SpectraVET Performance of the Week: McLain Ward

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Nobody else can ride a high-speed high-intensity jumper and make it look like an equitation round like McLain.

Oh, McLain — we’re not even going to attempt to disguise our giant HN crush on you. Watch McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z make short work of the 1.50 m Championship Jumper Classic at Wellington’s Winter Equestrian Festival Week 3:

If that’s not a living, breathing example of why good equitation actually works, I don’t know what is.

Go McLain, and go riding!

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SpectraVET is committed to providing only the highest-quality products and services to our customers, and to educating the world in the science and art of laser therapy.

We design and manufacture the broadest range of clinically-proven veterinary therapeutic laser products, which are represented and supported worldwide by our network of specialist distributors and authorized service centers.

World Equestrian Brands Helmet Cam: Bridleless Ride

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If you’re going to gallop around the woods bareback and bridleless in the snow, a Gypsy Vanner seems like a good choice of steed.

We’re loving this compilation video by The Nightingales farm of a bareback/bridleless riding adventure in the snow woods. Doesn’t everyone secretly dream about a carefree ride with your best equine buddy with no need for tack other than a neck strap?

Keep an eye out halfway through when “Peter” the horse gets harnessed up to pull a sled … also at top speed through the woods.

(Note: must be logged in to Facebook to view.)

The little pony that couldA video compilation of our trailrides this winter ! First half is me and Peter, and second half is Peter and me hauling my boyfriend on the snowracer with my dog alpha running with us 😀 The song is from Avicii with broken arrows, and the video is filmed with my Gopro camera 🙂

Posted by The Nightingales on Monday, January 25, 2016

 

A winter wonderland indeed. Go dreaming, go riding.

Someone Finally Went Riding In a T-Rex Suit

Kristen Kovatch, Leave a comment
Our only regret is that it wasn’t a Horse Nation staff writer.

Here’s a confession: some days I wake up and think “today’s going to be the day that I run out of weird horse news and ridiculousness.” And then I turn on the computer, take a deep breath and step out into the world of the internet, in which I have no fears of ever running out of horse news and ridiculousness. Because we equestrians are a special breed of insane, and every day we’re doing new weird things with our horses.

Here’s another confession: I am one of those people who finds the T-rex suit craze to be one of the funniest things that ever happened to the internet. Which is why this guy at Gascon Horsemanship is my new personal hero. Did you ever find yourself wishing someone would ride a Paso Fino in a T-rex suit? Wish no longer, Horse Nation, because here he is.

(Note: must be logged into Facebook to view.)

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages step right up. It is my profound pleasure to announce to you we have discovered the ninth wonder of the world! For your sheer entertainment, amusement and amazement, I present to you Jurassic Paso Park!

Posted by Gascon Horsemanship on Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Just… what… how… you know what, let’s not even think about the how or why. Let’s just marvel and enjoy and laugh until we cry.

Thanks, Allison Everhart, for the tip!

Go riding!

Daily Dose of Adorable: Dave the Mini

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Late January’s massive East Coast snowstorm left us with no shortage of adorable videos of horses scampering about in the snow. This guy might just take the cake.

Sallie Cosgrove sent us this charming video of “Dave” enjoying some deep (to him) snow in New Jersey:

Dave’s owner Michelle Haven states: “He lives in Hampton, New Jersey with 3 other large horses who just can’t quite figure him out. The guy racing him on the other side of the fence is “Indie” my OTTB.

“Dave seems such a serious name for such a little guy that the neighbors call him ‘Dave from accounting’!

“I adopted him last year from an equine therapeutic riding and driving program in Ohio that was reducing their herd. He pulls a carriage and is a perfect gentleman.  He is 9 years old, and always happy and sweet; he even let kids decorate him at our Christmas party.”

Go Dave. Go riding.

SmartPak Monday Morning Feed: Barn Field Trip, Part 5

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SmartPak’s educational series at the barn continues! Today we’re working on safely measuring a horse’s height.

SmartPak‘s always looking out for us: they’re not just a great supplement producer and our favorite online tack shop, but the company is also devoted to educating us as horse owners and caretakers, as well as its staff. Every few months, both new and current employees from every one of SmartPak’s departments heads to the barn to learn about hay, grain and other feeds from SmartPak veterinarian Dr. Lydia Gray, and SmartPak is kindly sharing videos from these sessions in a six-part series.

If you missed the first few installments, you can catch up here: Parts One and Two (discussing feed and decoding feed labels), Part Three (body condition scoring) and Part Four (measuring a horse’s weight). In Part Five, Dr. Lydia Gray helps the team understand the way a horse’s height is measured and shows them how to measure height safely.

Just one installment left in the Barn Field Trip series! Our hats are off to SmartPak for this helpful series with great visual examples, not to mention the downloadable worksheets that let you learn right alongside the SmartPak team.

Go SmartPak, and go riding!