Ross Jacobs

Good Horsemanship

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Philosophy And Principles

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A HORSE'S THOUGHT
I want to write about what is essentially the basis of our philosophy to training horses - that is a horse's thoughts and feelings.
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WHAT IS HORSE ABUSE?
Abuse is something we all think we know when we see it, but what exactly is horse abuse?
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WHAT IS REIN CONTACT?
This is a question that gets argued all over the world on dressage forums and one that everybody has an opinion about. This article gives my take on contact and why less is more.
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WHAT IS COLLECTION?
What is collection and what is the difference between true collection and false collection? Here I include some photos of horses in various stages of collection and discuss the good and the bad of each.
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WHAT AGE TO START A HORSE UNDER SADDLE
The ability of a horse to carry a rider without detriment to his soundness will depend on whether the horse's joints are ready for both the weight of the rider and the level of work intended. There are several variables that people should consider when deciding the appropriate age to break a horse in.
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GIVING A HORSE TREATS BY HAND
Many people like to offer their horse a food reward during or after a work session or for being caught or just because they want their horse to be happy. But there are dangers to feeding horses with your hand that can later lead to real problems if you are not careful.
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THE REAL HORSE
The quiet and familiar environment of home does not always reveal the horse that is really lurking inside your horse.
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Training Tips

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LUNGING
Very many people use lunging as a training tool, but not many people are taught the ins and outs of lunging a in a way that benefits the training as opposed to exercising a horse for fitness.
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THE USE OF A ROUND YARD IN TRAINING
Round yards are found everywhere nowadays. Most people use them for either lunging their horse or for chasing their horse to cause him to want to join-up. But there are better options.
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TRAINING A HORSE NOT TO PULL BACK
Pulling back when tied up is a very common training problem. Many trainers resort to using big posts and heavy halters tied with strong ropes and let the horse fight it out. But this is dangerous and many horses get hurt. Here I describe a safer and more reliable approach for treating the problem.
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Equipment

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SIDEPULLS – A BITLESS BRIDLE
A sidepull is only form of bitless bridle that I use and recommend for starting horses and for green horses.
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MAKING A HOMEMADE BLOCKER TIE
These are a truly good invention. They are designed to be used to tie a horse up, but allow the lead rope to slip a little if the horse pulls back hard. This helps reduce the often reflex panic that some horses experience when they find they are tied solid to something that won't give.
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BUYING A HORSE TRAILER – WHAT TO LOOK FOR
There are a lot of brands and types of horse trailers on the market. Most people don’t think about what a horse might buy if he were doing the shopping. Here are some tips to think about.
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