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…

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 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…

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…

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…

Does your horse just trot faster and faster when you ask it to canter from a trot? Find out why in this interview excerpt with Dawn Hill Adams, Ph.D. about the biomechanics of the trot to canter gait transition.

QUIZZ TIME and a PRIZE! 

QUESTIONS: What differences can you find between the top and bottom frames looking closely at Clint and Manolo's body, posture, tack, etc..We counted at last thirteen. 



What clues do these differences give you as…

As the show season progresses, it’s easy to get caught up in competition and your goals of advancing through the levels. However, it’s back-to-school season, and both you and your horse can benefit from it. Taking a few rides to focus on the basics can make your more advanced riding even better. Here’s why you might want to take your…

Now we are in the refinement stage. Only scored 58.3% and placed 8th out of 8 at the dressage show last Sunday (17th Aug), so no decorations for the barn, but I am still deliriously happy because, in almost all other regards, everything went perfectly.

As anyone who has ever gone to any event can attest, there are always tasks to do, many must be in a certain order and by a…

Carrying proper weight in your heels is the foundation to a secure seat when riding, but many riders struggle with getting their heels down deeply enough. If you’d like to be able to drop your heels down further while in the saddle, we’ve got some great exercises you can try.

Check for Proper Leg Alignment and Stirrup Length

If you’re riding with an improper…

Most riders echo the sentiment expressed by this high-level professional dressage trainer, who said, “As a riding teacher, trainer and student of ‘the horse’ I’ve searched high and low to understand how to make the horses job easier for them and applicable for my students. Various training methods suggest ‘putting the horses’ head low’, while other say to bring it up. Some…

WHAT, WHY, WHEN and HOW: The WALK PIROUETTE



Check the link at bottom for full article and over 10 clearly captioned step by step images plus clues to help you figure out what is not working, why and how to fix it.



"There are different ways to introduce the walk…

We had a marvelously successful show a couple of weekends back, a dressage show at Fox Run, near Cambridge. It wasn't our first show, we tried that back in '11 with a disastrous attempt at a short course event, but it was our first successful show and we achieved all our objectives and then some.

The objective was simple: do all the necessary preparations the week before,…

Hills on your property can be a great training and conditioning tool, and there are various ways to use hills to your advantage when riding and conditioning your horse. Here are a few tips so that you can put hills to work for you.

Keep Safety First

Hills help to condition your horse and develop his muscles in strength, but they are only…

The Marwari is an interesting, unique looking breed. Its long history dates back to the 1100's, making today’s breed an important part of Indian culture.

History

The Marwari breed originated in the Marwar region of India. It is believed that the Marwari is the result of Indian ponies which were crossed with Arabians. The Marwari was first bred in the 1100's by the…