All Blog Posts (4,794)

Starting and running a 501(c)3, or how to use up all your free time

I am President of Special Horses, Inc., a 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to helping smaller equine 501(c)3s with exposure and fundraising. While we in no way can cover all the PR and fundraising for any group, we try to help.

It started from my "Dribble Theory." Someone on the Chronicle of the Horse Forum would post about a horse in need, and I'd send in a small amount - not very much, maybe $5 or $10. But I would think, what if 50 people did that? 100? $5 is a dribble...but… Continue

Added by Special Horses, Inc. on April 13, 2010 at 2:30am — No Comments

Skinny Dipping Anyone?

Well,you never know what you will run into on a trail ride anymore.....a few days back,the weather was nice and I had finished early with my farm chores ,training,so before going home I thought,I am going to saddle up my QH mare Risky and go for a nice ride along the river on my friend's farm.

It was wonderful being out on my favorite horse,slight breeze,sun shining,birds singing.Great day to be alive...just my horse and…

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Added by Connie Breedveld on April 12, 2010 at 9:56pm — 6 Comments

Help Your Horse Jump - The Rider influences a horse's jump in many ways, learn how you can help your horse through your riding

Help Your Horse Jump

Jumping horses is an aspect of many equestrian disciplines and in many of these disciplines we often see a horse refusing, drifting, jumping crooked, taking a bad take off spot, or rushing the fence. Horses can make these mistakes when jumping for many reasons and the rider can be the cause of the mistake, more often than not. Riders can interfere in many ways with a horse’s jumping and it’s important that you have an… Continue

Added by Lindsey Forkun on April 12, 2010 at 9:30pm — 1 Comment

Weekend Tidbits

Well, after writing about vaccination and worming schedules last week I went to the vet's to pick up the vacs and talk to them about Jessie's sensitivity to the flu vaccine. There were two vets in the lobby and as the senior vet was talking to me about trying to give the vaccine intra-nasally to reduce the risk of reaction the younger vet was nodding her head. Two "yes" votes - motion passed. Four vaccinations $127.

Clinton Anderson had talked about giving vaccinations in the chest… Continue

Added by John Harrer on April 12, 2010 at 8:14pm — No Comments

The Birthday Bash

Some days are just a little to get started then others, worse yet is when those days fall on a Monday.

I have spent the entire weekend with promoting the Horse lovers Birthday bash on Knot-A-Tail web site. The new site is a year old this month and they are having a month long celebration.

It took a great deal of the weekend to continually update all the winners, and the comments that every one was posting all weekend. By the time I edited all the pictures and found out as… Continue

Added by Roberta Edstrom on April 12, 2010 at 6:04pm — No Comments

Academy Road Test Continues and Introducing My New Horsey Project

Photo: Kelly and Tilly on the lesson today.

As this month is very much about road testing the Aspire Equestrian Riding Academy project before its launch, I am trying to use any opportunity and time possible.

I had two girls coming for lessons with me to Cane End Stud and it seemed just perfect an occasion to test… Continue

Added by Wiola Grabowska on April 12, 2010 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Of teeth and speed

Talk about falling off the wagon! Last week, the train derailed! Robin and I skipped our very first ride together on Monday – it was cold, and windy and raining early in the day, so we opted to miss this one time. I was also sick on Easter – woke up with a headache and nausea – it may have been my first experience with a migraine – so I was very worn out on Monday. Well, Tuesday, I…

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Added by Monica Whitmer on April 12, 2010 at 11:25am — No Comments

This Week in Horse History - April 12th Through April 18th

April 14, 1936 - Today the first race result decided by a photo finish camera in Maryland took place. The race took place in Havre de Grace, Maryland, and a horse named Alit was declared to be the winner. Today, digital cameras are used at the finish lines of…

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Added by Paige Cerulli on April 12, 2010 at 3:30am — No Comments

Adoptable Horse of the Week - Xena from Crosswinds Equine Rescue!

9year old English Shire black mare (no papers)

Approx 17hh, 2100 lbs

Started under saddle, English, roughly 60 days riding work to date. Xena is a big, powerful mare with tons of presence and even more…

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Added by Special Horses, Inc. on April 12, 2010 at 12:30am — No Comments

The Story of Rescued Horse Unfolds

As it turns out, Pickles is no ordinary horse. With a little research, we learned that her grandfather sired Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure.

So our starved, neglected horse has the blood of a champion in her veins. Maybe that's why she has this quiet sort of class about her.

Every day when we watch and work on her, she finds a way to tell us something new about herself and what she's been through.

Today we finished shaving the hair off most of her rain… Continue

Added by maryann tobin on April 11, 2010 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Back With Cider Again

Finally Spring is blooming all over, and Shannon's ring FINALLY dried out, so I have been able to ride Cider again. I like Cider, she has plenty of get up and go, so much that I never have to carry a crop, which makes me happy because the more things I have to mess with in my hands the harder it is on me.

Last week when I rode Cider she did not seem completely pleased with her bridle any more. Nothing nasty, slightly less…

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Added by Jackie Cochran on April 11, 2010 at 11:30am — No Comments

A new pair of Cowboy boots

Last Sunday morning, I waited in the car, while my business partner went into a local bakery in downtown Tempe, AZ to buy some piping-hot, super fresh, right out-of-the over, cross-top buns to take to Easter dinner Needless to say the lines were long and it took him awhile.

I had brought a book to read about expanding my spiritual awareness, called "The Force". I was deep into reading my book, deep into feeling more spiritual and ready to take on every new challenge that came my… Continue

Added by Roberta Edstrom on April 10, 2010 at 1:51pm — No Comments

Barnmice hat

Thanks for the hat Barnmice it fits perfectly :-)

Added by Cindy Jeffery on April 9, 2010 at 5:49pm — 1 Comment

Training Tip of the Week: Dealing with your horse’s natural magnets.

All horses have magnets –the gate to the arena, the barn, other horses, his buddies back at the barn, the trailer, etc. They all involve the horse wanting to be somewhere other than where he is, doing something other than what he is doing. The simplest solution is to make the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy. Meaning you make being…

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Added by Clinton Anderson on April 9, 2010 at 3:25pm — 2 Comments

The Care and Feeding of Jessie and Dusty

Thought you might be interested in how we keep our horses. Here's a little run down:

We live in Southern California. We have two quarter horses on our 1/2 acre property. Each horse has it's own 40' x 40' pen. Unfortunately, we do not have cover for them yet. Our climate is temperate and our rainfall averages less than 6" a year. Both my wife an I work so we clean pickup the the manure twice a week Thursdays and Sundays. It's taken to the green waste facility. We use… Continue

Added by John Harrer on April 9, 2010 at 1:00pm — No Comments

Correctly Bend Your Horse in Lateral Work

Hi Guys,

In order for your lateral work such as shoulder-in, haunches-in, and half passes to be effective as collecting exercises, your horse must BEND.

Think of the following equation. Bend+Sideways=Engagement. (Engagement means the bending of joints. As your horse bends his hind legs, his croup lowers, and his forehand goes up--kinda like a seesaw or an airplane taking off.)

So here are some quick tips to help you determine if you're bending your horse…

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Added by Jane Savoie on April 9, 2010 at 10:30am — 1 Comment

How much protein does my horse really need? (Slide show)

You are what you eat – and so is your horse. If every horse owner started with quality feed and made it a priority, there would be fewer problems with behavior, training and

overall health. Unfortunately, too many people overlook the importance

of feed - especially in Florida.

The heat is not only a factor for people; horses who live in 90 degree temperatures…

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Added by maryann tobin on April 8, 2010 at 11:10pm — 1 Comment

Natural Horsemanship Solutions: Refusing and Rushing Fences - fix that jump!

Refusing and Rushing Horses

Having a horse refuse a fence can be a frustrating and a scary experience. It happens to the best of us and usually our first reaction is to blame the horse. Take a step back and look at it from the horse’s perspective. Leave your crop back in the barn so you’re not tempted to use it—a refusal is usually a message from your horse that there is some reason they cannot jump. Recognize the communication and try to figure… Continue

Added by Lindsey Forkun on April 8, 2010 at 9:30pm — No Comments

More News on Academy and Few Words on April Plans

Word of hindsight wisdom - if you're freelance, have a sicky fund ;) Not that I've got one but I would certainly like to have it.

As hard as it is not to be earning I decided to give my illness one more day as I continue having very little voice, jumpy temperature, cough and just generally feeling ill. I worked in similar states before but it always ended… Continue

Added by Wiola Grabowska on April 8, 2010 at 6:12pm — No Comments

Educate NOT Instruct, Say As It Is YET Inspire, Support & Direct YET allow the ownership of knowledge - what do riders want from their trainers....?

Seeing I'm ill and spending my day in bed working on the biggest coaching challenge I've ever taken on I might as well share some musings on various teaching related subjects. Lots of waffle below, you've been warned.

In addition to the question in the title, there is another one: what do riding coaches need to deliver?

Creating the Academy project pushed me… Continue

Added by Wiola Grabowska on April 8, 2010 at 6:00pm — 2 Comments