Mini Horse Care Lesson 1: Untacking

Hello readers!

Welcome to my first Mini Horse Care Lesson!  I will periodically post these lessons on my blog.  These lessons will show you how to perform certain horse care tasks!  Today's lesson is: Untacking.

1)  Dismount
2)  Put reins over your horse's head.

 3)  Run up both stirrups.

1                                               2

3

4)  Undo throatlatch of the bridle.

5)  Undo noseband of the bridle.

6)  Lift up noseband from inside of the bridle.

7)  Cup hand under the opening to your horse's mouth and grab the crownpiece of your horse's bridle, lift the crownpiece over your horse's ears, and bring your hand down slowly, allowing the horse to spit out the bit.  Catch the bit with your hand.

8)  Bring reins closer to your horse's head, giving you more control.

9)  With the lead rope unattached, put on the halter.

10)  Slip reins over the horse's head and attach the lead rope.

11)  Unbuckle both sides of the girth. (Saddle)

12)  Flip girth upside down on the seat of the saddle.  If you put the sweaty side on the saddle it will ruin the leather.

13)  Saddle pad and all, carry the tack to a place to sit.

If your saddle is going to sit out for a while before going in the tack room, make sure it is covered to protect the leather from the sun.
14)  Undo the boots.

Thanks for reading!

~Snowmochan

Lesson

Hello readers!

I had my lesson today, and it was so much fun!  I learned how to post the canter.  Posting the canter is so much fun!  You stand up in the stirrups for one stride, and sit down for the next and repeat.  Posting the canter is supposed to help keep your legs still and to keep horses that gradually change their speed to keep the same pace, because if they change their pace, the cantering will become uncomfortable.  This was good for Isabel, because it prevented her from slowing down.

We jumped 2 six and did lots of bending and gymnastic lines.  I think we did well, except when I would approach a jump and Isabel would try to change leads in front of it.  The jump was on a diagonal, and usually when I would canter across a diagonal,  I would make Isabel change the leads.  This day I wanted her to change leads over the jump and not on the diagonal line.  Since Isabel was expecting to change leads so much when I asked her to stay on the same lead she started bucking.

Overall the lesson went really well.

Today's Question:  Should salt be fed in a block or loose and added to grain?  Blocks provide constant access to salt, and horses can have a lick whenever they want to, but many horses despise the taste of those blocks, and can end up being deficient in salt.  When you feed loose salt you can be sure that your horse gets the salt you give to him, but you have to be constantly changing his salt amount to provide him with enough, and if you feed the wrong amount, that guarantees that your horse had the wrong amount, not a maybe.   There is no right or wrong answer.  Comment to broadcast your thoughts.


Thanks for reading,

Snowmochan

Good Morning

Hello readers!

I know I am writing this super early, but I am awake since I have a horseback riding lesson today.  I will be jumping and fill you in on details later on.

I was thinking about having a mini horse care lesson every once in awhile on my blog.  So also stay tuned for mini horse care lessons!

Thanks for reading,
Snowmochan

Isabel

Hello,

This is my lease mare, Isabel.  I call her Izzybel usually.  She is a cute, fat, tobiano, American Warmblood.   I ride her 2 days a week in the school year, and 4 days in the summer.  We jump together and do dressage and trails.  She is lazy, but loves being ridden since she is the center of attention.

I have never done a show with her.  I was supposed to earlier this year, but unfortunately the day before the show I fractured my ankle in a soccer accident.

Isabel lives in the pasture.  She loves it there.  She is the leader of her herd.  I'm glad she has a good time there, but she always goes to the bottom of the pasture and wallows in a muddy stream. LOL

Isabel is very docile.  She lets me curry her everywhere and does not bloat when I tighten her girth.  She does not spook at rustling in the bushes or squirrels scurrying across the road.  The only things she is scared of are barrels, and the occasional trail rider.

I wish I could buy Isabel.  She is one of a kind.

Todays Question:  Is neoprene for horse boots good or bad?  Neoprene absorbs shock, but does not breathe, keeping moisture trapped on the horse's leg, making it easier for it to slip.  There is no right or wrong answer.  Comment to broadcast your answer.

Thanks for reading!
~Snowmochan

Welcome

Hello,

I am Snomochan.  Welcome to my blog!  I have just started it today, and nothing important has happened yet, but stay tuned for future posts!


FYI
This is a Picture of my dog, Snowflake.  She needs a trim Hahaha. :p


~Snowmochan