Ben Bonner Performance And Ranch Horses

27/10/2021

01/12/2019

Whatever style you ride everyone should read this. The concept is universal. And so misunderstood.

Home Universal Concepts The Definition of “On the Bit” The Definition of “On the Bit” By Max Gahwyler MD - July 21, 2002 SHARE Facebook Twitter tweet Written by Dr. Max Gahwyler and Bettina Drummond There is no other statement used so often in Dressage riding as the horse should accept the b...

27/11/2019

Lesson 1: How to pet your horse.

One may think this is pretty basic and not worth thinking about. Quite a few years ago I started to change the way I did things with horses. I wanted to get the results I had seen others get so easily. As I got into it, I started to change the way I did basic things like how I saddled and how I lead a horse. It was apparent these were important. If your riding a lot of young horses, getting a saddle on efficiently is important. Messing that up can make many things more difficult. Getting a horse to lead up with you well is just good halter breaking, which leads to an easier first ride. Over the years of watching, teaching, and doing I’ve realized how important the little things are. Basic things we don’t really put much thought into, like petting your horse.
Sometime go somewhere and really watch how others are going about this. What message are they trying to convey? Good job? Your going to be ok? Or is it mainly just for the rider? A lot of what horse people do is just that, for the rider. Then you look at yourself and how your going about it. Are you conveying what you want and getting results? Until a person works with a horse that is truly bothered, a horse that just touching it is an achievement, you may not understand. A horse like this, touching them in a manner they can’t handle, they are gone. Out of the situation. In its basic form petting is a way of soothing a horse. If we approached this goal in everything we did we would be miles ahead.

Now I don’t really have a first lesson on how to pet your horse. Lots of people wouldn’t take me seriously. But I have used it as an example. An example of a missed opportunity. Getting a horse responsive and light is about not missing opportunities. This is in everything we do, even petting.

25/11/2019

A new study suggests that horses are capable of 17 distinct facial expressions—more than have been identified in chimps, dogs, and cats.

21/11/2019

Great story and a great horse.

This is "2017 NRCHA Hall of Fame - Topsails Rien Maker" by NRCHA Video on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

16/11/2019

16/11/2019

It was a good day here in Finland. I was able to help a few people with their horses.

16/11/2019

A horse can come into your life that will force you to make a change within yourself. You do this so you can approach their situation differently. Sometimes this is purely out of self preservation. At the time you can call it what you want. But eventually it’s a blessings in disguise. For me this was one of them.

15/11/2019

15/11/2019