Body Clipping your Horse or Mule

Naturally a horse or mule will grow a winter coat that sheds out in the spring or early summer, depending on the animal.  Body clipping a horse requires a lot of time maintaining and patience for both the horse or mule as well as the owner.   There are many reasons people body clip, working with your equine during the winter months sometimes makes it harder for it to cool down after the workout.  Once you clip your horse, there are certain responsibilities you must do to help maintain and protect it from the cold.
Blanketing a clipped horse will provide some of the warmth that is lost. But you must check on your horse at least twice a day to see if it needs a lighter weight blanket or sheet in place of the heavier blanket.
Some horse breed societies do not believe in body clipping, and those horse owners may keep a heat lamp near their horse in the winter to fool the hair coat into believing it is still warm.  These can be placed on a timer to turn on and off at designated times during the day or evening.  You will still have to blanket your horse in the winter months, and if you board your horse, you may have a larger electric bill as well.
Deciding when to clip, you must determine how much work you will commit to clipping and caring for your horse afterward.  If you work your horse or mule occasionally, then a clip might not be necessary.  Full body clips for a show horse will help evaporate sweat easier.  A wet coat will not insulate very well, and having a shorter coat will help dry it off quickly.   Make sure you dry it off completely, as blanketing a wet horse will not hold in their body heat.   Depending on your climate, the use of different weights of blankets and sheets are available as well as hoods for colder climates in the winter.
If you do decide to body clip your horse, you will need shearing clippers as well as small clippers.  The small clippers are for the ears, face and small body parts and areas.  Shearing clippers cut down the time it takes to clip the animal overall.  Lubricants are used to keep the blades running smoothly and cool, and keeping a small brush or toothbrush handy will clean out hair and dirt that accumulates in the blade teeth.
Body clipping takes a lot of time, so expect long hours and have lots of patience with your horse or mule.
If your equine is clipper shy, spend extra time in the fall getting it adjusted to the feel of the equipment before using them later.  Make sure the area you are clipping is quiet and free of distractions.  This will help keep your horse or mule calmer and it will be easier for the both of you during the clip session.

Head ‘E’m Off At the Pass

     Let’s just face the facts. Everyone who comes to a public trail ride is an experienced, expert horseman. Otherwise, why would they come there to ride, am I right?
     It was a fine hot summer day in the Ozarks Mountains. Snuggled within the mountains, down in lake country is a little town called Branson, maybe you’re heard of it? Anyway, I digress. I was guiding trail rides for the tourists there in a small nose to tail walking ride. We were lounging in the shade when a trio showed up to ride. This fella had brought his daughter and niece out to ride. The girls had to be about 10 to 12 years old, just the right age to be absolutely in love with all things horse. I greeted them and they quickly decided on the ride they wanted to go on, as we had a couple to choose from. The one they chose was for a more advanced rider; it was a free style ride with less direct control. In other words, they were free to ride out and away, and I was along for the ride to make sure they didn’t get lost. I asked the fella if the girls could ride. “Oh ya, they can ride!” he assured me. “Sir,” I said. “I’m not asking if they can sit on the horse, I’m asking if they can ride.” He looked at me, blinked a bit and again said “Sure they can ride.” I had a bad feeling about it, but the boss assured me they would be fine.
     Soon, enough we were on the road and headed down the trail. The uncle and I were soon swapping lies and having a fine time, and the girls were having a grand time. I was riding Duck, the girls were on Alpo and Kal Kan, and the uncle was on Turtle. We were mostly walking and trotting a bit through the quiet, cool woods. It wasn’t long before we hit a large field. We called it the Polo field because of its size. It was a nice level field, perfect for a nice canter. No hills, no holes, just a nice grassy field. I had only intended to jog through it, when the girls started begging.
     “Moose, can we PLEASE canter the horses? PLEASE oh PLEASE can we canter the horses?” I looked to the uncle and again asked “Are you sure these girls are experienced enough for this?” Well, after much discussion I relented and let the girls head off into the field. I was on point and watching them as they started out at a jog. It wasn’t long before they had hit a canter and started to giggle. Quickly they got noisier, shrieking as they went. The girls had been doing this off and on the whole trip so I didn’t pay that much mind at first. It wasn’t until they hit the corner and turned that I could see that the niece had thrown the reins away and had a death grip on the saddle horn. She was squalling like a banshee with her …….toe caught in a crack.
     Poor ol’ Alpo, he wasn’t sure WHAT was going on, but he was pretty sure he didn’t wanna hang around to find out. He lit out of there like his head was on fire and his tail was catching. Alpo hit the corner and gained a gear. This may seem like it took a lot of time; but in fact, it all took place in about eight to ten seconds. It took me about three to size up the situation and I yelled to the uncle “Hold this!” and tossed him my flea catcher. I didn’t have time to see if he caught the hat or not, I was off and gone. I drew a bid on Alpo’s halter and poled ol’ Duck in the ribs and said “SCOOT!” We were off like a dirty shirt. It seemed like it took forever but we soon had Alpo headed off at the pass, old west style. I caught him by the bridle and slowed him to a stop. Meanwhile, the little girl’s eyes were wide as a dinner platter and she was white as a sheet. Still blubbering a bit, she somehow managed to pry her little fingers from the saddle horn and dismount. Her uncle looked her over and pronounced her in fine shape, just a bit shook up. We got her saddled up again, and I snubbed her to my saddle horn to pony her for the rest of the trip. She learned a valuable lesson that day, one I teach all my students: Never panic. I don’t care if the whole world is falling apart around you and you have one cheek in the saddle and one in midair, panicking will only make things worse. If you can keep a clear head, you are more likely to come out with all your various and sundry parts intact.

Brooks Gaited Horse Training

Horse Related Superstitions and Wives Tales

     I'm sure you all have heard about hanging a horse shoe over a door with the ends up to keep the luck from running out.  We all have a few sayings that have been carried down from generation to generation, and some have us wondering.  For instance, if a person were to buy a horse in Europe the saying goes something like this:  "One white foot, buy a horse; two white feet, try a horse; Three white feet, look well about him; four white feet, do without him."   Here in the USA, cowboys have said that a red mare will either be crazy or mean.
    The whorl or swirl on the forehead of a horse would indicate its personality.  Many people believe a horse with two whorls on its forehead will be more difficult.  Swirlology is the study of hair swirls or whorls in horses.  For some believers, this would affect the purchase or selling of horses.
      Some folks believe that changing a horse's name is bad luck, and I've also heard that the deeper a stud dips his nostrils into the water he is drinking, the better the sire he will be. Here in the Ozarks, the old timers would often castrate their own stock. When doing so, they would  just "throw" them and cut them right there in the pasture. I was told growing up that when you cut a horse, throw one testicle to the east, and one to the west and don't look where they fall, or he will be proud cut.
     Supposedly you can predict the sex of an unborn foal by tying a horseshoe nail to a tail hair of the pregnant mare. Hold the nail above the mare's hips. If it does not swing, the mare is not pregnant, if it swings in a circle, she's carrying a filly, if in a straight line, a colt.
     One of the best known superstitions is that it is bad luck to place a cowboy hat on a bed.  There has been a story told about a cowboy who showed up at the National Finals Rodeo with a smashed hat, because the night before his mother laid it on a bed.  According to the superstition, the only way to get rid of the bad luck is to throw the hat outside and stomp all the bad luck out of it.   .
     Another favorite of mine is one the old folks used to tell us kids back in the day. When we would see a horse rolling over in the pasture, they would say that he's only worth as much as how many times he can roll over in a row. Another variation on this was the saying that only a good horse could roll all the way over. If he couldn't roll all the way over, he was no good.
     There are a myriad of superstitions worldwide, each with their own variation.  It is fascinating to read and hear these wives tales carried down for so many years.  And some do actually have a foothold on the populace as fact.  Do you have a horse related superstition? If so, share it here!

Brooks Gaited Horse Training

A Beloved Past time is slowly disappearing

     For centuries, horses have been a huge part of our lives.  They have been wonderful companions and hard working members of society in various venues.  With the implementation of technology and societal advancement, the way of the horse is slowly disappearing.  Unless one is determined to work and make a living with them, horses have taken a backseat to progressive technology. 
     In many cities horse and buggy rides as well as the more glamorous carriages have been a staple of tourism.  People have traveled from distant lands just to experience one of the most iconic settings in America.  Many who arrive here have inquired about the famous carriage rides in New York City.  
     Recent news has brought the business of horse drawn carriages to light, claiming animal cruelty is a major issue.  Other resources have shown that the current New York City mayor is determined to ban all horse drawn carriages from the city stating, “We are going to get rid of horse carriages, period. We are going to quickly and aggressively move to make horse carriages no longer a part of the landscape. . . They are not humane. They are not appropriate for the year 2014. So, just watch us do it.”   
     Mayor de Blasio as well as a handful of others who want to outlaw the industry say it's cruelty to animals.   The business owners defend their trade with claims there are very few industries with strict regulations as theirs.  The mayor wishes to replace the horses with antique-like electric cars.  We can say that if the mayor is going to put an iconic New York industry out of business on the grounds that its practices are inhumane, those who will lose their livelihoods as a result at least have the right to demand he first prove it.   What are your thoughts?

Brooks Gaited Horse Training
     

The Stubborn Mule Myth

We've all heard it said "You are as stubborn as a mule!". But the truth is, a mule is no more stubborn than a horse or any other creature.  It is simply more cautious and full of thought. I've often said, the trouble with a mule is, they are SO smart, that if you aren't careful, they will spend more time trying to out-think you than just do what you ask. You see, mules take after the inquisitive side of their sire, the donkey.  They are often hard to convince into doing something they perceive as unsafe thus making unfamiliar riders and handlers have a rather large equine that is persistent on their hands.  One way to put it, mules make up their own minds and will not take your word for anything.   More often than not, they decide for themselves.
   But, one can get through to them with patience, persistence and being firm when training.  When the mule is focusing on you, it is less likely to react to obstacles that often spook any equine on the trail.  To keep the mule busy, direct where its feet go instead of letting it wander around aimlessly.  You can teach mules to sidepass or even back up a few steps to regain its attention, and this will reduce the chance of it panicking with something new or scary.   Practice this before you go out on the trail, and in time the mule will understand that not everything is 'going to eat him'.   Each time you ride your mule, it is in training.  Training happens each time you interact with an animal. Being consistent and firm is part working with mules.
     Horses and mules both respond to pressure-release training techniques. Once you have established where the responsiveness in a finished horse or mule lies, you will be amazed in just how receptive a mule can be with years of training.  There is no quick way to get this achieved, and instant gratification does not exist.   Mules respond to pressure by pushing, and handlers often tend to pull against that pressure. But pressure itself does nothing for you.  The release of that pressure is what teaches the mule.
     Trail riding is full of teaching opportunities.  However, many people do not work with mules at home to teach them all the possibilities of disaster while on the trail, and positive reinforcement is wasted on the mule.  Preparing for obstacles while at home can be easy, such as crossing streams and puddles.  At first the mule will do everything it can to avoid it by sidestepping or even jumping across.  Be prepared for this, using your reins and legs to guide it through the stream or puddle.  Once it makes even the slightest attempt at this, reward it by releasing that pressure.  A mule needs to know it will be rewarded for trying.
     Unfortunately people are more likely to jab or spur their mule forward instead of releasing the pressure.  This teaches the mule that puddles and streams are scary and is less productive in training.  Mules can make up their own minds about things and people need to understand that they need reinforcement when dealing with fear.
     Approaching bridges can be a chore, but working with the mule in the same way as crossing a stream or a puddle it can be done.  Guide the mule to the bridge, and let it stop and reward for the smallest try.  Remember, patience and persistence are key in training mules.
     When teaching a mule to walk around boulders or large rocks, guide it gently going both directions. Getting them used to going back through the obstacle helps mules understand they can get through tight spots.  Going one way is not enough.  A mule needs to learn lessons on both sides of its body.  Sometimes on trail one may need to mount or even dismount on the right side.  Training a mule to be two sided is key in trail riding.
     Most mules would rather jump over an obstacle while on trail.  Teaching them to walk across objects such as fallen logs and rocks is important in both the animal's safety as well as the rider.   Start with landscaping timbers on the ground, asking the mule to walk across, then gradually raise the height accordingly to get the mule adjusted to walking over things on the trail.
     There are two kinds of lessons that last: those that scare the heck out of you, and those we learn out of repetition.  Lessons learned over time are the safest, and creating situations at home in training are easy to do.   Practice and prepare in a safe environment, and remember that the more precise and consistent you are when teaching your mule, the easier it is for your mule to learn.

Brooks Gaited Horse Training

A single gene controls movement in vertebrates

Scientists have found that one gene is responsible for variability in locomotion in horses and mice.
Traits such as height are determined using as many as 700 genes.  So, it comes as a surprise there is only one controlling movement in horses as well as mice. Research has discovered that the gene DMRT3 has been found in an unknown set of neurons in the spinal cord of vertebrates.
Several researchers from Uppsala University have found one very strong signal on one chromosome that has led to the identification of the DMRT3 gene.
     Horses were the perfect choice for testing as there are many different variations in locomotion.  They have numerous forms of gait, including walc, trot, canter and gallop.  Factor in gaited horses with each breed's own form of naturally occurring gait such as the tolt of the Icelandic, the running walk of the Tennessee Walking horse, and the pace found in the American Saddlebred.  Scientists wanted to understand why some horses have more variability in their gait than others and began research on how this could be explained.
    A single base change in the gene DMRT3 was the result in the shortening of the gene itself. This mutation was associated with pacing in horses. The mutation inhibits the transition from trot to gallop and allows the horse to trot at a very high speed.  This is most common in the Tennessee Walking Horse and the Paso Fino breeds.
    These Swedish scientists performed further research on the DMRT3 gene in mice and how it affects locomotion.  Mice lacking the gene did not develop properly and thus had an altered means of locomotion.  These mice could eventually move somewhat normally, which suggests other neurological circuits compensate for the loss of DMRT3. This shows how the neurological system is able to adapt to the absence of key genes.
   There are plans to continue further research in experimenting with horses and the DMRT3 gene.  The first will have a look at the evolutionary aspect of the origin of the gene and its distribution worldwide.  This research is not only valuable in the breeding of horses and other domestic animals, but it will also affect human research as well, in hopes to help those with spinal cord injuries regain the ability to walk.

Brooks Gaited Horse Training

The Demon Sled

“Now, make sure you drag your toes in the snow. Kneel down in there and drag your toes behind you.” Dad was saying. It was the winter of 1988, or there about, I was a sophomore in high school and the smartest person I knew. (Or so I thought at the time.) Dad had just made us a sled using his harness and a hood off of an ol‟ 50‟s model car. Where he had come up with that I don‟t rightly recall, likely from one of the old Junkers my grandfather had on the back of his place. We were hitching up Hobo to the sled, and he was telling me how to keep the sled from bumping his heels. “I know, I will!” I was saying. “Well, you‟d better or it will bump his heels and then all bets are off.” We finished hooking up the horse, and I piled in. We led him on down below the barn, in to the bottom pasture, where there was plenty of room to play, and for him to pull. I had been driving him for a couple of summers now, skidding posts and such, and we had both done a pretty fair job of it. I had just enough experience driving and working him to know EVERYTHING there was to know about it. I clearly remember thinking to myself “I got this. This is gonna be a piece of cake!” So away we went. We started making laps around the field, and I was having a grand time. All the while, I was making sure to drag my toes in the snow behind me. It must have been about thirty minutes later, when I started to get comfortable enough to speed him up a bit. It was along about then that I forgot to drag my toes. Hobo gave an extra hard pull and we started down a little slope. Just then, the sled bumped his heels, this of course startled him and he jumped a little. When he did, the sled bumped his heels a second time. This time he jumped HARD and took off like a rocket! I fell out of the back of the sled and Hobo, with no one to check him, lit out of there like his head was on fire and his tail was catching. He made straight for the gap in the two fields, headed towards the barn at a dead run. I‟m sure he thought some new type of panther was chasing him, intent on having him for lunch. Well, he wasn‟t about to stick around to oblige. With the sled bouncing and the reins flapping like the wings of a goose, flogging him for all it was worth he gained a gear and then he REALLY took off. Running full tilt, hell bent for leather, he shot through the lower gate. On his way past the barn, he caught the poor, much lamented sled on a four by six corner post and demolished it. The harness was busted and the single tree snapped in half. What a racket! All the while, he could see this demon hot on his heels. Now, not only was it a flopping, writhing demon, but a banging shrieking demon as well. Hobo didn‟t even pause; he shot through the gate and headed towards the house. Through the yard, and down to where we kept my sister‟s horse, Sugar Foot. Earlier in the summer we had put up three strands of Gaucho wire there. For those of you unfamiliar with it, Gaucho is normally used for cattle. It is very sharp, and very strong. I‟ve seen it cut after being up for a couple years and it will automatically coil back up. Hobo was giving it all he had, determined to shake this thing that was chasing him, when too late, he seen the wire. I watched in horror as he tried to stop, turn, and jump, all in the space of about two seconds. He hit the wire full on with his chest, flipped over in a somersault, and landed on his back. The demon had caught him. He resigned himself to his fate and lay there, waiting for the end. Dad and I came running. Much to his credit, he did not struggle at all once he was down. We quickly cut him out of the wire and examined him. He had some pretty good cuts on his chest, and one real good one on his leg. We led him to the barn, sweating and trembling. (Both of us) Dad stitched him up, as we could not afford a vet call. I held him as still as I could while he worked on Hobo. Luckily, they were pretty superficial cuts, and no tendons or nerves were damaged. Once he was stitched up, and the first aid was done, he stopped trembling. I wish I could have. I don‟t recall being that scared for him, or for anything, in my short life. I realized that maybe I didn‟t know it all. It was a hard lesson to learn. I treated him religiously with the medicine, twice a day until he was healed. It took a bit, but before spring, he was right as rain and we were back to riding all over the country side again.

Brooks Gaited Horse Training

Natural Horsemanship for Kids

Teaching youngsters to have better control and understanding of horses starts early on with training, both with kids as well as the horse.  And what better way to start-right at ground level.  This is the very same way a horse trainer starts an animal when it first comes into training.
    1.  Draw and Drive
This is the most important way to bring handler and horse together by enabling trust through movement.  Applying and releasing pressure to enable a response can be learned by this method.   In order to 'draw' a horse to him/her, a handler must stop all movement and pressure on the animal. This lets the horse know that it is ok to come forward and be touched.
To 'drive' a horse is to encourage movement away from the handler. Applying pressure by walking toward the horse and using vocal commands usually makes the animal move away. If this does not, sometimes twirling a lead rope might be enough to get it moving.  With the help of an adult, youngsters can learn the safe way to do this.
     2.  Finding the Drive Line
To find the drive line on a horse is finding the point where pressure is to be applied or withdrawn in order to achieve a desired response.  No two horses are the same in energy level and personality. This will depend mostly on whether the horse is active or lazy.  To draw a horse toward the handler he must position himself parallel to a point just in front of the drive line.  To drive the animal away the handler must position himself at a spot behind the drive line, such as the hip.
     3.  Yielding the Hip
Asking a horse to yield its hip is a way to teach a handler how a horse responds to pressure.  The handler must position himself on the side of the animal just behind the drive line and then applies pressure towards the hip in order to elicit movement away from the handler. Once the horse moves away, release the pressure immediately.  Usually all it takes is just one step, but some horses move more, often jumping or running away.  This takes practice.
     4.  Going Left and Right
The handler faces the horse, then applies pressure by moving toward the animal.  To move the horse to its left, apply pressure on its right side.  To move the horse to its right, apply pressure on the left.  This starts out with the nose, then neck, shoulder, and finally the horse's front legs and feet in the desired direction.  Once that smallest movement takes place, remove the pressure immediately. Don't forget horses are two sided.  Practice moving on the right side as well.  It gets the animal accustomed to having someone on both sides, and not just on the left.
     5.  Longeing
When both horse and handler have gotten used to moving left and right, they can begin longeing.  This is gaining more control of a horse's feet while on the ground.  As the horse responds to a cue to yield, the handler positions himself at the drive line and moves the horse forward, away from him.  Increasing that pressure at the drive line encourages movement into a circle; the handler pivots in place while the horse moves around the handler in a large circle.
     6.  Gear Safety
Adults should perform a tack inspection with the youngster before saddling and bridling a horse. Both adults and children should share this responsibility as there are times an adult will not always be available to ensure the safety of the rider.
     7.  Saddle Without Tying
To prevent a horse from developing bad habits such as pulling back, saddling without tying a horse is safer.
If a horse moves while being saddled, the handler can make the horse move its hip until it is encouraged to stand still for the saddle.  Sometimes it is best to have a professional trainer give a few lessons to the horse on standing while being saddled.  Once accustomed to this routine, many horses find that standing still is by far much better than having to move.
     8.  Correct Saddle Position
Place the saddle slightly in front of the horse's withers, then wiggle the saddle horn until the saddle slides back into its natural position.   This helps a youngster better understand where the saddle fits.
     9.  Give Breaks
Kids get bored easily and start to lose attention when lessons are given.  Give them a few minutes to relax and change up the routine a bit to encourage involvement and attention.  Keep it fun and educational and kids will enjoy spending time with horses.
   10.  Praise
Adults should give lessons that a kid will succeed at and later progress as they learn and become more acquainted with the horse
.  Praise them when they succeed.

Brooks Gaited Horse Training

Back From the Dead!

Back from the dead! No, they're not zombies, just the last species of truly wild horse left on earth. Often, when we think of wild horses, we imagine the proud, but quite feral Mustang of the west, or the equally noble, yet still feral Brombie in Australia. These breeds certainly do fit the bill of free, but not really wild.  Przewalski's Horse is not a domesticated breed. Once almost extinct, there are now approximately 300 in the wild, and around 2000 in cpativity, in breeding programs. Have you ever seen a wild horse, or even one of the feral breeds?

Brooks Gaited Horse Training

End Of The Year

Well, 2013 is almost gone, and a new year is right around the  corner. I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on this past  year. We rode a lot of miles, and had a LOT of fun this year.  We had great mules and horses both to ride. Some of the most memorable were Teddy, the Mo Fox Trotter, Dhalia the TWH,  Sonny the TWH Mule, and Molly the draft mule. We enjoyed  every minute of our time with these animals and wish we had  a dozen more just like each of them to train. We had some  rough patches too and got a bit banged up by a couple, but  thankfully nothing serious. We also had some serious health  concerns in the family this year, but, with God's grace,  everything turned out well. As this new year approaches, we  eagerly anticipate the start of the 2014 training season.  We thank the lord for blessing us with the talents to do what  we do and the opportunity to help so many equines and owners  come together as a team. It is you folks, our clients and friends who help us learn and grow. Thank  you all for your steady, and loyal support this past year, and your continued support in this new year.  Just remember, "Go Gaited or Go Home!" Brooks Gaited Horse Training