Do you find that when asking your horse for canter, you tend to 'over do' some aspects of your aids?  Perhaps you throw your reins at your horse, or you try to 'push' too much with your seat or upper body...  You are shoving and bumping about in the saddle and when your horse eventually 'strikes' the canter, you are so far from where you want to be position wise, that it takes the first 5 to 10 strides just to get your limbs back listening to you before you can even begin to turn your mind…

It was a rather nice summer day when I came out for my lesson on Wednesday. I was really appreciating the wind helping me cool off since the technical fabrics work so much better when there is a breeze. Debbie and I groomed and tacked Tercel up, and Tercel let me brush his ears out more, he did not enjoy it (sour look on his face) but he did not put up too much of a protest. Tercel even was good as Debbie led him out to the riding ring, tightened his girth, and led him to…

Have you ever ridden a horse and they feel so wonderfully loose and pliable underneath you?  Perhaps you can remember how your horse was able to really and truly use his body and how the suppleness made it feel like he was performing movements in the best possible way that his body, fitness and confirmation allowed?

The Daily Strides Podcast episode on this topic is …

Have you ever owned a buddy sour horse? A buddy sour horse can make doing anything without his buddy difficult. Luckily, buddy sour behavior can be cured, and you can enjoy peaceful rides with your horse again.

Start Separation at Home

The first thing to do when dealing with a buddy sour horse is to start by breaking…

Riding through a bend is something you will have to do every time you get in the saddle, whether it be the 4 corners of your arena or just the route you take to get from point A to point B.  It therefore makes good sense to work on your ability to navigate those bends successfully, without losing balance, rhythm, energy and focus each time you encounter a bend.

The Daily Strides Podcast episode for this topic is …

If you own a grey horse, then you know how grey horses seem to be mud and dirt magnets. Unfortunately it’s impossible to hide dirt in a grey coat, so you will need to be talented in your grooming to have your grey horse looking great. These tips can help you in the challenge to keep your grey horse clean.…

You've just popped the fence and in your mind it was a success, mostly because you managed to stay on board for it!  However, as soon as your horse lands, you are beginning to think that your 'upright seat' is becoming more and more of a fantasy; in fact every stride your horse takes is literally bumping you further and further onto his withers... You lower leg is coming up and back, your sure that you have just lost your stirrups!  Who knew that jumping meant such an up close and personal…

Buying a used horse trailer is a great way to save money over what you would pay if you bought a brand new horse trailer. There are many deals on used horse trailers – you just have to know how to find them. These tips can help you to get a good deal on a used trailer.

Buy During Off-Peak Season

The prices of trailers drop when…

Tercel was SO GOOD this week, though I did not think so at first!

When I got to the stable I told Debbie I wanted to figure out if Tercel could use shims in the Corrector pad. She brought him in, I put the Stubben on his back without the pad and it looked pretty level. Then I put the Corrector pad on first, put…

How to increase charitable donations



Engage your potential sponsors and educate the public about your cause.



 



I hope I got your attention



And you have a few minutes to read through this simple action plan that will increase cash flow into your charity.



Its incredibly easy and you already have everything you need to get started…

Sheath cleaning: It's not a chore that anyone enjoys, but sheath cleaning is an important part of maintaining your male horse's health. Here's the information you need to know about sheath cleaning and how it relates to your horse.

Why Sheath Cleaning Is Important

When you clean your horse’s sheath, you remove…

Horses are herd animals, but sometimes, despite our best efforts, we have to keep a single horse alone. If you are housing a solo horse in your barn, you can do a variety of things to make his life alone more comfortable.

Get a Companion Animal

Just because you can’t house…

Many people may think that they have a pretty good grasp on the history of cowboys and a lot of the things associated with them. The fact is that the cowboy boot has quite a storied past. Despite what many people think, cowboy boots did not start in the United States. The first recorded instance of wearing cowboy boots or the…

Have you ever thought about what you would do if you had to evacuate your horse in an emergency? We hope that you never have to face an evacuation, but good planning is key to evacuating your horse successfully. Here are some tips to help you get…

Equestrians are notoriously busy, and sometimes our horse lives and our lives outside the barn conflict. How do you manage your outside life when you have a big show coming up, or when a horse gets sick? These tips can help you find the right balance between your busy horse life and your life outside the barn.

Assess What Your…

At least something good happened this week; I got my lesson from Debbie on Tercel!  Her daughter that runs the stable when Debbie is gone, Sam, developed a gall stone and could not give me my lesson on Tilly, so I rode on Thursday since Debbie had come home early to take care of the stable.

Tercel had already gone on a trail ride on Tuesday, and he was not too sure about being ridden two days in a row, the poor horse.  He showed his anxiety/displeasure by becoming ear…

Barn hacks – they’re everywhere, and they make life with horses so much easier. From cheaper alternatives to super smart moves to save time and improve the function of your barn, we’ve gathered the best barn hacks together in a single list.

Use…