When a scraggly bay colt was born in 1889, he was sick and crippled and not expected to live. But thanks to the treatment and care from his owner, Dr. William Key of Shelbyville, Tennessee, the colt not only survived, but flourished. Dr. William Key was a former slave and was self-taught in veterinary treatments,…

When you train at something long enough, sooner or later you're bound to hit a wall. The same is true of riding – despite schooling and lessons, at some point you may find yourself unable to advance past a certain skill or aspect of riding. So, what do you do if this happens?

Don't Panic

Remember that every rider, no matter how…

So, it occurred to me that perhaps an explanation for my lack of focus here on the blog is in order...

And sorry to disappoint if you were imagining all sorts of exciting African related tales such as baboons breaking into the house or elephants demolishing the stables...  Nope and nope,

I have been busy with my newest and scariest venture yet, …

The air is already cooler, and winter will be upon us quickly this year. No one enjoys doing barn chores in the winter, but when you design your barn there are ways that you can make those chores easier. If you live in a climate that has a cold winter, you might want to put some of these practices into effect when you’re…

Do you have a Halloween horse show coming up? Are you planning to ride in a costume class? Costume classes are great opportunities to show off both yourself and your horse in a whole new light, but when you introduce costumes to horses, things can get interesting. Follow these tips to ensure that you and your horse stays safe and relaxed during your costume…

Vintage Dinamico....Manolo likes to long line using his one ring cavesson. These images are not finished Piaffes but a succession of steps during Piaffe schooling.



There are a few things Manolo considers crucial when schooling Piaffe. Thefirst one is that the horse be physically ready to start schooling as…

A busy week here on the farm, culminating in the arrival of a new horse… Ruby!

Handsome, in a rugged kinda way!

Ah, Ruby, there was a time when I felt like ordering a hit on Ruby!  All his other visits (uninvited) to the farm resulted in the clippity clop of little hooves 11 months later.  (Fences aren’t a big…

How many times a week do you ride on average? I know only too well how ‘life’ can just get in the way and other things crop up and demand your attention.

In fact, I have seen how even with a scheduled riding lesson, most adults find it difficult to keep that appointment in their calendar due to unforeseen circumstances. It leads to feelings of frustration in all involved parties: the rider, the instructor and the horse.

Lets have a quick…

Whether you are a riding instructor, trainer, barn owner or manager; as you grow your business your time will begin to become more valuable and in order to best utilize your time and skills, this is a question that you must, at some point, ask yourself.

Often when professionals have trouble with customers, it is because they did not take the time at the beginning of the relationship to really get to know their potential new clients; their wants,…

With Halloween right around the corner, what better breed of horse to profile today than the stunning black Friesian? The Friesian, a graceful breed with a distinctive appearance, is quickly growing in popularity. You may even have a Friesian living in your…

My ten year old student, Saskia, has her very own new pony, Robin.  Robin is like a beautiful little fairy horse, light and springy on her feet.  She likes to make her own decisions.  That's a good thing!  Sometimes people describe their horses or ponies as "stubborn."  We can offer these ponies decisions to make and activities to do that will help them feel empowered and…

We’ve all had one – that riding instructor or trainer who made a huge difference in our lives and forever altered the way we see our equine friends. October 5^th is World Teachers Day, and in honor of that we’ve decided to take a moment to appreciate all that our riding instructors…

Planning the layout of your horse barn is hugely important, and you’ll want to be sure that the barn is the right size for your intended needs and uses. Deciding just how much barn you need can be a challenge, though, especially when you want that barn to last you for decades. If you’re beginning to plan out your barn, these tips will help you decide how much…

Halloween is almost here, and October horse shows bring with them all sorts of fun costume classes for both horses and riders. But designing a costume for a horse is a bit different from designing a costume for a human. Looking to design a great horse Halloween costume? Here’s…