Horse's spines....Why are the backs low? ...why are the whithers high...Think about it...how do braces on teeth work? You put pressure on bone=bones changes.

The horse industry is very reluctant to agknowledge this reality. Most stay stuck in beliefs such as....you must trim feet the way they grow or sugar does not cause cavities...what time period are these professionals living in? Um, horse teeth are made of of the same substances as human teeth and we have come a long way since barbers pulled teeth and hung bloody rags out on a hitching post to dry forming the symbolic red and white barbers pole.

The focus of this is: yes, we definitely affect the shape of a horse's back and spine. Ride from your own thigh muscles...ride like you are riding bareback,.. always!...and you will be riding correctly.

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Frustrated kids at fancy hunter jumper barns-what happened to just having fun with your horse? oh it doesn't make money...ah yes

I must write this now! This is such a common story, at least here in SoCal. Kid loves horses, kid starts riding, kid goes into full training, kid loses love of horses... What the Fuh? If you don't understand something-follow the money and the ego trail. I just had a concerned father call me and say that his son has been in full training at a hunter jumper barn and they are basically abusive to them telling them their horse is not good enough and that they must buy a $30,000-$50,000 horse.

Be a kid forever-me n my friend bein kids:)

Riding should be fun for you and for the horse. Not just push push push. Win ribbons. Not just for something to brag about to the other parents. Like my kid is a bla bla bla! First and foremost is your kid actually happy with their horse experience. All the kids I've seen here in Malibu with overachieving parents who NEED there kids to be Jumping by month two of their riding whether it's safe for them or not, end up either having injured children or kids that never want to ride again after they were pushed so hard through their formative years. This is something meant to be enjoyed. A relationship between horse and human. Curb the social climbing egotistical chatter and let your kid grow and enjoy horses at his or her own pace.

You don't need a super expensive horse to go far-you have to take the time to really learn to ride. That just takes time and actually just being on the horse.

For instance look at this horse

http://www.horsestarshalloffame.org/inductees/82/snowman.aspx

He was $80

Learn to ride by riding-riding alot -riding bareback-riding different horses-training in the arena-enjoying exploring the trails-try different trainers(I hate the oh no I don't want to cheat on my trainer thing-don't let anyone limit you)-watch videos-use your own judgement-learn from your decisions

When you think your horse is maybe unhappy or lame and your trainer says no keep going you might ask if the trainer gets something out of ignoring that horse's pain. If your kid is unhappy you might ask yoursef what is more important; creating happy memories and experiences or collecting $3 ribbons that will collect dust later.

New Horse owner/guardian? Some of the things you will need from the tack store...

This list is going to be an ongoing project and you can double check with your own power of reasoning and a trusted trainer. Every horse has specific needs that help him to be a happy individual. I am compiling this based on two students that are currently in the process of going from total beginner with no horse to adopting a horse in one week. One got a skinny whinny from a local ranch and another has purchased one from the Kaufman Kill Pen in Texas.

An ongoing evolving list (feel free to comment):

Halter/leadrope (if horse is young and untrained you may want a breakable leather one)

Basic Grooming Supplies:

Brush Box (a plastic or wood tote box to keep all your grooming supplies in)

Soft Brush (face and legs)

Stiffer Body Brush (some horses don't like very stiff brushes)
note: for instance I have a Percheron that you could rub with a metal brush and he would lean into it like it was the best thing ever and on the contrary I have a very feminine T bred that I have to use the softest of stiffer brushes or she looks at you like you are abusing her and she's going to call the SPCA

Curry Comb (oval shaped usually rubber in the US but you can order metal ones)
This is used to bring up dirt and gently exfoliate skin before using the brushes to remove dirt.

Comb or Brush for Mane and Tail ( choose whichever-eventually you will have both;)

Hoof Pick (lots of options: The plastic ones with the brushes on the back are good. No horse head)

Sweat scraper (Used to remove water after a bath-metal or rubber depending on your horses sensitivity and your needs. Some of the metal ones have a shedding blade on one side.)

Towels/shammies (For wiping eyes etc.You can use old clean towels from your house too.)


Products:

Fly Spray (Depending on your region and the time of year-most horses need fly spray-There are chemical ones and natural-get something with Tea Tree Oil if it's natural or it doesn't work)

Fly Mask (a mask to protect eyes from flies getting in corners and laying eggs...yucko!)

Hoof Oil ( Depends on region and time of year-used to moisturize hoves to avoid cracking)

Anti Fungus/bacterial hoof tx (you can use a liquid or a powder/you can use Tea tree oil as a natural alternative too. It's important to have something on hand as horses step in their poop and it rots feet)

Shampoo/Conditioner ( Can use human products, but go more natural to avoid irritation)

Spray in Conditioner/detangler (Show sheen or a more natural alternative you can find)

A first aid kit of sorts:
peroxide, neosporine, large gauze squares, vetwrap (2),neosporine, swat (fly repellent)-Natural alternatives exist for all of this too...Farrier's Wife has a nice product to replace Swat for instance...

More equiptment:

Longe Line and Longe whip (used for exercising your horse, this takes some training to use the longe line so free longing with no line is safer for horse until you get some training with line.

To be continued but this is a good start:)

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