving in his mouth.

And for another piece of trivia…. Ed had his “Off” days too, something the cast and crew on the show were well aware of. Occasionally Ed would stand dead still, wheeze and refuse to work, meaning it was time to call it quits for the day.

More common on grey horses, they are especially common around the anus, perineal area, vulva, sheath and penis. They are most often black and may or may not be increasing in size.

The decision to remove a melanoma may be based on its location and how rapidly it is growing. Your vet should examine the melanoma and advise you on what changes to look for.

                                            Take some yourself at the same time.!

Rescue Remedy is also excellent for horses that tend to panic, even if it is a long standing pattern, for example floating, going to shows and so on. It can be useful when combined with Chamomile Tea. It contains five Bach Flower Essences, which work homeopathically. It is available from health food stores and specialty shops.

What is a Cavesson?

The cavesson headcollar or headstall is a simple but strongly made bitless bridle with a low fitting, padded noseband, throatlatch and, in some cases, a browband. Some have a strap fitted from the centre of the noseband to the headpiece for added security and to prevent the noseband dropping lower than it has been fitted. It should not be confused with the ordinary noseband on a bridle, which is also often referred to as a cavesson.

The noseband of the cavesson headcollar is reinforced with a hinged steel band, to which three D rings are attached. The centre ring, which projects up to 4cm from the noseband, is usually swivel mounted while the side rings are generally fixed.

Why is it used?

Used by itself or in conjunction with a bitted bridle, the cavesson headcollar allows the effect of lunge rein to be completely separate from the action of the bit (and any aids that may be attached to it). As it elminates the possibility of the mouth being pulled or damaged should the horse try to break away from the handler, some trainers may also choose to lead a young horse with a cavesson headcollar fitted over a bitted bridle, attaching the rein to one of the D rings.

How should it be used?

The cavesson headcollar should be fitted closely to the head to prevent if from being pulled sideways when pressure is applied to the lunge rein but not so tightly it would cause discomfort. The noseband will be fairly low to give the handler greater leverage in an emergency, and the throatlatch done up tightly enough so the cheekpieces cannot slip forward over the horse’s eye. If the cavesson is being used in conjunction with a fitted bridle, it can be fitted either underneath or over the top. It is probably more effective and comfortable if used underneath the bridle, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the action of any aids (such as side reins) attached to the bit. If fitted over the top, consideration should be given to removing the noseband from the bitted bridle, to reduce bulk and allow the noseband of the cavesson to be done up as firmly as possible.

The lunge rein can be attached to the centre ring, which allows the horse to be lunged both ways without further adjustment, or to one of the side rings. There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods, so determine which is more effective for a particular horse.

Can anything go wrong?

When the lunge rein is buckled to the front D, it has a significant leverage effect, which can cause the hindquarters to fly outwards if the rein is used to strongly. If the cavesson headcollar is not fitted firmly enough, the noseband will tend to revolve towards the handler, drawing the cheekpiece on the opposite side forward onto the horse’s eye. Using side reins on the other D’s when the lunge rein is attached to the centre one will help to prevent this revolving effect.

A cavesson headcollar is not an essential aid for lungeing, but is stronger, more versatile and able to be fitted more securely than a normal halter, traits that make it a useful piece of equipment to have, especially when training the young horse.