“She was pretty healthy looking, but she was really wild and traumatized,” says Valdivia-Abdallah. “If you just walked in her pen, she would jump out. She did it multiple times.”

It was a familiar situation. The mare was one of eight at a “loose horse” auction (horses are bid on while running loose in a pen) that Valdivia-Abdallah bought.

“An Oregon man had been breeding mostly Shagya Arabians, and he died,” she explains. “The family called a horse trader who rounded 53 of them up. Most on that property were adult horses that had never been handled. She was such a difficult horse, and so not into people, that I named her after the Taylor Swift song, Love Story. It’s a version of Romeo and Juliet that has a happy ending. I like to give horses names with positive affirmations.”

Vera Valdivia-Abdallah, founder and director of Love This Horse Equine Rescue, says Love Story took about six months to tame after coming to her facility. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

Gaining Trust

She recalls that it took about six months just to tame Love Story. Valdivia-Abdallah and her daughters, Tamarah and Erna Valdivia, plus one other trainer, worked to gain Love Story’s trust. Even during this time, Valdivia-Abdallah had a special feeling about the mare.

“Once we got her going, I said that’s a Tevis horse right there,” she says. “Don’t ask me why. I just had that feeling.” California’s Tevis Cup is considered one of the toughest 100-mile endurance rides in the world. Horse and rider pairs have 24 hours to complete the race, with regular vet checks that must be passed to continue along the route.

Susannah Jones, a friend of Valdivia-Abdallah from Rough and Ready, Calif. (between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe), is always on the lookout for her next Tevis Cup horse. The three-time finisher of the race adopted Love Story in February of 2021. She took the halter-broke mare home and sent her to a trainer. The first trainer rejected her as too dangerous. The next trainer broke her to saddle, and eventually Jones began riding her.

But Love Story could still be difficult, and she bucked Jones off during a trail ride. Injured and sidelined for six months, Jones didn’t want Love Story to backslide, so Valdivia-Abdallah welcomed the mare back to Love This Horse Equine Rescue in October 2023. Her daughter Erna Valdivia began riding and conditioning the mare for endurance rides. Now 17, Valdivia learned to ride at age 5, and has been starting rescue horses under saddle since 2020.

Love Story intimidated Valdivia at first.

“The first time I got on ‘Lovie,’ I acted like I didn’t know how to ride, because I was so anxious,” she recalls. “I was shaking in my boots. She’s a big horse. She has a lot of power. It was just in my head, because she was Susannah’s horse, and I didn’t want to mess anything up and ruin her. But as soon as I stopped thinking about Susannah, and just treated Lovie like I was riding one of the rescue horses, she was easy to figure out.

“Lovie was very sassy,” Valdivia continues. “I had to be a little bit more stern with her because she’s a mare. She’d get upset with me, but then we pushed through it. When she’s with me, she knows she can’t get away with stuff.”

The two finished their first 25-mile ride together in California in January of 2024, then moved up to 50-mile rides, getting to know each other and building a strong partnership.

Valdivia took over the training on Love Story, taking her to the mare’s first 25-mile endurance ride in January of 2024. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

Targeting the Tevis Cup

After breaking to riding, many of Love This Horse Equine Rescue’s horses compete in endurance.

“Endurance riding is so good for starting our horses,” says Valdivia-Abdallah. “You have a different horse at the end of the ride. Even if somebody wants to adopt one as a trail horse, taking him to an endurance ride is valuable training. They must travel in the trailer, camp, stay tied to the trailer overnight, ride in a strange environment, ride a minimum of 25 miles under timed conditions, and complete successfully without having any issues.”

As Lovie and Valdivia accumulated more endurance rides and miles together, the “T” word came up again. Both Valdivia-Abdallah and Jones, now riding again, suggested the Tevis Cup. Jones volunteered to ride her other horse, Eli, and mentor Valdivia aboard Love Story.

“I was like, um, no!” Valdivia laughs. “I didn’t like the idea at first, because it’s Tevis. But once we got closer, and started making plans, I thought maybe it’s not too bad of an idea. I warmed up to it toward the end, and I was actually kind of excited for it.”

With Jones riding Eli and Valdivia aboard Love Story, the pairs rode two days and 50 miles of the Tevis Educational Ride in June, giving both newbies a good taste of the trail.

“It helped me, because the trails are narrow and the turns are pretty tight,” Valdivia says. “It gave Love Story peace of mind, too. It helped her watch her feet and be careful where she stepped. It was definitely a good experience.”

Erna Valdivia on Love Story (front) and Susannah Jones on Eli. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

Tevis Time

The atmosphere and idea of the Tevis Cup itself can make riders apprehensive, and the start can be chaotic. At the 5:15 a.m. start time on July 29, 2024, Love Story, not used to such a big field of 137 horses, was agitated.

Valdivia was nervous going into the Tevis Cup, but once the riders were able to space out she and Love Story relaxed. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

“I had to relax myself in order for her to be relaxed because there were so many horses around her, and all that adrenaline and energy,” Valdivia says. “It was nerve-racking for both of us.”

For most of the first 6 miles, Tevis is a single-track trail where it’s not possible to pass horses. It wasn’t until the trail opened up and they were able to spread out that Love Story settled down.

Jones rode her other horse, Eli, and mentored Valdivia for Tevis. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

The 2024 Tevis Cup was one of the hottest on record, particularly in the two deep canyons horses have to traverse, contributing to the low 40 percent finish rate.

Eli and Love Story successfully made it to Foresthill at the 68-mile marker at 9:35 p.m. They passed the vet check, but Jones and Valdivia opted to pull their horses and not continue the last 32 miles.

“Our horses were tired,” Valdivia says. “It was so hot. Their energy was just not up. The vet said we were good to go, but I felt like if we would’ve kept going, it would not have ended well for us.”

Valdivia and Jones decided to pull out of the Tevis Cup at the 68-mile vet check, where the horses were deemed sound to continue, but the riders felt they were tiring. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

A Happy Ending

And so ended the potential fairy tale story of Valdivia and Love Story LTH completing the Tevis Cup. But the plot doesn’t end there.

After Tevis, Love Story was slated to return home to Jones, her adopter. But that’s not how the cards fell.

“Susannah told Erna she was going to gift Love Story to her,” says Valdivia-Abdallah. “It took Erna a minute to process what had just happened. And then Erna totally lost it, jumping up and down and laughing and crying at the same time.”

Valdivia modestly downplays the moment.

“I figured after Tevis, Love Story should go back to Susannah, but I’m happy that she’s mine,” Valdivia says. “We got really connected doing all the endurance rides together. We know each other pretty well.”

Jones and Valdivia became close friends while training for Tevis, and afterward Jones decided to gift Love Story to Valdivia. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

Recipe for Success

Since incorporating in 2016, Love This Horse Equine Rescue has rescued 702 mostly Arabian horses and adopted out 534, and currently has 125 in its care. The horses come from a combination of owner relinquishment, law enforcement seizures, and low-end auctions.

What contributes to the group’s success is Valdivia-Abdallah’s focus on attempting to get every horse broke to ride before offering them up for adoption.

“Since I come from a training background, I get the horses going under saddle, because a riding horse will find a home,” she says. “They’re endurance horses, therapy horses, trail horses. We’ve had horses move on to hunter/jumper careers. We have one adopter who shows in hunter under saddle and dressage at Scottsdale [Arabian Horse Show], and this year she’s gone into ranch riding. So they’re really versatile.”

By taking the time to rehab and train rescued horses, Love This Horse Equine Rescue proves that adopted horses can not only become great companion horses, but they have the potential to perform at the highest levels of their chosen sports, including endurance riding’s legendary Tevis Cup.

This article about a Tevis Cup love story appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Dorsal spinous processes (DSPs) are the bony projections at the top of the horse’s vertebrae. When those projections touch (impinge) or overlap (override), this is referred to as “kissing spines.”  The area of the back where the condition is most often diagnosed is between thoracic vertebrae T13 and 18—directly under where a rider sits in the saddle.

A horse with four sites of impingement with bone remodeling, suspected to be causing the horse’s pain under saddle. Photo by Alan Nixon

Signs a Horse May Have Kissing Spines Include:

◆ Obvious discomfort with pressure on back

◆ Loss of muscling across topline

◆ Change in behavior (tail swishing is common)

◆ “Hollowed out” back when ridden

◆ Resistance to transitions between gaits

◆ Asymmetric, uneven gaits

◆ Difficulty picking up correct lead or maintaining canter

Obvious discomfort from pressure on the back is one possible indicator of kissing spines. Photo by Talitha/Adobe Stock

A Diagnosis is Not Always Career-Ending

Although radiographs may look alarming, the presence of kissing spines isn’t necessarily the kiss of death for a horse’s athletic career. In fact, many horses whose X-rays reveal the condition have no clinical signs and compete at top levels.

Researchers at the University of California-Davis recently studied groups of horses that compete successfully in high-level show jumping and racing over fences. X-rays of these horses’ backs showed that kissing spines was very common, yet there was no correlation with poor performance. In fact, horses with the worse radiographic evidence of kissing spines often had better jumping scores and racing accomplishments.

“It’s incredibly common to have horses show abnormalities of their backs on X-rays, but our clinical experience and research studies show that kissing spines doesn’t necessarily mean a horse has back pain or poor performance,” says Sarah le Jeune, DVM, DACVS, DACVSMR, CVA, of UC Davis, who regularly works with horses with the condition. Le Jeune specializes in equine integrative sports medicine and rehabilitation, and she is also a surgeon.

“Kissing spines is getting blamed clinically for a lot of things, so you have to rule out other problems,” says le Jeune. “I rarely see horses with primary back pain; it’s usually secondary to lameness, poor saddle fit, or unbalanced riding.” Her goal is getting to the root of the problem and fixing it.

“Back pain and lameness are highly correlated and hard to separate,” she notes. “If there’s an underlying lameness, once the horse is better, he starts using his back better.”

Not Just X-Rays

Radiographs alone should never be the sole evidence for a diagnosis of kissing spines. It’s believed that almost 35 percent of horses show evidence of the condition on X-rays, but they may have no clinical signs.

“Typically, when you X-ray horses’ backs, they’re sedated, and their posture is passive,” says le Jeune. “They’re not engaging their abdominal muscles and are kind of slouching.”

This doesn’t reflect the horse in movement with an engaged hind end and lifted back.

“It’s not uncommon to see kissing spines on X-rays, but the sedated, standing horse is not the same as the dynamic horse in motion,” she adds.

The condition has even been seen on X-rays of foals’ backs, which proves it’s not related to being ridden.

When conducting a pre-purchase exam, le Jeune won’t necessarily “red flag” a horse with kissing spines on the X-rays if he moves well and has no back pain, but she lets the buyer know it could become a problem if the rider is not able to ride the horse with an engaged and lifted back.

Because the condition is so frequently seen on X-rays, an accurate diagnosis of kissing spines must include clinical correlation.

“Horses with clinical kissing spines have obvious pain upon palpation and riding,” says le Jeune. “The diagnosis has to be confirmed with physical examination and palpation of the back, including a thorough lameness evaluation, neurological evaluation, and saddle fit evaluation.”

She also recommends evaluation of the horse being ridden by a veterinarian well-versed in sports medicine.

Why Horses Develop Kissing Spines

There is no single answer as to why some horses develop kissing spines. Likely, the condition is the result of multiple factors, including breed predisposition and genetics, poor saddle fit, unbalanced riding, and lack of training that allows the horse to not engage his core.

At times, conformation is to blame. A horse that genuinely has bad posture related to conformation may be physically incapable of using his body properly for high-level performance.

“Saddle fit is a huge problem,” adds le Jeune. “The saddle has to fit the rider, not just the horse. Most owners want to do what’s right by their horses. It might mean getting a different saddle or becoming a more balanced rider. It takes self-awareness and willingness to address the root problem.”

Different Approaches to Kissing Spines

When all other issues have been ruled out and a horse has a definitive diagnosis of kissing spines, there are different approaches to addressing the condition:

◆ Medical treatment

◆ Postural rehabilitation

◆ Surgery

Medical treatment may involve muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medication, and steroid injections between the offending DSPs. Some horses with the condition may benefit from steroid injections a couple times per year to reduce inflammation in the affected area(s) of the back.

Le Jeune has also seen improvement using shockwave therapy, chiropractic adjustment and acupuncture. Although these therapies can be very helpful, the horse must still have a strong back and move correctly, which is why postural rehabilitation is key.

Secondary to postural rehab, Le Jeune has also seen improvement using shockwave therapy, chiropractic adjustment and acupuncture. Photo by RD-Fotografie/Adobe Stock

Postural rehabilitation involves exercises that engage core muscles and strengthen the muscles that support the spinal column. The goal of postural rehabilitation is getting the horse to use his back properly, by tucking his pelvis and lifting the back.

“Postural rehab can include resistance bands like the Equiband Pro System, the ProSix, or the Pessoa Lungeing System,” says le Jeune. “All of this is done without a rider and rehab can take two to three months.”

Postural rehabilitation, which might include the Pessoa longeing system, involves exercise that engages core muscles and strengthens the muscles that support the spinal column. Photo by matilda553/Adobe Stock

When owners choose surgery for severe cases, there are two options. The most common surgery, known as interspinous ligament desmotomy (ISLD), involves snipping the ligament(s) holding those segments of the spine together.

“A branch of the spinal nerves in that region are cut during the surgery, so it’s like a neurectomy, meaning the horse won’t be able to feel that area of the back,” explains le Jeune, adding that this may possibly make the back less stable.

A more radical and invasive surgery, known as ostectomy, actually cuts away the top of the dorsal spinous processes that are touching.

Post-operative image of the same horse following cranial wedge ostectomy of the four sites. Photo by Alan Nixon

Some surgeons are combining ISLD surgery with a process known as “bone shaving,” which removes smaller bone sections and is less radical than an ostectomy.

While surgery for kissing spines is common, le Jeune believes it’s only warranted when the diagnosis is absolute and there are no better treatment options. In practice, she has found that postural rehabilitation is often a more successful approach.

When an owner chooses this option, it’s important to work with an expert who is experienced in rehabilitation, which is usually a veterinarian who is board certified in sports medicine, so don’t hesitate to seek out a specialist.

Return to Work

Most horses with clinical signs are able to return to work after treatment, but owners should be aware that rehab takes time and commitment on their part.

“As long as you’ve ruled out everything else, it’s very rare that postural rehab doesn’t work,” says le Jeune. “But correct riding is crucial. You need to have a skilled rider once the back is strengthened in order to keep the horse engaged and using his back properly.”

Correct riding is crucial when returning to work. A strong equine back and skilled rider is needed to keep the horse engaged and using his back properly. Photo by RD-Fotografie/Adobe Stock

As an avid rider herself, le Jeune understands the condition from this perspective.

“Once the horse develops more back muscling, he’ll get wider, so you may need to adjust or change saddles,” she adds, noting that regular saddle re-evaluation is essential, with adjustment as needed.

Key Takeaway

Although kissing spines has become a common diagnosis in performance horses, le Jeune emphasizes that the condition shouldn’t be the go-to explanation for poor performance or back pain.

She encourages owners and veterinarians to definitively rule out any other problems, particularly lameness, before confirming a diagnosis of kissing spines and pursuing treatment.

She adds that choice of treatment should always focus on what’s right for the horse long term—not necessarily the option that brings about the fastest results.

This article about kissing spines in horses appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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By the end of 2026, U.S. sales on pet CBD products are expected to hit $1.1 billion. While more than three-quarters of the CBD-related pet products purchased in 2021 were bought for dogs, horses are getting in on the action, too. Horse owners are using CBD products to address:

◆ Inflammation
◆ Arthritis
◆ Respiratory issues
◆ Allergies
◆ Pain (acute and chronic)
◆ Immune system issues
◆ Anxiety
◆ Stress/trauma
◆ Gastrointestinal problems (ulcers, leaky gut, et cetera)

Photo by Viktoria Makarova/Adobe Stock

Why CBD Works in Equines

All mammals have an endocannabinoid system (ECS) located throughout the body, which helps the nervous and immune systems self-regulate and communicate. The ECS searches out instability and seeks to return the body to a balanced state.

CBD acts on cannabinoid receptors in the brain, organs, and the immune system, allowing the ECS to be more productive in coping with instabilities such as inflammation, pain, anxiety, immune deficiencies, digestive disturbances, and more.

CBD is one of the most common cannabinoids found in cannabis plants, which include both hemp and marijuana. Hemp has 0.3 percent or less THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the cannabinoid in marijuana that causes the sensations of being “high.”

There are different ways to extract CBD from plants, with CO₂ extraction being the purest. Chemical extraction methods may use toxic chemicals, making this method undesirable. Reputable manufacturers will note their extraction method.

Forms and Dosage

CBD products for horses are sold as pellets, powders, and oils. To avoid contamination from chemicals, heavy metals, or other soil toxins, choose products made in the U.S. or Canada from organically grown hemp. Check websites for a Certificate of Analysis (COA) showing the product has been third-party tested and is free of THC, heavy metals, mold, et cetera.

CBD products for horses are most commonly sold in one of three forms: pellets, powder, or oil. Photo by Irina Evva/Adobe Stock

If the product has a NASC quality seal, this guarantees the product was made by a member of the National Animal Supplement Council, so you can feel confident it contains what the label states.

Dosage depends on the horse’s weight and the specific condition being addressed. The most common doses in pharmacokinetic studies for a 1,000-pound horse would be 225 to 1,350 mg of CBD oil once or twice daily. Thus far, only one study has shown increased liver values with these doses. More research on long-term use is needed.

The dose can be adjusted up or down depending on how the horse responds. Although positive effects may be seen within days, it may take up to two weeks to see obvious benefits.

Any side effects are typically mild. Current research has not identified effects on mental activity or GI effects in the short term, but long-term safety is unknown.

Consider the Research

In a recent study at the University of Messina in Italy, hemp oil was added to the protocol of horses with joint osteoarthritis who were already being treated with phenylbutazone (bute).

The group of horses receiving CBD oil had “a significant reduction in heart rate, respiratory rate, white blood cell count, and oxidative stress.” Those horses also scored lower in the Horse Chronic Pain Scale (HCPS), showing improved pain relief and quality of life.

“The good news is that the outcome of pharmacokinetic research has been quite consistent despite different CBD products, doses, horse populations studied, and research groups,” says Taralyn McCarrel, DVM, who was an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida when the school conducted CBD research on horses in 2021. She is currently an Associate Professor of Large Animal Surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. “In research, one study never stands alone as the answer—we like to see broad consistency across studies to confirm results.”

McCarrel says current published literature supports these general conclusions:

◆ Oral CBD has poor absorption from the GI tract (very little of what we give ends up in bloodstream circulation).

◆ The acid forms of cannabinoids (CBDA) are better absorbed, but potential clinical effects of these need more investigation.

◆ THC can be detected despite being in low concentrations in hemp oils, and the 7-COOH CBD metabolite remains detectable in the circulation for longer than other metabolites tested.

She points out that despite hemp oil having less than 0.3 percent THC as required by law to qualify as a hemp oil, horses in the University of Florida study, whether given lower or higher doses, had detectable levels of THCA (the acidic form of THC).

“While the CBD and many other metabolites were eliminated from the bloodstream quickly and became undetectable, the 7-COOH-CBD metabolite remained at high levels throughout our sampling window,” says McCarrel, who still holds Courtesy Faculty status at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

Should Your Horse Try CBD?

Many horse owners are using CBD products, and there are plenty of products on the market. That said, McCarrel points out three major areas that should give owners pause.

“The first is that we don’t know much more than we know,” she says. “Based on the current literature, it appears that low doses of CBD have minimal effects in the short term, but the safe and effective dose for any particular indication is not known, and long-term safety of any dose is not known.

“The second major issue is that CBD products can differ based on the species and characteristics of the plant,” McCarrel continues. “There is currently no regulatory control of these products at the federal level, and patchy to nonexistent regulation at the state level. So, it’s a ‘buyer beware’ environment at present.

“Finally, for performance horses, it’s important to know the regulations of whatever organization the horse may compete under and be aware that these products are banned by several of them,” she says. “Cannabinoids are banned by the FEI [Fédération Equestre Internationale]. CBD and THC are also prohibited in Thoroughbred racing in the United States, with THC being in a higher class than CBD for racehorses. Owners and veterinarians need to be mindful of the risk of detection of prohibited substances in horses competing in regulated sports.”

Regulatory Status

McCarrel notes that the regulatory environment for CBD products is currently in a state of limbo.

“Given that we are still in the infancy of CBD research in horses, and the very long and expensive process required to achieve FDA [Food and Drug Administration] approval for pharmaceuticals, I would not expect to see an FDA-approved pharmaceutical labeled for use in horses anytime soon,” says McCarrel.

She explains that on the human side, many CBD producers have asked for regulation as a food supplement, which is less expensive and rigorous, but it would provide some regulatory control over quality.

“The FDA’s position is that they have no path for regulation of CBD as a supplement because CBD is an active ingredient in an approved pharmaceutical for treatment of certain seizure disorders in people, and food supplements cannot contain approved pharmaceutical products,” notes McCarrel. “So other than an approved pharmaceutical, which does not exist in veterinary medicine at present, the CBD market is effectively unregulated.”

Due to this lack of regulation, it falls on horse owners to do their homework and choose CBD products made by reputable companies. Since state laws vary regarding the use of CBD products, check your state’s regulations before purchase.

This article about equine CBD appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Groundwork is the foundation for effective training and significantly impacts equine behavior and performance. But you might be thinking, “I just want to ride!”

However, groundwork is far from boring when you realize how it strengthens the bond between you and your horse, enhancing communication, confidence, and trust. It is the foundation of everything you do with your horse, allowing you to understand each other better, creating a bond that makes riding even more enjoyable and effective.

At Brook Hill Farm, a horse rescue and therapeutic riding center in Virginia, the authors used Vanessa Bee’s horse agility program based on her book, The Horse Agility Handbook, to work with at-risk youth and rescue horses. Photo by Jordan Altman

Speaking Horse

Why speak to your horse from the ground, and not under saddle? Communication with a horse comes from reading his body language and having him read yours.

Though we all love to ride, when you do, your horse can’t see your body language clearly. As prey animals, they rely on subtle cues for survival. If you can tap into that horse language code, you can find a plethora of useful information.

In the wild, these subtle movements—of the ears, nostrils, eyes, mouth, tail, and feet—solidify horses’ social networks, let them live in peace with each other, and help protect them from predators. By paying attention to these signals, you can deepen your interspecies connection and have healthier, safer, and more rewarding experiences with your horse.

Domestic horses speak horse with a human accent; they adjust their language to speak to us. What horses do—whether they need to protect themselves or accept us—is directly related to how we make them feel.

Developing this communication through groundwork helps you understand your horse’s needs and emotions better, making all your interactions, including riding, more effective and enjoyable.

This challenging equine sport, started in England in 2009, is similar to dog agility. It begins by teaching the horse to lead, then to go over obstacles on the lead using body language and verbal commands, and finally completing the course at liberty using the same signals, allowing the horse to choose to participate.

Getting Started with Horse Agility

All you need is your horse, a halter, a long lead line so the horse can move freely, and some homemade obstacles. Use items you already have.

Any equine-safe object can be used to add new challenges, such as this trail course bridge. Photo by Jordan Altman

Simple Ideas for Horse Agility Obstacles

• Two cones with a tarp folded up between them for the horse to walk on
• Two poles to make a narrow chute
• Umbrellas making a chute
• Jump standards with plastic bags or balloons through the holes
• Flags in standards or cones
• Streamers strung between standards or cones
• A curtain made of streamers to walk through

Be creative. Pool noodles are our favorite! Photo by Jordan Altman

Phase 1: Leading

Start by leading your horse forward, backward, right, and left. Be able to halt. Make sure you can lead your horse without dragging him or him pulling you away. Use basic commands and consistent body language to guide the horse through a simple pattern.

Phase 2: Desensitization

Introduce your horse to obstacles gradually.

Set up a course of obstacles in the arena and let him explore the objects. Allow him to look, smell, and paw the objects. Help him learn the objects are not scary, building confidence by using lots of praise, and do not punish for spooking.

Once he is comfortable, guide him through the obstacles on the lead.

Phase 2: Allow your horse to sniff and explore the objects so his confidence grows. Photo by Jordan Altman

Phase 3: Horse Agility

Once you can complete the course successfully on the lead, turn the horse loose and see if he will follow you at liberty through the pattern. You’ll be amazed at the results!

Phase 3: Once your horse is confident leading over the obstacles, unclip your rope and watch the magic happen! Photo by Jordan Altman

So, next time you’re tempted to skip the groundwork, remember: Horse agility is the key to building confidence, unlocking a deeper connection and smoother rides—plus it’s just plain fun!

This article about horse agility appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Over the last five decades, Horse Illustrated has evolved with the times, adapting to the digital era with digital issues of the magazine, e-books, its Barn Banter podcast, a monthly webinar series, and an active social media presence. While expanding into these digital spaces, Horse Illustrated has stayed true to its roots, proudly producing a bimonthly print magazine in an era when so many magazines have disappeared or gone all-digital.

“We care deeply about each and every subscriber’s experience, and strive to put out an engaging magazine for horse lovers that is also beautiful to look at,” said Editor in Chief Holly Caccamise. “We listen to reader feedback and favorite topics in order to keep the publication educational and entertaining – something we’d want to read ourselves!”

Horse Illustrated continues to delight readers with expert horse care and health advice, training tips, breed profiles, and stories of fellow equestrians. Along the way, the magazine has earned respect and accolades throughout the equine publication industry, including various honors at the annual American Horse Publications conference. Among those awards include a 1st place in the General Excellence category in 2018 and 2025, as well as recognition in the same category in 2015 and 2021.

To mark this milestone, Horse Illustrated has launched a fresh new look to its website, horseillustrated.com, with a design reflecting the publication’s 50th year. There, readers can enjoy the equine-centric content the magazine is known for.

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Horse Illustrated will be releasing a special issue as a collector’s edition, with a limited quantity available (newsstand and online orders only). A walk down memory lane, the issue will feature the magazine’s iconic moments in print—including Horse Illustrated’s hallmark breed profiles, legendary covers, and more. Pre-order sales of the special issue will be announced soon, and the magazine will first be available in person at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event.

A limited number of advertising opportunities are available; interested parties can contact Rima Dorsey at rdorsey@egmediamags.com.

About Our Publications

Horse Illustrated, Young Rider, Western Life Today, HorseIllustrated.com, YoungRider.com, and WesternLifeToday.com are part of the EG Media stable. Horse Illustrated is the magazine for people who are passionate about horses. Each issue offers advice on horse health and care, plus user-friendly training tips for both English and western riders and engaging lifestyle features for horse lovers. Young Rider educates horse-loving kids ages 8-15 with a combination of English and western riding lessons, horse-care hints, and stories about real-life young riders, plus fun, interactive elements. Western Life Today is the premier publication for all things western, from fashion and entertainment to destinations and more. Visit www.horseillustrated.com, www.youngrider.com, and www.westernlifetoday.com to learn more. Contact us at 844-330-6373 or horseillustrated@egmediamags.com.

The post Horse Illustrated Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

This spring, however, a different kind of boots and saddles will move into “Cowtown” when the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final and Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup Final come to the Dickies Arena, April 8-12, 2026. It all started when the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI, the international governing body for equestrian sport) accepted Fort Worth’s bid to host this year’s Finals back in 2022.  

A front view of Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, where the 2026 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final and Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup Final will be held. Photo courtesy of Visit Fort Worth

The Split Rock Jumping Tour (SRJT, based out of Lexington, Ky.) will host this prestigious international competition in partnership with the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Sports Commission. SRJT Founder and President Derek Braun shared his thoughts on bringing the Finals to Texas, “This is a testament to what the Split Rock team and the City of Fort Worth have accomplished over the last several years. I am truly honored to bring a welcoming, world-class experience. There is no better way to showcase the best in show jumping and dressage and celebrate the sport as a whole.” 

Braun and World Cup Finals Event Director Sami McDermott promise not only exciting international sport, but also educational events, daily entertainment with a decidedly Texas flair, an impressive laser light show, and lots of dining, shopping and tourism options. 

Find more information and tickets here.

Competition Synopsis of the FEI World Cup Finals

Created to cap the fall and winter season of international competition, the World Cup Jumping Final was first held in 1979 and the Dressage Final in 1986. While riders are listed by the country they represent, the World Cup Finals are not team competitions. Horse and rider combinations compete in designated qualifier competitions throughout the year in order to earn a berth in the Final.  

Dressage horse and rider combos compete in two classes, the first day in an FEI Grand Prix test, followed by a rest day, then on day three in an FEI Grand Prix Freestyle class. World Cup Final jumping competition comprises three days of classes with a rest day in between the second and third competition days. They jump two rounds on the final day. All horses in both sports are inspected by the ground jury for fitness to compete before official training and arena familiarization the next day, then competition starts the day after that.  

This is the first time that the FEI World Cup Finals will be held in Texas. The USA has previously hosted the FEI World Cup Jumping Final 11 times (Baltimore, 1980; Tampa, 1989; Del Mar, Calif., 1992; Las Vegas, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2015, and Omaha, 2017 and 2023), and the FEI Dressage Final seven times (Los Angeles, 1995; Las Vegas, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2015, and Omaha, 2017 and 2023).  

Find the 2026 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final and 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup Final schedule here. 

Past World Cup Winners

The reigning World Cup Dressage Final top three from last year’s event in Basel, Switzerland, are Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale of Great Britain, first; Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz of Germany, second; and Isabel Freese and Total Hope OLD of Norway, third. In the 2025 Longines World Cup Jumping Final the top three were Julien Epaillard and Donatello d’Auge of France, first; Ben Maher and Point Break of Great Britain, second; and Kevin Staut and Visconti du Telman of France, third.  

Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale were the 2025 World Cup Dressage Final winners in Basel, Switzerland. Photo by Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

Best World Cup Dressage Final placings for U.S. riders include Steffen Peters and the outstanding gelding Ravel, winners in the 2009 Final in Las Vegas; Debbie McDonald and the super mare Brentina, victors in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2003 (they also placed third in 2005); and two second-place finishes in 2017 and 2018 by Laura Graves with her former world-number one partner Verdades. Guenter Seidel riding Nikolaus placed third in 2003 and Peters took third on Floriano in 2007 in Las Vegas.  

In World Cup Jumping Finals, the USA has accrued a long list of accomplishments, headlined most recently by Beezie Madden’s win on the athletic stallion Breitling LS in 2018; McLain Ward’s win on the impressive mare HH Azur in Omaha in 2017; Devin Ryan’s second with Eddie Blue in 2018; and Hunter Holloway’s third-place finish in 2023 with Pepita con Spita. Madden also won with Simon in 2013. The uber-talented, U.S.-based stallion Flexible flew to victory in 2012 after taking second in 2008. Further back in World Cup Final history, U.S. jumper riders Katherine Burdsall, Leslie Burr Leneghan, Donald Cheska, Norman Dello Joio, Conrad Homfeld, Lisa Jacquin, Michael Matz, Katie Monahan, and Melanie Smith all had top-three finishes, several of those first-place titles.  

U.S. rider Hunter Holloway and Pepita Con Spita jumped their way to third place in the 2023 FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Omaha. Photo by Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography

The Venue

Dickies Arena will host the competition, entertainment, educational programs and a shopping village. The horses will be stabled in barns located on the adjacent Will Rogers Memorial Center Campus. Due to FEI rules and United States Department of Agriculture quarantine regulations, stabling will be secure and the general public will not have access. A warm-up ring will be constructed next to Dickies Arena.  

The Arena, which is owned by the city, is a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility with a capacity of up to 14,000 seats. Opened on Oct. 26, 2019, it is ranked as Billboard’s number one in the world in that size class. The arena’s namesake is the Texas-based clothing company Dickies. 

The neighboring 120-acre Will Rogers Campus is a major hub for equestrian and livestock shows. It is named for the famous cowboy actor and humorist Will Rogers, who was of Native American descent. A botanical garden, a number of art and history museums, and a planetarium, are also located on or near the campus.  

Venue Info

Dickies Arena
1911 Montgomery Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76107  

There is a fee for parking. Directions and parking information can be found here.

Visit Fort Worth

Come for the World Cup Finals, but stay to tour Fort Worth too! There are intriguing and entertaining options for everyone in your family or friends group. Find information at the city’s tourism website, and a video listing top ten things to do in Fort Worth here. Find information about parking here.

Texans will proudly tell you the state is the second biggest in the USA after Alaska. Fort Worth is the fourth largest city in Texas behind Houston, San Antonio and Dallas. It is a city of contrasts, rich history and diverse cultural communities, each with their own heritage, art, music and culinary delights. Established in 1849 as a U.S. Army outpost along the Trinity River, there were several ebbs and flows in population over time, but today the city has over one million residents. When combined with neighboring Dallas, the Metroplex is the fourth most populous in the USA and the largest in Texas.

Fort Worth was a stop on the historic Chisholm Trail, a cattle drive and wagon route from south Texas up to Kansas where the cattle were sold and loaded onto rail cars to ship east. Eventually many meat packing companies established facilities in Fort Worth. With ranching, cattle drives and meat packing being big business there, the city earned its “Cowtown” moniker. The first commercial oil well in the Permian Basin was drilled in 1921. Although the Basin is four hours to the west, the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area is home to over 600 oil and gas company offices.  

Shopping opportunities in Fort Worth run the gamut from cowboy hats and boots to high-end luxury brands to art and antiques to treasure hunting in some really unique thrift stores. Dining options are equally diverse, ranging from premium steaks and Texas barbeque to Mexican and Tex-Mex to many other cultural cuisines from around the world.  

Dickies Arena and the Will Rogers Campus are located in the city’s Cultural District, which is home to a number of impressive art and history museums, a botanical garden and a planetarium, as well as Casa Mañana Theater. Many of the art museums offer free admission to their regular exhibits. The Fort Worth Historic Stockyards, the Fort Worth Water Gardens and the Fort Worth Zoo are all a 10-20 minute drive away from the Cultural District. Find details here. 

World Cup attendees should not miss the chance to immerse themselves in Western history in the Stockyards District, where the Fort Worth Herd conducts twice-daily cattle drives free for public viewing. Also in the Stockyards are the John Wayne Experience and the Historic Stockyards Museum. Stroll Mule Alley, where you’ll find shops and restaurants occupying what was once a large mule barn and is now home to the American Paint Horse Association headquarters, with its famed Paint Horse statues on display. Follow history markers on a walking tour around the area. In the evening visit one of the Stockyard’s many saloons or the world’s biggest honky-tonk, Billy Bob’s Texas. Find more information here.  

Fort Worth Herd features twice-daily live cattle drives in the Historic Stockyards District. Admission is free. Photo courtesy of Visit Fort Worth

One of the most impressive sites in the Fort Worth is the stunning Water Gardens located near the Fort Worth Convention Center downtown. Also in the downtown/Sundance Square area are many shops, restaurants, theaters, the Sid Richardson Western Art Museum (free admission), and the Bass Performance Hall. Sundance Square is a walkable, 37-square-block area with many fountains, outdoor gathering areas, murals and art galleries. There is a free downtown circulator bus and a bike share program to help visitors explore downtown. Discover more about the area here.

This is just scratching the surface of things to do and see in Fort Worth. Among other things, visitors can tour one of only two U.S. Government Bureau of Engraving and Printing currency production sites in the country where paper money is printed. The Fort Worth Zoo has over 500 species of animals, including over 60 endangered species, and a water park.  

If sports beyond equestrian are of interest, Fort Worth has a number of golf courses as well as the Texas Motor Speedway, where on April 11 you can try your hand at driving on the track in the NASCAR Racing Experience. A short drive away in Arlington, the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball team will play home games on April 7 and 8. If you stick around a few more days, Lone Star Park begins its Thoroughbred racing meet on April 16 in nearby Grand Prairie.

Fort Worth Travel Tips

Closest Airport 

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (airport code DFW) is an easy drive to and from Dickies Arena, although depending on the time of day, allow around 35-50 minutes to make the trip.  

DFW is a large international airport offering many amenities and multiple flights landing daily from around the world. The airport ranked third in global traffic volume in 2024 behind Atlanta, Ga. (USA), and Dubai. They have a tram (Skylink) that takes passengers from terminal to terminal. There are both public and private transportation options from DFW to Fort Worth and Dickies Arena.  

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
2400 Aviation Drive
DFW Airport, Texas 75261 USA 

On the DFW website, you can find links to an airport map, driving directions, and information on public (train/tram/bus from DFW to Fort Worth) and private transportation (taxis, rental cars, for-hire airport shuttle services that will take you to Fort Worth). Ride share companies Uber and Lyft operate in the area as well.  

Another useful transportation planning tool is Rome2Rio, which provides options and price estimates. Find more info here.

Housing Options

Official World Cup partner hotels are offering discounted rates. Find out more here.

If these hotels are full, there are many other hotels and rental properties to choose from in Fort Worth. Search hotel or rental property booking sites and use these key words for housing close to the World Cup venue: Dickies Arena; Fort Worth Cultural District; Will Rogers Memorial Center; Texas Christian University (TCU); Fort Worth Medical Center.  

(Note that the Fort Worth Historic Stockyards are a bit farther away, although still within seven miles of Dickies Arena. As with any big city, keep rush hour traffic in mind when planning travel times to the venue.) 

Weather

Spring is a great time to visit Fort Worth; it is before the heat of summer yet warmer than much of Europe and North America during that time. Average daytime high temperature in April in Fort Worth is about 75°Fahrenheit (23.9 C). Average nighttime low temperature in April in Fort Worth is about 56.7°F (13.7°C). On average it rains about 13 days out of 30 in April in Fort Worth—though spring thunderstorms in North Texas can be severe. There will be about 12.5 daylight hours in Fort Worth during the World Cup Finals and a UV index of around 3 is common (moderate risk).  

Don’t Miss the FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth!

The 2026 FEI World Cup Jumping and Dressage Finals in Fort Worth are a chance to see the best horses and riders in the world here on U.S. soil and get a sneak peek of the race toward the 2028 LA Olympic equestrian competition. Combine that with all there is to see and do in the fascinating and vibrant Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and it’s a vacation and a half with a bow on top!  

This article about the 2026 FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth are a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post A Preview of the 2026 FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

This past summer, my 15-year-old daughter Emily and I visited Warendorf and spent a couple of days wandering around. My husband is from a small town about 15 km from there, and we’ve visited a few times.

This was our first visit since 2019, and Emily, now horse-obsessed, appreciated all that Warendorf had to offer in a new way. On previous visits, she was most excited about the excellent playgrounds in the park between downtown and the River Ems. This time, her eyes lit up with every equestrian encounter.

Westphalian State Stud

Our first destination was a tour of the Nordrhein-Westfälische Landgestüt (North Rhine Westphalian State Stud). I first visited here in my 20s, when I was working at a sales barn in Holland. A few other girls and I drove over for the Bundeschampionate, or Young Horse Championships, held at the nearby Olympic Training Center.

The State Stud is home to breeding stallions owned by the government and has housed generations of horses. Our tour happened to take place on the same day as the meeting of a Mercedes enthusiasts’ club, and the entire courtyard at the entrance was full of classic cars. There were some real beauties there, but we headed to the main gate to meet our group.

Amber’s tour happened to take place on the same day as the meeting of a Mercedes enthusiasts’ club, and the entire courtyard at the entrance was full of classic cars. Photo by Amber Heintzberger

The tour was in German, which was a little easier for my daughter to understand since she has grown up speaking the language. My basic “Duolingo language app German” can get me through a lot of everyday touristy situations, but a lot of the information imparted on the tour was over my head.

Still, to some degree, the language of horses is universal. I understood the gist of it, and wandering around the stables is a treat whether you understand every word or not. Our tour included a look at the turnout paddocks, discussion about the interior and exterior of the stables, and a quick stop at the breeding shed.

The stud keeps an average stock of 65 warmblood and 25 draft stallions. Photo by Emily Heintzberger

We also walked around the Deutsches Reitschule, or the German Riding School, adjacent to the Stud on the same grounds, where young equestrians can work and study to become licensed professionals.

Young equestrians can study to become licensed professionals at the Deutsches Reitschule, or German Riding School. Photo by Amber Heintzberger

Olympic Training Center

We returned the next day for a proper look around the town. First, we headed just north of town to the Olympic Training Center and German Equestrian Federation headquarters.

Just north of town is the Olympic Training Center and German Equestrian Federation headquarters. Photo by Amber Heintzberger

After parking the car, we wandered past a dressage lesson in a sand arena, grooms leading horses, and one impressive horse after another heading to training or turnout. We asked a groom if it was OK to walk around, and were assured that we could wander freely anywhere except in the stables themselves.

From there, we headed to the Equestrian Federation building and into the lobby, where a friendly gentleman at a front desk gave us some information pamphlets and suggested some interesting things for us to look at. This building housed a few mannequins wearing German team uniforms, cabinets of impressive trophies won by German teams at major competitions, and some fun vintage photos on the walls.

As suggested, our next destination was the hall where the show jumpers train, and we had a look inside. We also saw the area where the vaulters train, including a mechanical contraption for training without a horse. All of it was fascinating and incredibly well kept.

Downtown Warendorf

After we left, we drove up the road a bit just to take in the farmland, driving past one beautiful horse farm after another. But without a clear destination, we cut that short and headed for downtown Warendorf.

Warendorf is a beautiful German town, perfect to enjoy while wandering around for a day. Photo by Amber Heintzberger

If you visit by car, there is an easy parking lot just over a bridge outside of the city center, not far from the State Stud. Park there and walk over the bridge, then follow the paving stones on the sidewalk reminiscent of the Hollywood stars—except they’re dedicated to various Olympic horses and riders that have represented Germany in Olympic competition.

On the left, about a block into town on the Emsstrasse, is a tourist information center. The ladies working there were friendly, spoke English, and were full of helpful advice about what to see and where to go around the town. We bought a few souvenirs here, and they gave us a free map.

As the weather was growing drizzly, we decided to pop into an equestrian boutique across the street called Funny Horses. Most of their high-end merchandise was geared toward children, but we had fun browsing through the riding apparel, pony tack, and gift items.

A boutique called Funny Horses featured high-end riding apparel for children, pony tack, and gift items. Photo by Amber Heintzberger

Walking through the city center, you’ll pass the village hall and ample outdoor seating for various restaurants. Through the square, we followed the street to the right, then continued straight up Freckenhorster Strasse (street).

We stopped at a little confectionery shop to buy a couple of Warendorfer pferdeapple chocolates—little balls of chocolate made to look like balls of horse manure, but obviously much better tasting!

Like many towns around the world, Warendorf has a collection of statues painted by local artists. Naturally, the statues are all horses, and it’s fun to keep an eye out for them as you stroll around. There is one in particular, attached to the side of a building above the Tchibo store, that is pretty eye catching.

Near this statue, we settled on doener kebabs for lunch—falafel for Emily and meat and vegetables in a pita bread for me, then browsed a few gift shops and then went to a large department store that mainly sold high-end clothing. I’m a bargain shopper, so we headed to the sales racks and managed to find some jeans for my long-legged daughter (it’s much easier to find clothing for tall people in this region!) as well as a stylish top and blazer for her to wear to the CHIO Aachen the following week.

Warendorf is a walled city, and we chose to stay mainly within the city walls. After wandering around for another hour or so window shopping and admiring the architecture, we stopped by an ice cream shop and enjoyed a spaghetti eis—ice cream pressed through a machine that makes it look like spaghetti, overtop a dollop of whipped cream, and then covered with strawberry sauce and sprinkled with white chocolate shavings.

Our mission to sample all that Warendorf has to offer accomplished, we decided to call it a day. Fortunately, with family nearby, we will be back. There is plenty to see and do in Warendorf, whether it’s your first visit or you’re coming back for more.

A Note About Riding in Warendorf

The Warendorfer Riding Route includes 200 km of riding trails that are part of the greater Munsterland Region, which has over 1,000 km of riding trails. While it is possible to arrange a riding holiday in the area, we had a busy schedule with family events.

I had assumed we could take Emily to one of the many local riding stables for a lesson, but due to insurance reasons, most of these stables are “clubs,” meaning lessons are only available to members. Fortunately, Emily’s cousin Jana has a lovely sport horse gelding that she keeps at a small private stable, and Emily was able to take him for a ride.

Although most local riding stables require a club membership, Emily was able to go for a ride on her cousin’s horse. Photo by Amber Heintzberger

Jana and I walked along with Emily as she rode down a lane, across a field, and to a pond in the forest, where she cantered near the water’s edge. We then followed one of these trails until the bugs started to become too bothersome and a storm cloud loomed on the horizon, so we headed for home.

This article about the equestrian destination of Warendorf appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Warendorf: A Dream Equestrian Destination appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

For over 40 years, Parelli Natural Horsemanship has been teaching horse lovers worldwide that true horse-man-ship can be obtained naturally using communication, understanding, and psychology versus mechanics, fear, and intimidation. Our goal is to share an effective training program that makes sense to horses, naturally.

Yet several myths persist that hinder true partnership. Let’s debunk five common horsemanship myths and misconceptions.

Myth 1: “Catch your horse any way you can.”

Did you know your session starts the moment your horse sees you? How you approach your horse and even how you put the halter on means something to him.

Humans are instinctively predators; horses are prey animals. When we rush straight at them to “catch” them, we can trigger their flight response. As the leader in the relationship, we want to create a natural attraction, so our horses become willing participants. When done right, your horse will meet you at the gate!

Myth 2: “Saddle him up and get on.”

First, we need to find out how our horse is feeling today. What side of the corral did he wake up on? Just like you have good days and bad days, so does your horse.

Make no assumptions that because your horse felt fine and you had a good ride yesterday, all will be well today. Before a pilot takes off in a plane, they always conduct pre-flight checks. The same should apply to our horse-man-ship. A few minutes of groundwork can prevent dangerous surprises in the saddle.

Myth 3: “Kick him to go.”

Riding is simple, right? After all, there’s a pedal for each foot! While leg cues are important, simply “kicking” a horse to go is counterproductive and creates dullness.

Instead, create a language by teaching your horse to respond to phases of pressure—starting with your energy first, and building to a squeeze to create understanding and willing forward motion. The result? A responsive horse who listens to whisper-light cues.

Myth 4: “Pull on him to stop.”

Horses are masters at reading and understanding body language. If phases of energy can create forward motion, the absence of energy can also mean slow down and stop.

You wouldn’t drive a car with malfunctioning brakes, and you shouldn’t ride a horse who relies on the reins to stop. Teaching your horse to respond to your seat and energy creates true self-carriage and a soft, balanced stop.

Myth 5: “Use the reins to turn.”

Horses have long bodies and humans have tall bodies. Learning to use long-body-logic means involving our entire body and energy in our communication with horses.

We influence our horses to move—on the ground and in the saddle—by turning our eyes (focus) first and then proceeding through our phases. This creates fluid, harmonious turns that feel effortless.

Join Us on This Journey

Please join us as we take a deeper dive into each of these five myths in the upcoming 2026 issues of Horse Illustrated. Our goal is to teach you how to train your horse safely and effectively at home, so that both you and your horse can have more fun and achieve excellence together, creating a true partnership based on trust and mutual understanding.

Learn more about our digital home-study curriculum, the Levels Program, at Parelli.com.

This edition of “Parelli Perspectives” about horsemanship myths appeared in the January/February 2026 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Debunking 5 Common Horsemanship Myths appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Since its debut in February 1998 in Wichita, the Kansas Horse Council has proudly produced EquiFest of Kansas, the state’s premier equine expo. EquiFest of Kansas is more than an event—it’s the primary fundraiser for the Kansas Horse Council, which works to provide the Kansas equine industry with leadership and direction through education, promotion and public policy advocacy.

EquiFest of Kansas is proud to unveil an unforgettable 2026 lineup, celebrating the rich tapestry of Western heritage, horsemanship and cultural storytelling. This year’s program cover art was created by talented local Native American artist Isaiah Stewart, known for his striking work with country music talents and influencers. His artwork sets the tone for a year filled with meaningful “firsts” and dynamic entertainment.

EquiFest 2026 marks a milestone as Kansas once again promotes live horse racing, highlighted by a special appearance from 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and owners Mark and Tawnya Allen. Their presence brings national racing history directly to Kansas fans.

Friday night features a brand-new theatrical storytelling production, blending music, lights, and live performance. Audiences will experience a sweeping narrative that introduces Vaqueros, a Chilean huaso, Native American horsemen, early American traveling shows, and modern-day cowboys. The fast-moving production includes guitar and singing on horseback, dancing, dressage-style maneuvers, trick riding, Roman riding, aerial artistry, and reining.

Photo courtesy EquiFest of Kansas

Saturday night brings the adrenaline with Bulls, Broncs & Bravehearts, featuring nine bucking bulls, nine freestyle bull fights (a parkour-style showcase of athleticism and courage), saddle broncs, and bareback riding. When the dust settles, the arena transforms for a concert and Dancing in the Dirt with regional favorite Tris Munsick & The Innocents.

Sunday closes with a matinée performance of the beloved EquiFest Ranch Rodeo, showcasing authentic ranch skills and teamwork.

EquiFest 2026 will also welcome a diverse lineup of celebrities and special guests, including:

• Dougie Hall, Native American influencer and actor on Landman
• Caleb Martin, musician and actor (1923, Landman)
• Ron McDaniel, cowboy poet and storyteller
• Liberty Cunningham, 15-year-old PRCA trick rider and aerial artist
• Dania Wahwasuck, Miss Indian Nation
• Chief Phillip Whiteman, Jr, former champion bronc rider
• Dennis Rogers, Native American historian
• Joe Merrick, owner of legendary Quarter Horse Easy Jet

Hispanic heritage will be represented by Charro Jerry Diaz & family and Chilean horseman Marcelo Guzman.

EquiFest continues its commitment to education with clinicians such as Craig Cameron, Cole Cameron, Chris Cox, Geno Middleton, Sally Batton, Marcelo Guzman and Daniel Dauphin, offering demonstrations and workshops for all ages.

Photo courtesy Amanda Overton Photography/EquiFest of Kansas

Competitions return in full force, including BreyerMidwest, the Kids’ Coloring Contest, KS State Parks Photo Contest, 4-H Judging, Extreme Cowboy obstacles, Cowboy Mounted Shooting, Bulls, Broncs & Bravehearts, and the EquiFest Ranch Rodeo.

“These are just a few of the many experiences awaiting guests at EquiFest 2026,” organizers said. “This year’s event is shaping up to be one of the most diverse, exciting, and culturally rich celebrations we’ve ever produced.”

Learn more about attending EquiFest of Kansas 2026 at www.equifestofks.com.

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