What Kind of Leg Protection Do I Use?

What kind of leg protection do you need for your dressage horse? There are many different kinds of leg protection products out there. You just have to find the one that suits your individual needs. I think the most popular in dressage would be "Polo Wraps with Bell Boots." Here are some different choices.

*Polo Wraps give support against concussion and give protection against bruising if your horse was to overreach. The way they are wrapped and come down around the fetlock they support the sesamoid bones. They are very popular in Dressage. Though if not applied properly they can do more harm then good. See our "To Wrap or Not To Wrap" post to learn how to properly wrap or consult a experienced horseman or vet.

*Dressage Boots are a great alternative if you don't know how to wrap or if you are crunched for time. These are stiffer that Polo Wraps and will prevent against bruising if the horse overreaches. They also give support and are easy to apply.

*Dressage Wraps are also a good alternative to Polo Wraps and allow air flow. While also giving support and protection the are quick and easy to put on.

*Bell Boots are used in dressage because they protect the back of the heel and pastern, incase a horse were to overreach. They are quick to apply and can be used on a daily basis.

Riding Bareback once a week will improve your balance and better your seat and leg aids. To start off with you may be more comfortable just taking your stirrups away. You should feel at all times (If the horse was to walk out from underneath you, would you be standing on the ground?) It may be hard at first, but the more you do it the easier it will become;)

Does your horse stand quietly while being saddled, or move around while trying to lift that heavy saddle up onto your horses back?

I have saddled a lot of horses through the years and while some were good, others moved around and were fidgety. You CAN train a horse to stand still, however wouldn't it be neat if your horse wanted to stand for his saddle to be put on and willingly did it on his own. Have you ever thought that your horse may feel like he is caught in the middle of a "Canyon and a Cougar?" Horses are pray animals and while you may think "It's just a saddle" the horse may think it is going to eat him and if he is tied up he can't get away from his predator. I like to saddle all my horses "The Friendly Way." This way your horse is not "Caught between a Canyon and a Cougar." It becomes his idea and he is willing and happy to be saddled. Watch this video, it will change the way we think about "Taking Up."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PHvZbHqwhs&feature=player_detailpage

                     

                           To Wrap or Not To Wrap

There is some controversy about wrapping a horses legs. Should you wrap their legs or leave them alone. Well this is how I look at it: a horse in the wild does not wear leg wraps, so should you not wrap your horses legs because wild horses don't need them? Well not necessarily. When I am trail riding or doing something my horse has done for a while, I refrain from putting wraps on my horse to let her legs get stronger and to let the muscle develop, however if I am doing something new, I think wraps are important because new things can be strenuous to the fragile tendons, ligament and sesamoid bones. Horses might be big and powerful but sesamoid bones, ligament and tenons can easily be damaged. 

Though if not properly applied wraps can do more bad than good. It is a good idea to have your instructor or a well rounded horseman teach you how to properly apply Polo Wraps.

Here is a good video talking about how to properly apply wraps. Practice makes Perfect!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbR6fiC7YXg&feature=player_detailpage

Mixing Classical with Natural to create a Happy and Healthy Partnership Between Horse and Rider! 

No Matter what discipline you do wether Western Pleasure, Trail, Jumping or a mixture of everything, Dressage will improve your horses training and will better your riding abilities. We use both Classical and Natural Methods. Natural Horsemanship will better your horses all around manners and will help him understand what is being asked of him. Natural Horsemanship will also better you as a trainer and horse handler.

Our Tip For February!

Riding your horse outside of the arena at least once a week is good for him. It lets him relax and have a break from arena work, while also helping him come a custom to new things. And it is a lot of fun to;)