Hello

Mrs. Carol Harris who owned the world famous Quarter Horse Rugged Lark as joined forces with our crusade to force the American Quarter Horse Association to stop the sanctioned abuse of the horses.

I have filed a criminal complaint with the Texas Attorney General Office against AQHA for deceptive trade practices that sanction the abuse of the competitive horse.

We are currently trying to get Oklahoma City television media to expose this national disgrace.  Please…

Wow, what a storm yesterday evening.  I am sure glad I have an indoor arena to work in when the weather is crummy. 

Cole was uninspired.  I have noticed this happens on very warm days when he has a full winter coat like last night.  Consequently, we changed our plans to a slower ride.  I don’t believe in fighting if I can avoid it.  We perfected Turn on the Haunches in his good direction and improved it quite a bit in his not-quite-as-good direction.  I can’t believe how easy…

2012 Horse Play Calendar,

Holiday Ornament Swap & Baked Goods Sale

For Horse Play

Our 2012 calendars are now available online at http://www.cafepress.com/horseplayri.593298696

and soon will be available at Horse Play in Saunderstown, The Purple Cow in Wakefield and Allie’s Tack & Feed in North Kingstown. Benefiting Horse Play…

It was a lovely weekend here in Ohio.  Friday evening, I rode both my horses in the arena.  Nobody was at the stables, so I didn’t have to share the arena.  Cruiser seemed a little more settled down, and he continues to act normal.  Cole did a perfect turn on the haunches on the first request.  Not bad for never having done it, before.  The other direction didn’t go as well, but that’s how things always are with horses.

Saturday, my niece came out to ride with us.  She rode…

Took Amigo on a short trail ride around the farm. I used my western saddle and my split reins on my reining bit. My goal was to round him up and get him using his back. He has a indent behind his shoulder from letting his back sag all summer. (He had beginner riders all summer and took very good care of them.) Ed said that riding him on the bit and rounded will help him get back the muscle he has lost. He also showed me the stretch that makes the horse arch their back. After the loop around…

By Gillian Rogers





                Mounting / dismounting and leading from the left,





Is it not from our mistakes that we learn? I firmly believe that admitting being wrong shows not a sign of weakness, but  that of strength. That being said, why is it that the equestrian world stays so stubbornly ensconced with traditions that  are beyond archaic? This really is not a matter of who is right and who is wrong. This is a matter of what is best for the horse. So…

Cruiser in the Arena

I write so much about Cole, I thought it was time to tell everyone my plans with Cruiser over the winter.  First off, he pretty much stays inside in the indoor arena the whole time.  I don’t trust him on ice.  He has always been quick to panic on it, so the smallest amount of ice will keep me away.  Also, he keeps his shoes over the winter for support for his…

Our regular coach was out of town and the barn manager gave us our lesson. There was only 2 of us in the class. Each of us worked in our own half of the arena. We walked a big circle then used our seat to whoa at the cones that were placed in the middle of the arena. After doing this several times we did it at a jog. Then moved to posting trot doing the same whoa with our seats and trying to use less and less rein.

Cooper was finally getting it a little near the end of the hour. At…

"Animals In War Memorial"   

Photo by Francisco…

My sister and I took Tuesday off to ride, and what a pretty day it was.  The temps were warm and it was sunny.  First, we took Cruise and Ranger out on a 1.5 hour ride with a lot of walking so we could talk and just enjoy the day. 

   When I got back, I took Cole out on the same ride, but as always, when I take Cole out, it is a training ride.  He actually was a little balky at the beginning of the ride, and I had to tap him with the whip to explain that stopping wasn’t an option.  He…

Sarah Van Der Walde of Ann Arbor, MI won the $10,000 North American League Children’s Jumper Finals at the 66th annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show.  Riding Vigo, owned by Thinkslikeahorse, the 15-year-old rider edged out Madison Lawton and Juliette by a fraction of a second for the victory.   

“It was such a surreal moment,” said Van Der Walde of her win. “I never even wanted to ride jumpers and then when I learned I thought that it was so much…

Inaugural Event at Las Vegas National Horse Show is Huge Success

Competitors hit the jackpot at the inaugural North American League (NAL) West Coast Finals and none of the nearly one hundred exhibitors went home empty-handed. Every NAL member who competed in one of the five classics on “NAL Day” at the Las Vegas National Horse Show on November 6 received a gift bag and an NAL embroidered saddle pad. Those who earned a trip to the victory circle…

Patricia Hennessy of Kintnersville, PA, won the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Adult Jumper Finals riding Little Tom at the 66th Annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

“It was exciting because I had never done that well before and it was like, finally! I did it!” said Hennessy.  “I knew I was able to do it I just had to execute it.”

The course designed by Steve Stephens proved to…

Kelsey Thatcher of Bluffdale, UT won the $5,000 North American League (NAL) Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Finals on Klotaire Du Moulin, owned by Pony Lane Farm, at the 66th annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show. 

“It meant a lot to win here,” said Thatcher.  “I am so grateful to my mother and the Jaynes of Pony Lane Farm for making this all possible.”       

 …

Kelly Champion of Washington, NJ rode her horse All In to victory in the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Adult Hunter Finals at the 66th annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show.    

The win was bittersweet for Champion, who was on tap to show at the Capital Challenge two weeks ago, but was unable to compete because her husband, Tony, suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a…

Double Down gave Elizabeth Adelson of Tulsa, OK a belated birthday present with a win in the $10,000 North American League (NAL) Children’s Hunter Finals at the 66th annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show.  Adelson just turned 14 last week and she had even more reason to celebrate in Harrisburg after receiving a score of 90 points in the first round of competition, the highest of the 29 qualifiers in the class.

“The…

Noah Buehler of Wall, NJ, took top honors in the North American League (NAL) $5,000 Pony Jumper Finals at the 66th annual Pennsylvania National Horse Show on Thursday evening riding Porsche, his 11-year-old Quarter Horse.                       

Buehler was the only rider out of the field of 16 that negotiated a clear round to win the class.  Elizabeth Shaffer and Styled with Perfection managed to leave all the rails up on the Steve Stephens designed course, but the pair…

    When the news of Hickstead's death reached me, the first thing that came into my mind was denial. There was no way a great horse such as him could have an end such as it was. Hickstead was a horse that deserved another Olympic performance, a retiring ceremony, and many more years relaxing on a stud farm. But when I watch the video, the great horse sinking to the ground, carefully rolling as if to set Eric safely down, I realized there was no denying it. Hickstead's death had really…