24-Hour Photo Challenge: 22 Airborne Horses
Ever heard the phrase “horses fly without wings”? These reader-submitted horses are taking that phrase quite literally.
The Academic Equestrian: Listening to Horses
Collegiate blogger Haley Ruffner describes a recent challenging ride on a friend’s horse that tested her abilities to adapt as a horseman.
Arguably the most difficult aspect of riding in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, or IHSA, is adapting to each different horse you ride in practice or draw at a show. Even having ridden the Alfred University horses for the past five years as both a high school and now college equestrian, I still learn something new about them each ride.
Most of my coaches have emphasized “getting the feel” of your mount in the few moments you have between getting on and entering the show pen — how much leg do you need to use? Does your horse prefer a soft hand, or do you need to be more assertive? Is he spur broke, does he get antsy if you use any leg at all, does he snap at other nearby horses? Much of this can be determined from watching warm-ups and previous classes, but there is no alternative to actually sitting on the horse and feeling his barrel between your legs and his mouth on the end of your reins.
Last semester, one of my teammates rode my horse, Cricket, for the first time. In short, he operates with very little leg, soft hands, and a lot of seat and voice. My teammate, being primarily used to riding her own fancy (though slightly lazy) jumper, tended towards squeezing with her calves and rising out of the saddle at the canter. The combination of two very different disciplines and riding styles confused both of them and resulted in a rather hilarious learning experience for both horse and rider — a dramatic example of what IHSA riders endure every time they draw a new horse at a show.
To her, stopping was a drawn-out “whoaaaaaa” and pulling on the reins, while my horse was used to a short, firm “whoa,” deep seat, and calves away from his sides. In true IHSA fashion, they were both excellent sports and figured each other out within a few minutes with no casualties and little embarrassment.
This week, the tables were turned and my teammate let me ride her own personal horse, the aforementioned fancy jumper. I can now say that I fully appreciate her struggle to figure Cricket out — I struggled as much (if not more) in my ride on her horse. She warmed him up and explained to me how I should ride him — soft hands, bend him away from the scary end of the arena, lots of constant leg and keep his stride contained to avoid him stepping on himself.
It seemed simple enough until I actually had to do all of those things at once, and stay cantering, and try to maintain some semblance of equitation. To Berkeley, “whoa” means “whoa,” but so does “good boy!”; sometimes passing the side door also means “whoa.” He was wiggly everywhere Cricket tracks straight and let me know exactly when I wasn’t riding him correctly.
My ride on Berkeley was strictly for fun and had no connection to my IHSA practices, but I think I learned more from that ride than I did from the parade of western horses I rode this week. His differences from what I am used to, drastic as they are, will remind me to be more sensitive even on the western horses, who are all fairly similar. Not all horses will tell you when you’re wrong as dramatically as Berkeley and Cricket do, but nevertheless it’s just as important to listen to your horse as it is for him to listen to you.
Go riding!
Haley is the author of Horse Nation’s “Academic Equestrian” series, following her collegiate experience as she balances her studies with participation on the varsity equestrian team and time with her own horse. Catch up on past columns by clicking the #ACADEMIC EQUESTRIAN tag at the top of the page!
Haley Ruffner is attending Alfred University, majoring in English and minoring in Business and Equestrian Studies. She has a green Quarter Horse, At Last an Invitation “Cricket,” and he is also “enrolled” at Alfred. She rides western and hunt seat and also loves to rein and trail ride.
Emperor Qin Shihuang’s Terracotta Army
Shya Beth delves into the history of this iconic excavation.
#TBT: Humans With Horse Vices — Buddy Sour
In a column that’s both hilariously tongue-in-cheek and painfully accurate, Maria Wachter tackles horse vices that we as humans have adopted. Today’s vice: being buddy sour.
Come For the 16.5 Horse, Stay For the Comments
Sometimes we get a “Best of Craigslist” submission that deserves its own special spotlight. This is one of those times.
Reader Elizabeth sent this one our way: “This ad popped up on my Facebook news feed today, and there were several intriguing factors.” We took a look and realized that we had true comedic gold on our hands. And today, we share that gold with you, Horse Nation. Enjoy.
We’ll start with the ad itself:
At this point, we know what you’re thinking: “oh, yeah, another 16.5-hand goof-up.” (And maybe a raised eyebrow at the “dapple gray.”)
Oh, but there’s more: enter, the comments. (We’ll color-code the censor bars so you can keep track of who’s who.)
Uh, yeah. Let’s see that last bit again:
Horse Nation, keep it real. Go riding!
Readers, if you run across an “interesting” ad in your Internet wanderings, send it our way! Email the link to [email protected]. Who knows – maybe you’ll help connect a horse with a safe, loving home. Go Riding.
Standing Ovation by Ovation Riding: The Brooke in Ethiopia
Aiding working animals in drought conditions.
NickerDoodles: Capture the Moment
The best-laid plans of social media don’t always pan out.
Equine Law: 2016 Vaccine Requirements
Kjirsten Lee, both a lawyer specializing in equine law and a horse owner/competitor, introduces the new 2016 changes in vaccine requirements. Keep on top of the new rules!
#ThrowbackThursday: Hold On To Your Hats
We originally shared this video two years ago when it first went viral, but it’s enjoying a second wave of popularity. Hold on to your hats, folks.
Editor’s note: While we at Horse Nation respect the use of a helmet as a personal choice, we encourage all riders, regardless of discipline, to #MindYourMelon.
Working cow horses are known for their agility and grit, and nowhere is this more apparent than in Ken Patton’s viral video from the 2014 Fort Worth Stock Show. Watch as competitor Mozaun McKibben and his horse get tripped up by a cow coming out of a fence turn, falling facefirst toward the unforgiving ground. And then… (You must be logged into Facebook to view the excitement.)
Ok. Here is the video of the wreck. Think you,ll agree that Mozaun is a heck of a hand with a horse or cow.
Posted by Ken Patton on Monday, January 20, 2014
Holy cow. (Yeah, that’s right, we went there.)
Not only did Mozaun’s horse pop to his feet, but Mozaun also caught his hat and the pair resumed their ride as though nothing had happened. What a great save by both!
Go working cow horses. Go riding.
Book Review: ‘Horsefever’ by Lee Hope
A dark romance set in the eventing world!
Jumper Nation: What’s Next for George Morris?
Between the release of his autobiography and a shift of teaching focus from clinics to individual students and coaching the Brazilian Equestrian Team, the hunt-seat legend is exploring new opportunities in the upcoming year. (more…)
Fleeceworks Morning Feed: Here’s a Fun Grid Idea
Here’s a fun idea to try — if your horse is game!
The riders at Tiara Equine in Canada sure do know how to spice up their gymnastic work. Who cares if it’s winter? Not these guys, they have plenty of ideas to keep their winter doldrums at bay.
As they go through this gymnastic exercise, riders have to take off and put back on their jackets or vests. It’s a true test of balance and concentration — not to mention the quietness of their horses!
Tiara Equine posted the following little disclaimer with the video:
“Hilarious times on Tuesday night with the vest challenge. Don’t try this at home without prep. We desensitized the horses to the vest first, and I picked the most suitable horses for the task.”
Lesson to be learned: Make sure your horse is up to the task — obviously everyone needs to put safety first when trying something new. However, this is a fun idea if you think your horse is up to the challenge!
Check it out (must be logged into Facebook to view):
Hilarious times on Tuesday night with the vest challenge. Don’t try this at home without prep. We desensitized the…
Posted by Tiara Equine on Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Go Winter Riding, and Go Fleeceworks!
Grab Some Tissues and Watch Reba’s New Music Video
If the video alone doesn’t make you weep, then learning the emotional and personal backstory behind Reba McEntire’s latest song “Just Like Them Horses” probably will.
Video: Minis on the Move!
“We’re freeeeeee!”
Snowed in or not, this will probably be the cutest thing you’ll see this winter. Watch as a trio of fluffy, elated minis taste sweet freedom after Winter Storm Jonas buried the eastern states under ridiculous amounts of snow (Note: must be logged in to Facebook to view):
Minis on the run!We finally got plowed out today … looks like these three were experiencing some cabin fever! It’s always trouble when Jewel, Moe and Stuie get together 🙂
Posted by Journey’s End at Birch Hill Farm WV on Sunday, January 24, 2016
Journey’s End at Birch Hill Farm is a sanctuary in West Virginia that provides a safe home to horses and other farm animals. To help this sanctuary provide hay, feed, and other necessities to their residents, you can donate on their website or check out their Hoodies for Hay fundraising campaign.
Fantasy Farm Wednesdays: Oregon Oceanfront Ranch
Two words: OCEAN. VIEW.
St. Moritz Snow Polo Kicks Off Friday
We caught up with US polo player Melissa Ganzi just before she took off for Switzerland to become the first woman to ever play in the world-famous St. Moritz Snow Polo World Cup.
SpectraVET Classic Perf. of the Week: TR Dual Rey
Cutting horse aficionados and novices alike will find their jaws dropping with this replay from 2003: check out the great cutting horse stallion TR Dual Rey.
One of the top influential stallions of the modern age of cutting with offspring consistently netting big checks and wins all over the country, TR Dual Rey was just as impressive to watch in the pen himself. There’s nothing prettier than watching a cutting horse and all of its raw ability and athleticism turned loose on a wily calf to show his stuff, and TR Dual Rey does not disappoint.
His incredible lightning-quick reflexes and preternatural ability to read a cow was showcased in an incredible performance to capture the reserve championship at the 2003 National Cutting Horse Association Derby Open level. (Yep, it’s the one where TR Dual Rey gets on his knees.)
Now that’s truly a horse who will defy the laws of physics to get his job done — getting so low to give the cow “the eye” that he actually gets down on his knees for a moment, never breaking that intense stare.
Go cutting, and go riding!
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