William Micklem
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Hi William (and all following this discussion) I think your reply to slc2 was Wembley Hack Championship status - very mannerly, probably one handed and during tumultuous applause. Remember Wembley? I hope you don't take the following as a critic...
4 hours ago
Dude...I stand by your convictions too! You're absolutely right in everything you said.
6 hours ago
Sic2 makes many interesting points and it would be great to meet in person over a good meal to share experiences and look for better ways....and to talk about the evidence in the nature/nurture debate. It is my opinion that the research on twins s...
8 hours ago
As a lawyer friend says, 'All of the above is true, of course, but....' I think that many people fall back on 'it must be a physical problem' if Precious pulls at the reins or pins back his ears when the rider says 'please go forward, dear', and ...
11 hours ago
William Micklem and Tessa Paterson are now friends
yesterday
Bravo William, Thank you for sharing your lovely story. On a similar vein, I had a lovely WB that was a bolter. He was a big strong horse and his behavior became increasingly frightening and dangerous. Luckily,my vet at the time specialized in lam...
on Friday
on Friday
The best thing about Fridays is that I usually get to ride. The second best thing is coming home and getting to read your blog.
on Friday

Profile Information

About Me:
I am an equestrian author, having written The Complete Horse Riding Manual, published by Dorling Kindersley and now translated into eleven languages. I am also inventor of the Micklem Multibridle, which offers significant improvements in comfort for the horse and can be used as a bridle, a lunge cavesson and a bitless bridle. I discovered Karen and David O'Connors Olympic horses Bico, Custom Made and Gilt Edge and bred Karen's Olympic ride in Hong Kong, Mandiba. I give presentations round the world on many subjects specialising in Coaching, Young Horse Training, Assessing Riders and Horses, Rider Safety, and Performance Priorities, and designed the unique structures for improving performance, Habitual Hats and The GO! Rules. I am a Fellow of the British Horse Society and live in Ireland.
Country
IRELAND
Website:
http://www.WilliamMicklem.com
Do you have any pets?
Dogs
Topics of Interest
Dressage, Eventing, Jumper, Para-Equestrian, Pony Club, General Riding

William Micklem's Blog

William Micklem

BEST OF WILLIAM MICKLEM - 1 - A special horseman…and a lifelong lesson about difficult horses.


This is an amazing true story about acceptance and lack of acceptance. It shows how wrong it is to assume all ‘difficult’ horses just need to be ridden more forward. It is wrong to assume that just because a horse is unwilling, napping, rearing or bucking that they are being naughty and need discipline. Indeed it is d… Continue

Posted on November 27, 2009 at 4:00am — 10 Comments

William Micklem

REFLECTIONS - Part 3 - JOY



Last week I quoted the final lines of Robert Frost’s inspiring poem Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening….but it is worth reading in full:

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill u
Continue

Posted on November 20, 2009 at 4:00am — 5 Comments

William Micklem

REFLECTIONS – Part 2 – GETTING TO ‘WE’



In general do you get on with people and horses? What attitude do you have to the majority of people and horses you meet? Many people have a similar attitude to both the humans and horses in their life and get a similar response. If you get on with most two legged and four l… Continue

Posted on November 13, 2009 at 4:00am — 2 Comments

William Micklem

REFLECTIONS – Part 1 - SUCCESS & LIFE

For young people it is normal to look at their lives in the short term, but as we get older we all tend to start looking at our lives as a whole. In the short term performance achievements often take priority and many young performers are prepared to make enormous sacrifices and give up other opportunities as they chase competition goals. At worst these great challenges may create long-term difficulties or regrets. For example they may leave a competitor with cronic pain or, if female, lose the… Continue

Posted on November 6, 2009 at 4:00am — 2 Comments

William Micklem

HELP NOT HINDER – Part 9 – Praise and punishment.

So where do you all stand on the issue of corporal punishment for children? Most think it unacceptable and without doubt physical force is a poor substitute for understanding and communication…..a poor substitute for education and motivation…..and in particular a poor substitute for leading by example and with great love. Can this be the same for horses? There can be only one answer as far as I am concerned……YES…with one reservation. The example has to be given by other horses, which is why I th… Continue

Posted on October 30, 2009 at 4:00am — 16 Comments

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At 1:42pm on November 17, 2009, Ken Bolton said…
Thanks William, we are presently in Seville and leave early January for the Caribbean then through the Panama canal in April and on to the Galapagos islands. After a lifetime with horses I have discovered a whole new life out there, it should be quite an adventure. Celtic Spirit is a fabulous 26 meter ketch owned by Dublin businessman Michael Holland.
At 7:07pm on November 15, 2009, Akaash Maharaj said…
Thank you for your note. I have enjoyed reading your blog, and particularly your thoughts on thoroughbred breeding.
At 5:16pm on November 7, 2009, Anna Trinder said…
Thanks William, I appreciate your positivity.... Anna
At 10:37pm on October 30, 2009, Elizabeth Gormley said…
Hello William,
Thank you so very much for your prompt and thoughtful response to my letter. I said it in another way in my original letter, but the way you define a breed according to the genes rather than the pedigree brand label is accurate and supported by a rapidly growing body of provable scientific evidence. Thank you for looking out for the absolute welfare of the horses by encouraging the production of animals with gene traits to do their jobs safely. Performance is truly all that matters. The SNP chip that many equine genetics researchers are now using and their future research is likely to prove you right. Do hope to meet up one day as well - lots to converse about! Many thanks for the encouraging compliment about our boy. It will encourage us in our prep for winter and spring shows.
At 6:42pm on October 30, 2009, bridgette rule said…
hi william where is the dick micklem day do you know i was thinking about your mum and always rember her wearing fushia pink jumpers and charlie drinking hot chocolate i think that might of changed.
At 1:29pm on October 30, 2009, Abi amber Rule said…
Hello William, i have heard alot about you- muy mum is always telling me stories of when she was youger. ive been taught by your brother David quite frequently aswell. i love reading your articles and hopefully one day i could have some riding lessons.

Abi.
At 9:13am on October 29, 2009, Fiona Hill said…
You are welcome! I've never really taken much interest in all of that stuff before, but you have sparked my interest! And thanks for the good luck - I need as much as I can get. Bringing my horse in from the field for the winter this afternoon, so the mucking out begins in earnest. :-S
At 11:58am on October 28, 2009, Julie said…
I think we bounced more - we fell off, got back on and tried hard not to do it again. I think everyone gets a hankering to return to cornwall eventually!
At 5:11am on October 28, 2009, Julie said…
I don't think so, but around the same area at the same time! I remember her giving me a lunge lesson on a new pony who had just arrived on the yard that day. I had never gone so fast in my life as she just kept bellowing - you girl - sit up!! She was such a character!
At 7:51pm on October 27, 2009, Elizabeth Gormley said…
Mr. Micklem,
I really enjoy your blogs, in fact I joined Barnmice because I agreed with them so much. I have been observing over time that the top performers in showjumping and eventing have specific strains of TB blood. These strains are even more common on the continent as there are less TBs available compared to Ireland and here where I am in Ocala Florida. More genetic research is ongoing where gene loci are correlated with specific performance traits. SNPs are now being tallied and guess what the TBs have very specific rare muscle genes(fast muscle reflex genes and traits). A horse MUST posess these traits to win today and this statement is 100% evidence based. Your brilliant blogs outlined this truth about the absolute neccessity of certain TB lines for optimum performance.. How I bred my homebred boy proves that I believe this in reality not just theory. Thank you for passing along critical breeding knowledge. Only performance matters.
 
 

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Barbara F. and Keira Pride are now friends
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I have used "Rescue Remedy" occasionally for my shaken confidence. It is all natural, no side effects, and can be found in most drug stores. I find it takes the 'edge' off and I am not 'looking for the spooky thing'. Becky
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hello and welcome to the group show horses and ponies, this group is for people who like to watch and to ride them!
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I love how up his withers look even as he is stretching down! Lovely!
35 minutes ago
Quiet now, then when I pounce, he'll never know what hit him and he will stop eating fences forever!
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International Horse News

Mum's the word for little JB

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Mounted protest in Australia over mining plans

More than 500 protesters, at least 300 of them riding horses, rode through the so-called Horse Capital of Australia yesterday over plans for a coal mine.

Convincing World Cup round to Adelinde and Parzival

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Showjumping at Foxton

Slow and clear took the money in both the horse and pony grand prix classes at the Central District ESNZ Show in Foxton yesterday.

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