In this excerpt from his book The Sport Horse Problem Solver, former international eventer Eric Smiley gives us a simple breakdown of what straightness on horseback really is, and how to know if you’ve got it…or not.
In this excerpt from her book Dressage for the Not-So-Perfect Horse, FEI 5* dressage judge Janet Foy provides practical advice for dealing with three problems she often sees when riders are warming up their horses prior to schooling or competition.
In this excerpt from her book Riders of a Certain Age, journalist and horsewoman Fran Severn talks about what older horse lovers need to consider when making horses a part of their lives for the first time…or for the first time in a long time.
In this excerpt from Shoeing the Modern Horse by Steven Kraus, CJF, and Katie Navarra, the head of Farrier Services at Cornell University explains one of the ways things can go wrong when you hire a farrier, and what to watch for to keep your horse sound.
In this excerpt from the middle-grade novel Liberty Biscuit by Melanie Sue Bowles, 13-year-old Kip finally gets the horses she’s always wished for… in a way she never imagined.
In this excerpt from his new book The Horse Is My Teacher, horseman Van Hargis explains how we must be present and accountable for the contact we take on our horses’ mouths.
In this excerpt from master storyteller Mark Rashid’s new book For the Love of the Horse, he explores a concept that every rider and trainer strives for—and how it can make us lose track of reality. (more…)
In this excerpt from her new book Essential Horse Speak: Continuing the Conversation, Horse Speak founder Sharon Wilsie explains what we really mean by “feel” when it comes to our horses and how we can improve it in ourselves. (more…)
In this excerpt from her book Riders of a Certain Age, journalist and horsewoman Fran Severn explores the challenges we can face when our significant others don’t accept the significant role horses play in our lives. (more…)
In this excerpt from his memoir of being a horse-show dad, Chad Oldfather shares a moment of elation when his daughter’s Iowa-bred Quarter Horse won big. (more…)
In this excerpt from her new book The Athletic Equestrian, long-time collegiate coach Sally Batton gives us one of her cool teaching tools for improving our upper-body position in the saddle. (more…)
In this excerpt from The Ultimate Guide for Horses in Need, veterinarian Dr. Stacie Boswell gives us a basic guide for determining when a rescue or rehabilitation case is ready to have his work or training load increased, according to his health and body condition. (more…)
In this excerpt from The Gates to Brilliance, six-time Olympian and former technical advisor to the US Dressage Team Robert Dover dishes on an unusual drama that played out behind the scenes at one international competition. (more…)
“They’re gonna run. We don’t want ‘em to but they will. Especially with that gray leading the pack. They’ve been living the good life and they’re probably not gonna want to come in. We’re just gonna stay with ‘em so we don’t lose ‘em. If we lose ‘em we might not find ‘em again today and then this day’s work is all fer not.” (more…)
In this excerpt from his adventure memoir On the Hoof, author Jesse McNeil shares a heart-stopping moment early in his trek across the country with his Tennessee Walker Pepper. (more…)
Here are 10 steps you can easily incorporate into your riding and training habits that will ensure your horse gains confidence every time you work together.
In this excerpt from his book Balancing Act:The Horse in Sport—An Irreconcilable Conflict?, Dr. Gerd Heuschmann explores our responsibilities to the horse and whether we can pursue competitive goals while still meeting the horse’s needs in a fair and just manner. (more…)
In this excerpt from her book Pilates for Horses, certified Pilates instructor and eventer Laura Reiman gives us a simple exercise that specifically targets the abdominal muscles for strengthening.
In this excerpt from the book she wrote with veterinarian Dr. Allen Schoen, The Compassionate Equestrian, horsewoman Susan Gordon discusses what to keep in mind when working with the overly playful (aka “spooky”) horse. (more…)
In this excerpt from her book Beyond the Track, Thoroughbred Program Director for New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program Anna Ford explains the four things you need to consider before beginning a retraining program for your off-track Thoroughbred. (more…)
In this excerpt from their book Equus Lost? biologists and ethologists Francesco De Giorgio & José De Giorgio-Schoorl challenge popular assumptions about the horse as a prey animal and what that means for his relationship with humans.
In this excerpt from her book How Two Minds Meet, Beth Baumert explores how, in order to attain optimal performance, we have to learn to engage the horse’s mind as well as his body.
In this excerpt from Distant Skies: An American Journey on Horseback, author Melissa Chapman parts ways with the family who took her in midway across the US and helped her horse Rainy back to health.
