Trainer Discovers Her Horse Loves Soccer

Trainer Discovers Her Horse Loves Soccer LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules 30-5-22 The game of horse soccer was invented two years ago by horse trainer Renee Miller, who was trying to help a skittish horse be less fearful of objects in its path. She walked the horse while rolling a 50-in. rubber ball in front of it. In time, the horse got used to the ball. She then gently pushed the ball against the animal's legs. To her surprise, the horse kicked the ball. Soon he began whacking it all over the place. She told her husband, Randy: "Bring the horses. We're going to teach them to play soccer." It was so much fun the Miller's set up a website to promote the new sport and offer a training kit with a DVD and a horse soccer ball. They claim any horse can be trained to play in 15 minutes. The optimum number of players is 4 on a side with three active riders and one goalie. "If you just go out there and start rolling that ball at your horse, you're going to scare him to death," says Miller. "There's a specific training method you use to get them to kind of hook onto the ball and push it." Horse soccer can be played by one horse - just for exercise or by full teams. For goals, you can use gates, barrels, cones, etc. The ball and instructional DVD sell for $59.95 plus S&H. The ball alone sells for $45. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Horse Soccer, Inc., 7111 W. 151st St., Stall no. 311, Overland Park, Kansas 66223 (ph 877 984-6773; www.horsesoccer.com).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.