Q: What are some exercises I can do to help build my horse’s speed for a faster time in barrel racing?A: Having a well-conditioned athlete is the first step to getting your horse to run to his maximum ability. ...
Although it’s frustrating to have your hunter or jumper excused from the show ring due to refusals, don’t assume you have the right to school your horse over a more inviting jump before exiting. According to U. S. Equestrian...
Authored by some of the most experienced Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) dressage judges, this new "bible" is invaluable to dressage judges--as well as riders and trainers at all levels. It not only helps provide a better understanding of how...
Perry Wood, British clinician and author of Real Riding, How to Ride in Harmony with Your Horse, offers these exercises to teach a feel for the half-halt.Wood’s unique training style makes hard-to-grasp riding concepts easy to understand. The half-halt...
When APHA judge and educator David Denniston of Mead, Colo., isn’t judging horse shows, he’s busy developing horse show patterns for other judges and exhibitors. Here, he provides step-by-step advice on how to ride one of his horsemanship patterns....
Wouldn’t it be great to have enough time for a long, leisurely ride every day? Unfortunately, a busy schedule with a host of other commitments often pushes riding time to the back burner. But it doesn’t have to be...
Growing up, I spent most of my summer days riding in our pasture, often accompanied by Sugar and Ranger, our two German Shepherds. Sometimes the boy next door would join us, and on one such occasion we came across...
Rollback turns are difficult because they involve so many skills. Riders need to look ahead and plan a turn after the first jump, then ride back to a second jump that’s often met on an angle. There’s a lot...
Huntseat equitation riders are often admonished by their coaches to sit up straight and maintain good posture. A graceful, erect upper body also complements a horse’s performance. Being a slouch in hunters-under-saddle or English pleasure classes tends to give...
"The judge just doesn’t like my horse.” Unfortunately that’s a common rationalization when a rider is perplexed about her horse’s lack of a ribbon in a hunter class. However, a prejudicial judge isn’t usually the problem. Instead, it’s often...
