We all have our own reason for wanting to learn how to ride a horse. The benefits of this sport are numerous and are shared among all riders. If you are a horse owner, you may be thinking that you don't need such information. But, I hope you will continue reading. And if someone is searching for a new hobby, maybe the info below will help convince you to join the horseback riders club. …

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Good Morning,

Today I am asking you to take a good look at how you see yourself?  What's your take on you and where you are at, in your life, relationships, career, and horse life and work.

How do you rate your potential right now - a 5* Ten or a knock down 3.5?   Well today I am going to show you how to start thinking…

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With horse show season beginning, you will likely, at some point or another, come home from a show without placing. And while it might seem like you lost out in that situation and didn’t have a successful horse show, there’s still a lot you can…

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When things go wrong in our horse work, our horsemanship, our riding.....we begin to blame ourselves; but we also take it further.  Sometimes we can blame ourselves so much when things go wrong that we stop trying, we stop searching for an answer, we stop attempting to move forward and begin to move backwards.

This does not just affect our relationship with our horses, it starts to creep into other areas of our lives, how we see ourselves, our social interactions, our careers…

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Once you start jumping, it is very tempting to focus on that, and neglect flatwork. However, and I think George Morris would agree, this is a huge mistake, and one that riders would do well to avoid.

Each week should contain a session dedicated to flatwork, focusing on refining aids, suppling via lateral moves and, in my opinion, no stirrup work. For adults, and eventers, I don't think this is an much of an issue. But, I can certainly understand wanting to do nothing but jump,…

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After my last session with my trainer, I felt a little disappointed with my jumping and my inability to bring Kingston's pace under control. I know not to give the guy something to lean against, but I honestly thought I provided enough release to prevent it from happening.



Yesterday, we rode outside and there are no walls to use as aids in slowing him down. We trotted over a low fence, then, we moved up to cantering over the fence, then halting. Not bad. Then my trainer decided…

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     After eleven days in Kentucky for the 2011 FEI North American Junior & Young Rider Championships, I’m finally home! I had such an amazing time and I can’t wait to share my experience with you. This was my third time at the NAJYRC, but the fun and excitement just grows each year! My NAJYRC experience started on Tuesday, July 19th when my horse was picked up at…

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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…

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GOOD MORNING I posted this on Dressage Mentor

(www.dressagementor.com) this morning , but know some of you guys are not members, and

though you might want to read it! enjoy







I have had coffee and even went shopping for

needed essentials in the house last night. Its the first time since

arriving home that i have had a moment! Having gotten home on Saturday,

then the Everything Equine Event and the directly… Continue

There are a lot of questions about sponsorship that pop up regularly on bulletin boards. From the other side of the sponsorship request, here are my "Sponsorship 101" tips:



• I would recommend targeting companies you are familiar with and already use and like their products or services.

• Before contacting anyone, do a bit of research on the company. Find out who they already sponsor, in what area… if they already have a ton of riders in your geographical area, your chances are… Continue

As someone who specializes in movement…

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Question: When I ride my hands bounce up and down at all the gaits. Not a lot but enough so I am not riding horses to the best of my ability and knowledge. I can keep the horse on the bit but in the posting trot every time I go up my hands come up too.Holding a strap doesn't help. Trying to make my hands go down as I go up doesn't help. What can I do?



Basically if you are stiff in mid-back or in the upper chest and shoulders and the shoulder blades don't slide well over the rib cage… Continue

I get questions about going faster without bouncing--trotting, cantering, loping, galloping--and realize that novice riders are often intimidated by faster gaits, not realizing that riding the trot or canter on a calm, well-trained horse is fun and relaxing, even exhilarating.



Part of learning to ride comes from spending time in the saddle but plenty of riders spend hours in the saddle without really learning the one simple thing that will make it enjoyable to ride: moving with the… Continue