Walchuk Jr., Stan Articles

Stan Walchuk Jr, horse trail riding, horse Riding Bear Country, horse Riding cougar Country

What is the chance of a bear or cougar attack while riding your horse? What is the chance of being injured or killed in an attack? And are there preventative measures that make sense?

Stan Walchuk Jr, children riding trail, kids riding trail, common sense horse trail, trail mount horse, Kids Riding Bareback, children Riding Bareback, trail riding safety

We always talk about doing things right - the right training, riding method, gear, and discipline – but there is no escaping the fact that kids will be kids. They do not have the physical size and strength of an adult, the same ability to discipline, the same control, or the same focus and concentration to work through issues.

Stan Walchuk Jr, horse trail riding, trail riding guide

For many people riding across a pasture, down a laneway, or along a road is considered to be trail riding. It’s a good thing that we have those options since we cannot instantly wish ourselves onto the wilderness trail of our choice. But interesting trails spoil us

Trail Horse Riding Equine Conformation, choosing the right trail horse, stan walchuk, buying a horse, best breeds horse riding

We all have expectations for our horses. With trail horses those expectations are based on the way we use them, which is very different from the way we use performance horses or pet horses.

Stan Walchuk, Jr, safe trail riding with horses, horse riding safety, trail riding tips, desensitize horses

Ah, the good old days. That was the time when someone said, “I think that horse might buck,” and you said, “I’ll ride him.” Secretly, you hoped he would buck. You had been bored for the last 20 minutes and it was time for some excitement.

Stan Walchuk Jr, horse wrangling, equine hobbles, horse hobbles, picket rope, horse bells, horse tail tying, equine wrangling

Wrangling means working with horses on the trail or in camp, including when they are not ridden or packed. It involves bringing them in at morning, turning them out at night, and managing their movement and use.

Trail Horse Riding Equine Conformation, choosing the right trail horse, stan walchuk, buying a horse, best breeds horse riding

What do we look for in trail horse conformation? The quality of the foot has been discussed in a previous article and therefore this article will focus on other key aspects.

why do most people ride mules and not horses? what are the anotomic differences between horses and mules? comparing horses to mules

If mules are so wonderful, why do most people ride horses? If even half the heralded testimony from mule owners is true, we should all be riding mules. But wait… how gallant would Roy Rogers and the Lone Ranger have looked perched atop mules?

Stan Walchuk, Jr, trail horse training, off season trail horse, desensitize horse, bomb proof horse, horse trail riding tips, winter horse training

Trail horses are like kids; they need structure, direction, and appropriate discipline. Strong foundation training is built by the exercises and habituation that we provide. Metaphorically speaking, grade one is everything for a trail horse.

riding gear, horse bits, types of horse bits, how to find the right bit for horse, stan walchuk

Walking into a tack shop and looking at a wall covered with bits can send a neophyte bit buyer into a cold sweat. We can simplify types of bits by putting them into two categories: snaffle bits and curb bits.

Stan Walchuk, Jr, equine trail riding first aid, horse rider safety, equine safety, equine first aid, equine tourniquets, equine vital signs, equine wound treatment, Dr. David Reed, horse care

Understanding first aid for horses is a lifelong learning experience born of necessity. Injury and illness are unpleasant realities for horse owners and trail riders, and although seeking the advice of a veterinarian should always be your first choice when dealing with a serious medical condition, if it happens on a trail ride you must be able to respond appropriately until the horse can be seen by a vet.

First Aid for Trail & Home

This article is the second in a two part series about equine first aid for the trail and home. In Part 1 of the series, we focused on vital signs, first response, care of wounds, and home remedies. In this article we’ll be looking at what to do if your horse comes up lame, sustains a head injury, suffers rope burns or saddle rubs, or comes down with the flu while you’re out on the trail.

Life as the Blue Creek Trail Riding/Packing Clinic instructor is always interesting, never boring, and often as much a learning experience as a teaching one. The personalities of humans and horses always make for a lively program, and this was especially evident this year when some guests brought their own horses.

pushy trail horse, how to manage a stubborn horse, horse misbehaving on trail, stan walchuk

It is extremely important that your horse respects your space. Any number of situations could arise: the horse moves toward you and steps on your foot or clips your heel, or you go to halter or bridle him and he pulls his head away or pushes it toward you, causing you to lose your balance.

Stan Walchuk Jr, horse trail riding safety tips, Choosing Trail Horse, trail riding

When purchasing a new horse, or evaluating your current horse, make yourself a sensible checklist to decide whether or not the horse meets your needs. Be honest with yourself: it is a matter of safety and a matter of an enjoyable future with your trail horse.

Hitching a Pack Horse, trail riding tips, types of horse htitches, single diamond horse hitch

Your first horse packing trips with one or two horses can be a learning experience and, like acquiring pack gear, can be an act of progress. A sturdy riding saddle, a couple of duffel or hockey bags, and a lash rope can do the trick. The purpose of this article is to help readers become familiar with basic pack gear and hitches.

Disciplining the Trail Horse, horse Herd Mechanics, controlling Trail Horse

Discipline is a touchy subject. Riders and trainers have varying attitudes and techniques when it comes to discipline; combined with the range of horse dispositions, behaviours, and experiences, you can see why diving into this topic is like diving into a can of worms.

Driving Trail Horse, horse drive training, horse ground driving, horse ground driving

Good habits help us take bites from the good apple of life, whereas bad habits just up and bite us. Driving your saddle horse is fun, easy to do, and useful. And like Dave says, it makes ’em a better horse every time.

Stan Walchuk Jr, Feeding horses on Trail, trail riding, alfalfa-grass cubes

Trail riders are regularly faced with feeding choices on the trail. Whether feed is needed, what to feed, and when to feed are some of the questions we face. There are no blanket answers to these questions; the horse, the available feed, the time of year, and the length of the trip are some of the many factors that affect feeding decisions.

Stan Walchuk Jr, Equine Preparation trail riding, horse trail riding, Saddle Bag Trail Gear

This article is a checklist of things that one should do to get ready for trail riding. I would put “getting ready” in at least three categories: preparing ourselves, preparing our horses, and preparing our tack and gear.

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