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Horseback Riding/Questions Answered by Expert April Reeves
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Horse Changes Direction no warning | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a quarter horse that is 7 years old (gelding) that walks, trots and canters. Turns on the ... A: That is one of the strangest things I have ever heard, but I may have an explanation. Years ago, ... | |
| Over-excited horse | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a 10 year old arab that I've switched from the Arab circuit to eventing. I bought him as a 5 ... A: Interesting piece of information: he was sent to a big name trainer for English work. I'm not one to ... | |
| Bit suggestions for a strong horse? | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: My horse tends to get very strong while we are jumping. I have a twisted D ring but i just feel as ... A: I'm glad it helped! As for bits, I'm not an advocate of rubber bits. Yes, they are soft, but they ... | |
| Bit suggestions for a strong horse? | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: My horse tends to get very strong while we are jumping. I have a twisted D ring but i just feel as ... A: Answer from April Reeves, Horseman’s U.com: Hello Olivia. Thanks for asking me this question, as I ... | |
| Over-excited horse | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: I have a 10 year old arab that I've switched from the Arab circuit to eventing. I bought him as a 5 ... A: Answer from April Reeves (aprilreeveshorsetraining.wordpress.com): Hi Stephanie! Sorry for not ... | |
| Bucking Trouble with a calm horse | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can help me. I have an 18 year old Appendix who is unusually hard to fit because he ... A: You're welcome Amber. Hope he's okay. I know what it's like to have a horse out of commission; ... | |
| Bucking Trouble with a calm horse | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can help me. I have an 18 year old Appendix who is unusually hard to fit because he ... A: This is a serious problem. Horses do not start to buck for no reason. It's his way of telling you ... | |
| Western Saddle Fitting | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: I'm getting a mare in 10 days, so I will soon be doing some saddle shopping! I'm hoping to get a ... A: I'm concerned about buying a saddle for a horse that's about to lose a lot of weight. You will be ... | |
| behavior | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: My horse (Comanche) has been acting jumpy a strange and he is mostly a calm gentil horse now hes ... A: My only suggestion to you is to put time in to reading and studying horses. I would have to write a ... | |
| Stopping | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: when I do ground work she stops completely but when on her back she doesn't want to stop. Is there ... A: I am going to give you a link to a long but useful article from my blog. It deals with the ... | |
| hoof boots for crosstraining | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: I have a NSH in training that will primarily be a "show horse", but I have always believed in a ... A: Some of the easy boots can be worn over shoes, but it does void the warranty if the boot is damaged. ... | |
| My New English Saddle | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I have recently bought a used english saddle for my Quarter Pony. I don't know much about saddles ... A: Answer from April Reeves, Horseman’s U.com: Hi Maddison. Your pony may be dropping and rolling from ... | |
| books and dvds on groundwork training | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: can you suggest books and dvds on groundwork training of a young horse? A: I have a few suggestions to very good DVD's and books. I personally know most of the people I ... | |
| groundwork training | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: may i know what is groundwork training? A: Groundwork is the application of working with a horse on the ground. It allows the horse to bond to ... | |
| driving pony rears. | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: i have a welsh section a driving pony,hes 12yrs and i have owned him for 18months,i was a novice ... A: Answer from April Reeves: Hi Debbie, I have seen this a lot. It’s a common habit a driving ... | |
| cantering | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: thanks so much A: Answer from April Reeves: Hi Chrissy, thanks for the question and I’m glad you have begun to ride. ... | |
| horse stall and training | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: hey, i had a question about building stalls, i dont have a huge barn but its a pretty good size so i ... A: Answer from April Reeves: In regards to the stalls, the smallest I would put a horse in (under 16 ... | |
| RIDING WITH A TIE DOWN | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: I have quarter horse that I work cows with, is it safer to use a tie down for the horse's head? A: Answer from April Reeves: When working with cattle, the only rule I have ever followed religiously ... | |
| Girth | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: I just purchased an English bareback pad; that is, it has "english" billets. They are very long ... A: Personally, I am not much of a fan of Wintec anything. While they are light and often comfortable, ... | |
| Girth | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: I just purchased an English bareback pad; that is, it has "english" billets. They are very long ... A: Good for you to get a bareback pad! Riding bareback is the quickest way to assess any riding ... | |
| Shying horse!! :( | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: I am fourteen and have a three and a half year old filly that lives on a fifty acre farm with my ... A: Answer from April Reeves Horseman's U.com: Hi Alex, sorry for not getting back to you sooner but the ... | |
| on the road | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: my horse is 7 years old and since i got him at the age of 4 he has refused to go out on the road ... A: I have an article that deals with herd bound horses. This is an excerpt from my blog that should ... | |
| How to stop backing up | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a 13 year old mare who has had minimal training under saddle. She knows the basics, but when ... A: Answer from April Reeves, Horseman’s U.com: First, let’s understand why horses get to this point. I ... | |
| Nervous horse | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: I've been hired to train 6 horses this lady "rescued". There's 3 three year olds, 2 two year olds ... A: I would do more on each visit. Once she faces you, move up and start to rub her and get her use to ... | |
| Nervous horse | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: I've been hired to train 6 horses this lady "rescued". There's 3 three year olds, 2 two year olds ... A: Answer from April Reeves, Horseman’s U.com: All 6 horses have the opportunity to be not just good, ... | |
| Shedrow open front ankle boots | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: I was looking for an allexpert that could answer questions on tack, but i couldn't find one that ... A: The open front tendon boots go on the front legs and the ankle boots go on the back legs. The ... | |
| More on feeding | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: Reeves for your prompt answer. I was surprised, after reading my entry that was wrought with ... A: Wow, is he ever cute! Both the gray and the chestnut are fine examples of horses whose owners take ... | |
| Feeding | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: Good afternoon Ms. Reeves, I have a feeding/nutrition questions regarding a 6 year old Arab ... A: Answer from April Reeves, Horseman’s U.com: Just a question about the hay; many mixed hays can be ... | |
| Exercising horses | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: I keep reading everywhere that you should exercise your horse outdoors, but none of these sights ... A: Answer from April Reeves, Horseman’s U.com: thank you for this question; it is one of the best yet, ... | |
| collection | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I am just starting to teach my 5 year old QH mare about collection (I know, a little late). She is ... A: Connection/CollectionHI. I am just starting to teach my 5 year old QH mare about collection (I know, ... | |
| horse problem | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: i have a horse and when we bought him the people said he was 4. i can ride him. (im 5'4 and 120lbs.) ... A: This sounds like a classic case of a saddle not fitting properly. If a light weight person can ride ... | |
| Lead Horse panic | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a 14 yr old QH mare who when my daughter and I go on trail rides panics if she is not the ... A: Answer from April Reeves, Horseman’s U.com: I had to think about this one for a few days, as you ... | |
| saddles or horse equipment...is there a problem | 1/19/2009 |
| Q: Good day April, I am a student working on a biomimicry project (using nature as a model) For our ... A: Very interesting question; one I had to think about for a few days. Horses, like humans, can ... | |
| Pigrooting | 12/21/2008 |
| Q: the main time when this happens is when i gallop around the barrels and i get scared please help ... A: Answer from April Reeves, Horseman's U.com: First lets explain ‘pigrooting’. It’s a term used to ... | |
| Saddle fitting | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: How do you determine what sise of sattle to get your horse? Thankyou Lila ANSWER: Hello Lila, Are ... A: I sent you an answer a while back on western saddle fitting but AllExperts informs me you did not ... | |
| Saddle fitting | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: How do you determine what sise of sattle to get your horse? Thankyou Lila A: Are you interested in English or Western saddle fitting? That way I can refine my answer. Get back ... | |
| Horse Size | 11/27/2008 |
| Q: I convinced my parents to buy me a horse (yay!) and i want to know what height would be good for me. ... A: Answer from April Reeves, Horseman’s U.com: Hello Suzanne, I’m not sure how old you are but 15.3 ... | |
| Natural Horsemanship for english horses | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: I have been a traditional english rider for almost 30 years now. I am currently at level 2 dressage, ... A: From April Reeves, Horseman’s U.com: Hello Liz, Thank you for this question! Yes, Natural ... | |
Horseback Riding
Answers by Expert:
April Reeves
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Ask me questions regarding problem horses, training advice, saddling and bridling, feed, groundwork and handling, behavior and manners. Visit my site: Horseman's U.com for articles and great video on training and useful information. Watch for my clinic dates for 2009 - I may be in your area!
Experience
April Reeves has been in the Horse Industry since 1963. She has shown almost every breed and discipline along the West Coast of North America. April travels around North America giving clinics on Horsemanship, training for breeds and disciplines in English and Western.
Education/Credentials
EQUINE: studied under Rick and Jennifer Maynard (H/J), Patricia Deptford (Dressage), Kevin Pole, Morgan Libbert (reining). Hundreds of clinics, including Al Dunning and George Morris.
Past/Present Clients
I currently have a string of show students, a few recreational riders and groups of private barns. During the summer months I travel to private facilities for specific instruction.
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