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...
Are you an English rider who’s learning to jump a course? Sooner or later you’ll face the challenge of getting the right number of strides in a line. But before you can finesse your horse’s performance to that point,...
Q: I’m teaching my green horse to jump and I’m having a problem I can’t seem to fix. My horse jumps fine in one direction, but going the other way he often refuses. What am I doing wrong?A: Horses...
Hunters and dressage riders often don't see eye to eye, but surprisingly in this case we do. Rising trot without stirrups is a fine thing—if and only if, a rider has mastered basic position. This is because riding without...
The hunter division on the open circuit requires a certain look to be successful: workmanlike yet elegant, functional but with a bit of flair. Regardless of your horse’s pedigree or conformation, you can groom him to have the proper...
Braiding your horse's mane is easier than you might think. Practice these steps for a neat and polished look in the show ring.
For step-by-step mane braiding instructions, click here
For step-by-step tail braiding instructions, click here
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The canter’s rocking-horse, three-beat rhythm presents a problem for novice riders trying to master their position at this gait. In trot, the rider’s body position remains stable since the horse’s head and neck don’t move in this two-beat gait....
Q: I am working with a Thoroughbred hunter/jumper prospect. When we jump crossrails, he’s fine. But when we try small verticals he bolts to the jumps and then kicks his heels in the air. How can I help him...
