“Ask Mark” … Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:  I need your advice. We have a 8 month old colt (male) who is still nursing. We were checking into having the colt [...]

QUESTION:  Hi, I just recently got my first horse. He came to me through one of my close friends who’s mom had got him [...]

QUESTION:  I wrote you a while ago about my 4 year old paint horse, now 5 out of Dirti Rocki. I ended up taking [...]

QUESTION:  I have a 13-year old registered Paint who is just awesome. The farm where I board him had a large outdoor arena where [...]

QUESTION:  He was started as a 2 year old, sent to a trainer as a 3 year old and then his owner lost interest [...]

QUESTION:  She hates applause and cheering, how do I get her to overcome this fear so we can get her shown? ANSWER:  I have [...]

QUESTION:  Hi. I noticed on some of your horses you use Romal reins. What advantages do Romal reins have in the show ring? Are they [...]

QUESTION: Hi, My friends have a horse named Chicklet. They are trying to train her to jump.They have gotten her started, but I was wandering [...]

QUESTION: I would like to know if my horse has good conformation. Can you tell me? ANSWER:  It is hard to give an evaluation [...]

QUESTION:  I have a POA that was born February of 2003. I'm wondering if I can start breaking him now. Will he be sound [...]

QUESTION: My daughter has an 11-year-old Arabian that she started riding in 4H this year. She rides her with a regular snaffle bit but [...]

QUESTION:  I am doing a report for school about Horse trainers. What abilities and interests do you need to be one? Also, are there [...]

QUESTION:  We have a 6 yr old pony that just started rearing. Any ideas on how to stop it? She rears so high she [...]

QUESTION:  My yearling will be cut on Tuesday. The farrier trimmed today and mentioned I might want to sell him. Chance is very stubborn. [...]

QUESTION:  My western pleasure horse has a terrible nervous habit of chomping at the bit in the show ring. I have given her calming [...]

QUESTION:  I have two 5yrs old mares. They both have just had 30 days of training which was when they were three. They have [...]

QUESTION:  I am interested in building my 3-year-old colts rear end muscles to achieve collection and solid backing skills. He is somewhat gangly, tall [...]

QUESTION:  Hi Mark, I wanted to know if you know any ways to stop a horse from running the fence line. The problem is [...]

QUESTION:  Hi, I have an 18 month old QH and he is almost 14 hands I have started him under the saddle my vet [...]

QUESTION:  Hi Mark, I have a four and a half year old mare for about one month. I bought a yearling on May 1 [...]

QUESTION:  My 15-year-old QH is an excellent Western pleasure horse...when I'm riding at home. Even in the ring, he's very calm and collected at [...]

QUESTION:  I have a 7-year-old Arabian mare that I have owned since just before she turned 4. When I purchased her she was barely [...]

QUESTION:  Hi Mark! I have a just turned 4yo MFT mare. She was trained w/and knows direct reining. I need to teach her neck [...]

QUESTION:  I am going to be a first time horse owner. What breed is best for pleasure riding? ANSWER:  Hi Tiffany, In my opinion [...]

QUESTION:  Hi, I have a question I ride my horse in western at the gallop sometimes it feels like she’s not balanced or doing [...]

QUESTION:  I need advice on how to canter my horse, I’ve done everything my trainer told me to do, but I just cant sit [...]

QUESTION:  I have a 17 y/o Paint Mare. We bought her from a neighbor who told us that she was broke. Well, the first [...]

QUESTION: I am 14 and I am training my first horse. I am training my dad's 1 yr old filly named Misty. I can [...]

QUESTION: I have a 5 y/o gelding walking horse, which is in the process of being de-sensitized, after being abused by his original owner. [...]

QUESTION:  Dear Mark, I just got my first horse, an American Paint Horse. He is barely 15h. I did what you and many other [...]

QUESTION:  Hi! I just bought a 2002 AQHA mare and her previous owners have already given a very solid walk/jog western pleasure foundation. However, [...]

QUESTION:  I just bought a 4-year-old paint mare. She has had some handling but not much. I am trying to teach her to lounge [...]

QUESTION:  My mare is 4 she had 3 month of WP training, but is still not loping. She is a spread-out canter. type. The [...]

QUESTION:  Hello I have a three-year-old gelding and I was wondering when should I start him under saddle? ANSWER:  Hi Jessica, you are a [...]

QUESTION:  I just want to know what the pros and cons are to having an American quarter horse and what is the best way [...]

QUESTION:  I have a 3 1/2 year old mare, she gets very nervous and stressed when she is around wagons and allot of horses. [...]

QUESTION:  Dear Mark, I have read a lot of your advice regarding the training of horses and in doing so, noticed that you frequently [...]

QUESTION:  Hi Mark, I’m 16 years old and I have a QH. He is 13 months old and I am working with him with [...]

QUESTION: Hi Mark, I have a 6 y/o Paint gelding. We are just getting started w/some showing. Open/fun shows. What do you think of [...]

QUESTION:  My fiancé has always been a pleasure rider and was looking to show horses. What is a good resource for her to look [...]

QUESTION:  I have about a 14-month-old foal I want to use for recreation and maybe a small town show later in the future. I [...]

QUESTION:  I have been showing paint horses for a number of years and I have just recently purchased a 2-year-old gelding that I have [...]

QUESTION:  I recently purchased a quarter pony for my daughter. This mare has minimal training but is sweet and willing. She seems a bit [...]

QUESTION:  Hi Mark, I just bought a ten-year old mare. When we went to bring her home, we rode her and she was an [...]

QUESTION:  My daughter owns a 9 yr. old Morgan. He was excellent when we got him. (1month ago) He would walk, trot, cantor, and [...]

QUESTION:  Hello Mark, I am a Farrier and I come in contact with many horse dispositions. I was wondering if you heard of a [...]

QUESTION:  I have a four year old mare, that just lost her eye, she was being trained to be a heal horse, the right [...]

QUESTION: I have a horse that when I try to barrel race or anything that has others horses around she panics. I am having [...]

QUESTION:  I own a 2 yr. old quarter horse and he was really good. I can go through all the gaits and stuff but [...]

QUESTION:  Dear Mark, I bought a beautiful yearly colt last year with the intention of using he for breeding. And when I bought him [...]

QUESTION:  We recently purchased a 9-year-old paint horse that my husband uses for team roping. We also have a 20 yr old sorrel horse. [...]

QUESTION:  My horse is an Arabian, 4 years old. Before I got him I have heard he was abused. He is head shy and [...]

QUESTION:  Hello Mark, I have recently acquired a 4-year-old quarter horse that was sold through a sale as he has foundered. I have chosen [...]

QUESTION:  Mark-I have a 10 yr. old gelding I just got 6 wks. ago. I am having trouble with him throwing his head back [...]

QUESTION: What do you look for in confirmation in a quarter horse? ANSWER:  Hi Judi, It all depends on what you need to use [...]

QUESTION:  I am 5'8" and 175 lbs. I currently ride a 15.1 H Morgan that seems small to me. How tall of a horse [...]

QUESTION:  Hi Mark, I have been riding my 5 yr old POA gelding in pointed rowel spurs mostly because he is lazy getting into [...]

QUESTION:  I have seen a halter that uses pressure points to handle a difficult horse. Do you know where I can find one? I [...]

QUESTION:  Conformation - what does a judge look for; my Q.H. always lifts one leg when he stands? Also, I have a 16.1 hands [...]

QUESTION:  I have a 4 year old QH and she has been ridden a lot. But, in the last few weeks every time I [...]

QUESTION:  I have purebred Arabian gelding. He is the sweetest and will do whatever I ask of him. Recently I have learned he likes [...]

QUESTION:  I recently purchased a 5yr old QH. He has been very nice to work around except for nibbling at times. It is not [...]

QUESTION:  Hi Mark, I own a mare who will be 4 in August. She surprised me with a foal last May (2003) and I [...]

QUESTION:  I have a 2 year old QH filly.Sweet and nice.papers and confirmation.Trainers in Pa get $1000 per month for training.We have learned some [...]

QUESTION:  When is the best time to begin riding my colt? ANSWER:  Hi Edwin. Thanks for writing in with the question. When to start [...]

QUESTION:  I am looking at a 3 year old QH cross. He sounds absolutely wonderful. My concern is that he is already jumping small [...]

QUESTION: I use a three-piece snaffle bit on my horse, and lately it has occurred to me that I might have it in her [...]

QUESTION: How do I get my yearling to lounge?   ANSWER:  Hi Samantha, It is easiest to teach a young horse to lounge in a [...]

QUESTION:  Mark, I am a new horse owner and have a question my paint horse is seven and on his left side he seems [...]

QUESTION:  Thanks so much for your advice. It makes sense. The way I was doing it, stopping and backing a few steps then walking [...]

QUESTION:  I've been out of the show ring for a while and I had a question about showmanship. I was always taught to glance [...]

QUESTION:  I am just starting out showing my paint horse. How important is the saddle and the clothes you wear? And what types of [...]

QUESTION:  I have a 16-month-old colt, is it ok to put my 40-pound daughter on her with a child saddle? Will it hurt her [...]