I am a perfectionist through and through (I could do a perfect hunter tail braid at the age of 12 due to lots of practice and sheer will power). The perfectionist in me wants to have a heart attack not only if my horse Ace’s mane is getting too long, but when it comes time to make that first cut.

Once you get started trimming your horse’s mane, you’re committed. It’s so difficult to make it even but natural looking, short enough without getting too short, parallel with the slope of of your horse’s neck. From years of practice on lots of different manes, here are my top 5 tips for shortening your horse’s mane.

1. Determine the correct mane length

Horses who generally have shorter manes are those competing in eventing, hunter/jumpers, or dressage who require braided manes as well as in western disciplines who frequently band manes. Breeds like thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses often look better with short manes, while Arabians and gaited horses prefer long.

Optimal length may vary from horse to horse, based on how big he is, how thick his neck is, what looks right with his overall body shape and build.

But a good general rule of thumb is that a shortened mane for braiding and banding purposes should be 6 inches from root to tip.

Don’t have a ruler handy? Use the width of your hand as a general guideline. Lay your hand flat against your horse’s mane just below the crest of his neck, and aim for 1-2 inches below the width of your hand. Here’s Ace’s mane after I shortened it:

2. Start longer than you think you should

One lesson I’ve learned the hard way is to always always make those first few cuts longer than you think you should. I would measure out my perfect 6-inch mane, only to end up with one that was only 4-inches long because I tried too hard to make it perfectly even. You will have to go back and do some clean up. And somehow you’ll always end up shorter than you intended. You can always take more mane off. You can’t put it back on.

3. Use a stripping blade (it’s my favorite shortening tool!)

Here are the tools I use:

Pulling comb: As if it wasn’t difficult enough, Ace has the longest neck and the thickest mane I’ve ever had to deal with. But I’m not a  huge fan of  pulling manes, because even if Ace doesn’t have nerve endings in his roots, he still shows obvious annoyance/discomfort. I also know that if I ever want to braid him for a show, I’m going to have to thin it out. Over the last month I’ve carefully pulled 4-5 chunks out each time I’ve groomed him. But it was just getting too long for my taste, so I knew I had to forgo the pulling for a while and just get it trimmed. (not to mention we have some visitors coming tomorrow and I wanted him to look his best!)

Stripping blade: The stripping blade has sharp teeth and a wooden handle and is used similarly to how a hair stylist uses a razor. All you do is hold a small chunk of hair tight in one hand, and slice downwards with the stripping blade in the other. I like it because it’s very simple to use and leaves a  more natural looking edge. You can also get it for under $5.

4. Only do very very small chunks at a time

If there’s one thing you should take away, it’s that you need to only trim tiny chunks with each swipe of the stripping blade.

The smaller the chunks, the more natural looking and even your horse’s newly-shortened mane will be.

To keep it even, I will grab a short chunk and a neighboring long chunk in my left hand, pull it tight, and slice the long chunk just below the shorter mane.

5. Don’t wait until right before the show to shorten your horse’s mane

If you’ve never shortened your horse’s mane before, the day before the show is not the time to start. I can almost guarantee that it will end up too short on your first try, and you will have a heck of a time trying to get it braided.

I’m not showing this year, so I usually let Ace’s mane get this long before I shorten it:

It took three  months for his mane to grow to this length from a respectable 6-inches. you can see here how much I trimmed off:

If you want to maintain a well-kept, short mane, you’ll need to trim it at least every 2-3 months. If you are showing, it will need done more frequently in order for it to be braid-able.

Moral of the story: practice in the winter when you can afford to mess up and it has time to grow out. (or if you don’t show and just like a short mane, do it whenever you want!)

What other tips, tricks, and tools do you have for keeping your horse’s mane beautifull shortened? Or if you don’t, why do you prefer to keep it long?

Ticket prices and event start times have been finalized for the eight world championships, which are being held outside of Europe for the first time in their history. Tickets will go on sale September 25, 2009, exactly one year before the Games arrive in Kentucky. Approximately 600,000 tickets will be available with prices starting as low as $25.

Ticket prices vary by day and stage of the competition.

Reining

• Early rounds: $95
• Individual Finals: $120
  

Endurance

• $45
  

Dressage

• Team Grand Prix: $60-90
• Grand Prix Special: $95-125
• Grand Prix Freestyle: $110-140

Eventing

• Dressage: $45-60
• Cross Country: $45
• Show Jumping: $80-105

Show Jumping

• Initial Speed and Team: $60-90
• Team Finals: $80-110
• Individual Finals: $90-120

Para Dressage

• $25-45

Driving

• $45-50

Vaulting

• $35-45

Visit the Alltech World Equestrian Games site for a detailed schedule with pricing.

Angel Karolyi of Venezuela was chosen to be the 2010 Radio Show Spotlight Jumper. Angel joins us for a lively chat about his family, career and his plans to qualify for the Alltech FEI 2010 World Equestrian Games. Also, Akaash Maharaj, CEO of Equine Canada gives us an update on how the preparations are going in Canada for the 2010 WEG. Listen in…

2010 Radio Show Episode 43 - Spotlight Jumper, Angel Karolyi and a Look at Canada:

• Don’t forget to register to win a $300 supply of SUCCEED Digestive Conditioning Program or a 2010 World Equestrian Games T-Shirt.

• Last weekend was a busy one for anyone trying to get a head start on picking the three day event teams for next year’s WEG. The US sent 26 year old Will Coleman from Virginia over to Luhmuhlen in Germany to contest the four star there with Twizzel, after a minor injury in the spring prevented him from running at Rolex, and he did us proud.
• At three star level, Canadian Hawley Bennet won the Bromont CCI in Canada riding Gin n Juice.
• In England at the Bramham three star CCI, Andrew Nicholson rose to the top with a clear show jumping round on the final day, snatching victory from local girl Nicola Wilson.

• All the horses competing at next year’s World Games will have their feet well taken care of by the American Farrier’s Association, or AFA, and this has now been extended to all the test events as well.
• Collecting Gaits Farm has once again signed on to sponsor the United States Equestrian Federation Dressage Festival of Champions at Gladstone, New Jersey.
• Thank you to Akaash Maharaj, CEO of Equine Canada, for joining us with the Canadian update. We are looking forward to having you back!

• Congratulations to Angel Karolyi from Venezuela for being chosen as the 2010 Radio Show Spotlight Jumper. See Angel’s website. We will follow Angel and his progress to getting to the 2010 WEG. Here is Angel riding at Washington in 2008:

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Jessica Phoenix Riding Exploring - Photo Credit: USEA

Jessica Phoenix of Canada was chosen to be the 2010 Radio Show Spotlight Eventer. Jessica joins us for a fun chat about her past and what is in store for qualifying for the Alltech FEI 2010 World Equestrian Games. Also, top endurance rider Meg Sleeper shares some of her wild tails of the trail! Listen in…

2010 Radio Show by SUCCEED Episode 42 - The Spotlight Eventer is Jessica Phoenix from Canada:

• Don’t forget to register to win a $300 supply of SUCCEED Digestive Conditioning Program or a 2010 World Equestrian Games T-Shirt.

• The American Show Jumping Team continue to take Europe by storm, with another win in St Gallen, Switzerland, last weekend straight off the back of their stunning victory in Rome the week before.
• Lexington’s Spotlight Downtown Festival, the urban version of the WEG, has a major new sponsor in St Joseph Healthcare, to the tune of three hundred thousand dollars.
• Dutch Dressage may have a new kid on the block representing them next year in Lexington at the 2010 WEG. Last saturday Anky Van Grunsven relinquished her national crown to Edward Gal, riding 9 year old stallion Moorlands Totilas.
• Equine Canada have come up with a fun way to win two tickets to the Alltech World Games here in Lexington next year. Budding producers and movie stars might want to listen up, as you’re invited to make a short video of why you think you should be selected to attend the Games as an ambassador for Canada.
• Thank you to Meg Sleeper for joining us to share some of her endurance stories with us. What a great representative of the sport.
• Congratulations to Jessica Phoenix from Canada for being chosen as the 2010 Radio Show Spotlight Eventer. See Jessica’s website. We will follow Jessica and her progress to getting to the 2010 WEG.

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2010 Radio Show Episode 39 - Spotlight Para-Equestrian Susan Treabess:

• And the winner of the May 2010 Games Giveaway of the $300.00 worth of Succeed Digestive Conditioning Program was Kellie Fuson of Ann Arbor, MI. Congrats Kellie.
• It is now time to enter to win the June Games Giveaway. Remember you have to re-enter every month:

• The US Show jumping team is gaining ground in Europe. After a disappointing start to the Top League, finishing 7th out of 8 teams in the opening round at La Baule in France, our team of Richard Spooner on Cristallo, Laura Kraut on Cedric, Lauren Hough riding Quick Study, and European rookie Ashlee Bond riding Cadett were victorious in the Nations Cup in Rome.
• The USA’s Catherine Haddad on Cadillac was reserve champion behind Sander Marijnissen of the Netherlands on Moedwil in the Exquis World Dressage Masters Grand Prix Special to Music five star CDI last saturday, May 23rd.

• The Canadian Para Equestrian Team Coach Andrea Taylor has extended her commitment to the team at least until next year’s World Games.
• Here’s some news from the NRHA that’s right up my alley. The National Reining Horse Association recently revolutionized their format of classes and shows to appeal to more entry-level competitors.

Thus, since I started blogging over a year and a half ago, I think I’ve learned more about riding, horsemanship, and horse care than I have in the entire last decade. I’ve read magazines, read blogs, watched videos, and done lots of research to bring helpful material to my readers. And in the process, I’ve learned a ton.

I’m continually amazed at the tons of great information being provided online in a multitude of channels. As always, information on the web must be taken with a grain of salt because anybody can post anything - and not all of it is quality. So  it usually takes some sorting to find the best resources.

I am continually coming across new blog posts, websites, videos and more with great riding and training tips and ideas. So, my plan is to instititute a “Best of the web” training tips column, where every week or so I’ll share some of the great resources I’ve found that have helped me with my horsemanship and might just interest you too.

But first, I have two homework assignments for you (not really homework, it’s just that you’re smarter than me and I need your input):

1. name this column. 2-3 words to make it easily recognizable, descriptive but catchy
2. share your favorite online resources. Drop me an email with links to your favorite sites, blog posts, websites, videos, etc. They can even be your own!

I’ll get started with two of the great riding lessons I’ve learned this week.

Centered Riding and the Psoas Muscles

A big thanks goes out to Wiola of Riding Instructors Diary for this great post on The Psoas Muscle - the key to good position and deep seat. This was news to me, and something I’ll be paying attention to from  now on.

The psoas muscle is an interior muscle that attaches at the front of your lower lumbar spine and to the lesser trochanter at the top of your femur. They are the only muscles that attach your spine to your legs, and are what allow you to lift your leg.

The psoas and iliopsoas hold the torso vertical and engage to stop you from falling backwards behind the line of gravity which passes behind the hip joints. The psoas, engaged with the rectus abdominis hold you into the centre of the saddle so that your two seat bones are connected to the horse’s back muscles on either side of his spine. This is a vital piece of information, for sliding off one side or the other (usually to the outside through corners) is a major cause of horses falling out through their shoulder or haunches or bulging.

So, the psoas muscles are what we should be using to stabilize our upper bodies and for achieving a deep, connected seat. Read Wiola’s full post on the psoas muscles for more details  on how these muscles help your riding as well as how to exercise and stretch them.

Julie Goodnight Teaches the Emergency Stopping or Pulley Rein

In this video, Julie Goodnight teaches a rider how to use a type of emergency stop with her 17.1 thoroughbred who is all go and no whoa. This is the emergency stopping rein, or pulley rein. Here’s how it works:

Shorten one rein and anchor your hand against your horse’s neck in the dip just in front of his withers. It should be short enough that your horse flexes his head slightly to that side.

Then, be sure to sit up and back,slide your hand down the opposite rein and pull up and back with the opposite rein using your upper body as leverage. The key is to anchor one hand while  pulling up at a slight angle as if you were shooting a bow and arrow into the ground with the other. Julie says it will stop any horse on a dime, as it apparently does with the freighter in this video.

I’ve learned the one-rein stop, but I think I like this one better. It doesn’t  involve turning, which could cause a bolting horse to overbalance and fall.

Watch Julie Goodnight demonstrate and teach the emergency stopping rein.

Now, do your homework in the comments section. (Note: this assignment is not graded.)

Big Brown came close last year, the ninth horse in three decades to win the first two races but fail miserably at the long and grueling Belmont. But as exciting as it was to have Triple Crown hopes last year, I think Mine That Bird, Rachel Alexandra, and Calvin Borel are more likely to live on in the memories of race fans.

Two great horses may help this one great jockey to be the first human to win all the Triple Crown races, just with different horses.

Kentucky Derby Winner Calvin Borel Aboard Mine That Bird

43-year-old jockey Calvin Borel won the 2007 Kentucky Derby with Street Sense before capturing it in a come-from-behind victory with long-shot Mine That Bird this year. They started out trailing the field by nearly as many lengths as they as they ended up winning it. I don’t know that I’ve seen a more exciting race in my lifetime.

Mine That Bird’s late burst of speed was only helped by Borel’s exceptional navigational abilities as they weaved their way through the pack, finding holes to the front.

If by some chance you missed  this year’s Kentucky Derby, watch it now:

Borel and Filly Rachel Alexandra Take 2009 Preakness Stakes

Calvin Borel showed good instincts and good horsemanship when he chose to ride the filly Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness over Derby winner Mine That Bird. That decision paid off when he took Rachel Alexandra to the front of the pack and kept her there. He isn’t going to have a Triple Crown horse, but he very may well be a Triple Crown jockey anyway.

I could tell Rachel Alexandra was going to keep her lead in the Preakness early on in the race. As the boys dug in half way through, she was galloping along with her head up and her ears flapping in the wind like she was hardly trying. Only at the end did she dig in to fend off the once-again late effort by Mine That Bird. If the race had been just a bit longer, Mine That Bird very well may have taken it. But this one was Rachel and Borel’s. Not only did the filly beat out the boys, she did it from the very difficult outside post position, breaking fast and cutting in to to take lead a few horses out from the rail. Another very exciting race!

2009 Belmont Stakes

With Rachel Alexandra not running in the Belmont, Calvin Borel is back aboard Mine That Bird for the longer race that will play well to his late running style. If all goes well, Calvin Borel may just capture the Triple Crown himself. Either way, he is having quite a year with his wins in the Derby, Preakness, and the Kentucky Oaks.

It’s still a few days away, but here are how things stand.

2009 Belmont Stakes Contenders

Current contenders for the Belmont are

• Charitable Man
• Chocolate Candy
• Brave Victory
• Dunkirk
• Flying Private
• Luv Guv
• Mine That Bird
• Miner’s Escape
• Mr. Hot Stuff
• Nowhere to Hide
• Summer Bird

Belmont Stakes Race Info &  Television Coverage

Date: Saturday June 6th, 2009
Location: Belmont Park, Elmont, NY
Post Time: 6:30PM (EST)
TV Network: ABC, 5:00PM (EST)

Be sure to tune in (or weigh in on why you will or won’t watch thoroughbred racing here).

Many firsts on this episode of the 2010 Radio Show. We are joined by Alltech Founder Dr. Lyons for the first of the Monthly Alltech Updates about Alltech’s role in the planning of the Alltech FEI 2010 World Equestrian Games. Plus, we are very excited to present the first in our 2010 Radio Show Spotlight Athlete series. For the discipline of driving we will be following Mike McLennan of Texas. Mike joins us to tell of his longtime dream to compete in a World Equestrian Games. Listen in…

2010 Radio Show Episode 38 - “The 2010 Radio Show Spotlight Driver”:

• As we spoke about in the show, our friends at Hobby Horse Clothing Company had a robbery at their warehouse in Chino, California this week. Please take a minute to read all the details and see how you can help.
• Only days left to win the fantastic giveaway item from Succeed worth over $300.00. Enter before May 31, it’s free and easy:

• Check out the brand new show on the Horse Radio Network, that’s the Dressage Radio Show at www.dressageradio.com.
• International Eventer Boyd Martin was approved by the FEI last week to leave the Australian team and compete with the United States team.
• The American Saddlebred Museum is preparing a special exhibit for the WEG.



• Equestrian Australia has announced that the new coach for the Para Equestrians will be Julia Battams.
• The British Para Show Jumping Association has integrated with the British Show Jumping Association and announced that it will start running affiliated and unaffiliated competitions for it’s members as the first step towards becoming an FEI sport.
• Thank you to Dr. Lyons for the first Monthly Alltech Update.
• Tune in to hear all about our first “2010 Radio Show Spotlight Driver”. We will follow Mike McLennan on his quest to the medals at the 2010 WEG. He is a fascinating guy and we think you are going to love following him through the games. He will be joining us every two months with updates.



• See Mike’s websites at MikeMclennan.com and FoundationQuarterHorse.com.
• We will have a special section built for the spotlight athletes in the next couple of days, stay tuned.

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Great minds must think alike, as yesterday I featured para dressage at the World Equestrian Games on Regarding Horses, and so did Glenn the Geek on this week’s episode of the 2010 Radio Show. Hear more about this event from the recently crowned national champ Rebecca Hart and US Para Dressage team coach and eventer Missy Ransehousen.

They join Glenn to speak about Becca’s road to the Alltech FEI 2010 World Equestrian Games. Plus, we have a bunch of 2010 WEG news for you this week. Listen in…

2010 Radio Show Episode 37 - Para-Equestrian Update with Rebecca Hart:

• This month we have a fantastic giveaway item from Succeed. Remember you have to sign up every month to win.

• Check out the brand new show on the Horse Radio Network, that’s the Dressage Radio Show at www.dressageradio.com.
• Reining riders not currently on the USEF long list for 2009 to compete for the CRI* National Championship Title will still be allowed a chance to prove their mettle at the competition in Oklahoma on June 26th of this year.
• The Canadian Reining Committee (CRC) and the High Performance sub-Committee of Equine Canada is pleased to announce that the selection criteria for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) is now posted on the Equine Canada website at www.equinecanada.ca.



• The new Indoor Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, which will officially open on June 27th with the John Henry Memorial Equine Adoption Fair, will begin hosting the Bluegrass Stallions, Lexington’s newest pro-basketball team, come November.
• Garrard County, Kentucky is determined to draw tourists visiting for the Games next year. Work will begin soon on a replica of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, made famous in the classic 1852 novel of the same name by Harriet Beecher Stowe.



• Get an inside look at the eventing world and the buildup to the 2010 Games from Max Corcoran, Karen O’Connor’s head groom, in her EquiSearch.com blog.
• Thank you to Rebecca Hart for joining us this week! Read about her victory at Lamplight last weekend.
• And finally thank you to our friend Missy Ransehousen for joining us this week! Always a class act. Here is a picture of Missy at the jog at Rolex 2009 with Critical Decision:

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