When working with a green horse, progress is not always consistent. The horse will plateau as he becomes confident in performing what he has been taught. The amount of progress we expect from the horse, and his physical and mental ability to handle increased expectations for performance, will be major factors in how quickly he improves.

Recently, an international team of scientists decoded the genome of the domestic horse Equus caballus and the results, published in the journal Science, showed a genome structure remarkably similar to humans. The research was led by scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, a collaboration of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, in conjunction with an international group from 11 countries that all came together on the Horse Genome Project, which actually began in 1995.

By Lindsay Grice - We always need to look to a physical cause first as the key to any issue, with the realization that a horse with a good education and a relationship of respect and trust with the rider will push through the pain barrier. There is never an excuse for bucking.

By Lindsay Grice - In my program, I lay a solid foundation of understanding and build upon it like a flight of stairs by challenging the rider or horse with a new skill as they master the previous step. This process may not appeal to the thrill seeker, but it preserves the sanity of their equine partner, and mine as well! For example, we wouldn’t go on to a skill at the canter until it was well established at the trot.

By Lindsay Grice - Rider error can cause horses to rush through the obstacles. Just like horses who rush over fences, those who don’t know how to adjust their own stride and don’t trust their riders’ judgement just want to get it over with. Some people confuse this with eagerness, but it’s actually adrenaline raised by fear. With every mistake, their confidence erodes and their flight instinct takes over.

By Lindsay Grice - “Is it me or my horse?” Every rider has asked herself this question when encountering a problem. But to say a horse likes or respects one rider over another is simplistic – let’s look deeper into the concept of nature versus nurture.

By Lindsay Grice - Most horses tend to cut in on one half of a circle and “bulge” out on the other half. If your horse has bulging problems, he most likely gets “magnetized” toward the fence, the in-gate, or toward another horse. Comparing your horse to a train, I’ll give you some tips to improve your control and be able to keep your horse on the track of your choice.

By Lindsay Grice - There’s nothing less satisfying than having to haul your horse to a stop. Like a dinner mint after a meal, a precise stop puts a finishing punctuation on a pattern and leaves the judge with a good taste in his mouth!

By Lindsay Grice - The Western pleasure class, while historically the most popular class in the stock horse breeds, comes with its share of criticism. Knowing that I judge and compete within the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) circuit, the subject of Western pleasure often comes up with the dressage, hunter, and jumper riders in my clinics.