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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Following up on the recent release of undercover videos of horse slaughter practices at Viande Richelieu in Quebec and Bouvry Exports in Alberta by the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC), Barnmice reporter Katy Moran interviewed Coalition Executive Director Sinikka Crosland. Moran also attempted to contact…

So the eventing season’s now well and truly underway. Dells already had outings to Isleham and Poplar where he jumped double clears in the placings

and last weekend he jumped his first intermediate novice at Great Witchingham

and finished 10^th.

Things are looking up!

Continuing with the success front I also managed to pass my…