Vintage Dinamico....Manolo likes to long line using his one ring cavesson. These images are not finished Piaffes but a succession of steps during Piaffe schooling.



There are a few things Manolo considers crucial when schooling Piaffe. Thefirst one is that the horse be physically ready to start schooling as…

A busy week here on the farm, culminating in the arrival of a new horse… Ruby!

Handsome, in a rugged kinda way!

Ah, Ruby, there was a time when I felt like ordering a hit on Ruby!  All his other visits (uninvited) to the farm resulted in the clippity clop of little hooves 11 months later.  (Fences aren’t a big…

How many times a week do you ride on average? I know only too well how ‘life’ can just get in the way and other things crop up and demand your attention.

In fact, I have seen how even with a scheduled riding lesson, most adults find it difficult to keep that appointment in their calendar due to unforeseen circumstances. It leads to feelings of frustration in all involved parties: the rider, the instructor and the horse.

Lets have a quick…

Whether you are a riding instructor, trainer, barn owner or manager; as you grow your business your time will begin to become more valuable and in order to best utilize your time and skills, this is a question that you must, at some point, ask yourself.

Often when professionals have trouble with customers, it is because they did not take the time at the beginning of the relationship to really get to know their potential new clients; their wants,…

With Halloween right around the corner, what better breed of horse to profile today than the stunning black Friesian? The Friesian, a graceful breed with a distinctive appearance, is quickly growing in popularity. You may even have a Friesian living in your…

My ten year old student, Saskia, has her very own new pony, Robin.  Robin is like a beautiful little fairy horse, light and springy on her feet.  She likes to make her own decisions.  That's a good thing!  Sometimes people describe their horses or ponies as "stubborn."  We can offer these ponies decisions to make and activities to do that will help them feel empowered and…

We’ve all had one – that riding instructor or trainer who made a huge difference in our lives and forever altered the way we see our equine friends. October 5^th is World Teachers Day, and in honor of that we’ve decided to take a moment to appreciate all that our riding instructors…

Planning the layout of your horse barn is hugely important, and you’ll want to be sure that the barn is the right size for your intended needs and uses. Deciding just how much barn you need can be a challenge, though, especially when you want that barn to last you for decades. If you’re beginning to plan out your barn, these tips will help you decide how much…

Halloween is almost here, and October horse shows bring with them all sorts of fun costume classes for both horses and riders. But designing a costume for a horse is a bit different from designing a costume for a human. Looking to design a great horse Halloween costume? Here’s…

The ground in West Springfield, Massachusetts will rumble as the World Percheron Congress moves into town from October 6^th through the 11^th. The World Percheron Congress, one of the largest competitions showcasing the Percheron in existence, will be held at the Eastern States…

I have been thinking about writing this ever since I first ran into the idea that it is ALWAYS wrong to allow the horse to enter your space, an idea I found mostly in the modern aspects of Western horsemanship.  This seems to be tied into the idea of teaching the horse to “respect” the human.

All through the 44 years I’ve handled horses I have reacted strongly to any horse that rudely and suddenly invades my personal space.  My reactions range a sudden harsh scolding…

Looking at potential boarding barns can be overwhelming – how do you know that a new barn will be a good fit for your horse? While you’ll always want to have an idea of just what you’re looking for in a boarding barn, it’s also a good idea to have a list of questions prepared for when you go look at a potential…

It’s well known that any horse, no matter what discipline, can benefit from dressage. But putting your horse into full dressage training isn't practical for many riders. So we’ve decided to bring the dressage to you: this new series of mini-lessons will give you dressage exercises you can work on with your horse at home to better develop his performance in your regular…

Have you ever encountered hock sores on your horse? Hock sores show up as irritated areas on your horse's hocks where the hair has been rubbed off, and sometimes where the skin has been rubbed open. Resulting from your horse’s hock pressing into or rubbing against the ground or the bottom of his stall when he lies down, hock sores are sensitive and may even…

Have you ever been lucky enough to meet a Percheron? Standing next to these gentle giants is inspiring and moving. The Percheron is an incredible breed that originated centuries ago.

History

While the Percheron originated in France, its exact ancient ancestry is unknown. There are a number of theories as to the breed’s origin, including that Muslim invaders may have…

To buy or build: that is the question. Whether or not to buy an existing barn or to build one to meet your specifications is a question that every barn owner has faced. There are advantages and disadvantages to each route, and ultimately the decision needs to be based on your own situation, needs, and wants. Are you trying to decide whether to build or buy a barn? You’ll…

This week, I attended Cavalia, the Cirque du Soleil-inspired performance event combining horses, acrobats and dancers. There were beautiful horses, an outlandishly great live band, and a stage that altered time and space. Unrecognizably. It’s the largest traveling show in the world, mind boggling in it’s scope. And yet, there were moments so…

Well, I seem to have survived the summer heat.  It has been a challenge living without air-conditioning but I got a wonderful surprise, this summer I had a LOT more endurance when riding in the heat.  My youngest son, who has a BS in Biochemistry, told me that organisms have a mechanism when it is hot that protects the body’s proteins, and when the weather turns cold (or if a person is in air-conditioning a lot) the body stops doing this particular protective…