Explore every episode of the podcast The Horsemanship Helper

In today's episode, we did a deep dive into learning about the Mustangs. America's feral horse breed that roams out west. We talked about characteristics of mustangs, what to know before you get one, and what all they can do!

Key Takeaways

• Do your own research before you get one
• Mustangs can be very versatile
• The US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Managment takes care of the wild horses and burros
• Make sure you are able to dedicate time and commitment to training a mustang before getting one 

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In today’s episode, we discussed several red flags to look out for in the equestrian community. Keep these in mind when touring a barn or finding a new trainer. Also check out previous episodes for more insight such as First time Horse Owners: What to Know, What Qualifies Someone to Be A Trainer, and How to Get Involved With Horses

Key Takeaways

• It's okay to outgrow a trainer's program
• How to find a barn that suits you and your horse
• What questions to ask when touring facilities
• Do research ahead of time to find reviews and media pages of trainers and facilities 

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In today’s episode, I hosted the founders of Wild Strides a nonprofit mustang organization! We covered what their mission was along with their backgrounds and why they chose to be an advocate for the Mustang. 

Key Takeaways

• Learn about the adoption process and how to obtain a mustang 
• Find out more information on what a Herd Management area is and how it can affect your mustang's characteristics 
• Each horse is an individual and unique 
• Mustangs are very versatile; discover what training them can really be like 

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Go give Wild Strides a follow on Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok @Wild Strides 

In today’s episode, we welcomed Ariel Boesener from Ariel Boesener Performance Horses! She shared her background on connection-based training, and we got to learn more about dressage, a competitive mindset, and how to incorporate and apply different skills to both ourselves and our horses. 

Key Takeaways

• Dressage is the foundation to many other disciplines 
• Our mind and body have to be in alignment as well as our horse
• Every experience, horse, and trainer will teach you something 
• Advocate for your horse and learn where issues are stemming from 

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Last weekend, I was in Bel Air, MD with The Maryland Mustang Mission and The Mustang Summit! What an amazing yet unexpected weekend it was. Learn more about both these organizations and Q&A on Titan a very sweet and young mustang gelding looking for his forever home. 

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In today’s episode, we welcomed Tamara from Sleepy Hollow Equine! She shared her background on equine bodywork, and we got to discover all of the benefits to bodywork and why we should pay attention to it!

Key Takeaways

• Know what is and  isn’t normal for your horse
• Use media to find a bodyworker near you
• Every horse is going to need a different bodywork schedule and type of modality 
• Use online resources to help you learn stretches at home 

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In today’s episode, we discussed how to get involved with horses. There are so many different ways you can include them in your life!

Key Takeaways

• You don’t need your own horse to be involved with them
• Do research on different equine events in your area
• Explore equine entrepreneurial pathways 
• Don’t be afraid to reach out and post in groups to try and find equine connections

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In this episode, we discussed how to build muscle in horses. This is something that can be tricky for horse owners. Try some of these techniques and be patient!

Key Takeaways

• Ground poles, longlining, stretching, and hill work are the key techniques 
• Check your horses diet to ensure all dietary needs are met
• Have an equine chiropractor adjust your horse before pushing to build muscle
• Do different yet frequent sessions mix things up but stay consistent for best results 

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In Today’s episode, we talked about ways to help prevent heat stress in horses and how to keep ourselves cool. 

Key Takeaways

• Horse and rider hydration is important; use electrolytes
• Keep the heat index and humidity in mind when deciding to ride
• Be cautious and aware when using fans for horses
• Know the signs of heat stress in horses 

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In Today’s episode, we continued our equine entrepreneurs series featuring HSF Equine Nutrition! We talked about all things equine nutrition, learn all about how to pay attention to your horses diet, personal challenges and how to overcome them in this industry, and how different horses have different needs!

Key Takeaways

• Each horse has individual dietary needs
• Watch out for equine metabolic issues 
• Learn how to read feed tags
• Pay attention to your horse's forage and learn the main types

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Thinking about starting your own horse business? Well in this episode, we covered a lot of important aspects on what is needed for start up. This is a guide for equine business owners to follow when they need help with the things involved in starting their business. 

Key Takeways

• Remain positive and professional even if others are trying to bring you down
• Choose authenticity and client relationships over just getting money 
• Invest in good branding and advertising 
• Create a business model and plan to help set your buisness up for sucess

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This week, we talked about how to pick a horse show series that will best suit you and your horse!

Key Takeaways

• There are a variety of horse shows everywhere
• You don't need to have the best of everything to show
• How to come up with criteria to look for in a show series 
• Anyone who wants to can show

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In today's episode, we welcomed a young up-and-coming female farrier and we talked about what a day in the life looks like, some common issues we see in horses hooves, and why a positive relationship with your farrier is important.

Key Takeaways

• Anyone can be a farrier but proper training and or further schooling is needed
• Farriers can create their own schedules and if they want become specialized in a certain type of work
• Make sure you find a reputable farrier and one that will be a good fit for you and your horse 
• It's important to be an educated handler to help ensure the safety of your farrier 

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This episode, we talked about first time horse owners and what they need to know! We went over what types of horses to consider, what supplies they need, and how to be a smart horse owner.

Key Takeaways

• A horses training is more important than their breed
• Boarding barn can have red and green flags, keep your eye out
• It's okay to ask questions 
• Build a good support system around you, and work closely with reputable equine professionals 

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This week, we talked about aggressive and fear based reactions in horses. We covered why they might react this why, what under lying causes to look out for, and how to work through these behaviors. 

Key Takeaways

• There will always be an underlying cause to aggressive or fear-based behavior 
• Lyme, EPM, Ulcers, Arthritis, past trauma, and poor tack fit should be considered when assessing a cause for behavior
• Have patience when working through these and work closely with a good team of equine professionals
• There are ways to overcome these issues and work through them to get your horse happy again 

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In today's episode, a special guest, Madi from Mane Street Photography, joined us! We chatted with her about her business and asked her a series of questions about being an equine photographer. 

Key Takeaway's

• She photgraphs at shows but also does portraits and brand shoots
• She is expanding her portfolio and would like to travel more
• You can turn any passion or hobby into a career
• Your progress won't be linear, your journey will be different with many ups and down but it will be worth it

 Don't forget to follow her page! She is on all major social media platforms @Mane Street Photography

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This week, we talked about The World Horse Expo! I have been attending ever since I was little. This is an amazing event for any horse lover and there are a few different ones depending on the area your in. We also cover Equine Affair, and briefly mention The Midwest Horse Fair!

Key Takeaways

• The horse expo offers something for anyone
• Lots of local and visiting vendors, rescues, riders, and clinicians 
• A span of 4 days with a variety of demos, seminars, and equine events 
• Two other events are very similar and are available in different regions 

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This week, we talked about what the difference between a rescue horse and an auction horse is. We compared the experience of rescues and auctions and what the process is like. 

Key Takeaways

• Not every auction horse is considered a rescue
• Rescue horses can make excellent companions, trail, and show partners
• Do your research first if considering an auction horse or a rescue horse 
• You can help out local horse rescues by donating volunteer time, supplies, or helping home a horse whether its temporary for 

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This week we talked about a very fun, yet controversial topic! What qualifies someone to be a trainer/instructor? There are so many out there but are they all the same?

Key Takeaways

• Do research before choosing a trainer
• Experience, awards, methods, and disciplines all play a part in what trainer to use
• Keep an eye out for any red flags in trainers and instructors 
• Learn from others everyone has a different style of teaching and you can learn something new

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In today's episode, we talked about horse maintenance. We went over if there is such thing as a maintenance-free horse, and what maintenance for performance and older horses looks like. 

Key Takeaways

• Every horse will have some level of maintenance 
• A proper diet is key to helping them perform at their best
• Joint supplements and Ulcer supplements are the most common
• Work with an equine bodyworker to help keep your horse in the best shape 
• Listen to your horses needs and come up with a routine that works best

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The Horsemanship Helper is available to listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

In this week's episode on The Horsemanship Helper, we discussed how to horse show with young horses. This is the 3rd and last part of our young horse mini-series. 

Key Takeaways

• Start out in the lowest level such as the green horse division
• Be a strong and confident leader for them 
• Learn their strengths and weaknesses
• Play around to find what disciplines they will excel best at
• Its okay to take some time and to school something in order for your horse to find the right answer 

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In today's episode, we talked about how to set a young horse up for success, what that means, and what it entails!

Key Takeways

• Success for young horses includes softness, responsiveness, and  maneuverability 
• Groundwork and desensitizing play a big role in creating a successful horse
• Young horses need a consistent and confident leader 
• Getting your young horse out and exposed is important especially if you have the opportunity to work alongside clinicians  

Don't forget to follow the socials! If you missed it, go check out the first part in the young horse series. It is episode 8, Young Horses: What Age to Start?

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This weeks episode we dive into a small little series which is on young horses! So the first topic is what age to start. We go over some tips on how to start horses as well as what age is most appropriate to start them at.

Key Takeways

• Horses can be started around 2-4 years of age
• Everyone has a different opinion when it comes to starting
• Young horses should have lots of preparation before starting
• Veterinarians should be consulted to make sure your horse is ready to be started under saddle

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This week, we talked about groundwork! We discussed what it is, why we do it, and how to teach it. Groundwork is so important and an essential step for creating a good partnership with your horse. 

Key Takeaways

• Anyone can do groundwork
• Groundwork is the key to creating a well-rounded and good horse
• Groundwork consists of lungeing, yielding hips and shoulders, desensitizing, and basic handling 
• Benefits to groundwork for your horse include better manners, building confidence, building muscle, creating a mutual respect, and preparing your horse under saddle by having them respond to vocal cues and body language

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This weeks episode we talked about the Interscholastic Equestrian Association also known as IEA. We went over how to get involved, what it has to offer, and some tips to keep in mind during the show season. I rode for both disciplines 2 years of Western and 1 year of Hunt Seat.

Key Takeaways

• Grades 4-12 can join a middle school or high school team or 21 and over can be in the adult pilot program 
• You do not need your own horse or tack 
• They have Hunt seat (On the flat and over fences), Dressage, and Western (Horsemanship, Reining, and Ranch) teams all over the US
• You can compete in the same format in college which is called ISHA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association) 

Don't forget to follow the socials and if you want to check out how to get involved vist: rideiea.org

DISCLAIMER: I am not sponsored or affiliated with IEA, I shared my own experiences with riding for their organization and want to help other riders find oppertunites on how to show and ride for a less cost or if they are unable to have their own horse. 

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This week's topic was pattern work! We discussed what it means, how to practice it, and why we do it! 

Key Takeaways

• Anyone can practice pattern work 
• It is very beneficial for both us and our horses
• You can do in-hand patterns or ridden ones
• There are so many different patterns to practice depending on level, discipline, and target areas 

Be sure to tune in for next week we will be talking about IEA: Tips and Opportunities!

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Today we talked about the difference between open, breed, and rated shows. We also went over how to know if showing is for you and some opportunities to show without your own horse!

Key Takeaways 

• ​There are many different levels to show in 
• ​There are a wide variety of ways to show 
• ​You do not need to own your own horse to show 
• ​How to make showing more affordable 
• ​There are ways to be involved with showing without actively competing 

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In this episode, we went over Showmanship. We covered what it is, how we teach it, why we do it, and the expectations of it. Showmanship is so great for teaching horses manners and building a bond from the ground up. Any horse and any rider can learn it and practice at home!

Key Takeaways

• Anyone can try showmanship at home
• You don't need to have a fancy horse or outfit in order to show in showmanship 
• It will help improve ground manners and responsiveness for your horse
• You can do showmanship if your english or western 

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In this week's episode, we talked about Leasing VS Buying! We cover some pros and cons to both, and we compared the cost for both. Whether you currently ride lesson horses and are considering taking the next step, or aren't sure what option would be best for you, tune in to find out! The horse world offers so many different opportunities and if horse ownership is something you have been considering there are a few key things to keep in mind.

Major Takeaways

• Leasing means you are not 100% responsible for the horse
• Leasing can be more cost-effective 
• There are multiple ways to buy a horse
• Look out for red flags when trying horses
• Do your research on both options and what is available to you
• If you are unsure in the buying process bring someone who is confident and will help find the best match for you!

Tune in for next week's topics which is: Showmanship 101: A Beginner's Guide

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In today's episode, we talk about Western VS English and if you can do both. I dive deep into if you can ride both and what some of the benefits are of riding Western and English. Some topics we mention include; proper tack fit, good horsemanship skills, different breeds, and competitive vs just for fun! Whether you're a competitive rider or just a recreational rider and have wanted to try both disciplines here is your chance!

Key Takeaways

• You can ride Western and English no matter what breed of horse!
• Everyone is at different places in their horse journey and that's okay!
• Correct saddle fit is very important 
• Switch up what you do with your riding, and try new things!

Tune in for next week's topics which is: Leasing VS Buying!

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