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  • More
    • Home
    • LESSONS
    • WHY CHOOSE US FOR LESSONS
    • LEASING OR SYNDICATION
    • BOARDING
    • FACILITIES
    • INSTRUCTORS
    • EXPERT WITNESS
    • OLD HORSEMAN'S NOTES
    • CURRENT RIDING CONDITIONS
    • DIRECTIONS
    • USEFUL LINKS
    • WORKING STUDENTS
    • PAY

  • Home
  • LESSONS
  • WHY CHOOSE US FOR LESSONS
  • LEASING OR SYNDICATION
  • BOARDING
  • FACILITIES
  • INSTRUCTORS
  • EXPERT WITNESS
  • OLD HORSEMAN'S NOTES
  • CURRENT RIDING CONDITIONS
  • DIRECTIONS
  • USEFUL LINKS
  • WORKING STUDENTS
  • PAY

Old Horseman's Notes blog index

WHY A BLOG?

Philosophy of Horsemanship

Philosophy of Horsemanship

Millions of people around the world have an addiction to equines.  Backyard horse owners, wannabee horse owners, trainers, instructors, riding and driving students, horse sport competitors, high  level international winners, and all of the careers in the horse industry have one thing in common:  Everyone started as a beginner.

My goal in writing this blog is to make what I have learned in 65+ years of working with horses available to others.  Everything I wished I had known when my journey began. 


Nothing is new.  Horsemanship has been around for thousands of years.  I am sure the best Mongol warriors had their horsemanship knowledge and skills honed to a fine degree.


Ideas can be stated in many different ways.  Often a student will get the same information from several different sources, but understand the complete idea only after one clarifies it for her or him.


Often words are a terrible way to express feeling and so much of horsemanship is learning to feel what all six senses tell us.


The blog is written in short blurbs about certain subjects and they often overlap.  An index is published so readers can find what interests them and leave others out; a design to enhance rapid discovery of interesting / useful points.

I hope readers may find it helpful.


Have a great equestrian journey!

Philosophy of Horsemanship

Philosophy of Horsemanship

Philosophy of Horsemanship

Click on Title

  1. Horsemanship Theories
  2. Equine Goldilocks Principle
  3. The Golden Rule of Riding Horses
  4. The Most Important Things to Remember when Working with Horses
  5. Difference Between Fear and Respect in Horses
  6. Natural vs Unatural Horsemanship
  7. Unnatural Things We Teach Horses To Do.
  8. Killer Instinct to Win vs Horses First
  9. Anticipation, Horse / Rider Friend or Enemy?
  10. Difference Between Competition and Schooling Horses
  11. Depth of Connection Between Horse and Rider
  12. Horse Personalities
  13. Horses Serve Up Humble Pie!
  14. Complacency, Root of Serious Horse Accidents
  15. Equestrian Social License to Operate
  16. How Not to Buy a Horse! 

Learning to Ride a Horse

Philosophy of Horsemanship

Learning to Ride a Horse

Click on Title

  1. Why Take Lessons to Learn How to Ride a Horse?
  2. How to Choose a Riding Instructor
  3. Safety Tips for Horses and Ponies
  4. Ride Western or English?
  5. First Ridng Lessons
  6. Unnatural Human Habits Needed for Riding Horses
  7. School Horses are Saints!
  8. "I Want to Ride, but Cannot Afford to Fall or get Hurt"
  9. Seat: Your Balance on a Horse
  10. Where to Look While Riding a Horse
  11. An Aid or Cue for Horses
  12. Muscle Memory and Horses
  13. Rider Weight on Horses
  14. Why does Horseback Riding Cost so Much?
  15. Why do Horses Need so Much Care?

Training Horses

Dressage / Flatwork for Horses

Learning to Ride a Horse

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  1. An Aid or Cue for Horses
  2. Horse Stimulus, Agitation, Reinforcement, Punishment
  3. Timing of an Aid or Que is Critical with Horses
  4. All Horse Training Involves Giving Horses Choices
  5. Circles are an Equestrian's Best Friend
  6. Transitions are a Key to Equestrian Excellence
  7. Cavalletti - Multi Use Tools for Horse and Rider Training
  8. Speed Kills with Horses!
  9. Training Horses to Go Through Water
  10. Loading a Horse into a Trailer
  11. Dealing with Equine Riding Vices
  12. Handling Spooking Horses
  13. Equine Restraints


Equine Expert Witness

Dressage / Flatwork for Horses

Dressage / Flatwork for Horses

Click on Title

  1. What is an Equestrian Expert Witness?
  2. When Should an Expert Witness be Hired?
  3. "Grew Up With Horses" Fails as Professional Education

Dressage / Flatwork for Horses

Dressage / Flatwork for Horses

Dressage / Flatwork for Horses

Click on Title

  1. Flatwork for Jumping Part I
  2. Flatwork for Jumping Part II

Fundamentals of Jumping Horses

Fundamentals of Jumping Horses

Fundamentals of Jumping Horses

Click on Title

  1. The Jumping Effort
  2. Shape of Horse Jumping Effort
  3. Jumping is Easy; Getting to the Jump is the Hard Part!
  4. The Horse Jump Takeoff Box and Striding
  5. Eye Focus While Riding Horses Over Fences
  6. Free Jumping Horses and Longing Over Fences
  7. Jumping Horses on Diagonal Lines

Horse Management

Fundamentals of Jumping Horses

Fundamentals of Jumping Horses

Click on Title

  1. Horse Management is the Iceberg of Care You Give Your Horse!
  2. Equine Restraints

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