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     Do you have something Equine Related that you would like posted monthly in this newsletter for FREE??  If so, please CLICK HERE to send me the following information: 
 

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     Although I've only been riding for a couple of years, I'll try to answer these questions to the best of my ability.  So if you have any questions about tack or training, buying or even leasing a horse--if you're even having difficulty with your lessons, anything, please E-Mail me by clicking here!  Thanks! 

QUESTION: 
hi!  
    my instructor basically swears by kimberwickes! i dont know why though..  
wouldnt the snaffle be basically the same as a d-ring snaffle? Other the the  
curb and the holes (whatever those are called!) for the reins.. what is the  
difference? but thanks for the help.. i was just wondering! 

~natalie + bob 

ANSWER: 
Hey Natalie!  Well first of all, why would your trainer swear by a kimberwicke?  Some horses are capable of going in a nice, eggbutt snaffle.  Does your trainer swear by it as a fix to a bad or untrained horse?  About the snaffle question, there are many different types of snaffles.  There's an eggbutt, D-Ring, slowtwist, corkscrew, copper mouth...... I could go on forever!  Basically what a snaffle is is a bit with a joint in the middle, usually with full-cheek, or D-Ring sides.  But there is a broken kimberwicke, which is a "snaffle kimberwicke", it's just like the curb like kimberwicke, except for the mouthpiece is just like a regular snaffle.  On the kimberwicke, there are two slots for the reins, usually people use the one at the bottom.  All it does is change the leverage on the horse's mouth with contact with the reins.  Hope this clears up some of your questions, remember you can always ask your trainer, or start looking through tack magazines to learn about different bits & their purposes. 

• BMB Tack - www.bmbtack.com
• State Line Tack - www.StateLineTack.com
• Shepler's Western Wear - www.sheplers.com
• Country Supply - www.countrysupply.com
• Chicks Discount Saddlery - www.chicksaddlery.com
• Dover Saddlery - www.dover.com
• Rod's Western Palace - www.rods.com
• Denny Sergeant's Western World - www.sergeantswestern.com
• Arcaros Saddlery - www.arcaros.com
• Bob Micklers Saddlery - www.bobmicklers.com
• Hobby Horse Show Clothes - www.hobbyhorseinc.com
• Boink Catalog Online - www.boinkcatalog.com/index01.html

      An old man and his horse were riding down this dirt road with fences on both sides, they came to a gate in the fence and looked in, it was nice grassy, woody areas, just what a old horse and man would like, but, it had a sign saying 'no trespassing' so they walked on. They came to a beautiful gate with a person in white robes standing there. "Welcome to Heaven," he said. The old man was happy and started to ride his horse in. The gatekeeper stopped him. "Animals aren't allowed, I'm sorry but he can't come with you." "What kind of Heaven won't allow animals? If he can't come in, then I will stay out with him. He's been my faithful companion all his life, I can't desert him now." "Suit yourself, but I have to warn you, the Devil's on this road and he'll try to sweet talk you into his area, he'll promise you anything, but, the horse can't go there either. If you won't leave the horse, you'll spend Eternity on this road." So the old man and horse rode on. They came to a rundown fence with a gap in it, no gate, just a hole. Another old man was inside. "S'cuse me Sir, my horse and I are getting mighty tired, mind if we come in and rest in the shade for awhile?" "Of course, there's some cold water under that tree over there, along with a bucket to water your horse. Make yourselves comfortable." "You're sure my horse can come in? The man down the road said animals weren't allowed anywhere." "Would you come in if you had to leave the horse?" "No sir, that's why I didn't go to Heaven, he said the horse couldn't come in. We'll be spending Eternity on this road, and a glass of cold water and some shade would be mighty fine right about now. But, I won't in if my buddy here can't come too, and that's final."The man smiled a big smile and said "Welcome to Heaven." "You mean this is Heaven? Horses ARE allowed? How come that fellow down the road said they weren't?" "That was the Devil and he gets all the people who are willing to give up a life long companion for a comfortable place to stay. They soon find out their mistake, but, then it's too late. The animals come here, the fickle people stay there. GOD wouldn't allow animals to be banned from Heaven. After all, HE created them to be man's companions in life, why would he separate them in death?" 
 

• Bracken, Buttercup, flax, foxglove, hemlock, horsetail, lupin, meadow saffron, nightshade, purple milk vetch, ragwort, St. John's wort, yellow star thistle
• Box, laurel, oleander, privet, rhododendron
• Buckthorn, laburnum, magnolia, yew
• Acorns

• Never try to groom a sweaty horse - walk him about until he is dry.
• Never try to brush off wet mud - either hose it off or let it dry first.
• To dry off a wet horse in the stable cover him with a sheet or rug made of breathable material or put a layer of straw along him back and quarters with a rug over the top.
• To remove dried mud use a dandy brush or  rubber curry comb but not too roughly - it  may be necessary to remove mud from sensitive areas of skin, such as inside the hindlegs, with your hand.
• In cold weather keep a clipped horse warm during grooming by turning his rugs back a forward rather than removing them altogether.
• Give all rugs and blankets a thorough shaking every week - it is pointless to put dusty rugs back on to a clean horse.
• Never stand directly behind a horse.
• Never sit or kneel on the floor to reach the lower parts - always squat or bend so that you can move quickly if he does.
• Keep a watchful eye open for any skin injuries or tell-tail lumps or bumps, particularly on the legs, which could warn of impending soundness problems.
• With the grass-kept horse clean the area under the saddle and brush off the worst of the mud for appearances' sake, but do not attempt regular, thorough grooming.

• Instead of buying bottles of Fly Spray, buy the dillutant and dilute it yourself.
• Instead of buying whitening spray or chalk for white parts of the horse, use baby powder.
• Mrs. Pasturer's treats are $12.99 for a jar of them, Apple Wafers have the same ingredient, but they run $12.99 for a 25 lb bag, which can be bought at your local feed store.
• Get a FREE Demo of Absorbine Software, click here!
• Get FREE Horse Treats from Treatwells, all you have to do is pay S & H! Click here!

here is one training principle I go by 100% of the time. When I am trying to teach my horse something new, I ask myself, "What does this horse want most out of life at this very moment?" For example, lets say it's a horse that's learning how to give to the bit. When there is pressure on that bit, all the horse wants out of life at that very moment is for you to stop pulling on his mouth. That's how I will reward him...by using what he really wants. He might pull and shake his head or pull in the opposite direction, but I do not give him that reward until he turns his head in the correct direction. Once he does, he instantly gets exactly what he wanted. This has worked for me for many, many years on every horse I have encountered. 

Happy Trails!

Ashley Nicole Earl
Owner/Publisher of the Horsin' Around Newsletter Journal