By Chris Brooke The Mail Online

Last updated at 12:54 AM on 01st May 2009







For the average pet rabbit, the daily routine involves nothing more strenuous than chomping on a carrot.



But life is very different for the Haslam household's six showjumping bunnies.



Under the guidance of twins Mathew and Thomas, they have learned to leap over miniature fences in the back garden.

Hop…

Taurus April 21 - May 20



Happy Birthday! Another great year in store for you, although the trend to be the life of the party will not be as strong, as last year. This year the focus will be more on your career. You will have quite a lot of responsibility, this will in turn lead to success, both in the equestrian field and in your private life.Getting involved in your community activities will move you to aspire to greater things. Good luck.



Gemini - May 21 - June…

To understand and work with your horse’s stride length, keep in mind that whilst you are riding, the horse’s legs are your legs, and your brain needs to react to what they are doing.



Try this exercise:



Build two fences five canter strides apart. Warm up your horse, thinking about the canter rhythm.



As a very simple way of understanding your horse’s stride length, call out the strides as you ride the fences. This will help your brain tune in to what your horse…

Hi Guys,



No matter where I travel, the most frequently asked questions I get are, "How do I put my horse on the bit...and how do I keep him there consistently?" This concept baffles many riders. My hope here is to simplify the process for you with the following information.



First, you need to know that there is a SPECIFIC AID to put your horse on the bit just like there is a specific aid to ask for canter or for a leg yield. That aid is a half halt. (Don't groan...I can…

It's my favourite time of the week again! Riding!

My week has been filled with pacing my activities and recovering from my lesson last week. My FMS pain and fatigue levels has been up and down, and the other symptoms nagging at me, but this week has been an ok week, illness wise.

But, I have been going through everything my instructor told me last week. Trying to memorize everything I had to do to get Pink down on the bit and moving forward as well as my position.

I am pretty…

This quote is wonderful for both riders and artists:



"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." - Anatole France



Many great athletes practice mentally picturing themselves performing to perfection. Could this be a form of dreaming -- incorporating planning -- that leads to confidence and believing? Have you tried it with your riding? During my riding lesson yesterday my…

WHY DO WE TRAIN



I have would like to put across to you some part of my philosophy with regard to the very important subject of why we train. I have also given some part of this blog to what to look for in a good trainer.



BEFORE WE START TO TRAIN OUR HORSES I BELIEVE THAT A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE REASONS BEHIND TRAINING ARE MADE CLEAR.



What about human beings?



All of us human beings are capable of certain moderately athletic functions which…

Last night I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. I went to bed at 11:00. I wasn't doing anything I can't write about here, either.



I was reading my newest Kindle 2 download, The Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson.



Like a schoolgirl who's laid hands on her first bodice-ripper and reads it with fascinated, secret relish, I could not put this book down. It's that compelling. Even if you care not an iota about horses, you'll enjoy this book.



This is no passionate daddy…

Home for the summer. Two years of school done, two years to go. It was a challenge riding this school year, but I managed to ride at least 6 days a week, often more than once a day! I volunteered with the local Riding for the Disabled association as an exersize rider. I got to ride some pretty cool ponies and even a clyde/mustang! I also took lessons on some pretty wild TBs, and ended up riding one two or three times a week on top of the ponies to keep it in shape while his owner is away in…

This past weekend while doing a clinic, I had a really great example of a rider with extremely tight lower back and hamstrings muscles. Since I see either one or both of these issues quite frequently, I thought it might be helpful to share some ideas about what to do about it.



Kelsey (photos in the comment below) is an intermediate level rider, but she seemed to be at a plateau- which is why she registered for the clinic. She works during the day seated at a computer, commutes…

Tamara of The Barb Wire recently wrote about an unfortunate encounter with an unrestrained dog while out on her mare Consolation.



All of us have had such unpleasant meetings at one time or another. Regardless of your feelings about foxhunting, there are some bits of equipment that might help make equestrian outings safer and more pleasant.



In particular, I'm thinking of the hunt whip.



The hunt whip consists…

Rowan Isaacson is a seven-year-old boy with autism. Until the age of five he had suffered every symptom the illness threw every possible symptom and limitation his way. Rowan's father and mother, Rupert and Kristin, were heartbroken that their son's life was filled with wild tantrums and little meaningful connection. "You're saying goodbye to a bunch of dreams that I think every parent has of a certain type of childhood, and a certain type of relationship with your…

A naval recruit stationed in Iraq is among students from around the world who have graduated from a US university offering more than a dozen online equine courses.

The degree course from Global Equine Academy in conjunction with Dickinson State University in North Dakota has 14 online horse courses. It currently has more than 200 students from around the world. Many of its graduates have gone on to start their own equine businesses, "and others have gotten equine management jobs and are…

Last week we were in Syria – we’ve had a SPANA project there for fifteen years now. Slightly strange place, difficult, tough government, yet the people are some of the nicest in the Middle East. They are, because of the politics, very cut off from the west, so when Diana (our Education Director) gives a Teacher Training Course (we have just produced the standard curriculum text-book on animal welfare and the environment), everyone is aching to hear and try out the latest methods.…

Every industry in the world seems to have operating manuals and S.O.Ps (standard operating procedures). Personally, I come from the corporate hotel world . Having worked in properties such as Loews Coronado Bay Resort and Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, we were surrounded by operating manuals and standard procedures - it was a sure fire way to back up our training and communication techniques as well as providing a permanent resource to answer any questions our staff might ever have.

Even as…