Chances are that somewhere in your years with horses, you have been touched by the generosity of another equestrian. Whether mentored by another rider or given free rides on a borrowed horse, generous acts in the equestrian world are abundant. Would you like to give back to the equestrian community? Here are just a few of the many ways that you can do…

I'll start with my adventures with the vets yesterday then move onto today. 

As some of you may know(those who don't pay atttention!) next year I'll graduate highschool and my search for a college(it's between Findlay or MSU) to study veterinary medicine for large animals, mainly horses and cattle. Knowing this it was very important I find a veterinarian who does what I want to do to shadow. So I did. I found Dr. Esterline who works at a clinic near where I live. We…

During my two rides this week I worked on my gripping muscles. Of course, before I work on my gripping muscles, I have to make sure that I do not end up squeezing myself out of the saddle. Concentrating on keeping my heels and my knees down, I did succeed at practicing gripping with my calf without ruining the basic security of my seat.

Sunday was a marvelous day to ride Cider, my only complication is that I accidentally took Mia‘s bridle (with the Wellep bit)…

Spring is finally here! For riders, spring means many things – some of them good, some of them not so great. Here are some of the things that we love – and hate – about spring!

Daylight Savings Time

Sometimes…

With horse show season beginning, you will likely, at some point or another, come home from a show without placing. And while it might seem like you lost out in that situation and didn’t have a successful horse show, there’s still a lot you can…

I have a confession to make.....

I was feeding my horses, checking on the water, and generally mooching around the field, hanging out with them,  when suddenly my phone rang.   It was my long standing close friend and 'adopted' big brother Paul, one of the best Music Perrformance Coaches in the business.  I was delighted as it seemed such a long time since we had chatted.  Whilst we were chatting I found myself confessing something and it kind of came from…

It all began in 1988 with a man named Dennis Thompson on a small ranch in South Texas. Dennis was raised in Indiana where he worked in marketing research designing and marketing animal products such as Silver Shampoo and…

I believe I said I would do a write up on the Trakehner a while back. Well, here it is. Allow me to introduce you to the Trakehner, an elegant and fine breed of horse. 

In the 13th century in what was once East Prussia a horse, the Trakehner, originated. The base stock for this breed was descended from the Tarpan(another write up for another time), however in 1732 King Frederich Wilhelm I founded a stud at Trakehner to develop coach horses and later a calvary(using…

When your horse can no longer be ridden due to old age or injury, retirement becomes a popular option. While retiring your horse at your current barn may be impractical due to facilities, space, or boarding rates, retirement facilities offer great environments for your horse to retire in. But how do you choose the retirement facility that is right for your…

Today is my Tip number 3 in boosting your self belief in you, with a view to aiding your horsemanship with your horse.

Are you aware of the relationship between your thoughts and how you behave, and what your body language and energy are really saying about you?

Now this is something that I see in a lot of horse owners that I meet, and I have a confession, from time to time, I am guilty of the same thing too.

We unintentionally make life much…

If you’ve ever had a horse who has had hives, you know how alarming the appearance of hives can be. Hives are more likely to occur in the spring and summer, so let’s brush up on what causes them and what to do if they occur.

What Hives Look Like

A horse with a case of hives will have patches of raised skin that are somewhat circular in…

This isn't a blog post, technically. I wrote a short story and wish to share it. All honest opinions are desired and appreciated!

Please enjoy............... 

If there's one thing my Aunt Teresa taught me, its that death is inevitable,no matter what you do to avoid it you can't. This is what angered me the most about being plagued by cancer. People get all weepy,run away relatives suddenly return and the medicine sucks. My Dad barely has dry eyes anymore and…

Last Sunday was a marvelous Spring day—no gnats, sunny, warm, with a delightful breeze, and  Shannon's grass…

If your wintertime bedding bills have left your wallet thin, don’t despair. There are plenty of ways to save on your bedding bill in the upcoming months.

Maximize Turnout

With warm weather finally here, it’s a great time to maximize the number of hours that your horse spends outside. If your barn has adequate pasture turnout, then…

Good morning, now then I promised that I would share some more tips about self belief, so here is tip number two for you.

Self belief is feeling good enough; its the feeling that you can handle whatever life, or your horse throws at you? Its about having a healthy appreciation and acknowledgement (we often forget this bit), of your abilities and talents. Its not about anything superficial.

Its about being OK with you, and OK with where you are at with your…

 David naps,stands and nurses on his nurse mare... WR ranch is currently trying to get the mare to be…

Owning a horse in the springtime presents a unique set of challenges – you must be ready to deal with shedding season, mud, and a horse who may not have been in a regular riding program. Having the right supplies will help you to better cope with the challenges of spring. Are these supplies in your barn?

Clippers

With show season quickly…