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I recently received a copy of "Judging Hunters" and I have studied it chapter by chapter. I need to know if there are any books written on the topic of course design - specifically for the hunter ring. I would also be interested in equitation and jumper courses but am mainly interested in the hunters. Ultimately I would like to pursue an AHSA judges license for hunter judging & possibly equitation and breeding. Where can I find specific requirements or at least a list of steps I need to take. The AHSA rule book seems so vague - maybe I'm not looking in the right places!

I have a Dutch Warmblood who is branded, however, former owners did not have papers, etc. Is it possible to track down the lineage? The horse is about 12-13 years old and believed to be born in the US. Just wanted to know how to start researching this.

I have a 10 yr old QH gelding that as a 7 yr old was green broke. My mom originally bought him and I have been working with him for the past 1 1/2 yrs. I am training him to be an all around horse and we are almost there. We just have one big problem! We lived in TN for a year and had our own barn and arena so I was working him everyday and somedays twice a day. I started working him on flying lead changes and he got them every time, never missing one. Now that I can work on them again (after moving), he absolutely will not do them. He won't even set up for them. He does perfect simple changes but for our western classes we need the flying changes. I have tried figure 8's, straight aways, roll back, moving him off my leg at the canter into the direction of the new lead, small circles at the counter canter, using my corners, etc., and nothing is working. Please help!

I have a very nice Irish TB hunter. He came off the track a few years ago and was started badly over fences. I am told he was crashed several times in an attempt to make an overnight event horse out of him. He was also extremely spooky and nervous to ride. Now, he is still spooky but not nearly as much, and we finished a very successful year at baby green; but we still have a stopping problem. Rail fences are fine. At shows, most of time the gates are not a problem. Sometimes, however, specific fences will be. At home we have a castle gate. Every day it is cause to spook, stop if possible and leap it fearfully. It does not matter if it is 18" or 3', same reaction. I have tried patience, punishment, to no avail. Suggestions?

Do you happen to know the site that contains names for German Hanoverian stallions. My friend would like to mate her 16.3 thoroughbred mare.

I am having a difficult time understanding the concept of following the horse's head up or down with your hands to maintain a straight line from elbow to bit. I understand that to keep your hands low when the horse is carrying his head high pulls on the bars of his mouth; however, isn't that what side reins do when you are lungeing? The side reins do not go up and down with the horse's head ... they remain in a fixed position, and the horse seems to find that place and stay there. I've watched riders schooling green horses, and I've noticed the hands inching down when the horse's head is flying high, and I've seen it result in the horse's head returning to a more balanced position. As my trainer coaches, I am trying to keep that straight line from elbow to bit, but when my horse's head goes up and I'm told to follow it, it feels so wrong to me. Please help me understand this concept better.

Is there anyway to get dressage tests on the Internet? I don't care if they're old or new. I need a lot of them for all different levels.

I own a 6 year old Oldenburg stallion. He has impeccable conformation, manners, and unlimited potential. I am concerned that I may be pushing him too much or that his work load may be too much for his growing body. He is currently being shown in 3'6 to 4' hunter and is winning almost every class he is entered in. He is willing to move up and has already been jumped up to 5' and this concerns me a little bit. My coach feels that he will decide where and when his limitations are and that he will work up to a level that he feels comfortable at. I am astonished by his natural abilities and I am definitely ready to take him to higher levels but I worry that the stress of the harder work will put too much stress on him--both mentally and physically. I wanted to get a second opinion and so this is why I am writing. I have great expectations that I know he will meet, I just don't want to push him too far too fast. We will hopefully be showing at Spruce Meadows within the next 2 years or so and many feel that he is ready for that caliber of jumping at this time. Do you think that I should give him a year or so of light work so that he can develop mentally and physically or should I continue with training and show him in tougher competition?

I need infomation on scholarships offered to equine enthusasts. I am up for a Rodeo royalty and I own and train my own wild mustangs if that is any help.

My 14 yr. old T'bred mare gets quick coming off a line of fences. If I stop her or try to back her up, she pitches a fit and gets even quicker the next line. She's also a dedicated corner cutter--usually after a straight line on course. Any suggestions?

What do you think of a percheron/TB cross and do you think it will be suitable for jumping?

I am starting to train an 18 y.o. pony who used to do eventing so all he knows is how to go forward. He doesn't understand what contact is, he doesn't understand bending, he doesn't understand how to collect, or how not to run into the canter depart.He doesn't understand either how to get his legs underneath him in a circle. He has an excellent disposition though. I just don't want to start in the wrong place or make him scared to learn by trying to train at too quick of a pace. Any suggestions where I should start and what I should start with?

Hi, I'm training this gelding I bought a few months ago and he's been doing really well on the flat lately. He's not rearing up and falling over any more and he's not trying to buck me off. Now that he has overcome these habits, as you might call them, I want to start training him for Show Jumping. I was wondering if you had any exercises to start him over fences. I have been working him over ground poles to get him relaxed and balanced over them. I was wondering if it would be to soon to add a small fence? If not what would the distance be between the ground poles and the small fence? My horse has a little stride. Thanks for your help!

It's finally stopped raining in Texas, and I'm back to riding fairly consistently. The problem is that my TB gelding had a small head carriage problem before, that is now very advanced and noticeable. He basically 'collapses' his head and neck to the right and exaggerates flexion when I make contact with his mouth. He is in a D ring snaffle with copper rollers, and was floated two months ago. The vet checked his mouth for any potential problems, but can't find a cause. I've been advised to lunge him in side reins with the left side much tighter than the right to force him to accept pressure on the right side, but just thought I'd ask your advice. Thanks! Also, if that advice is what I should do, would a chambon work as well, or do I need side reins to be effective?

I have a ongoing problem of getting ahead of my horse just prior to him jumping. I know I'm doing it, but it's usually difficult to detect if you're watching. It was especially apparent yesterday when the horse took one additional stride, I would have been all over his neck if he'd stopped and I'm sure I looked quite comical. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the height of the jump (1 1/2ft - 3 ft). Again, it's very subtle, but I'm very concerned. If I don't have the option of moving jumps and/or working the gymnastics outlined in your book, what other things could I try so I don't get ahead of the horse just prior to the jump? Should I just stay back or in my 2-point until until he's left the ground?

I'm confused about your explanation for asking a horse for a lead over the fence. I know what an indirect rein is, so that makes sense, but say for example if you're asking for the left lead, how can you also move your hands to the left, using the outside rein almost as a neck-rein to ask for the lead and the inside rein as a leading rein. Isn't that the complete opposite movement of a left indirect rein? How can both apply to asking for the same result?

I would like to know how to get in with the Cutting Horse ACC.

My pony has the worst canter in the world! It is almost impossible to sit to and she hardly ever gets the correct lead. If I want to show this season in Dressage, I'm going to have to learn to sit to her canter. Can you please give me all the tips you can find? I'm so worried because this is so important to me.

PS- Can you give me some tips on 20 meter canter circles. Thanks a million

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