by Bricole Reincke | May 16, 2023 | Bricole Reincke, Equestrian,…

In her latest book, Riding Through Thick & Thin: Make Peace with Your Body and Banish Self-Doubt - In and Out of the Saddle,  author Melinda Folse asks a question that gets to the heart of her thesis: "How can we move beyond any concerns we have about how we look or what we weigh or whether or not our breeches are too tight and just get that feeling?"  This is not a self-help book strictly targeted at plus-sized equestrians; it is a life-changing guide…

A lack of confidence when riding your horse is a significant and widespread issue. A fall, an injury, or even riding a spooky horse can quickly shatter what confidence you have, and even aging often results in reduced confidence. If you find that you’re lacking…

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and the December holidays aren’t far behind. Holidays sometimes necessitate that we be away from our horses, and finding good horse care over the holidays can be a challenge. If you know that the holidays will be keeping you away from the barn, here are some ways that you can make sure your horse still gets the care that…

Part two in our Dressage for Every Discipline series examines the transition and how it can improve your communication with your horse, no matter what discipline you ride.

Why are Transitions…

Are you going to ride in a clinic this year? Clinics are great chances to learn under skilled trainers and riders, but riding in your first clinic can be a bit intimidating. Planning ahead of time can ensure that you and your horse are ready to go on the day of the clinic.

Research the Clinician

Clinicians are all individuals, and…

For the last two months I've been working out from 7:15 to 8:15 four times a week trying to get back into shape. I use a local physical therapy office that has a "health for life" program, so I am trained under the watchful eyes of trainers and PT's who have a real education in the mechanics of the body and will make sure (I hope) that I don't hurt myself. Why? So, when this time of the year came I would be ready to…

I’ve been remembering my first experience in Walk Detention. It was the dark ages and I was a training level rider on a young horse. I was so excited to ride in my first clinic with an Olympian- my enthusiasm sizzled audibly. I handed over a fat check, my horse was spit polished and I was…

The equestrian world can seem kind of bi-polar. Some of us ride like headless (brainless) horsemen with little consciousness for our horse or surroundings.  Some of us are such control freaks that we slow every walk stride and micro-manage our horse’s nose into being afraid to take a breath. Most of us are working towards a middle ground.

Dressage seems to attract riders who like…

… and Grace gives herself a promotion.

Dressage borrows lots of language from ballet -after all, we are the dancers of the horse world. Pas de Trois is a dance of three. I have commandeered that phrase to describe riding lessons as a conversational dance between horse, rider and instructor. All three participants have to be heard for the dance to succeed.

I am always…

Growing up on Long Island in the 1960s was a lucky break for an aspiring horseman.  The quality of competition, even at the lowest levels, was keen with local riders vying for National honors every year.  With the level of competition so high, the riding instruction had to reflect that quality.  While there were many good people to learn from, and I took advantage of many of those opportunities, one teacher will always stand out.  He was Captain Vladimir Littauer.  Captain Littauer was…

Dear Drama Queen,

I understand getting upset. You have so much passion and desire for riding. I know how much you want to do the very best job. Sometimes the world seems to conspire against you; it’s like every bad thing happens to you and none of it is…

Yesterday, I gave Bella Benedict another riding lesson on Gunny. This wouldn't be so significant, after all I teach horseback riding lessons for a living. But Belle is just 6 yrs old and she has to clean corrals to EARN her own lessons. Her family is Very tight financially, so I offered Belle a chance to join the 'work to ride' program. She works Hard to earn enough credits to get to ride.



So, this was her 3rd lesson, and we worked on developing a SMOOTH whoa - a nice easy slow pull…

7 Steps to Better Ride

STEP 5 – STAYING ON TRACK

By Deborah Hopkins…