Jumping, it has the ability to thrill and to strike fear into riders, sometimes all at once!   However, if approached in a systematic and patient manner, most of the fear will dissipate allowing both you and your horse to enjoy jumping; whether it be a pop every now and then, or a trip round a course of fences weekly at a local show.

You can listen to the audio lesson over on the original blog post …

Have you ever found yourself riding a hot horse where the slightest touch of your leg sends them shooting forward with the speed of a snake strike?  Even worse, once they start on that forward trajectory, they get heavier and heavier on your hand, they get more and more unbalanced until eventually there is an epic tug of war happening; horse and rider pitted against each other, often at speeds, which for the space you are currently occupying, are breakneck! …

For a while I always thought to get a Warmblood one crossed a hot-blooded horse with a cold-blooded horse. It made sense to me. Hot + Cold= Warm, so a hot-blooded…

I don’t use spurs, because I don’t want to make my horse dull!”

If you’ve shared this opinion with so many riders I meet, you’re in good company!

But what if I suggested that the opposite might also be true?  As a woodworker might choose smaller chisels to refine the details of his project, so spurs give a rider precision in delivering his cues,…

For those of you slackers who didn't read my previous(and awesome) post on Jumping(allow me to provide the link for you to read it) (…

In order to be a jumper(as far as I care anyway) the rider and horse must both be confident, strong, experienced,aggressive and agile. Here some basic Jumping 411 FYI's: *most horses, unless injured,can jump

. . . . . . . . . *some horse enjoy jumping…

The Akhal-teke horse is truly remarkable. Pictures of the Akhal-teke have been found dating back to the 9th century B. C. which means it's older than the Arabian horse. The Akhal-teke was favor by Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Marco Polo as a mount…

Few show jumpers are as renowned as the legendary Big Ben. Partnered with Ian Miller, the 17.3 hand Belgian-bred Warmblood’s career spanned almost ten years, during which he won over $1.5 million in prize money.

Big Ben was born on April 20, 1976, and in 1983 he was imported to Canada. According to…

Stacy Westfall. Beezie Madden. Debbie McDonald. These are just three out of many great riders out there.  Stacy Westfall is best known for her natural horsemanship, riding bareback and bridle less every time. She's competed in many competitions, appeared at the Quarter Horse Congress for guest performances. She is best remembered for her farewell routine on Wizards…

On November 18, 2006, the world lost one of its best show jumpers: Thoroughbred Gem Twist was euthanized following a pulled muscle that prevented him from standing. The 27-year-old horse led an impressive and inspiring career at the Grand Prix level under multiple riders.

Gem Twist, born in 1979, competed in show jumping…

One of our certified Saddlefit 4 Life® saddle ergonomists in Europe recently came across this horse – which had a shoulder blade that was higher than the withers. She said that the 'best' fitting saddle for it had a half panel to accommodate this unique conformation, but asked for my advice. Does anyone else recognize seeing a horse like this before?…

The Spanish Riding School



With its world famous Lipizzaner stallions and dressage training and techniques, the Spanish Riding School is definitely a Mecca for any horse lover. Take in one of their daily shows and be awed by the power and grace of…

Sometimes it just feels as if we're not getting anywhere. Another beautiful autumn, the last show of the year goes by and the difference between this month and last month is hard to discern. It seems as if we're just inching forward. We're fighting a World War I battle, a titanic struggle over a few yards, at great cost and effort with nothing to show.

And there is…

When you train at something long enough, sooner or later you're bound to hit a wall. The same is true of riding – despite schooling and lessons, at some point you may find yourself unable to advance past a certain skill or aspect of riding. So, what do you do if this happens?

Don't Panic

Remember that every rider, no matter how…

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…

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 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.

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…