labruyere : for an enhanced relationship with your horse

Saturday, 4 August 2012

Olympic Equestrian Links 2012

NOTE : Links are STILL available

(December 2012)

The following set of Olympic Equestrian Links 2012 will be updated daily...

For the equivalent information on the 2012 Paralympic Equestrian Links click here...

As these are links...

I have no control over, or knowledge of, how long they will remain available for access

nor of the accuracy of the information they provide...

They are listed here in reverse chronological order (i.e. most recent first)

purely for information

(and the convenience of having them all in one spot)...

I hope you find these Olympic Equestrian Links 2012 useful....

regards, labruyere - for an enhanced relationship with your horse

NOTE:

READERS OUTSIDE THE UK MAY FIND THEY ARE BLOCKED FROM WATCHING THE VIDEOS...

THE RESULTS PAGE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL HOWEVER...
( apparently you can get a temp UK IP address via this website:- www.expatshield.com
>>>> USE AT YOUR OWN RISK... I have NOT used this product and am NOT endorsing it
- ref came from a poster on Horse and Hound forum, UK)

The Final Olympic 2012 sport with an equine element (Modern Pentathlon) runs from:-
MEN - 08.45 Saturday 11/8, Show Jumping starts at 15.20
WOMEN - 08.00 Sunday 12/8, Show Jumping starts at 14.35
Click on this link to access coverage

Tuesday, 24 July 2012

rarely am I lost for words.....!

but this has me beat.... !!

Welcome to the Ace Power, horse riding fitness phenomenon

I can't wait to read your comments...

special prize for explaining what that bed scene near the end is about...!?

enjoy (ish)

(takes a few seconds to load first)

so I'll leave you to rush out and buy an

Ace Power horse riding fitness machine

and bu**er up your seat position, FOR EVER!!!

For your own copy of my

FREE training guides and newsletter

" walk a mile in his hooves... "

please check the form at the bottom of this page and Register

To access all blog posts, click the tab at the top of the page

or check out the TOP 5 most popular posts, as listed in the right hand column.

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Tuesday, 17 July 2012

The Rules - Horse training

The Rules

for interacting with and training your horse...

are the same rules as for any meaningful relationship

(e.g. [in no particular order] with your dog, your children, your partner, your work colleagues, your neighbours, etc...)

The Rules are:

negative feedback should occur at most as frequently as positive feedback
consequences should be timely, appropriate and proportionate
rewards should be timely, appropriate and proportionate (and if you really want results - 'a little over the top' )
you have the right to defend yourself
you do not have the right to attack the other party

hence my strapline....

labruyere - for an enhanced relationship with your horse

more posts on related topics to follow....

meanwhile - if you have any views or comments on this

> please share them via the comments section below....

(you may need to click on the text 'comment' next to the envelope icon first)

For your own copy of my

FREE training guides and newsletter

" walk a mile in his hooves... "

please check the form at the bottom of this page and Register

To access all blog posts, click the tab at the top of the page

or check out the TOP 5 most popular posts, as listed in the right hand column.

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Saturday, 14 July 2012

puissance - bareback & no bridle - video

a little something for the weekend....!

bareback 'puissance', (mostly) without a bridle

a video to challenge any jumping 'excuses' one might have...

I know it gave me a kick up the backside...!

this horse obviously has scope to burn

and must be straight as a die over his fences...

but what I really love is the communication between rider and horse

it really ties in with the approach described in

my training guides and newsletter

- no pull, kick, or head twisting here....

sit back and enjoy...

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FREE training guides and newsletter

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Monday, 9 July 2012

bridling passion....

why do 'all' bridles (in the UK at least)

now come with

a flash noseband
and rubber reins

as standard...?

as all bridles seem to come with a flash...

virtually everyone uses them

and so many riders think all horses need one...

it's a self perpetuating myth...

(not unlike the perception

that all ponies

need a Pelham bit with roundings....!)

in addition

very few people know how to fit such nosebands correctly

for example

I find people frequently turn up for their first lesson with me
with a flash 'flapping' loosely on their horse's nose

personally, if I were a horse,
this constant flapping every stride would drive me to distraction...

so I would much rather a flash band is removed
than loosened

in fact my horses spend most of their lives completely 'nose band less'...

for a start it's one less thing to clean ;-}

and for newly broken horses

or those with bridling 'issues'

it's one less thing for you and the horse to have to 'cope' with

I don't have violent objections to flash nosebands being used

as long as

they are fitted correctly

and the rider genuinely needs a little more in the 'brakes department'

when jumping or out hacking (trail riding)

(although their use 'on the flat' is much more dubious...)

as, on balance,

I think a 'stronger' noseband

has less potential to cause damage to the horse

in the 'wrong' hands

than a stronger bit...

I just don't see why

if I don't want to use a flash band

I am faced with

the 'Hobson's choice' of

either riding my horse with a strange little tab adorning his nose
or taking a knife to the noseband in an attempt to remove the attachment without ruining the bridle

after all

separate attachments to convert a cavesson into a flash

are widely available...

so please, manufacturers and suppliers

just provide a cavesson noseband as standard...!

equally...

why do 'all' standard bridles (in the UK at least)

now come with rubber reins...?

I hate them with a vengeance
as they are

too bulky
and don't 'bend' round one's fingers properly

thereby preventing riders developing/experiencing any true 'feel' through the reins...

personally I would always advocate a good pair of

medium thickness
webbing
Continental reins

as the ideal, day-to-day

set of reins to use....

what are your views on these two issues?

feel free to add a comment below...

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FREE training guides and newsletter

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Monday, 2 July 2012

at what age should I retire my horse...?

the quick answer to the question

at what age should I retire my horse?

is in all probability

- as long as he's healthy -

a lot later than you think...!

Using my 'old' horse as an example....

I have a 26 year old Thoroughbred
(pictured above)

who is very 'high mileage'
having been ridden 300+ days a year for all of his competitive career

vets have always advised

the absolute worst thing I could do

would be to retire him

obviously,

the level and type of work he does

takes his age into consideration

but he is still ridden 2 to 3 times a week

and, believe me...

he can still act like a 4 year old on a ride

when the mood takes him!!!

but the regular exercise...

keeps his circulation and joints going...
and most importantly keeps his brain active...

if you want to know why

healthy horses shouldn't be retired...
just picture old people in retirement hostels

if just left in their rooms

in front of the television

they quickly go 'down hill'

if out 'playing bingo'

and 'nipping down the dance hall'

they can stay active and 'with it' for years...

please, don't leave a healthy, intelligent horse

to 'moulder' in a field

just because he's reached some arbitrary date on the calendar...

- just think,

how would you feel

if you were 'in his hooves'?

So, at what age should I retire my horse?

when he no longer enjoys a quiet hack (trail ride)
or when your vet tells you to...

Thursday, 28 June 2012

Monty Roberts Kindle e-books.... available NOW!!

Three of the Monty Roberts' books

have just been released on Kindle(TM)

priced at around one third of the cost of the paperback versions!

The books currently available are

Monty's own autobiography...
plus the two "Shy Boy" books - aimed at a younger audience

- a brief description of each appears beneath

CLICK the Title links below for more information ...

The Man Who Listens To Horses

The worldwide bestselling autobiography of Monty Roberts.

When Monty Roberts was thirteen years old he went off on his own to the deserts of Nevada to watch mustangs in the wild. What he learned about their methods of communication changed his life forever.

The Man Who Listens to Horses reveals his deep love and understanding of horses. We learn how, through his relationship with various horses, he gradually developed the methods which enabled him to communicate in their own language: a silent language of gestures, like signing for the deaf.

Unique and inspirational, and with a message that resonates far wider than its application to horses, it might change your life too.

"I'm Shy Boy"

I'm Shy Boy, Monty Robert’s mustang companion, is finally telling his story… through his eyes and interpreted by Monty Roberts. Beautifully illustrated, his tale is a compelling read for young people of all ages.

Shy Boy’s life begins in the Nevada mountains, where he is born into a herd of wild American mustangs. Seeing the world through his eyes, you experience his first encounter with the humans who capture him from the wild as a three-year-old stallion. His surprise at meeting Monty, a man who moves and speaks like a horse, develops into a bond of trust that will last a lifetime.

Shy Boy takes us on a unique journey through the mind of the horse, encountering obstacles, challenges and rewarding experiences. His confident yet questioning nature makes him a natural storyteller as he recounts the amazing journey life has taken him on.

Little American Mustang

Based on the true story of Shy Boy, the wild American mustang who learned to trust humans through his adoption by Monty Roberts.

This storybook is brimming with vivid illustrations, and written from the horse’s point of view, much like the original Black Beauty story. Shy Boy’s story will open a child’s mind to what horses and humans can learn from each other, when kindness and trust are used and developed.

Little American Mustang shows children how much fun people and horses can have together. For children ages 3 to 8 to explore adventures through the eyes of a happy horse.

For related labruyere blog posts click here...

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FREE training guides and newsletter

please complete the form at the bottom of this page

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Monday, 25 June 2012

the problem with natural horsemanship methods....

before I start...

let me make it very clear

that I firmly believe that...

the new natural horsemanship type methodologies

are a brilliant way to train a horse

and a huge breakthrough...

I am a complete convert...

The issue I have is that many of them are marketed

as if anyone

can watch a couple of videos

or read a book

and then start taking on a problem or project horse themselves

even worse...

I get very concerned when people who have seen these methods

and perhaps 'had a go' at using them

with a quiet, 'normal' horse...

then blithely 'advise' others

to 'take on a horse'
which they are scared of

(often with good reason)

I fully agree with the approach...

it just really worries me

that people assume

everyone is sufficiently calm, capable and confident to use this approach...

if you haven't got the confidence to see it through

then you are not helping the horse by starting down this road

i.e. don't start any battle you aren't willing to see through to the end...

Two of the 'worst' horses I ever had to rehabilitate/re-educate/sort out
had previously been through the hands of

several, self-appointed 'horse whisperers'....

the humans started the 'discussion'
- maybe got somewhere for a few days...

then the horse threw them a 'yellow card'
- the human instantly lost their nerve...

the horse had now reinforced/reconfirmed its dominance over humankind...

and the 'whisperers' moved them on

- often to another person with a similar level of experience/ability...

once they've been round that cycle a few times

believe me...

they get very dangerous!

If you're guts telling you its too risky

- its too risky...

get help from someone with genuine experience,

who has dealt with several seriously difficult horses

(I hope) you wouldn't suggest that

someone got on a dangerous horse

unless they had the confidence, ability and experience to deal with it

groundwork is no different...

You will NEVER succeed in sorting out a bolshy horse

if you can't approach the encounter in a confident way

Ultimately

the big trick is to...

learn to control and channel your fear

whilst being sensible and realistic about the risks

{so, the problem with natural horsemanship methods

is not the methods themselves

-it is the incorrect, or inexperienced, application of them!}

for related post, click here

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