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G
Gallop
The fastest and for most riders the nicest pace of the horse. It is tempting
but make sure that your horse does not over exert itself. For your sake
it is sometimes prepared to give more than is actually good for it. Therefore,
you should not allow the gallop distances to become too long. After a
breather where you should really continue walking so that your
companion does not catch a cold, you and your horse may start again.
Subsequently, you should allow your horse sufficient time to settle again.
You should walk your horse to dry off.
Gallop is the most important programme for the instinctive flight of
the animal; it is life saving so to speak. It can, however, also be dangerous
especially if you gallop on the beach into the water, particularly into
tideways'. Other dangers are deep sand, hills, rocks and stones. Here
stick to the rule: draw the reins in good time, under all circumstances,
the rider must think for his horse.
Gallop is preferable on sandy ground for both horse and rider. Also on
the beach and on woodland paths. On rock-hard ground, asphalt roads and
downhill, gallop is forbidden in principle. No ifs or buts! Not even
the strongest legs can bear this.
Gates
During rides or trails it happens quite frequently that gates and fences
closing a field, paddock or pasture need to be opened. It is absolutely
necessary to close them again. This is a task, which requires time and
strength. Opening and closing from horseback bears hazards and it is
therefore recommended to dismount for this purpose.
Girth
The girth should be firmly resting on the horse's belly. Repeated re-tightening
is a must! After the first rounds on the sand, the girth is to be re-tightened
for the first time; half an hour later the firth should be tightened
again by one or two holes. Slipping saddles, blankets and luggage are
most unpleasant for the horse and therefore extremely dangerous. In addition,
a ride underneath the horses belly is not really a pleasant experience
- unless you count yourself as one of the Apaches or Comanches who are
said to have taken pleasure in playing hid and seek in this way. When
you girth the horse
you should allow it to adjust to girth and saddle. Anyone, who tries
after the first tightening, and after having put on the saddle to drive
the air out of the horse's lungs by force, just causes unnecessary pain.
Your four-legged companion will then use a little trick - it bellies
out a bit. In order to adjust the girth to an optimum, you should, after
the first tightening of the girth, lift up the left and then the right
leg, standing in front of the horse's chest.
Girth area
The rule here is: before and after every ride, the girth area is to be
thoroughly cleaned and brushed. Dirt and especially sand my lead to serious
injuries due to rubbing. Even a few grains of sand will have the effect
of a rasp, or sandpaper under the girth. If bruises, injuries or pressure
marks occur in this area these are to be treated with special care. In
these cases an ointment is always useful.
Gloves
Although the horses at Horse Holiday Farm are used to being ridden with
long reins, the rider is recommended to wear gloves. This helps to prevent
blisters, especially when the drawing of reins - on the beach! - Tends
to develop into a small fight with the horse. And just experience the
reins being pulled out of your hands a few times with a strong jerk …..
Going lame
The horse may go lame after excessive strain. The horse seems to drag
one of its legs. The best way to have this checked is by a fellow rider
at a trot. If the finding is positive, only walking will be allowed.
Cooling and rest will provide fast relief and healing. During a trail
ride this is frequently not possible to a sufficient extent. Depending
on the degree of impairment the horse is to be exchanged. A phone call
to the farm is always recommended to get advice.
Gorevans
A pub in Cliffoney. The absolute meeting point for the guests staying
at Mary's Guesthouse. But also for the guests of the farm it is a worthwhile
and pleasant walk or nice evenings ride out. The atmosphere is typically
friendly. With a glass of Guinness and a Paddy you will get to know all
the latest news of the area, if you take the opportunity to ask, but
usually the Irish are quicker and are very keen on hammering you with
their questions; "where do you come from".
Grange
A small village on the main road from Sligo to Donegal. The farm is situated
a few kilometres further north. It is worth mentioning because of its
pubs and Crystal Factory, "Sligo Crystal". Anyone who likes
cut glass should visit the factory and watch the crystal cutters doing
their work.
Group
Depending on demand and interest the farm will organise a guided hack
for interested groups. It goes without saying that the special skills
of the individual rider are important considerations. If it is your first
stay at the farm, or if you wish to develop confidence and feel safe
with your horse, you should accept this offer. It is also the quickest
way for the guests to get to know interesting trails in the area. The
guests who join this group are expected to adopt the practices and the
discipline of the group hack. However, if you wish and if you have enough
confidence in yourself, you can "drop out" at any time and
find your own way back.
H
Halter
Indispensable aid to fetch the horse from the field and take it back
there. And, if you intend to leave the horse for some time together with
its saddle, you tie your animal up just using the halter. This also applies
at the stables while you are grooming your horse. The bridle must never
be used for tying up; it would rip very easily. Some horses hate to be
tied up; when they panic they may fight against the rope with incredible
strength.
The rope of the halter is to be knotted in a way that it can be released
again, ideally with just one pull. The loop is internationally known.
Anyone who does not know it should get someone to show it to him. For
greater safety it is useful to use a panic hook between halter and rope.
If need be, it will be easier for the horses release.
Halting
Experience in dressage with your school horse is sometimes of very little
use with the horses at the farm. You must adjust to the special way of
reacting, which the horses of the farm have learnt during their trail
experience. In the sense of classic dressage you will, therefore, see
many bad habits but there is no point in complaining; you must learn
to communicate with your horse, and make your rules quite clear and in
a way redefine them. Before you ride off you should always dedicate some
time to training and communication. Watch carefully how your horse reacts
to your aids such as legs, reins and whip.
Hard Hat
It should actually be part of the compulsory standard equipment of every
rider. It is good, if it never really has to prove its effectiveness.
The helmet or hard hat is in this respect similar to the safety belt
in the car. The law prescribes its use; but we do not wish anyone to
experience the reality of its usefulness. The hat should be worn with
a chinstrap or would you prefer to land right on it in case of a fall?
Heinrich
The youngest son of the Anhold family. After a period of time away from
riding, he rediscovered his love of horses and now competes very successfully
with his horses.
Hoof-pick
A tool for hoof care. It goes into the service box, which is underneath
the respective saddle in the tack room. You should always put it back
there. Remember to take it on trail with you.
Hooves
The horses feet. They should be taken care of every day. Before and after
the ride the hooves must be picked out and cleaned. If little stones
get stuck in them this may lead to going lame. Pressed-in dung can cause
hoof rot. A hoof-pick is used for scraping which is available with its
own number in the tack room. In case of longer stays at the farm you
can apply a little hoof grease to the hoof once a day.
Horse
The main thing at Horse Holiday Farm. Not a piece of sports equipment
but a living creature with its own individual character and ever
varying moods and condition. The challenge for the rider is to communicate
with his horse. To make this possible every guest has his "own" horse
for the period of his stay and is responsible for its well being.
The horses at Horse Holiday Farm distinguish themselves by their good
naturedness, stamina and impressive tread-safety. The rider can rely
on this. The horses are ridden with long reins rather than short reins.
This may be in contradiction to dressage experience gained at conventional
riding schools, but here the animals must have the opportunity of convincing
themselves whether or not a path is safe for walking on. On the beach
they usually become even livelier, they are used to being allowed to
gallop boisterously here. When doing so they can develop a surprising
speed. But make sure that the gallop distances are kept short.
In the first few day's people tend to make the mistake of drawing in
the reins too much. After many years of experience, this is an unmistakable
sign for the horse that the rider is afraid [afraid of what?] This results
in a vicious circle; Drawn-in reins means to the horse: Attention! Lets
get moving! Consequently, it prepares itself for this and tenses the
muscles and perhaps it even starts to dance around excitedly. Quite a
few riders become really frightened and think: Good heavens-we'll be
off in a moment! And draw in the reins even more. It is easy to imagine
what the horse thinks; fine.
I can soon set off like greased lightening. And you can bet that it will
soon do so.
Horses distinguish themselves by some clear behaviour patterns, which
the rider should take into consideration when he deals with them :- Horses
are escape animals who react or may react with a panic stricken flight
to any danger or imagined threat. So actually this powerful animal is
just a very sensitive "scaredy - cat". Every animal has its
own sensitivity and reacts individually: one animal may take to its heels
if it sees a white plastic bag lurking behind a bush, whereas another
one storms off as soon as a red car comes along, ignoring, however, all
other car colours.
-Horses only reacts with aggression if they feel driven into a corner
or if they cannot use their "escape" pattern to get away.
-Horses bite and kick if they feel ill treated, threatened or if they
are suddenly surprised "from behind" or if they are in a struggle
for power.
-Horses are gregarious animals and are happiest when they are in their
herd or in company [for instance yours]. If a horse is separated from
its herd in certain situations it becomes frightened. If a horse is held
back in a group when all the others are galloping away it may do all
sorts of things [rear, kick, arch its back] in order to be with the others.
It will only allow you to hold it back, if it has trust in you and if
you are really the boss.
-Horses need an order of rank in their herd [which also includes you
in case of doubt] and they challenge this order again and again by fighting
and playing games. Only the animal of higher rank has a say and enjoys
the other animal's confidence. As the rider you must make your horse
feel that you are the strongest - even if you may soon turn out to be
just a paper tiger. This is the only way to ensure its submission and
gain its confidence.
After a friendly welcome in the morning, just press its head gently to
the side a few times, or perhaps make yourself "bigger" by
approaching your horse with yours lifted up and your hands directed towards
it, but without frightening it. The reaction will soon show you whether
you were successful or whether you have to try again. Principle: The
horse must make room for you, must offer you its place.
-Horses will move aside for the one higher in rank. After this, all further
scrapping will cease. If a horse moves aside this is comparable with
the submissive gesture of a dog offering its neck to the superior opponent.
If the horse has made room for you and thereby respects your higher order
of rank, this will be the start of its submission and the basis of its
confidence.
-Horses are extremely inquisitive and not one bit unforgiving. If you
have made your four-legged friend understood that you are the boss, it
may push off, but after a few minutes it will show interest in you again
and approach you with friendliness and curiosity. Just watch out when
it brings up and tests the questions of power again, trying to find out
if you still deserve its confidence. You should always be prepared for
this.
-Horses want to be fondled and petted; they are rather affectionate,
but take care that you really reinforce only positive behaviour. If you
try to calm down a horse immediately after a panic reaction "soothingly" pat
the horse's neck. In these situations you must again "keep a cool
head" and make clear that you are the one in control of everything.
Horseflies
A real nuisance for the rider and his horse. On warm, windless days,
horseflies can appear in swarms, in the middle of the moors or in
the vicinity of rivers and lakes and attack you. Sometimes, the only
thing that helps is to run away - although the horse's sweat attracts
this pest even more. Some horses are not bothered about the bites
of these aggressive insects, others, however, threaten to freak out
literally. This can lead to additional stress for the rider. In these
cases one should help the animals with the whip and with one's hands,
faithful to the battle cry: "Seven at one blow". On critical
days sprays are held ready at the stable, which contain water mixed
with a little vinegar. If the horse is sprayed with this sour solution,
the biting insects will keep away for a while.
Horseshoes
The horse's "footwear". They should always be in good order.
Check them before and after the ride. In high season and during the holiday
weeks the blacksmith is at the farm almost every day to give new horseshoes
to the horses. If a horseshoe is lost on the way you should phone the
farm in the evening.
Horse Shoe
The valley of Gleniff, shaped like a horseshoe. A worthwhile days ride
from the farm. The start of the route is the same as the one to the Cross
Country Course. For orientation: The extension of the road from Mullaghmore
to Cliffoney leads straight to the HorseShoe.
Hunting [on horseback]
A sport on horseback did with passion in Ireland and England in the autumn
and Winter Season. Indeed a test of courage for black-belt holders. The
hunt in Ireland goes - together with the pack of hounds up hill and down
dale - always in pursuit of the fox. Even good riders must be able to
rely especially on the almost supernatural capabilities of their horses.
They set off with power and stamina and watch where they go and from
where they can jump. Most important exercise for the rider; Staying in
the saddle.
At Horse Holiday Farm interested riders are well prepared for taking
part in a hunt. The Cross Country Course provides many different exercises
for this purpose. The climax of a hunting weekend or a hunting week is
the participation in a proper Irish Hunt. You will definitely have something
to talk about when you get home.
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