From Issue No.81 I was extremely fortunate to grow up with both saddle horses and big ‘ol draft horse teams. Sitting up behind the collar and hanging on to the hames as my brothers walked the draft horses back from helping to feed off the morning hay to the cows was always a great pleasure. […]
Photos by Emily Kitching This article originally appeared in issue No. 106 Editor’s Note: At a clinic when a troubled spot surfaces it’s a fantastic opportunity to explore what is causing an issue and how addressing the symptoms might not only help a particular horse and rider but also further clarify everyone’s understanding of a […]
This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No. 20 So much of groundwork is not only about preparing your horse, but helping you to be able to see when things don’t look right before you get on. If you can see the trouble and work through it, you can stay safer. If it’s summer and it’s […]
Written by Mindy Bower Editor’s Note: In the series that ran in several issues Mindy Bower discussed how groundwork relates to riding. This first piece is an overview of basic concepts and maneuvers. In the articles that followed, Mindy discussed specific trouble areas in specific horses and how these related to how the horse operates […]
Written by Martin Black This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.71 There is a lot of attention given to disengaging the hindquarters. Different terminology related to it, different purposes, objectives, and so on. Most of the hype though seems to center around getting control of the younger horses, at least in my travels, […]
Written by Martin Black This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.65 I was watching a rodeo recently and they had a calf scramble with about 30 kids ages 8-12 and the same number of calves weighing about 400 lbs. The kids were in a marked off area in the center of the arena that […]
With Buck Brannaman This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.27 I learned this exercise by watching people get taken advantage of by horses. This is the exact opposite of what horses typically train you to do; they gradually advance toward you all the time and you end up back pedaling to avoid getting […]
With Buck Brannaman photos by Emily Kitching This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No. 26 Subscribe Today! There are two parts to groundwork; safety and refinement. The safety part is where you are working on having your horse to where he is relaxed enough so that when you get on you can have […]
With Buck Brannaman photos by Emily Kitching This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.1 “By working on driving your horse past you and changing directions, you will establish influence over your horse’s feet. If you can gain some from the end of the halter rope when you are on the ground, then you’ve got […]