There are all sorts of exercises designed to make you a better rider. From riding in two-point to riding without stirrups, the varieties are endless. But have you ever thought about riding bareback instead? Bareback riding has its own unique set of advantages that can help with your development and improvement as a rider. Here’s why.

Develop the Right…

Putting your horse onto someone else's trailer to be shipped cross-country can be worrisome at the least. When hiring a cross-country shipper, it’s important to hire someone who is experienced, reliable, and trustworthy. But there’s more that goes into the package. Looking to hire a long-distance shipper for your horse? Here’s how.…

Olympic-caliber horses and riders will return to New York City this August for the first time since 2001. The first-ever Central Park Horse Show is scheduled to run from September 18^th through September 21^st. During that time the competition will feature a variety of…

Are you looking for a new horse? Adopting a horse from a horse rescue can be a great idea, depending on just what you’re looking for in your new horse. Have you considered adopting a rescue horse? Here are a few reasons why you might want to do just that.

Help Horses in Need

When you adopt a horse from a rescue, you’re providing a good home…

Do you find yourself wanting to give a new discipline a try? Making the leap to a new discipline is an exciting, and sometimes stressful, time. If you’re toying with the idea of changing to a new discipline, here are some ways to help make the transition go smoothly.

Evaluate Whether Your Horse Can Go With You

Do you dream of trying a new…

Do you have an extra saddle sitting around in your tack room? Chances are there’s a rider out there who could put that saddle to good use while putting a little extra cash in your pocket. Thanks to the internet, selling a saddle online isn’t particularly difficult. These tips will get you started.

Clean and Evaluate Your Saddle

Before you list your…

What if learning your horse’s ancestry was as easy as pulling some hair and waiting a couple of weeks? Many places offer genetic testing for several creatures including humans, to establish ancestry and in animals, what breeds they are made up of. What if equine gaitedness was also so easy? Learning…

Did you grow up in a horsey family? Maybe you went to the races with a grandparent, or maybe one of your parents taught you to ride. Even if your family doesn’t share your horse-loving gene, horses and horse sports are still something that your entire family can share and enjoy together. In honor of Grandparents Day, let’s take a look at how families can enjoy horses…

Have you ever heard of the Trait du Nord? This beautiful draft breed originated in the 1800s, yet it is endangered today and its future remains uncertain.

History

The Trait du Nord originated in the grasslands of the southern Netherlands, northern France, and throughout Belgium. Its…

When you’re building a barn on limited acreage, planning the layout of your property is all the more important. You can keep horses on limited acreage, but you will need to be sure to make good use of the space. Working with a small piece of land? These tips will get you started.

Decide How Small Is Too Small

While you can certainly keep horses on…

Have you ever ridden to music? At first glance, riding to music might seem like an unnecessary distraction for the rider, but it actually has a number of advantages. So whether you have speakers in your arena or would have to rely on your iPod (use external speakers, not ear buds, when riding), here’s why you might want to start up the tunes when you…

You've just purchased a new pair of tall boots – congratulations! Now the oh-so-fun process of breaking them in begins. Breaking in tall boots is uncomfortable, sometimes painful, and even a bit frustrating. It takes some time. However, there are a few things you can do to help speed the process along.

Wear Heel Lifts

It’s generally recommended to…

We covered the physical part of balance, now let's continue with the mental challenges.

The fall foliage is beginning to emerge, and trail riding is more beautiful and enjoyable than ever this time of year. But with the fall also comes hunting season, which can bring serious safety issues to your trail rides. While it’s still possible to head out on the trails in the fall, you will want to take some additional measures to keep you and your horse…

By: Carol M. Aldridge



As a business owner, some of your top marketing priorities should include growing your audience and increasing your visibility. Although there are several ways to go about this, these three key strategies, work hand-in-hand:





Blogging, Email Marketing, and Lead…

Whereas many racehorses are renowned for their incredible winning careers, there’s one racehorse who is known for just the opposite. Zippy Chippy, a 1991 Thoroughbred gelding, lost an incredible 100 races during his racing career, the 100^th race being at the Northampton Fair in Northampton, Massachusetts on September 10,…

We’ve all heard it – it’s the attention to details that makes a winner. So over the next few columns, can I share some of the details I see overlooked as I walk across the show grounds or sit in the judge’s booth?

Gotta say, most of these are training oversights. And believe me, years ago I’d have been the first one to ask “Why does it matter?” But I’ve come to…