With Buck Brannaman This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.65 We know it’s the little things that make the big difference, not only in fine horsemanship, but in staying safe in the saddle. At a recent clinic Buck demonstrated how he uses his feet to help keep in a safe position. “When I slide […]
Written by Martin Black This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.70 What is important to me, and what I feel is important for a horse, is for him to feel the rhythm of our body and try to be in sync with it. If a horse is not responding to our body rhythm […]
Written by Buster McLaury This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.69 I rarely saddle an older horse that is tied up, and I never saddle a young horse that is tied up. I think too much of my horses. Let’s give a little thought (Ray would be proud) to a scenario that could happen; […]
Written by Martin Black This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.69 For the most part, horses are relatively calm, quiet animals when they are left to maintain themselves. Free roaming grazers spend the biggest percent of their time relaxed and quiet, but when confined and fed high-energy feed they can develop physical and […]
Written by Martin Black This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.68 What makes some horses bad to bridle and some are eager to take it? There are lots of reasons to be bad. Some horses may have one reason; others may have several reasons. The horses that are good have obviously had better […]
With Buck Brannaman When you are riding with a mecate, especially on greener horses, you should always be in a ready position to keep yourself out of trouble. If you’re going to the right, you’re going to want to have that coil in your left hand because if things fall apart you’re going to want […]
Written by Martin Black This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.66 It is always interesting to me when working with riders to see what they demonstrate when asked to stop their horse. Some may trot or lope out and perform a nice, soft, straight stop with the horse using his hindquarters, supple from […]
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 […]
Written by Martin Black This article originally appeared in Eclectic Horseman Issue No.54 After returning from The World’s Greatest Horseman competition, I found it interesting how the contestants handled their cattle in the fence work. After a lifetime of working cattle and studying how other people handle cattle; how and why they do what they […]
With Ty Weber Short days and unpredictable weather can make for inconsistent riding in the winter and early spring. This lack of riding coupled with cool and windy days can make for distracted and energetic horses and sometimes wilder rides than we had hoped for. While riding out might seem like the last thing you’d […]