When competing with horses, there are a lot of things you can’t control. You can’t control the schedule. You can’t control who the judge is. You can’t control the arena conditions. You can’t control the weather. You can’t control...
Every year, horse trainers from all over the U.S. convene for Extreme Mustang Makeover (EMM) events, competitions where trainers showcase wild mustangs after spending the previous 100 to 120 days desensitizing and training their assigned mount. After the three-day competition, the...
A few years ago, I fully believed I had this whole horse training thing figured out. I had won big reining competitions, was traveling internationally to teach clinics, and was able to help clients with their training goals. I...
To reach the point in the reining arena where you’ll slide to a stop, you must first build up speed and guide your horse in the rundown. But what happens when your horse thinks that heading straight across the...
In podcast episode 16 of The Horse Illustrated Episode of Horses in the Morning, sponsored by Straight Arrow Products, hosts Glenn the Geek and Holly Caccamise chat with a small business owner and one of Horse Illustrated's long-time contributing...
I’ve always come to the science of horse training from the empiric perspective, meaning I learn it from a practical standpoint first, usually only discovering its scientific significance later. Over the years, I’ve had many behavioralists and mental health...
The day you’ve always dreamed of has arrived: your child (or niece, nephew, or grandkid) is finally old enough to ride by themselves! At this point, it’s only natural to start thinking about leaving the safety of your home...
Of all the ranch versatility events, ranch riding has gained the most popularity; it’s also become the most competitive. If you’re on a quest to achieve high marks in ranch riding, three-time American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Versatility Ranch...
"People just love the horses—they love to pet them and they love to watch them run,” says Fran Burns, head tour guide for Sunrise Tours at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course, owner at Boxwood Farms and a longtime Thoroughbred horse...
A car traveling too fast approaches two women and their horses who are riding along a road on their way to a trailhead. They turn and motion to the driver to slow down. Instead, he passes them so closely...
