Ok, so this is admittedly not the most “fun” topic, but I think it’s an important one.  Not just for equine professionals, but for everyone.  Financial planning was something that was drilled into me growing up and I’m often surprised by the number of times you hear about someone who just wasn’t financially prepared to lose that job, or face that illness, etc.

I know there are at least a few equine professionals who frequent this site, and maybe you guys already know about EquestrianProfessional.com, but I just found it a few days ago.  Apparently they’ve been sponsoring a series of seminars on financial planning, specifically geared toward those in the equine industry.  The third in the series will be held on September 13 and you can participate online or by calling in.  More details here.  I’m not sure, but I imagine they have resources available from the first 2 seminars.

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Hello,

I would love to hear some suggestions on ways to retrain my gelding to break at the poll. Currently he is breaking at the third vertebrae instead which causes his ears and head/face to be carried lower than the third vertebrae. So he looks over rounded I guess sometimes.  In looking at lots of pictures on this site from some really big shows I see many horses carrying themselves like my horse. But I would really like to make sure I learn how to start helping him to lift his face up and break correctly at the poll. He is mostly a western morgan horse, I have just started to ride him hunt this year as well. He is beautifully built, but his neck is on the thicker side where it attaches to his body and it does naturally come out slightly angled forward instead of almost straight up. I have heard of  overcheck and/or side check bridles but I am not sure how to use either or even if they would be helpful? Should I plan to spend time ground training for awhile before riding again to help with this issue?? Thanks for insight into my question.

Guess I should add that I am one of those “do it yourselfers”. I would love to show my horse on the Morgan circuit, but currently feel that my horse and I probably need to gain a little more “show-ring” experience at lower level shows. :)

I may really be showing my ignorance here, but is there a difference between AOTS and AOTR?  I’ve always heard AOTS as Amateur Owned, Trained and Shown.  But the classes @ P-O are all AOTR which is being announced as Amateur Owner to Ride.  Those phrases could mean 2 very different things. Are they actually the same?  And what are the actual rules around them?  Can the horse ever have been in training with a Pro?  Or just not for the current season?  Within the last month?  What are the guidelines?

I have a question that has gnawed at me for years: How DO they get the perfect head carriage and stillness on the 2 and 3 year old Morgan show horses?  I know some bloodlines are more “hinged” than others and set up well into the bridle, but that does not explain the impression you get when you see a 2 or 3 year old pleasure driving class with beautifully set heads (I am completely leaving aside for now whether that head carriage is “balanced” or whether the horse is moving properly).    I have been around Morgans 30 plus years and I have seen the breed transformed from thick-necked, nose out and laboring to perfect head position, precisely shod (if you doubt me, look at Morgan Magazines from the 60s and 70s), and I know some of the means-dumb jockies, surcingles, draw reins- but I would really like to hear some comments/insights  about how these  young horses are produced.   I am sure there is some controversy as to HOW they are produced (bustles, shackles, etc.) and I would welcome comment on that as well, but that is a sideshow.    I admire trainers who can produce a marketable product and a two year old with a still head and neck moving well in harness is a marketable product.

Is outside rein, outside foot a fairly standard cue for a canter? I know this isn’t always how a horse is trained (for my mare it’s outside rein, inside foot) but it seems to be for many show horses. Is there a reason for this? It almost always makes the horse take off at an angle and it just seems like we’re “tripping” them into the correct lead rather than asking. Does this bug anyone else?

I had a friend send me the link to this article months ago and I never got around to reading it until today. It’s long and doesn’t focus specifically on Morgans, and I’m only about half way through it, but so far it’s definitely worth the read! Fortunately I don’t think the culture in Morgans encourages very young riding like with some other breeds/disciplines. But I think often over-anxious owners, and maybe even trainers, can take a horse along too quickly which can ultimately be detrimental to it’s health.  I’m also posting a link to this under Resources for future reference.

Link to article

Ok, it would seem the Curmudgeon Commentary -> Difference between Ladies and Amateur Judging has spawned another topic. I would guess that the amateurs who are least likely to have the ideal amateur horse would be those of us who can’t afford to pay top dollar for a finished horse, or would rather “build” our own show horse from the ground up (not saying this as a rule, I know there are excellent ama’s out there who could hold their own against the pros). Many folks who are new to the breed and/or horses are going to fall into this category.

The problem is, in my mind, that’s exactly who amateur classes were intended for. Or, is there a difference when it comes to AOTS classes? Where do the “hobby horse” folks show, who want to come and have a good time with their horses? I guess this is where we cycle back around to the Curmudgeon, the “business” of horse shows seems to have made an environment that is less friendly to these types of exhibitors. Particularly in this economy I would think this is the kind of person we’d want to be catering to a bit more.

Breeding and showing are 2 things I have not done a lot of, but as I continue to be involved in Morgans I hope to do more of both.  I’m curious what experience folks have had with showing a mare while she’s in foal.  I’m sure results vary from horse to horse depending on their past show experience and temperament.  But in general how are bred mares able to handle the stress (both mental and physical) of maintaining a show schedule?  And how long into their pregnancy are they typically able to keep it up?

A few months ago there was some discussion about equitation patterns.  At the time I suggested I might add a Resources section to this site which could include a section for practice patterns.  Well, I never followed through on that, partly because a few folks who promised to send me patterns I could use never did.  But, I did just come across a site that’s got some patterns that some of you might find helpful.

http://www.showhorsepromotions.com/equitation.htm