Click here for order formBits, Saddle Fitting and Hoof Balance
Bits are designed to create discomfort in the hope the horse, to avoid the discomfort, will respond in particular way—a response which satisfies the rider. There is no other way to explain how a bit works. All the fancy names for bits, all the claims for gentle, kind bits cannot change the facts. So the key is in choosing a bit which is most comfortable for your horse, and knowing how to use the bit. One of the most surprising things students will learn is that there are only two kinds of bits—snaffles and curbs.
It would be hard to over-emphasize the importance of the correct fit and placement of saddles. Horses suffer sore and injured backs more frequently due to saddles that rub or apply uneven pressure than for any other reason; this lesson teaches the student how to determine proper saddle fit for any discipline.
The shoeing of a horse is a necessity born from our horse management practices and modern life. The goal is to balance the horse’s hoof in relationship to his conformation, and to protect the hoof from damage. Students will learn how to measure the hoof, determine hoof balance and select the shoe and the shoe placement which is of most benefit to the horse. Various horse shoes and their uses are explained. Shoeing horses in an attempt to overcome lameness and hoof damage are discussed.
- I. Types of bits
- A. Snaffle
- B. Curb
- II. Types of mouthpieces
- A. Jointed
- B. Ports
- C. Rollers
- III. Saddle Fitting
- A. Determine proper placement
- B. Check for correct fit
- C. Types of pads and blankets
- IV. Overall hoof balance
- A. Medial/lateral
- B. Dorsal/palmar
- C. Hoof balance chart
- VI. Hoof conditions
- VII. Shoe placement
- VIII. Wedges and pads
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Click here for order formNutrition for Maximum Performance
This course teaches the fundamentals of equine nutrition. Students will learn the physiology of the equine digestive system, nutrients available in different feeds, and how to apply that knowledge.
Horse nutrition is both an art and a science. Upon completing the course the student will have the basic knowledge needed to properly feed performance horses, helping them reach their potential. Experience and observation will then be supported by a solid scientific foundation of equine nutrition.
- I. Understanding the Equine Digestive System
- II. The Six Nutrients
- A. Water
- B. Protein
- C. Carbohydrates
- D. Fat
- E. Minerals
- F. Vitamins
- III. Forages
- A. Types of Plants
- B. Pasture
- C. Hay
- E. Forage Substitutes
- IV. Grains and Concentrates
- A. Cereal Grains
- B. Concentrates
- V. Supplements and Nutraceuticals
- VI. Know the Numbers
- VII. Feeding the Future Performance Horse
- A. Broodmare Requirements
- B. Stallion Requirements
- C. Nursing Foals
- D. Weanlings
- E. Growing Horses
- VIII. Feeding the Performance Horse
- A. Halter
- B. Racing
- C. Endurance
- E. Pleasure
- IX. Feeding the “Special Needs” Horse
- A. HYPP
- B. EPM
- C. Laminitis Prone
- X. Feeding the Retired Performance Horse
Click here for order form
Click here for order formConformation and Selection for Performance
“Good conformation” by most breed standards is conformation as it relates to efficiency of movement. However, that is not always what we want in our performance horses. Sometimes we want a horse to trot well with long low sweeping strides, sometimes we want low, slow knees, sometimes we want hindquarters built for speed and power from a standstill.
This course examines conformation as the form relates to the desired function and discusses the conformations desirable for specific events. Students are advised to view horses from many points of view, evaluating each part of the horse in terms of ability to provide the strength and agility necessary to win at different competitions.
- I. Viewing the horse for evaluation
- A. Front view
- B. Side view
- C. Hindquarters view
- II. Evaluating head
- A. Airways
- B. Vision
- C. Intelligence
- III. Evaluating the forehand
- A. Neck and shoulder
- B. Front legs
- C. Heart girth
- D. Back
- IV. Evaluating the body
- A. Top line
- B. Rib cagev
- C. Underline
- D. Loin
- V. Evaluating the hindquarters
- A. Croup and hips
- B. Hind legs
- C. Viewing the spinal column
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Click here for order formTraining Performance Horses
This course begins with the design of a nutritional program, health monitoring and physical conditioning, as well as, special shoeing requirements for performance horses. Students learn lungeing techniques, introduction of equipment, and preparation for the first ride. Once the horse is under saddle, the student guides the horse step-by-step through basic exercises from mastering stops, backing, two-tracking, side passes, pivots, spins, leads and the flying change of leads. Detailed instruction assures the student understands and can effectively apply weight, leg and rein cues.
- I. Conformation as it Relates to Performance Expected
- A. Develop nutritional program for selected performance.
- B. Establish basic health care plan for work expected.
- C. Outline shoeing requirements for the work to be done.
- II. Halter Training, Ground Manners and Lungeing
- A. Teaching the horse to move forward and in proper position.
- B. Demonstrate control over horses during basic ground exercises and
while on the lunge line.
- III. Equipment: Bits and Saddles
- A. Choice of saddles for the specific performances.
- B. Bit selection for effective communication.
- IV. Preparing for the First Ride
- A. Preparing the horse to accept equipment.
- B. Mounting the untrained horse.
- C. Establishing the first riding controls.
- V. The First 10 Rides
- A. Getting the nose in the direction of travel.
- B. Establishing the “stop.”
- C. Getting the horse to “give” and “respond.”
- VI. Performance Horse Stops
- A. English riding requirements.
- B. Western riding requirements.
- VII. Gaits and Transitions
- A. Footfall sequences of walk, trot, canter.
- B. The half-halt applications.
- C. Backing the horse correctly.
- VIII. Lateral Work Body Position
- A. Leg-yielding.
- B. Shoulder-in, haunches-in, haunches-out.
- C. Two-tracking and side passing.
- IX. Body Control for Advanced Exercises
- A. Pivots and spins.
- B. Rollbacks and direction changes.
- C. Flying change of leads.
You will be asked to produce a video showing you performing the exercises on your horse which have been described within the lessons and which you have mastered. You cannot receive a final grade for this course until the video has been submitted and your training work approved.
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Click here for order form Behavior Modification Techniques
If you are in the presence of a horse, you are a horse trainer—good or bad. Whether you know it or not, you are constantly influencing the behavior of the horses around you. You are reinforcing their behavior which means that you are either encouraging or discouraging behaviors to occur again. This course will help you understand what you can do to change horse behavior and how to do it.
Our goal as trainers and behaviorists is to understand horses and to learn how to train horses using behavior modification techniques powered by a positive reward system. This system is built on the basic principles of operant conditioning. Understand the basic rules which control the behavior of all living things and you will be well on your way to becoming a good horse trainer. Students may be required to provide video (VHS or DVD) of situations with horses....and may be assigned individual projects by the instructor.
Course Outline:
Every Action Causes a Reaction
The Reinforcers
The Conditioned Reinforcers
Eliminating Undesirable Behavior
Immediacy
Reinforcement Schedules
Shaping
Stimulus Control
Flooding versus Desensitization
Learned Helplessness
Respect
Consistency
Limited Distrations
Quit On A Good Note
Pick the Right Horse To Train
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Click here for order formStable Management
This course is designed to provide the student with the skills needed to properly care for horses in a training, boarding or breeding facility.
Starting with the basics of proper housing necessary for a horse’s health, the student will learn to observe all the conditions which affect the horse, from proper ventilation to facilities to equipment choice and maintenance. Determining the horse’s vital signs begins the daily routine which includes clipping techniques, mane and tail care, leg care with massage and wraps, sheath cleaning and mare care, proper use of blankets, sheets and turn our precautions.
Students will learn the use of different restraints, how to give intermuscular injections and oral medications. Alternative healing therapies will be examined.
- I. Being Aware and Making Observations
- A.Horse Housing
- B.Water Supply
- C.Feeding
- D.Bedding
- E.Cleaning
- Handling, Turnouts and Equipment
- A.Halters
- B.Ropes and Snaps
- C.Leading a Horse
- D.Picking up Feet
- II.Health of Horses in Your Care
- A.Permanent Health Chart
- B.Vital Signs
- C.Gut Sounds
- III. Restrains and Control
- A.Tying a "Quick Release"
- B.Leading Restraints
- C.Planned Restraints
- D.Chutes and Wash Racks
- E.Twitches and Hobbles
- IV. Coat Condition and Clipping
- A.Good Clipper Care
- B.Dos and Don'ts
- C.Types of Clips
- D.Things to Consider
- V. Care of Manes and Tails
- A.Shortening the Mane
- B.Banding Manes
- C.Braiding Manes
- D.Braiding and Banging
- E.Tail Wraps and Knots
- F.Forelocks
- VI. Bandages and Wraps
- A.Shipping Wraps
- B.Wound Bandages
- C.Exercise Wraps
- D.Other Protective Equipment
- E.Standing Bandages
- F.Sweats and Poultices
- VII. Attention to Details
- A.Checking for Injuries
- B.The Medicine Chest
- C.Deworming
- D.Vaccinations
- E.Alternative Therapies
- VIII Emergencies and First Aid
- A. What is it? An emergency or just in need of first aid?
- B. Wounds
- 1. Profuse Bleeding
- 2. Needs Loving Care
- C. Can't Breathe
- 1. Choke
- 2. Poisons
- D. Fractures
- E. Colic
- F. Tying-up
- G. Sudden Lameness
- H. Eyes
- I. The Medicine Chest
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Click here for order form The Business of Making Money With Horses
This course establishes basic business principles, then explains the facets of the horse industry and shows students how to find the ‘potential’ for profits within the various markets. The course surveys pinhooking, claiming, training, resales, and breeding operations. In addition to highlighting the areas for profit opportunity, the course solidly grounds the student with good bookkeeping practices.
- I. What is the business of horses?
- A. Competition for profit, selling horses or providing services
- B. What is it you ‘love’ to do?
- C. Finding your niche
- D. Determining your potential
- E. Financing your business
- F. Establishing your business
- II. Potential is what sells horses.
- A. Learning what the market demands
- B. How to find ‘potential’ in a horse
- C. Developing a catalog sales sheet
- III. Pinhooking weanlings and yearlings.
- A. Advantages of pinhooking
- B. Looking for big returns on investment
- C. Rules and guides for success
- IV. Training young horses for competition and resale.
- A. Three ways to make a profit
- B. Avoid testing the horse’s abilities
- V. Claiming can return rapid rewards.
- A. Twenty-five percent produce profits
- B. Put them where they can win
- C. Easy entry, easy exit
- VI. Broodmares are risky business.
- A. Avoid the conventional approach
- B. Breed for profits, not genetics
- VII. Stallions require Syndication
- A. Too many stallions, too little money
- B. Syndication finances business
- C. More partners mean more salesmen
- D. Guidelines for limited partnerships
- VII. Trainers are in a special position.
- A. Look good, feel good business
- B. Opportunities abound
- C. Increasing profit margins
- IX. Business has tax advantages.
- A. IRS becomes your partner
- B. Invest in horses, not ‘shelters.’
- X. Simple bookkeeping system.
- A. Your records must be perfect
- B. Keeping things simple and clear
- C. A guide to maintain profit picture
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Click here for order formEquine Health and Disease Management
Equine Health and Disease Management is an informative course offered to the equine science student as a college level course that follows the guidelines set up to correspond to college level credit for an Equine Science curriculum at any major university. This is also an extremely helpful course for anyone wishing to learn more about disease processes and health management of their own horses.
Equine Health and Disease Management is a 12-lesson course that introduces the student to diseases and lameness associated with the musculoskeletal system, as well as diseases of the respiratory, digestive, neurological, reproductive, and other major organ systems of the horse. After successful completion of this course the student will find themselves to be much more knowledgeable and proficient at recognizing and managing some of the major health problems associated with the horse. The emphasis of this course will be on preventive maintenance and necessary managerial practices needed to keep the equine athlete, broodmare or family horse in good health.
- I. Common Lameness and Disease Conditions of the Front Limb
- A. Shoulder Lameness
- B. Forearm Lameness
- C. Knee Lameness
- E. Cannon and Splint Bone Problems
- F. Fetlock and Pastern Problems
- II. Therapies and Treatment Modalities for Lameness
- A. Cold and Heat Therapy
- B. Topical Anti-inflammatory Medications and their Use.
- C. Various Technological Anti-inflammatory Modes of Treatment
- D. Prescription Anti- inflammatory Medications
- E. Nutraceuticals – Natural Healing Products.
- III. Common Hoof Disorders
- A. Sole bruising and Abscesses
- B. Corns
- C. Sand Cracks
- D. Navicular Syndrome
- E. Laminitis (Founder)
- IV. Common Lameness and Disease Conditions of the Hind Limb
- A. Upper Hind Limb Disorders
- B. Disorders of the Stifle
- C. Spavin and Other Disorders of the Hock
- D. Lower Hind Limb Problems
- V. Detecting Illness and Emergency conditions of the Horse
- A. Recognizing An Emergency
- B. Vital Signs of the Horse
- C. When to Call the Veterinarian
- D. Administering Intravenous and Intramuscular Injections
- E. Barn First Aid Kit
- VI. Important Contagious Diseases; Description, Treatment, and Prevention
- A. Common Upper Respiratory Disease; Their Prevention and Treatment
- B. Other Diseases Commonly Vaccinated For in the Horse
- C. Equine Vaccines and Vaccination Schedules
- VII. The Equine Digestive System and Colic
- A. Choke
- B. The Extensive Subject of Colic in the Horse
- C. Internal Parasites; Their Prevention and Treatment
- VIII. Diseases of the Reproductive System of the Stallion and Mare
- A. Mare Infertility
- B. Broodmare Management
- C. Stallion Infertility
- D. Stallion Management
- E. Artificial Insemination
- F. Embryo Transfer
- G. Normal Breeding Behavioral Parameters
- IX. Foal Diseases and Health Management
- A. Neonatal Management
- B. Common Neonatal Diseases
- C. Problems Associated with the Immediate Post-Natal Period
- D. Care of the Orphan Foal
- E. The First Six Months
- F. Weaning
- X. Miscellaneous Conditions of the Eye and Other Special Anatomical Areas
- A. Common Eye Disorders
- B. Physical Problems of the Spine and Back
- C. Conditions Involving the Muscles of the Horse
- XI. Common Skin Disorders of the Horse
- A. External Parasites
- B. Skin Diseases
- C. Skin Tumors and Proud Flesh
- D. Equine Wound Healing Products
- XII. Administration of Medication to the Horse
- A. Oral Medication
- 1. Stomach Tube
- 2. Balling Gun
- 3. Feed Additives
- 4. Pastes and Gel
- B. Parenteral Administration
- 1. Intramuscular
- 2. Intravenous
- 3. Intravenous Catheters
- 4. Intra-articular
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Click here for order formLegal Aspects of Horse Management
Legal Aspects of Horse Management (LAHM) is designed to provide the equine professional with a base of practical legal knowledge.
In the first lesson, students learn practical tips for preventing and limiting equine-related liability, including detailed information on what makes a liability release enforceable and how to create good safety practices for your facility. LAHM students also learn to navigate the maze of equine insurance options, determine the coverage needed and comparison shop for it.
Students will learn what they can do if clients don’t pay, including enforcing stableman’s liens and small claims court judgments, and what to do if clients abandon horses on their property. LAHM covers contracts in detail, including the key elements of common contracts for the equine professional. Finally, LAHM teaches students what to do if they are sued, as well as how to obtain quality legal advice and manage legal expenses.
- I. What creates liability for equine professionals?
- A. Willful misconduct and negligence
- B. Legal duties of equine professionals
- C. Common situations where equine professionals are found liable
- II. Preventing and limiting liability
- A. Making your facility safer
- B. Creating and enforcing good rules and procedures
- C. Why “horse traders” have developed a bad reputation
- D. Training your employees
- E. Incorporating your business
- F. Equine activity statutes
- G. Liability releases
- III. Insuring against liability
- A. Types of insurance designed for equine professionals
- B. Shopping for equine insurance
- C. Comparing different policies and coverage
- IV. When clients don’t pay
- A. Resolving disputes over amounts owed
- B. When you have a lien and how to enforce it
- C. When horses and property are abandoned
- V. Using contracts to enhance your business
- A. Elements of a contract
- B. Common types of contracts for equine professionals
- C. How contracts can help you get paid
- D. Types of contracts you shouldn’t sign
- VI. When and how to hire legal help
- VII. Creating your form contracts
- VIII. What to do when you are sued or threatened
- IX. Problems that are not legal problems
- X. Shopping for a lawyer
- A. Building a good relationship with your lawyer
- B. Keeping your legal fees reasonable
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Click here for order formPreparation for Competition
This course takes the student and the horse from six months prior to a horse show, right up to the finishing touches before entering the arena. Health care and nutrition for competition are examined, with the student designing health charts for accurate records.
Techniques in grooming are covered, as well as putting together a grooming kit and a first aid kit for showing. Correct clipping and blanketing are explained.
The student learns about mental preparation for horse and rider. Being prepared is the key to success in the show arena, and when this course is completed, the student will be ready to win!
- I. Six months from competition
- A. Health care
- B. Dentistry
- C. Shoeing
- D. Feeding
- E. Keeping records
- F. Lights
- II. Four months from competition
- A. Blanketing
- B. Grooming
- C. Tail care
- D. Training
- III. Three months from competition
- A. Clipping
- B. Clothes
- IV. One month from competition
- A. Entry forms
- B. Travel out of state
- C. Stocking the trailer
- D. Grooming kit
- E. First aid kit
- F. Tack room
- V. One week from competition
- A. Training the horse
- B. Clipping
- C. Mane and tail preparation
- VI. Two days from competition
- A. Working the horse
- B. Show arrival
- C. Bathing
- D. Banding and braiding
- VII. The day of competition
- A. Mental preparation
- B. Warm up
- C. Last grooming tips