“Horses are in my life because I don’t think I could be without them,” she says.

Her mom brought her into riding at a young age, and soon she was a working student so that she could pay for lessons and horse shows. That hustle has come in handy while juggling a 14-year career in automotive advertising, a full clothing line, two small children, and the very active Instagram account that started it all.

Taryn Young says her success wouldn’t be possible without the support of her family. Photo by Stacy Tierman Photography

Beginnings

Young’s Instagram, @warmbloodsandwine, came about when she went to social media to share her equestrian journey after she started leasing her current show horse, Rayne, whom she would later purchase.

“My friends and family who weren’t into horses would never understand what I was talking about,” she recalls. “But the working woman equestrian [journey] was so relatable to so many people and gained traction.”

It certainly has, as the account has over 21,000 followers, and has led to many other opportunities. Young has done takeovers of social media pages for US Equestrian, USEF Network, USA Dressage, and PS of Sweden, to name a few. She credits the power of networking, and then taking the leap.

“It was all about me approaching and asking,” she says.

Breeches, Belts, & More

Her social media persona is also what led to her getting a foothold in the equestrian fashion space with her company, Novella Equestrian. After testing lots of different clothing items designed for riders, both through paid collaborations and her own personal purchases, Young kept finding herself imagining minor tweaks that would improve the pieces.

“Novella felt like a natural progression,” she says.

Young started her Novella Equestrian clothing company after testing much of what was already out on the market. Photo by Taylor Pence

The networking her social media presence allows has continued to be beneficial to the brand, as it makes finding models relatively easy with so many equestrian women at her fingertips.

“There are top riders I’ve been able to work with, which has resulted in some ‘pinch me’ moments, like when [2016 Olympic team dressage bronze medalist] Kasey Perry-Glass followed me,” says Young. “I just approached her and said, ‘I have a red, white, and blue shirt, would you be interested?’” (If you’re curious, Perry-Glass can be found on shopnovella.com sporting the “Team” shirt.)

Even though Young has had these opportunities, she doesn’t take them lightly.

“It’s very important to take your time with something like this because it’s your own idea,” she says. “You must have a vision and drive for it. You have to start out on the right foot and make the best lasting impression. People will give you a chance, but if that product isn’t up to their standards, they aren’t going to [buy again].”

Babies!

Novella was started soon after Covid hit, when Taryn found herself at home more due to working remotely and not needing to travel out of town to advertising meetings for her day job.

It also opened up the window to a new possibility: starting a family. She has since been blessed with two bundles of joy: her son Dunham and her daughter Parker. Young made sure to hammer home the point that she would not be able to accomplish all that she does without the assistance of those around her, which allows her to go out and attack her dreams full force.

“I have the most supportive and amazing family and husband,” she says. “They challenge me to go out and live my dreams, which has allowed me to get to where I am today.”

Barn Girl

After hearing about her full-time advertising job, being at the helm of a new fashion company, having two small children at home, and actively posting daily, you would think Young doesn’t get much saddle time—but you’d be wrong. She has carved out the time to pilot Rayne through eight show seasons, riding from Training Level to Grand Prix in dressage.

“He has the best brain, not the best movement, but his heart is so big,” says Young. “I think it says everything when you see a horse and a rider go from Training to Grand Prix because you know it’s the partnership that got them there.”

Young has piloted Rayne through eight show seasons, bringing him from Training Level dressage through Grand Prix. Photo by Fire & Earth Photo

Getting Resourceful

You may be wondering how Young balances it all.

“I like to be busy,” she says. “It doesn’t scare me when another thing is added to my plate, because I somehow just figure out how to be resourceful. I think horse girls are the most resourceful people I’ve ever known, because many people don’t have this demanding of a hobby. We’re taking care of a living thing, working, competing, juggling families, et cetera. But if it’s important to you, you figure it out.”

This article about Taryn Young appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Meet Taryn Young of Warmbloods + Wine and Novella Equestrian appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

You might be thinking, “Strength training can have that much impact on my riding?”

Yes! Incorporating exercises that maintain and build strength, improve mobility, and enhance stability can counteract the march of time. Riding is one of the few sports that you can do forever, allowing you to continue enjoying your passion with confidence, safety and vitality.

Bent-over dumbbell rows help improve strength and endurance in the saddle, as Ifa Simmonds and the model demonstrate. Photo by Jamie Isaacs Photography

Age-Related Muscle Decline

If you’re over 50, the natural decline in muscle strength is roughly 1.5 to 3 percent annually. This decline affects stability, suppleness, strength, and stamina around the barn, as well as in the saddle. Strength training, such as bodyweight movements and especially weightlifting, plays a vital role in mitigating this muscle loss. This training stimulates muscle protein synthesis, which helps you enhance muscle growth and maintenance.

For riders, muscle loss leads to reduced balance, slower reaction times, and greater difficulty maintaining good posture in the saddle. Strength training helps to maintain core strength and stability, both essential for staying balanced during transitions, turns, and unexpected movements from the horse.

Routine strength training has not only helped my clients preserve muscle health, but also promotes a higher quality of life and longevity in the saddle.

Bodyweight exercises like squats are ideal for building foundational strength and require no equipment. Photo by Jamie Isaacs Photography

Performance & Injury Risk

Riding places unique physical demands on your body. Core strength, leg endurance, and back stability are critical to maintaining proper alignment and posture while communicating effectively with your horse. When you’re weak in these areas, it leads to compensatory patterns, increasing the risk of overuse injuries and discomfort.

Stronger muscles help to reduce the strain on joints, tendons, and ligaments during rides. This is particularly important for mature riders, who may experience joint discomfort or back pain. Strengthening the lower body also improves your ability to absorb the horse’s movements without compromising balance, especially during activities like posting or sitting deeper in the canter.

Strength training can also improve grip strength, essential for holding reins and giving precise control without excessive tension. Combined with flexibility training, strength work enhances overall coordination, helping you feel more secure and harmonious with your horse.

Exercises like the marching press help develop the endurance, coordination, and stability used in the saddle. Photo by Jamie Isaacs Photography

Flexibility & Balance

Stability and suppleness are foundational to effective riding. Tight muscles with a limited range of motion negatively impact the horse’s way of going, often leading to stiffness or a lack of fluidity in the horse’s stride. Flexibility is just like the other things—if you don’t continue to practice it, you’re liable to lose it. Incorporating exercises like dynamic stretching, Pilates, or yoga can improve your suppleness and overall comfort while riding.

The center of gravity in an older rider is slightly different than in younger riders. To be centered and properly positioned in the saddle, it’s important to practice joint stability and balance exercises.

Simple exercises like standing on a balance pad, single-leg stands, balance pod balance, and stability ball exercises can improve proprioception (your awareness of body position). These exercises enhance reflexes, which are essential for quick adjustments in challenging situations like spooks or sharp turns.

Single-leg stands on a balance pad or balance pods increase proprioception and enhance reflexes, great for riding a spook or sharp turn. Photo by Jamie Isaacs Photography

Hormonal & Recovery Benefits of Strength Training

As riders age, the natural production of hormones like estrogen, testosterone and human growth hormone declines, which typically means greater loss of muscle mass and slower recovery times. Strength training stimulates the release of these hormones, promoting muscle repair, bone density, and overall vitality. This is especially important for equestrians who want to maintain their riding fitness over the long term.

Older riders may notice recovery from rides or training sessions takes longer than it used to. Training improves both physical resilience and enhances recovery rates, allowing you to get back in the saddle quicker with less soreness.

Recommended Strength Training Exercises

1. Bodyweight

Simple yet effective, bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, and push-ups strengthen key muscles used in riding. These exercises are ideal for building foundational strength and require no equipment, making them accessible to everyone.

2. Resistance Bands

Resistance bands are an excellent tool that don’t place undue stress on your joints. You can do the same dumbbell exercises with bands instead. 

3. Dumbbells

Light dumbbells or kettlebells can gradually build strength in the upper body, particularly in the arms and shoulders. Exercises like overhead presses and bent-over rows help develop the endurance needed for rein control and proper riding posture.

4. Stability Exercises

Incorporating dynamic balance-focused exercises, such as the marching press, enhances coordination and stability.

5. Low-Impact Cardio

Adding low-impact cardio like swimming, walking, or cycling complements your strength training by maintaining cardiovascular fitness without over-stressing joints.

Taking It Slow

For anyone just getting started, it’s important to ease into strength training. Starting with light resistance and focusing on proper form minimizes the risk of injury. Gradually increasing the intensity by adding more reps, resistance, or weight gives your body time to adapt and grow stronger over time.

Listening to your body is equally important. If an exercise feels uncomfortable or causes pain, adjust the movement or reach out for help. Recovery is also key—allow ample time for rest between training sessions, especially after a tough or long ride.

Strength training will not only enhance your physical performance, but your mental confidence as well, allowing you to feel more in control and capable both on and off the horse. Investing in your health and fitness is an investment in your riding journey.

Find more fitness tips at ifafit.com.

This article about strength training for senior equestrians appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Strength Training for Senior Equestrians appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Welcome to Barn Banter, the official podcast of Horse Illustrated. In Barn Banter episode 41, sponsored by CareCredit, hosts Susan Friedland and Horse Illustrated Editor In Chief Holly Caccamise chat with author Natalie Keller Reinert.

To end the episode, Susan and Holly chat with April Perry, equine technician for Kentucky Humane Society in Simpsonville, Ky., about Demara, this month’s ASPCA Right Horse adoptable horse.

Click here to listen on mobile.

Barn Banter Episode 41 Sponsor

The CareCredit credit card is a friendly, flexible way to pay over time for veterinary care for your horse, dog, cat and other animals in your family. It’s your card for a Lifetime of Care. Subject to credit approval. To learn more visit carecredit.com/3day.

Natalie Keller Reinert, Author

Barn Banter episode 41 guest Natalie Keller Reinert.

Natalie is a full-time author whose work has been featured in People, Variety, EQUUS, and Sidelines. Her fiction is deeply rooted in real-life horse culture, written for readers who crave authenticity, emotional honesty, and complex characters. She writes for the young women who never stopped loving horses, for the professionals keeping barn life alive, and for anyone who’s ever tried to make sense of their identity through the things they love.

Natalie’s new book The Jump from Flatiron Press is releasing March 24.

◆ Natalie’s Website

Adoptable Horse of the Month, Demara

Photo courtesy Kentucky Humane Society

Demara came to Kentucky Humane Society from a case where her owner couldn’t afford to meet her needs anymore, so she was very underweight and a State Investigator recommended the horses be signed over to KHS. With a dental, deworming, and a bit of pasture/hay/feed, Demara is much healthier and is even ready to be ridden again. She was good for her evaluation ride and seems to be a gaited Saddlebred. Demara would make a nice occasional leisure riding horse, or with a little bit of tuning back into a routine she could be a star on your lesson string (for someone kind, who doesn’t “use up” their lesson horses, of course). She clearly knows her way around the arena and just needs somebody to kindly bring her back into the swing of under saddle work.

Her DNA was sponsored by a kind person, and KHS found out she is registered as “Early Girl Tomato.”

Learn more about Demara here.

In addition to Barn Banter episode 41, you can check out all previous episodes of Horse Illustrated’s podcasts here.

The post Barn Banter – Episode 41: Sponsored by CareCredit appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo by Dutch Arbor Farms Photography

Bringing Equestrian Vision to Detroit

In 2012, David Silver joined Teach for America, an organization that recruits equity-oriented leaders as teachers, placing them in under-resourced schools for a two-year commitment. Silver’s teaching assignment was at Burns Elementary/Middle School on the west side of Detroit, where he taught 4th and 5th grade.

David Silver founded Detroit Horse Power to provide under-resourced youth a safe after-school program that uses horses to empower them. Photo courtesy Detroit Horse Power

The young educator from New York had never been to Michigan and didn’t know much about it. Once in his new city, Silver, who grew up in Pony Club and competed in eventing on an off-track Thoroughbred, noticed swaths of vacant land. He envisioned the open spaces making for nice paddocks or cross-country courses. 

In the classroom, Silver set out to create a culture based on confidence, perseverance, and empathy—qualities key for overcoming adversity and finding success. As he taught, he was also learning about his new environment and its impact on students. Food insecurity, neighborhood violence and transportation challenges affected the community.

He thought about how his background riding and competing with horses influenced him to have confidence and learn to deal with setbacks and keep going. He knew spending time with horses would enrich and empower his students, just as it had him.

Silver wanted to create an after-school program to help students apply lessons from horses into everyday life. When his Teach for America term was over in 2014, he left the classroom and spent several months exploring the idea, seeking advice from mentors, and pitching the concept to community leaders.

Over time, a board of directors was formed, and Detroit Horse Power (DHP) was established as a 501(c)(3). For the last decade, the organization has provided under-resourced youth a safe and enriching space that furthers their future development, using horses as the medium.

Via a 15-passenger van, DHP has transported students in grades 6 through 12 to meet, groom, and ride horses at partner barns outside of the city. It also provides after-school snacks and dinner for students.

The Perks of Time with Horses

Foundational to DHP’s programs are the “PERCS” traits (a student-created acronym). It stands for Perseverance, Empathy, Responsible risk taking, Confidence, and Self-control.

Foundational to DHP’s programs are the “PERCS” traits (Perseverance, Empathy, Responsible risk taking, Confidence, and Self-control). Photo by Dutch Arbor Farms Photography

DHP leaders and students alike use the language of PERCS when in the saddle or doing groundwork. For example, after students spend time at a partner barn, they will debrief in a circle, responding to prompts such as, “How were you using confidence in the saddle? What did that feel like? What subjects in school are you more confident in?”

“We do a lot of self-reflection and introspection in small group discussions,” says Silver. “We try to get them to harness confidence [at the barn] into the school setting, and give them a sense of empowerment. If you can control a 1,200-pound animal, why can’t you succeed on a math test?”

Photo by Dutch Arbor Farms Photography

Changing Lives

Xynese Frazier, a high school senior and member of DHP’s Youth Leadership Council, joined the program in 6th grade, when her mother first heard about it and thought it was worth trying. Xynese credits the program with boosting her self-confidence.

“I was very quiet around animals and people,” Xynese says. “I’ve gotten better interacting with so many different people. Also, I’ve developed perseverance. Some of the horses can be tricky and not in the mood. You can use that perseverance in your everyday life.”

She adds that her confidence in public speaking has grown, along with her self-control. She observes that having patience with animals can carry over into having patience with people. “When I’m in the saddle, I’m happy,” she says.

Xynese Frazier (riding), a high school senior and member of DHP’s Youth Leadership Council, credits the program with boosting her self-confidence. Photo by Dutch Arbor Farms Photography

Anika Frazier, Xynese’s mom, says her co-workers ask her about DHP, and there’s strong interest in the program.

“It’s a new experience for the youth, especially African American children, and it’s a good after-school activity where they learn how to ride and groom,” Anika says. “They’ve had a chance to see different parts of Michigan, and they got to attend the gala. It’s also a way for children to make new friends.”

Le’Airra Jones, who also served as a DHP Youth Leadership Council member, enrolled in a college program after graduating from Detroit’s top public high school. At the DHP gala, Le’Airra was honored with an Empathy Award. Le’Airra and her peers ran the 2024 summer horse camp.

“She knows the program inside and out, and it’s powerful for beginning riders to look up to her,” Silver says of the now college student, whom he met as a Burns school 1st grader.

Stable in the City

The benefits of kids and horses together have been life-changing, but two ongoing challenges since DHP’s inception have been transportation and access to partner barns.

Although grateful for the hospitality of partner barns who have welcomed students, the barns are often more than an hour’s van-ride away. By the time the students arrive, it doesn’t leave much time for grooming, riding, and all the other horse chores. It has been a struggle to build out a robust schedule, both due to cost and time. However, those challenges will soon become a thing of the past.

In October 2024, DHP broke ground on a vacant 14-acre property that had once been the site of the Paul Robeson School, a 100-year-old building destroyed by fire in 2011. The Detroit Public School system had no plan for the lot, and the superintendent wanted to work out an agreement so students could have access to horses. Plans are underway to construct the largest urban equestrian center in the United States, and the neighborhood is eager for its arrival.

Plans are underway for DHP to build the largest urban equestrian center in the U.S., which broke ground in October of 2024. Photo courtesy Detroit Horse Power

“We want to radically scale access to horses,” Silver says.

The 17-stall barn will have an attached 75 x 160-foot indoor riding arena. There will be a classroom and community space in the barn. A half-mile bridle path will wind around the property’s perimeter and outdoor ring.

All neighbors—not just the young equestrians—can enjoy the new facility, which will host book club meetings and local art events.

“Making this a community asset is important,” Silver explains. “We want it to be a hub of community life.”

All neighbors—not just young equestrians—will be able to enjoy the new facility, which will host block club meetings and local art events. Photo courtesy Detroit Horse Power

Building a Coalition

DHP’s success didn’t happen overnight. It has been years in the making through countless conversations and cultivating relationships with government officials, building a diverse coalition of people who believe horses have something to offer to the community, and generous donations from the equestrian community.

As of the groundbreaking, DHP has secured $6.9 million in commitments to its capital campaign, and people have already offered horses for the program. Once the equestrian center is operational in 2026, horses will become new neighbors for a community ready to embrace them.

DHP’s Development Director, Ciara Ginyard, has deep roots in the city.

DHP Development Director Ciara Ginyard has equestrian roots in Detroit, with her grandparents having ridden horses at the state fair. Photo courtesy Ciara Ginyard

“My grandparents were here, my great-grandparents,” she says. “When I told my parents I was going to be working with Detroit Horse Power, they got really excited, and my aunts and uncles started sharing with me all these stories of horses in Detroit. My grandparents would ride horses at the state fair.

“What excites me is another generation will be reintroduced to horses,” adds Ginyard. “We know the power of horses: It’s phenomenal, it’s life-changing, and it’s long lasting.”

To learn more, visit the Detroit Horse Power website and follow on Facebook @dethorsepower and Instagram @detroithorsepower.

To hear Susan and Horse Illustrated editor Holly chat with Ciara Ginyard, check out episode 22 of HI’s podcast, Barn Banter.

The post How Detroit Horse Power is Empowering Youth appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“There were times where I, in the moment, I thought I was going to lose my life,” Dedera says.

She wasn’t sure if she and the gelding could successfully move forward, but she didn’t want to give up. Rojo needed her to help him find a home.

Rojo Rogue as a new arrival settling into his gentling pen before starting training with Dedera. Photo by Lydia Dedera’s Horse Training

Challenging Choice

Dedera never owned a horse as a child, but she grew up going to horse camp. At 15, she accepted a job as a stable hand. There, she discovered she enjoyed working with horses. If she found a one with a problem, she searched for an answer. She started helping friends and acquaintances with their horses, but she didn’t consider herself a trainer.

Dedera didn’t realize Mustangs existed until she stumbled across a video about them on social media. Intrigued by the video and encouraged by friends and family, she entered a local Mustang adoption challenge when she was 19. That’s where she met Rojo.

When her turn to choose a horse for the competition came, she remembers feeling called to select Rojo, so she did. But despite her initial confidence in the selection process, her first encounters with Rojo discouraged her.

After multiple close calls, Dedera desperately searched for a way to establish trust with him. This led her to a revelation: She realized she viewed herself as a stable hand who wanted to be a horse trainer but didn’t feel qualified. She felt out of her element and even awkward, and she wondered if Rojo felt the same about his current situation.

“I chose him when nobody else did; he wasn’t chosen for another competition, and he was one of four horses left,” Dedera recalls. “I truly felt like I was his last chance.”

She returned to Rojo with a renewed commitment, proceeding only as his comfort level allowed. As she gained his trust, his aggression stopped. Dedera continued his training by using positive reinforcement and approach-and-retreat methods. Eventually, Rojo’s fears faded away, and the two formed a relationship built on trust and respect.

The Four Wins

As of March 2024, a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) report estimates that there were around 5,154 wild horses and burros in Oregon, but the number of wild horses and burros the state can sustainably support is closer to 2,700.

BLM’s website explains, “Because wild horses and burros are federally protected and lack natural predators, the BLM must manage population growth to ensure healthy wild horses and burros thrive on healthy public rangelands.” Placing wild horses and burros in qualified homes through adoption is one of several management methods.

Erica FitzGerald is the president and founder of Teens and Oregon Mustangs, an organization that matches trainers with wild Mustangs to promote their adoption. It’s through this program that Dedera found Rojo.

For every competition Teens and Oregon Mustangs puts on, FitzGerald aims to accomplish what she calls “four wins.” Those are:

◆ Find the Mustangs entered in the competition good “forever homes.”

◆ Help the trainers develop better horsemanship.

◆ Reduce the number of Mustangs in BLM holding pens.

◆ Provide buyers with solid horses that have fantastic foundations.

FitzGerald says Dedera (who competed in the adult division) checks all of those boxes.

“All those wins are met with Lydia for sure, and that’s our mission,” she says.

By the competition date, Dedera and Rojo had formed a partnership that made it possible for them to compete in what became Dedera’s first horse show. They entered the ridden division of the challenge, where they placed 2nd in the Novice Trail class and 12th overall. But more importantly, Rojo sold for $9,000 to a home where Dedera continues to work with him.

Dedera and Rojo competing together at the Teens and Oregon Mustangs competition. Photo by Jenn Koenig Photography

When Rojo left the competition with his new owner, a flood of feelings rushed over Dedera.

“I remember loading him up in his new family’s horse trailer and fighting tears,” she says. “I handed his owner a bag of his favorite treats, and when I turned around, the whole stable was empty. I had a hard time knowing what to do with myself for the remainder of that day, but I also felt a strong sense of completion.”

Transforming Lives

Rojo’s adoption marked the beginning of what has become a yearly project for Dedera. Her second year competing with Teens and Oregon Mustangs introduced her to a South Steens Herd Management Area (HMA) Mustang, Firefly, that she kept after the competition.

Lydia Dedera and her personal Mustang, Firefly. Photo by Jenn Koenig Photography

In 2024, Dedera helped her entry, a Palomino Buttes HMA gelding named Simba, not only find a home, but also become one of the highest-selling horses in the program’s history, with a sale price of $34,000.

FitzGerald explains that Dedera’s work with the Mustangs she trains makes them into family horses, which helps them find forever homes.

“She puts a solid foundation on her horses and makes them really adoptable,” she says.

At home, Dedera works with all breeds of horses, but Mustangs are her favorite. She’s trained eight from the wild, and estimates that she has worked with more than 100 Mustangs in total. Her experience with Rojo taught her the value of instilling trust and respect in all of the horses she trains.

“If I can get a horse, a Mustang, to trust me as its friend, as its leader, and to want to be with me and to want to please me, then I can do anything with that horse,” Dedera says.

While it’s clear the Mustangs Dedera works with undergo transformations, those horses have transformed Dedera’s life, too. She explains that her faith encourages her to pursue qualities like patience, diligence, integrity and purposeful living in her daily life. Dedera says God has used Mustangs to grow her in those very areas.

“When you’re studying an animal and you’re helping him become his best, you can’t help but look on the inside as well,” she says.

Dedera isn’t certain what the future holds, but she thinks it will be exciting. She can see herself continuing to teach lessons, train horses and compete, but she would also love to start traveling and performing with Mustangs.

Wherever she goes and whatever she does, the uncertainties of yesterday are gone, and the promise of tomorrow looks bright. And today, in the present, Dedera confidently calls herself a horse trainer.

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

The post Lydia Dedera: Changed by Mustangs appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

It’s fitting that this Year of the Fire Horse corresponds with Horse Illustrated magazine’s golden anniversary. The publication’s first issue was on newsstands in 1976, just ten years after the last Fire Horse in 1966. In Chinese culture, the color gold symbolizes prosperity, so may Horse Illustrated readers enjoy many more information-packed issues in the years to come!

Also significant in equestrian circles this year are the 2026 FEI World Championships in August in Aachen, Germany, which will begin the journey toward the next Olympic Games in 2028 in Los Angeles. Performances at these World Championships, and the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, will be part of determining which countries will qualify to compete and who will ride for the USA in the LA28 Games.

A pair of beautiful gilded horses and carriage in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park usher in the 2026 Year of the Horse. Photo by Queenie MW Lam

What is a Fire Horse?

This Year of the Fire Horse runs February 17, 2026, through February 5, 2027. There’s a common Mandarin Chinese idiom, “Mǎ dào chéng gōng,” which basically means “Success upon the horse’s arrival.”

Chinese tradition combines the qualities associated with the animals in their 12-year Zodiac cycle with those of their five philosophical elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) to produce this 60-year cycle. The Horse is the seventh animal in their calendar, with the others being the Rat (first), Ox (second), Tiger (third), Rabbit (fourth), Dragon (fifth), Snake (sixth), Sheep (eighth, sometimes listed as a ram or goat), Monkey (ninth), Rooster (tenth), dog (eleventh), and pig (twelfth). Learn more about why the Chinese Zodiac animals are listed in this order here.

Chinese Zodiac calendar wheel featuring the 12 animals of their Zodiac.

In Chinese culture, the Horse is said to have an independent, dynamic, confident and adventurous spirit and to symbolize vitality, speed, perseverance and success. The Fire element adds intensity and high energy to the mix. According to Chinese horoscope forecasters, this makes 2026 a year for bold decisions and rapid transformations supported by a surge of creativity and ambition. However, Chinese philosophy cautions that while the Horse is brave and enthusiastic, it can also be impulsive. Overall, the forecast for this Year of the Fire Horse is potentially one of moving forward, renewal, vibrant transformation, economic growth and technological advancements.

This year is also a Yang Fire year, one which favors those who are willing to take risks and make quick decisions. In Chinese philosophy, Yin and Yang are the dual, yet interdependent, forces present in all aspects of life. Years ending in even numbers are Yang while Yin years are odd-numbered. Yang is associated with activity, dynamism, brightness, warmth and masculinity, while Yin is thought of as having passivity, receptivity, darkness, coolness and femininity.

Babies born in a Year of the Fire Horse are thought of as energetic, charismatic and desiring the freedom for self-expression. Find out which animal corresponds to your birth year and check out the 2026 horoscopes for all of the 12 Chinese Zodiac symbols here.

Numerology also plays a huge role in shaping Chinese culture and beliefs. Last year was the ending of the last Universal Year cycle—it was Year 9. In 2026, we enter a new Universal Year 1. (When added together, the numbers in 2026 add up to 10, which leads back to number 1.) Additionally, the five elements are associated with numbers; numbers that end in “6” or “7” are always associated with Fire. Hence, in 2026 we have the Fire Horse and next year, 2027, will be the Year of the Fire Goat/Sheep.

It is also interesting to note that the start of this year’s Chinese New Year corresponds with the Ring of Fire solar eclipse that will appear over Antarctica on February 17. This adds even more intensity and fireworks on that day!

More About Chinese New Year

One of the most important holidays of the year, this lunisolar (combines the solar year with the moon’s cycle) event is celebrated in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, and in Chinatown neighborhoods in other countries around the world, among others. The day on which the Chinese Lunar New Year lands varies from year to year based on when the first new moon falls (this can be any day from January 21 to February 20).

The first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year marks the start of a 15-day Spring Festival which celebrates the end of winter and the start of new agricultural cycle. This spring celebration ends with a Lantern Festival on the final day (this year’s Spring Festival runs February 17-March 3). The day before the Chinese New Year is called New Year’s Eve, which comes with a set of practiced traditions as well.

A merchant selling Chinese New Year gifts at the 2026 Honolulu Chinatown New Year Spring Festival. Photo by Dorrel Whinery

Same as the January 1 New Year in the Gregorian calendar used by the Western world, the Chinese New Year is a time to shrug off the old and bring in the new, and to follow traditions that invite luck, good health and wealth. Across China, people traditionally have holiday time off from work with many traveling back to their hometowns; it’s said to be the biggest mammalian migration in the world. Other Asian cultures celebrate in similar fashion, but with a few different traditions.

As with all holidays, there are many traditions associated with Chinese New Year. Starting with today, New Year’s Eve, it’s a time to clean house to “sweep out the old year’s dust.” And, to prepare a good-luck meal to enjoy with family; the meal should include long noodles to encourage longevity and rice for abundance, but there are many other lucky foods on the list to try as well. Also important on New Year’s Eve, leave the lights on until midnight to drive away evil spirits so the New Year can begin with good luck.

Wearing red for the New Year celebrations is very important as well; it is the ultimate lucky color. Bonus points if your underwear and socks are red, too! Red is thought to bring good luck, prosperity and ward off evil spirits. Continuing with the red theme, on New Year’s Day people gift red envelopes containing money to children and unmarried young people in their family as part of New Year’s celebrations to pass on good fortune, joy and blessings.

Flowers, red envelopes with money inside and a Chinese ceramic horse are examples of gifts that will be given during the Year of the Horse. Photo by Queenie MW Lam

Buying flowers and plants is also something that can bring growing luck for the coming year. Honoring one’s ancestors is another New Year’s tradition. And, fireworks are a visual delight to usher in the New Year. Only kind and lucky words should be spoken on New Year’s Day to start the year on a positive note.

There is also a list of things to avoid on Chinese New Year’s Day because they might invite bad luck. These include no washing of clothes or dishes and no house cleaning (these should be done on New Year’s Eve instead) and not wearing torn clothes. And, don’t wear white or black since these are colors associated with death in China. Find other New Year’s dos and don’ts here.

There is much more to learn about this important holiday than space allows. Here are some links to more information:

◆ Chinese New Year Overview

◆ Lunar New Year Overview

◆ The Chinese New Year from Britannica

◆ 15 Chinese Lunar New Year Fun Facts

New Year’s Fun & Games

Beyond wearing red, watching fireworks and consuming lucky food, there are so many fun ways to celebrate the incoming Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse. Here are a few ideas.

1. Take a Virtual Tour of  Smithsonian Museum Equestrian Art

Enjoy some equestrian art from the Smithsonian Museum’s 2026 Year of the Horse collection. Find some beautiful pieces here.

“Celestial Horses,” artist unknown, an ink and color on silk artwork gifted to the Smithsonian Asian Art Museum by Charles Lang Freer, is one of the featured artworks in the Smithsonian’s 2026 Year of the Horse web feature. Photo courtesy the Smithsonian Institute

2. Learn How To Write a Decorative Holiday Couplet

This really cool video, shared by Queenie MW Lam in Hong Kong, shows how to create a couplet of two written Chinese traditional Han characters to create a festive New Year’s greeting. Watch the video here.

The character Fu (福; fú) means fortune and good luck. And, the character for horse is 馬 (it kind of looks like a horse with the four legs, trailing tail and mane flowing out behind).

Note in this video the use of the red paper and the gold writing, plus the little gold gourd next to 2026 (which symbolizes prosperity, protection and harmony), the gold ingots in the upper right-hand corner (inviting wealth in the New Year), and the traditional New Year’s fireworks to the left of the horse.

For all the artists out there who would like to try their hand at re-creating the couplet in the video, here is the English translation of the subtitles at the top of the video:

1. First, write a “5”.
2. Then, write “2026”.
3. Write a reversed “7”.
4. Connect the lines to draw the mouth and nose.
5. Draw the eyes.
6. Fill them in.
7. Add the ears.
8. Draw the horizontal and vertical lines.
9. Use zigzag lines to create the mane.
10. Draw the two connected circles to make the bridle.
11. Write the other half of the fortune character.
12. Use several “S” shapes to form the tail.
13. Draw a small circle and a big circle to make the gourd.
14. Use two “C” shapes to draw the gold ingots.
15. Add small dots to create fireworks.
16. Draw some additional decorations.
17. The Fu (福) character for the Year of the Horse is complete.

3. Breyer’s Special Year of the Fire Horse Model

Most horse lovers have at least one Breyer horse model on a shelf or in a toy box, most of us many more. Since 1950 this U.S.-based company (now owned by Reeves International, Inc.) has produced lifelike models of equines and other animals. The company’s BreyerFest attracts many thousands of visitors each year to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, proving just how popular their products have become.

In 2026 the company released a special Year of the Fire Horse model called Yàn Wǔ. Stephanie Macejko from Reeves International said that this limited edition has been their most popular release of the year thus far.

Yàn Wǔ, a Breyer limited-edition model for the Year of the Fire Horse has been their most popular item thus far in 2026. Photo courtesy Breyer

She explained the creative process behind this flashy chestnut and white statue, “For Breyer, every year is the Year of the Horse! For over 75 years, we’ve celebrated all the different breeds and disciplines that inspire us, including those in art and culture, too! The colorway was inspired by Chinese watercolor art, but converted to celebratory metallic reds and golds, with a pearl base.  The symbol for horse is shown on the hip, and his name means ‘flame’ and ‘dance,’ which captures the spirit of the horse’s stance and the fact that 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse.”

According to Macejko, Yàn Wǔ is not their first Year of the Horse tribute. In 2014, Breyer celebrated the Year of the Wood Horse with a limited-edition model painted with a woodgrain finish, and also produced a second collectible model showcasing the colorful smoke used in traditional Chinese celebrations. Before that in 2002, they released “Jade,” decorated to evoke the look and feel of the gemstone, to mark that year’s Chinese New Year of the Horse.

4. Chinese New Year’s Galloping Horses Scroll from LEGO

LEGO, the Danish construction-block toy company, has attracted both young and old fans from around the world since their founding in 1932. LEGO representative Sydney Mauro shared that, beginning in 2019, they have been releasing Lunar New Year sets as part of their seasonal portfolio. These feature festive scenes, zodiac animals and cultural traditions that celebrate Spring Festival.

In 2026 for the Year of the Horse, they introduced the LEGO Galloping Horses Canvas set. It is a build-and-display model that brings traditional Chinese brush painting to life in brick form.

LEGO introduced this Galloping Horses Canvas set in 2026. Photo courtesy LEGO

“The LEGO Group’s Lunar New Year sets are designed to inspire kids and families to celebrate cultural traditions through hands-on building. This year the brick-built horses and printed canvas feature symbols of strength, good fortune and the traditional blessing of ‘success upon arrival’ in the New Year. The set also allows builders to pose the four horses and turn a handle to make them move as if galloping out of the painting, creating a playful Spring Festival decoration families can build and enjoy together,” explained Maduro.

5. Pokémon GO’s Lunar New Year’s Game

For aficionados of Pokémon GO, there is a Lunar New Year event on February 17 with added features as a nod toward the Lunar New Year. Visit here for more information.

2026 Year of the Fire Horse Photo Gallery from Around the World

Happy New Year!

So, now on Chinese New Year’s Eve, get ready to ride into 2026. It’s time to say goodbye to 2025, the Year of Wood Snake. Then, break out the celebratory red and gold, gather with two and four-legged family and friends, and get ready for all the Year of the Fire Horse will bring.

Author’s Note: I dedicate this article to my late sister-in-law Jennifer Ho Whinery, a true animal lover, who inspired my interest in Chinese culture. A big thank you to family and friends who helped with the preparation of this article and with photos: John Babson; Kathy Cheung; Maya Ho; Queenie MW Lam, and Dorrel Whinery.

The post 2026 Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse Gallops In appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“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!

The post A Tevis Cup Love Story appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Welcome to Barn Banter, the official podcast of Horse Illustrated. In Barn Banter episode 40, hosts Susan Friedland and Horse Illustrated Editor In Chief Holly Caccamise chat with Olissio Zoppe, founder, director, and performer in Cirque Ma’Ceo.

To end the episode, Susan and Holly chat with Angela (Angie) Alspaugh, Executive Director of Easy R Equine Rescue, about Jake, this month’s ASPCA Right Horse adoptable horse.

Click here to listen on mobile.

Barn Banter Episode 40 Sponsor: 4CYTE

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How 4CYTE supports your horse:

◆ Supports normal joint function, mobility, and flexibility
◆ Helps maintain the health and resiliency of joints and connective tissue
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◆ Aids with maintaining healthy cartilage development
◆ May help address occasional gait irregularity and unwillingness to travel forward
◆ Supports normal movement patterns
◆ Helps maintain career longevity and competitive edge
◆ Eases joint stiffness due to normal daily exercise and activity
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An innovative approach to joint health made possible through research, dedication, and continued improvement. Now available through Allivet, Amazon, Chewy, Smart Equine and Tractor Supply.

Learn more about 4CYTE here.

Olissio Zoppe, Founder, Director, and Performer in Cirque Ma’Ceo

Photo by Stunning Steeds Photography

Cirque Ma’Ceo’s Creator and Director, Olissio Zoppe, hails from a rich Italian line of eighth and ninth generation bareback riders and equestrian performers, the Zoppes and the Zamperlas. He has been performing since the age of four. Olissio is one of the most well-rounded equestrian performers to grace the stage today. Throughout his varied experiences, he has mastered the arts of liberty, dressage, cossack riding, Roman riding, and the rare and dangerous art of bareback riding.

Cirque Ma’Ceo is an emotionally charging, up-close and personal, luxurious experience. The custom-designed Italian Big Top theater features brand-new, state of the art seating. The world of Ma’Ceo is proud to showcase mesmerizing acrobatic feats, aerial dancing, and exotic horses.

Find tickets for upcoming tour dates for Cirque Ma’Ceo February — through April, in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Madison Wisconsin’s Midwest Horse Fair — here.

◆ Cirque Ma’Ceo Website
◆ Follow Cirque Ma’Ceo on Instagram
◆ Follow Cirque Ma’Ceo on Facebook

Adoptable Horse of the Month, Jake

Photo courtesy Easy R Equine Rescue

Jake is quite the horse! He came to Easy R in November 2024 when a small long-standing rescue close in the Texas Panhandle. He was one of the last two horses left at the rescue.

A young Gypsy Vanner cross, Jake is a large, stout guy. He is friendly, curious, and is called an “overgrown toddler” by his foster mom. He is always into something; his personality is as large as he is.

The heartbreaking part of his story is that, even though he was trained under saddle several years ago, he has already developed Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD). At this point, it’s just in his back legs and the condition is not causing him any lameness. However, riding him would be unsafe for both Jake and a rider. Easy R is saddened by this because he has so much potential.

Of course, Jake is totally OK with just being an incredibly handsome yard ornament who loves his food and playing (a little hard sometimes) with his horse friends. His future adoptive parents will have to establish firm but fair boundaries with him so he doesn’t use his size and enthusiasm to push limits. He is ready to provide lots of laughs and eye rolls to his future family.

Learn more about Jake here.

In addition to Barn Banter episode 40, you can check out all previous episodes of Horse Illustrated’s podcasts here.

The post Barn Banter – Episode 40: Sponsored by 4CYTE 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.

Welcome to Barn Banter, the official podcast of Horse Illustrated. In Barn Banter episode 39, hosts Susan Friedland and Horse Illustrated Editor In Chief Holly Caccamise chat with Linda Nelson, a relatable adult amateur who returned to riding after a 30-year hiatus.

To end the episode, Susan and Holly chat with Carrie Wood, executive director of Kentucky Equine Adoption Center about Cyclone, this month’s ASPCA Right Horse adoptable horse.

Click here to listen on mobile.

Linda Nelson

Barn Banter episode 39 guest, Linda Nelson. Photo by Josa Comstock Photography

Linda Nelson is a recently retired teacher who found her way back into the saddle after a 30-year hiatus. She has been tracking each ride since April 2022 with a convenient riding app and then online journaling. Her goal is to assess progress and remember the fun as she learns the art of dressage on a leased Lipizzan.

Adoptable Horse of the Month, Cyclone

Cyclone. Photo courtesy Kentucky Equine Adoption Center

Meet Cyclone, a charming filly rescued from the feral herds of eastern Kentucky. She is just beginning her training, but she already shows a big personality and a zest for life, especially when food is involved!

Though still young, Cyclone is already proving to be a willing and engaged partner. She ties well, picks up her feet, and has been excellent for our farrier. She also enjoys a rinse with the hose and accepts fly spray and fly masks without issue.

Cyclone is gaited but has also trotted and cantered freely in the field, and her trainer can encourage either direction. With her intelligence, energy, and eagerness to learn, Cyclone has a bright future ahead and is ready to grow alongside the right person.

Learn more about Cyclone here.

In addition to Barn Banter episode 39, you can check out all previous episodes of Horse Illustrated’s podcasts here.

The post Barn Banter – Episode 39 appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.