 |
|
|
Using a chain - over the nose
Have you ever wondered about using a chain on a horse? A chain is usually used for leading purposes, when the horse you are leading tends to be a bit oblivious to you, or is quite fractious, like a stallion may be.
It is an extra measure of control, but like so many other training aids, it must be used properly and carefully. Chains are not meant for abuse or punishment. Take care not to yank hard on the chain, but you can tug gently if necessary. Try not to keep steady pressure on it, as the horse will soon become dull to the chain as well.
A chain is like using spurs when you ride - it is there as an extra aid should the horse ignore your lead shank and body language, not to be used all the time.
A chain can be used in several places, each having various reactions from the horse. The most common location is over the nose. Thread the chain through the near side (left) ring on the side of the noseband, wrap the chain over the nose, pull it through the noseband ring on the off side (right), and clip it to the off side throatlatch ring.
The over-the-nose method is the preferred method if you must use a chain in the show ring (but check with the rules first - 4-H for instance didn't used to allow chains). You can soften the action of the chain by wrapping it once around the noseband as you pass it over the nose. This results in the chain tightening up a bit around the noseband so not all the pressure is placed on the horse's nose.
Placing the chain over the nose (with or without the noseband wrap) give just a little bit more control over a horse that leans a bit on the halter, as the chain links make a bit more of an impression than the flat nylon or leather.
Remember to NEVER tie a horse with a chain on, it could do massive damage to its face if it were to pull back. As the chain tightens down on its nose, the reaction is usually to pull back harder, which can cause a real wreck. In the hands of an inexperienced handler, a chain can inflict a lot of pain and damage on a horse's sensitive facial structures.
A chain should only be used with guidance from someone familiar with the use of a chain, until you are comfortable with using it. If you feel you must have a chain on, try to limit its use to over the nose, preferably wrapping it on the noseband as described. Next week I'll cover three other methods of using a chain, which have specific uses.
If you have tips or questions on equipment care, purchases, fit, or anything else to do with equestrian equipment, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
If you are new to Northern B.C. Horse, check out all the previous issues on the Archive page.
Kristi is building a great knowledge base about horses, with the emphasis on our area of the world.
|
|
|
We update the Events Page every week - so be sure to check often.
|
| Northern B.C. Horse is brought to you courtesy of our advertisers including:
|
Thanks to our advertisers for making this all possible...
...for information about advertising, email jim@hiway16.com
|
|
|
|
|
Past articles are all available in the
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spring Vaccinations - beyond routine
Besides the routine vaccinations we covered last week, there are some others you may wish to consider for your horse.
Rabies can be contracted by your equine friend, if he is bitten by a rabid animal. We are fairly lucky in the hiway16.com area to not have much in the way of rabies cases, but it can occur in foxes, coyotes and wolves among other animals. Rabies can be vaccinated against, and if you know of rabies cases in your area, you'd be well advised to discuss the matter of vaccination with your local vet.
Potomac Horse Fever is a disease that centers around the Potomac River in Maryland, which seems awfully far from northern BC, but as horses are bought and sold across the continent, your horse may be exposed. Diseases such as this tend to spread as infected horses are moved before they begin to appear sick, spreading it as they go. Again, discuss the matter with your local vet, who is generally up to date on this type of disease - it is only recommended to vaccinate for PHF if you have reason to believe your horse will be exposed to it.
Strangles is another disease that can be vaccinated against. In the past, the strangles vaccine was administered by injection, and often as not, the horse got as sick from the vaccine as he would have from the disease - hardly practical!
Nowadays, there is a nasal vaccine, just a spray up the nose to protect your horse. The micro-organism responsible for strangles gets into the wood fences and the soil of the fields or pens, and can reinfect new horses every year - some farms (especially large breeding farms) have annual outbreaks.
Strangles most often hits young horses, between the ages of 6 months and 5 years, but once a horse has had it, it is unlikely he will contract it again. Your best bet, in any case, is to talk to your local veterinarian, and set up a vaccination program that works specifically for your horse(s), taking into consideration age, uses (breeding, showing, etc), and exposure.
If you have tips or questions you'd like to share with other local equestrians, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Breathing
Well, I've been so busy riding Raime 4 days a week that I haven't been doing much with the colts or filly at all! So much as I'd like to start a series on starting the colts, I guess maybe I'll borrow from some of my recent riding lessons for this week's column.
Something that is downplayed by many riders is the importance of breathing. Anyone who is an athlete in more physical sports, or who is into dance, will recognize the significance of correct breathing in how they perform.
Correct breathing allows your body to function better by keeping oxygen-rich blood flowing to your cells, both muscles and brains, which are being used constantly as you ride!
Rhythmical breathing that comes from deep down, instead of just the top part of your lungs, is going to help relax you as well as help your body keep oxygenated. The other main role breathing plays in riding is also to do with rhythm.
As I've mentioned in the last couple of editorials, we're working on using breathing to help control the rhythm. Try riding your horse one day and at the trot or canter count the strides while breathing to match it. In the trot, we based it on 4 (while posting it's 1-up-3-up), as the trot is a two beat gait. A two-count is too short to breath to, so we made it a four-count. At the canter, it's a one-two-three count.
As you do each set of counting, first breath in, then breath out. So, a trot would be 'in-2-3-4, out-2-3-4', and a canter or lope would be 'in-2-3, out-2-3'. This is a LOT harder than it sounds! I constantly find myself counting away with the horse, but breathing totally differently!
You may be asking yourself why breathing in tune with your horse's strides matter, but think about this a little further. As you exhale, you sink a little deeper into the saddle, easing tension, which allows you to get closer to your horse's movement. As you inhale during the count, you are staying with the strides. The result of this is that you ride deeper in the saddle, more relaxed, and more WITH the horse, instead of holding your breath or bracing against his motion.
Breathing affects so much that we do, but because it comes naturally, we seldom stop to think about HOW we are breathing. Maybe the next time you ride, you should try this exercise - as I said, it's harder than it looks!
If you have tips or questions you'd like to share with other local equestrians, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
|
|
Western, English, Penning or Trail riding, all equine sports have a voice on Northern B.C. Horse
|
|
