A SPOTLIGHT ON STALLIONS

Understanding their characteristics, behaviours and needs Stallions possess distinct characteristics, behaviours, and roles that distinguish them from mares and geldings. Here, we explore what makes a stallion a stallion, delving into his biological attributes and temperament and looking at effective strategies for managing and training these magnificent animals. What sets a stallion apart The primary characteristic…

BylizzieOctober 17, 20250Comments

Ask HQ

ASKHQ: ARENA SOUR

Q: My horse gets really stressed whenever I work him in the arena. Do I push through it, or is there a way to help him relax? A: Working in the arena is the most physically difficult thing a lot of horses do, so it is not unusual for them to take a dislike to…

BylizzieJuly 30, 20250Comments

ASKHQ: WEIGHT CARRYING CAPACITY

Q: What is the maximum weight a horse should carry? Asked by Bernadette Marx A: This is a difficult question. Horses can carry between 12 and 20% of their body weight, but body weight is not the only factor that decides if a horse can reasonably be expected to carry the weight. You have to look at…

BylizzieMay 6, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

ASKHQ: DIFFERENT SURFACES

Q: What are the benefits of working on different surfaces? Answered by Jan Tucker A: Soundness is a key issue for all equine athletes, and the trainer's ability to keep the horse in peak condition while working at the required level depends on a complex interaction between horse and environment. The surfaces a horse trains and competes…

BylizzieApril 15, 20200Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Training

ASKHQ: LOWER LEG SWING

Q: What does swing in the rider's lower leg come from? A: Swing in the lower leg comes from a knee that grips, so the first thing you need to do is to stop gripping with your knee (easier said than done, we know)!! Your lower leg needs to hug (not grip!) your horse, but your…

BylizzieOctober 26, 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

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Health

MYTH BUSTING: HOOF STRENGTH

Many people still believe that white feet are softer and of poorer quality than black feet. However, scientific studies have proved that this is not the case. White feet have exactly the same structure and strength as their black counterparts, with the only difference between the two being in terms of their pigmentation. Therefore both…

BylizzieSeptember 19, 20190Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training Know How

MUSCLE UP: CONDITIONING YOUR HORSE

Conditioning muscles, as with most other work with horses, therefore, relies on a consistent, progressive programme [dropcap]M[/dropcap]uscle is the most adaptive tissue in the body in that it can grow and develop with training and degenerate and become weaker during periods of inactivity. Trained muscle is more efficient because: It has an increased number in the…

BylizzieMarch 12, 20180Comments

Horse Channel Know How

Sport psychology for the equestrian

Are you tough enough to cope with the demands of the equestrian sport? [dropcap]S[/dropcap]port psychology, or mental toughness if you prefer, applies to both amateur and professional equestrians. Sport psychology began as early as 1898 when research showed that cyclists performed better when they rode as a group rather than as individuals. In the 1960s, sport…

BylizzieSeptember 12, 20160Comments

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