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ASKHQ: GRACKLE NOSEBAND

Q: What is a grackle noseband? A: The grackle noseband is also known as the figure-of-eight noseband. The grackle is designed with a main pressure point at the crossover point on the top of the horse's nose. The straps pass through a slotted leather circle, which often has a sheepskin backing to prevent discomfort or rubbing.…

BylizzieDecember 15, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Know How

ASKHQ: IMPORT ISSUES

Q: When you import a horse, what is the flight like? Do horses find it very stressful? A: There is a variety of flight options available for horses. If a horse is coming in from Europe, the most expensive option is the direct flight from the origin to Johannesburg, while the cheaper option is to fly…

BylizzieDecember 14, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: WHAT IS ‘SOFT FEEL’ IN COWBOY DRESSAGE®?

Q: What is 'Soft Feel' in Cowboy Dressage? A: 'Soft Feel' (or 'Fresh Rein') is the guiding principle of Cowboy Dressage® World. It is the wordless, intimate and, for some, spiritual communication between horse and rider. 'Soft Feel' is not only sending a message, but having the sensitivity and awareness to feel and receive the message the…

BylizzieDecember 13, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: COWBOY DRESSAGE®

Q: What is Cowboy Dressage®? A: The discipline of Cowboy Dressage® was born in 2013. For a short period of time, Western Dressage and Cowboy Dressage® shared a common foundation. When Western Dressage decided to join the USEF (United States Equestrian Federation), Eitan and Debbie decided to go their own way, and to follow the dreams…

BylizzieDecember 12, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Training

ASKHQ: WESTERN SPURS

Q: Western spurs look so different. Do they hurt the horse more than conventional spurs and how are they used? A: Western spurs may look different but they are designed not to lock against the horse but to rather move and roll when applied. When using Western rowel spurs, you squeeze the horse, allowing the rowel…

BylizzieDecember 11, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: CONFORMATION

Q: Which conformational factors are considered important to look for in a riding horse? A: When looking at the conformation of the horse to assess his rideability, the following factors should be considered: The back and ribs A relatively short back is generally strongest for taking weight, as it has shorter, stronger coupling than a longer back. A…

BylizzieDecember 11, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: UPHILL OR DOWNHILL

Q: Is my horse built ‘uphill’ or ‘downhill’? A: Body balance is partly determined by the relative height of the croup and withers of the horse, but also by the positioning of the spine in terms of how high or how low the base of the neck is, and where the neck vertebrae join the thoracic…

BylizzieDecember 10, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: PASTERN BONE

Q: When is a pastern considered too short? Q: The pastern is the area between the fetlock joint and the top of the hoof, and consists of two bones: the long pastern bone, or first phalanx, under the fetlock joint, and the short pastern bone, or second phalanx, which joins with the coffin bone, the third…

BylizzieDecember 10, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health Know How

ASKHQ: LARGE FEET

Q: Why are large feet preferred in horses? A: It is not simply that large feet are preferred, but rather that the feet need to be in proportion to the body of the horse. If feet are too small for a horse’s build, they are less likely to hold up under strenuous work. The bigger the…

BylizzieDecember 9, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Know How

ASKHQ: BARREL-CHESTED

Q: People say my horse is barrel-chested. What does this mean? Is it a positive or a negative? A: There are two types of chest conformation that are considered efficient. These are the round, barrel chest and the wide, deep chest. Horse-people generally tend to prefer the wide, deep chest, as a barrel-chested horse can appear to…

BylizzieDecember 6, 20190Comments

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