Basic Horsemanship Skills (pg 19-30)

Basic Horsemanship Skills (pg 19-30)

Learning Objectives:

I CAN understand a horse's body language.

I KNOW how to properly approach and catch a horse.

I CAN safely handle a horse.

I CAN identify basic tack and parts of tack.

Good Horsemanship Requires Horse Sense

• Having "horse sense" means that you can "think like a horse"

• This takes lots of time and patience

• Pay close attention to how your horse responds to your movements and signals

• Watch your horse's ears!

• Using the images in your book, identify the images on the next slides using your "horse sense"

1. Relaxed, 2. Irritated, 3. Listening to rider, 4. Alert

Multiple Choice

What do these horse's ears indicate?

• the horse is relaxed or tired

• the horse is irritated and showing aggression

• the horse is focused back on their rider

• this horse is splitting their attention between different objects

Multiple Choice

What do these horse's ears indicate?

• the horse is relaxed or tired

• the horse is irritated and showing aggression

• the horse is focused back on their rider

• this horse is splitting their attention between different objects

Multiple Choice

What do these horse's ears indicate?

• the horse is relaxed or tired

• the horse is irritated and showing aggression

• the horse is focused back on their rider

• this horse is splitting their attention between different objects

Multiple Choice

What do these horse's ears indicate?

• the horse is relaxed or tired

• the horse is irritated and showing aggression

• the horse is focused back on their rider

• this horse is splitting their attention between different objects

Approaching and Catching Your Horse

• Approach your horse quietly

• Be aware of the horse's blind spots - directly in front, directly behind, below their neck, and directly above their back

• When haltering, first put a lead rope around the horse's neck, then put halter on.

Rules for Safe Handling

• Slow and steady

• Always be prepared

• Safety first - tie with a quick release knot, never tie with a bridle

• What goes back, usually comes forward - careful going UNDER a horse's neck

• Stay out of reach - when walking behind a horse, either move very close to hip or move completely beyond the reach of hind feet

• Creatures of habit - have regular routines for catching, grooming, and exercising your horse, correct the horse immediately if he threatens or actually bites, kicks, or paws

• A small vice today becomes a dangerous habit tomorrow!

Multiple Choice

True or False: When approaching a horse, you should always approach from the rear.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False: You can tie your horse with a halter or a bridle.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False: When going behind a horse, either move very close to the horse's hip or move completely beyond the reach of the horse's hind feet.

• True

• False

Horse Tack

There are many different pieces of equipment from saddles, bridles, harnesses, boots, blankets, pads, etc. Different riding disciplines require different tack. The following slides will go over some examples of tack your might use.

Look at the image: to measure an english saddle, you measure from the nail head to the center of the cantle

Western Tack

English Tack

Multiple Choice

What type of saddle is depicted here? This could get used in hunter under saddle and jumping classes.

• hunt seat saddle

• dressage saddle

• western work saddle

• reining saddle

Multiple Choice

What type of saddle is depicted here? This could get used in ranch type classes at a show or be used for everyday riding.

• hunt seat saddle

• dressage saddle

• western work saddle

• reining saddle

Multiple Choice

What type of saddle is depicted here? The leg flap goes almost straight down from the front of the saddle.

• hunt seat saddle

• dressage saddle

• western work saddle

• reining saddle

Multiple Choice

What type of tack is pictured? Note that there is no cavesson (noseband) on it.

• english bridle

• western bridle

Multiple Choice

What type of tack is pictured? Note that there is no cavesson (noseband) on it.

• english bridle

• western bridle

Multiple Choice

What type of tack is pictured?

• english bridle

• western bridle

Harnesses

• There are 2 types of harnesses - heavy harness and light harness

• Heavy harness is like what is depicted in the image and is typically used with big draft horses

• Light harness will not have the HAMES which are the big red and black things on the horse's neck in the picture

Multiple Choice

Is the image showing a light harness or a heavy harness?

• light harness

• heavy harness

Multiple Choice

Is the image showing a light harness or a heavy harness? Note there are no big HAMES on the neck.

• light harness

• heavy harness

Open Ended

Look at the image on page 23. List 8 parts of a western saddle.

Open Ended

Look at the image on page 24. List 8 parts of an english saddle.

Open Ended

Look at the images on page 26. List 5 different items that could be found on a western bridle.