Trainer's Corner Archives – Page 3 of 13 – The Northwest Horse Source

Try to Try vs. Try to Quit Part 2 – Teach Your Horse to Load in the Trailer Easily

December 1, 2021 by Steve Rother

Our previous article focused on teaching your horse to “try to try” rather than “try to quit”. In this article we will take a focused look on using this idea to train trailer loading. We’ve all had (or known someone who had) a horse that couldn’t be loaded into a …

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

This page sponsored by:

Try to Try versus Try to Quit – Set Your Horse Up to Find the Correct Answer

November 1, 2021 by Steve Rother

Try to Try. Photo by Cara Crain

When teaching your horse to try to try, it’s important to make a plan. One example would be inside versus outside the trailer, with the correct option being inside the trailer and the wrong option being outside the trailer. I want the horse to find the answer, so I set …

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

This page sponsored by:

Training Transitions – This Vital Exercise Should be Part of Every Training Session

October 1, 2021October 1, 2021 by Kim Roe

Extended trot results from many transitions from working trot to a extended and back again.

As a young and serious rider my teacher would often tell me, “You need to work on your transitions more.” I’d do as I was told, but I never really understood why. I didn’t find them easy or fun, and neither did my horse. Now I’m wearing the instructor’s hat, …

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

This page sponsored by:

How to Deworm Your Horse – Avoid Problems While Performing this Essential Horse Care Task

September 19, 2021 by Kim Roe

I often find myself stepping in and taking over when I see one of my boarders struggling to deworm their horse. Recently, a client was getting into a bit of a scuffle with her gelding while performing this task, so I decided to teach instead of do. After the job …

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

This page sponsored by:

5 Ways to Help Your Arena-Sour Horse – Cross-Training is Essential for a Happy Horse

August 1, 2021 by Kim Roe

Photos by Kim Roe

Does your horse slow down every time you ride by the gate out of the arena? Does he stop or walk like his legs are made of stone as you lead him up to the mounting block? Does it sometimes feel like you’re working harder than he is and that …

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

This page sponsored by:

Move those Hips! How to Train the Turn-on-the-Forehand

July 1, 2021 by Kim Roe

The turn-on-the-forehand mobilizes the hips, supples the muscles of the horse’s back, hind legs, and haunches, and teaches the horse to yield to the inside leg. Photo by Kim Roe

One of the most basic lateral movements, the turn-on-the-forehand, maneuvers the horse’s hips around his forehand. This exercise teaches the horse to move away from the pressure of the rider’s leg, aids in control, and makes the horse more agile and supple. The mobilization of the hips and the consequential …

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

This page sponsored by:

This page sponsored by:

Horse Training Concepts – Going Deeper with Horses Reaps Great Rewards

May 1, 2021 by Kim Roe

Photo by Aliena Hook

We shall take great care not to annoy the horse and spoil his friendly charm, for it is like the scent of a blossom—once lost, it will never return. – Antoine de Pluvinel Horses and people aren’t much different. Our basic needs for living a good life are essentially …

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

This page sponsored by:

No Bend, No Balance – Use Lateral Work to Train Your Horse to Bend

March 31, 2021 by Kim Roe

Horse training is mostly about these three basics: balance, timing, and rhythm. Horses trained and ridden with these priorities as the foundation of their training will be soft, relaxed, and maneuverable—a joy for both horse and human. Horses’ fear of falling is one of their greatest. Not only can a …

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

This page sponsored by:

This page sponsored by:

Trail Obstacle Problem Solving – Mastering Logs and Poles

March 1, 2021 by Mark Bolender

Photo by Cambrie Caldwell Photography

Half a point may not sound like much, but boy can they add up! In Mountain Trail competition, each time your horse nicks a pole it costs you half a point. You lose even more if they try to step around them! Whether poles are short or long, thick or …

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

This page sponsored by:

Trail Obstacle Problem Solving – Master the Swinging Bridge

February 1, 2021 by Mark Bolender

Photo by Cambrie Caldwell

Some of the prettiest pictures and coolest maneuvers in mountain trail are done on the swinging bridge. It’s impressive to see a horse do a 360 as it sways or turn and back up the other side. An image of a horse with its head down, eye soft and ears …

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

This page sponsored by:

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Thank you for supporting the businesses that support The Northwest Horse Source

Check out the Magazine!