Wayne Loch, …
Saddle Fit for Horse and Rider
Comfort for the Horse
A properly fitting saddle …
HorseQuest Learning Lesson: Effective Horse Training and Rider Development
A horseman must understand the basic nature of the horse and the training principles involved in a progressive teaching system that develops the various maneuvers and activities desired from the horse. Training lessons need to be simplified as much as possible so the horse can quickly develop appropriate responses. In this learning lesson, efforts will be made to explain and simplify the process of communicating with the horse in a straightforward manner.
Notice:
This learning module provides several methods …
Horse Fight vs Flight Instinct
Betsy Greene, Equine Extension Specialist, University of Vermont; and Pat Comerford, Equine Extension Specialist, Penn State University

Horses prefer to flee from danger, if possible. This may be in the form of a total “run off” or the horse that simply does not want to be caught. However, if flight is not an option, horses will fight to protect themselves from a perceived danger.
Horses evolved from small mammals whose survival depended on their ability to flee from …
Basic Horsemanship Principles
Steven M. Jones, Extension Horse Specialist, University of Arkansas
Catching a horse safely and correctly is …
Saddling the Horse
Steven M. Jones, Extension Horse Specialist, University of Arkansas
An incorrectly saddled horse is like a person wearing poorly fitted boots. The same way our feet begin to hurt and develop sores, the horse’s back begins to …
Safety at Horse Shows
Doyle G. Meadows, Professor, Animal Science, University of Tennessee; Warren Gill, Professor, Animal Science

Safety at horse events, such as horse shows, should always be given the highest possible priority. The horse show environment …
Showmanship and Grooming
Revised by Gale Chrestman, Extension 4-H and Livestock Specialist, Mississippi State University.
Showmanship is the conditioning, grooming and presenting of a horse to its best advantage. …
Bit Selection for Riding and Training Horses
David W. Freeman, OSU Extension Equine Specialist
Bits are designed for riders to cue a horse by placing pressure in and around a horse’s mouth. This pressure is used to control the speed and …
Approaching a Horse
Kathy Anderson, Extension Horse Specialist, University of Nebraska; and Pat Comerford, Extension Horse Specialist, Penn State University
There are a number of things to keep in consideration when approaching a loose horse. Be familiar with the horse’s field of vision and never approach from a horse’s blind spot. Consider other animals and their position and possible reactions in the pasture. Read the horse’s attitude by watching his body language. Speak calmly and confidently. Approach the …