Do you have a special routine for your horse each time you come home from a show? Horse shows take a lot out of our horses, both physically and mentally. Here are some ways you can help your horse recover from the demands of horse shows.

Cooldowns

The first step that you can take in helping your horse recover from a show is to make sure that he…

If you work around horses long enough, you’ll learn how to handle all manner of scrapes and injuries. But have you ever had to deal with an eye injury before? Eye injuries can be some of the most serious in horses, and require immediate treatment. Knowing how to properly handle eye injuries may mean the difference between whether or not your horse recovers…

Appaloosas roamed the Americas during the 19^th century. The Nez Perce Indians knew these horses well, and the horses were central to the Nez Perce Tribe. These Appaloosas were highly athletic, elegant, and prized by the Nez Perce. They carried entire tribes great distances and helped the Nez Perce hunt and survive. However, the horses were taken away by the U.S. Cavalry at the Nez…

When the temperature climbs over 90° and the humidity is high, sometimes it’s best not to ride your horse. And while not being able to ride is disappointing, the day doesn’t have to be a total loss. There are many ways to continue moving forward with your horse even when you can’t be in the saddle. Here are a few great ways to put a non-riding day to…

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…

Nobody likes finding ticks on their horses, but if you live in the Northeast part of the country, ticks carry with them an added risk: Lyme disease. If you’ve ever had to treat your horse for Lyme disease you know how difficult it can be. Is your horse at risk for Lyme disease and if so, what can you do to prevent it? We’ve got the answers for you.

What is Lyme…

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…

If you were a horse-loving child, chances are that at some point you read Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague. Maybe you went on to read Stormy, Misty’s Foal, and even Sea Star, Orphan of Chincoteague. Misty of Chincoteague became a classic in the literary canon of horse stories, but do you know that it was…

High Temperature

Your horse’s normal temperature should be between 99° and 101°F. If your horse’s temperature exceeds that range, he is becoming overheated and needs to be cooled down. It’s a good idea to bring a thermometer along with you to any shows or events that you’ll be riding at so that you can monitor your horse’s…

When you were young did your riding instructor encourage you to watch the lessons of older, more experienced riders? Watching experienced riders is a popular way to learn about desirable riding techniques. But have you ever considered that you can learn from younger, less experienced riders too? If you haven’t spent some time recently watching younger riders in their…

If you have your own barn and a few empty stalls, it might be tempting to open your facility up to boarders. Bringing in boarders has some advantages, in that it can bring in some money and will create more activity at your barn. But should you take on boarders? Before you decide to make the leap, consider how it would affect your particular situation.

The Financial…

While you've likely heard of the Australian Stock Horse, did you know that there's another breed that was hugely influential to Australia’s development? The Waler, a lesser-known breed, proved itself to be a phenomenal cavalry horse during the 20^th century.

The Waler's history begins with the importation of horses to Australia in 1788 and…

Do you videotape your riding lessons? There are a number of benefits to taping your lessons, and given how easily you can record with phones and tablets today, it’s really not a difficult thing to do. If you’re not already taping your lessons, here are some reasons you might want to start.

See What Your Trainer Means

Videos of your…

Your barn is supposed to be a safe place where your horse can live comfortably, but barns also often contain many health hazards you might not be aware of. Since your horse may be spending more time indoors during the summer to escape the bugs and the heat, now is a perfect time to evaluate your barn to make sure that it is truly a safe place for your horse to be.…

Are you lucky enough to have a senior horse in your barn? Senior horses are sometimes brushed over for younger, more energetic mounts. But senior horses have much to offer riders, especially to those of us who are young, inexperienced, or just looking to enjoy a relaxing ride. Senior horses are amazing because:

They Know the Drill

Senior…

On July 22 of 1817, Figure, the foundation stallion of the Morgan breed, carried President James Monroe through a parade. The bay stallion’s dependability and strength in carrying the president through the parade’s busy atmosphere are just some of the great traits for which the Morgan breed would become known.…

In today’s world of online sales ads, having a good video of your horse can mean the difference between selling him quickly and not. So how do you make sure that your video portrays your horse well? Don’t worry - we’ve got some tips to get you started.

Use a Tripod

If you’ve ever watched shaky handheld videos of horses…

Every rider dreams of open fields and large arenas and riding rings, but sometimes we have to make do with less. If you have access only to a small riding ring, there are still ways to make the most of the space. Here are some tips to get you started.

Place Equipment Strategically

A small ring will only seem smaller as you add in…

Downpours can happen unexpectedly, and whether you’re in the show ring, in the middle of a lesson, or out on the trails, you may find yourself unable to keep your tack from getting wet. Did you get caught in the rain? Don’t worry – here’s what to do to save your tack.

1.       Stay Calm

First off, don’t panic. With proper care,…