Adding trot poles (often called placement poles) to your
schooling jumps can have a positive effect on your horse’s performance. They
can help regulate the pace of a horse that has begun to rush the jumps. They
also help a green horse...
Q: I have a six-year-old gelding
and I only ride him on the trails. I can’t get him into a comfortable,
controlled lope. He’s basically very slow, and if I push him with my legs to
speed up, he’ll just do a...
"Showing is so political.”
"The judge was practicing politics.”
"We’re nobodies so it wasn’t politically correct to pin us.”
How many times have you heard those excuses when your barn buddies come home from a show, ribbonless? They blame it on politics,...
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...
The hinged port curb is popular among riders and trainers of western pleasure horses. The additional joint in the center of the bit, usually hidden under a sleeve or roller, provides a great deal of flexibility in the mouthpiece....
Similar in function to the English standing martingale, the western tie-down prevents a horse from raising its head above a pre-determined level. When adjusted properly, the tie-down allows a horse to carry its head freely in a natural position....
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...
