Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer Reese Koffler-Stanfield instructs student Ellen Wall on her Dutch Warmblood gelding, Tvauri. Reese has Ellen start with a light aid to ask Tvauri to move forward; if he doesn’t respond instantly, Ellen must...
Wearing a helmet isn't just a requirement for jumpers and dressage riders. It's good common sense for any rider. Whether you're looking for a cool, comfortable schooling helmet to wear on the trails or a sporty model for the...
Q: I just started working with a Thoroughbred recently home from the track. I’m having a hard time getting him to relax under saddle, go on the bit without pulling, and stay at a slow pace. I called his...
Q: My mare is forward and willing when we’re jumping, but on the flat she’s developed a bad attitude. Much of the time she ignores my leg, so I carry a crop. But if I use it, she bucks....
Saddle seat riders are drawn to flashy, energetic horses that love to show off in the ring. But over time, a repetitive training regimen can drain some of that excitement. Incorporate the following techniques in your riding sessions to...
Q: My horse is a young Thoroughbred I recently adopted from a rescue site. I’ve started him over low jumps, and his hind end seems very overpowering when he soars over them. I feel like he’s pushing me out...
Q: My horse is arena sour. At first she would just resist a little when I led her toward the arena, but it's gotten worse. Now she’ll stop and refuse to move! I make sure to take her out...
Throughout 2011, the Horse Illustrated team will be trying different equestrian sports for the Test Ride column. In the February issue, Senior Associate Editor Kim Abbott took a saddle seat lesson aboard an American Saddlebred mare named Eve at...
Q: I lease an older horse that’s a retired jumper. He’s a good boy but he holds his head really high. I spend lots of time on flatwork between my lessons and I’m good with my hands. Why does...
Adult amateur hunter rider Sara Healey had always dreamed of owning a dapple gray hunter like Aspercel in the Disney movie, “The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit.” But when she finally got the chance to make that dream...
