Practical horse care, facility management, and riding knowledge — written for owners who want to do right by their horses.
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Shying away from you in the stable, lashing out, kicking or biting when tacking up, or acting out when you ride can be an indication that there is something wrong. But, because horses can’t talk, it is a big guessing game. Your horse might be scared of the saddle or saddle related things. If your … Read more
A dressage saddle has unique characteristics that make it easily identifiable and very different to ride in. One can immediately feel the difference in your body posture and your horse when you go from a general-purpose or jumping saddle to a dressage saddle. Using a Dressage saddle that is fitted to your horse will make … Read more
Draft horses are part of the largest horse in the world. These horses have incredible strength and size, which can be quite intimidating, especially for beginner riders. But luckily, these horses have a reputation for being gentle giants. Draft horses are great for beginner riders because of their docile nature. They are good weight carriers, … Read more
Historically three-phase eventing has been the purvey of long-limbed ultra-fit thoroughbreds. While the past few decades have seen an increase in the number of warmbloods, Anglo-Arabs, and Irish sport horses competing in eventing, few main-book registered quarter horses are participating in the sport. It is unlikely that a quarter horse conforming to the breed standards … Read more
Showjumping wear is still very much traditionally upheld over the years, yet it is constantly changing and evolving, making rider wear more comfortable and practical for the sport today. Exactly what to wear for showjumping will depend on your level, and the type of competitions you want to compete in. Affiliated jumping rules will differ … Read more
Have you ever heard that a horse only has a limited number of jumps in their lives? Some horses seem never to stop or give up, but sometimes, unfortunately, a horse’s jumping career is cut short due to injury, death, or something else. There is no real set age that a horse should stop jumping … Read more
As fun as it is owning a bunch of horses, they sometimes get naughty and develop behaviors that can end up destroying the environment you keep them in. After one of my horses started stripping all the bark off the trees, I decided to research the subject and write this post based on my findings … Read more
Strong, Agile, Fiery, Energetic, Intelligent, and Beautiful are some of the words used to describe the Arabian horses. These horses excel in the showing ring due to their beauty and grace, win endurance races due to their energetic and athletic nature, and excel at other disciplines because of their intelligence and kindness. Yes, Arabian horses … Read more
Bitless bridles are increasing in popularity. But, for some disciplines, it is not ‘legal’ to ride in a bitless bridle. One example is Dressage, because of the term “on the bit” will not be applicable with a bitless bridle. But can you use a bitless bridle as part of your showjumping tack? Can you jump … Read more
Have you bathed your horse, then your stable yard friends ask you to go for a ride? Or you bathed for a show but it is cold and overcast, your horse didn’t dry properly, but it’s time for your class? Horses that live out are regularly caught in rainy weather, and sometimes your work/school schedule … Read more
Can horses run themselves to death? Learn how extreme exertion, overheating, dehydration, pain, and unsafe conditions create risk—and the warning signs every rider should know.
Can you wear a bike helmet for horseback riding? Learn why cycling helmets are not substitutes, what equestrian certification to look for, how a riding helmet should fit, and when to replace it.
