Anyone who has witnessed, or been involved in, an accident with a horse-drawn vehicle knows how horrific the consequences can be. Because most horses are hard-wired to run now, think later,you can never be absolutely certain you won't have...
Everybody associates holiday sleigh rides with a jolly, fat guy in a red suit, yet did you know that the first St. Nicholas was actually skinny and somewhat crabby? And that the famous poem that beefed him up and celebrated...
Dancing horses and dramatic equestrian theater such as “Cheval” and “Cavalia” have captivated audiences, attracting attention from equestrians and the mainstream public, in the United States over the past several years. But quietly, as they have been doing for...
The trained eye of a horse show judge sees nearly everything. Riders who believe they’ve ridden a perfect round over jumps are often surprised to learn they’ve been marked down for errors. One of the worst problems riders have...
The shoulder-in is one of the best exercises for suppling a horse, building his strength, and increasing his freedom in the shoulder. But the precursor to the shoulder-in is the shoulder-fore, which is also an excellent movement to help with...
Q. My seasoned jumper is a “been there, done that” kind of horse. But lately he’s been dropping rails, almost always on verticals. At horse shows, the first round or two he jumps clean. After that, I can’t seem...
Photo: micadew on flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0Q. How should I shift my weight while going toward, around and then away from a barrel so that I don’t hinder my horse’s ability to make a quick turn?
A. The best way to...
Here are some simple steps for mane banding from expert groomer Casey Warren. But before you begin, check competition rules to make sure those bands are allowed in your classes!
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Q. I see bits in catalogs called “reining bits.” Is that what I should ride my reining horse in?A. Your best bit will be the one that allows you to maximize your horse’s performance by giving you optimal control...
The shoulder-in asks the horse to shorten his stance, bend his hocks and position his shoulders to one side.Q. I’ve been schooling shoulder-fore on my 6-year-old dressage horse, and I want to introduce shoulder-in. Can you give me some tips...
