Like Sundance, But With Horses: A Preview of the 2015 Equus Film Festival
The Equus Film Festival is galloping into New York City this weekend, November 20-22, to highlight and reward the diverse and creative efforts of those who artistically pay homage to the horse through media.
American Pharoah Needs Our Help to Win 2015 Sportsman of the Year
Horse Nation, this is our time: one of our own (equines) is in need of a little show of support in the form of your vote for Sports Illustrated‘s 2015 Sportsman of the Year award. Here’s the scoop!
12 Horsemanship Gems We Learned at Equine Affaire
Clear, concise and right to the point.
Friend’s Living Kidney Donation Keeps Endurance Rider in the Saddle
When kidney failure threatened Cathe Cheesebrow’s quality of life, her friend and fellow endurance rider Janet Sarver came to her aid as a living donor. The University of Minnesota’s M Health Blog shares their story.
Back on Track ‘Horse Therapy’: Bailey & Crocker
“We can get through anything if we believe.”
Valegro to Retire After 2016 Olympics?
In the wake of today’s announcement that Valegro may retire next year, Jenni Autry compiled a list of the dressage champion’s top three most memorable performances. Here they are, as kindly republished from our sister site Eventing Nation. (more…)
#NoStirrupNovember Support Group: Halfway There!
It’s been a rough road but we see you guys sticking with the program and getting stronger, ride by ride. So strong, in fact, that now some of you are just showing off out there!
Weekly Instagram Round-Up
Another week of horse life, captured in your photos.
‘Oh Crap’ Monday, Percheron Thunder Style
Monday is the crappiest day of the week … but nothing’s crappier than when your six-horse Roman hitch comes apart while you’re performing. Check out this amazing (and maybe terrifying) video of Jason Goodman’s Percheron Thunder.
We’re big fans of Jason Goodman and his incredible feats of horsemanship, driving six Percherons at a big trot and rolling canter Roman-style with only the lines, his voice and hours upon hours of careful training keeping them together. However, even the best-trained teams can make mistakes, and even the most practiced of performers can have an accident. In July of this year while performing at the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo in Utah, that’s exactly what happened.
It’s still a little unclear exactly what happens, but it looks like one of the wheel horses (the hindmost team upon which Goodman stands) either took a misstep or somehow got out from under Goodman, causing Goodman to fall between the horses. The sudden release of tension in the lines sent the leaders and swing team into a run, and the situation escalated quickly. Fortunately, Goodman was able to grab a big chunk of mane on each of his wheel horses and hang on, his hands still on the line, despite one of the swings slipping its bridle in the mayhem. Ground crew tentatively tries to help out and then realizes that when six one-ton Percherons decide to go somewhere, few things on earth are going to stop them.
While the scene looks out of control for a few minutes, Goodman hangs on and eventually the team gathers up by the out-gate. Goodman is able to swing aboard one of his wheelers and get things back under control. According to video comments but not shown in this video, Goodman rebridled the loose horse and took one more lap as though nothing had even happened!
An “Oh Crap” moment indeed — but also quite a feat of strength and horsemanship in getting everything back under control. Jason Goodman, we salute you and Percheron Thunder!
Have an “Oh Crap” moment to share? Email your photo/video and a brief explanation of what is going down to [email protected]! Instagram users, tag your moments with #OhCrapHN (your photos need to be set to public or we won’t see them!)
Go forth and tackle your Monday, Horse Nation. Go Riding!
SmartPak Morning Feed: SP’s Exclusive Justin Boots Review
I <3 these boots.
Kentucky Performance Products: Dress for Safety
Dressing to ride involves more than just putting on a helmet (though that’s a great place to start.) This article from Equine Guelph via Kentucky Performance Products has the details. (more…)
The Academic Equestrian: ‘Tis the Season for Snuggling
Haley Ruffner gets warm and fuzzy.
Horse Radio Network Holiday Radiothon Wants YOU
Featuring 20 hosts, celebrity guests and over $2,5000 in prizes, this year’s Horse Radio Network radiothon promises to be an epic 12-hour long holiday party you won’t want to miss.
Absorbine Photo Challenge: 9 Clips For Winter
From the conservative to the creative, check out what your fellow Horse Nation readers have designed for their horses for the winter!
6 Totally Outrageous Things You Can Buy at Equine Affaire
I’m having a really hard time separating “want” from “need,” and I’ve only been here for one day.
Friday Standing Ovation from Ovation Riding
This week’s honoree: Sebastian Riding Associates.
Skijoring Featured in New Canon Commercial
Equestrian skijoring, a crazy sport horsepeople in cold climates invented to keep themselves entertained in the winter, is the focal point of a new ad from camera maker Canon.
Skijoring isn’t exactly the easiest winter sport to video, which is what made it such a great subject for the ad.
The commercial was filmed in snowy Patagonia and required a drone as well as an array of Canon cameras. According to the Canon website, challenges included the weather conditions, which were “were extremely changeable… five minutes after this shot was taken, visibility was down to just 1.5 meters.”
The crew used a snowmobile to keep up with the action, but even its top speed of 64kph was just barely enough to keep up with 55-year-old Skijoring World Champion Franco Moro and his horse Paultio.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes video:
Go skijoring!