Kristen Kovatch

Tuesday Video: Tour de France Gets Horsepower

Put yourself in the saddle of this horse and rider and imagine you’re racing the world’s best cyclists through the French countryside!

This video clip has been making the viral rounds and for good reason — this horse and rider are enjoying the gallop of a lifetime, racing alongside the leaders of the Tour de France on a beautiful summer day. Imagine how exhilarating it must be to be thundering along beside the world’s best cyclists!

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

The 2016 Tour de France started on July 2 and continues through July 24. The riders have completed through Stage 9; Stage 10 begins today, July 12.

Go riding!

Just a Few Horseback Riders Playing ‘Pokemon Go’

If only our horses were this bombproof when faced with actual wildlife.

He’s helping me catch #pokemon on #pokemongo #horse #horsenation

A photo posted by Chloe (@chloejust) on

In case your Facebook newsfeed or Instagram history isn’t full to the brim yet with friends sharing their Pokemon they snagged by walking around the neighborhood, we’re here to top it off with just one more example of worlds colliding.

For those of you still a bit behind the times, the hotly-anticipated Pokemon Go app game released last week, which turns players loose on their communities to “catch” Pokemon in the real world … on the screen. This combination of worlds is being called “augmented reality,” in that players must interact with their natural environment in order to play the game.

The premise is simple: travel around the world, catch and tame Pokemon, and battle other players (called trainers). That’s the same concept behind all of the previous incarnations of Pokemon — only this time, you’re literally traveling around to find these things. Players might need to go to a body of water to catch aquatic-based Pokemon, for example.

Others might be found in rural areas … like your riding arena.

We at Horse Nation profess to be tech-savvy individuals but we’ve got to hand it to you guys, keeping us old fart equestrian relevant. (We also should probably state for the record that we encourage complete attention to your surroundings and your steed whether you’re mounted or working on the ground.)

Look what we found! #horsenation #pokemongo #equestrian #aqha #apha #fun #eve #roan #pony #pokemon

A photo posted by Ricki Wischmann (@rickstarr93) on

“Augmented reality” indeed. Legit, what horse could face this terrifying blue bat thing in real life this calmly?

Earl is unimpressed by the Zubat #pokemon #pokemongo #horse #horsenation A photo posted by @rearingangel on

What a time to be alive. Go catch ’em all. Go riding.

World Equestrian Brands Helmet Cam: Beach Driving

Hey, the beach isn’t just for horseback riding — ride along with this pony and cart doing a beach DRIVE in today’s Helmet Cam!

Sure, our equestrian bucket list might include galloping down the beach with the salt air whipping our hair and our horse’s mane into the wind — but that’s a dream that doesn’t necessarily have to be just for riders! Ride along with “Joy Joy” the pony for a beach trek with her riding stablemates in today’s Helmet Cam:

What a great little pony trotting bravely into the surf! And how much fun this must be, to share a beach experience whether you’re in the saddle or on the driver’s bench.

Go riding — AND driving!