Legal Bits and Training Aides in ETS, CT2V, and ASHA country tough trail versatility equine competition horsemanship and training Jul 09, 2024

Bits can be tricky, and you can find yourself disqualified very quickly if you do not understand the rules about bits and training aides.

Before we talk about bits, let’s discuss training aides.  Tie downs, cavessons, and running martingales are training aides.  They are meant to...

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CT2V, a Breath of Fresh Air country tough trail versatility equine competition Jul 09, 2024

As a trail riding facility owner and equine event host, I have noticed trends, highs, and lows.  It appears that people want more these days when it comes to their expectations from their equine.  There was a huge spike in obstacle competitions in the past, but now there is a transition...

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Training Your Horse for Mounted Archery equine competition horsemanship and training mounted archery Jul 09, 2024

Let me give you a brief feel for my absolute favorite sport with my mule, mounted archery.  If you are right handed, you have your bow in your left hand.  Your stirrups are a little shorter than you are used to typically, but that is ok, because you are lifted out of your seat. ...

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Benefits of Tracking Your Horse Training Time horsemanship and training Jul 09, 2024

 

                Tracking your time in the saddle or driving your horse can be exponentially beneficial.  Using a tracking system can be fun and rewarding.   Let’s explore reasons to track...

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Riding with Grandkids (Written by a Competitive Grandfather) country tough trail versatility equine competition Apr 01, 2024

Let me introduce you to Bill Hachmeister!  Bill is a serious competitor in equine obstacle competitions, a former serious softball competitor, but he is also a beloved son, father, husband, and grandfather.  Bill was selected to be on the national board for the Country Tough Trail...

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Mule Versatility at the 2018 Illinois Horse Fair equine competition horsemanship and training mounted archery online course Mar 31, 2024

The Illinois Horse Fair was held in Springfield, IL March 2-4, 2018!  Amongst all the excitement from vendors, clinicians, and spectators, a huge draw was to the breed show.  The breed show showcased around twenty different acts from sidesaddle, Appaloosas, trick riders, American...

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What to do if Your Equine is Not Good at Trail horsemanship and training trail riding Mar 31, 2024

If you ask 100 people if equine are good on the trail riding, I expect 95% would rave about their horses/mules.  What about the other 5%?  I own one of those mules.  Well, if he is in the middle of a calm group, he is solid, but if I put him in the front, then it is like I am...

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Creating Respect and Trust is Easy as 1, 2, 3 equine competition horsemanship and training Mar 31, 2024

Have you ever had someone demand something when you would have gladly done it if they would have asked nicely?  Have you ever had a boss that was too bossy?  Think about how much more could get done if every request was asked, then told, and then demanded.  This is the basis of...

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First Mule Attends Amberly Snyder Clinic horsemanship and training Mar 15, 2024

Amberley Snyder is a professional barrel racer from Utah.  Some of you may know her from the Netflix movie released earlier this year called Walk. Ride. Rodeo.  You see, in 2010, Amberley was ejected from her truck after she overcorrected from going off the road as she was looking at...

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Von Holten Ranch Opens Mountain Trail Course country tough trail versatility obstacle course Mar 15, 2024

In December 2013, David and Brandy Von Holten would have never guessed what Von Holten Ranch would become after they decided to purchase the family farm and transforming it into a trail riding facility.

Try to envision a farm that had not been lived on since 1979, that had been in the same family...

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How Will Your Horse React country tough trail versatility horsemanship and training obstacle course trail riding Mar 15, 2024

Most trainers will tell you that your horse can only go up, down, left, right, forward, or backwards.  Horses are spunky creatures and with them being two wheel drive, I am here to tell you the new and improved ways in which your horse can react.

Yabba Dabba Doo

In the Yabba Dabba Doo, there...

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Despooking Your Horse country tough trail versatility equine competition equine health horsemanship and training online learning Feb 15, 2024

First, if you are having trouble with your horse, do not be afraid to seek help from a trainer or clinician.  Do not feel like a lesser rider by wearing a helmet, and ride with others until you have overcome any issues.  Your safety always needs to be a priority!

In my world, I must...

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