Braiding and banding can be done in a way that has both a professional quality as well as appearance. Following are some ideas that have helped me in my struggle over the years to braid and band with some success.

By Lindsay Grice - Moving from direct reining in a snaffle bit to neck reining in a curb is like teaching your horse a new language and it takes time. Like every child graduates from elementary to high school, neck reining is the next step in a Western horse’s education. By the time your horse is six, he must be ridden with one hand and a curb bit at the breed shows.

By Lindsay Grice - I approach training on the basis of behavioural science which can help explain how horses think and learn. We’ll never know what it’s like to be a horse, but there is a wealth of evidence pointing to the way horses are wired...and they’re not wired like humans!

By Lindsay Grice - We always need to look to a physical cause first as the key to any issue, with the realization that a horse with a good education and a relationship of respect and trust with the rider will push through the pain barrier. There is never an excuse for bucking.

By Lindsay Grice - In my program, I lay a solid foundation of understanding and build upon it like a flight of stairs by challenging the rider or horse with a new skill as they master the previous step. This process may not appeal to the thrill seeker, but it preserves the sanity of their equine partner, and mine as well! For example, we wouldn’t go on to a skill at the canter until it was well established at the trot.

By Lindsay Grice - Rider error can cause horses to rush through the obstacles. Just like horses who rush over fences, those who don’t know how to adjust their own stride and don’t trust their riders’ judgement just want to get it over with. Some people confuse this with eagerness, but it’s actually adrenaline raised by fear. With every mistake, their confidence erodes and their flight instinct takes over.

By Lindsay Grice - “Is it me or my horse?” Every rider has asked herself this question when encountering a problem. But to say a horse likes or respects one rider over another is simplistic – let’s look deeper into the concept of nature versus nurture.

By Lindsay Grice - Most horses tend to cut in on one half of a circle and “bulge” out on the other half. If your horse has bulging problems, he most likely gets “magnetized” toward the fence, the in-gate, or toward another horse. Comparing your horse to a train, I’ll give you some tips to improve your control and be able to keep your horse on the track of your choice.

By Lindsay Grice - There’s nothing less satisfying than having to haul your horse to a stop. Like a dinner mint after a meal, a precise stop puts a finishing punctuation on a pattern and leaves the judge with a good taste in his mouth!