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On Becoming a Better Rider by Al Dunning In this issue we celebrate the equine centered lifestyle. As most equestrians strive to improve their skills in the saddle, it seemed natural to ask Al his thoughts on becoming a better rider. Question: How much of good riding do you …
By Gentle Horse Trainer Missy Wryn It sure is confusing with what seems to be information overload on how to live and be with our horses. Some people say “horses cannot be pets so don’t hug and kiss them” or “your horse won’t respect you if you don’t show them …
How to Select an Equine Athlete by Al Dunning Many people wonder how to predict the next champion, whether considering a homebred youngster or while searching for an unproven horse to buy. We asked Al these three questions about selecting a quality equine athlete. Question: When selecting horses …
By Gentle Horse Trainer Missy Wryn I think we can all agree that communication is complicated and when you add inter-species, human to horse, we soon discover our good intentions are not enough to be safe around a 1,000 lb animal. The range of communication we receive from a horse …
3 Factors to Improve Your Horse’s “Golden Years” by Jackie Davenport In the past months I’ve talked about how indoor or “arena trail” work can benefit both horse and rider and it is a discipline that many horses and their riders can continue doing very successfully as they age …
Age Shines on the Obstacle Course by Mark Bolender The discipline of mountain trail goes quite naturally with an aged horse. While an older horse may struggle at the most demanding level of the sport, it can still be quite good for them. Recently I watched a healthy, yet …
Q: I have a rescued mustang (about 15 years old). He was badly abused and starved when I got him a year ago. He is healthy, now and looks good. He is very timid, but would not hurt anyone. My question is, when I load him in a trailer (slant) …
by Laura Schonberg When I first started riding at six years old, I went to the barn because I wanted to ride. It didn’t matter how inclement the weather, how the tack fit, which horse I had to ride, or how that horse felt about it all. We simply …
by Jackie Davenport As you read last month, arena trail is all about negotiating obstacles with style and agility while, ideally, never touching a thing. Horses must be able to work over and through obstacles and turn and maneuver in tight spaces and this can be challenging. However, practicing …
How Equine Competitors Prepare to Win What does winning look like to you? The answer varies among riders of all breeds, disciplines and levels of expertise. Winning can happen when you get the perfect lead change, when you complete a course or when you finally earn a blue ribbon. Regardless …