Lunging (Basic)

Hey people :) I'm super sleepy right now so I am sure that I will make tons of typos, SORRY!

So lunging! It sure is a great way to exercise your horse for whatever reason you have.

Here is what you need to lunge:

For you:

Hat. Always use a hat while lunging as you could be thrown to the ground or kicked during this activity.

Boots - As muddy as you like! You will need grip when you are on your feet so make sure you have well fitting boots.

And finally, gloves. You really need gloves with good grip as the lunge rope is easy to run through your hand. Also you really want to prevent any rope burn you receive through lunging.




For the horse:

Bridle - if you are using a bridle to lunge make sure you are in a mild bit and the reins are taken off.

Cavesson - I don't have a cavesson but if you are using one make sure it fits well and will not rub and create sores.

Run the line through the inside loop and clip on the outside loop, make sure when changing direction to change the line on the bit.

You will need a good, long lunge line with complete stitching and in good condition.
 When you are setting up the horse before make sure that it is looped up correctly so you can adjust it easily.

Lunge whip, make sure that it is in good condition and you have a good hold of.

















The actual lunging:

Okay, I'm not gonna lie my lunging arrangements are quite poor, I don't have an enclosed area and the ground isn't ironed flat. Apologies if this offends anyone, I do have pride in the safety of my ponies and assure you that what I am doing doesn't harm or upset them in any way or form. Here are general rules which I really should/do go by:

- Use an enclosed area
- Ensure the ground is flat and solid
- No other horses are in your way
- Your horse is happy in this area
- Don't use an area too small.

Urgh! Practice what you preach!

When you are lunging make a triangle with the lung rein at your horses's head, the whip behind him and you in the middle of the circle.
Try to follow your horse's withers instead of their head, this will stop you getting ahead.

NEVER HIT YOUR HORSE WITH THE WHIP. Use the whip to create sound and awareness that you are asking for a change in pace. This whip is not designed to hit your horse with and you could seriously hurt your pony.

Make sure that the lunge line has a little slack but not so legs can get tangles and not too short that you and horse and being pulled towards each other.

When lunging make clear commands through voice and whip, when results occur praise your horse (Don't let them in on the circle), when they misbehave, stay calm and collected and keep a low voice so they are aware of their wrong doings.

Thanks for reading, if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment :)

Pulling :P (the mane)

In the beginning

Hey guys :) Here is a tutorial on how to pull your horses mane. I have some pictures of Shannon, my intense mare. I say intense, she seems to think whenever blue is out of her sight that we are harming her or him!

Before we start, please do not judge Shannon on this, I just haven't had time to tidy her up properly since its still winter :(
Yes, dandruff, sorry! She just get it bad when winter rugs come!
Tip
Try using a rubber curry comb to bring the embedded dandruff to the surface. Then use a duster to remove the dandruff. (THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO DANDRUFF IN THE MANE OTHER THAN COMBING IT OUT)

So, lets start by putting it in stages.

Stage 1
Comb mane throughout, thoroughly so there are no tangles. Using detangler spray or condition spray is helpful to get tangles out and also to keep the hair in good condition (key to successful pulling).

Stage 2

Comb down the hair until you get to the thinnest hairs. Keep this in mind over how short you want the mane but at the start pull these hairs out first.








Stage 3

Take a grip of the longest hairs and comb it upwards until they are only remaining.
Do this thoroughly as to maximize the ease of removing the hairs.










Stage 4
This is where you have options as to how you pull the hair.
Option 1
Pulling with your fingers. You can simply take a hold of the hair and swiftly strike down to remove the hairs (any form of gloves are helpful here, especially surgical gloves). Make sure that your motions are swift as to not cause pain to the horse. Also try very little hair to start with if you have never pulled your horses mane before as they could react badly.

This is my technique if I am going to use just my fingers to pull the hair out. That is to overlap my middle finger and then strike down with that middle finger making it a very swift, easy motion.
However just gripping the hair like the picture above is fine, the thicker the bit of hair the harder you will find to do this though.




Option 2

This is my preferred option when I have a really thick mane which also needs thinning.
You bring the hair through the bottom of the comb, through the teeth, then back over, down and through the teeth again. Then grip the comb and swiftly pull down to remove the hair.




Stage 5
At the end spray the mane with conditioner and work it into the tips. Also ensure any sensitive roots which have become stimulated by the pulling are clean and healthy. Then just comb the mane, fully again.

Finished!
There we go, that's how you pull a mane. Again remember this is the way I do it, along with many others. It doesn't necessarily mean it will work for you, but if you try out a few techniques there will be something that works for your horse.

(This is getting shorter in due course, I just do it gradually)

A little late..

Sorry, it looks like that  the blogs are going to be every Thursday apposed to Tuesday. So that's blogs on Thursday and videos on Friday. I will however put up a new photo album tonight to redeem myself, hopefully. Sorry bout this!

Sillyness

Hey guys, this has to be a short one because I have yet another interview!

So, the other day in school one of my friends showed me pictures of her horse, safe to say, looking dysfunctional! (I may mention, this horse, Magic, is amazing! the best youngster ever!) So here are the silly photos. Enjoy.

Well, hello there

Cheese, gimmi cheese!

:P

I just can't stop laughing at these! I don't see how my friend took these pictures in time!

I then went off and looked for silly ones of my ponies... I have close to none. OUR HORSES ARE REVERSE! Magic is stupid in photos and is perfect in the flesh, Blue is lovely(ish) in photos but is a complete idiot in general! 

So, here are the photos I tried to make look funny...(Warning! They aren't funny.. I lack humour :S)

Because you're worth it!

Are You Filming Me?

Nom nom nom

Okay..

Anyhoo, gotta run, laundry to do :) 

I don't even know....

Hey everyone,
This is gonna be a short one since I have no time, school, horse, revision tiding and the Sainsbury's is coming tomorrow!
This is a guide to my general, every day groom, for both ponies. Its quite simplistic and I don't use things others need to.

Okay, to start with is a Dandy Brush. This has tough bristles to brush dust and dirt off your horses body, neck, belly and upper legs. Use firm strokes in the direction of the hair as to not tickle the horse.
Second is the rubber curry comb. It has solid circular loops of rubber to brush dirt off your horses body. I put this second as I only use it when Blue has been rolling in mud and it now covered in dry mud. Its also handy to remove hair when ponies are malting (Blue has an immense coat making this tool valuable indeed.) Brush in the form of small circled on the main areas of there coat.

So here is a plastic curry comb, this has rigid bristles to brush the mane, tail and fringe of your horse. I do sometimes use it for Blue's feather on his legs, after cleaned and dried but I wouldn't suggest this if your pony has thin feather. Brush your tail in parts first and then use downwards, clean, defined strokes for tail, mane and fringe.

Here is the body brush, it has soft bristles to brush your horse's body, legs, face and "intimate" areas :P. When brushing the body and legs ensure you are brushing in the hair direction with again firm strokes as to not tickle your pony.



Lastly here is to pick your horses hooves. I have made this is to and extended array of pictures.

 

Okay, its safe to say that my optimism of keeping this short was ambitious.  Re-donc-u-las!
OOFT! I'm done now. Like I said before don't take what I say as awe-inspiring, this is just the way I do it and it works. You can do it completely differently and it will still work just as well.
I wish you fun in what looks like more snow!
Byeee xx