MINDSET COACHING – BUILDING THE RIDER’S COMPETITIVE EDGE

Text: Lara Ellwood Horses have given us some of life’s most joyful moments—freedom, partnership, connection, and the friendships forged along the way. But for many riders, those highs can be tempered by the creeping nerves that come before a class, in the warm-up arena, or even while thinking about the next show. These overwhelming emotions can…

BylizzieJuly 21, 20250Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

FIBRE CAN CHANGE ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR

Stereotypic behaviours are actions that are repeated without any apparent or obvious purpose or function. These behaviours involve a need-related drive that develops if an environment has inadequate opportunities for satisfying the need the horse is trying to fill. Once established, these behaviours may become a need in and of themselves, and the animal repeats…

BylizzieJanuary 31, 20250Comments

Horse Channel News Updates

MAKING SURE YOU’RE COMPETITION READY

In just three simple steps… Text: Amelia Campbell-Horne After a few weeks of feasting and festivities, we are back to reality and ready to jump right into the 2024 competition season. If this isn't your first rodeo, then hopefully, you have set aside some funds for your annual subscriptions so you won't get too anxious as…

BylizzieJanuary 6, 20240Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

MENTAL HEALTH AND SPORT – LESSONS FROM SIMONE BILES

On the 27th of July 2021, Simone Biles sent shockwaves through the sporting world, announcing that she would not be competing in the artistic gymnastics women’s team final. Battling with her mental health, Simone cited the sheer pressure put on her as one of the reasons she withdrew from the competition. Almost instantaneously, and before…

BylizzieMay 19, 20230Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PERFORMANCE, PART 2: GOAL SETTING

If you want to excel at anything, you have to learn how to manage your thoughts and feelings, both the good and the bad. Excellence is not normal or natural, and cultivating excellence in anything requires hard work and sacrifice. Physical talent is not irrelevant, but it is less important than self-discipline and mental strength.…

BylizzieFebruary 26, 20210Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training Know How

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PERFORMANCE, PART 1: DELIBERATE PRACTICE

“I don’t want riders who work physically hard. Work by thinking.” – Nuno Oliveira If you want to excel at anything, you have to learn how to manage your thoughts and feelings, both the good and the bad. Excellence is not normal or natural, and cultivating excellence in anything requires hard work and sacrifice. This…

BylizzieFebruary 24, 20210Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

TROUBLESHOOTING: BONE SPAVIN

My horse has been diagnosed with bone spavin. I’m concerned that this is the end of our competitive career and she is only nine. Answered by Sarah Wanless Bone spavin is a scary term for anybody in the horsey world, and many associate it with having to put their beloved competition horse out to pasture. The good…

BylizzieApril 23, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Breed Horse Channel Horse Health

THE MAJESTIC KNABSTRUPPER

Dr Marna Smith, an animal scientist specialising in genetics and the owner of The Majestic Knabstrupper Stud, is obsessed with breeding the ‘perfect’ coloured sport horse. Marna imported South Africa’s first KNN-approved Knabstruppers from Denmark in 2011. Because Marna strongly believes in genetic diversity, she bought a young, baroque-type colt to fit two sport horse-type…

BylizzieFebruary 7, 20200Comments

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 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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