Horseback riding is all about balance and staying centered. You always want to keep your horse in good balance for his stage of training no matter what your discipline.



It doesn't matter whether you're a dressage rider, a western pleasure rider, a trail rider, or an event rider. Correct balance is essential to effective riding because the center of your balance directly affects your horse’s balance.



Your goal should be to have an independent seat so you can…

'Hannoverian' Butts Leon - German Senior Team '08 & '09 - 97% Thoroughbred.



Convincing people of the need for thoroughbred blood in the event horse is should not be difficult. Ireland has been the World Breeding Federation leading country for event horses for the past 15 years with horses that are almost exclusively 3/4 to full thoroughbred, as have been the majority of the greatest event horses in history.…

With all the things we hear and read about cutting our carbs we automatically assume that these things apply to our horses too. When in fact, carbohydrates are a fundamental part of any horse's diet and therefore cannot be cut out of their ration. Carbs should make up anywhere from 55 to 75% of a horse's diet. So this means that we really need to understand the way carbs are broken-down and metabolism when making our horse’s ration.



Firstly, carbohydrate (CHO) is a chemical…

This blog is in response to Valerie’s question from a few weeks ago:



If the question is relating to the pommel area specifically, I have pretty much already addressed this in a previous blog about withers clearance. There are exceptions to this rule for mutton-withered horses and extremely high withered horses (many saddles have lots of clearance on top of the withers, but not on the side of the withers). On a high withered horse you are lucky if achieve 1-2 fingers clearance all…

This Week in Horse History - December 14th Through December 20th



December 14, 2002 – Today, the second Saturday in December, marked the First Annual Day of the Horse in the state of California. The day serves as a celebration of the horse as being a living link to our history, and the Legislature called "upon all citizens to be mindful of the welfare of the horse and its contribution to our economy, heritage, and history." Various stables held celebrations…

With MS, even if I am not having an "attack", my body can rapidly worsen. In the past three weeks I had a gradual decline in physical ability, one that I did not notice at first. Last week was the worst, three times when I walked without my canes I'd loose my balance unexpectedly, start staggering, and almost fall. I did not fall because riding has helped me recognize when I lose my balance, and because my thigh muscles are strong enough to keep me on my feet long enough so I…

One of the most frequently asked questions I get is, "Can you help me sit the trot better?"



So here are some quick tips to help you with this all too common challenge.



1. First and foremost, your horse needs to be on the bit. If his back is hollow, stiff, or tight, you’ll find it impossible to sit comfortably. (And, in turn, you'll make your horse uncomfortable too!)



To put him on the bit, review my blog post…