Q: My horse tries to rush every time we canter or jump. How can I stop him from rushing without slowing him down too much or affecting his performance?
A: My first recommendation would be to begin working with a...
Q: I show my horse in western pleasure and equitation. He holds his frame pretty well, but occasionally he tosses his head or jerks his nose forward. He does this in both of my curb bits. His teeth have...
A new worldwide Eventing Risk Management Policy and Action Plan aimed at reducing cross-country horse falls was launched at the third annual FEI Safety meeting in Malmö, Sweden, in January. Based on a six-year statistical study of the sport, the Action...
Q: I am looking for a good safety vest to wear while jumping. How do I find the best one?
A: There are two factors to consider when purchasing a safety vest made especially for riding: certification and comfort/fit....
In every western riding discipline, from western pleasure and roping to cutting, reining and working cow horse events, spurs can be found among the rider’s repertoire of equipment. It’s rare to see a cowboy or cowgirl riding without them. If a...
Spurs come in a variety of types and styles. How mild or severe they are depends on the type of rowel, which is the wheel on the end of the shank. Here is how spurs rank, from one to...
If you follow the international equestrian scene at all, or if you read the news here on HorseChannel, then you are no doubt familiar with Dutch dressage rider Edward Gal and his remarkable mount, Moorlands Totilas. The pair made...
If you’ve studied dressage in the past, you may have learned the training scale, a six-level pyramid of increasingly advanced concepts. The first three levels are the building blocks to connection, or getting your horse on the bit.RHYTHM: The...
Before you can get a true connection and ride your horse on the bit, he needs to be supple. The following exercises can be used to loosen or "unlock” your horse:POLL: Alternate flexing your horse’s poll 1 inch...
Getting your horse on the bit is considered the Holy Grail of dressage. It may seem mysterious and hard to grasp, but the good news is anyone can learn what to do, and then do it!You have probably...
