Photo courtesy Houston Humane Society

Adoptable Horse: Jemini, a 19-year-old, 14.3hh Arabian gelding
Organization: Houston Humane Society, Houston, Texas

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Jemini

This handsome light gray gelding stands quietly at the gate, watching the world go by with a calm, level-headed expression. He’s already broke to ride, which makes him a step ahead of many prospects — but he’s still a work in progress, and we’re being honest about that.

Jemini is currently carrying a bit too much weight — slightly obese, which Houston Humane will be addressing carefully. He’s pending a full veterinary workup, so they don’t yet have his full health picture. He’s also pending an under-saddle evaluation — Houston Humane knows he’s been ridden before, but they want to see how he goes under saddle now, in his current condition, before they make any promises about his job or level. This evaluation will also help them gauge his fitness, manners, and suitability for different riders.

From what Houston Humane can see, Jemini is a sensible, easygoing sort — the type that stands politely while you groom him and doesn’t fuss over much. He seems like the kind of horse who wants to please, once he understands the question.

The plan is straightforward: get Jemini through his vet workup, address his weight with a sensible feeding and exercise program, and get him evaluated under saddle. Once Houston Humane knows where he stands health-wise and how he goes under saddle, they’ll have a much clearer picture of the right home for him. If you’re looking for a project with potential — a horse who’s already started but needs the right person to finish the job — he might be worth a look.

Contact Houston Humane Society today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Jemini!

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Jemini appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Most barn and horsekeeping tasks require more than 10 minutes, but there are plenty of quick chores and details that you can breeze through with only a few minutes of spare time. You’ll love the feeling of accomplishment and the freed-up brain-space that you’ll gain as you start plowing through those tasks that constantly clutter up your mind. Here are a few ideas to help you start brainstorming.

1. Schedule appointments

A 10-minute window of free time is the perfect opportunity to make some calls to schedule any necessary upcoming appointments. Vet? Farrier? Hay delivery? Done and done.

These are all quick calls that are easy to make whenever you have a minute to spare. You’ll get important appointments scheduled And you can stop worrying about forgetting.

Use a moment of free time to schedule those hay deliveries and annual vet appointments. Photo by Daniel/Adobe Stock

2. Preserve photos

It goes without saying that probably half the photos on your phone have horses in them. Do your best to protect these photos by taking a few minutes to either back them up onto the cloud or download them onto a computer.

Bonus tip: If you have a bit more time, look into having your favorite photos printed in a personalized book, which works as an extra backup for your photos and provides a tangible keepsake.

3. Take stock

It only takes a few minutes to evaluate the supplies you have on hand. How are your horse’s supplements holding up? What’s the status of the first-aid kit? Do any equine prescription medications need a refill?

Bonus tip: Use a few additional minutes to set up autoship or subscription services on items you use regularly so the appropriate supplies automatically arrive at the designated time. This saves time, money, and headaches.

You’ll save even more time by not having to run to the store to pick up basics like bucket snaps or a tube of ulcer preventative.

4. Get grooming

OK, so maybe 10 minutes isn’t enough to do a full and thorough grooming of your horse, but there are plenty of quick tasks you can do with the time you have available. Comb out a lightly tangled mane, pick out your horse’s feet, or give him a quick once-over with a curry comb.

You can do the full head-to-tail grooming when you have more time, but a few minutes can make a big difference in your horse’s appearance and give you a few special minutes of quality time with your horse. Win-win!

5. Tidy up

Did you know you can wage war on cobwebs in five-minute chunks? If you find yourself with a few free minutes at the barn, snag a broom and sweep any cobwebs you see (they like to show up in corners and crevices).

Or take a moment to give the barn aisle a quick extra sweep. Tidy up the bridle rack. Roll up polo wraps. You might not be able to tackle your tack trunk in a 10-minute window, but you can at least evaluate the situation and create a game plan to put into action another day.

6. Teach something new

We all know horses are smart and learn fast, but it’s easy to forget that they can learn a lot in short, frequent sessions, even when there isn’t time for an official “lesson.”

You could practice ground tying, do a bit of in-hand-trail or obstacle training, teach your horse a new trick or two, or do a groundwork exercise.

7. Spend time together

Hand-grazing is a great way to bond with your horse, and a 10-minute window gives him a special treat while giving you some quiet time to think. Enjoy the fresh air, soak up some sunshine, and listen to the birds singing and the peaceful sound of your horse chewing. Pure happiness.

It’s easy to offhandedly dismiss a few minutes here and there as not enough time to accomplish any important tasks, but those chunks of time really do add up. You might be surprised at how many horsekeeping tasks you can quickly remove from your to-do list with a few simple, quick hacks.

Good luck and enjoy!

This article about 10-minute horsekeeping hacks appeared in the September/October 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post 10-Minute Horsekeeping Hacks appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

As awareness of aftercare has grown, so has industry support. Major racing organizations, including The Jockey Club and Thoroughbred Charities of America, now allocate substantial funding to aftercare efforts, helping to ensure that more horses find safe and meaningful second careers.

Thoroughbred aftercare programs have an increasingly large focus on retraining, so that horses can be adopted ready to go in their new discipline. Photo courtesy Retired Racehorse Project

The Initial Transition

Amanda Tucker, trainer at the Lexington, Ky., branch of the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, likes to use the facility’s round pens to transition the horses into turnout. After they are comfortable in the round pen, she buddies them up with another horse in a smaller paddock before eventually adding them into a larger herd. The end goal is to be able to have them go outside all night, or even 24/7, but Tucker emphasizes the importance of taking an OTTB’s transition slowly.

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program buddies up horses freshly off the track with a babysitter horse in a smaller paddock before adding them to the larger herds. Photo by Margaret Burlingham/Adobe Stock

Layne Schaffer is the farm manager at Arrowwood Farm in York Springs, Penn. While Arrowwood raises Thoroughbreds to race, they are committed to finding new homes for those that don’t show talent racing or are ready to retire. Schaffer has competed at the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover and barrel races her own Thoroughbred, Floo Powder.

Like Tucker, Schaffer uses a transitional turnout system. She says that each horse’s personality and what he did previously on the track makes a difference. If she knows the horse is more laid-back, she transitions him to a regular turnout situation more quickly.

“I think a quiet buddy is also ideal,” says Schaffer. New Vocations has a similar strategy, with an older, permanent resident “babysitter” named Ranger, whose job is to help make the transition more seamless.

While some horses need down time after retiring due to an injury or to unwind mentally, many do better staying in a program.

“The racetrack is a hard job, and whatever job you give them is likely going to be a walk in the park compared to that,” says Schaffer. “They are used to their people and routine and getting to do something.”

Often, too much time off can backfire and cause unnecessary stress and change in routine for the horses.

Feed First

Nutritionally, a lot of factors go into making the best gameplan.

“Once they leave race training, their nutritional demands depend on a few factors,” says Amy Parker, M.S., a nutritionist at McCauley Bros. “Does he need some sort of rehabilitation due to an injury? If he’s going to be on stall rest or very restricted turnout, you may not feed him as much as a horse that immediately starts to train for his next career.”

Parker adds that for most horses, caloric needs decrease when they finish racing. However, the change in routine can cause some horses to develop ulcers or not want to eat.

“For 99 percent of the horses coming off the track, that first three months is a big transitional period with a whole lot of changes going on,” she says. “They are now in a new environment with a new routine and new people and new horses. In this way, horses are a bit like people. Some people handle change fantastically and some don’t.”

At three months off the track, Amanda Tucker of New Vocations is focusing on walk/trot/canter, both inside and outside of the ring, and not much more yet. Photo by RH2010/Adobe Stock

Choosing a feed is an important part of this change.

“If the horse is 2 or older and not pregnant or lactating, a good 10 or 12 percent protein feed is going to more than meet his protein requirements,” says Parker. “Protein will not necessarily put weight on a horse. Calories will.”

The time of year the horse comes off the track also makes a difference.

“We often see a lot of horses, especially in the Thoroughbred world, get retired following the fall race meets,” says Parker.

This often coincides with pasture quality declining, and horses are often being asked to adjust with minimal winter coats in colder weather.

“A horse that retires at, say, the end of October, versus a horse that’s being retired at the end of April, will have different nutritional demands simply because of Mother Nature,” she explains.

Although there is a lot you can’t control during the horse’s transition, trying to minimize the stress as much as possible will help in the long run.

Pelleted feeds can seem foreign to a horse freshly off the track, so you may need to start with what he is used to before gradually introducing something new. Photo by Dusty Perin

“Instead of trying to force the horse into whatever pigeonhole you’ve got in your situation, work with the horse,” says Parker. “If he was on an alfalfa/grass mix hay at the track and on a sweet feed, and you feed pelleted feed and grass hay, maybe get some alfalfa/grass mix and use that for a few weeks. You might want to start with a sweet feed and transition to a pellet, because if he’s never seen a pellet, he might have no idea what it is.

“There’s no cookie-cutter [solution] for this, because we have to treat every horse as an individual,” she adds. “That’s the one thing that I can’t stress enough.”

Restarting Under Saddle

Tucker’s first time riding a horse off the track greatly depends on his personality. Taking the time to get to know him as an individual is critical for making sure the first ride is productive. This can look different for every horse.

“I read their vibes as I’m tacking them up to see if I think they need to be longed or not,” she says. “We have gotten to know them for a couple weeks at that point, so if they seem calm, cool, and collected, I sometimes skip longeing and just hop right on. If they are giving any signs of anxiety, we start with longing or more ground work.”

Schaffer agrees.

“The first few months have looked different for all my OTTBs that I’ve taken to be riding horses,” she says.

Her gelding, Floo, needed time to rehab from a slab fracture in a knee, while her 2018 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover mount retired sound and went right into his new job.

Although he came off the track in 2015, it wasn’t until 2019 that Floo hit his stride running barrels, winning a year-end buckle from a local series. Photo courtesy Layne Schaffer

Not all horses retire from racing already knowing how to longe, so taking the time before the first ride to establish ground work routines helps build the horse’s understanding of what he’s being asked to do.

The first few months off the track are all about establishing the foundation, according to Tucker.

“At three-ish months, at least with most of the babies, I focus on walk/trot/canter, both inside and outside of the ring, and not pushing them much more than that,” she says.

Tucker uses the facility’s trail course, including bridges, logs, and a small bank, to give the horses more to think about and test how ready their brains and bodies are for larger questions.

Next Career

Once the fundamentals are established, the horse can start to focus on his next career.

Deciding on the direction a horse will thrive is not an exact science. At New Vocations, Tucker and her team keep an open mind about what makes sense for each horse. Just because a horse can physically do a job doesn’t always equate to it being the best path for him. Similarly, a physically limited horse can likely still do a lot of different jobs.

Schaffer urges people to think outside the box.

“People don’t think big horses can run barrels, and really it’s about so much more than sheer size,” she says. “For just about any western sport, you want a horse that moves efficiently and that has the right conformation to do the job you want. Yes, I want a bit of a lower set hock and a shorter back, but that’s not much different than what a jumper wants. You still need that quickness and efficiency. The ranch rider is still going to want that fluid, easy movement that a hunter requires. I think every discipline can learn something from the others.”

Tucker hopes to know which direction to take her OTTBs in after six months of retraining.

“If we’re going to be eventing or jumping, we should be at least doing baby jumps and baby courses and baby cross-country,” she explains.

Some horses catch onto their new jobs a lot quicker than others.

“Six months in for some people could look the same as three months in does for others,” says Schaffer. “Things are so dependent on each individual horse and how they adjust and how they train.”

Six months after restarting under saddle, Tucker hopes to have the horse starting his new career—a jumper can do baby jumps or an eventer can start going around baby cross-country courses. Photo courtesy Retired Racehorse Project

Nutritionally, Parker says at this point it’s a matter of feeding them to meet the demands of their next career.

“The demands of a horse that’s being trail ridden once or twice a week versus a horse that’s going to be a barrel racer or an eventer changes a lot of his nutritional needs,” she notes.

Past that, it’s a lot of sorting out what makes the horse tick and building on those skills. Some horses thrive in competitive disciplines, while others flourish in quieter roles. The ultimate goal is not to force them into a specific mold, but to find a career path that suits each horse’s temperament and physical abilities.

Makeover Success

For Schaffer, it took several years for her and Floo to truly get going in her planned career path of barrel racing. Floo retired from the track in 2015, but he didn’t do his first barrel race until 2018. She said that in 2019, it finally started to all come together.

“He won a year-end buckle from a local series,” she recalls. “[Then] in 2020, we qualified as a Top Dog (top 5 in any division) for the IBRA National Finals. After a really great year in 2021, we went to the inaugural TIP Barrel Racing Championships, and he was the 1D Average Champion. He placed second in both rounds, but because he stayed so consistent, he won the average. That was such a huge moment for him because a horse that’s tough and looky—and hot—doesn’t always translate to a horse that stays super consistent. I was honored for him to be the one that won it because he’s such a cool, weird, silly little horse and the ultimate underdog, and he deserved it.”

Tucker had a similar experience with her 2018 RRP Thoroughbred Makeover horse, Wavemaker, known around the barn as Shakespeare. After the makeover, she continued eventing with him before deciding to sell him in 2024. She is now aiming for the 2025 Makeover with her current OTTB, Greyes Creek.

Both trainers think it’s crucial to remember that horses coming off the track are simply moving from one career to the next, and that their education on the track is important to remember during an OTTB’s transition.

“Just because you don’t speak that language doesn’t mean it’s wrong,” says Schaffer. “Thoroughbreds are truly the horseman’s horse. The people that raise them love them dearly!”

This article about the transition of OTTBs appeared in the September/October 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post The OTTB Transition appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The Five Domains animal welfare model developed by David Mellor, Ph.D., includes nutrition, environment, health, behavior, and mental state. By incorporating these into your assessment, you can build a detailed welfare picture that highlights not just physical issues, but emotional and psychological factors that may contribute to asymmetry.

For example, a horse that is mentally guarded or physically sore may brace through his back and neck, creating uneven muscle development. A horse that doesn’t feel safe may favor one side to keep an eye on perceived threats.

Understanding Asymmetry

Asymmetry can be structural (related to conformation), functional (related to how the horse moves), or a combination of both. While some degree of asymmetry is natural, it becomes a concern when it affects the horse’s ability to stay sound and healthy.

To correct asymmetry, we must first learn to see it. This begins with observing the horse in stillness and in motion: at the walk, trot, and canter; in straight lines and bending lines; and traveling up and down inclines.

Look at the shape of the horse: Does he have tight or differently developed muscles on one side? Does his barrel lean or twist? Are his hips level? Are his nostrils, ears, and eyes aligned? Does he stand with all four feet balanced underneath himself?

Learning to see symmetry and a lack of symmetry in the horse’s body is both a science and an art.

An Assessment Tool

Groundwork gives you the perfect window into recognizing asymmetry. Begin by observing your horse at the halt and in movement. You can evaluate how he carries himself through:

The cardinal planes

• Top / bottom
• Left / right
• Front / back

Direction of movement

• Forward / back
• Up / down
• Left / right

Does your horse rest one hind leg more than the other? Is his neck stiff or his jaw clenched? When you ask for movement, does he step evenly? Are transitions smooth, or rushed and lacking coordination? Does your horse struggle with canter leads? Is his poll level or tilted? Does his back lift or drop? Does he lean, collapse a shoulder, or overbend? Is there impulsion from the hind end, or resistance during transitions?

Groundwork, when approached thoughtfully, becomes a holistic method to promote symmetry, soundness, wellbeing, and self-carriage. Using principles grounded in the Five Domains Model, along with the science and art of observation and movement, you can assess and positively influence your horse’s wellbeing—starting from the ground up.

Developing Symmetry

Once you detect an imbalance, you can begin to address it. In-hand exercises that promote self-carriage are foundational. Begin at the halt with subtle bodywork techniques like:

• Hindquarter tucks: these encourage the horse to engage his abdominal muscles and lift his back.
• Wither lifts: these activate the thoracic sling.
• Telescope neck stretches: These ask the horse to reach forward and down, lengthening the topline.
• From there, move into in-hand work at the walk and trot, encouraging forward movement that starts from the hindquarters. On both straight and bending lines, observe whether the horse leads with his nose or shoulder. Use positive reinforcement when he finds correct alignment; this builds confidence and promotes a calmer parasympathetic nervous state.
• Lateral work, like haunches-in and shoulder-in, can improve impulsion, coordination, suppleness, straightness, and balance.

Each movement helps the horse understand how to step farther under his center of gravity and rebalance by shifting more weight onto his haunches and lightening his forehand.

Liberty Work

Working at liberty, the conversation deepens. The horse has the freedom to say “yes” or “no.” This builds trust and confidence and enhances the quality of the relationship. Exercises like moving through obstacles, engaging in direction changes, or mimicking your posture help the horse become more body-aware and mentally connected.

Exercises like moving through obstacles, direction changes, or mimicking your posture help the horse become more body-aware and mentally connected. Photo by Christiane Slawik

Liberty work encourages the horse to take responsibility for his own balance and enhances proprioception while supporting the development of strength, coordination, and mental focus.

The Human Role

A balanced horse begins with a balanced human. As a handler, your posture, timing, and intention affect how the horse responds. Being aware of your own “strong side” and body language allows you to guide the horse with clarity and fairness.

Training your eye is key. Add the use of your hands, video feedback, or professional guidance to refine your ability to detect subtle changes. Symmetry is about finding ease, flow, and comfort in movement.

The quest for symmetry and balance is a lifelong endeavor to build a better connection between you and your horse.

Special thanks to Cathy Languerand and Arnau Gomà for this article. Both are members of the Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) Equine Well-Being Committee. Please visit horsesandhumans.org to learn more.

This article about groundwork for asymmetry appeared in the September/October 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Groundwork to Correct Asymmetry appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Hope For Horses, Inc.

Adoptable Horse: Queso, a 10-year-old, 16.0hh Thoroughbred gelding
Organization: Hope For Horses, Inc. at Advantage Horsemanship, Fredericksburg, Va.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Queso

Queso – Jockey Club name “Fly the W” – is a really cool guy! He raced for quite a while, making 57 starts and earning $548,875. He even holds the current record at Gulfstream Park on the all-weather track for a mile and 70 yards. Queso came to Hope For Horses a few months after turning 10 and needing to retire.

Queso has been being ridden by advanced and intermediate teens at Horses For Hope and has even attended two different hunter shows so far with no groundwork needed. One show was in an outdoor arena and the other in an indoor.

Queso can walk/trot/canter but they have been focusing on consistency at the trot recently. He is a pretty chill guy that has taken everything in stride. He does have a trot with a decent amount of suspension, so posting is much more comfortable for you and him. He currently turns out with geldings and is the very, very bottom man in the field.

He stands excellent for the vet and farrier, tying, tacking and grooming. He loads and hauls great. He has not shown any ill behaviors on the ground or under saddle.

Contact Hope For Horses, Inc. today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Queso!

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Queso appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Whether you ride English or western, building a smart, rider-focused fitness routine can often be the key to accessing better performance and decreasing your likelihood of repetitive strain injuries. A few well-placed off-horse practices can transform the way you ride and help you stay stable, supple and strong for the long haul.

Just a few thoughtful exercises can transform the way you ride and help you stay stable, supple and strong for the long haul. Photo by Christiane Slawik

Stability Before Strength

Most riders want to be strong in the saddle, but strength without stability is like trying to sit the trot without understanding how to post. Before you jump to more advanced exercises and movements, your body needs a stable foundation to work from.

This starts with building stability of the neck, elbows, lower back and knees. These areas support your spine, pelvis, posture, and position—both in and out of the saddle.

For English riders, poor stability might show up as tipping forward or laterally during transitions, or struggling to stay balanced over fences. For western riders, it could be bouncing through a lope or inability to maintain balance in your western pleasure classes. These aren’t just riding issues—they’re body awareness issues.

Focusing on small, intentional movements like glute bridges, moving planks, and controlled unilateral exercises can improve how you connect to the horse and absorb motion. Think of these as groundwork for the rider.

Focusing on small, intentional movements like glute bridges, moving planks, and controlled unilateral exercises can improve how you connect to the horse and absorb motion. Photo by Antonio Diaz/Adobe Stock

The Missing Piece

The more freely you move off the horse, the greater freedom you’ll have with your horse.

Rider injuries and communication issues often start with a lack of mobility. Tight hips, stiff ankles, and limited mid-back movement all affect your seat. They restrict your aids and shift stress to other areas like your low back or knees. Sound familiar?

It’s not about being gymnast-flexible but rather having enough range of motion to move with your horse, not against him. Riders who lack thoracic (mid-back) mobility often round their shoulders, struggling to open through the chest, which affects not only your center of mass but also your horse.

Those with tight hips may unintentionally grip with their knees or pitch slightly forward in the saddle. If your ankles can’t move freely, you won’t be able to maintain a softer, more dynamic and shock-absorbing contact.

It doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. Simple mobility work, like dynamic stretching, foam rolling, and joint specific drills, can go a long way toward unlocking fluid, pain-free movement.

Functional Strength

Cross-training is your secret weapon for staying injury-free, riding longer, and enjoying every minute in the saddle.

Cross-training for equestrians isn’t about bulking up or building lots of muscle. It’s about learning how to access and control your strength in ways that mirror the physical demands of riding. This is where functional strength comes into play.

Unlike traditional gym workouts, functional rider training uses movements and muscles that reflect what happens in the saddle. Single-leg stability and rotational core and back strengthening exercises are great places to start.

In all disciplines, exercises like resistance band walks, single-arm rows, and stability-focused lunges can help you build coordination and control, not just brute force. Done consistently, they not only make you a more effective rider but help reduce the wear and tear that leads to chronic pain and compensation patterns over time.

In all disciplines, exercises like stability-focused lunges can help you build coordination and control, not just brute force. Photo by Lightfield Studios/Adobe Stock

The Importance of Cardio

Caring for horses elevates your heart rate, especially when mucking multiple stalls, doing barn chores, or riding intensely. However, it doesn’t always challenge or improve your heart and lungs in a way that builds more endurance.

Low-impact cardio options, such as brisk walking, swimming, hiking, rowing, or cycling, are perfect for riders. These activities improve your recovery between transitions or jumps in the arena, helping with breath control while boosting your energy levels during long show days and weekends. Even better, they can help balance out the repetitive, often asymmetrical patterns riders fall into after years in the saddle.

With today’s technology and advancements, you don’t need to go to the gym anymore. There’s no need to spend hours on a machine—in fact, studies show that 10 to 30 minutes three times per week is enough to see and feel certain differences.

Fitness Equipment

A well-fitting pair of riding boots is essential for comfort and safety in the saddle, and the same goes for your fitness gear. Start with your feet and wear more supportive training sneakers that help to build proper stability.

A set of adjustable dumbbells, suspension training equipment, and resistance bands are great tools when traveling. In addition, a foam roller can make your recovery more effective and enjoyable for your next ride.

Foam rolling can help muscles recover more effectively after a workout. Photo by Pressmaster/Adobe Stock

You might also consider training barefoot and on balance pads for a two-in-one approach. It builds foot and ankle strength, as well as proprioception, which translates directly into better leg stability and pelvic control, plus a host of additional benefits.

Rest & Recovery

Treat yourself like you treat your horse: warm up, cool down, and don’t ignore the signs.

Injuries often happen when we push too hard without giving the body space to recover. Riders are notorious for toughing it out: ignoring sore joints, pushing through stiff backs, and chalking it up to “just part of riding.” But the same way your horse needs downtime, your body needs care.

That means warming up before each ride, active recovery, and taking rest days more seriously. It also means paying attention to the little signs, nagging pain, chronic tightness, and anything that suggest something deeper might be a little off.

We often have a team that works with our horse to make sure he’s well cared for. Riders should seek or be familiar with a sports massage therapist, physical therapist, or equestrian-focused fitness coach (like me!) that can help you troubleshoot these issues before they become something that hinders your riding for weeks, months, or longer.

Train Like the Pros

Cross-training isn’t just for top-level equestrians. In fact, many of the riders who benefit most from a thoughtful fitness routine are adult amateurs juggling busy work and family schedules, young riders still building their minds with schoolwork, or equestrians returning to the saddle and rebuilding confidence after some time off.

If you’re new to fitness, start with a short, effective training plan to reinforce stability and posture and develop the strength to ride independently of the reins. Incorporating mobility and core strength can support bone density and balance and reduce the risk of falls.

If you’re riding at a high level already, your specific training plan can be the difference between winning ribbons and mitigating unnecessary injury.

Consistency matters more than intensity. You don’t need to train hard: Just two or more focused sessions per week will change how you feel and perform in the saddle.

This article about equestrian cross-training appeared in the September/October 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post A Guide to Cross-Training for Equestrians appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Nutrition labels are the key to knowing the amount of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients you are feeding your horse. Unknowingly feeding too little—or too much—can be detrimental to your horse’s health. Since it’s important to know more about that small tab of paper for a healthier, happier horse, we’ve answered your top questions with input from two horse feed experts.

Photo by MyNewHorse.com

1. Where is the nutrition label located?

The nutrition label on bagged feeds is typically sewn on to the bottom of the bag. Another location for the label may be on the back of the bag itself. If the feed or supplement is in another type of packaging, such as a bucket, the label information is right on the bucket or tub. It may be printed on the bucket, or a sticker may be applied.

2. Do nutrition labels have regulations?

Yes, there are certain things that need to be included on the label to help horse owners make the best decisions possible. The required items include:

• Name of product, manufacturer of product, location of manufacturer.
• Guaranteed analysis of feed or supplement. For horse feed, guarantees must include crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), calcium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, selenium, and vitamin A.
• Ingredients and nutrients are expressed as a minimum or maximum noted in the Guaranteed Analysis, and do not specify an exact amount.
• Directions for feeding must be included.
• Purpose that states who the product is for.
• An ingredient listing in order of inclusion, from most to least.

3. Why is the label important?

As horse owners, we like to compare feed tags; we want to know which feed might have more or less of a certain nutrient or ingredient. However, Mieke Holder, Ph.D., senior research scientist at Alltech, reminds horse owners that it’s important to also consider the amount of grain that you need to feed, which you can usually find printed on the back of the bag.

“Taking that into consideration, together with the concentration of nutrients listed, you get a much better idea of how much your horse will be getting from each nutrient,” says Holder. “Remember, more is not always better!”

4. How can horse owners better use the nutrition label?

Experts urge owners to take a look at the ingredient list.

“The ingredient list will contain everything that is in the feed, so here you can see if it contains a yeast or enzyme or organic minerals that you may want in your feed,” says Holder. “Some owners have strong feelings about specific ingredients. For example, let’s say corn is something you don’t like your horse to eat, that will be an easy thing to look for to decide if the feed is for you or not.”

Due to regulations, some feed ingredients have to be listed in a particular way.

Kristyn Sturken, a product manager at Sentinel Horse Nutrition, reminds owners that it’s important to feed by weight, not volume, which is noted on the label.

“A scoop of pellets weighs differently than a scoop of extruded feed or textured feed,” she cautions. “In addition, feeding recommendations and feeding rates should be used as a guideline and sometimes are in ranges. All horses are different and require different amounts of grain.”

5. Are there regulations in place for manufacturing feed?

Yes. In terms of regulations and the manufacturing process, there are “good manufacturing practices” published by the Code of Federal Regulations. These are in place for all facilities that manufacture, process and package commercial animal feeds.

These facilities are inspected to ensure that they comply, and samples of feeds are also taken during these inspections. These samples are then tested to determine if they meet the specifications printed on the feed label.

There are different certifications manufacturing plants can obtain. For example, horses are very sensitive to ionophores, a class of antibiotic-like compounds that do not include drugs that are medically important for humans and can be found in beef cattle feed.

Holder says it’s therefore preferred to have horse feed products manufactured in antibiotic/medication-free facilities. However, if unavoidable, multi-species production facilities that make medicated feeds need to have strict protocols in place to ensure absolute safety.

6. What else should horse owners be aware of?

“There are many things you can learn about a product by studying the label,” says Sturken. “A fixed-ingredient formula uses a particular set of quality ingredients limited to a precise range to ensure the product always meets nutrient specifications while providing a consistent diet supporting healthy digestive function.

“In a fixed-ingredient formula, you’ll typically see specific ingredient names (alfalfa meal, oats, soybean hulls), ensuring your horse is getting consistent feed bag after bag. Least-cost formulas typically use non-specific grouped ingredient names (grain products, plant products, grain by-products), and the order of the ingredients tends to change.”

Other questions you should ask when reading the feed label:

• Does the feed incorporate specialty ingredients like prebiotics, probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, marine-sourced calcium, and other premium ingredients?
• Does the feed use complexed or chelated minerals that are more bioavailable? You can identify these organic sources of minerals that have been bonded to an amino acid by looking at the ingredients and looking for proteinates or amino acid complexes such as “zinc amino acid complex.”

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask the people working at the feed store or contact the manufacturer. Discussing your nutritional plans for your horse with your veterinarian or nutritionist will help you move a step in the right direction for your horse’s health.

This article about how to read horse feed labels appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post How to Read Horse Feed Labels appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Humane Society of Ventura County

Adoptable Horse: Maddie, a 21-year-old, 15.0hh Quarter Horse gelding
Organization: Humane Society of Ventura County, Ojai, Calif.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Maddie

Meet Maddie, a beautiful 21-year-old Quarter Horse mare who recently came to the Humane Society of Ventura County and is ready to find a family of her own.

Maddie a sweet, gentle girl who absolutely loves people, and kids are some of her favorite people to be around. She loves attention, going for hand walks, and enjoying nice, easy outings. She can even go for short rides when appropriate.

Maddie enjoys being around other horses, but she also appreciates having her own space. Due to an old knee injury, she is not quite as quick as she used to be, but she is perfectly happy taking life at a slower pace. With regular maintenance and the right care, she can be a wonderful companion and a great horse for kids.

A pretty easygoing mare, Maddie is good for the farrier, great for the vet, and she doesn’t mind getting a nice bath.

Maddie may be a little older, but she still has plenty of love to give. If you are looking for a sweet, gentle horse who loves kids, enjoys attention, and is happiest taking life one easy stroll at a time, she might be just your girl!

Contact Humane Society of Ventura County today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Maddie!

Photo courtesy Humane Society of Ventura County

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Maddie appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Photo courtesy Lucky 7 Horse Rescue

Adoptable Horse: Sweet Callie Cat, a 3-year-old, 15.0hh Standardbred mare
Organization: Lucky 7 Horse Rescue, Isanti, Minn.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Sweet Callie Cat

Sweet Callie Cat is an absolute sweetheart of a young mare. She is a joy to be around and a very forgiving girl. She came to Lucky 7 healthy and sound, and just wasn’t big enough to race on the track competitively.

She has since begun her new career under saddle. She is a lovely, forward-moving mare, eager to get out to see the sights of the world beyond that of the racetrack. She would thrive as a trail horse, but could really go any direction. Sweet Callie Cat has the time of her life carrying around a beginner rider on all kinds of trails. She trailers great, loves hanging out while camping, will soak up any kind of attention she can get, and will still keep you laughing through it all with her innocently goofy personality.

This girl isn’t super tall, so she’s the perfect smaller Standardbred for someone who loves the breed but doesn’t want the height. If you’re unfamiliar with the Standardbred breed, Lucky 7 encourages you to do some research on all they can do. Hearing “young” and “off-the-track” may make you think she’s going to be a crazy, hot youngster but that couldn’t be further from the truth; Standardbreds are known for their calm, forgiving nature and are even commonly used in therapy programs.

Sweet Callie Cat is available through Lucky 7’s Standardbred Rehoming Program, which exists for owners to safely rehome their retiring racehorses in a way that acknowledges the value of their horses. Off-the-track Standardbreds come with a lot of excellent handling and care, and are extreme athletes. When they are working, they are all “business mode.” When their harness is off, however, they show their goofy personalities. Every Standardbred has their unique set of goofy quirks — some like to twirl their heads, others like to stick their tongues out, and even more like to wiggle their lips. Like most Standardbreds, Callie comes with these wonderful qualities:

◆ Stands tied
◆ Cross-ties
◆ Trailers like a champ
◆ Good for farrier
◆ Stands for baths
◆ Up to date on everything

Standardbreds offered through Lucky 7’s Standardbred Rehoming Program are NOT rescues. They have been loved and cared for their entire lives, valued as racehorses. The Standardbred Rehoming Program exists to give horse owners the option to safely rehome their off-the-track Standardbreds in a way that acknowledges the value of their horses. Many of these horses would be sold for double or triple the price to go work on rural farms, as they are valued by those communities as working animals and transportation. When adopting a horse in Lucky 7’s Standardbred Rehoming Program, half of the fee goes to the previous owner of the horse, and half goes directly into getting two or three Standardbreds away from the hard work of working on rural farms.

Contact Lucky 7 Horse Rescue today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Sweet Callie Cat!

ASPCA Right Horse

ASPCA Right Horse is the online adoption platform of The Right Horse Initiative, a collection of equine industry and welfare professionals and advocates working together to improve the lives of horses in transition. A program of the ASPCA, their goal is to massively increase horse adoption in the United States. To find more adoptable horses and foster horses, visit www.myrighthorse.org. To learn more about The Right Horse, a program of the ASPCA, visit www.aspcarighthorse.org.

The post ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Sweet Callie Cat appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Stall Mats 

Boomerang stall mats are crafted using the highest-quality recycled rubber, ensuring unmatched durability and performance. Unlike crumb rubber mats that break down and lose shape over time, they’re engineered to withstand heavy impact, resist wear and tear, and provide long-lasting comfort and protection for your horses.

Shop at boomerangrubber.com.

Stall Gates

The robust design crafted from high-gauge steel features a European yoke opening and a safe mesh lower section. Suitable for large horse breeds, such as warmbloods and draft horses, but the sturdy mesh design at the bottom means they can also be used for smaller breeds.

Shop at americanstalls.com.

Hay Feeders

The InStall Hay OptiMizer is a durable slow feeder that takes just a few seconds to load with a day’s worth of hay. Your horse will love having a pasture in a box.

Shop at rammfence.com.

Barn Windows

Armour’s smooth fascia panel swings open to one side of any barn window opening of adequate size. One-panel design allows for easy open and close with the slide of one bolt latch. The smooth interior surface panels provide an “edge free” surface. Custom sizes are available.

Shop at armourhorsestalls.com.

End Doors 

Enhance both the functionality and curb appeal of your equine property. Selkirk offers a unique blend of security, craftsmanship, and elegance for horse owners who demand both quality and style. With custom breezeway doors, your barn is sure to make a striking impression.

Shop at selkirkstallsystems.com.

Automatic Waterer

The state-of-the-art Cascada automatic horse waterer fills your horse’s water bucket using an advanced contactless sensing design for unrivaled reliability. The device monitors water levels every minute and has the ability to send data to your Cascada app.

Shop at cascadaequine.com.

Stall Partitions

Classic Equine Equipment’s horse stall partitions are heavy-duty, solid welded, and designed to complement any Classic Equine horse stall fronts. Available in multiple styles and designs, choose from a full frame construction or a component style.

Shop at classic-equine.com.

Rubber Pavers

Great for barn aisles or any place that needs anti-slip flooring. The interlocking rubber paver blocks are easy to install. Available in two thicknesses with an extra-fine finish on top for longevity. Unlike cheap alternatives, Premier Rubber Pavers create a comfortable, cushioned surface that promotes wellbeing for you and your horse.

Shop at premierequestrian.com.

This article about barn building components appeared in the September/October 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Barn Building Components appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.