http://www.horsesinmind.com en-gb horsesinmind.com 2008-6-5T00:00:00Z horsesinmind.com http://www.horsesinmind.com/page18.htm#24825 Job has settled into his new life in Spain with Torie and here is a picture taken in May 2008 of them enjoying the sunshine. 2008-5-29T00:00:00Z http://www.horsesinmind.com/page18.htm#20172 Choosing a horse is a tricky business. Ensuring you bring the right one home requires an honest view of your own riding skills expert knowledge of the type of horse you want and an ability to read a horses personality in a short space of time. Im a novice rider and very green to the horse world in general. I first starting looking at horses when my husband and I decided to move to Catalonia and I found a house with stables and land. It was pure aesthetics which initially led me to the Friesians and their personality which convinced me this was the type of horse for me. They have the most spiritual presence making you feel they have an innate knowledge of what us humans desire in our equine friends. They want to please you and when youre sat on one you do feel like they are tuned into your thoughts. It is not just their beauty which makes them a top choice in movie making these days but their willingness to learn and thus the ease of training them. Ill stop there lest I g... 2008-2-19T00:00:00Z http://www.horsesinmind.com/page18.htm#24661 There were a lot of firsts for Onna it was his first time at a show the first time he has been ridden in a school with lots of other horses the first time he has done a dressage test and the first time he has seen white boards. Onna loved his pre show bath and tidy up I have never known a horse to go to sleep whist being hosed off before even if it was with warm water. He was so laid back while we got him ready that I was not prepared for the Onna that turned up at the show. To say he was excited is an understatement he was beside himself I have never seen him so animated for a moment I thought I had brought Annie by mistake. It took us ages to get him tacked up because I insisted he had to calm a little before we put his tack on. As a consequence we only had a short warm up although he didnt actually do anything wrong he was very tense and more interested in the other horses and the comings and goings of horse boxes and trailers than he was in me or any aid I was giving him. He was ... 2008-2-10T00:00:00Z http://www.horsesinmind.com/page18.htm#18974 Why Do Horses do the Opposite to What We Want Because we do the opposite to what they need.How is this possible It is possible because horses learn by the release of pressure or discomfort not the application of pressure or discomfort itself.Training the Young Horse to Come onto the BitFor example when you are training your horse to come onto the bit you need to use the reins he must already have learned to except the contact and still go forwards but now you need to be able to use the reins to shape his outline. How does he know what to doHe will only learn where you mean him to carry his head if you reward him by stopping using the reins the instant he gives you the slightest try. I dont mean you to throw away the contact just stop sponging the rein and allow the horse to go forward into a still rein contact. This is his reward for doing the right thing.When he moves out of this outline you do the same thing again and again until he gets it you may need to stop and stand still to giv... 2008-1-22T00:00:00Z http://www.horsesinmind.com/page18.htm#18133 Annie is amazing She is still forward going but now I can ride her out hacking on a loose rein all the time. She never spooks and she is good in traffic. In short she is perfectSchooling AnneAnnie won her first prelim dressage class back in September and her first showing class and was very much admired by everyone there. Today we hacked on the South Downs my friend rode Onne and I rode Annie. It was freezing driving rain and sleet on the way up and snow at the top The Friesians were perfect loose reins all the way no spooks or silliness at all. Hacking on the South DownsWe had planned a gallop but were confided to walk and trot because of the slippery conditions. I never thought that nearly freezing to death could be a pleasure 2008-1-3T00:00:00Z http://www.horsesinmind.com/page18.htm#18132 I waited all day for the phone call to let me know when Onne would be arriving the phone eventually rang at midnight to let me know the estimated time of arrival would be 4am eek How big is the Lorry I asked not expecting the answer I got 18 horse didnt even know they came that big This news presented us with a small problem plan revision required as no way 18 horse monster lorry is getting down the single track lane to our house. We had no choice but to unload him in a layby on the main road and walk him down the lane next teeny problem presents its dark at 4am and the lane isnt lit and typically its the first overcast night in weeks. To add to the problem we have sleeping policemen the size of small hills down the lane and Friesian horses arent used to hills not even small ones. My husband came to my rescue by offering to get up and light the way with the car very generous offer at 4am especially as he is not a horsy person but he did lend me the money to buy this horse to technica... 2007-11-22T00:00:00Z http://www.horsesinmind.com/page18.htm#18131 I have just been to Friesland in Holland on a horse buying expedition. Wow Holland really is flat not a hill as far as the eye can see not even a small one. I visited a few places that have been recommended to me by a Dutch friend all small family run businesses that export quality Friesians all over the world except England till now that is.I rode loads of 3 and 4 year old colts and geldings makes me sound brave which I am not truth is they were all very easy and well behaved so I didnt need to be I never had a doubt that Im doing the right thing in buying one to sell on cos once again I was struck by the calm gentle nature of the Friesian horses.Yours truly trying out my next purchaseEventually I made my choice and bought a 3 year old geld called Onne pronounced Honour He is 16hh and middle weight nice looking type with active paces but easy to sit to. What I liked about him most is that he listens intently to every aid and tries to please you he is a real joy to ride. Onne will be... 2007-11-8T00:00:00Z http://www.horsesinmind.com/page18.htm#15298 Ive done it I have attended a level 1 Parelli course with my Friesian mare Annie. Annie is what the Parellis call a right brain extrovert which means she is very forward going and a little hard to stop of coarse being a Friesian means this is not as scary as it would be if she was a WB or TB. On the 1st day she rebelled against the rope wiggling and being proded with the carrot stick she ran me over her favourite resistance kicked me all be it by mistake she was aiming for the carrot stick and got away from me several times. Annie was the widest strongest and most rebellious horse that day. On the 2nd day the other students voiced their concern that Annies and my presence in the class was detrimental to their learning experience. Alison the trainer said this was the place for our horses to do their worst so we could learn to deal with it with her help how true I thought oh wise and kind trainer Small smile on face but silently praying to the horse g... 2007-10-10T00:00:00Z