If you’ve ridden saddle seat for any length of time, you’re probably used to the regular reminders about proper equitation. "Hands up! Heels down! Roll your thighs in!” The elegant appearance of a skilled saddle seat equitation rider is...
Q: One of the horses I ride was professionally
trained for western pleasure. Now I want to ride him English and do some low
jumping, but whenever I try to canter he just lopes instead. This makes jumping
very awkward. Plus, continually...
Barrel racers know that overpracticing the pattern
can sour a speed horse. But what do the pros do during the week to keep their
horses in tip-top shape, both mentally and physically, for competition season?
Champion barrel racer and trainer Sue Smith...
Q: I recently purchased a new pair of field boots. I’ve been wearing them around the house and at the barn to break them in, but they still feel really stiff, and I have some shows coming up. Is...
On Saturday, Oct. 8, approximately 200 riders will
embark on a 100-mile ride for the Tevis Cup. Riders will attempt to journey
from Lake Tahoe to Auburn, California in a single day. Here’s an overview of
this landmark event....
If you ride English then you already know the importance of correct stirrup length. A stirrup that’s too long usually results in a loose, swinging lower leg. Plus it undermines the rider’s position. Instead of a classic hunt seat...
During the last decade a revolution of sorts has occurred in the design of English stirrups. Riders are no longer restricted to the rigid stainless steel “fillis” style of irons. Many of today’s English riders, especially those who ride...
Occasionally it’s necessary to use a specific type of pad to augment the fit of an English saddle. A riser pad (sometimes also called a lift-back or wedge pad) may be necessary if a horse, due to age or...
Peacock Stirrups: Young English riders are encouraged to use peacock stirrups. Because of their design, a little rider is less likely to get a foot stuck in a stirrup in case of a fall or accident. A large, thick...
