The horse in this painting was patiently waiting to be lead to the show ring at the Fiesta Midwest Andalusian show. As her decorative bridle rosette ribbons twirled in the breeze, I had to wonder what was swirling through her mind.



Anyone who owns horses knows they are great thinkers. It seems mine are usually thinking, 'What's for supper" or something food related. But Sorpresa has proven to be a deep thinker and planner. Usually after… Continue

I would just like to thank the Ottawa Area Dressage Group for the opportunity to ride in the clinic with Steffen. It was a well organized event and I appreciated all his help and input with Discansano. Steffen is a great clinician and would enjoy working with him again in the future.



I would also like to thank ECOGOLD for sponsoring the event and the donation of the saddle pads.



Thanks again to everyone involved that made this such a great event.



Andrea…

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I've been using some of the ideas that I see in you blog and have to report that I am starting to see a difference.



Yesterday, I worked on opening up the hip flexors for about 45 minutes (a variety of exercises) and then rode. It was unquestionably the most supple ride that I have had recently.



This is especially critical for me as I am now riding a new young stallion (age 3) who has a lot of movement and lots of push from behind. My biggest problem is being able to keep… Continue

So today I mostly worked on my freestyle. We have a Dressage show this weekend at Beban Park and we are doing training lv tests 2 and 4 open, and a training level freestyle. I am very excited about the freestyle, but it has been hard to make it up without any software. I've been watching video of my horse and I and figuring out how long it takes her for each movement (ex. exactly 18 sec per trot circle -- she is super consistant) and then matching music. I'm doing a mix of a bunch of Ray… Continue

Hi,

Last week there was a great comment posted to the Ride Better blog, with some really good photos and questions about tight hips and hamstrings.



The Rider

Sarah's clinic submission is in the comment section of the Week 9 clinic if you are interested in reading it in her own words. In summary, she is a 21 year old rider who has just picked up riding again after a break. She would like to do Eventing, but she is working on the flat with her coach to establish a… Continue

Catherin is the first artist to feature in the new Barnmice Shop Gallery. You can see a selection of her wonderful work here.



I asked Catherin 5 questions so we could all get to know her.



How do you get your inspiration for your art?



Im really lucky to live on a small property and have lots of animals around me, they inspire me and always bring a smile to my face. From Banjo… Continue

These last couple of weeks I've been long reining (?) the pony a lot. I really want to make a driving horse (pony) out of her, but since I don't have a harness (or wagon) yet long reining will do for now.

I've taken her:

*over big plastic sheets

*poles on the ground,

*over barrels,

*in traffic,

*climbing steep hills,

*with ropes hanging behind her on the ground,

*with a friend pulling the ropes and… Continue

We were as thrilled to be at the Steffen Peters' clinic at the RCMP Arena in Ottawa this weekend, as were all the auditors & riders. It was a great opportunity for them to get one-on-one instruction from the current World Champion. We were surprised to see him get on almost all the horses. As he explained, it was easier for him to understand the horse from the saddle than from the ground. It was a real treat to see him in action and reveal his… Continue

My goal is for me and my horse to have the best relationship I can have with a horse, and her with a human. My dream is riding bridle less in her field in tall grass or galloping through the snow with nothing but her mane to hold on to.



I've had my horse for over 10 years and today i took the first real step in realizing my dream.



I trust her, but to avoid misunderstandings i did it as easy as I could for her. not giving her the opportunity to fail when I took the step and… Continue

By Chris Brooke The Mail Online

Last updated at 12:54 AM on 01st May 2009







For the average pet rabbit, the daily routine involves nothing more strenuous than chomping on a carrot.



But life is very different for the Haslam household's six showjumping bunnies.



Under the guidance of twins Mathew and Thomas, they have learned to leap over miniature fences in the back garden.

Hop…

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Taurus April 21 - May 20



Happy Birthday! Another great year in store for you, although the trend to be the life of the party will not be as strong, as last year. This year the focus will be more on your career. You will have quite a lot of responsibility, this will in turn lead to success, both in the equestrian field and in your private life.Getting involved in your community activities will move you to aspire to greater things. Good luck.



Gemini - May 21 - June…

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To understand and work with your horse’s stride length, keep in mind that whilst you are riding, the horse’s legs are your legs, and your brain needs to react to what they are doing.



Try this exercise:



Build two fences five canter strides apart. Warm up your horse, thinking about the canter rhythm.



As a very simple way of understanding your horse’s stride length, call out the strides as you ride the fences. This will help your brain tune in to what your horse…

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Hi Guys,



No matter where I travel, the most frequently asked questions I get are, "How do I put my horse on the bit...and how do I keep him there consistently?" This concept baffles many riders. My hope here is to simplify the process for you with the following information.



First, you need to know that there is a SPECIFIC AID to put your horse on the bit just like there is a specific aid to ask for canter or for a leg yield. That aid is a half halt. (Don't groan...I can…

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