Horse training tips, horse health care, equine business advice, horse books, horse courses; everything you need to learn about horses and horse care.

     Don Blazer is an author, a teacher, a trainer and a trader. For more than 40 years he's helped thousands of horses and horse owners enjoy the best of relationships based on knowledge, understanding and actions which are mutually beneficial.

     The author of eight How-To books on training performance horses and horse health care, he also writes the syndicated column A Horse, Of Course, which is must reading for thousands of fans across the nation.

     As a teacher, he's traveled from Alaska to Australia demonstrating training techniques and he's taught a variety of horsemanship courses for seven colleges and universities.

    Show horses or race horses, he's trained world class winners at both ends of the spectrum. His show horses have competed at world championship events and his race horses have won both Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred Stake races.

    Making Money With Horses is not only the title of one of his books, it is a way of life for him. He began his career as an author, trainer, teacher and trader at 19, and he's still at it-a syndicated column, clinics and lectures, young horses ridden daily, and occasionally he sells a horse.

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A Horse, Of Course, by Don Blazer

          I don’t think the majority of horses like the dentist any more than I do.
          But just the same, they need regular checkups…twice a year on young horses (which have relatively soft teeth compared to older horses) and once a year on older horses is usually pretty good.
          Even though they don’t brush after every meal (or floss), horses seldom have a cavity…just a few rough edges.
          The rough edges develop because the horse’s upper jaw is wider than the lower jaw. Therefore, the outside edge of the upper molars and the.....
      Click here to read more....

A Horse, Of Course Archives

Can you train your horses to be champion performers
by taking an online course?…..you bet you can!

      She started as a 2-year-old "demonstration" horse for www.horsecoursesonline.com and finished with two ABRA World Championship awards and a Reserve World Championship title.

      Sheza Especial Gold got her training as a demonstration horse for Don Blazer's online course, Training Performance Horses. Step by step she followed the course program until she competed for 2010 and 2011 World Championship titles at the American Buckskin Registry Association show in Tulsa, Ok. Blazer rode the 5-year-old filly in her competition classes.

     In 2010 Sheza won the ABRA Junior Trail Horse title under all five judges, and then came back this year to repeat as a judge's choice sweep in Junior Trail.

     This year the filly also won Reserve World Champion honors in All-Ages Western Riding, a pattern class requiring 8 flying changes of lead. She was the only junior horse in the class.

      Sheza was sold at the Reichert Celebration Show Horse Sale in 2011.

      "We start young horses as part of our video demonstrations for students participating in our online equine study programs," Blazer said. "The horses graduate (along with some students) when they complete their "junior horse status."

HorseCoursesOnline.com courses can lead to a Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies from Breyer State University, or professional certification as a horse trainer, riding instructor or stable manager from the Equine Studies Institute.

      "We'll miss Sheza in our program," Blazer said. "Hopefully she'll go on to win many more titles for other horse lovers.   I think she'll make an exceptional all-around horse for an amateur or youth rider."

      Sheza's trail horse training followed the course instructions in Train A Trail Horse, taught by world champion trainer and AQHA director Cathy Hanson.   The filly's education in western riding came from following the instructions in Train for Western Riding taught by world champion trainer Nancy Cahill.

      HorseCoursesOnline.com offers 26 different equine study courses taught by 17 award-winning instructors, each with proven records of success in the fields they teach.

      "Our completely online degree and certification courses teach practical, real-world knowledge that any student of the horse can use immediately to improve the health care and training of their horse," Blazer said. "Sheza's record of success demonstrates that online educational programs work, and our more than 4,000 students in 27 counties demonstrates that online education is convenient and affordable."

     Visit www.horsecoursesonline.com for complete details on earning a Bachelor of Science degree in equine studies or a Professional Certification as a horse trainer, riding instructor or stable manager.

As I See It!

    The number of breed horse shows and the number of horse show competitors are down. Everyone wants to blame the economy, but it’s not the economy!

     The cause is “the social value of horse shows has diminished.” (Social value is what you get in exchange for what you pay, and today, you aren’t getting nearly what you got years ago.)

      In days gone by you could go to a horse show, have a great time, meet a lot of people also having a great time, and your horse, no matter what his value, could win something every now and then. In addition, you could show in a half dozen classes and perform acceptably well.

      Not so now… today’s show horses are mostly “specialists.”   They are very good at what they do, and what they do is usually one or two events. So, if you have a great horse, you sit around most of the day or weekend waiting for that one event…and then you win it because you always win it.   You also win because there are fewer competitors to beat, since after a show or two those with a lesser horse quit wasting their money.

      So you’ve won, but you don’t get much in terms of value; a point or two from the breed association and a coffee mug.   And you’ve paid for stalls, shavings, ground fees, drug fees, hotel, gas to haul, truck payment, trailer payment and a bad hamburger. The weekend costs a hundred to $1,000.

      If things keep going as they are now, the downward spiral is going to continue.

      The answer is obvious, although it may not be easy to implement.

      The answer is to raise the “social value” so that participants believe they are getting “adequate value” in return for what they spend.

       Here are two quick suggestions: l. Rate horses by ability and only allow them to compete with horses of equal or greater ability. 2. Have money payback awards. (The shows that currently do this are currently enjoying success.

       And that’s the way I see it. If you see it differently, let me know at donblazer@gvtc.com

You can train your horse yourself..."online"
     Five world champion trainers are ready to help you train your horse yourself. .
      Teach your horse every footfall sequence for every maneuver, and learn every correct weight, rein and leg cue to communicate clearly and concisely with your partner...plus you'll get the tips and tricks champions use to achieve winning performances..
     www.equinestudiesinstitute.com courses mean your instructors are just a click away. They'll answer your questions, help you develop daily training exercises and show you how to do what you want to do in exclusive, just for you, videos..
     Take one course or several. Learn the foundation training for all performance horses...or specialize in trail, reining, western riding or dressage. No travel, no worry about the care of your horse, no $1,000 a month training fees or "day of the show" expenses.
      Each course is just $275 and you study when you want and at your pace. Your course is your guide, yet, you actually train your horse…what a great sense of pride and accomplishment.
      Imagine how you'll feel as you gain confidence every day in your training knowledge and skills.

Click here to select the horse training courses you want