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When a Horse Lives Alone

Most horses don’t need a huge pasture or a fancy barn to be happy. But they do need companionship. I learned that lesson years ago with a horse who had everything I thought he needed — good feed, turnout, shelter, and plenty of room to roam. On paper, it looked …

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Small Steps Still Count

progress
Don’t feel like riding today? A short session of liberty work can go a long way toward increasing trust between you and your horse. Photo by Kim Roe

Every horse owner has days when plans don’t go as expected. Whether it’s a packed schedule, difficult conditions, or a lack of motivation, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind. The good news is that meaningful progress doesn’t always come from doing more. It often comes from simply doing …

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Do Whatever You Can Do

progress
Don’t feel like riding today? A short session of liberty work can go a long way toward increasing trust between you and your horse. Photo by Kim Roe

Progress Comes One Small Step at a Time I may have found the secret to a well-lived life. I call it, “Do whatever you can do.” Okay, maybe this just works for me, but I want to share it with my fellow horse people who might also struggle to get …

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Embracing Change

computers

Loving the Old Days but Looking Forward I have a hard time with change. I push back against it, bury my head in the sand, and deny reality. But life is full of change, and I know intellectually it’s a good thing. To change is to adapt and to adapt …

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How to Learn Feel

social media

YouTube Tutorials Can Be Helpful, but They Don’t Replace In-Person Instruction Social media can be useful; it connects us to neighborhood groups that let us know what’s happening in our community (is your power out too?) and keeps us in touch with long-lost friends from high school. I use YouTube …

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Temple Grandin: An Open Door

An Open Door
Photos by John Barnhardt

New Documentary Honors Her Life’s Work in Animal Welfare From Karen Pickering, Northwest Horse Source Magazine Publisher  Recently I had the privilege to interview Temple Grandin, a professor of Animal Behavior/Science at Colorado State University (CSU). She is an inspiration to many for the work she’s done as an advocate …

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Remembering My Best Teacher

Working Equitation

The Hard Horse Who Taught Me to Use My Seat Recently, while judging a Working Equitation show, I watched a young woman ride a talented but spicy black gelding around a course of obstacles. The horse appeared happy, with ears pricked, a quiet tail, and a swinging back. He eagerly …

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