Articles from Author Charles Wilhelm

Enjoy all the Following Articles Written by Charles Wilhelm

Charles Wilhelm
October 27, 2011
Charles Wilhelm

Sometimes horses appear to spook at nothing. I think that many times spooking is a conditioned response. The horse has learned to spook as a response and when we don’t do anything about it - when, in fact, we accept that behavior - the horse just seems to think that this is...

training spooky horses
Charles Wilhelm
September 16, 2011
Charles Wilhelm

We often speak about making sure our horse is collected. Collection is important for every rider whether you trail ride or you are serious about showing. So what is collection and why is it so vital for every rider?

collection, foundation, horses, training
August 18, 2011
Charles Wilhelm

This is something that I have heard from people across the country from the west to the east coast. What I hear are two different things but basically they refer to the same problem: My horse bit me/kicked me for the first time. What caused that and what should I do?

biting horses, kicking horses
Charles Wilhelm
May 19, 2011
Charles Wilhelm

In the training program at the ranch we never, ever ride a horse without first starting with a bit of ground work. Even the most well trained horse can have an off day and my staff and I always take the time to check what the horse’s physical, mental and emotional states are...

Charles Wilhelm Training
Charles Wilhelm
April 28, 2011
Charles Wilhelm

The leg and seat aids are what I call body aids. They work with the reins in communication with the horse. As riders, we want to be balanced on our horses, what I call balanced riders. We want to ride in the center of the horse and we want to stay perpendicular from our ears...

Charles Wilhelm Training
Charles Wilhelm
April 7, 2011
Charles Wilhelm

When the big day comes to saddle up for the first time, it is usually not a really big deal. If you have put the time in on ground work and you have a solid foundation you should be ready to saddle. If you have worked with your horse to desensitize her to the saddle blanket,...

Inside Rein
March 10, 2011
Charles Wilhelm

I am often asked if it is correct to ride with a loose rein or if contact should be maintained. The different riding disciplines have different ways of using rein aids, however, in discussing the rein aids, it is best to start with the basics. It is important to understand...

Charles Wilhelm
February 1, 2011
Charles Wilhelm

Teaching a horse to ground tie is one of the easiest commands to train. I’ve seen some elaborate ways of teaching a horse to ground tie. Some trainers put a line on the halter and a second line between the front legs and through a surcingle. If the horse moves forward, the...

Charles Wilhelm
June 18, 2009
Charles Wilhelm

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING

Welcome back to Western Pleasure 101. This is the final article in the three-part Western Pleasure series. First, I’d like to thank ridemagazine.com; the readers; Sandy Baldwin, who has put my words into print, and my clients; who have supported...

Charles Wilhelm, western pleasure
May 6, 2009
Charles Wilhelm

TRAINING THE WESTERN PLEASURE HORSE

This is the second article in our series on the western pleasure disciplines. These articles are intended for riders who want to get into western pleasure and can’t go to a training barn or who would like to do it on their own, as...

Charles Wilhelm, western pleasure