We’ve all heard the saying: “Hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t hustle.”… It makes us want to slide on our boots, tighten our cinch, and get out there. But, if I’m being 100% transparent, sometimes it feels like talent still just beats you.
“The turns are what make it harder, so aim for straight line canters and efficient down transitions — even if that means you only have a few strides of canter.” (more…)
“‘Bombproof’ is one of my least favorite terms to describe horses. I mean, when a bomb goes off, I’m going to either freeze or jump. I expect my horse to do the same. I do not want them to stand there and not realize or care that the world around them is changing rapidly.” (more…)
“How do you know when you have one of the great horses? It’s not when the trophies stack up, or when people stop you at shows to compliment their beauty. You know you have a next-level horse when…they cover for you instead of exposing you. When they steady your ride on the days you can’t steady yourself.”
“Ten years ago, I would not have been out there at that stupid hour with stupid sheets in August … I didn’t fully grasp just how thin-skinned they can be about weather, flies, and changes.” (more…)
On Mythbuster Monday, we tackle a variety of equestrian myths to either bust or confirm. Today’s discussion: Are shoulder stress lines due to improper saddle fit?
“Instead of beginning one’s search for pain under where a horse palpates sore (their back or SI, for instance), I’d recommend first taking a good long look in the other direction — their feet.” (more…)
“When trust is broken or never fully built, it becomes a barrier to progress. No matter how experienced you are, your cues won’t communicate to your horse the way you expect. You’ll start to overcompensate, using more leg, stronger bits, harsher training aids, and more assertive body language, but force can’t substitute for foundation.”
“A softer, more (literally) accommodating ride crafts openings for them to figure out the best placement for their hooves, best way of moving energy over their back. Such a ride channels flexibility to help build the strength and the confidence …” (more…)
On Mythbuster Monday, we tackle a variety of equestrian myths to either bust or confirm. Today’s discussion: Are farriers a key to preventing arthritis?
During my adventures and travels I always take photos of the horse-related items I see along the way. Enjoy these photos of horse-related pieces spotted while traveling around Montana.
Over time, horses learn to associate certain situations with human tension — like entering the competition arena, riding past a spooky spot, or working on a difficult maneuver — and they begin to anticipate stress because we are.
On Mythbuster Monday, we tackle a variety of equestrian myths to either bust or confirm. Today’s discussion: Do horses prefer to drink from a particular color bucket?
“If something feels wrong, don’t default to more pressure, default to more curiosity. Ask questions. Investigate. Be your horse’s advocate. Even the best rider can’t out-cue pain. But the best horsemen listen, adapt, and partner through it.”
“Buns shaped who I am as a rider. His old injury shaped the name Triple Trouble because we knew we were living on limited time, and every second was a blessing. I didn’t need it to be this real. I didn’t want the series to become this honest.”
“It might take three steps or three laps around the ring, but there is a feeling that comes with it — a suspension of disbelief. You know they’ll get there (to whatever it is you’re asking), but it will take a moment for them to understand and try in the right direction.” (more…)
On Mythbuster Monday, we tackle a variety of equestrian myths to either bust or confirm. Today’s discussion: Is electrical tape better for a horse’s hair than elastic bands?
We’re back at it! Asking AI to create humorous equestrian-related content we call all laugh at. This time, we’ve decided to ask AI to give us a horse’s view point of the Declaration of Independence. (more…)
Happy Independence Day, Horse Nation. Today, we’re celebrating by highlighting some Paint Horses with Independence Day-themed registered names. Check them out below:
If you don’t feel yourself, you surely won’t feel your horse. Skilled riders aren’t perfect. They’re present. They feel every shift in themselves first, which allows them to feel and respond to shifts in the horse.
