It is important to stay flexible and in the moment when training a horse. There are different methods for different horses. No one way is correct.

Often I hear opinionated horse people saying. I always do such and such. For instances using a stud chain on a horse when going into a trailer. In my opinion this usually is going against the goal of releasing pressure on the front end of the horse and increasing pressure behind the horse. This may work on a less physically sensitive horse (some warm bloods, drafts, quarter horses, etc.) and then not work at all on a very physically sensitive horse (Thoroughbred, Arabian, etc.)

Also with scheduling- While yes keeping a regulated schedule for feeding and chores helps horses feel more comfortable; sometimes if there has been a change like a new horse has entered barn  or weather is different, light is different because of daylight savings, etc. then it is best to adapt to the situation and make the best decision for the horses collectively. Like feeding extra bran mash. Moving horses to where they feel most comfortable in proximity to each other.

Bottom line, Assess in the moment and Adapt.

JUST BE

Working with a baby horse-using food as a reward and an emotional pacifier-slaughter bound rescue

Today I worked with a baby, well he's apparently pushing 2... he is an unhandled baby from the Kaufman Kill Pen in Texas. He was not "halter broke"...dumb term...trained to walk with a halter on his cutie face. Must be bizarre to have someone walk you around by your face if you think about it.

This is my student who rescued him learning to work with him. He's allowing touching.

I wish I had pictures or video of today. We will have to set up a camera. It was pretty awesome though. Took about 20 minutes to get him fairly desensitized to the halter and then I took him to the round pen. Where I then used my student with a feed bucket in the middle behind me as the bait and his job was to put his halter on and then he could get a bit of grain. We did it three times with run around loose equine sanity breaks in between. The third time he quickly shoved his nose through the halter with no fear. It was sweet he was like-OK, I got it-I'm doing it right-now give me the goods:)

There are so many rules where people say never do this or that. For instance using feed in training. There are times for it like this one-where a horse Loves food and has had alot of trauma. It is very helpful in moderation to create the desired result without misunderstanding and added trauma.

There are no cut and dry Rules. i.e. No shoes, only "natural hoof trimming", no alfalfa, no hand feeding, etc. There are times and places for all of these things. Every situation is different.

Horses are no different than ourselves in many ways...If you wonder what your horse feels...think of you in that situation..

So often, I hear new horse owners being bombarded with information immediately upon entering into the world of "Horse Ownership". They become overwhelmed pretty quickly. Barn owners, trainers, equine professionals of all sorts, and opinionated fellow horse loving people all have the Be All End All answers to everything you are experiencing with your horse...given generically in every situation. Answers repeated endlessly from text books written 10 years ago that lists and ailment and a treatment outdated and often ineffective. Very few people stop and assess the situation at hand and make an educated judgement based on their exploration and understanding of the situation at hand.

...And here is just a beautiful video of Jesse's Girl learning to jump. She is a Polo Pony Rescue.

My personal method is to always listen to all opinions and think them over... gauging the likelihood of  the suggested advice helping to improve my horse or my horse's situation. There is something so bizarre about the equine culture. In some ways it can be so stagnant and steeped in "Traditional"  practices it is barbaric in some cases, the pain of a bit against gum tissue in inexperienced hands, spurs that dig in and say nothing to a inadequately negotiated with horse. Does your horse want to be with you in what you are doing with him. I like to call this "High Class Horse Abuse". Jess (The above horse) is from this world. Polo is a fancy, high class, "Sport of Kings. Many of these horses, and many horses in all equine sport disciplines experience an abuse that is painful to them but somewhat ignorable to the humans involved. 

I recall going to the Equine Affair in Pomona California in 2007 or so...I needed to charge my phone so I snuck into the back of a lecture hall of 500 or so people... the speaker was a late in life cowboy of limited scope...he said "Horses do not have emotions"...I literally spit by accident into laughter. Anyone that loves their horse knows that they for sure have emotions...and dramatic ones at that.

"What is good for the horse, is rarely convenient for the human"- Inge Halliday

In conclusion, you will ultimately have to be the one to decide what is best for your equine friend. Basically all you have to do to figure out how your horse feels; is to think of yourself in the same situation. It's that simple. You want freedom. You want Love. You want understanding. You want food. You want water. You want somewhere nice to sleep. You want fun. You want friends. You want peace....and sometimes yer in a shitty mood...if there a difference between horses and humans?

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.

For Group or Private Lessons with Inge C. Halliday please fill out a Lesson Request Form 

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:)

Remington-Premarin Pharmaceutical Rescue

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As a riding instructress, I have witnessed many unfortunate horses being ridden by heavy handed riders who have no idea how much pain and anxiety they are causing horses by leaning on the reins to compensate for a poor seat and lack of balance.

 Even light handed experience riders are creating a lot more discomfort than they think.

The good news is that horses are now being ridden up to advanced dressage levels as well as in ceratin bit-less bridles that recreate the best aspects of the action of a bit.

Perhaps you are wondering how it works and whether it would be suitable for your horse.

What a pity horses can’t talk – if they could, I am sure you would be in no doubt about the fact that no horse wants a piece of cold hard metal in his mouth and the painful pressure which is applied to his tongue and sensitive gums!~

How can you have contact with your horse  and put your horse into a "Frame" without a bit? Well, you can pick up contact with your horse through the reins and as you do that-the metal wheels on both sides rotate- the pressure on the horse’s nose creates the leverage that recreates the bit.

This German Bitless Bridle has been specially designed to restrict the energy of the horse's forward movement through the front end, thus the horse’s core lifts and the energy is directed up under the rider-creating balanced movement.

This has a calming effect on your horse.

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