Rescuing a horse is a noble cause, and it seems that there is always a horse in desperate need of a good home. But before you agree to rescue a horse, it is important to consider whether you are really ready to take on a rescue. Below are just a few of the resources that you will want to have before you consider taking on a rescue horse.

Adequate Barn…

From 2004 – 2007, Dawn and I lived on a ranch in northwestern Nebraska, doing work with our nonprofit.  There was an area at the ranch that had several houses and other buildings, and the main horse pastures were in that area.  The area around the houses had several apple trees that bore many apples each year.  The ranch had high game fence around most of the pastures because…

People often tell me that their horse loves to work, loves to jump, loves to show…From what I know about horses, I’m not so sure. Equitation scientists looked into the matter… 



Imagine a conversation between you and your horse, if horses could talk. 



You: Good morning Spunky. Ready for a…

Smart. Clever. Dull. Clueless. We all have stories of horses that connect the dots and others that …don’t. So, really, are some horses sharper than others?

As a trainer, I’ll swear to the value of having a well-defined, systematic approach to training. I’ve also learned (sometimes the hard way) that the cookie cutter has to be adapted somewhat for…

I've dealt with a lot of spooky dressage horses, and I find that often shying gets worse because riders do one or all of the following things.



1. Hit or kick him to make him obedient.

2. Make him walk straight up to scary object and face it straight on.

3. Forget to go around your ring in both directions.

4. Force him to go close to the scary object.

5. Patting and soothing him while he’s shying.



Let's understand the nature of…

Hi Julie,



I've got a question about our five-year-old Paint gelding. My wife swears that he prefers men riders to women riders. I'm almost to conclude the same thing, even though I really am skeptical about that. It seems the women who have ridden him, including my wife, have had him act up consistently, and are fearful of him.…

Today I would like to talk to you a little about mares, geldings and stallions and how they respond differently when communicating with us.



Mares can be moody. In these periods I find that if I take the time to connect with them slowly in the beginning before riding or training on the days they are moody, they will come around and forget…

Today I read an article that basically hobbled my brain, preventing me from thinking about anything else until I worked out my feelings about it.

The author of the piece makes some assertions about the relationship between horses and their people that no logical mind can dismiss. However his tone, a sort of, “these are the cold, hard facts for all you hairy-neck-nuzzlers–face up to them!” renders even the most obvious “facts”…

Over the last two days Sahara has opened up and shown me whole heap of itchy spots. Scratching your horse may not seem like much, but, don't underestimate the power of spending undemanding time with your horse. Just hanging out, giving scratches, finding itchy places. Just because you are not going any where and doing what seems like nothing can be so important for your horse! I have always known that spending undemanding time with your horse was important. But Sahara has highlighted that…

Hello and best wishes to you all from our winter wonderland at Riversong Ranch in Alberta.



This being my first blog here on Barnmice I’d first like to say what an honour and privilege it is to be invited to join the ranks of such renowned colleagues as Jane Savoie, William Micklem and Tim Stockdale.



I’d also like to say right up front that I believe it is truism that a writer should only express opinions about what he or she has proven themselves to know something…

I always find it interesting when studies go to great lengths to prove what horse people already know!!



A new study into how horses recognise members of the same herd suggests that it's not just humans who use complex memory processes to identify each other.



University of Sussex mammal communication researchers studied the reaction of horses to the sight of one member of the same herd while they heard the recorded call of either the same horse, or a different…