GETTING STARTED
SO YOU BOUGHT A HORSE FROM US :)
Awesome! So before your horse arrives we want to make sure you're up with the play on the basics.
Horses have a very unique physical makeup, so to be able to handle and ride them these things must be understood and cared for. In our pursuits for transport, work, entertainment and our love of animals we have managed to make a sport and habit of riding these beautiful creatures. But the state of equine riding and care is under scrutiny worldwide for it's abuses, needless slaughter, cruelty and harsh treatment of these gentle animals.
The time for foundational change is long overdue for the way we manage, handle, ride and care for horses. We have worked at the forefront of this change for many years, sometimes with brutal opposition from those who benefit from these old habits or the industries that perpetuate them.
The first thing we'd like to address is gear.
Around 80% of people in the horse industry are using gear that is counter productive for them.
HALTERS
You know the pretty rope halters with the knots? These knots were originally designed to sit on pressure points. Designed under the belief that hurting a horse before you even start is the way to keep them under control and dominance. However all it achieves is an unhappy, frustrated, annoyed, nervous horse who will not like you or being handled. Using a halter like this is setting you up to fail.
Get a halter that is as comfortable as possible for the horse. Nothing sticking into them and when you pull it shows them kindly what you want without causing discomfort.
avoid halters that have a moveable ring that slides, this is also counterproductive because the sliding ring absorbs your signals on the lead and the horse can't feel what you are wanting properly.
OUR FAVE HALTERS:
LEADROPE:
Use a leadrope that is not too long or the loose end can flick around and you can also move it too much while walking making your horse think you are flicking it at him. There should also never be any stretchiness in a leadrope. This absorbs your signals to the horse and so the horse will not be able to feel them properly.
OUR FAVE LEADROPES:
SADDLE BLANKETS:
Around 98% of saddleblankets used on horses are too thin and do not provide sufficient cushioning to avoid the horse getting a sore back from the saddle. That is a horrific stat!Saddle blankets should be like, cool, comfy, padded, soft.
OUR FAVE SADDLE BLANKETS:
SADDLES:
Saddles should always be as light as possible and comfortable for the horse.
People have many preferences when it comes to saddles, our all time preference miles above the rest is teh old synthetic material lightweight Wintec saddles. They linked up with renowned saddle makers, Bates and produced the best saddles on the market in my view. Horses are happier in them, they are so comfortable for them. Using heavy leather saddles are uncomfortable for horses, go as lightweight and as comfy as you can for your horse. If they're uncomfortable they're gonna be grumpy and not want to be ridden.
OUR FAVE SADDLES (which horses and riders looove):
BITS (for bridles)
There is zero reasona horse should ever need a harsh bit that is uncomfortable.
The eggbutt snaffle bit is the most comfortable on the market for horses.
Using harsh bits can cause so many issues.
OUR FAVE BIT:
BRIDLES:
Bridle's should never be uncomfortable, or done up so tight that it's pulling on the corners of teh
horses mouth before you even start. They will become numb to your rein signals if this is the case.
Nosebands should only ever be used loose like a halter would be, not strapped hard around teh horses nose causing anxiousness, panic and frustration. You should be able to fit 2 fingers in between the noseband and the horses nose and the throat latch you should be able to fit 4 fingers. If you think making your horse uncomfortable gives you more control you are going to create problems.
OUR FAVE BRIDLES:
GIRTH:
Girths should be soft, preferrably padded and have no tiny sharp bits digging into the horse.
Do girths up gradually, don't wrench them up hard and let the horse stand for a bit with them just tight enough to stay in position, take the horse for a little walk calmly then do it up again.
OUR FAVE GIRTH:
SETTLING IN & GETTING STARTED PROGRAMME
So when your horse arrives at your property it will be very upset.
It has left all it's friends, there is no-one familiar in sight and it will not know what to expect.
You want to make sure you don't exacerbate their nervousness by nervously saying things like woah repeatedly and defensively or as some people do click at them, or make the shhh noise, all these mean go to any horse and we're pretty sure go is not what you want of your upset new friend.
Take on the parental figure role. Smile calmly, use a low soothing calming tone and chat away to your new horse while you get them straight away to their yard or paddock. A good girl or good boy repeatedly reassures them that they are not going to be treated meanly and they will adapt and relax faster.
Putting them in with horses can many times be easier than putting them beside new horses because if they're gonna kick they kick through the fence and get caught up anyway.
Sometimes if you can it's good to just put them in with a placid older horse who'll show them the ropes before putting them in the main group. There will be drama and hierachy sorting normally no matter what you do, but just make sure your fences are sound.
Use common sense. Give treats before you get to the paddock with the other horses, or they may get jealous and attack the newbie.
If you put your new horse in a paddock won their own with no other horses in sight or in sight far away rather than right next door they my just cry and run the fence. In that case they'd be better off with them.
Over the next couple of weeks just spend time with your new horse without any gear and with lot's of treats. Find a treat they love and use it. Don't ask anything of them, they need to just adapt and process their life change and suss out their new home.
They will not be able to focus on you much because of this so you need to use this time to make yourself a pleasant presence in their new life, treats, kind words, cuddles.
Never try to order them around or control them or test their training etc while they are setlling in. They are not themselves and won't be able to focus.
Never ride them in the settling in period. They are not themselves.
after a couple of weeks of hanging out, treats cuddles and sweet as bonding
put the headcollar on them and take them for a little enjoyable explore using alot of treats.
Make a real thing of it like you are actually going to explore to find treats or grass, talk to your horse and make it like you're looking for the best grass for them pick eg saying oh here's some bend down and pick it and give it to them then focus on finding some more.
This one little game alone has built more solid horse rider relationships than any other because your horse can fully understand what you are up to clearly and it is a non threatening thing but a kind thing towards them.
This will also lay the foundation for when you start riding them too, you can do the same except on their back and they will understand it and relax knowing what you're about.
Let them go and explore where they want within safe reason. Always encouraging calmly. A relaxed horse is a safe horse.
Then put them back in the paddock give a treat and say good boy/girl.
Do this for a week. These sessions don't have to be long, always finish on a relaxed happy positive note. You are gaining your horses trust in an unknown environment with unkown people while they are stressed out, use treats, cuddles and good girl or boys ;)
After 3 weeks of this make your horse up a nice hard feed of something they love to eat, like a nice sweet feed. Make it a substantial amount, and you wanna feed them in a yard on their own otherwise they'll fight over it with other horses.
You want it to be in a place or space they are relaxed in. If they're not just feed them in their daily till they are. If they are still not eg too far away from their mates or the yard is scary etc, find another place where they can relax and eat without worrying. When the relaxed state is achieved move onto teh next phase:
While theyre eating saddle them up and bridle them up, this is new gear different to the gear they were last ridden in so go slowly, showing them each bit and saying good boy etc, then when the gears on and the girth on snug but not tight, back them up kindly using treats or the feed, letting them feel the saddle, then take them for a little walk with the fed in one hand and them in the other turn both directions and let them really feel the gear then do the girth up properly. Back them up again the same way, kindly,
take them for another little walk with the feed in hand then take them back to the original spot and let them eat again.
After this just lie over the saddle while they are eating, cuddling them, being their mate, then mount up slowly and calmy while they are eating and cuddle them from on top. just sit there quietly, let them eat, no demands, no orders only cuddles, kind calm words and quietness. Before they finish or lose interest in their feed dismount and remove the gear. Say good boy / girl, let them finish and done.
Do this for 1 week minimum, 2 weeks even better. What this is achieving is the foundation of all your riding. You are building a ridden relationship with your horses that is not based on fear and dominance but friendship and a lack of pressure. It also allows you time to bondwith your new horse with no pressure on you.
After this 1 or 2 weeks is completed, do the same but allow your horse to finish their feed with you still in the saddle. Then let them just wander around the yard doing whatever they wanna do. Sit very quietly. don't ask anything on them. At this stage you are a passenger no the boss.
You can also have a pocketfull of treats, this helps huuugely. Making it a happy and calm time.
Let the wanderings continue for a week then after that you can start to run them throught heir signal, turns, stops, start, back up etc. Let the horse get to know your signals and the way your do them, everyone is slightly different.
When you are confident you see sye to eye on these things venture further out of the yard, take treats and allow your horse to pick grass around the place if you can
