Everyday Art 

Social Experiment

To determine if art enriches your life.

There have been several scientific studies on how art enriches our lives. 

According to Professor Semir Zeki, neurobiologist at the University College of London, when you stare at great artworks, the part of your brain that is stimulated…

A word of caution to all artists who are seduced into entering art competitions. Read the fine print very, very carefully.

Free entry and prize money may not be worth it.

Recently I came across such a competition run through the City of Edmonton (government) so I assumed it would be a legit competition.  The call for submission was very particular it had to follow a theme and if your art…

Have you ever wondered why you like horses? 

Hmm. “Like” is a very weak word to describe the connection 99% of horse lovers feel to horses.

Statements, such as horses are in your blood, and born to ride are common among horse people and understood at a core level.

Which begs the question are horses in our DNA?  Are we (some of us) hard wired to carry the horse lover gene?

Artist /…

When you really think about it, whipping an animal is cruel. Yet many horse riding methods and those which proclaim themselves to practice 'natural horsemanship' whip horses and use whips in all of their routines. It is surprising when we consider that horses are adored for their intelligence, memories, beauty and sensitivity. Why would anyone teach to whip and cause pain to such an extraordinary animal?

True Natural Horsemanship has done away with the whip and instruments of pain…

Why attending the 

Painted Pony  - Creative Retreat is as good as a Vacation

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the fast pace of your life and endless to-do lists. Feel like you just NEEEED a break?

But with heavy schedules and commitments its hard to get away on a vacation, I hear you!  Whether it’s impossible to take time off work or the many responsibilities at home with a family, for many people…

You might jump to the conclusion, that they don’t have a Bible.  But let’s assume theses teens and I will let all the adults off the hook for now, do have a Bible and in fact they also attend church.  

They are filled with good intentions and know in their heart of hearts they ought to spend time in God’s word.  So I ask you again why don’t they read the Bible?

The answer is little more complex however I stumbled on a simple…

When I go to buy a horse the first things I look at are head shape and placement of whorls.  In my experience with my own horses and way back when I was starting colts I have found that whorls and head shape are great indicators of personality. This isn’t completely hair brained. Various grates including Temple Grandon have studied it and apparently it holds true with dogs, cattle and even children. I’m going to have to look into that a little more.

Lets take a look at Rusty. The most…

Life Hacks we can learn from horses

by Linda Finstad

Acknowledging horses as great teachers is nothing new.

Anyone who learned to ride on a pony will eagerly relay all the life lessons they learned from that experience.  Lessons in patience, determination, how to fall and roll and humility.…

Either Directly or Indirectly art has given me more than the gift of beauty and inspiration.

 Art has connected me to some amazing people and some of my most treasured friends.

My preferred art form and one at which for the past 15 years I have earned my living is “Fine Art Photography”.  Not just any fine art photography, my specialty and number one passion is…

Welcome to The Equestrian Lifestyle Blog!

The Equestrian Lifestyle Blog

The Top 5 Things You Need to Know About Buying Winter Blankets

Well everyone, it's coming up to that dreaded season we all love to hate in Canada:…

If you are an instructor, coach or trainer your knowledge and expertise is Gold.  It is what sets you apart from all the other Instructors, Coaches and Trainers. The experience you have gained over time and perseverance, the insights you have learned through trail and error are priceless. 

However, your reach  - the people you can help and inspire with this hard earned wisdom is limited to time and travel. Unless you somehow record all this knowledge…

Don’t Shoot the Horses

Before you get too upset the reference is to photography not weaponry

Have you ever had, what you thought was a fabulous idea - yet everyone around you shoots you down and tells you “Don’t Do It”.

The “naysayers” tell you it’s a crazy idea that will never work, it’s just not…

#Life Hacks - How to Attract More Customers to your Tack Store

It’s no secret we live in the information age.

In fact we are bombarded with “information” every day in the form of e-mails, messages, pop up ads on-line courses and pod casts even blogs.

I am sure much of the information contained in…

If you’re looking for a great memento of a beloved horse, or if you still need a creative Christmas gift for a horse-loving friend, then today’s blog is just for you! Have you ever wondered how to make a horsehair bracelet? We’ve got step-by-step directions so you can do this fun craft in your home this month.

Materials…

At Classic Equine Equipment, we’re proud to now offer the iFeed feeder. This feeder, designed for horses, has the potential to improve your horses’ health while freeing up your schedule and saving you money. How? Let’s take a look at iFeed and its many benefits for you as a horse owner.

The Basics of the iFeed Feeder

The iFeed…

Do you feel bad tossing out tons of old feed sacks each week? Those feed sacks don’t have to go straight into the trash. Here are some creative ways to repurpose old feed sacks around your barn.

Use Sacks As Trash Can Liners

One of the easiest ways to repurpose old feed sacks is to use them as trash…

FREE Marketing action that really works!!

It works because it's FREE

That “Free” word really grabs our attention – that is because we all like to get something for nothing.

It is a universal fact of life – no exceptions.

So how can Equine Business owners use that knowledge to their advantage and ultimately increase their customer base and bottom line?

Good question  - I am glad you…

Have you ever gotten out onto the trails, only to discover you left something important back in the horse barn? Here’s a list of items to make sure you have in your trail riding saddle bags the next time you head out.

First-Aid Kit

Hopefully you’ll…

It seems as though everyone is heading back to school right now, so it’s only fitting that you brush up on your own schooling when it comes to riding. While you don’t necessarily have to go back to school, there are some great ways you can improve your riding knowledge on your own.

Attend Clinics

One of the best ways…