April 1998

I have a arab that will not jog. I ride western and he will trot,and lope but will not jog. Please give me ideas so I can try to teach him how to jog.If he is trotting and I want him to jog I'll say easy easy....it doesn't work. Ill pull back the rains a tad bit just a hair and he'll walk.

When you try to make your horse jog you are asking him to slow down his trot.You must also make it clear to him that you still want him to continue to trot though. To do this you must tell him with your leg to trot but to slow down to a jog. So, as you ask him gently with the reins to slow you tell him with your leg by light pressure that you would like him to keep trotting but slower. When you are in the ring ask him on the smaller ends to slow down and then speed up going down the sides. Let him understand that there are two speeds he needs at the trot and be sure to praise him when he does what you ask.

May 1998

I ride my mare on a full cheek snaffle.She consistently keeps her head down and I am able to keep her on the bit with slight pulses of my outside rein. My questions is this, I purchased a pair of bit keepers for the full cheek snaffle and the balls on the bit appear way to big to fit. Are they necessary?

The keepers you have purchased my seem rather small but they should fit on the full cheek. You may have to really work at it to get them on. There seems to be a difference of opinion as to whether the keepers are really necessary. Some trainers want their students to use them and others do not. If you do use them it changes the way the bit acts in the mouth. Not using it makes the bit more like a regular snaffle, pulling back on the corners of the mouth. If the keepers are in place it also pulls on the poll creating more of an effect like a pelham. Keep in mind that without the keepers it is easier for your horse to get the bit caught on clothing or other things so you must be extra vigilant that your horse does not rub his head on things and get caught.

I have a Morgan and I have been showing her in my area. I have been practicing showmanship with her and think we have a pretty good chance to place at our next show. I don't have a leather halter and would like to purchase one. I am looking for a very thin rolled halter or a cable halter but wonder if that would be appropriate for her. I love cable halters but don't know if it would be ok. I also want to get a brow band from them. They are patent leather and I would like to get candy apple red. Would that be frowned upon in the hunter/jumper circuit??

I think the raised leather bridle and plain leather halter is more appropriate for the Hunter/Jumper shows. I am not sure about breed shows. The best thing for you to do is to check out a few shows and see what other competitors are using. If you work with a trainer or take lessons ask your trainer and see what they feel would be best. If you show jumper they do not seem to be as strict about the tack, but in the hunter ring the more conservative tack and attire is more appropriate.

July 1998

First you must look at your horse's tatoo. It will be on his upper lip. Lift his lip up and look underneath, it should be there if he was at the track at some point. Write it down and then call The Ontario Jockey Club. They should be able to give you some information on him from the tatoo number if he is a Canadian bred horse.