NOTES FROM ALEJANDRA GONZALEZ – RESPONSIBILITY

Responsibility always belongs to the one with the more complex nervous system. This idea has been on my mind as I hear more conversations about horses needing to self-regulate or take responsibility for their emotional state. These ideas usually come from good intentions. We want partnership, not control. Safety, not force. But horses are prey animals. A horse’s nervous system is…

BylizzieApril 27, 20260Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

AVERSION TO GROOMING

Grooming gremlins Horses that have an aversion to grooming As grooming is such an essential part of horse care, it can be a real problem when your horse has an aversion to the process. The number of horses who dislike being groomed is surprisingly high, and yet grooming issues are not something we commonly talk…

BylizzieOctober 21, 20250Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

THE CAUSES OF SADDLE SLIP

The role of the seat Text: Christie Wolhuter Exclude these first The first factors to rule out are unsoundness and saddle fit issues. Unsound horses may shorten up their stride in various ways, and this can lead to your saddle slipping. For example, one shoulder dropping more than the other will cause the saddle to move…

BylizzieMay 6, 20220Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: POSTURE

Q: What can posture tell us about our horses? A: The Oxford dictionary defines the word ‘conformation’ as: “the way in which something is formed; the structure of something, especially an animal” while ‘posture’ is defined as: “the position in which you hold your body when standing or sitting”. These definitions may sound similar, but when…

BylizzieFebruary 25, 20210Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: THRUSH

Q: My horse has just recovered from a bad case of thrush. My farrier has advised that I look at his diet, as well as some other management issues. I can understand the concerns about management, but I’m not sure what role diet could have played in this? A: We are learning all the time about…

BylizzieOctober 28, 20200Comments

Horse Channel Pridey

PRIDEY’S LOCKDOWN LAMENTATIONS DAY 13

Friends! How are we all?! Felt I'd best check in, and make sure you're all keeping your spirits up!? It's been fairly quiet here. My mother appears to have lost some of her manic momentum of the early days of the ordeal, and is finally settling into a more casual/sensible approach. She still visits me at least…

BylizzieApril 8, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel

ASKHQ: GROOMING ROUTINE

Q: What is a normal grooming routine? A: A thorough grooming session will take up to 45 minutes. In South Africa, we commonly do not regularly groom our horses ourselves, but at least once a week it is worth making the extra effort to do this. Firstly, this provides a great opportunity to bond with your…

BylizzieMarch 5, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: CONFORMATIONAL FACTORS

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.…

BylizzieFebruary 19, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

ASKHQ: DO MINIATURE HORSES WEAR SHOES?

Q: Do Miniature Horses wear shoes? A: Miniature Horses have no need for shoes. They have very hardy hooves and with correct trimming they do not need shoes unless for medical or corrective reasons. Soft 'tekkie-like' shoes are placed on their hooves when people take them indoors to avoid them slipping on the floors, but these shoes…

BylizzieNovember 18, 20190Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: HQHACK1000

Q: Why should I do #HQHack1000? Asked by an imaginary friend for the purposes of advocating hacking… A: #HQHack1000 is a country-wide equestrian challenge. The goal is to hack 1,000km in your chosen horse-rider combination. This can be done over any time period. All you need to do is to track your own distance and keep us…

BylizzieSeptember 22, 20190Comments

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