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“Instead” Horsemanship
QUICK! Take this short quiz: 1 Do you often hear yourself saying: “My best riding years are behind me,” or “I missed my chance to ride with so-and-so,” or “My life led me away from horses”? 2 When it comes to horses and riding, do you define yourself more by what you aren’t anymore,…
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Soften Your Jaw to Improve Your Rein Contact
I’m a tooth grinder, a jaw clencher, a cheek-chewer—my masseters are where anxiety and pressure get together and wrestle, while frustration punches the walls of my mouth in the background. I know I can blame my afternoon headaches on this tension lollapalooza going on right below my brain, but it never occurred to me my horse might…
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What Moves and What Shouldn’t Move Much in the Saddle
Dr. Beth Glosten no longer practices medicine but has turned her attention and precise knowledge of anatomy to riding (she’s a USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist) and teaching riders, both in the saddle and on the ground (she’s also a licensed Pilates instructor). In her fabulous new book THE RIDING DOCTOR: A PRESCRIPTION FOR…
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On “Feeling the Spark,” “Having Faith,” and Anthropomorphism with Horses
“At the outset of any new relationship, there is the joy of getting to know someone and of doing things together. A horse develops his interest partly because he likes to play or just hang out with us. With very shy horses, a glance is enough to tell me what I need to know:…
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Staying Safe on the Trail: 4 Defensive Tactics for Riders
The last thing that ever crossed my mind when I was a kid riding my horse alone on the vast network of back roads and trails in central Vermont was the possibility of danger. Being out on the trail with my horse as my only companion was a happy place; a quiet place. It was…
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