The end of summer, and the beginning of fall. Beautiful cool mornings that turn into blast furnace afternoons. This time of year can be difficult for me while riding, the cooler morning temperatures mean it is too cold to wear my ice vest, but as my core body temperature rises during my ride the outside temperature is also rising. This means at the beginning of my rides my body works pretty well, but during the ride my nervous system deteriorates, and the horses…

Hi Julie,

Try to settle this discussion - please! Is posting on the correct "diagonal" only important in English riding? I always thought it was about the horse's balance in a bend....some say it's just not a "western thing"...and will post in a western saddle, but not with any regard for the diagonal???



Sharon





Sharon,

You are correct that posting…

I have decided that since it has now been a year since I started posting my blogs on Barnmice, I need to up the ante and increase the frequency to three times a month! So I will now be posting stuff on the 10th, the 20th, and the 30th of each month - especially since I keep adding stuff to my 'blog fodder' file. I keep finding stuff to write about and share with you!…

No, it's not about the pop group from the 90's!!

It's about the wettest start to the Royal Adelaide Show in a hundred years.

They say there were a thousand lightning strikes in the metro area, all I know is the thunder was so close it caused a traffic accedent in my pants!!

7.30am Friday, all 4 horses and the two ponys loaded well and we were out the gate on time on our way to the Show in good spirits. Tony Hall, Kate, Nick and Briony and myself looking forward to a…

How to keep your stable neat and tidy.

Ah my little child, she is quite the charmer. Lately when being taken out to the field, she's been squealing and rearing. Her very favourite means of letting you know she's ready to be seriously naughty. So, we've put on her rope halter, it only takes one good thwack of that with the nice heavy lead rope... consequences, and it's done.

Had a very lovely ride on her today. I think I may have convinced her that I am more patient than she is, I'm not going to give in just…

This morning's weather was marvelous, just in the 60's F when I rode. No ice vest, no Cool Cap. It felt odd.

After my last ride on Cider two weeks ago I put a lot of thought into how I could improve things. The first thing I did was change from the Wellep Lever Cheek single jointed snaffle to the regular Wellep Full Cheek single jointed…

Introducing the Saddle & Girth – Just stand still & relaxed would you?

Introducing the saddle and girth to a horse can be a frightening experience for the horse. Horses are prey animals and don’t like…

This is a story I love to tell...and even though it happened 6 years ago now...my eyes still water when I think of it. Six years ago now Mom underwent triple by-pass and aortic valve replacement surgery. When my brother, sister, and I saw her in recovery right after the surgery at about 6:00 in the evening we thought she didn't look too bad considering her age..80...and what she had just been through. We were relieved it was over and encouraged by the way she looked. It had been a long 6…

Rising Stars Youth Dressage was very pleased this year to host the Dressage Canada Youth championships for 2010. This show , which is bid on by show organizers each year, was in BC for the first time. “ We are very proud to boast the highest number of declared and qualified riders in the show this year since it was…

Hi Guys,



One of the biggest mistakes riders make when we're trying to overcome horseback riding fears is that we direct our efforts toward the conscious mind. You know--willpower, iron-jawed determination. The problem with that strategy is that you can only make short-term, temporary changes when you direct your efforts to your conscious mind. To make permanent changes, direct your efforts to the part of your brain that truly determines your actions--your subconscious mind.…