Let's Talk About...
1- HEELS DOWN!
Why do we keep our heels down when riding? This seems like too many things to think about, heels down, look between the horse's ears, don't fall off. I've did some research about this topic...
After Googling and reading books about riding, I've found that hands down, your heels are supposed to be down. Why? Well, here are some reasons why:
You are less likely to slip out of the stirrups
Toes down means your grasping for the stirrup, which is hard when your legs are relaxed
Shoulder, hip and heel. They should all be aligned.
Balance is all in the heels
Can't keep your heels down? Try some exercises to help! I found this exercise and is an awesome way to gain balance and keep your heels down. Stand on the bottom step of a staircase and hold on the the railing. Now, let your heels slip over the edge and do this as many times as you want.
Don't force your heels down, relax them instead. You'll be much more comfortable than having stiff legs.
Balance. Safety. Security.
Remember to keep your heels down!
2- Feeding your horse or pony
Horses and ponies should be fed according to their weight, size and age. Like some horses get two cups or more of grain a day, while others get very little or none because of their size. Ponies and Mini Horses are more susceptible to founder.
Introducing a new diet. When you introduce something new to a horse's diet, don't rush it. You could cause your horse to colic and can result in death. (Click here to see what colic means). If you are introducing a whole new feed, mix in small amounts in the feed you have been using and slowly decrease the amount of the previous feed. When giving more hay, just go ahead. He'll eventually eat it.
Download a feed calculator on your phone or check out a website to find how much your horse should need. This is a handy tool that you could keep on hand. An average riding horse at 600 LBS will need about 9,000 calories per day.
Check with your vet. ALWAYS check with your vet about a new diet. While you might be an experienced horse-person, you need to check with your equine veterinarian before you increase or decrease the amount of feed in your horse's diet.
When you introduce a new food to your horse, introduce it slowly. You could seriously injure your horse when he/she has a new food that he/she isn't used to.
