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 »
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 »
If there is such a thing as a perfect clinic then Remi and I just experienced one. Remi is a Yang Ming horse temperament and he has been in my life for 5 years. During that time we have worked to get his horrible feet better and help him trust that he was not going … Continue Reading »
Does your Fire horse occasionally have a meltdown? My Fire mare,Cerise, sure had one yesterday. Cerise is typical of this horse temperament type, sensitive and emotional. Things have been a little hectic at my house with five baby goats being born in the last week. The latest triplets have had a hard time nursing and … Continue Reading »
The Earth horse temperament does not enjoy strenuous work but when healthy he is not lazy. Some of the most successful performance horses I have known have been the Earth horse temperament. Not to mention the consistent lesson horses that work for hours each day without complaint. The Earth horse temperament can appear lazy because … Continue Reading »
Punkin, my Jue Yin (Wood/Fire), horse temperament was the star at my osteopathy class. Osteopathy is a system of medicine that focuses on raising the vitality of the horse by restoring his mobility. In the mind of an osteopath, any area where 2 or more structures come together is a joint and every joint must … Continue Reading »
Fear is the emotion that goes with the Water horse temperament. When a Water horse is out of balance they can become fearful to the point of being dangerous. A Water horse is very high energy and when this energy is combined with fear explosive outbursts can occur. Signs of fear in the Water horse … Continue Reading »
I like to say , if your mare is mean then give her green. Green foods, that is, in the form of chlorophyl rich foods and herbs that will balance and support the liver. I have noticed my Fire horse temperament mare, Cerise, has been more irritable this year during our extreme drought. I have … Continue Reading »
Horse temperament plays a part in how horses age. Tess, my 30 year old, Jue Yin mule has been limping lately. I know exactly why this is happening. After enduring a miserable, record breaking drought and temperatures over 100 for 90 days the weather has cooled off. When the weather was so hot the horses … Continue Reading »
By Larry Hannon Part 1 Part 2 Eventually I earned his total trust, but he never trusted another man except for my dad. He liked and trusted women and children, but was always leery of other men. The spring before I was mustered out of the Air Force, dad call needing another horse to ride … Continue Reading »
My Fire horse temperament mare, Cerise, is so much softer in her topline after a special tail detangling session with Patty Parent. Cerise has always been very tight in her tail so I was intrigued when Patty explained to me what she was doing with horses. She mentioned several trainers who commented about the overall … Continue Reading »
Guest Post: Larry Hannon Jiggs: Part 1 After hearing his story, I took it upon myself to talk to this little ‘wild eyed’ colt every time I would feed him and clean out his stall. He could care less! When I went to feed he would go out into his run and wait until I … Continue Reading »
As a Jue Yin(Wood/Fire) horse temperament, Punkin lacks in social graces. This is not his fault and he never intends to insult but the Jue Yin type does not naturally take into account the needs of others. This tendency to insult without intention got me and Punkin into trouble a few weeks ago. I have … Continue Reading »
Guest Post: By Larry Hannon It was the spring of 1968 and the Asst. Dean of the College of Agriculture at OSU had called me into his office to tell me I wasn’t to come back to school that coming fall. I was 12 hours short of graduating! He said I was a bad influence … Continue Reading »
Kim had her first fall off of Punkin this morning. They have both been doing fantastic so we were due for a slight setback. As a Wood/Fire(Jue Yin) horse temperament, Punkin is reactive and we have to always remember this. Kim was practicing leading Punkin up to the trailer step to get on and for … Continue Reading »
Punkin, my Wood/Fire(Jue Yin) pony, went on his first adventure off the farm. I hauled Punkin and my Fire horse temperament, Cerise, to a local ranch horse versatility clinic. We did not compete but spent the day hanging out around the arena and out in the parking lot around all the other horses and activity. … Continue Reading »
My new Wood/Fire(Jue Yin) pony, Punkin, is coming along fantastic. After he was nervous about being ridden, Kim and I have been focusing on his groundwork. We have been getting him really soft about bending his head both ways and moving his hind end separate from his front end without bracing in his ribs. Kim … Continue Reading »
Punkin, my Wood/Fire (Jue Yin) pony, is coming along great in his training. He has a very willing attitude and wants very much to please me and my friend, Kim. The Wood horse temperament is more likely to slow down and buck when he is upset and the Fire Horse temperament is more likely to … Continue Reading »