It’s a beauty! Take a closer look at the newly-constructed temporary stadium that will house equestrian disciplines at the Olympics and Para Olympics in just over ten days:
“I am proud of them for their quiet strolls around the facility, their eager walk (but willingness to stay at a walk) as we carouse through the woods. But I’m not surprised. They are Thoroughbreds, after all.” (more…)
Horses will teach you many things … but these past two months, the learning has been this: you’ll always need a backup plan (or like 47 of them). (more…)
Knowing your horse’s weight can have a number of advantages. From adjusting diet for optimal performance to ensuring safe dosing of medication, this is one of these facts about your horse you should know. Read on for more: (more…)
“With support, the trot that will develop from that too-speedy, too-big forward jumble is often a pushing, powerful, balanced, over-the back masterpiece.” (more…)
As we head into summer and temperatures begin to rise, it’s always a good idea to know how to recognize and address heat stroke in horses. Fortunately our good friends at Kentucky Performance Products have these helpful tips. (more…)
“Deciding what to do with a horse is about appropriateness and fit. And that applies for both the horse and the human. It’s a bit of the square peg-round hole thing.”
Traveling can be hard on horses. The change in routine and limited turn out can cause digestive upset and general stress. Here are eight tips to keep your horse healthy on the road: (more…)
“Balance means the ability to flow with what the horse tosses at you and the capacity to retain that quiet control through transitions or comical behavior. Ultimately, a balanced rider can be a soft rider.”
Many horses require low-starch feed for health reasons. Some owners prefer to feed it no matter what. But how can you tell if your feed really is low starch? Read on to find out: (more…)
“The more practiced the language of ask and confirm, the more ‘normal paced’ things can go and the better the trust and overall communication gets.” (more…)
“99.99% of the Thoroughbreds I have swung a leg over respond with utter enthusiasm and a golden-retriever-like sense of ‘sweet!’ and ‘did I get it right?'” (more…)
If you own horses, you know about abscesses. They can make your horse so lame that you’re sure a catastrophic diagnosis is on its way. But there are ways to prevent abscesses. Read on for more:
“The cart idea not only keeps people from pulling, riding backwards or balancing off the bit, but also it actually helps improve equitation and sets up riders to be subtle.”
Many of us love when the pastures start to fill in. It can mean less hay consumption and shiny horses. But it also can spell trouble if the wrong kind of plants grow in your pasture. Beautiful though those yellow flowers may be, they can cause problems for our equine pals. (more…)
“[W]hen the owner, trainer, and barn staff are Thoroughbred-forward, that’s fantastic. But it is even better if the team that surrounds the horse … [is] willing to pitch in to the process.” (more…)
Spring is here! Although the warmer temperatures may be welcome milestones for equestrians, spring grass can pose problems for sugar sensitive horses. Here are some tips for keeping those horses healthy while the grass is at its greenest. (more…)
“So go ride, folks. And if your horse scoots out from under your aids, relax, weight your aids, take a deep breath and wait. Count backwards slowly from 100 and see how your horse softens into the soft pressure. Reward, rest, and try again.” (more…)
“I have to remind myself that if I’m not on top of my competition game for a couple months … they don’t care. They are safe, and fed and cared for.” (more…)
Summer seasonal recurrent dermatitis (SSRD) or sweet itch, is caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of the Culicoides midge (“no-see-ums”). These bothersome fellows are active from April through October. Here are some tips to help you offer your horse some relief. (more…)
“Reward the try, and as the situation arises again, ask again. The half-halt through a full-body hold, allows them to learn. Pulling takes that opportunity off the table.” (more…)