Train Your Horse For The Backcountry

Many clinicians offer strong instruction in building a relationship with the horse but too often exclude safety concerns and teaching the skills necessary for safe and fulfilling use in the backcountry. They don't show students how to tie up a horse's foot should you have to restrain him to pull porcupine quills, and they don't teach basic knots and hitches. Enter Dan Aadland, a seasoned equestrian and breeder who shares expertise gained from riding backroads and teaching clinics. Aadland first teaches students to understand the natural impulses of the horse and how to stay safe, a method he calls "survival horsemanship." He then moves on to training both horse and rider in the basics of trail riding, including saddling, mounting with control, trail savvy, types of trails and obstacles, domestic and wild animal encounters, and staying cool in stressful situations. Other helpful topics covered include: Essential neck rein skills Elementary packing A mule primer Safe trailering Low-impact trail riding And much more! With Train Your Horse for the Backcountry, riders will be ready for safe backcountry exploring in no time.

Many clinicians offer strong instruction in building a relationship with the horse but too often exclude safety concerns and teaching the skills necessary for safe and fulfilling use in the backcountry. They don?t show students how to tie up a horse?s foot should you have to restrain him to pull porcupine quills, and they don?t teach basic knots and hitches. Enter Dan Aadland, a seasoned equestrian and breeder who shares expertise gained from riding backroads and teaching clinics. Aadland first teaches students to understand the natural impulses of the horse and how to stay safe, a method he calls ?survival horsemanship.? He then moves on to training both horse and rider in the basics of trail riding, including saddling, mounting with control, trail savvy, types of trails and obstacles, domestic and wild animal encounters, and staying cool in stressful situations. Other helpful topics covered include: Essential neck rein skills Elementary packing A mule primer Safe trailering Low-impact trail riding And much more! With Beyond the Round Pen, riders will be ready for safe backcountry exploring in no time.

The indispensable guide to riding off the beaten path.

Question: "I just bought a horse. What do I do now?" Answer: "Buy my book, 'What I'd Teach Your Horse.'" If I had a dollar for every email I get asking "what to do" to make a riding horse out of the mare Uncle Emo just traded for the old RV - or how to retrain a horse that's grown rusty - or some version on either theme, I'd be the world's first gazillionaire. With the publication of this book then, I'm hoping to grab that distinction. If you broke your horse to saddle and rode it for the first time yesterday, this book (page 1) is where you'd start tomorrow. If you have an older horse and you've taught him everything you know and he still don't know nothin', this book is where you'd start, (page 1). It's a roadmap to building the foundation every horse needs, regardless of age, breed or background, regardless of what you've got ultimately planned for that horse. Afterwards, when your horse knows this book back to front, go train for barrels, roping, eventing, jumping or dressage. But today, basics are basics. Section I is the stuff your horse needs to know. Section II is the stuff (the theory) you need to know. Practice the first handful of chapters in order, as written. Beyond that, you should feel free to mix and match depending on your needs or abilities. Some chapters are dependent upon others - but in those cases, I've spelled out necessary prerequisites. Contents: SECTION I BASICALLY TRAINING YOUR HORSE - Hip Control - Classic Serpentine - Train Your Horse to Travel Straight - Shoulder Control - How to Fix Leaning Shoulders - Serpentine: Indirect to Direct - Speed Control - Speeding Up Slow or Balky Horses - Slowing Your Horse, Part I: Move the Hip - Slow Down, Part II: Wherein We Train the Brain - Teach Your Horse to Lower Its Head While Standing - Backing Up - Simple Steps to Power Steering - Leg Yielding Without Your Legs - Softening - Getting Leads - Haunches In - Neck Reining How-To SECTION II TEACHING YOU, THE THEORY BEHIND THE PRACTICE - The First Thing I Do - What You're Feeling For - Learning - How to Pick Up Your Reins Like a Pro - When You Get On, Do This First - Training Magic: Release on the Thought - Reins Tell Direction, Legs Tell Speed - Talking Horse - See Yourself Leading When Riding - Perfect the First Time - 6 Easy Ways to Improve Your Training - Rider Checklists

Horse trainer Jonathan Field has made a name for himself with his unique ability to give people simple, understandable, doable steps that lead to working with a horse “at liberty” in a safe and progressive manner. True engagement with a horse at liberty isn’t just about removing tack and stepping outside the arena—it’s about connection, trust, and communication through movement. Enrich your relationship with your horse, improve your “feel,” and teach your horse to respond to the subtlest of cues; no matter your discipline, whether you compete or ride for pleasure, liberty training can change the way you interact with horses forever.

When it’s you against the wilderness, you need to be prepared for whatever life can throw at you. Whether you’re planning to hike the Pacific Crest Trail or camping off the beaten path in your nearby state park, being out in the wild comes with inherent risks. From the everyday disruptions to the extreme circumstances, the Total Backcountry Survival Manual has you covered. With high-quality design, intricate detail, and a durable flexicover—this manual is the perfect gift! While you’re heading into a world of fun and adventure, you’re heading into a world of possible trouble - if you’re not prepared. Luckily the experienced backcountry trekkers, guides, and sportsmen at Outdoor Life are here to get you through any outdoor endeavor. Prepare and Plan From those fishing weekends sleeping under the stars to the hike of a lifetime, preparation is important. Crucial tips for map reading and how to properly pack all your gear, accompany the like of the gear guide and important hydration information. Trail Threats How to get by a damaged section of the trail, deal with mountain lions and coyotes, injury prevention and more. Camp and Eat Responsibly To spotting a good camping site off the trail, to getting sustenance that’s safe to eat, to controlling a campfire – find all the practical skills you need to (literally) live on the trail. How to Make it out Alive Put simply, how to get out of there when everything goes wrong. Find these top tips and more in the Total Backcountry Survival Manual, all brought to you by the professionals who have been there - and made it out alive.

Safely and successfully train your own horse. Stressing the importance of understanding equine behavior, Storey’s Guide to Training Horses provides a series of progressive exercises that can easily be adjusted to suit your horse’s personality. Whether you’re raising an animal for farm work, competition, or show, you’ll learn everything you need to develop a well-trained and happy horse.

Go Horse Camping is an essential resource for riders who want to go on overnight trips with their horses. Whether you're trail riding, endurance riding, or going to a horse show, this book has all the information you need, and takes the confusion and stress out of planning a trip. It provides a step-by-step approach to determining potential destinations and travelling partners, as well as the skills and gear you'll need to embark on your adventure. Checklists covering everything from emergency equipment to clothing, horse gear, trailers, and accommodations will assist you in organizing every detail. And dozens of hilarious illustrations will keep you laughing while you plan and pack. Go Horse Camping is a must-have for anyone wanting to enjoy the incredible connection that comes from camping with their horse. So don't wait--grab the book and go horse camping!

Training a horse is one of the biggest challenges a 4-H’r (or any animal lover, for that matter) can take on, and one of the most rewarding. This step-by-step illustrated guide offers the first-time horse trainer straightforward instructions for getting started with a foal, a yearling, or an older horse. With expert advice on safety and equine care, the guide covers the basics of establishing trust and authority, training with a bit, training to drive, training to allow riders, achieving different gaits, reaching definite goals, and breaking an old horse of bad habits. Whether you’re a 4-H’r taking up the project of a lifetime, or someone simply interested in training a horse, this book provides all the information you need to get started--and to succeed.

Horses, Hitches and Rocky Trails is often referred to as the packer's bible. Written in the language of the West, it is a complete and often humorous presentation of the method of packing horses into the wilderness. Amplified by the brilliant drawings of artist Joe Back, the book is for both the amateur and professional packer.