As a mother of three (and grandmother, too) I know how important it is to build strength and confidence in your children. When my kids grew up in Germany, there were no ipods or tablets, and 'playing' meant running outside and getting knocked around a bit.

Today, my kids are strong and confident adults, who learned to ride a bike, swim, climb a tree, build sand castles, balance on climbing beams, build wood huts on 'adventure playgrounds', spend a (scary) night sleeping in their tree…

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i WAS JUST CURIOUS. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A BEAUTIFUL WESTERN SADDLE. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY TO TELL IF ITS A PARADE SADDLE OR A SHOW SADDLE? I HAVEBLOOKED ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH NOT MUCH LUCK. THANKS FOR ANY ADVICE/HELP IN THE MATTER!…

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My special mare Mara B and I practice our own unique form of equine therapy. Mara has been a strong healing presence for me since the death of our youngest son Benjamin. We trail ride, enjoy our barn friends, the barn critters plus grooming and horse care then post a daily update on MaraMomentshorsetime blog. Please ride along and meet our delightful stable pals, the paddock horses Mara is with, enjoy watching the changing seasons, weather and crop conditions, the simple beauty of nature we… Continue

Riding the Horse That is Brought out for You    

When I started riding in 1957, there was a different culture around in the riding lesson world.  Stables that gave riding lessons did not have perfectly conformed or perfectly trained horses.  There were several reasons for that.  One reason was cost, perfectly conformed and trained horses have always been EXPENSIVE animals and no riding stable wasted these rare animals in a lesson program with ever changing riders of various abilities…

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Have you have lost your horse riding mojo? Visit The Confident Rider Project on Facebook to find out more.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/54356... or why not sign up for the challenge…

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You used to really enjoy riding but now its becoming more and more of a problem... the excuses as to why you can't ride. Its too windy, its too rainy, its too cold, its too......

This is now having a real impact on your life. You are being held back from the thing you love most, and as a result it’s making you feel down and your lack of confidence is…

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A great way to stay in shape is to head outdoors on your favourite steed! Take extra time to warm up your horse's cold muscles by spending more time at the walk and trot before venturing into deep snow or at faster speeds. Cooling down also takes longer because of the heavier winter coat, especially if a sweat has broken, so take your time…

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You are probably wondering what equine nutrition has to do with buying a new saddle.  Let me explain.... 

 

If you are anything like me I am really due for another saddle, but because of the big price tag that is usually attached to purchasing 'the right one', I knew I had to look at my budget and see the areas where I can trim back to jump-start my "saddle…

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Sitting Up Straight Takes a Lot of Effort

Ever since I started using the Equicube for one to four minutes a week, I have been tired.  The rest of the time, I try to replicate the spinal alignment I get from using the Equicube, both on horseback and just walking around on my own two feet.  I have to retrain my body how to stand, sit on horseback, move with the horse, and how to walk on my own feet while keeping my spine straighter and my face vertical.  I get some muscle aches too, in…

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A horse's nutrition for the most part these days is largely dependent upon the experience, knowledge, but most importantly the "attitude" of its owner.  Attitude plays a key factor in almost everything we do, and often determines our successes or failures in our relationships, our work and, in this case, the horses we love and care for.

 

As I continue to work with horse owners in helping them with balanced nutrition plans for their horses, I find that it is…

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Progress in Fixing my Slouching Back

　

When I started working a lot on my two-point in my new saddle I improved BUT my back muscles started hurting while I did it.  After working religiously on my two-point position for five months my back muscles still hurt every time I get up in the two-point position.  Obviously, I have to do something to strengthen these muscles but I could not figure anything out that worked within the limits caused by my Multiple Sclerosis, especially the…

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I Prove that I am not a Wimp

Yesterday morning it was above in the low 40’s F, thick clouds, and with a brisk north breeze/wind.  It was cold and raw, and when Darryl put Mia in the wash stall, she looked at me pointedly and I put her BOT butt blanket over her back.  Then I rushed to groom her head, ears and mane, and I put her BOT poll cap on.  Finally, Mia stopped giving me emphatic LOOKS with slightly unhappy eyes, she was just warm enough where she ached so she could relax and…

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One of the essentials of owning a horse is to study, know and understand the anatomy of the animal. Most horse books contain diagrams marking the body parts and their workings.

I wonder how many of us can name the "points of a horse", know them off by heart and their functions, right down to the ergot?

To try to understand and handle a horse…

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Here are some quick and fun myths and facts to read about nutrition... enjoy!

"Bran Mashes are Good for Horses"

Research studies have proven that adding wheat bran to the diet does not have a laxative effect.  Loose stools because of a bran mash could be caused rather from digestive upset because of the high starch.  Wheat bran fed long-term can result in a higher phosphorous to calcium ratio…

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Next time you are in the barn take a few minutes to look at your hay.  Are you familiar with the quality of it or guessing it?  What about the nutrient content?  "Forage Is First" rule applies to all horses - their digestive systems work the best when ample forage is supplied.  But not all forages are created equal.  Was it a good year or a stressful year for…

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Are ponies tougher than horses?

French researchers say so.

Speaking about the ways we can preserve the welfare and sanity of riding lesson horses, Dr. Clémence Lesimple said that poor riding technique has the greatest impact on the presence of injuries, and it also has an effect on stereotypy development. (ie. cribbing and weaving).

“Frequent…

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