Have you ever walked into a barn only to discover that your horse was apparently rubbing his tail all night long? Tail rubbing can quickly cause major damage to a tail that can take a long time to regrow and restore. Horses typically rub their tails for a few common reasons. If you identify the right one, you can treat your horse and have him comfortable and back to normal…

Galloping your horse along the surf, water splashing up around you as the sun sets – it’s on any rider’s bucket list. As summer draws to an end, some beaches will once again open up to horses. If you’ve never ridden your horse on the beach before, it’s an experience that you’ll definitely want to have at least once. Here are some ways to ensure that your first ride on the beach…

From August 23^rd through September 7^th, top equestrians and their equine partners will descend on Normandy, France to compete at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Participation in the World Equestrian Games is an accomplishment in…

Carrying proper weight in your heels is the foundation to a secure seat when riding, but many riders struggle with getting their heels down deeply enough. If you’d like to be able to drop your heels down further while in the saddle, we’ve got some great exercises you can try.

Check for Proper Leg Alignment and Stirrup Length

If you’re riding with an improper…

If your horse just has too much energy and is too excitable, your first impulse might be to put him on a calming supplement. But before you reach for that supplement bucket, there are a few other things that you should try first that can make a big difference in your horse’s energy levels.

Increase Turnout Time

Too much time in a stall  can lead to excess…

Tying up, also known as exertional rhabdomyolysis, or ER, is a syndrome that affects the horse’s major muscle groups and tissues. When a horse is tying up, he can present as being unable to walk or move, since his body cannot control what would be normal muscle contraction and…

Have you heard of Erin Go Bragh, the talented pony stallion who was a top eventer during his prime? Erin Go Bragh competed at the Advanced level with Carol Kozlowski in 1998 and 1999, and Breyer Animal Creations made a model of the bay stallion in 1998. Holding his own against the larger eventing horses, Erin Go Bragh, a Connemara Pony, is just one example of the incredible talents of this…

Many riding camps offer campers the option of bringing home a camp horse at the end of the summer. Camps save on the upkeep costs of their horses, and some lucky campers get to enjoy having “a horse of their own” for the year until it’s time for the horse to return to the camp in the early summer. But is bringing home a camp horse a good option for your…

Is your horse's topline lacking? A good topline both improves a horse's appearance and makes it easier for him to carry himself properly. If you're looking to develop and strengthen your horse’s topline, these exercises can help you do that.

Before You Start

Before you begin working on your horse’s topline, remember that for these exercises to be…

Are you envious of other horses at your barn with long, full tails? While some horses and breeds are genetically predisposed to having thinner tails than others, there are a number of ways you can encourage fuller, healthier tail growth on your horse.

Start With Nutrition

The quality of your horse’s coat and his tail hair are closely linked to his health…

The horse world was vastly different in the early 20^th century. Warrenton, Virginia was famous for breeding and show hunters, and equine enthusiasts traveled to the area for the quality horses that were bred and trained.

In 1899, Warrenton horsemen Julian Kieth and Charlie Smith decided to hold a Warrenton horse show. They…

If you have a horse who "gets fat on air" in your barn, then you are well acquainted with the "easy keeper." Making sure that your easy keeper stays at a healthy weight can become a particular challenge during the summer, when pastures are lush. Need some help? Here are some ideas. Use a Muzzle

Lush pastures and an easy keeper generally mean an overweight…

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…