by Darleen Finnigan To become a “balanced rider,” you must be able to saddle your horse in a balanced manner. Because you are a beginner, we will start with saddling Western. All principles of balanced riding should be applied to English saddling. Your horse is well groomed (last month’s article). …
Game#3 in the series of The Seven Games with Pat Parelli Have you ever wondered how “horse whisperers” are able to magically communicate with horses from across a pen? With suggestions that are imperceptible, skilled horsemen are able to have a horse respond as if it was the horse’s instinct …
Story & Photos by Jack Kintner The warm early spring weather last February brought out the crowds to this year’s Horse Affairs, held for the fifth year in a row at the Western Idaho Fair Grounds in Boise on Valentine’s Day weekend. It’s the biggest such event in Idaho and …
Part One – Grooming Your Horse Darleen Finnigan This is doing it the hard way! There is no substitute for having a pair of educated eyes helping you understand what your body is doing and how it should be positioned. But … maybe you live too far away from an …
By Jack Kintner The Rhodes River Ranch sits way back in the Cascade foothills in the Stillaguamish River’s North Fork Valley, a place of enduring legends. Like Western writer Zane Grey, who pursued steelhead here, leaving his name on at least one famous fishing hole. Not as many fishermen show …
Game #2 in the Series of the Seven Games Last month we talked about the process of developing communication with a horse, and how yielding from physical pressure is a major factor. The two basic ways are steady, physical pressure and rhythmic, nonphysical pressure. A horse will move away from …
Information provided by Kulshan Veterinary Hospital What is Meconium? Meconium consists of glandular secretions, swallowed amniotic fluid and other cell debris. Before birth it is stored in the colon and rectum. Meconium is usually dark brown to black and may be found in hard pellets or in a more paste-like …
Game #2 in the series of the Seven Games with Pat Parelli Horses naturally push into steady pressure. Moving against it or barging through it is how they escape predators in the wild. Mother Nature tells them to break loose of a predator’s hold or crash through an obstacle that’s …
English or Western? Which Style of Riding Should I Learn? By Darleen Finnigan, Saddle Soar Ranch What is your dream for riding your horse? Do you want to show? Do dressage? Do jumping? Gaming? Do Western Pleasure? Or do you want to primarily trail ride, riding high mountains or desert …
Creating & Using a Sacrifice Area: Your Start Now for Better Pastures Next Summer! Part II Probably the best thing you can do for your pasture is take your horses off of it in the winter. Confining your horses to a winter paddock or “sacrifice area” will greatly improve the …
