Horse Illustrated Magazine https://www.horseillustrated.com/ Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:23:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Cheyenne https://www.horseillustrated.com/aspca-right-horse-adoptable-horse-of-the-week-cheyenne/ https://www.horseillustrated.com/aspca-right-horse-adoptable-horse-of-the-week-cheyenne/#respond Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:00:48 +0000 https://www.horseillustrated.com/?p=949372 Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the ASPCA’s Right Horse program. This week’s adoptable horse is Cheyenne! Check back weekly for a new featured horse so you can find your Right Horse. Adoptable Horse: Cheyenne, a 26-year-old, 14.3hh Mustang mare Organization: Wild […]

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Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the ASPCA’s Right Horse program. This week’s adoptable horse is Cheyenne! Check back weekly for a new featured horse so you can find your Right Horse.

Adoptable horse Cheyenne.

Photo courtesy Wild at Heart Horse Rescue

Adoptable Horse: Cheyenne, a 26-year-old, 14.3hh Mustang mare
Organization: Wild at Heart Horse Rescue, Lancaster, Calif.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Cheyenne

Cheyenne is a seasoned, kind-hearted Mustang mare with a lifetime of experience and a wonderful resume to match. Born in 2000, she has proven herself to be a dependable and patient partner, having previously given lessons to children — a true testament to her steady mind and forgiving nature.

Under saddle, Cheyenne confidently works at the walk, trot, and canter in the arena, and she also enjoys heading out on the trail, where she remains calm and reliable. She’s the type of horse that knows her job and takes pride in it, making her a great fit for a rider looking for a safe, familiar-feeling partner.

Cheyenne would be an excellent match for a family, a lesson program, or an individual seeking a trustworthy, well-rounded mare with both arena and trail experience. With her gentle demeanor and proven versatility, she’s the kind of horse that makes people feel comfortable and confident from the moment they swing a leg over.

If you’re looking for a steady, experienced mare with a heart of gold, Cheyenne may be your perfect match.

Contact Wild at Heart Horse Rescue today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Cheyenne!

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.

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Event Preview: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo https://www.horseillustrated.com/event-preview-houston-livestock-show-and-rodeo/ https://www.horseillustrated.com/event-preview-houston-livestock-show-and-rodeo/#respond Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:00:56 +0000 https://www.horseillustrated.com/?p=949169 The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a 20-day experience you won’t soon forget, whether you plan on attending for one day or many. Designed with education and the promotion of agriculture top of mind, this family-friendly event showcases Western heritage and entertains the public. Begun in 1932, the event has grown into the world’s […]

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The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a 20-day experience you won’t soon forget, whether you plan on attending for one day or many. Designed with education and the promotion of agriculture top of mind, this family-friendly event showcases Western heritage and entertains the public. Begun in 1932, the event has grown into the world’s largest and most prestigious livestock exhibition and boasts more than 30,000 entries each year.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Photo courtesy Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

A 20-day, tournament-style competition crowns champions in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, women’s barrel racing and more. While you’re waiting for the evening’s festivities to begin, be sure to check out some of the other livestock-focused options, including a barn with a plethora of miniature livestock breeds, a birthing center that lets attendees welcome baby animals into the world, a breed row barn, a petting zoo, and a milking parlor.

The equine-specific events include a cutting horse show, a Paint Horse show, a Quarter Horse show, ranch horse competition, ranch rodeo, and youth horse show. Whatever you do, don’t forget to come hungry—there’s a barbecue contest and food vendors galore, featuring the best Texas has to offer!

Don’t forget to check out who will be onstage each night once the rodeo chutes close. Past entertainers include greats like Elvis Presley, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, and George Strait.

Plan your visit at rodeohouston.com.

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How Detroit Horse Power is Empowering Youth https://www.horseillustrated.com/detroit-horse-power/ https://www.horseillustrated.com/detroit-horse-power/#respond Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:00:10 +0000 https://www.horseillustrated.com/?p=949114 Across the United States, urban sprawl historically nudges horses out of cities and suburbs. New stores and homes pop up where stables and fields once stood. However, in one neighborhood in Detroit, Mich., that trend is being reversed. Thanks to Detroit Horse Power, an innovative program that introduces horses to children, the city will soon […]

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Across the United States, urban sprawl historically nudges horses out of cities and suburbs. New stores and homes pop up where stables and fields once stood. However, in one neighborhood in Detroit, Mich., that trend is being reversed. Thanks to Detroit Horse Power, an innovative program that introduces horses to children, the city will soon welcome equines and expand opportunities for Detroit’s youth. And it all began as the dream of a first-year teacher.

A young girl riding a horse at Detroit Horse Power.

Photo by Dutch Arbor Farms Photography

Bringing Equestrian Vision to Detroit

In 2012, David Silver joined Teach for America, an organization that recruits equity-oriented leaders as teachers, placing them in under-resourced schools for a two-year commitment. Silver’s teaching assignment was at Burns Elementary/Middle School on the west side of Detroit, where he taught 4th and 5th grade.

David Silver, founder of Detroit Horse Power.

David Silver founded Detroit Horse Power to provide under-resourced youth a safe after-school program that uses horses to empower them. Photo courtesy Detroit Horse Power

The young educator from New York had never been to Michigan and didn’t know much about it. Once in his new city, Silver, who grew up in Pony Club and competed in eventing on an off-track Thoroughbred, noticed swaths of vacant land. He envisioned the open spaces making for nice paddocks or cross-country courses. 

In the classroom, Silver set out to create a culture based on confidence, perseverance, and empathy—qualities key for overcoming adversity and finding success. As he taught, he was also learning about his new environment and its impact on students. Food insecurity, neighborhood violence and transportation challenges affected the community.

He thought about how his background riding and competing with horses influenced him to have confidence and learn to deal with setbacks and keep going. He knew spending time with horses would enrich and empower his students, just as it had him.

Silver wanted to create an after-school program to help students apply lessons from horses into everyday life. When his Teach for America term was over in 2014, he left the classroom and spent several months exploring the idea, seeking advice from mentors, and pitching the concept to community leaders.

Over time, a board of directors was formed, and Detroit Horse Power (DHP) was established as a 501(c)(3). For the last decade, the organization has provided under-resourced youth a safe and enriching space that furthers their future development, using horses as the medium.

Via a 15-passenger van, DHP has transported students in grades 6 through 12 to meet, groom, and ride horses at partner barns outside of the city. It also provides after-school snacks and dinner for students.

The Perks of Time with Horses

Foundational to DHP’s programs are the “PERCS” traits (a student-created acronym). It stands for Perseverance, Empathy, Responsible risk taking, Confidence, and Self-control.

A young rider riding a gelding over a ground pole.

Foundational to DHP’s programs are the “PERCS” traits (Perseverance, Empathy, Responsible risk taking, Confidence, and Self-control). Photo by Dutch Arbor Farms Photography

DHP leaders and students alike use the language of PERCS when in the saddle or doing groundwork. For example, after students spend time at a partner barn, they will debrief in a circle, responding to prompts such as, “How were you using confidence in the saddle? What did that feel like? What subjects in school are you more confident in?”

“We do a lot of self-reflection and introspection in small group discussions,” says Silver. “We try to get them to harness confidence [at the barn] into the school setting, and give them a sense of empowerment. If you can control a 1,200-pound animal, why can’t you succeed on a math test?”

A young girl trotting a gray mare.

Photo by Dutch Arbor Farms Photography

Changing Lives

Xynese Frazier, a high school senior and member of DHP’s Youth Leadership Council, joined the program in 6th grade, when her mother first heard about it and thought it was worth trying. Xynese credits the program with boosting her self-confidence.

“I was very quiet around animals and people,” Xynese says. “I’ve gotten better interacting with so many different people. Also, I’ve developed perseverance. Some of the horses can be tricky and not in the mood. You can use that perseverance in your everyday life.”

She adds that her confidence in public speaking has grown, along with her self-control. She observes that having patience with animals can carry over into having patience with people. “When I’m in the saddle, I’m happy,” she says.

A young girl taking a riding lesson at Detroit Horse Power.

Xynese Frazier (riding), a high school senior and member of DHP’s Youth Leadership Council, credits the program with boosting her self-confidence. Photo by Dutch Arbor Farms Photography

Anika Frazier, Xynese’s mom, says her co-workers ask her about DHP, and there’s strong interest in the program.

“It’s a new experience for the youth, especially African American children, and it’s a good after-school activity where they learn how to ride and groom,” Anika says. “They’ve had a chance to see different parts of Michigan, and they got to attend the gala. It’s also a way for children to make new friends.”

Le’Airra Jones, who also served as a DHP Youth Leadership Council member, enrolled in a college program after graduating from Detroit’s top public high school. At the DHP gala, Le’Airra was honored with an Empathy Award. Le’Airra and her peers ran the 2024 summer horse camp.

“She knows the program inside and out, and it’s powerful for beginning riders to look up to her,” Silver says of the now college student, whom he met as a Burns school 1st grader.

Stable in the City

The benefits of kids and horses together have been life-changing, but two ongoing challenges since DHP’s inception have been transportation and access to partner barns.

Although grateful for the hospitality of partner barns who have welcomed students, the barns are often more than an hour’s van-ride away. By the time the students arrive, it doesn’t leave much time for grooming, riding, and all the other horse chores. It has been a struggle to build out a robust schedule, both due to cost and time. However, those challenges will soon become a thing of the past.

In October 2024, DHP broke ground on a vacant 14-acre property that had once been the site of the Paul Robeson School, a 100-year-old building destroyed by fire in 2011. The Detroit Public School system had no plan for the lot, and the superintendent wanted to work out an agreement so students could have access to horses. Plans are underway to construct the largest urban equestrian center in the United States, and the neighborhood is eager for its arrival.

A rendering of the new Detroit Horse Power facility.

Plans are underway for DHP to build the largest urban equestrian center in the U.S., which broke ground in October of 2024. Photo courtesy Detroit Horse Power

“We want to radically scale access to horses,” Silver says.

The 17-stall barn will have an attached 75 x 160-foot indoor riding arena. There will be a classroom and community space in the barn. A half-mile bridle path will wind around the property’s perimeter and outdoor ring.

All neighbors—not just the young equestrians—can enjoy the new facility, which will host book club meetings and local art events.

“Making this a community asset is important,” Silver explains. “We want it to be a hub of community life.”

A rendering of the new facility.

All neighbors—not just young equestrians—will be able to enjoy the new facility, which will host block club meetings and local art events. Photo courtesy Detroit Horse Power

Building a Coalition

DHP’s success didn’t happen overnight. It has been years in the making through countless conversations and cultivating relationships with government officials, building a diverse coalition of people who believe horses have something to offer to the community, and generous donations from the equestrian community.

As of the groundbreaking, DHP has secured $6.9 million in commitments to its capital campaign, and people have already offered horses for the program. Once the equestrian center is operational in 2026, horses will become new neighbors for a community ready to embrace them.

DHP’s Development Director, Ciara Ginyard, has deep roots in the city.

Detroit Horse Power Development Director Ciara Ginyard.

DHP Development Director Ciara Ginyard has equestrian roots in Detroit, with her grandparents having ridden horses at the state fair. Photo courtesy Ciara Ginyard

“My grandparents were here, my great-grandparents,” she says. “When I told my parents I was going to be working with Detroit Horse Power, they got really excited, and my aunts and uncles started sharing with me all these stories of horses in Detroit. My grandparents would ride horses at the state fair.

“What excites me is another generation will be reintroduced to horses,” adds Ginyard. “We know the power of horses: It’s phenomenal, it’s life-changing, and it’s long lasting.”

To learn more, visit the Detroit Horse Power website and follow on Facebook @dethorsepower and Instagram @detroithorsepower.

To hear Susan and Horse Illustrated editor Holly chat with Ciara Ginyard, check out episode 22 of HI’s podcast, Barn Banter.

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ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Barn Shark https://www.horseillustrated.com/aspca-right-horse-adoptable-horse-of-the-week-barn-shark/ https://www.horseillustrated.com/aspca-right-horse-adoptable-horse-of-the-week-barn-shark/#respond Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:00:36 +0000 https://www.horseillustrated.com/?p=949367 Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the ASPCA’s Right Horse program. This week’s adoptable horse is Barn Shark! Check back weekly for a new featured horse so you can find your Right Horse. Adoptable Horse: Barn Shark, a 6-year-old, 15.2hh Thoroughbred gelding […]

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Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the ASPCA’s Right Horse program. This week’s adoptable horse is Barn Shark! Check back weekly for a new featured horse so you can find your Right Horse.

Adoptable horse Barn Shark.

Photo courtesy Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation

Adoptable Horse: Barn Shark, a 6-year-old, 15.2hh Thoroughbred gelding
Organization: Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation, Guthrie, Okla.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Barn Shark

Barn Shark has a name you won’t forget and a face that’s just as memorable! This sweet and sturdy boy was responsibly retired from racing and came to Horse and Hound sound and ready to start his second career.

After some time in training and an adoption, Barney (barn name) was returned through no fault of his own—he was just a bit more forward than his (wonderful!) adopter was looking for. He was well-loved and beautifully cared for, and Horse and Hound is so grateful for the time and training she gave him.

Now, Barney is back with Horse and Hound and looking for his perfect match. He’s continued to show us he’s smart, sweet, and willing. He has a good brain, handles windy days like a champ, and is settling back into Horse and Hound’s program with ease. While he has some energy under saddle, he’s not naughty—just a young guy who enjoys having a job.

Barney is suitable for an intermediate or confident rider looking to bring along a young, athletic partner. He has no limitations and could go in a variety of directions with the right person.

Contact Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Barn Shark!

A bay Thoroughbred gelding.

Photo courtesy Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation

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.

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Lydia Dedera: Changed by Mustangs https://www.horseillustrated.com/lydia-dedera-changed-by-mustangs/ https://www.horseillustrated.com/lydia-dedera-changed-by-mustangs/#respond Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:00:59 +0000 https://www.horseillustrated.com/?p=948920 In 2022, Lydia Dedera (then Lydia Cotterell) found herself in a tough situation. She’d entered a Mustang adoption competition, and the horse she was working with struggled with aggression. A red roan gelding from Oregon’s Stinkingwater herd, Rojo Rogue wanted nothing to do with Dedera. When trying to gentle him, she’d almost been kicked, bitten, […]

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In 2022, Lydia Dedera (then Lydia Cotterell) found herself in a tough situation. She’d entered a Mustang adoption competition, and the horse she was working with struggled with aggression. A red roan gelding from Oregon’s Stinkingwater herd, Rojo Rogue wanted nothing to do with Dedera. When trying to gentle him, she’d almost been kicked, bitten, and pinned to the ground.

“There were times where I, in the moment, I thought I was going to lose my life,” Dedera says.

She wasn’t sure if she and the gelding could successfully move forward, but she didn’t want to give up. Rojo needed her to help him find a home.

Rojo Rogue as a new arrival settling into his gentling pen.

Rojo Rogue as a new arrival settling into his gentling pen before starting training with Dedera. Photo by Lydia Dedera’s Horse Training

Challenging Choice

Dedera never owned a horse as a child, but she grew up going to horse camp. At 15, she accepted a job as a stable hand. There, she discovered she enjoyed working with horses. If she found a one with a problem, she searched for an answer. She started helping friends and acquaintances with their horses, but she didn’t consider herself a trainer.

Dedera didn’t realize Mustangs existed until she stumbled across a video about them on social media. Intrigued by the video and encouraged by friends and family, she entered a local Mustang adoption challenge when she was 19. That’s where she met Rojo.

When her turn to choose a horse for the competition came, she remembers feeling called to select Rojo, so she did. But despite her initial confidence in the selection process, her first encounters with Rojo discouraged her.

After multiple close calls, Dedera desperately searched for a way to establish trust with him. This led her to a revelation: She realized she viewed herself as a stable hand who wanted to be a horse trainer but didn’t feel qualified. She felt out of her element and even awkward, and she wondered if Rojo felt the same about his current situation.

“I chose him when nobody else did; he wasn’t chosen for another competition, and he was one of four horses left,” Dedera recalls. “I truly felt like I was his last chance.”

She returned to Rojo with a renewed commitment, proceeding only as his comfort level allowed. As she gained his trust, his aggression stopped. Dedera continued his training by using positive reinforcement and approach-and-retreat methods. Eventually, Rojo’s fears faded away, and the two formed a relationship built on trust and respect.

The Four Wins

As of March 2024, a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) report estimates that there were around 5,154 wild horses and burros in Oregon, but the number of wild horses and burros the state can sustainably support is closer to 2,700.

BLM’s website explains, “Because wild horses and burros are federally protected and lack natural predators, the BLM must manage population growth to ensure healthy wild horses and burros thrive on healthy public rangelands.” Placing wild horses and burros in qualified homes through adoption is one of several management methods.

Erica FitzGerald is the president and founder of Teens and Oregon Mustangs, an organization that matches trainers with wild Mustangs to promote their adoption. It’s through this program that Dedera found Rojo.

For every competition Teens and Oregon Mustangs puts on, FitzGerald aims to accomplish what she calls “four wins.” Those are:

Find the Mustangs entered in the competition good “forever homes.”

Help the trainers develop better horsemanship.

Reduce the number of Mustangs in BLM holding pens.

Provide buyers with solid horses that have fantastic foundations.

FitzGerald says Dedera (who competed in the adult division) checks all of those boxes.

“All those wins are met with Lydia for sure, and that’s our mission,” she says.

By the competition date, Dedera and Rojo had formed a partnership that made it possible for them to compete in what became Dedera’s first horse show. They entered the ridden division of the challenge, where they placed 2nd in the Novice Trail class and 12th overall. But more importantly, Rojo sold for $9,000 to a home where Dedera continues to work with him.

Dedera and Rojo competing together at the Teens and Oregon Mustangs competition.

Dedera and Rojo competing together at the Teens and Oregon Mustangs competition. Photo by Jenn Koenig Photography

When Rojo left the competition with his new owner, a flood of feelings rushed over Dedera.

“I remember loading him up in his new family’s horse trailer and fighting tears,” she says. “I handed his owner a bag of his favorite treats, and when I turned around, the whole stable was empty. I had a hard time knowing what to do with myself for the remainder of that day, but I also felt a strong sense of completion.”

Transforming Lives

Rojo’s adoption marked the beginning of what has become a yearly project for Dedera. Her second year competing with Teens and Oregon Mustangs introduced her to a South Steens Herd Management Area (HMA) Mustang, Firefly, that she kept after the competition.

Lydia Dedera and her personal Mustang, Firefly.

Lydia Dedera and her personal Mustang, Firefly. Photo by Jenn Koenig Photography

In 2024, Dedera helped her entry, a Palomino Buttes HMA gelding named Simba, not only find a home, but also become one of the highest-selling horses in the program’s history, with a sale price of $34,000.

FitzGerald explains that Dedera’s work with the Mustangs she trains makes them into family horses, which helps them find forever homes.

“She puts a solid foundation on her horses and makes them really adoptable,” she says.

At home, Dedera works with all breeds of horses, but Mustangs are her favorite. She’s trained eight from the wild, and estimates that she has worked with more than 100 Mustangs in total. Her experience with Rojo taught her the value of instilling trust and respect in all of the horses she trains.

“If I can get a horse, a Mustang, to trust me as its friend, as its leader, and to want to be with me and to want to please me, then I can do anything with that horse,” Dedera says.

While it’s clear the Mustangs Dedera works with undergo transformations, those horses have transformed Dedera’s life, too. She explains that her faith encourages her to pursue qualities like patience, diligence, integrity and purposeful living in her daily life. Dedera says God has used Mustangs to grow her in those very areas.

“When you’re studying an animal and you’re helping him become his best, you can’t help but look on the inside as well,” she says.

Dedera isn’t certain what the future holds, but she thinks it will be exciting. She can see herself continuing to teach lessons, train horses and compete, but she would also love to start traveling and performing with Mustangs.

Wherever she goes and whatever she does, the uncertainties of yesterday are gone, and the promise of tomorrow looks bright. And today, in the present, Dedera confidently calls herself a horse trainer.

This article about Lydia Dedera appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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2026 Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse Gallops In https://www.horseillustrated.com/2026-chinese-new-year-of-the-fire-horse/ https://www.horseillustrated.com/2026-chinese-new-year-of-the-fire-horse/#respond Mon, 16 Feb 2026 20:25:04 +0000 https://www.horseillustrated.com/?p=949232 Get ready to celebrate, horse lovers! It’s Chinese New Year’s Eve today. Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 17, 2026, an ethereal red horse trailing fire will usher in the Chinese New Year. It is not just any New Year; it’s a very rare Year of the Fire Horse which reigns in the Chinese Zodiac cycle only every […]

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Get ready to celebrate, horse lovers! It’s Chinese New Year’s Eve today. Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 17, 2026, an ethereal red horse trailing fire will usher in the Chinese New Year. It is not just any New Year; it’s a very rare Year of the Fire Horse which reigns in the Chinese Zodiac cycle only every 60 years.

It’s fitting that this Year of the Fire Horse corresponds with Horse Illustrated magazine’s golden anniversary. The publication’s first issue was on newsstands in 1976, just ten years after the last Fire Horse in 1966. In Chinese culture, the color gold symbolizes prosperity, so may Horse Illustrated readers enjoy many more information-packed issues in the years to come!

Also significant in equestrian circles this year are the 2026 FEI World Championships in August in Aachen, Germany, which will begin the journey toward the next Olympic Games in 2028 in Los Angeles. Performances at these World Championships, and the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, will be part of determining which countries will qualify to compete and who will ride for the USA in the LA28 Games.

A beautiful gilded horse and carriage in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park usher in the 2026 Year of the Fire Horse.

A pair of beautiful gilded horses and carriage in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park usher in the 2026 Year of the Horse. Photo by Queenie MW Lam

What is a Fire Horse?

This Year of the Fire Horse runs February 17, 2026, through February 5, 2027. There’s a common Mandarin Chinese idiom, “Mǎ dào chéng gōng,” which basically means “Success upon the horse’s arrival.”

Chinese tradition combines the qualities associated with the animals in their 12-year Zodiac cycle with those of their five philosophical elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) to produce this 60-year cycle. The Horse is the seventh animal in their calendar, with the others being the Rat (first), Ox (second), Tiger (third), Rabbit (fourth), Dragon (fifth), Snake (sixth), Sheep (eighth, sometimes listed as a ram or goat), Monkey (ninth), Rooster (tenth), dog (eleventh), and pig (twelfth). Learn more about why the Chinese Zodiac animals are listed in this order here.

Chinese Zodiac calendar wheel featuring the 12 animals of their Zodiac.

Chinese Zodiac calendar wheel featuring the 12 animals of their Zodiac.

In Chinese culture, the Horse is said to have an independent, dynamic, confident and adventurous spirit and to symbolize vitality, speed, perseverance and success. The Fire element adds intensity and high energy to the mix. According to Chinese horoscope forecasters, this makes 2026 a year for bold decisions and rapid transformations supported by a surge of creativity and ambition. However, Chinese philosophy cautions that while the Horse is brave and enthusiastic, it can also be impulsive. Overall, the forecast for this Year of the Fire Horse is potentially one of moving forward, renewal, vibrant transformation, economic growth and technological advancements.

This year is also a Yang Fire year, one which favors those who are willing to take risks and make quick decisions. In Chinese philosophy, Yin and Yang are the dual, yet interdependent, forces present in all aspects of life. Years ending in even numbers are Yang while Yin years are odd-numbered. Yang is associated with activity, dynamism, brightness, warmth and masculinity, while Yin is thought of as having passivity, receptivity, darkness, coolness and femininity.

Babies born in a Year of the Fire Horse are thought of as energetic, charismatic and desiring the freedom for self-expression. Find out which animal corresponds to your birth year and check out the 2026 horoscopes for all of the 12 Chinese Zodiac symbols here.

Numerology also plays a huge role in shaping Chinese culture and beliefs. Last year was the ending of the last Universal Year cycle—it was Year 9. In 2026, we enter a new Universal Year 1. (When added together, the numbers in 2026 add up to 10, which leads back to number 1.) Additionally, the five elements are associated with numbers; numbers that end in “6” or “7” are always associated with Fire. Hence, in 2026 we have the Fire Horse and next year, 2027, will be the Year of the Fire Goat/Sheep.

It is also interesting to note that the start of this year’s Chinese New Year corresponds with the Ring of Fire solar eclipse that will appear over Antarctica on February 17. This adds even more intensity and fireworks on that day!

More About Chinese New Year

One of the most important holidays of the year, this lunisolar (combines the solar year with the moon’s cycle) event is celebrated in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, and in Chinatown neighborhoods in other countries around the world, among others. The day on which the Chinese Lunar New Year lands varies from year to year based on when the first new moon falls (this can be any day from January 21 to February 20).

The first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year marks the start of a 15-day Spring Festival which celebrates the end of winter and the start of new agricultural cycle. This spring celebration ends with a Lantern Festival on the final day (this year’s Spring Festival runs February 17-March 3). The day before the Chinese New Year is called New Year’s Eve, which comes with a set of practiced traditions as well.

A merchant selling gifts at the 2026 Honolulu Spring Festival.

A merchant selling Chinese New Year gifts at the 2026 Honolulu Chinatown New Year Spring Festival. Photo by Dorrel Whinery

Same as the January 1 New Year in the Gregorian calendar used by the Western world, the Chinese New Year is a time to shrug off the old and bring in the new, and to follow traditions that invite luck, good health and wealth. Across China, people traditionally have holiday time off from work with many traveling back to their hometowns; it’s said to be the biggest mammalian migration in the world. Other Asian cultures celebrate in similar fashion, but with a few different traditions.

As with all holidays, there are many traditions associated with Chinese New Year. Starting with today, New Year’s Eve, it’s a time to clean house to “sweep out the old year’s dust.” And, to prepare a good-luck meal to enjoy with family; the meal should include long noodles to encourage longevity and rice for abundance, but there are many other lucky foods on the list to try as well. Also important on New Year’s Eve, leave the lights on until midnight to drive away evil spirits so the New Year can begin with good luck.

Wearing red for the New Year celebrations is very important as well; it is the ultimate lucky color. Bonus points if your underwear and socks are red, too! Red is thought to bring good luck, prosperity and ward off evil spirits. Continuing with the red theme, on New Year’s Day people gift red envelopes containing money to children and unmarried young people in their family as part of New Year’s celebrations to pass on good fortune, joy and blessings.

Flowers, red envelopes with money inside and a Chinese ceramic horse are examples of gifts that will be given during the Year of the Horse.

Flowers, red envelopes with money inside and a Chinese ceramic horse are examples of gifts that will be given during the Year of the Horse. Photo by Queenie MW Lam

Buying flowers and plants is also something that can bring growing luck for the coming year. Honoring one’s ancestors is another New Year’s tradition. And, fireworks are a visual delight to usher in the New Year. Only kind and lucky words should be spoken on New Year’s Day to start the year on a positive note.

There is also a list of things to avoid on Chinese New Year’s Day because they might invite bad luck. These include no washing of clothes or dishes and no house cleaning (these should be done on New Year’s Eve instead) and not wearing torn clothes. And, don’t wear white or black since these are colors associated with death in China. Find other New Year’s dos and don’ts here.

There is much more to learn about this important holiday than space allows. Here are some links to more information:

Chinese New Year Overview

Lunar New Year Overview

◆ The Chinese New Year from Britannica

15 Chinese Lunar New Year Fun Facts

New Year’s Fun & Games

Beyond wearing red, watching fireworks and consuming lucky food, there are so many fun ways to celebrate the incoming Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse. Here are a few ideas.

1. Take a Virtual Tour of  Smithsonian Museum Equestrian Art

Enjoy some equestrian art from the Smithsonian Museum’s 2026 Year of the Horse collection. Find some beautiful pieces here.

An ink and color on silk artwork gifted to the Smithsonian Asian Art Museum by Charles Lang Freer.

“Celestial Horses,” artist unknown, an ink and color on silk artwork gifted to the Smithsonian Asian Art Museum by Charles Lang Freer, is one of the featured artworks in the Smithsonian’s 2026 Year of the Horse web feature. Photo courtesy the Smithsonian Institute

2. Learn How To Write a Decorative Holiday Couplet

This really cool video, shared by Queenie MW Lam in Hong Kong, shows how to create a couplet of two written Chinese traditional Han characters to create a festive New Year’s greeting. Watch the video here.

The character Fu (福; fú) means fortune and good luck. And, the character for horse is  (it kind of looks like a horse with the four legs, trailing tail and mane flowing out behind).

Note in this video the use of the red paper and the gold writing, plus the little gold gourd next to 2026 (which symbolizes prosperity, protection and harmony), the gold ingots in the upper right-hand corner (inviting wealth in the New Year), and the traditional New Year’s fireworks to the left of the horse.

For all the artists out there who would like to try their hand at re-creating the couplet in the video, here is the English translation of the subtitles at the top of the video:

  1. First, write a “5”.
  2. Then, write “2026”.
  3. Write a reversed “7”.
  4. Connect the lines to draw the mouth and nose.
  5. Draw the eyes.
  6. Fill them in.
  7. Add the ears.
  8. Draw the horizontal and vertical lines.
  9. Use zigzag lines to create the mane.
  10. Draw the two connected circles to make the bridle.
  11. Write the other half of the fortune character.
  12. Use several “S” shapes to form the tail.
  13. Draw a small circle and a big circle to make the gourd.
  14. Use two “C” shapes to draw the gold ingots.
  15. Add small dots to create fireworks.
  16. Draw some additional decorations.
  17. The Fu (福) character for the Year of the Horse is complete.

3. Breyer’s Special Year of the Fire Horse Model

Most horse lovers have at least one Breyer horse model on a shelf or in a toy box, most of us many more. Since 1950 this U.S.-based company (now owned by Reeves International, Inc.) has produced lifelike models of equines and other animals. The company’s BreyerFest attracts many thousands of visitors each year to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, proving just how popular their products have become.

In 2026 the company released a special Year of the Fire Horse model called Yàn Wǔ. Stephanie Macejko from Reeves International said that this limited edition has been their most popular release of the year thus far.

Yàn Wǔ, a Breyer limited-edition model for the Year of the Fire Horse.

Yàn Wǔ, a Breyer limited-edition model for the Year of the Fire Horse has been their most popular item thus far in 2026. Photo courtesy Breyer

She explained the creative process behind this flashy chestnut and white statue, “For Breyer, every year is the Year of the Horse! For over 75 years, we’ve celebrated all the different breeds and disciplines that inspire us, including those in art and culture, too! The colorway was inspired by Chinese watercolor art, but converted to celebratory metallic reds and golds, with a pearl base.  The symbol for horse is shown on the hip, and his name means ‘flame’ and ‘dance,’ which captures the spirit of the horse’s stance and the fact that 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse.”

According to Macejko, Yàn Wǔ is not their first Year of the Horse tribute. In 2014, Breyer celebrated the Year of the Wood Horse with a limited-edition model painted with a woodgrain finish, and also produced a second collectible model showcasing the colorful smoke used in traditional Chinese celebrations. Before that in 2002, they released “Jade,” decorated to evoke the look and feel of the gemstone, to mark that year’s Chinese New Year of the Horse.

4. Chinese New Year’s Galloping Horses Scroll from LEGO

LEGO, the Danish construction-block toy company, has attracted both young and old fans from around the world since their founding in 1932. LEGO representative Sydney Mauro shared that, beginning in 2019, they have been releasing Lunar New Year sets as part of their seasonal portfolio. These feature festive scenes, zodiac animals and cultural traditions that celebrate Spring Festival.

In 2026 for the Year of the Horse, they introduced the LEGO Galloping Horses Canvas set. It is a build-and-display model that brings traditional Chinese brush painting to life in brick form.

LEGO's Galloping Horses Canvas set for the Year of the Fire Horse.

LEGO introduced this Galloping Horses Canvas set in 2026. Photo courtesy LEGO

“The LEGO Group’s Lunar New Year sets are designed to inspire kids and families to celebrate cultural traditions through hands-on building. This year the brick-built horses and printed canvas feature symbols of strength, good fortune and the traditional blessing of ‘success upon arrival’ in the New Year. The set also allows builders to pose the four horses and turn a handle to make them move as if galloping out of the painting, creating a playful Spring Festival decoration families can build and enjoy together,” explained Maduro.

5. Pokémon GO’s Lunar New Year’s Game

For aficionados of Pokémon GO, there is a Lunar New Year event on February 17 with added features as a nod toward the Lunar New Year. Visit here for more information.

2026 Year of the Fire Horse Photo Gallery from Around the World

Chinese New Year of the Horse decorations at Shenzhen Bay MixC Mall in China. A colorful rearing horse is part of a New Year’s display at the Harbour City Mall in Hong Kong. Poster for 50th anniversary of Chinese New Year Spring Festival and parade in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 14, 2026. Year of the Horse tees for sale during the 2026 Honolulu Chinatown New Year Spring Festival. Martial arts demonstrations during the Spring Festival. The Horsehead and Flame nebulas in the night sky over Kaneohe, Hawaii, are celestial representations of the 2026 Year of the Fire Horse.

Happy New Year!

So, now on Chinese New Year’s Eve, get ready to ride into 2026. It’s time to say goodbye to 2025, the Year of Wood Snake. Then, break out the celebratory red and gold, gather with two and four-legged family and friends, and get ready for all the Year of the Fire Horse will bring.

Author’s Note: I dedicate this article to my late sister-in-law Jennifer Ho Whinery, a true animal lover, who inspired my interest in Chinese culture. A big thank you to family and friends who helped with the preparation of this article and with photos: John Babson; Kathy Cheung; Maya Ho; Queenie MW Lam, and Dorrel Whinery.

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ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week: Maggie https://www.horseillustrated.com/aspca-right-horse-adoptable-horse-of-the-week-maggie/ https://www.horseillustrated.com/aspca-right-horse-adoptable-horse-of-the-week-maggie/#respond Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:00:41 +0000 https://www.horseillustrated.com/?p=949066 Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the ASPCA’s Right Horse program. This week’s adoptable horse is Maggie! Check back weekly for a new featured horse so you can find your Right Horse. Adoptable Horse: Maggie, a 17-year-old, 15.1hh Missouri Fox Trotter mare […]

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Welcome to Horse Illustrated’s weekly installment of the Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, offered in partnership with the ASPCA’s Right Horse program. This week’s adoptable horse is Maggie! Check back weekly for a new featured horse so you can find your Right Horse.

Adoptable horse Maggie.

Photo courtesy February Star Sanctuary

Adoptable Horse: Maggie, a 17-year-old, 15.1hh Missouri Fox Trotter mare
Organization: February Star Sanctuary, Knoxville, Md.

Get to Know Adoptable Horse Maggie

Are you looking for a marvelous mare? Meet Maggie!

This sweet chestnut beauty is a 17-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter. She’s lots of fun and was quick to make friends with some of February Star’s other horses. Maggie has the potential to succeed in various disciplines and styles, but will be a true project. February Star believes she’ll do her best with an experienced, patient rider.

Contact February Star Sanctuary today about ASPCA Right Horse Adoptable Horse of the Week, Maggie!

A chestnut mare grazing in a field.

Photo courtesy February Star Sanctuary

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.

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A Tevis Cup Love Story https://www.horseillustrated.com/a-tevis-cup-love-story/ https://www.horseillustrated.com/a-tevis-cup-love-story/#respond Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:00:29 +0000 https://www.horseillustrated.com/?p=948644 When the 5-year-old gray mare arrived at Love This Horse Equine Rescue LLC in Mojave, Calif., founder and director Vera Valdivia-Abdallah knew she had a challenge on her hands. “She was pretty healthy looking, but she was really wild and traumatized,” says Valdivia-Abdallah. “If you just walked in her pen, she would jump out. She […]

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When the 5-year-old gray mare arrived at Love This Horse Equine Rescue LLC in Mojave, Calif., founder and director Vera Valdivia-Abdallah knew she had a challenge on her hands.

“She was pretty healthy looking, but she was really wild and traumatized,” says Valdivia-Abdallah. “If you just walked in her pen, she would jump out. She did it multiple times.”

It was a familiar situation. The mare was one of eight at a “loose horse” auction (horses are bid on while running loose in a pen) that Valdivia-Abdallah bought.

“An Oregon man had been breeding mostly Shagya Arabians, and he died,” she explains. “The family called a horse trader who rounded 53 of them up. Most on that property were adult horses that had never been handled. She was such a difficult horse, and so not into people, that I named her after the Taylor Swift song, Love Story. It’s a version of Romeo and Juliet that has a happy ending. I like to give horses names with positive affirmations.”

A gray mare at the rescue.

Vera Valdivia-Abdallah, founder and director of Love This Horse Equine Rescue, says Love Story took about six months to tame after coming to her facility. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

Gaining Trust

She recalls that it took about six months just to tame Love Story. Valdivia-Abdallah and her daughters, Tamarah and Erna Valdivia, plus one other trainer, worked to gain Love Story’s trust. Even during this time, Valdivia-Abdallah had a special feeling about the mare.

“Once we got her going, I said that’s a Tevis horse right there,” she says. “Don’t ask me why. I just had that feeling.” California’s Tevis Cup is considered one of the toughest 100-mile endurance rides in the world. Horse and rider pairs have 24 hours to complete the race, with regular vet checks that must be passed to continue along the route.

Susannah Jones, a friend of Valdivia-Abdallah from Rough and Ready, Calif. (between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe), is always on the lookout for her next Tevis Cup horse. The three-time finisher of the race adopted Love Story in February of 2021. She took the halter-broke mare home and sent her to a trainer. The first trainer rejected her as too dangerous. The next trainer broke her to saddle, and eventually Jones began riding her.

But Love Story could still be difficult, and she bucked Jones off during a trail ride. Injured and sidelined for six months, Jones didn’t want Love Story to backslide, so Valdivia-Abdallah welcomed the mare back to Love This Horse Equine Rescue in October 2023. Her daughter Erna Valdivia began riding and conditioning the mare for endurance rides. Now 17, Valdivia learned to ride at age 5, and has been starting rescue horses under saddle since 2020.

Love Story intimidated Valdivia at first.

“The first time I got on ‘Lovie,’ I acted like I didn’t know how to ride, because I was so anxious,” she recalls. “I was shaking in my boots. She’s a big horse. She has a lot of power. It was just in my head, because she was Susannah’s horse, and I didn’t want to mess anything up and ruin her. But as soon as I stopped thinking about Susannah, and just treated Lovie like I was riding one of the rescue horses, she was easy to figure out.

“Lovie was very sassy,” Valdivia continues. “I had to be a little bit more stern with her because she’s a mare. She’d get upset with me, but then we pushed through it. When she’s with me, she knows she can’t get away with stuff.”

The two finished their first 25-mile ride together in California in January of 2024, then moved up to 50-mile rides, getting to know each other and building a strong partnership.

Valdivia taking over the Tevis Cup training on Love Story.

Valdivia took over the training on Love Story, taking her to the mare’s first 25-mile endurance ride in January of 2024. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

Targeting the Tevis Cup

After breaking to riding, many of Love This Horse Equine Rescue’s horses compete in endurance.

“Endurance riding is so good for starting our horses,” says Valdivia-Abdallah. “You have a different horse at the end of the ride. Even if somebody wants to adopt one as a trail horse, taking him to an endurance ride is valuable training. They must travel in the trailer, camp, stay tied to the trailer overnight, ride in a strange environment, ride a minimum of 25 miles under timed conditions, and complete successfully without having any issues.”

As Lovie and Valdivia accumulated more endurance rides and miles together, the “T” word came up again. Both Valdivia-Abdallah and Jones, now riding again, suggested the Tevis Cup. Jones volunteered to ride her other horse, Eli, and mentor Valdivia aboard Love Story.

“I was like, um, no!” Valdivia laughs. “I didn’t like the idea at first, because it’s Tevis. But once we got closer, and started making plans, I thought maybe it’s not too bad of an idea. I warmed up to it toward the end, and I was actually kind of excited for it.”

With Jones riding Eli and Valdivia aboard Love Story, the pairs rode two days and 50 miles of the Tevis Educational Ride in June, giving both newbies a good taste of the trail.

“It helped me, because the trails are narrow and the turns are pretty tight,” Valdivia says. “It gave Love Story peace of mind, too. It helped her watch her feet and be careful where she stepped. It was definitely a good experience.”

Erna Valdivia and Susannah Jones riding on a trail.

Erna Valdivia on Love Story (front) and Susannah Jones on Eli. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

Tevis Time

The atmosphere and idea of the Tevis Cup itself can make riders apprehensive, and the start can be chaotic. At the 5:15 a.m. start time on July 29, 2024, Love Story, not used to such a big field of 137 horses, was agitated.

Valdivia and Love Story riding in the Tevis Cup.

Valdivia was nervous going into the Tevis Cup, but once the riders were able to space out she and Love Story relaxed. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

“I had to relax myself in order for her to be relaxed because there were so many horses around her, and all that adrenaline and energy,” Valdivia says. “It was nerve-racking for both of us.”

For most of the first 6 miles, Tevis is a single-track trail where it’s not possible to pass horses. It wasn’t until the trail opened up and they were able to spread out that Love Story settled down.

Eli during the jog.

Jones rode her other horse, Eli, and mentored Valdivia for Tevis. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

The 2024 Tevis Cup was one of the hottest on record, particularly in the two deep canyons horses have to traverse, contributing to the low 40 percent finish rate.

Eli and Love Story successfully made it to Foresthill at the 68-mile marker at 9:35 p.m. They passed the vet check, but Jones and Valdivia opted to pull their horses and not continue the last 32 miles.

“Our horses were tired,” Valdivia says. “It was so hot. Their energy was just not up. The vet said we were good to go, but I felt like if we would’ve kept going, it would not have ended well for us.”

Love Story after being pulled from the Tevis Cup due to fatigue and heat.

Valdivia and Jones decided to pull out of the Tevis Cup at the 68-mile vet check, where the horses were deemed sound to continue, but the riders felt they were tiring. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

A Happy Ending

And so ended the potential fairy tale story of Valdivia and Love Story LTH completing the Tevis Cup. But the plot doesn’t end there.

After Tevis, Love Story was slated to return home to Jones, her adopter. But that’s not how the cards fell.

“Susannah told Erna she was going to gift Love Story to her,” says Valdivia-Abdallah. “It took Erna a minute to process what had just happened. And then Erna totally lost it, jumping up and down and laughing and crying at the same time.”

Valdivia modestly downplays the moment.

“I figured after Tevis, Love Story should go back to Susannah, but I’m happy that she’s mine,” Valdivia says. “We got really connected doing all the endurance rides together. We know each other pretty well.”

Jones, Valdivia and Love Story at the Tevis Cup.

Jones and Valdivia became close friends while training for Tevis, and afterward Jones decided to gift Love Story to Valdivia. Photo courtesy Vera Valdivia-Abdallah

Recipe for Success

Since incorporating in 2016, Love This Horse Equine Rescue has rescued 702 mostly Arabian horses and adopted out 534, and currently has 125 in its care. The horses come from a combination of owner relinquishment, law enforcement seizures, and low-end auctions.

What contributes to the group’s success is Valdivia-Abdallah’s focus on attempting to get every horse broke to ride before offering them up for adoption.

“Since I come from a training background, I get the horses going under saddle, because a riding horse will find a home,” she says. “They’re endurance horses, therapy horses, trail horses. We’ve had horses move on to hunter/jumper careers. We have one adopter who shows in hunter under saddle and dressage at Scottsdale [Arabian Horse Show], and this year she’s gone into ranch riding. So they’re really versatile.”

By taking the time to rehab and train rescued horses, Love This Horse Equine Rescue proves that adopted horses can not only become great companion horses, but they have the potential to perform at the highest levels of their chosen sports, including endurance riding’s legendary Tevis Cup.

This article about a Tevis Cup love story appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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An Overview of Kissing Spines in Horses https://www.horseillustrated.com/an-overview-of-kissing-spines-in-horses/ https://www.horseillustrated.com/an-overview-of-kissing-spines-in-horses/#respond Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:00:42 +0000 https://www.horseillustrated.com/?p=948631 Any time back pain develops in an athlete, it can impact performance and attitude—whether that athlete is human or equine. In recent years, “kissing spines” has become a common diagnosis in performance horses exhibiting back pain. The condition is widely represented in riding horses of many breeds. Dorsal spinous processes (DSPs) are the bony projections […]

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Any time back pain develops in an athlete, it can impact performance and attitude—whether that athlete is human or equine. In recent years, “kissing spines” has become a common diagnosis in performance horses exhibiting back pain. The condition is widely represented in riding horses of many breeds.

Dorsal spinous processes (DSPs) are the bony projections at the top of the horse’s vertebrae. When those projections touch (impinge) or overlap (override), this is referred to as “kissing spines.”  The area of the back where the condition is most often diagnosed is between thoracic vertebrae T13 and 18—directly under where a rider sits in the saddle.

A horse with four sites of impingement with bone remodeling, suspected to be causing the horse’s pain under saddle due to kissing spines.

A horse with four sites of impingement with bone remodeling, suspected to be causing the horse’s pain under saddle. Photo by Alan Nixon

Signs a Horse May Have Kissing Spines Include:

Obvious discomfort with pressure on back

Loss of muscling across topline

Change in behavior (tail swishing is common)

“Hollowed out” back when ridden

Resistance to transitions between gaits

Asymmetric, uneven gaits

Difficulty picking up correct lead or maintaining canter

Applying pressure to a horse's back to check for kissing spines.

Obvious discomfort from pressure on the back is one possible indicator of kissing spines. Photo by Talitha/Adobe Stock

A Diagnosis is Not Always Career-Ending

Although radiographs may look alarming, the presence of kissing spines isn’t necessarily the kiss of death for a horse’s athletic career. In fact, many horses whose X-rays reveal the condition have no clinical signs and compete at top levels.

Researchers at the University of California-Davis recently studied groups of horses that compete successfully in high-level show jumping and racing over fences. X-rays of these horses’ backs showed that kissing spines was very common, yet there was no correlation with poor performance. In fact, horses with the worse radiographic evidence of kissing spines often had better jumping scores and racing accomplishments.

“It’s incredibly common to have horses show abnormalities of their backs on X-rays, but our clinical experience and research studies show that kissing spines doesn’t necessarily mean a horse has back pain or poor performance,” says Sarah le Jeune, DVM, DACVS, DACVSMR, CVA, of UC Davis, who regularly works with horses with the condition. Le Jeune specializes in equine integrative sports medicine and rehabilitation, and she is also a surgeon.

“Kissing spines is getting blamed clinically for a lot of things, so you have to rule out other problems,” says le Jeune. “I rarely see horses with primary back pain; it’s usually secondary to lameness, poor saddle fit, or unbalanced riding.” Her goal is getting to the root of the problem and fixing it.

“Back pain and lameness are highly correlated and hard to separate,” she notes. “If there’s an underlying lameness, once the horse is better, he starts using his back better.”

Not Just X-Rays

Radiographs alone should never be the sole evidence for a diagnosis of kissing spines. It’s believed that almost 35 percent of horses show evidence of the condition on X-rays, but they may have no clinical signs.

“Typically, when you X-ray horses’ backs, they’re sedated, and their posture is passive,” says le Jeune. “They’re not engaging their abdominal muscles and are kind of slouching.”

This doesn’t reflect the horse in movement with an engaged hind end and lifted back.

“It’s not uncommon to see kissing spines on X-rays, but the sedated, standing horse is not the same as the dynamic horse in motion,” she adds.

The condition has even been seen on X-rays of foals’ backs, which proves it’s not related to being ridden.

When conducting a pre-purchase exam, le Jeune won’t necessarily “red flag” a horse with kissing spines on the X-rays if he moves well and has no back pain, but she lets the buyer know it could become a problem if the rider is not able to ride the horse with an engaged and lifted back.

Because the condition is so frequently seen on X-rays, an accurate diagnosis of kissing spines must include clinical correlation.

“Horses with clinical kissing spines have obvious pain upon palpation and riding,” says le Jeune. “The diagnosis has to be confirmed with physical examination and palpation of the back, including a thorough lameness evaluation, neurological evaluation, and saddle fit evaluation.”

She also recommends evaluation of the horse being ridden by a veterinarian well-versed in sports medicine.

Why Horses Develop Kissing Spines

There is no single answer as to why some horses develop kissing spines. Likely, the condition is the result of multiple factors, including breed predisposition and genetics, poor saddle fit, unbalanced riding, and lack of training that allows the horse to not engage his core.

At times, conformation is to blame. A horse that genuinely has bad posture related to conformation may be physically incapable of using his body properly for high-level performance.

“Saddle fit is a huge problem,” adds le Jeune. “The saddle has to fit the rider, not just the horse. Most owners want to do what’s right by their horses. It might mean getting a different saddle or becoming a more balanced rider. It takes self-awareness and willingness to address the root problem.”

Different Approaches to Kissing Spines

When all other issues have been ruled out and a horse has a definitive diagnosis of kissing spines, there are different approaches to addressing the condition:

Medical treatment

Postural rehabilitation

Surgery

Medical treatment may involve muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medication, and steroid injections between the offending DSPs. Some horses with the condition may benefit from steroid injections a couple times per year to reduce inflammation in the affected area(s) of the back.

Le Jeune has also seen improvement using shockwave therapy, chiropractic adjustment and acupuncture. Although these therapies can be very helpful, the horse must still have a strong back and move correctly, which is why postural rehabilitation is key.

Acupuncture treating a horse's kissing spines.

Secondary to postural rehab, Le Jeune has also seen improvement using shockwave therapy, chiropractic adjustment and acupuncture. Photo by RD-Fotografie/Adobe Stock

Postural rehabilitation involves exercises that engage core muscles and strengthen the muscles that support the spinal column. The goal of postural rehabilitation is getting the horse to use his back properly, by tucking his pelvis and lifting the back.

“Postural rehab can include resistance bands like the Equiband Pro System, the ProSix, or the Pessoa Lungeing System,” says le Jeune. “All of this is done without a rider and rehab can take two to three months.”

Postural rehabilitation in the form of the Pessoa longeing system.

Postural rehabilitation, which might include the Pessoa longeing system, involves exercise that engages core muscles and strengthens the muscles that support the spinal column. Photo by matilda553/Adobe Stock

When owners choose surgery for severe cases, there are two options. The most common surgery, known as interspinous ligament desmotomy (ISLD), involves snipping the ligament(s) holding those segments of the spine together.

“A branch of the spinal nerves in that region are cut during the surgery, so it’s like a neurectomy, meaning the horse won’t be able to feel that area of the back,” explains le Jeune, adding that this may possibly make the back less stable.

A more radical and invasive surgery, known as ostectomy, actually cuts away the top of the dorsal spinous processes that are touching.

Post-operative image following an equine cranial wedge ostectomy of the four sites.

Post-operative image of the same horse following cranial wedge ostectomy of the four sites. Photo by Alan Nixon

Some surgeons are combining ISLD surgery with a process known as “bone shaving,” which removes smaller bone sections and is less radical than an ostectomy.

While surgery for kissing spines is common, le Jeune believes it’s only warranted when the diagnosis is absolute and there are no better treatment options. In practice, she has found that postural rehabilitation is often a more successful approach.

When an owner chooses this option, it’s important to work with an expert who is experienced in rehabilitation, which is usually a veterinarian who is board certified in sports medicine, so don’t hesitate to seek out a specialist.

Return to Work

Most horses with clinical signs are able to return to work after treatment, but owners should be aware that rehab takes time and commitment on their part.

“As long as you’ve ruled out everything else, it’s very rare that postural rehab doesn’t work,” says le Jeune. “But correct riding is crucial. You need to have a skilled rider once the back is strengthened in order to keep the horse engaged and using his back properly.”

An equestrian portraying correct riding and posture.

Correct riding is crucial when returning to work. A strong equine back and skilled rider is needed to keep the horse engaged and using his back properly. Photo by RD-Fotografie/Adobe Stock

As an avid rider herself, le Jeune understands the condition from this perspective.

“Once the horse develops more back muscling, he’ll get wider, so you may need to adjust or change saddles,” she adds, noting that regular saddle re-evaluation is essential, with adjustment as needed.

Key Takeaway

Although kissing spines has become a common diagnosis in performance horses, le Jeune emphasizes that the condition shouldn’t be the go-to explanation for poor performance or back pain.

She encourages owners and veterinarians to definitively rule out any other problems, particularly lameness, before confirming a diagnosis of kissing spines and pursuing treatment.

She adds that choice of treatment should always focus on what’s right for the horse long term—not necessarily the option that brings about the fastest results.

This article about kissing spines in horses appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Barn Banter – Episode 40: Sponsored by 4CYTE https://www.horseillustrated.com/barn-banter-episode-40/ https://www.horseillustrated.com/barn-banter-episode-40/#respond Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:00:28 +0000 https://www.horseillustrated.com/?p=949080 Welcome to Barn Banter, the official podcast of Horse Illustrated. In Barn Banter episode 40, hosts Susan Friedland and Horse Illustrated Editor In Chief Holly Caccamise chat with Olissio Zoppe, founder, director, and performer in Cirque Ma’Ceo. To end the episode, Susan and Holly chat with Angela (Angie) Alspaugh, Executive Director of Easy R Equine Rescue, […]

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Barn Banter Episode 30 banner

Welcome to Barn Banter, the official podcast of Horse Illustrated. In Barn Banter episode 40, hosts Susan Friedland and Horse Illustrated Editor In Chief Holly Caccamise chat with Olissio Zoppe, founder, director, and performer in Cirque Ma’Ceo.

To end the episode, Susan and Holly chat with Angela (Angie) Alspaugh, Executive Director of Easy R Equine Rescue, about Jake, this month’s ASPCA Right Horse adoptable horse.

Click here to listen on mobile.

Barn Banter Episode 40 Sponsor: 4CYTE™

4Cyte, the Barn Banter episode 40 sponsor.

Interpath Global, the makers of 4CYTE™ Epiitalis® Forte for horses is a revolution in joint care. Epiitalis® is their patented ingredient which is scientifically proven to enhance joint health in horses. Supported by world-class research, it is easily digestible and readily absorbed into the body.

How 4CYTE™ supports your horse:

Supports normal joint function, mobility, and flexibility
Helps maintain the health and resiliency of joints and connective tissue
Supports normal recovery capacity post-work
Aids with maintaining healthy cartilage development
May help address occasional gait irregularity and unwillingness to travel forward
Supports normal movement patterns
Helps maintain career longevity and competitive edge
Eases joint stiffness due to normal daily exercise and activity
Supports ability to meet performance demands

An innovative approach to joint health made possible through research, dedication, and continued improvement. Now available through Allivet, Amazon, Chewy, Smart Equine and Tractor Supply.

Learn more about 4CYTE™ here.

Olissio Zoppe, Founder, Director, and Performer in Cirque Ma’Ceo

Olissio Zoppe and an Andalusian performing at a Cirque Ma'Ceo show.

Photo by Stunning Steeds Photography

Cirque Ma’Ceo’s Creator and Director, Olissio Zoppe, hails from a rich Italian line of eighth and ninth generation bareback riders and equestrian performers, the Zoppes and the Zamperlas. He has been performing since the age of four. Olissio is one of the most well-rounded equestrian performers to grace the stage today. Throughout his varied experiences, he has mastered the arts of liberty, dressage, cossack riding, Roman riding, and the rare and dangerous art of bareback riding.

Cirque Ma’Ceo is an emotionally charging, up-close and personal, luxurious experience. The custom-designed Italian Big Top theater features brand-new, state of the art seating. The world of Ma’Ceo is proud to showcase mesmerizing acrobatic feats, aerial dancing, and exotic horses.

Find tickets for upcoming tour dates for Cirque Ma’Ceo February — through April, in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Madison Wisconsin’s Midwest Horse Fair — here.

Cirque Ma’Ceo Website
Follow Cirque Ma’Ceo on Instagram
Follow Cirque Ma’Ceo on Facebook

Adoptable Horse of the Month, Jake

A Gypsy Vanner cross horse, Jake.

Photo courtesy Easy R Equine Rescue

Jake is quite the horse! He came to Easy R in November 2024 when a small long-standing rescue close in the Texas Panhandle. He was one of the last two horses left at the rescue.

A young Gypsy Vanner cross, Jake is a large, stout guy. He is friendly, curious, and is called an “overgrown toddler” by his foster mom. He is always into something; his personality is as large as he is.

The heartbreaking part of his story is that, even though he was trained under saddle several years ago, he has already developed Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD). At this point, it’s just in his back legs and the condition is not causing him any lameness. However, riding him would be unsafe for both Jake and a rider. Easy R is saddened by this because he has so much potential.

Of course, Jake is totally OK with just being an incredibly handsome yard ornament who loves his food and playing (a little hard sometimes) with his horse friends. His future adoptive parents will have to establish firm but fair boundaries with him so he doesn’t use his size and enthusiasm to push limits. He is ready to provide lots of laughs and eye rolls to his future family.

Learn more about Jake here.

In addition to Barn Banter episode 40, you can check out all previous episodes of Horse Illustrated’s podcasts here.

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