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Conveniently sized square bales. You can pick up hay from us, or we can deliver it to you. Devine, Texas Visten, take a Bean Bag! - part 3 of 3 imagine a horse


tally mastered the Lay Down, we went on to teach the steps of the Sit UP. The process required are for the horse to kneel, lie down and then to extend each front leg separately when cued. One of the valuable lessons in the sequence is that the horse learns to lie quietly and not try to lurch up until cued (re- leased). This is a supreme les- son in self control and in trust. Visten as usual, was compliant and learned quickly to lie in position until we asked him to rise.


we used a spe- cially shaped pile of shavings that formed a burm or mound underneath his belly. From a lying position, his body would be supported in an approxima- tion of the Sit UP when he extended his front legs. Next we began to ask him to raise his front end up just a few inches more each day by pushing with his front feet. We realized in a couple of days that he just didn’t have the front end strength or coordination to push up to the Sit from the Lay Down. His desire to try was obvious so rather than continue to practice a move that was so difficult for him we moved on to other exercises. About a month passed before we went back to the Sit Up…Ha, success on the first try! He remembered


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years of Mother Nature’s en- gineering to create the perfect layering of hair and hide, the domesticated horse often does not sport enough coat to keep him warm or protect him from the elements in winter. Stable and turnout blankets may be the next must-have pieces in your tack collection.


According to equine


department head and buyer for Barkley’s Feed and Wildlife Sportsman in Boerne, Brandi Newman, new textiles and horse apparel designers with a sense of style offer a wider se- lection of blankets this season than ever before. “These new fabrics have simplified the care and maintenance of blankets,” reports Newman. When buying stable


and turnout blankets consider your horse’s environment and his needs, as well as your riding and showing plans during the cold months. If your horse will be


stabled most of the time, then consider a stable blanket. These blankets are generally quilted for warmth, but often are not wind and water-resistant. If you plan to show during the


To teach the Sit Up


By Sue De Laurentis & Allen Pogue, © Imagine A Horse 2010 After Visten had to-


and gave us a perfect sit up. Dwell time (whether a few seconds or in this case a month) is often the key to unlocking resistance in trick training and in under saddle training. Time for a lesson to settle in a horse’s mind can be infinitely more im- portant than practice in persuit of perfection. Visten went on to


learn the Sit Down in just three additional days. On the first day, we were able to help him assume the Sit Down in approximately 15 minutes. He was compliant but so wobbly that it we had two assistants


nose to help him tuck at the poll was all that was needed. When a horse is in the


Sit Down position, the pelvis is rotated under and the back legs are neatly folded and supported by the bean bag. So while the bag is a catchy looking prop it also serves the purpose of sup- port and protects the horse’s hocks. Sitting is usually not a big deal to a horse when he realizes that it is a stable and comfortable position. Just like yoga for humans, extreme poses for horses yield extreme benefits in terms of flexibility, elasticity and strength. Visten still


to help him support his weight on the bean bag from shifting sideways or sliding off onto the floor.


landing is a good approach which is true of a horse backing to the bean bag. Visten quickly developed the self carriage to slowly back his body to the bean bag until his back legs were against it. From this posi- tion a slight tap on the gaskin and a little help in lifting his


winter, a stable blanket will help keep the coat slick and flat. If you are going to body clip your horse, a stable blanket will be a necessary coat substitute to provide insulation. Since stable blankets


The secret to a good


ingness to please and to keep learning. His confidence has grown so that I can hardly even imagine that he is that same scared and bumbling colt that would swing his head around to face backwards in fear of being struck.


ing the Sit Up, Sit Down or any other moves that Visten is learning please email us at suesmonet@aol.com or visit www.imagineahorse.com


Winter horse blankets: does your horse need one?


are not water resistant and do not breathe, they should not be used on horses who will be outside in wet weather. A horse that gets wet from rain or even from sweat, will stay wet because there is no way for the trapped moisture to evaporate from underneath the blanket. For horses that are


turned out during the winter, a turnout blanket will provide water proofing or water resis- tance, as well as wind resistance and breathability. Waterproof blankets will not allow water to penetrate the top barrier of the blanket, keeping your horse dry. Water resistant blankets will repel some moisture, but will not keep your horse dry in heavy or continuous rain. Turnout blankets also


have a tail cover or tail flap to keep wind, rain or snow from getting underneath the blanket to your horse. Horses wearing turnout blankets can also run,


For help in teach-


has an extreme sway in his hind end at all gaits and his back legs cross the center line as he walks. We believe that these conditions will continue to diminish as he grows and ma- tures. Whatever he lacks in co- ordinat ion he makes up for with his determination and gentle will-


buck and get as sweaty as they want. The breathability of this blanket will allow your horse to cool off and dry. Regardless of the


type of blanket you buy, make sure that it fits the horse prop- erly. A blanket that is too tight will irritate the skin and put the horse at risk of developing abrasions and sores, while a blanket that is too large can slip down under the horse’s belly limiting insulating capacity. Also, blankets that fit loosely may cause the horse to get its legs tangled in the blanket’s straps causing injury. Make sure you bud-


get for a blanket for each horse in your barn or pasture. Sharing blankets can cause the spread of fungal infections such as ringworm, rain rot and sweet itch because fungal spores can cling to the blankets and spread to other horses. Also, regular washing of blankets according to the manufacturer’s guide- lines will minimize fungus problems.


So, when shopping


for your winter riding ward- robe, don’t forget to shop for your equine partner!


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Contact Anne Stone at 830-755-5417 or Jackie Kelly at 210-667-7565


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