The Running Horse





A Bi-monthly Newsletter from Horse Play



Special…

Phew, what a challenging lesson again! I was getting frustrated again but not as much as before and things are getting better. I still forgot to try the leg cues while using the elastics on the stirrups, was too busy trying to get shoulder and speed control.

I was having such a hard time controlling Cooper, he just wanted to go go go and I just wanted slow slow slow!!

His poor mouth, I had so much contact almost the whole lesson!! My prosthetic leg was sore and rubbing again…

     After eleven days in Kentucky for the 2011 FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships, I’m finally home! I had such an amazing time and I can’t wait to share my experience with you. This was my third time at the NAJYRC, but the fun and excitement just grows each year! My NAJYRC experience started on Tuesday, July 19th when my horse was picked up at…

Although I have in the past discussed tree points in detail especially in regard to tree point angle and tree point width, I want today to address really one additional key issue with tree points – and that is direction.



Tree points can be forward-facing, straight (more or less perpendicular to the ground) or rear-facing. Forward facing tree points have been proven to be extremely detrimental to horse health in that MRIs and fibre optic cameras have shown the chipping of cartilage…

This past Sunday 14 year old Grace Pilkington walked through fire to rescue her best friend, a 13 year old Thoroughbred named Hershey.  She and her mom were driving through Nashua, New Hampshire, when they noticed smoke coming from the trailer window.  They pulled over, and rushed back to find steam from a ruptured water cooler that ad caught fire.



Despite the flames, Pilkington immediately ran into the trailer, and as her mom lowered the gate on the trailer,  led her…