Training
horses with
Robert Booth BHSI
Equine trainer
Rodgebrook Horses
Tel: 01983 521870
rodgebrookhorses.co.uk
Robert Booth
Congratulations Melissa
W
ell done to Melissa Pinfield-Wells for getting a work
placement at Catherston Stud. Melissa has kept her
horse Bernard with us for several years and has had
him from a four-year-old. She had regular lessons and
help with him and is now working up to medium level dressage,
and jumping Newcomers courses at home, competing occasionally
when she can due to work and travelling arrangements.
She has been working at the BHS stages in her spare time and
passed her stage Two in October. I spent several years training
and working at Catherston Stud, and what a great place to gain
experience. Although Catherston is mainly associated with dressage
there is a wide range of horse management from breeding,
jumping, eventing ,veterinary, stable management and horse care,
all of which is hands-on with experienced trainers.
There are many ways nowadays to gain qualifications in the horse
world, the most recognised and respected are the British Horse
Society exams. These are progressive and require a knowledge of all
aspects of horse care, riding and training abilities. Melissa will have a
great chance to ride and work with all sorts of horses and train with
experienced trainers in a practical working environment. I wish her
good luck and hope she takes full advantage of this opportunity she
has been given and keeps up the good work she has achieved so far.
Tips!
Useful tips
on training
your horse
Stop nagginstgto :
I
g their legs ju
often see riders usin
grinding to a halt
stop the horse from
.
under his own steam
and not keep going
what you require, if
Give a clear aid for
t
then the aid must ge
he doesn’t respond
e
rse reacts in a positiv
stronger until the ho
way.
it
sponded stop doing
Once a horse has re
he
so that he can realise
has done the right
thing.
If you keep
pushing him
along or kicking
him when he
is ignoring you,
you underline the
disobedience.
Expert's tip!
Simon Legge - Farrier
Tel: 07968 485154
In spring something farriers have to deal with all too
often is the dreaded laminitis. A word which strikes fear
into owners of 'portly' native breeds, who are particularly
prone to it, but should be at the forefront of all horse
owners' minds.
In the wild, ponies and horses would tend to be
underweight at this time of year, having come out of the
winter, and using up the fat stores they've built up over the
summer months. Unfortunately, domesticated animals
often get to this time of year in a 'well' condition.
With the wet weather we've had, this year is likely to be
a bad one for laminitis. At risk ponies and horses should
be monitored for obesity. Restricted grazing, soaked hay
and grazing muzzles are all options to assist in weight
maintenance. Regular farrier visits will highlight any early
warning signs, but as always, prevention is better than cure.