ASKHQ: WEIGHT AIDS

Q: What are the weight aids? My instructor often asks me to use my weight as an aid, and I am unsure exactly what this means. I feel very unbalanced if I try to lean to one side or the other. A: The weight aids are a large part of your seat aids and the seat…

BylizzieApril 11, 20200Comments

Events Horse Channel

SHOW REPORT: HORSE OF THE YEAR 2020

By Shane Mundell The 2020 Horse of the Year Show held at Kyalami Equestrian Park was, once more and in spite of the lower number of entries, a great success. Once again the hard work put in by the Gauteng Showing Committee, combined with excellent marketing resulted in great sponsorship, prize money and prizes being…

BylizzieApril 9, 20200Comments

Horse Channel

PRIDEY’S LOCKDOWN LAMENTATIONS DAYS 3 AND 4

Dear readers, It is with great relief that I can inform you that it's been a much more pleasant two days chez moi. Turns out (conveniently) that my (very absent) father had his birthday today and my (sadly) ever present mother had to attend to creating a birthday under lockdown... It appears that this was stressful…

BylizzieMarch 30, 20200Comments

Horse Channel

PRIDEY’S LOCKDOWN LAMENTATIONS DAY 2

It is day 2 and I've already had enough. This is untenable. I kindly explained to my mother today that Netflix was invented for a reason, and that if she could go and do this 'chilling' they speak of it would be much appreciated. She countered by explaining that 'owning me' (a misconception that I…

BylizzieMarch 28, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel

ASKHQ: STABLE DIMENSIONS

Q: What are the minimum recommended dimensions of a stable? A: Expecting horses to stay happy when cooped up for hours in a stable is quite an ask – especially if the space the horse is kept in is very small. The following dimensions are the minimum required for stabling, although larger stables are obviously preferable,…

BylizzieMarch 6, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: LEG UP

Q: Why do people say that it is best to mount from a mounting block rather than from the ground? A: Mounting from a mounting block is generally preferred by most riders and instructors as it places much less strain on a horse’s skeleton and muscles. Most horses in fact find riders mounting from the ground…

BylizzieMarch 2, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: WHAT IS AN UNDER RUG?

Q: What is an under-rug? A: Under-rugs (also called rug liners) are used to layer under rugs for additional warmth if required. They are often a more cost-effective way of providing warmth to your horse when required, as opposed to buying a very thick stable rug that you only use once or twice. They come in…

BylizzieFebruary 27, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: WALKING IT OFF

Q: What can you do for a colicking horse other than walk him around while you're waiting for the vet to arrive? We live in a remote area where a vet can't get to us quickly. Asked by Jackie K A: You can do the following for a colicking horse while waiting for the vet: Withhold access…

BylizzieFebruary 24, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

ASKHQ: BLIND SPOT

Q: Where is a horse's blind spot? Asked by Liza de Beer A: Horses have nearly 360-degree vision, with their only blind spots being directly in front of them and behind them. People are therefore generally encouraged to approach a horse from the side. It is also important not to directly touch a horse between his eyes…

BylizzieFebruary 23, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

ASKHQ: NIGHT VISION

Q: Can horses see in the dark? A: Horses can see better in low light than humans, but they can't see in the pitch dark. Horses have a membrane at the back of their eyes called the tapetum lucidum, which reflects light more efficiently than a human eye. This allows the horse to see better in…

BylizzieFebruary 20, 20200Comments

HQ Newsletter