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Added by Lisa L. Dewey on June 8, 2009 at 11:24am — 6 Comments

The Working Animals of Tunisia

Tunisia is a strange country - in fact it's more like two countries. Many people might wonder what SPANA is doing there at all, but that's because they go there as holiday makers in search of the sun, and rarely stray out of the coastal beach resorts. There they see slick tourist resorts and villages along with the wealth and prosperity that brings to local people.

But move inland, and only a few miles at that, and you come across a totally diferent Tunisia,

Here life is… Continue

Added by SPANA on June 8, 2009 at 6:06am — 1 Comment

Ride Fit 1-2-3: More on soft hands and the 'training scale' for rider fitness

Hi,

I just had the privilege of auditing a clinic with Jane Savoie this weekend. Now I'm in a kind of overfed state of sleepy shock...a little like you feel after Thanksgiving dinner because last weekend I also worked at a clinic in Nova Scotia as co-clinician with Lisa Wilcox. I don't know if my poor brain can handle any more rich input for a few days at least!

From a fitness point of view, last weeks' blog entry on light hands and proper use of the back really came back to me… Continue

Added by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on June 7, 2009 at 11:30pm — 9 Comments

Calvin Borel on Letterman tonight

Tomorrow is the big day for Calvin and Mine That Bird! He has had a busy week in New York! He, his fiancee, Lisa, and her parents Suzanne (my Heart Land Horse Rescue co-counder) and Mike have been playing celebrity tourists all week! Tuesday he taped Letterman, which airs tonight! Yesterday he rang the bell at the NYSE and this morning was on Good Morning America! And of course he has been to Belmont to see MTB. Suzanne called me this morning, very excited, because while at GMA, she spoke to a… Continue

Added by Lori Tankel on June 5, 2009 at 3:13pm — 1 Comment

Nice and Easy.

I'm back to riding again! That really makes me happy.

My ride this week was pretty relaxed compared to the previous weeks of preparation.

The others in my group that qualified are now working hard to prepare for the Nationals in a few weeks. so my ride at the moment is not so focused.

But I will get myself back in to that focus again, as I want to become the best rider that I can possibly be despite my FM - I don't want it to get the better of me.

Riding is my… Continue

Added by Cat on June 5, 2009 at 1:22pm — 3 Comments

Facing my limitations

In 1993, after years of puzzling symptoms, I finally got diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Finally I had the answer to why I could never ride as well as I wanted to. I tried to get back to riding my horses, but the exhaustion, muscle pain, and lack of emotional control when exhausted that come from MS defeated my first attempt to get back riding. Due to owning 4 horses at the time I did not have the money for lessons, or the endurance to take them.

Several years later I…

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Added by Jackie Cochran on June 5, 2009 at 12:00pm — 3 Comments

When Can I Introduce New Work: Part 2

Last week, I started this series to help you decide how and when to introduce new work. That blog focused on Training and First Levels. What follows is Part 2 of that series.

Let's say your horse is solid at first level. Look ahead to the Second Level movements. Check out the dressage tests. You'll see that you need to work on shoulder-in, haunches-in, renvers, simple changes of lead, reinback and turns on the haunches.

You'll also notice that the big…

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Added by Jane Savoie on June 5, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

Knowing Yourself as a Rider

What I am looking for in a rider is balance and empathy with their horse as a living creature. Someone who has feel for the basic paces and hopefully able to tell the right and wrong lead and the right and wrong diagonal. They need to be able to maintain a contact without being stiff and heavy and to be concise in what they are asking. This is quite important; if you ask a horse to walk on, you tell it to walk on.

Temperament in the rider

Any rider that is so…

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Added by Tim Stockdale on June 5, 2009 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

All Horses Are Diffrent

Horses come in many kinds,

And some are very hard to find.

Some are for races,

cause they ride at different paces.

Some like hay

in the day.

Some are white,

and ride at night.

Some are mean

and don't like to be seen.

Some are sweet

and like treats.

Horses come in many kind

and some are hard to find!

Look after the one you have

as not the life, height and age

will last forever....but......

The love...will always… Continue

Added by Timika F on June 5, 2009 at 2:40am — 4 Comments

Alberta On My Mind .... Mind the Wind

Last week Evie and I spent our time “toiling” in beautiful Edmonton, Alberta, home of the Northlands Horse Show. Edmonton Northlands Horse Show has become one of the premier events in Western Canada under the stewardship of the Edmonton Hunter – Jumper Association and the direction of Show Manager Caroline Jones. The event is unique in the fact that it is held on the infield of Northlands Race Track, who along with Hastings Park in Vancouver is the location for all of western Canada’s Grade… Continue

Added by Evie Frisque on June 4, 2009 at 11:30pm — 1 Comment

SPECIAL THANKS TO TEST EVENT VOLUNTEERS

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games would like to thank the hundreds of volunteers participating in July’s Kentucky Cup Reining and Kentucky Cup Vaulting Test Events, the first test events to be held in preparation for the 2010 Games.

We received an overwhelming response. In less than 2 hours, all positions for Reining were filled, and in less than 24 hours, all positions for Vaulting were filled. We appreciate our volunteers for such a fast and enthusiastic… Continue

Added by 2010 Alltech FEI WEG on June 4, 2009 at 1:57pm — 2 Comments

Just Imagine!

Do you have a wild imagination? William James wrote, "Anything you may hold firmly in your imagination can be yours." What can you dream up? Could it be your future?

Print a copy of this quote/painting combo on this week's To Do List..

Added by Karen Brenner on June 4, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Ride Fit 1-2-3: Fitness for Riders- Getting Better Arm Position and Softer Hands

Hi,

This week's topic comes from a rider (Erika) who posted the following question:

Though recently I've done very much to my core and leg positions, my arms have been neglected! Though I do not try, I know I keep my arms tense and not as relaxed as the rest of my body.

So my question(s) are, where exactly should I keep my hands (I show Training/First Level), and how should it feel? How can I relax my arms, and keep the contact that I need?

I have posted her picture in… Continue

Added by Heather Sansom at Equifitt.com on June 3, 2009 at 9:30am — 3 Comments

Welcome William!

Check out the photographs of my new pony, William. He is a 15.2 hand Dry Doc bred quarter horse gelding, five years old. I've had him for a month now and we are really getting to know one another. He is very quiet, willing and forgiving. Nothing much bothers this boy! Thanks so much to Patrick Mulligan who raised and trained William and took the time to ride with me and teach me some of his buttons. I'm so glad Willy failed at roping!

I've had William for 3 months now and I just love… Continue

Added by Karen Murphy on June 2, 2009 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Your June Horseyscope by Lauren Bode

Gemini May 21 - June 20

Happy Birthday! A great year is in store, forget about being so cautious when it comes to choosing a horse. You do realise that you know what you do want, and sometimes listen to too many different opinions. As always your instincts will work in your favour. Giving a bit more leg when necessary will be good for your horse as well.There will be quite a bit of travelling in your life this year, surprisingly you and your horse are in sinc.

Keep it that way… Continue

Added by Barnmice Admin on June 1, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

ParaEquestrian horses needed for Regional and Provincial Competitions in Ontario

Hello folks!

I represent the Ontario Therapeutic Riding Association and we are in need of some borrowed horses for two competitions this summer. We have a regional show in the Hamilton area on June 20, 2009 and our Ontario Para Sport Games on July 25, 2009 in the Woodstock area where we have a rather urgent need for higher level horses. A few of our Advanced and Intermediate level riders find themselves without horses this summer for a variety of reasons and as such, we are looking… Continue

Added by Viki LaCombe on May 31, 2009 at 9:00pm — No Comments

What to do when problems crop up: Part 2

Under saddle, disobedience from the horse can be caused by a number of factors, not necessarily just unwillingness to work. Here are a few points to consider:

Reward

The reason why horses are easy to train is because if you do things consistently they will pick it up; they are creatures of habit.

I am a great believer in giving a horse a pat as a reward for good work. However which method you use to praise your horse is not important, it is the consistency of… Continue

Added by Tim Stockdale on May 29, 2009 at 10:42am — No Comments

When Can I Introduce New Work: Part 1

Riders often ask me, "How do I know it's the right time to start training something a bit harder?"

This is a big topic so I'm going to cover it over two blogs. In this blog, I'll give you a way to come up with a logical plan for introducing new work at Training Level. Next week, I'll show you to plan to move up to Second and Third Level. I'll also show you how you can use feedback from competition to help you decide whether or not you're ready to move up.

First, I…

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Added by Jane Savoie on May 29, 2009 at 10:30am — 4 Comments

Update on Louie, one of our rescues!

We picked Louie up 2 weeks ago today. He is a 3 year old TB gelding who was starved so badly that he is the size of a yearling.

When we picked him up, I compared him to an autistic child. All he knew his entire life was abuse, neglect and starvation. He would not look at you and if you looked at him, he would turn away. Well, we finally got a halter on him 3 days ago. He is now being stalled during the heat and rain of the day. He likes having a stall! He has discovered treats and really… Continue

Added by Lori Tankel on May 29, 2009 at 9:30am — 1 Comment

Behind the bit

Back in 1970, when I began riding seriously, my BHI (graduate of Morven Park) instructor introduced me to the concept of behind the bit quite early in my riding career. What she said:

1) DON'T DO IT

2) It was a sign of bad horsemanship

3) Good riders NEVER rode behind the bit, at the top levels it JUST WASN'T DONE.

Almost 40 years later, everywhere I look, horses ridden behind the bit are EVERYWHERE, in all disciplines, winning top prizes, including medals at…

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Added by Jackie Cochran on May 28, 2009 at 9:00pm — 2 Comments