Hi Guys,



Here are some great tips for breaking that cycle of fear...



The simplest, quickest, way to relax is to BREATHE.



Now, I know you're breathing or you wouldn't be reading this! ;-) But are you breathing in a way that promotes relaxation?



1. Let's find out. First, let's dissect what you do when you inhale.



Stand up. Take in a really deep breath. Did your shoulders go up? If they did, you're just breathing in your upper…

News for yesterday's results:



Toronto, ON – Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze brought his Gold-medal horse Hickstead across the ocean to compete in just one class at The Royal Horse Show this week, and it couldn’t have gone any better than it did tonight. Hickstead once again demonstrated he is in a class all to himself, exploding over the jumps with power and stamina unmatched in the arena this evening, if at all.



Of the 23 competitors to begin the $100,000 CN FEITM World…

We were privileged to see the US Olympic Gold Team medalists when they appeared together for the first and only time at the Syracuse Invitational Show on Oct.31.

They discussed their passion for horses, early riding experiences and answered questions from their fans. McLain Ward mentioned his mental preparation for the Games, working with a golf sports coach to improve his ability to deal with pressure.

Laura Kraut talked about the bond…

Cali made her first visit to a restaurant today. With permission of the

owners we attended the year end banquet for the local Mini Horse club.



Cali, rode in the SUV. We towed her bathroom. Which is her trailer at this

moment.She is comfortable "going" there. She goes right on cue every time I ask

her. She did need her ramp to get in to the SUV, but she jumped out. Good girl!



She found the door, stopped at the step, found the door handle (this one…

We had a second session this evening. Working on forward with a pull. I'll take forward anywhere. Click.

Once we get consistent forward, we can begin to train choices of where.

Cali's used to being led. Taken where we want her to go. This is her "first toe in the water" of making decisions. I let her decide where to go. For a little horse, that's confusing. So, it's natural that she would choose to go the places she is used to.



She chose the trailer, the car. When asked…

Cali is settling in well. She's was a little nervous at first and she and my old mare scared each other.



We had a first lesson: Putting on the Dog Harness I got her. I'd opened the large dog harness as large as it would go.

Sigh... our perceptions are so weird. The first thing I had to do was to make it smaller at every angle. She was patient even though the wind was howling.



Next, I let her take me where she wanted to go with a little tug on the harness. She…

At some point all beginner riders have thier first fall. The fear of that fall can inhibit the riders growth for months or years to come. What are somethings that you found works to over come this fear.



I know that it takes ten falls to becoime a rider, as it takes 10 falls to psychologically able to get over it with ease. But I believe we can make this less if we provide the coping tools to young riders.



A few things that I found that work:

1) If the rider is…

Hi Guys,



I hope you enjoy these 3 Easy Tips to Make Sure Your Horse is Crossing His Legs Enough in Leg Yields



When you do leg yields from the centerline to the long side, it's not always easy to make sure that your horse is crossing his legs enough. That's because as long as you manage to get from Point A to Point B, you can fake yourself out into thinking you're really going sideways. But if your horse isn't crossing his legs enough, you're losing most of the suppling,…

Hi Guys,



In order for your lateral work such as shoulder-in, haunches-in, and half passes to be effective as collecting exercises, your horse must BEND.



Think of the following equation. Bend+Sideways=Engagement. (Engagement means the bending of joints. As your horse bends his hind legs, his croup lowers, and his forehand goes up--kinda like a seesaw or an airplane taking off.)…

THE 2009 LUSITANO COLLECTION GALLOPS INTO FLORIDA THIS WINTER





MIAMI, (September 11, 2008) – During the weekend of February 19-20, 2009, members of the equestrian community and South Florida social scene will gather at the 111-acre Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida, for the second annual Lusitano Collection Auction. The prestigious event will indulge guests with lavish cocktails and a gala dinner, courtesy of The Lusitano Collection. A portion of the…

October 23, 2008
US Olympic dressage stalwart Rober Dover says he is retiring from riding and teaching, and from the running of Romance Farm in Florida. He will dedicate his time to writing and working for the non-profit organisations the Equestrian Aid Foundation and Well Wish International. The five-time Olympian is to be inducted into the US Dressage Federation's Hall of Fame in December.

Mark Rashid helps people communicate with their horse. Here are some great ideas that he shared with PBS.



What’s your philosophy?



Basically, I try to help folks get along better with their horses by finding some common ground so they can accomplish what they want to accomplish. I have two main messages — Don’t fight; and be clear. If you can do those two things, it opens the door for pretty much everything else.



The vast majority of horse…