Our Blog
Sworls
I thought it might be a fun change of pace to explore the myth vs fact of sworls in our horses. Sworls are pinwheeled patches of hair that grow in the opposite direction, on the face. On other parts of the body, they are called cowlicks. Interestingly, the brain and...
Podcast: Nerves in Horses and People
Hi, it’s Barb. I was thinking about this challenge of ‘nerves’ that’s a tough one. And if you think you’re the only one, believe me, you’re not. It’s a challenge most of us have. And I was thinking about it in the context of our horses. They get nervous, too. I...
How Horses See
I thought it would be an interesting detour to explore how horses see, and how that relates to our understanding them when it comes to training. Horses evolved in open grasslands. They’re designed to be awake and grazing day and night. They have excellent low light...
5 Tips for Making the Cut
In this video, I discuss five essentials of good herd work and show examples of: Driving forward for the cut Pausing and then moving across the pen with the flow of cattle Using the cow-side leg during the cut Keeping your horse on his haunches as you make the cut...
Essential 7: Pivot Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting. Common problems in the pivot, and how to fix them: • Too much bend. This is caused by trying to pull your horse around with the direct (inside) rein, so overbending his neck. We resort to this when we can’t make his shoulders move. This will actually...
Speaking Cow Lingo
I clipped a piece of video for you from my "Cow Characteristics" video in my Cow Class II Program. In this segment, I talk about 'speaking cow lingo'. You: Good position as you travel … slightly ahead of the cow … your leg in the cow’s shoulder. Cow: Begins to slow...
Podcast: How To Be Extraordinary
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been observing riders who are absolutely killing it… recreational riders, teachers, coaches, and competitive riders. I’ve observed 3 things in all of them make them stand out, and inspire me. I hope becoming more clear about these 3...
The Loop
Many times when turning a cow on the fence, it manages to come off the fence. There are a few reasons why this happens. One would be the cow jumping over the horses rear end (see the picture). There’s no way, that this wouldn’t require a loop. There’s no penalty for...
If the Cattle Get Tangled on the Cut
I just returned from the NCHA Futurity. When I saw these two cuts. I thought they would be great examples of how you can make the best decisions possible on the cut if cattle threaten to stay together and 'get tangled up.' Watch for three things: 1. How the cutters...
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