Sarah Mitchell - Horse Besties

Common Training Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Positive Reinforcement Training: Clicker Training for Horses

Positive reinforcement—adding something pleasant to increase a behavior—offers powerful training options. While traditional horse training relies heavily on pressure-release, incorporating rewards can accelerate learning and...

Horse Training

Desensitization Exercises: Building a Confident Horse

Desensitization helps horses accept scary objects and situations calmly. Rather than flooding horses with fear, systematic desensitization builds genuine confidence through gradual exposure. Understanding the...

Horse Training

Teaching a Horse to Lead: The Foundation of Handling

Leading sounds simple—walk forward with your horse following. But proper leading is a trained skill that establishes respect and ensures safety. Here’s how to teach...

Horse Training

Groundwork Fundamentals: Essential Exercises from the Ground

Groundwork—exercises done from the ground rather than the saddle—forms the foundation of horse training. These exercises build respect, communication, and trust before you ever mount...

Horse Nutrition

Horse Supplements Explained: What Works and What Doesn’t

Walk into any feed store and you’ll find walls of horse supplements promising everything from shinier coats to calmer behavior. Which ones actually help? Here’s...

Horse Nutrition

Senior Horse Nutrition: Feeding the Older Horse

Senior horses have unique nutritional challenges. Dental issues, decreased digestive efficiency, and changing metabolism require dietary adjustments to maintain health and quality of life. When...

Horse Nutrition

Seasonal Feeding: Adjusting Your Horse’s Diet Year-Round

Your horse’s nutritional needs shift with the seasons. Temperature changes, forage availability, and activity levels all influence feeding requirements throughout the year. Winter Feeding Increased...

Horse Nutrition

Grain and Concentrates: When Does Your Horse Need Them?

Many horses thrive on forage alone, but some need the concentrated energy that grain provides. Understanding when and how to feed grain helps you meet...