When Do I Need a Professional Horse Trainer?

Each day I read questions from people asking what to do about their horse's behavior, training or general care. These are from people who have limited experience with horses, but want to train these horses themselves. It is really not as simple as these questions make it out to be. You must consider your knowledge of horses and the horse you own when deciding whether or not to hire a professional.

I have been raising horses for 25 years now and riding and showing them for over 35 years and I don't feel that I have the qualifications to be a horse trainer. A person who trains horses is a professional like anyone else. Usually, they even have a card that says professional on it. They have spent years apprenticing under various other trainers to master their skill and usually begin by working as a groom in a barn to become comfortable with horses. Each horse is different and the care and training of each horse is different. One horse may be on the lazier side and may need more leg or a smoother bit. Another horse may be gamier or more nervous and you wouldn't want to drop a leg on him or put a smooth bit on him. Some horses are quirky about one side or the other and there may be no clear explanation for this. It takes years for people to master the ability to read horses and train horses the way an individual horse needs to be trained. Not all horses are trained in an identical manner. Read Complete Article

To Sell or Not to Sell

It is murphy's law that a good horse will always sell themselves. It doesn't take much to sell these horses. However, this is not necessarily the horse you want to sell. This is it--the best baby you have produced. Isn't that why many of us breed--to produce something better than we can afford to buy and have the thrill of showing that baby?

There are 4 babies at home which are for sale at very reasonable prices. For some reason, the lowest priced horse is the hardest horse to sell. People expect a $20,000 horse for a $1,000 price. Why is this when there are people who are paying 6 figures for other horses? It seems as though there is no middle ground when trying to sell a horse. continue

Considerations of Breeding Part VI

What Breed is It?

After having the now 3 year old in training for over a year, you take a look at it and ask yourself, "What breed is it?" This happens many times. A baby doesn't meet our expectations of what we wanted or is not talented enough to compete. What do you do now? We've all read about these breeders who just leave the horses to starve or abandon them. That is not an option. No matter what the baby turns out to be, it is still your responsibility as the breeder to take care of it or find a home for it. There are others who choose to sell these horses at horse auctions. The problem with these auctions is you really don't know where your baby will end up. There are other choices. continue