“Knowing how bits should sit and fit in a horse’s mouth could help avoid serious problems and setbacks—I suggest using a bit-sizer to start,” says Alan Fisher, a champion trainer with over 20 years’ experience based in Eastover, N.C., who specializes in western pleasure prospects.

He says that riders need to learn the control points of different bits, the mechanics behind mouthpieces, and what exactly should be achieved with each type of bit.

Snaffles vs. Ported

There are two important categories of bits: ported (leverage) and snaffle (direct action).

Ported or “correction” bits come in low, medium, and high leverage levels, and feature an inverted curve, U-shape, spoon-shape, square-hinge or spade-shape at the center of the mouthpiece. These shapes provide tongue pressure relief. Western bits have shanks that connect the reins to the bit, which vary from 4 to 8 inches long.

Both English and western ported bits come with a chain or curb strap to stop the bit from harming a horse’s mouth.

Snaffle bits work by direct pressure from the ring to the rider’s hand through the rein, and either type of bit can be made from stainless steel, copper, titanium, sweet iron or aluminum. Some mild snaffles are made of plastic, rubber, leather or fabric material.

Snaffle Cheek Pieces

While ported bits always have a shank cheek, there are several common styles of cheek rings in snaffles, each with a different effect.

◆ Loose rings move with the horse’s lips, tongue and jaw by gliding through the attached mouthpiece.

◆ Full cheeks have two short bars coming off the sides, one on top and one on the bottom of the fixed mouthpiece. This bit is useful for young or inexperienced horses who need help with steering or to learn how to carry their head without tilting.

◆ D-ring and eggbutt snaffles are both fixed options that resemble the letter D or an oval-egg shape. These are less likely to move side to side in the mouth.

Snaffle Mouthpieces

As opposed to the mouthpieces described above for ported bits, snaffles have straight mouthpieces with various shapes and joints.

◆ Non-jointed snaffles have a mouthpiece that’s straight across with no breaks in the metal, rubber or plastic.

◆ Single-jointed snaffles are considered a basic, and feature a break in the bit with a joint in the middle that creates a V-shape in a horse’s mouth that puts rein pressure on the bars of the jaw and edges of the tongue.

◆ Double-jointed snaffles follow the shape of the tongue better than a single-jointed bit. They have two joints that connect the sides of the bit with a central link.

◆ Smooth snaffles are on the milder side and work well with sensitive mouths and for beginners who aren’t as gentle on a horse’s mouth.

◆ Twisted-wire snaffles are considered more severe and are commonly used for horses that tend to hang or pull on the rider’s hands, or when more control is needed, such as galloping cross-country.

◆ Roller bits have movable pieces that rotate and help a horse to relax his mouth and jaw.

Combo Action

English riders sometimes use leverage bits combined with snaffle action.

◆ Double bridles have a curb bit and chain, a snaffle bit with small loose rings called a bradoon, and two sets of reins. They are used in upper-level dressage and show jumping, as well as saddle seat riding.

◆ Pelham bits are most often found in hunter rings, on foxhunters, and on the polo field, and are designed to combine the action of a curb bit with a snaffle, like a double bridle.

This bit provides leverage on the jaw with its lower shanks and curb chain to encourage flexion at the poll and stronger brakes, while the snaffle mouthpiece gives turning control.

Pelhams are usually used with two sets of reins, although “converters” are available for beginners that switch the bit to one set of reins—but these negate much of the bit’s action.

Soft Feel

Western trainer Shawn Alter shares that nerves and being scared is why most riders have heavy hands and tend to use the bit too aggressively.

“You must take the time to practice and gain the muscle memory of going to the horse’s mouth softly, asking first, and giving him a chance to respond while softening with your fingers to create a nice flow without any yanking,” says Alter, who owns Shawn Alter Quarter Horses in New Alexander, Pa., and specializes in showing, training, selling and judging horses for local and open shows.

“To be an efficient and well-rounded rider, you’ll need to learn to ride more with your seat and legs, and have less pull on the reins.”

A Bit Reactive

“Horses often learn to be angry at the bit when they feel rushed or pushed beyond their abilities,” says all-around Quarter Horse trainer Melissa Jones, who owns Jones Performance Horses along with her husband, Chris, in Reelsville, Ind. “Horses who haven’t learned to give to the bit or choose not to give tend to turn defensive and act out.”

The more you are heavy-handed or jerk on a horse’s mouth, the more the horse will want to get away from that pressure, she says.

“Not leaning on a snaffle is important because our goal is for the horse not to lean on the bit, and holding will reinforce that.”

Releasing Pressure

Trainer Alyse Roberts says that releasing bit pressure as a reward is key for teaching a horse to self-carry correctly.

“I’d rather see a rider who releases hand pressure too soon rather than too late,” says Roberts, who owns Alyse Roberts Performance Horses located in Purcell, Okla., and specializes in all breed hunter under saddle. “Hanging on the bit defeats the purpose and can upset a horse who is trying to do his job, but the rider keeps getting in the way.”

Dental Check-Up

All-around trainer and judge Jamie Dowdy says that it’s critical to rule out physical discomfort in the mouth, which gives the impression of bit trouble.

“A yearly dental exam is needed, especially in young horses, as they can be experiencing mouth and teeth soreness due to shedding baby caps and possible wolf teeth,” says Dowdy of Hartman Farms, a Quarter Horse facility in Marshfield, Mo. “Older horses need routine dentals for preventative measures to stay ahead of any developing problems.”

Just walking into a tack store and looking at the wall of bits can seem daunting. Our bit experts all mentioned that having an experienced trainer guide the transition to a new bit is a smart way to set your horse up for steering, control and—most importantly—communication success.

This article about bits appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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The Basics of Good Arena Footing

The ideal footing needs to:

• Have traction
• Have no dust
• Have cushioning
• Deter injuries
• Boost performance
• Provide stability
• Provide rebound energy (the responsiveness and resiliency of the footing surface to return it its original form by returning energy back to the horse)

Factors that make footing poor quality include:

• Too deep
• Too hard
• Too uneven
• Too loose
• Too dusty
• Non-draining
• Slippery

There are three primary layers to arenas: the top footing, the sub-surface, and the base.

Sand is the most popular surface used across the world, both with and without synthetic fibers added. Others include wood chips/sawdust, rubber chips, grass, and dirt. The sub-surface has many options: a drainage layer, grid-mats, compacted stone, sand, or another manufactured material. Most bases are made out of clay, stone dust, and the natural native soil of the property.

What the arena is made of, how much traffic goes through it, precipitation and temperature all play a part in keeping an arena safe.

Different arenas have different requirements to keep them in peak performance, but most require the following:

• Watering regularly
• Regular dragging and grooming
• Removal of manure, urine and other organic material
• Adding new sand
• Raking upkeep
• Picking out weeds, rocks and other debris

Sand and Fiber Footing

Cynthia Brewster Keating is the national director of sales and marketing director for GGT-Footing. For more than 25 years, Polysols, the parent company of GGT-Footing, has been producing innovative equestrian footing products for riding arenas.

“The arena footing products are repurposed remnant virgin material that’s used to make various fibers and textile blends,” says Keating. “The focus is on developing the best combination of synthetic chopped non-woven material and combining it with the highest-quality sands from quarries across the county.

“The different disciplines require a different amount of tightness in the sand,” she adds. “The pleasure blend has minimal fiber and is designed to keep the sand fluffy. The dressage blend has 15 percent fiber and is designed to provide variations according to how it is groomed and maintained. The jumper blend has 30 percent fiber, designed to offer concussion, relief, and stability as well as rebound energy.”

Keating has found that the quality of the sand is not as good as it used to be in the United States due to amount of fracking and the oil industry.

“Because of this, we have found that it’s important to use more fiber, regardless of what your discipline is,” says Keating. “Ninety percent of our sales are blend. We use our competition blend at high-end horse shows, which is 50 percent geotextile and 50 percent fiber. [These shows] require the most support and concussion relief, especially in the Grand Prix dressage and jumper arenas.

“Nowadays, it’s recommended that you hire a consultant that can test the sand that you are thinking of using,” she adds. “Many professional arena builders are now using mixtures of variable grades of sand to achieve the best results.”

Keating says anyone building arenas should assess the level of riding and how many horses go through their arena each day.

“Across the country, there are a varying products available for base, so it’s best to work with a contractor who is familiar with your specific property and ground,” she says.

A Vet’s View

Poor footing can be a big contributor to lameness, according to Rob van Wessum, DVM, M.S., who practices at Equine All-Sports Medicine Center in Mason, Mich. He’s also a Grand Prix dressage rider who holds a diplomate from the American College of Equine Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR).

He says that close to 50 percent of his case load of lame horses is due to improper footing and improper training techniques in inadequate footing. He mostly sees tendon or ligament injuries related to both these factors.

“In deep footing with lack of stability, the horse moves the footing material too much, which means less rebound of ground-reaction forces into the horse, causing tendon injuries, especially suspensory ligament injuries,” says van Wessum. “The horse loses energy with every stride, moving footing instead of himself. That puts a lot of strain on muscles to deliver more energy. A horse is built for rebound energy stored in tendons, so a lot of kinetic energy is stored as elastic energy during the air phase and then used in the next stance phase. With deep footing, there is far less rebound energy.

“When muscles get fatigued due to excess work in deep footing for too long in the same kind of work, a horse can’t stabilize his core anymore, which will cause damage to the connective tissue as result,” he continues. “Connective tissue is often ligament, fascia or tendon. You can find it in the limbs but also in the back, neck, and pelvis region. Damage to all those regions is diagnosed daily in our practice.”

Consequences of Poor Arena Footing

Footing that is so deep the coronary band disappears is one of the most common kinds of bad footing.

“The opposite of too deep is too hard, which can damage to the bone structures due to concussive forces,” says van Wessum.

He explains that footing that has too much grip, like when too much fiber is added, can cause damage to the collateral ligaments of the coffin, pastern, and fetlock joint. This is due to rotational forces when riding in small circles, lateral gaits, or landing and turning after jumps—any time the foot gets stuck on the footing while the upper part of the limb turns. He also sees this with too-deep footing when it is muddy or clay-like and sucks the hooves in.

“Footing that is too slippery due to rain or over-watering causes many injuries, such as ligament and tendon injuries in the lower limb, but also spinal ligament injuries in the neck, back and pelvis,” says van Wessum.

One of the worst kinds of footings van Wessum sees is when the same arena has different areas within it, like harder, softer and then deeper areas.

“When the quality of the footing suddenly changes, a misstep and strain or distortion of joint or ligament is the result,” he says.

Van Wessum stresses that there is no general rule for quality footing materials.

“It depends on what the arena is used for, where it’s located geographically, the traffic through the arena (one or two horses a day versus 60), and the quality of the maintenance,” he explains.

The Best Prevention

What are the best steps a rider can take to protect their horse? Incorporate proper training and exercise to adapt to the quality of footing, according to van Wessum.

“When the footing is deeper, shorter bouts of more intense work, alternating with walking, helps the horse recover and avoid fatigue,” he says. “Proper shoeing and timely reshoeing so the angles don’t change too much is extremely important.”

Van Wessum does not see any advantage to boots or leg protection when it comes to preventing injury due to bad footing.

His client horses receive regular soundness exams (approximately every six months) to monitor any small changes in performance and sensitivity of tendons and ligaments before they become a bigger issue.

“We saw horses from the same facility showing tenderness in the suspensory ligament,” says van Wessum. “After looking at the footing, we could see that it was getting too deep because of less watering in dry times.”

It’s smart to take a walk in any new footing with your horse before riding, exercising or competing. Pay attention to the depth, consistency and condition of the arena.

What’s under your horse’s feet will affect his overall soundness, confidence and performance. Knowing how horses react to different surfaces will help you determine the best type of footing to ride in.

With patience and proper training, you can help your horse travel on many surfaces safely and without injury.

This article about arena footing appeared in the September 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Do Not Disturb

Janet Edgette, Psy.D., explains that tuning out distractions in your life so you can spend a few hours at the barn in relative peace largely has to do with your ability to set and keep boundaries—for both yourself and others.

“If you have young children, are a single parent, have a relative who’s ill, or an urgent work matter taking place, then you may not be able to do that for any significant length of time, emotionally or practically speaking,” she says.

Barring those things, Edgette will tell herself, “I’m riding” in her head when she is out in the arena with her horse as fair warning to anyone who would try to get in touch or expect to hear back from her. She stresses that this serves as a great reminder to stay in the moment and not feel guilty for taking time to work with your horse.

“This is a way for me to set boundaries without having to depend on others to conform to them,” she says. “I don’t even bring my cell phone into the barn, which strikes some people as weird, but I like it that way. It’s what allows me to be at the barn undisturbed riding, grooming, and training, knowing that where I am and what I’m doing at any given moment is the place where my attention needs to be.”

Personally, Edgette loves feeling as if she is unreachable when she is at the barn.

“I have also gone through different periods in my life where I needed to stay close to my cell phone,” she says. “These days, however, I give myself permission to not check any business emails or texts or take those calls while I’m at the barn.”

Safe Mode

Trainer Jenny Jordan Frid is the co-founder and owner of Robin Frid Show Horses in Pilot Point, Texas, with husband Robin. She works as a coach and clinician to top-level national and international equestrian athletes, and is herself a multiple Champion, Reserve Champion and High-Point exhibitor with the American Quarter Horse Association.

“If I feel clients can’t stay focused because of their phones, I will say something out of responsibility,” shares Frid. “The thing we have to remember is that the majority of our riders are middle-class, hard-working individuals that have to work in order to afford a life with horses. I understand that 100 percent, since I have to work my career of real estate while coaching and training. My working clients understand, so I have to be understanding, too.”

But there’s a difference between urgent matters and pure distraction.

“That is totally different than going through social media while preparing to ride,” says Frid. “We’ve asked riders to leave their phones out of the arena or say no phone while handling or riding. In today’s world where we all think we can’t be away from our phones, we have to enforce these barn rules.”

The most unsafe situations that Frid has witnessed have been when people are longeing horses, not paying attention, and reading their phone. In her opinion, not being on your phone while doing groundwork is just good common sense for horses and humans.

High Resolution

Trainer and exhibitor Alisa Forton owns and operates Excalibur Stables in Traverse City, Mich., and offers boarding, leasing, lessons and all-around training where she works with all levels of riders. Forton shows 4-H, Open, and breed shows with the American Quarter Horse Association and American Paint Horse Association.

She explains that it’s almost an unspoken rule at her farm that when you come to ride, phones are put away and the horse gets 100 percent of the attention.

“I’ve seen people that are on their phones while riding and almost caused collisions by not paying attention to the arena traffic,” says Forton. “I’ve also seen people walking into the arena with their heads [down on] their phones and almost get run over since they aren’t looking where they’re going.”

Music in headphones can be beneficial when working on consistency and focus, although that has a caveat as well.

“It should be soft enough that you can still hear your surroundings,” says Forton. “Horses can react in a split second, and being able to hear what’s going on around you can make the difference of being more in tune with your horse and knowing why he reacts to sounds in the ways he does.”

When it comes to getting her riders to leave the temptation of what’s going on with their phones, she has found it helpful to involve them in planning their lessons or helping them set riding or showing goals.

“The more interested and invested they are in the subject, the easier it is for them to leave the stress of work or school behind,” says Forton. “I think it’s also important to remember that horses are living beings who enjoy our undivided full attention.”

By placing boundaries on how you spend your time at the barn like Edgette, finding a safe balance of work and riding time like Frid, or focusing on being dedicated to your horse like Forton, you’ll find a way to stay connected with a full battery to life and to your horse.

This article about technology distractions at the barn appeared in the May 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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We have all seen the behaviors that are commonly associated with “hot” horses: the endless energy they have running and playing out in pastures, the overexcitability they have under saddle and even the jittery anxiousness they maintain in cross-ties and stalls. One of the first things to take the blame are individual feed ingredients that are thought to influence a horse’s get up and go. Nutritionist Anna Pesta, Ph.D., explains that what could be making a horse tense or “hot” is often related or tied into a variety of other factors than just nutrition, such as gastric discomfort, saddle fit, rider skill set, training and countless other possibilities. Let’s take a look at what ingredients and supplements can help in calming a “hot” horse.

Bad Reputations

“Ingredients like oats, barley, corn, alfalfa hay and molasses have been blamed for causing high-strung horses mostly due to their high starch, sugar and caloric elements,” Pesta says.

“These generalizations aren’t necessary backed by any specific testing or science, but it’s true that some horses may have more focus or calmer tendencies when fed different fuel sources. However, energy level often has a lot more to do with the total calorie intake than the nutritional makeup of those calories.”

Equine nutritionist Natalie Sullivan, M.S., PAS, owner of On Course Equine Nutrition, states that calming ingredients fall into the behavior-modifying category, which comes with a high dose of skepticism.

“The placebo effect inside the horse-human connection is incredibly strong,” she says, meaning that owners see a difference because they want to and have spent money on a product. She recently researched calming nutrition and the connection between ingredients and their behavior-modifying aspects.

“I had to infer much from human use of these ingredients, as there is very little to no research data on these common calming ingredients in horses,” says Sullivan.

Calming Ingredients in Supplements for Your Horse

The following is a look at the most common ingredients found in horse supplements that claim calming properties.

Tryptophan: An amino acid commonly found in meat and dairy that is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter found in the body that is related to mood. A paper published in the Equine Veterinary Journal in 2008 showed no behavior changes caused by high levels of tryptophan through a blood test. Another review by Applied Animal Behavior Science in 2017 showed no effect on a startle test, and found an increase in excitability for some horses.

Valerian: An herb used for insomnia and anxiety in humans. Not recommended to take for more than four weeks (WebMD, June 2022).

Raspberry leaf: Found in mare supplements claiming to help control female hormones. Very little was found about its efficacy.

Magnesium: The most popular ingredient in today’s calming supplements. Sources and quantity of magnesium vary greatly, from 200 mg to 10,000 mg per serving. A study done in 2017 in Australia concluded that there could be some reaction speed decrease in horses fed supplemental magnesium over the National Research Council’s Nutrient Requirements of Horses recommendations.

“As long as it isn’t detrimental to the overall nutrient balance, I generally tell owners they can experiment with various supplements if they like, since it is more a matter of trial and error to find something that seems to work for an individual horse,” says Pesta. “Most owners would be better served to spend their money on seeking help from a veterinarian or professional trainer rather than reaching for a supplement to quiet their horse, or spend their time trying to pin down a certain ingredient that has made their horse excitable and set out on a quest to find a feed without it.”

The Bigger Picture

It’s important to step back and look at the bigger picture if your horse seems too hot, anxious, or over-excitable.

Invest in safe pasture turnout for your horse, clear expectations for his training and performance, clean water, a salt block, quality hay and feed, and top-notch medical care. With those in place, you may just be pleasantly surprised with how well your horse can retain a healthy body, positive mindset and settled demeanor.

This article about nutrition for calming a horse, including supplements and ingredients, appeared in the September 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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This app has an extensive amount of how-to videos and interactive tools to help you with everything related to your horse’s health, nutrition, medications, hoof and dental care, barn safety and first-aid while standing right next to your horse.

There is no substitute for reaching out to your veterinarian when something with your horse’s medical situation is amiss, and the Horse Side Vet Guide will help you make better decisions about your horse’s health and give insight on what to do in an emergency. $4.99; www.horsesidevetguide.com

EquineTrader

This buying and selling app is a handy tool for both looking to buy or sell—or both. At EquineTrader, you can set up your personal profile that easily switches between buyer and seller. Quickly and easily create and manage horse-for-sale listings. Buyers and sellers are encouraged to text, talk or email through the app for better communication.

Buyers can shop for their next horse with filters that let you search by breed, sire, color, age, price, gender, dam’s information, disciplines, and training level. Free; www.equinetrader.com

NIGHTWATCH Smart Halter

This mobile app is paired with a state-of-the-art Smart Halter that monitors your horse’s activity, motion and posture, and also tracks heart rate and respiration to provide a deeper look into day-to-day life. It automatically send alerts with a text, phone call or email when something isn’t quite right.

Subscribers have 24/7 access to view and manage your horse’s vital signs for better overall wellness that gives peace of mind when you aren’t with your horse.

3-month plan ($99/month), 6-month plan ($79/month), or 12-month plan ($49/month) includes a free Smart Halter Crown. www.smarthalter.com

ESI Horse Training App

This training app from Equitation Science International (ESI) addresses problem behaviors using evidence-based, ethical and sustainable methods that check the horse’s responses to tests to maintain a positive mental security. A team of experts, including Andrew McLean, Ph.D., developed this app for all disciplines. Strengthen the response between you and your horse with information on equine learning, safety, cognition, biomechanics, self-carriage, operant and classical conditioning, and using aids effectively.

The training in the app breaks down exercises and instructions in phases, so no information is skipped over or missed. The goals of this app are to stop negative behaviors before they become a habit and help riders understand the learning process for every lesson.
$5.99 (iPhone only); www.esi-education.com

Equilab: Horse & Riding App

This training-oriented app can track your horse’s movement to help reach performance-specific goals. It collects and stores your training history, insight logs and checklists to see over time where progress is made. Equilab has GPS tracking and distance and time on a map; this allows preprogrammed phone numbers to follow your ride live, from start to finish. Free app with in-app premium subscriptions: $10/month or $80/year; www.equilab.horse

This article about apps for equestrians appeared in the January/February 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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We all have our own ways of dealing with stress, setbacks, relationship woes, demanding workloads and all of the effects these discomforts bring to our minds and bodies. There are countless ways humans will try to distract themselves, resulting in bad habits.

Horses are no different. They can overly anticipate the busyness of barns or feel neglected or rushed in day-to-day routines. Their relationships with their neighbors and pasturemates can either make or break their social life. Training stress can cause a horse to struggle both mentally and physically and can sour his view of his job.

Without the ability to control their own feeding schedules or their environment, many horses can become sullen and aggressive as they develop behaviors from a past, ongoing or unchecked health issue.

Stable Vices

A vice is a practice, behavior, or habit generally considered bad or unhealthy.
Sue McDonnell, Ph.D., is a certified applied animal behaviorist and the founding head of the equine behavior program at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. She shares that a horse who is exhibiting an undesirable behavior or stable vice that irritates and upsets his owner is not necessarily behaving badly.

“The veterinary scientific community has been trying to correct the misconception that horses intentionally choose to do these behaviors that are undesirable to people,” McDonnell says. “What owners are witnessing in their horse’s unwanted behaviors are coping mechanisms. The same goes for a human baby that is crying: We don’t think of the baby as evil or bad; [crying] just happens to be the only way a baby has to communicate or to cope with discomfort. Because we can’t always put a finger on why a baby is crying, a trial-and-error type of problem solving may have to take place.”

Owners have the same unfortunate issue; however, their baby is a 1,000-pound animal.

Messing with Nature

“We have taken the horse out of the wild, but we cannot take the wild out of the horse,” says Peter Morresey, BVSc, MVM, MACVSc, Dipl. ACT, Dipl. ACVIM, CVA, a shareholder at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky.

“Prior to domestication, the horse was a part of a free-ranging herd, grazing unconditionally, free to migrate to wherever resources and conditions were more favorable,” he continues. “Horses have been largely deprived of freedom of movement, herd social structure and transitioned to interval feeding. The nature of that feed has also radically changed: grass has been replaced by hay, concentrates with caloric and protein content are far above that was previously ingested [have been added], and roughage levels seemingly have been reduced.”

With all those major and minor variations and adjustments to the instinctive and inherent lives of horses, it’s no wonder they can sometimes have trouble adapting to the human-controlled versions of day-to-day functioning.

Behavioral History

Morresey’s first step into a horse’s medical evaluation is a detailed history, and he suggests documenting the timing of onset—the start of the behavior—its frequency, its manifestation, and any other events that affect how the horse displays the action.

“Things to consider are any changes in management, social structure, work level and in feeding,” he says. “Then you can progress to a thorough examination to see if there is a physical cause for the new or changed behavior. This can be extensive and take considerable time to document, but it’s well worth the effort when communicating with your veterinarian, equine behaviorist and nutritionist. The adequacy of stabling, feeding, turn out, tack and all materials that contact the horse directly or indirectly need to be assessed. A lameness, neurological oral, and ocular [eye] evaluation and an assessment for any muscular pain are essential to perform in order to gain as much information as possible.”

Both McDonnell and Morresey suggest that owners put their horse under 24-hour video surveillance to help determine a routine or cause of the behavior.

“The horse may display the behavior continuously, or only in the presence of the owner when an activity is anticipated,” McDonnell explains. She says that the video will also show how the horse budgets his time and the true progression of the behavior when humans aren’t in sight. Often behaviors seem to worsen or heighten when an owner or people are present.

Also read- Reduce Stable Stress

Orally Frustrated Behaviors

Cribbing is a repetitive behavior and apparent stable vice where the horse places his upper incisors against a horizontal hard surface while arching his neck and pulling backwards with his body while making a grunt inhaling sound. Windsucking is similar to cribbing but is done without the horse grasping onto an object with his teeth.

“Gastrointestinal issues that go untreated, like ulcers, can cause discomfort behaviors in horses, such as biting at objects, nuzzling at their ribcage or stomach area, and even cribbing,” says McDonnell.

“Obtaining a diagnosis by gastroscopy [an examination of the lining of the stomach using a flexible video endoscope] is highly recommended,” says Morresey.

Locomotive Behaviors

Pacing, circling, pawing, weaving and wall-kicking are usually observed in a stall, but sometimes can occur at the pasture fence, according to McDonnell.

“Weaving is a rhythmic side-to-side movement that can mimic an abbreviated form of perimeter pacing,” she says. “An even more abbreviated form is head-bobbing side to side. These actions can be a reaction to anxiety associated with confinement, separation and anticipation. They can be short-lived, ending once the situation subsides or is resolved.”

Pawing can start as a discomfort reaction when a horse wants to influence his environment but can’t due to confinement, being tied or isolated. It can also be caused by superficial irritation caused by ectoparasites: Lice living on legs, hair and especially in fetlock feathers can cause severe itching that will make a horse stomp, paw and rub.

“With time, these can become stereotypical and habitual behaviors that prove to be very difficult to treat due to the release of endorphins that take place when these actions are being done,” says McDonnell. “These behaviors generally aren’t damaging over short periods of time, but horses that are consistently performing these locomotive behaviors can have abnormal hoof wear, stress on their joints, uneven muscle development, performance problems and weight loss.”

Usually management improvements, such as offering the stalled horse frequent small meals of hay, ensuring turnout time and exercise, adding visual and social stimuli, regular parasite control and even having a friendly companion nearby, locomotive behaviors are reduced.

What Can You Do?

Morresey says that these behaviors require a multi-pronged approach due to the complexity of the condition and the non-controllable factors that encourage the behavior.

“Environment and social change need to be discussed with a veterinarian, and in many cases an equine behaviorist,” says Morresey. “Horses that have weaving tendencies can become addicted to the release of endorphins, just like any opiate.”

Possible treatments include calming agents, both medical and natural.

“Medications range from short and long-acting calmatives (e.g. reserpine, fluphenazine), progestins (e.g. altrenogest), and plant-based pharmaceuticals,” Morresey says. “Milk-derived proteins (caseins) have recently been introduced to the market. All have the ability to alter behavior in unfavorable ways and shouldn’t be dosed or given without veterinarian direction and consent.”

Whatever your horse’s unwanted behaviors may be, he’s just looking to calm the uncertainty of the unknown, ease his worries, and stop the discomforts that evolve and appear in life. Being a proactive, educated, and patient owner may not take the frustration away or fully prevent the behaviors, but it will help build a trusting bond with empathy and love for your horse, regardless of how he chooses to deal with challenges.

By ensuring he’s mentally and physically stimulated and providing positive reinforcement training and riding, pasture time, quality forage and consistent veterinary care, you can provide a pivotal role in helping your horse cope.

The post Stable Vices vs. Coping Mechanisms appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Some pain issues may need to be addressed by a doctor or chiropractor, or even better, a physical therapist who understands the specific injuries of equestrians.

Physical Therapy That Caters to Equestrians

Lindsay Whipple, PT, DPT, and founder of EquiPT, based in Queen Creek, Ariz., offers a local mobile physical therapy service for equestrians that also travels to equine facilities, clinics and shows. Her treatment methods and corrective exercise programs are designed to cater to the unique demands of any level of equestrian.

Whipple starts her assessment in the arena and watches her client ride, concentrating on the problems the rider is feeling while also looking for any minor subtle movements and body carriage that the rider may not even be aware of but that can contribute to discomfort and pain.

“My riders are either in active pain that is making their daily activities rough and harming performance for themselves or their horse, or [they] want to develop an independent seat,” says Whipple. “I love being able to connect all the movements and help riders modify their equitation and body mechanics to support a healthier and safer way of riding.”

Her sessions end with riders on the portable treatment table, where she will evaluate their complaints and injuries.

“I want to find the target areas, trigger points and any surprise discomforts in the exam, which feel like tight denseness in the soft tissue,” Whipple says. “This may be a little uncomfortable for my client, but it helps me identify the extent of the damage and arrange a treatment plan, exercises and stretches that will support healing.”

Body Awareness for Equestrians

Awareness of your own body is just as important as awareness of your horse.

“Taking a longeline lesson will help isolate which body parts are hurting without having to be 100 percent in charge of your horse,” says Whipple. “Make a mental list of what exactly is uncomfortable, and if it’s a new strain or lingering chronic pain. Remember not to leave anything unaddressed, as it usually will build into a worsening problem.”

Everybody responds to pain and injury differently, and each individual tolerates these and compensates in various ways by changing their body mechanics.

“Sometimes riders don’t notice this happening, and this type of overuse can delay recovery, which keeps you out of the saddle,” says Whipple. “Limiting your riding time as your body heals will actually prolong saddle time down the road. This needs to be a motivating process, as staying off your horse can be quite heartbreaking.”

Common Rider Complaints

Lucy Brochynski, PT, DPT, CERP, is owner of Horse and Rider Physical Therapy, a mobile concierge physical therapy service for equestrians based in Northern California. Brochynski’s horse passion started at a young age with showing on the Quarter Horse circuit.

“Two common areas where riders develop pain in are the lower back and hips,” says Brochynski. “We are often bending over, lifting heavy objects and sustaining the impact that riding causes on the lower back. To prevent these injuries, riders need to focus on good body mechanics on and off the horse to improve core strength.”

Riding position can also lead to inflammation and pain in the hips from the way the pelvis is positioned.

“Often I see riders with one tight hip muscle while the opposite side hip muscles are weak,” says Brochynski. “This causes riders to lean to one side or sit more on one seat bone than the other, throwing the rider and horse off balance. The best way to strengthen hip and pelvis muscles is to do correct glute exercises as explained by a doctor or physical therapist.”

Tips for Equestrians Needing Physical Therapy

Danielle Shugard, DPT, owns DCS Physical Therapy in Chesterfield, N.J., where she travels to homes, barns and events helping riders alleviate pain and improve their overall biomechanics.

“Being mindful of how you treat your body is key to maximize time spent in the saddle,” says Shugard. Warming up before you ride increases blood flow to your muscles, raises your heart rate, and mentally prepares you for what’s to come.

“I suggest jumping jacks, marching in place, gentle lunges to the front and side, and little squats,” Shugard continues. “Mentally preparing for how you want your body to work can have a dramatic effect when you’re in the saddle. This is a great time to take a few deep breaths and let go of any stress you don’t want in the saddle with you. It doesn’t have to take a long time, but both warm-up ideas can improve your entire ride.”

Stretching & Strengthening as an Equestrian

These are meant to be general guidelines, but make sure you speak with a medical professional prior to starting any new activities, or if you are having any pain.
The following exercises from Shugard address multiple muscle groups and work in functional patterns.

◆ Squats: Start with a chair behind you at first in case you lose balance and have to sit down. Place your feet hip-width apart and slowly push your hips back into a sitting position while bending your knees to increase activation of your glutes. Continue to lower yourself until your thighs are parallel to the floor. To add difficulty and use more muscle groups, add a loop resistance band just above your knees.

◆ Hamstring stretch: While seated on the floor, place your leg out straight, then lean forward over it, feeling the stretch in the back of your leg, then switch legs.

◆ Single leg circles: Lying on your back, raise one leg up toward the ceiling and make controlled circles. Make as big of a circle as you comfortably can.

◆ External rotator stretches: Lying on your back with your legs bent, cross one leg over the other, then bring them both up toward your chest, feeling the stretch in the glute muscle of the top leg.

◆ Chest opener stretches: Roll up a towel or blanket and lay it on the floor or a bed along the length of your back. Lie face up on the roll—it should feel like a gentle stretch across the front of your chest.

◆ Coordination stretches: Raise one arm out in front of you and the opposite leg. Then raise the same side leg and arm, and switch. Is there one side that’s easier to do than the other?

Don’t let poor posture, weak or overworked muscles, inflamed joints, or the agony of an injury steal riding time unnecessarily. Finding a physical therapist who works with equestrians can make all the difference.

This article about physical therapy for equestrians appeared in the June 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Physical Therapy for Equestrians appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Common ring-wise behaviors seen in competition arenas can include:

◆ Balking at the gate, stopping, backing up and not wanting to enter the arena.
◆ Head-tossing, gaping at the bit, side-stepping, refusing, or running out on a
jump or obstacle.
◆Ignoring your cues.
◆ Overreacting to noise, crowds and objects surrounding the arena.
◆ Anticipating the next move.
◆ Threatening to bite or kick; tail-wringing or pinning ears back.
◆ Breaking gait to go faster or slower; not staying on the rail and aiming for
the center of the ring or the exit gate.
◆ Bolting, kicking, bucking, rearing and being unwilling to stand still.
◆ Rushing to leave the arena once the class is over.

Start with Physical Issues for Your Ring-Wise Horse

Ring-wise issues aren’t always behavioral problems, explains Jessica Allen, a hunter/jumper rider with multiple A circuit championships and a recent winner of the USHJA International Hunter Derby. She co-owns and trains out of Tally Hawk Stables, LLC in Pleasanton, Calif., along with her business partner, Danielle Peterson.

When it comes to behavioral problems in competitions, Allen says it’s important to first rule out any medical issues your horse may have.

“Show horses that travel or are stalled for long periods of time can not only have soundness and movement issues, but often have ulcers and GI upset that can cause serious behavioral and physical problems,” she says. “I like to have my horses evaluated by our vet every six months to stay ahead of any problems that may be creeping in that I can’t always see or feel. Once any physical questions are answered, next comes a serious look at the training.”

In the show world, so much time is spent on the road competing that many riders don’t spent adequate time learning their horse at home, according to Allen.

“Riders must train correctly and thoroughly at home first, and let the show be the test of that training,” she says. “Then go home and practice more—the show results should follow the progress if your training is effective and successful.”

Early Intervention With a Ring-Wise Horse

There’s either a positive or negative reaction every time you and your horse enter the show arena due to the different experiences each class brings. Therefore, Allen says it’s crucial to stop ring-sour behaviors as quickly as they start.

“The longer [horses] are allowed to continue to act inappropriately, the harder it will become to remedy the issue,” she says. “Early intervention is key, as each behavior will require different methods to correct. Find a trainer who can consistently make it easy for your horse to achieve the desired behavior, while making it difficult for him to continue the undesired behavior. Horses should be trained early on to yield to pressure and seek the path of less resistance.”

In the hunter/jumper arena, along with classes that require a pattern or going from a crowded warm-up ring to competing in the show ring alone, issues can arise due to the herd-bound nature of horses. Conversely, dealing with the excitement that happens when a large number of horses start cantering together in a group class can cause your horse to panic, according to Allen.

“Whatever your horse’s weakness is, it’ll be heightened in the show ring,” she says. “There are many ways to recreate the show circumstances at home that your horse is having difficulties with at the shows. By doing the homework and desensitizing appropriately, you can help your horse adjust to any show stressors.”

Mix It Up for Your Ring-Wise Horse

There are two reasons why horses become ring wise: the rider’s nerves and boredom, according to Charlie Cole, an AQHA Professional Horseman and Certified AQHA, American Paint Horse Association, and National Snaffle Bit Association judge and leading exhibitor. He is co-owner and trainer of Highpoint Performance Horses in Pilot Point, Texas, with business partner Jason Martin. Cole has trained over 50 world champions in the all-around events, from western pleasure and trail to hunter under saddle and barrel racing.

“As a rider and trainer, my goal is to ride the same in the practice pen as I do in the show pen, so my horse doesn’t know there’s a difference,” says Cole. “Riders who lose focus and become anxious ride differently, forcing that anxiety onto their horse. Being a confident and consistent rider teaches your horse that no matter where they are or what they’re doing, riding is just riding, even in the pressure-filled show pen.”

Rail class horses, who perform in the same routine manner whenever they enter the show pen, are the most common ring-wise horses, according to Cole.

“These horses have grown unchallenged and bored and start to form bad show habits,” he says. “It’s never too late to ask a professional for help, and sometimes a different perceptive is the best thing.”

Cole suggests that a good solid longe before a class may help a horse show a bit calmer.

“It’s best to not to lighten the show load for a bored horse, but rather to add more events and classes to their routine, giving more of a variety,” he advises. “If I have a hunter under saddle horse, I introduce jumping, which is good for the horse’s brain and learning, and also strengthens him physically. We’ve taken several ring-smart hunt seat horses and added jumping events, which freshened up their view on the sometimes boring rail work. With a western pleasure horse, I would add a trail or western riding class to give him more jobs to think about and less repetition in the show pen.”

Relax for Your Ring-Wise Horse

Clarity and consistency are what matter most over jumps and on the flat, says Johanna Siefert, a top hunter/jumper rider and trainer. She owns Lionheart Training in Banks, Ore., with her husband, Joshua Cobb. Siefert is certain that a relaxed horse that is confident in his performance begins with your expectations and continues on in training.

“We feel horses that exhibit ring-wise behaviors are confused and under stress,” says Siefert. “This also happens when they’re overworked or have been poorly trained to cope with show anxieties. When things get difficult, you should go back to basics, keep your emotions in check, resort to what your horse knows, build a strong relationship, and make the show experience a comfortable one.”

Prepare to Be Better

Siefert explains that the journey to the show can cause stress even before a horse enters the ring.

“When hauling, it’s important to watch your horse closely, keeping an eye on his water intake, eating habits, manure production and demeanor, so you can provide care and treat if necessary,” she says. “We give breaks every few hours while hauling to rest and offer water. Once at the show, we try to keep the horses’ home routines the same or as close as possible, from feeding to workouts. Knowing your horse’s fitness and comfort levels and not overdoing it will create soundness and a healthy mindset when competing.”

Leaving ring-wise behavior out of the show pen takes effort on both the rider and horse’s part. By encouraging positive reactions, you will improve your horse’s outlook, making the show ring a place to shine and bond together instead of a tiresome and unfilled place to work.

This article about ring-wise horses appeared in the June 2021 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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An honest evaluation gives insight into why the responsibilities of the barn, horse and other life stresses seem unbearable. Thinking about the strenuous duties, both mentally and physically, you can talk yourself out of just visiting your horse—let alone the energy to catch your horse and collect your gear, groom him, tack up, and ride.  

Finding Your Purpose

Mental skills coach, equine sport psychologist, and author Tonya Johnston, M.A., says that if we sit down and ask ourselves “why?”, we should be able to answer that question and find out what drives us to be an equestrian. 

“Your WHY can change depending on what your needs are at the time or perhaps for your future,” says Johnston. “Sometimes you need a more peaceful, less goal-orientated view when it comes to riding. Sometimes the social outlet to be with like-minded barn friends will help redefine your WHY. Answering your WHY will also shed light on other things that may be blurring your barn vision, such as feeling a bit depressed, having new aches and pains that make riding hurt, mental fatigue and trouble focusing during your ride, and problems communicating with your instructor and horse. It should trigger you to ask for help from a medical professional, a mental coach, or friend, or to find a new trainer or boarding facility before the issue becomes too big to handle.” 

She says that setting small, tangible weekly goals that make it easier to see your accomplishments will make your WHY more meaningful.

“I call these performance goals, remembering it’s fine to adjust these as you go through the ebb and flow of your busy life, allowing flexibility and making an effort to bring back the fun in and out of the barn,” says Johnston. “Take a step back and reframe your priorities—if you have family issues, you’re not sleeping well, or you have a big commitment at work—then change your goals to accommodate how horse time fits in best over these times.” 

For example, instead of spending five rushed evenings a week at the barn not being fully present, set the goal to three evenings with quality rides. Setting achievable goals can help make barn time fun rather than stressful.

Delegating Responsibilities 

Janet Sasson Edgette, PsyD, is an equestrian sport psychologist and author. She says that taking accountability for how you prioritize your time is crucial to making barn time fun. 

“It’s important to look at the different facets of riding, horse ownership and life outside the barn separately so you can figure out what’s working and what’s not,” she says. “Going home at the end of a long day of work and riding and finding that you have hungry kids or trash that still needs to go out can make you wonder whether you have room in your life to ride. This would be the time to rally your family members together and hold them accountable for their role in keeping the household running without relying totally on you. It could mean less resentment for you, in addition to more barn time or guilt-free rides, because you know the housework and errands aren’t just sitting there waiting for you.”

People who struggle to set limits, worry about disappointing others, or like being the go-to person need to realize what those habits are costing them, she explains. 

“Not only does this give you unrealistic expectations for yourself, but it invites people to ask you and expect more of you,” says Sasson Edgette. “Boundaries remind you and others that there are limits to how available you are or how generous with your time and energy you want to be. Exercising your right to say ‘no,’ or ‘I’m sorry, I can’t help you this time,’ can be used in all life’s aspects—work, social life, family and the barn.”

Taking a Breather

Feeling depressed about the non-riding aspects of your life can bleed over and make it hard to muster the energy to enjoy barn time. However, concentrating on what you can change and developing a perspective on those things that you can’t may feel impossible. 

Sasson Edgette says finding a therapist and letting people who care about you know you’re struggling will help you with some of these decisions and choices. 

“Being kind and patient with yourself is the way you want to approach this,” she adds.

Performance Pressure

If the loss of the feel-good moments at the barn stems from a training problem, then it’s crucial to ask for help before you lose confidence and create bad habits that will take more time and energy to fix down the road. A fall or accident, a misbehaving horse, setting unrealistic training goals, not seeing eye-to-eye with your trainer, or feeling over-faced with a horse who is above your skill level can make barn time lose its magic.  

“Work with trainers who you and your horse communicate well with,” says Patrick Cohn, Ph.D., a mental game coach and sports psychologist who owns Peak Performance Sports. “Assess your relationship with your horse and how you both enjoy that relationship. Keep in mind that you are a person first and foremost. Riding is what you do, not who you are, and it shouldn’t define your life outside the barn.” 

4 Tips to Get the Fun Back Janet Sasson Edgette, PsyD, an equestrian sport psychologist and author, offers her top four tips for getting you and your horse through whatever’s zapping the fun out of your barn time. 1. If you’re discouraged because your progress has hit a wall, it might be time to speak to your trainer—not to complain or blame your horse, but rather to ask what else you could be doing in order to get back on track. 2. If part of your drop in enthusiasm is the result of a fall or accident, don’t try to push your way through your anxiety or your fears—it will always make it worse. You might need to start back riding again under conditions in which you’re comfortable. If that means riding in the indoor after your horse has been turned out for a full day, and only walking and trotting, then that’s where you start! 3. There are periods of our lives where things don’t work well or feel good or look promising. A break may help, such as leasing your horse out for six months, or hiring someone to keep your horse fit enough, or putting your horse out on pasture for a while. You can also try riding even though you don’t feel great, and it will just be a different kind of riding experience for a little while. 4. Ask yourself these questions and answer honestly: Are you over-faced? Is your barn too fancy or competitive for you? Do you need a different barn social environment with more people your age or skill level?

Pressure to excel will hurt your motivation and love for the animal and the sport, he adds. Getting overwhelmed with demands and putting the rest of life on the back burner can cause riders to get burned out. 

“An important factor for you to manage is the expectations of others, and the ones you put on yourself, to accomplish your horse and life goals,” says Cohn.

Finding your WHY and taking care of it keeps life from stealing your joy, passion, and bonds with those you care about. Having a clear approach to protect your WHY with horses can get you back in the saddle and experiencing more joy than ever.

The post Destress and Make Barn Time Fun Again appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

We’ve all got to-do lists, dirty dishes in our sinks, loads of laundry to do, unwashed cars, errands to run and groceries to get. Each and every one of us have 168 hours in a week to manage everything in our time-consuming lives. Our basic survival tasks alone can drain our time and energy banks, making life difficult. Add family drama and schedules, work commitments and stress, friends and relationship highs and lows, and the time time-challenged equestrians have left—if any—is ours to use in the most meaningful, efficient way possible.

Develop a Routine

As equestrians, we should know how to stay on top of things, but sometimes we find ourselves stranded at the mounting block with not enough time to ride. Our horses don’t understand why our time for them is inconsiderately interrupted or pushed aside.

Our bond with our horse is built on patience and trust and in providing proper care. We either nurture the bond with time and consistency or deplete its value with a lack of effort and rushed care-taking. Being pulled into different directions can weigh on riders.

To combat this, set up some time rules to follow once you finally make it to the barn. Developing a routine and sticking to it will help keep you in control. Then you can make fast work out of the most time-consuming tasks and avoid wasteful steps and distractions. Here are some tips for when you’re short on time.

◆ Be polite to Chatty Cathy barn buddies and explain you only have a short time to ride. Suggest a coffee date to catch up instead of spending precious barn time chatting.
◆ To keep the pace and not get stuck on certain jobs, set an alarm on your cell phone to indicate when you should be done grooming and tacking up.
◆ Keep all your tack and grooming supplies organized. Having spares of easily lost items like scissors, hoof picks and duct tape will cut down on time lost searching for items.
◆ Faithfully return items to their rightful place every time you use them.
◆ Clean your tack—but not after every single ride. A simple wipe-down will suffice until you have the time to properly clean it.
◆ Make sure to wet and clean your horse’s bit every time you use it. You’ll end up having to spend more time soaking and scrubbing dried and caked-on food particles than if you rinse right away.
◆ If it’s cool enough, put a sheet or blanket on your horse to help him stay cleaner and reduce grooming time. Make sure it fits well and all the leg straps and buckles are safely adjusted.
◆ Invest in the right tools needed for the job. A heavy metal pitchfork and plastic muck tub aren’t going to make stall cleaning easier or faster. Lightweight but sturdy manure forks and an oversized wheelbarrow are the best for this job.
◆ Only start a task if you have enough time to finish it completely. When cleaning a sheath, treating fungus or thrush, disinfecting a wound, or giving a bath, it’s best to give yourself ample time. Leaving jobs like this halfway finished isn’t the healthiest for your horse.

Beware of Skipping on Training

No horse lover wants to cut back on their time in the saddle riding and training their horse. Time constrictions usually force new techniques or skip significant steps with our horses and end up damaging the training process. It may feel like you’re getting ahead in the short term, but in reality you aren’t doing yourself or your horse any favors.

When you hit a wall and the learning stops, the time you thought you saved by rushing through some basic set-up steps will leave holes in your horse’s training, and you’ll have to go back and fill in those holes with the experience that was left out. You may need a professional trainer to step in, which can become very costly.

It’s better to actively teach your horse in 15-20 minutes (after warming up) than to drill on things for an hour. A shorter ride or exercise time makes it easier for your horse to stay engaged. Reviewing the basics in more time-condensed rides serves as a good reset and refreshes foundational skills. Save the introduction of any new skills for when you have more time and patience to start things off right.

Never end your ride frustrated or on the defensive. It will create negative experiences and reinforce bad habits for both you and your horse. It’s not important to win every single battle, and compromising can turn any training situation into a more neutral situation.

Focus on riding from a position of positive rewards to make sure you’re always making progress towards the final goal of becoming a happy, successful horse-and-rider team.

Time-Challenged Equestrians Get Help

When time is lacking, take advantage of quick barn visits and work smarter. You may need to stay flexible when it comes to your horse’s ever-changing needs. In spite of our best intentions, very few of us are able to handle everything that our horses need without help from others. It’s a huge relief to have someone you trust to be able to step in and give your horse attention and care when you can’t make it to the barn.

If you’re at a boarding facility, finding someone to lend a hand should be fairly easy and affordable. Barn employees, trainers and even capable older lesson students can ease your workload. Trading responsibilities and taking turns with chores and other barn duties with others can be the answer to time-related problems for your horse’s daily regimen.

If you’re at a boarding facility, finding someone to lend a hand should be fairly easy and affordable. Barn employees, trainers and even capable older lesson students can ease your workload.

How can you split up grooming, longeing, blanketing, and medical treatments? Put your heads together to create a barn calendar that covers everyone’s schedules, vacations and emergencies that seem to come up last minute.

Leasing Your Horse

If your daily routine is still a struggle and unmanageable, you may consider leasing out your horse. A simple contract can be drafted to set up guidelines for a full or partial lease, offering the shared privilege of riding and caring for your horse.

Leases can have time- and money-saving benefits for you, and in return you’re giving someone the experience of horse ownership, without all the risks. This is a win-win situation if all parties agree to the rules and terms of the lease. Every lease should come with a breakdown of responsibilities with clear expectations for everyone involved, including the price of the lease; bills from veterinarians, farriers and trainers; riding availability; off-site usage; and other liabilities.

Barn and horse time should always feel rewarding, and if you are one of the time-challenged equestrians and aren’t enjoying every dirty and dusty minute with your horse, then it may be time for you to take a step back and look at your priorities. Overworking ourselves, spreading ourselves too thin and pleasing other people needs to be replaced with delegating, asking for help, and putting things on the back burner until there is sufficient time.

Ryan Blair, an American author and entrepreneur once said, “If you want something bad enough, you will find a way; if you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.”

If your horse time is of the essence, you’ll find a way to make that time.

This article on time-challenged equestrians appeared in the January 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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