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A
good reminder for instructors, as we approach the busy teaching
season, comes directly from the newly released CHA Instructor's
Manual. People learn in three different ways: auditory, visual,
and kinesthetic. The auditory learner will benefit most from
the explanations that accompany any effective lesson, while
the visual learner will learn more from the demonstration.
A kinesthetic learner will learn best from actually practicing
the motor skills. All of us learn in all three ways, but typically
individuals will favor one method over the other two. For
this reason, it is important to make sure all of your lessons
present information in all three ways. Remember, that for
a visual learner, a poor demonstration may leave a lasting
impression of the wrong thing. For this reason, it important
for the demonstration to be very good and you should avoid
demonstrating the wrong thing or how not to do something.
(The new Instructor's Manual is now available by calling the
CHA office; it is a valuable tool for instructors and trail
guides).
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A
bit frequently seen in tack rooms everywhere is the "Tom
Thumb snaffle" or western snaffle. This is a shanked
bit with a jointed mouthpiece. This bit is commonly misunderstood
and believed to be a very mild bit, because of its jointed
mouthpiece. In fact, the bit can be quite harsh since the
jointed mouthpiece allows the bit to squeeze the chin of the
horse, an action referred to as the "nutcracker effect."
Additionally, when the shanks come together from a pull on
both reins, the jointed part pushes up into the roof of the
horse's mouth, which is a highly sensitive area. This bit
is definitely a leverage bit and is not a direct pressure
bit like a snaffle. Horses using this bit will frequently
open their mouth to try and escape the pressure. The bit definitely
has its use, but if it is a mild bit you are looking for,
this isn't it.
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Funguses
and skin disorders are common problems in the summer, especially
when the same grooming equipment is used for a large herd.
Brushes and grooming tools should be disinfected regularly
through out the season. Place the brushes in a five-gallon
bucket and soak in a mix of bleach, detergent and water. Allow
the brushes to soak for at least an hour, rinse VERY thoroughly
(to avoid skin irritation caused by the bleach and detergent)
and allow the brushes to dry in the sun. Disinfect brushes
and grooming tools every time a horse shows signs of a skin
disorder or on a routine basis, weekly or monthly. Whenever
a horse shows signs of a skin disorder, be sure to disinfect
and isolate his brushes and tack, so that it does not come
in contact with any other horses.
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Stride
Vs. Step: a stride refers to one complete cycle of all four
feet during the gait. For instance, the canter (or lope) is
a three beat gait and one stride of the canter includes all
three beats (the outside hind, then the inside hind and outside
fore as a diagonal pair, then finally the inside fore). A
step is the action of one beat during the stride. So one step
in the canter stride would be when the leading fore leg moves
forward as the final beat of the canter stride.
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