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10 Books for Horse Lovers
It is that gifty time of year, and in the scramble to make “just right” purchases, we can feel overwhelmed by the costs, the choices, and what’s good for the world and our favorite people. We know this feeling all too well, so in the spirit of the kinds of gifts that will keep on…
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Tune It Out for Better Horse Training
When working with our horses, it is of the utmost importance to find ways to quiet the noise on both the inside and outside and truly focus.
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Catching the Uncatchable Horse
In her brand new book WHAT HORSES REALLY WANT, horsewoman Lynn Acton explores a number of skills we all would like to bring to the barn, for example: The ability to earn a horse’s trust starting from the moment you meet him. Knowledge of how to discourage unwanted behavior without punishment. Experience turning pressure into a clear…
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Kids’ Crafts: Make Your Own Pony Pencil Holder
If you are looking for an easy craft to entertain your kids, here’s a fun, free idea! Plus, you probably have all the materials you need already at your fingertips (and if not, simple substitutes can be found around the house). Don’t forget to remind your young crafters that their finished ponies can be customized…
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Using Music to Increase Forward Energy in Your Horse
Who hasn’t struggled to get a horse in front of the leg? None of us want to resort to kicking like a kindergartener in a Thelwell cartoon, but sometimes, when the piggy pony comes out… Dressage trainer and exhibition performer Sandra Beaulieu suggests that music can be used to increase forward energy in the sleepiest,…
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Shrink the Size of Your “But”
In January, it always feels like everyone is at the gym or on a cleanse or giving up sugar and alcohol in order to meet one resolution or another. For those of you interested in improving your inside as much as your outside, check out these recommendations for learning to tell the difference between…
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Collection: Feel What Your Horse Feels
Renowned educator, clinician, and Western Dressage World Champion Lynn Palm says that one of the quickest ways to understand true collection is to try it yourself. Here’s an easy exercise from her book THE RIDER’S GUIDE TO REAL COLLECTION to help you feel what your horse feels when you ask him to collect. TRY THIS…
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“Tell Him He Can Run Away”—A Cure for the Horse That Shies
Wouldn’t it be cool if every horse made a New Year’s Resolution not to shy at silly, innocuous, or invisible things in 2019? Alas, I think we all know that isn’t likely, so best case scenario is we riders resolve to do better by our horses when the shy does happen. The late Walter Zettl…
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4 Tips for Training Horse Tricks
Trick training is becoming more and more common as a supplemental means of engaging the horse, adding interest to standard conditioning regimens, and above all, ensuring you and your horse have fun together, even as you focus on reaching specific goals. It is easy to add a few tricks to your repertoire, and the payoff…
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Your Horse’s Feet: Finding the Balance
In caring for your horse’s feet, you not only want to see how the left and right halves of the foot are balanced, you also want to evaluate the hoof’s front-to-back balance. We call this dorsopalmar balance when we’re talking about the front feet, and dorsoplantar balance when we’re talking about the hind. You may also see the term anterior/posterior balance,…
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