All Blog Posts (4,786)

I did not melt in the rain

This morning the ground was wet, so I looked at the TV weather and it looked like there would be a tiny gap with no rain, so I decided I would ride anyway. Shannon thought her ring would stand up to it as we are mainly riding at a walk now. I got to the stable, it had stopped raining, so we tacked up.

Mars was a little happier today, I changed to my dressage saddle, and Shannon said he…

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Added by Jackie Cochran on August 2, 2009 at 1:00pm — 2 Comments

What a wonderful, well-researched article! Although I don't use too many TBs in my program any more, I have a great fondness for them as a breed, which may spring from the decade + I spent on the TB …

What a wonderful, well-researched article! Although I don't use too many TBs in my program any more, I have a great fondness for them as a breed, which may spring from the decade + I spent on the TB racetracks here in the US. I was lucky enough to be a part of that world during one of the golden decades of horse racing -- I first went on the track just a year before Secretariat won the Belmont (was there that day!!) and saw such horses as Forego, Ruffian, Riva Ridge, Secretariat, Foolish… Continue

Added by Katrina O'Neal on August 1, 2009 at 3:30pm — 1 Comment

Your August Horseyscope

Leo July 21 - August 21

Well hello there Leos, a Happy Happy Birthday to you this year, and what a fantastic year it will be - one for you to shine.

We are all so aware of the fact that you do like to appear as if everything is always perfect, the take charge person. This year you are willing to share your wealth of knowledge with others at your barn - a great place to start! Trying to set goals for yourself and your horse will prove futile until you come to terms with the… Continue

Added by Barnmice Admin on August 1, 2009 at 8:48am — 2 Comments

The Working Donkeys and Horses of Mali, West Africa

We’ve done pretty well for rain this year.We were away for the only nice week in June in Brit, and then we were in Ethiopia – rained every day, and now Mali. And guess what. Rainy season.

Deluges of the stuff. Flooding the streets and open sewers of Bamako, and running orange-brown torrents off the hills and down into the river. What a river it is too. Over half a mile wide in the city, the swirling pewter-grey mass of water sweeps under the two bridges where the traffic sits… Continue

Added by SPANA on August 1, 2009 at 8:30am — No Comments

Excellent series. You have expressed very well what many of us believe. The thoroughbred is essential to sport horse success. The European WB industry is well organized and well marketed and dominate…

Excellent series. You have expressed very well what many of us believe. The thoroughbred is essential to sport horse success. The European WB industry is well organized and well marketed and dominate the world's governing bodies. They are the ones who say that chasing success is irrelevant to competitive jumping success.

There is a saying in the US, "Courses for Horses, and horses for courses." The people who control course design will also control the type of horse that is needed… Continue

Added by vineyridge on July 31, 2009 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Ride in the Middle of Your Horse: Developing Lateral Balance

Ride in the Middle of Your Horse: Developing Lateral Balance

By Michele Morseth, MA, GCFP

See more articles at http://SitTheTrot.com

From Pacific Northwest Endurance Riders Newsletter Spring 2009

“Ask The Experts” column:

Q: When I ride, I notice I am very asymmetrical with the way I distribute my weight, which effects my horse's balance. I've tried yoga and strengthening with some success to fix the problem, but I… Continue

Added by Sit_the_Trot on July 31, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Managing a Stressed Horse at Horse Shows

Hi Julie,

I am writing from Pretoria South Africa. My daughter recently attended her first show jumping event. Her horse boxed (trailered) without major problems and also traveled well. At the event this well-behaved, sweet horse, turned into a very nervous rearing animal. We could not control her and needless to say my daughter could not compete. According to her riding instructor, from whom we purchased the horse, she came off the track two years ago after being pushed very hard.…

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Added by Julie Goodnight on July 31, 2009 at 11:00am — 1 Comment

Ride and Compete Your Dressage Horse at Horse Shows

Each year, you eagerly await horse show season so you can ride and compete your dressage horse. But when the time times, the fear gremlins creep in and you end up feeling paralyzed by "stage fright".

In my own personal quest, I've discovered practical techniques that have given me a performance edge at dressage shows. I'll share some of them with you here.

"DRESSING UP" YOUR PRACTICE SESSIONS"

I can't emphasize enough the importance of…

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Added by Jane Savoie on July 31, 2009 at 10:30am — 3 Comments

EVEN MARK TODD CAN BE LED ASTRAY – Part 3

The Horse and Hound is the most prestigious equestrian magazine in the UK, the equivalent of the Chronicle of the Horse in the USA. I was writing an article on horse breeding for them, including details of the ‘Holstein’ stallion Cavalier Royale, the Irish based stallion that has produced so many top class event horses, including World Silver medallist and winner of Rolex Ben Along Time and Mary King’s wonderful international pair, Call Again Cavalier and Imperial Cavalier. Their breeding…

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Added by William Micklem on July 31, 2009 at 6:00am — 43 Comments

Equine Science: Weekly News and Trivia Question - July 31, 2009

Welcome to this week’s equine science blog. Research news is a bit quiet this week, what with many scientists enjoying their summer holidays. However, there’s still plenty to talk about in this week’s edition with reports on the latest equine diseases in the US, new veterinary equipment in New Zealand and some handy information sheets for our British followers.

Firstly, more bad news for the integrity of equestrian sport. With top… Continue

Added by Chloé Sharrocks on July 31, 2009 at 6:00am — No Comments

Louie got adopted!

He went to an eventing home last week and won't be broken until next year! This picture was taken the day he left us.

Added by Lori Tankel on July 30, 2009 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Ontario's Quarter Horse Racing Industry wants YOU!

The Ontario Quarter Horse Racing Industry Development Program has successfully launched a new industry support program called "Pathway to Employment and Education". This is one of a number of industry support programs being introduced in 2009 that will benefit participants in the industry.

The "Pathway to Employment and Education" is a multi-faceted approach to bringing skilled workers into the Quarter Horse racing and breeding industry. The Pathway program showcases the full… Continue

Added by Sarah at HorseJobs.ca on July 30, 2009 at 2:38pm — 1 Comment

Equitation Science

Recently one of my students handed me an article written by McLean & McGreevy on Training Horses I found it to be of great interest. This article covered some problems with contemporary training, conflict behaviors-the manifestation of problems and some solutions.

As a horse trainer I have the gratifiying opportunity of working with horses and their owners to improve the communication between the two to help form appropriate relationships .

I agree that "problems arise when… Continue

Added by Ruth Heney on July 30, 2009 at 1:30pm — 1 Comment

Pictures from our Sunday Ride

Took the camera with us on the Sunday ride. We rode past a feed lot. The cows were an exciting addition to our ride.

These pigeons were on the bank. When they took off it was pretty cool looking. The camera didn't catch quite the spectacular view I had hoped.…

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Added by John Harrer on July 28, 2009 at 1:24pm — 1 Comment

Ride Fit 1-2-3: Getting a Great Core Workout

Hi, I have to first apologize for being slightly longer with getting this latest blog out to you. This month has been quite busy due to preparing for an interview with Jane Savoie for her 'Interviews with Experts' section of her Dressage Mentor site (great site by the way!), and the launch of my books, Handy Stretching Guide for Riders, and The… Continue

Added by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on July 28, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments

An Alarming Alliance

From: The Long Riders' Guild

Date: July 24, 2009 6:32:06 PM HST

To: ☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺@☺☺☺☺.☺☺☺

Subject: An Alarming Alliance

Reply-To: ☺☺☺☺@☺☺☺☺.☺☺☺

An Alarming Alliance

Are FEI Endurance Officials and an Arab Sheik supporting the Mongol Derby?

What is believed to be the most potentially damaging equestrian event ever attempted, wherein twenty-five tourists will pay a collective $130,000 to race 800 small horses one…

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Added by Kimberly Cox Carneal on July 28, 2009 at 3:34am — No Comments

Stop The Mongol Derby

I'm almost certain that you have heard of the ongoing controversy surrounding the Mongolian Derby, billed by its organizers as "the longest horse race in the world." Among the dangers posed to humans, the organizers list, "bleeding kidneys, broken limbs, open sores, sun stroke, moon stroke and a list of dangers longer than your arm stand between the you and victory. No mention of the dangers to the semi-wild horses of… Continue

Added by Kimberly Cox Carneal on July 28, 2009 at 3:33am — No Comments

They Said, He Said: The Adventurists, the Mongol Derby and VET Net

Before you read this post, I have to ask your forgiveness. Enlightened Horsemanship Through Touch is not a "mission" blog. I don't often launch myself in shouting matches or guzzle purple KoolAid, passionately following any idea at all. That is the diametrical opposite of mindful examination of all sides of an issue. But the Adventurists' blatant lack of concern for Mongolian horses and people, their environment an culture, in the name of "fighting to make the world less boring" is an… Continue

Added by Kimberly Cox Carneal on July 28, 2009 at 3:30am — 3 Comments

Do You Demand Your Horse's Complete Attention?

When you are with your horse, do you demand his/her complete attention? I don't.

In the worlds of traditional and natural horsemanship, there is a lot of talk about what constitutes respect. Determining the nature of respect can help you get it from your horse. Commanding his or her full attention while together is an element of respect. Last week I had a conversation with a trainer who was called in to help a horse owner who was having trouble getting the respect of her horse. Here… Continue

Added by Kimberly Cox Carneal on July 28, 2009 at 2:41am — 1 Comment

The Dominance Model and Horsemanship by Equine Ethology Are Dead

Didn't the major natural horsemanship names notice?

Way back in 2008, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior wrote a position paper outlining its reasons for eschewing any kind of dominance-based training. Based on the most recent research, their paper is as enlightening to the mindful horse owner as it should be… Continue

Added by Kimberly Cox Carneal on July 28, 2009 at 2:39am — 1 Comment