It has been rather hot down here, weeks of highs in the mid to upper 90’s F.  In spite of having no air conditioning in my mobile home my MS has not gotten much worse, at least I am not stumbling all over the place and falling, and the horses are still letting me keep contact with the bit.  It has been so hot that most of my painful muscle cramps have gone away and I have been able to stop using the Back on Track things on myself and the horses I ride.  I think the horses…

A while back I did a writing on Dressage, it's ways and beauty, I then did another one expressing my opinion of the way Dressage is done now, which I find despicable with the double bridles and harshness of the riders hands and reins. I know that's not 'recent' recent development, but Dressage wasn't always like that. It was a beautiful partnership between horse and rider. Together they became one in a series of poetic dance moves. The rider horse…

Is your current barn a little too small for your liking? If your stalls are filled and you need more space, then it’s time to expand your horse barn. Here are some great tips to get you started in expanding your barn.

Decide How Many Stalls You Need

Before you start to plan your barn expansion, decide just how many stalls…

An equine chiropractor can make a big difference in a horse’s comfort and performance, but it’s important to find a talented chiropractor. Put these tips to use when it’s time for you to find a great equine chiropractor.

Ask Your Vet for a Referral

Your vet can be an excellent source of…

Do you plan to take your horse swimming this summer? Swimming with your horse is a fun summertime activity. These tips will help ensure that your experience is a success.

Make Sure Horses Are Allowed

When you’re planning your trip, check to make…

My friend and student, Joan, and I were chatting in her lesson and she said that her motto lately when it comes to finding time for her Morgan, Baxter, is “DO SOMETHING.” I laughed, because that’s been my theme lately…

Forty-five years ago today I finally got my first horse, Hat Tricks, after wanting, desiring, yearning and begging for a horse for thirteen years.

When I got my first horse I felt WONDERFUL.  But I had almost no experience with horses.  Just trail riding for 4 years as a kid in South America (horses already groomed and tacked up) in no way gave me enough experience to deal with owning a horse.  Luckily, due to reading every non-fiction book on horses I could find, I…

I've been volunteering at the Beekman Therapeutic Riding Center for around two months now. It's been rocky a few times but otherwise very smooth and fun. I must say I've grown attached to the horses and ponies and am developing favorites among both the equines and students. I guess my favorite student is Abbie, a rebellious red head in her late teens. I can't tell if there is anything physically or mentally wrong with her, but she is fun to talk to and work…

What’s Next

What a terribly emotional time this has been.  The disappointment has been weighing on me, heavily.  Not a few tears have been shed, and none of them caused by my physical pain.  I was even doubting Mrs. Shoes.  (Foolish, foolish me.)  It didn’t help, that Kevin, always a cynic, was painting me a picture of a woman who just wanted to get rid of a horse—that she was hiding the fact that he had a bucking problem—just because she wanted to get rid of him.  Though I…

Is it your dream to open a horse rescue of your own? Rescuing horses in need is a noble cause, but there’s a lot to know before you set out to create your own rescue.

Filing Nonprofit Status

If you plan to run a rescue, you will be looking at filing for nonprofit status. When your rescue is deemed a nonprofit, people who…

With parade season in full swing, are you planning on riding in a parade with your horse? Riding in a parade can be a great experience, and it’s fun to be able to share our horses with others. These tips can help to keep both you and your horse safe during a parade.

Check Your Liability Insurance

You can be held…

Ouch

My 4th ride on MerryLegs went superb. We practiced our walk/whoa transitions, did some straight lines and he seemed to understand when I wanted to turn. Things were looking good.

On Saturday, I rode at a walk for about 15 minutes. I decided to ask for a trot. I tried the ride before, but he didn’t do it, and I didn’t push it. This time, I was more determined. I said the word, squeezed my legs, got nothing and continued to squeeze. Next thing I knew, I was flying through…

Building a horse barn of your own is a big decision. There’s lots of planning and research that needs to go into your barn in order to ensure that you get the barn of your dreams. Have you been thinking about building a horse barn of your own? These points can help you determine if you’re ready to move forward with the project.

You’ve Looked…

What's better than spending three days with horses? Nothing that I can think of. Yesterday was day one of horse sitting. I mucked stalls and tossed hay. The water troughs needed cleaning and re-filling so my brother and I did that too. The dog that stays at Julie's house has become my shadow, needing to be with me at all times. He'll ignore my brother and follow me around. While there I was able to ride Cody for a hour. It was the perfect opportunity to work…

While many of us don’t mind the smell of horse at all and would even welcome it into our homes, our other family members might not feel the same way. Keeping the horse smell from permeating your home can be a bit of a challenge, but with a little planning, you can minimize how much l’eau de horse enters your home.

Have a Designated “Horse”…

Rides Two and Three

Totally uneventful.  I didn’t have my number one assistant, Ellen, but Kevin did a fine job as number two assistant.  He held MerryLegs for mounting and stood with us as we practiced standing quietly and walked by our side.  He stayed with us the majority of ride #2, but I only had him help a little on ride #3. 

We haven’t done much except practice “walk” and “whoa.”  He only tried backing up a couple of times.  We got stuck at a standstill…

What is the purpose behind teaching your horse personal space? We teach horses to respect our personal space for safety and manners. A woman I knew told me that if your horse is walking right beside you, spooks and bolts you'll get run over. She always said to keep the horse 2-3 feet away or an arms distance from you. Not only does teaching personal space help avoid being trampled it also helps to avoid being crowded, knocked in the head by his head and…