Open any horse supply catalog and you will find upwards of 40 pages of different horse supplements. The reason there are so many supplements has to do with the poor quality of many of our horse foods and hay. This is not the fault of the horse food companies but a reflection of the general … Continue Reading »
I took Remi, my Yang Ming(Metal/Earth), horse temperament, gelding, to a ranch sorting last weekend. We both had a blast. Remi has had some bad experiences in the past and he can get very tense when going to new places. I want him to be able to overcome his learned behaviors of holding his breath … Continue Reading »
Water is essential for life. Our bodies are composed of mostly water and the majority of our planet is covered with water. We can live for weeks without food but only days without water. Water allows our life energy to flow. It is in our blood, lymph, cerebral spinal fluid and in our individual cells. … Continue Reading »
Looking for the perfect holiday gift for your horse? Based on your horse’s temperament type, we’ve got some ideas for you in the video below. If you don’t know your horse’s type, take the free Horse Harmony Test. Then see what your horse would consider the perfect holiday gift based on his type by clicking … Continue Reading »
The Jue Yin horse temperament can be tricky to work with. He wants to be the boss but when he finds himself in control he gets worried. Kinda sounds like your average teenager. I worked last weekend with a Jue Yin mare named Pheobe. Pheobe had the habit of bucking on the trail if she … Continue Reading »
If your horse was a dog, would he be a Bull Dog? If your horse is a tough working partner, loves routine, and is often a “one person” horse, he is like a Bull Dog. This temperament type is also a consistent performer and may have a sweet tooth. And if your horse is like … Continue Reading »
Buying your dream horse is a huge investment, not only initially but as an ongoing expense. Making the wrong choice can be a very expensive mistake. Not only can the wrong horse cost you money, but buying a horse that is not a match for your skill level or imagined activities could actually put you … Continue Reading »
I am so blessed to live just 5 minutes from a wonderful lake where I can take my horses to swim. I have noticed that Metal and Metal horse combination types really enjoy the water. Remi, my Metal/Earth(YangMing) horse temperament, is no exception and he will splash endlessly in the water tough. Remi loves to … Continue Reading »
Metal is the material we turn to when we need a structure to be strong. Metal is cold and rigid. We do not generally build our houses out of metal because we want a warmer feel to where we live. Metal buildings are used for warehouses because they provide maximum protection for the contents within … Continue Reading »
The Metal horse temperament is generally strong and tough but their achilles heel is – their heels. The Metal horse has a tendency to contracted, sore heels. Confirmation can play a part as many Metal horses have short, upright pasterns and boxy hooves. This naturally upright hoof can become contracted when shoes are applied early … Continue Reading »
Welcome to the second in a series of articles on the essence of each temperament type horse. These articles are meant to offer a different perspective on each temperament type based on that type’s elemental basis. If you have felt somewhat confused by horse temperament typing, hopefully this series of articles will help you “feel” … Continue Reading »
What do you do if your equine friend tests negative for horse ulcers but continues to have problems? Well, he might still have horse ulcers … the tests just may not be able to detect the ulcers. Like the term “colic,” the term “horse ulcer” covers a wide variety of issues related to the gut. … Continue Reading »
Poor Remi got a huge tick in his ear. I discovered this when I went to bring his right ear forward to bridle him. Like a good, level headed Metal/Earth(Yang Ming) horse temperament he simply held his breath and turned his head slightly as I touched the painful ear. On the other hand, a certain … Continue Reading »
Anhydrosis is a life threatening condition in which a horse is unable to sweat during hot, humid weather. The horse depends heavily on sweating to cool his body so any decrease in his ability to evaporate sweat will result in an elevated body temperature. Anhydrosis can present in a similar way in different horse temperaments … Continue Reading »
Fire is beautiful but must be handled with care. At an early age kids are taught not to play with matches or put their fingers into a flame. Yet most of us had to learn the hard way that even though fire looks beautiful and inviting, it is hot and should not be played with. … Continue Reading »
Most horse owners have dealt with straightforward impaction, gas, or spasmodic colic associated with changes in diet, weather, management, or the environment. Whether you choose to alleviate this kind of horse colic (with known causes) using conventional or homeopathic approaches, you can at least deal directly with the cause. But what if you have a … Continue Reading »
If your horse was a dog, would he be a Golden Retriever? If your horse is ultimately dependable, but demands absolute fairness and a person he can trust, then he probably is like a Golden Retriever. This temperament type is also a versatile, hard-working performer, but not personally highly ambitious. And if your horse is … Continue Reading »
I have been criticized for my horse temperament typing system because I talk about horses having feelings similar to people. I am in one camp and the other believes that the only concern the horse has is to stay alive and be alright. The answer probably lives somewhere in the middle. I believe the more … Continue Reading »
Patience is not a Metal horse trait. Once the Metal horse temperament learns a job he expects others to get out of the way and let him work. When faced with beginner or amateur rider he can be downright bossy. The Metal horse learns by repetition and he does best in jobs that require consistent … Continue Reading »
The competitive Wood horse temperament loves to play rough, even if it means he hurts himself. Most horses will back off when in pain but the Wood horse’s instinct is to power through. In the case of the horse with the torn shoulder he did not slow down when he snagged his skin on an … Continue Reading »