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Students
can learn many important riding skills through demonstrations
done off the horse. To teach students the important of keeping
their leg underneath them with their heels down, try this
simple exercise before you mount up. Have students stand in
the same position in which they would ride, with their feet
slightly wider than shoulder width, knees bent, back flat
and eyes forward. Ask them to find a comfortable balance and
then to lift their heels and put their weight on the balls
of the feet. Notice that balance becomes precarious as tension
shoots up the leg. Now have them go back to being weighted
in the heel and see how much easier it is. Also from this
position, have them open their pelvis by sucking in at the
belly button and flattening the lower back and they should
be able to feel the weight sink even farther into their heels.
Conversely, if they arch their back, weight goes to the balls
of the feet and the precarious balance comes back. These exercises
demonstrate the importance of proper leg position, weight
in the heels and an open pelvis.
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Hang
a bucket of fresh clean water right outside the tack room
for a drool bucket. As you put away bridles, dunk them in
the bucket to clean the bits. You can even keep a scrub brush
nearby for those particularly messy bits. Add a few drops
of bleach for disinfectant if needed and be sure to clean
the bucket and change the water daily. This keeps bits clean
and keeps food particles from drying on the bit.
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Birdbath
heaters make great tank heaters for small water tanks and
buckets. Available at almost any hardware store, for not too
much money, these little heaters plug in and sit in the bottom
of a bucket or small tank and keep ice from forming. They
automatically shut off when not submersed in water and the
cord is protected by a wire covering, so they are safe units
to have around.
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Disengagement
is a fancy term bandied about a lot these days, but it has
a very simple meaning. It refers to the crossing of the hind
legs of the horse and since the horse's hind-end is its motor,
when the hind legs are crossed, the horse is disengaged. Disengagement
of the hindquarters can only happen when the horse crosses
a hind leg in front of the other and the horse must have some
forward impulsion to properly cross over. With no forward
impulsion, he will cross behind or not cross at all. Disengagement
causes submissiveness in the horse because his flight response
is taken away.
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