Every horse owner knows the feeling. You finally get a warm stretch of weather, the horses are shedding out, pasture season is starting to look good… and suddenly the bugs arrive in full force. Flies, mosquitoes, gnats, and biting midges can make horses absolutely miserable this time of year. And … Read More
A Journey to a Horsemanship Philosophy “In my eyes,” says former French international dressage competitor Alizée Froment, “dressage is the journey to perfect communication and absolute harmony between horse and rider.” Her own journey began on the backs of Shetland ponies and then found its way into jumping competitions and … Read More
Inspiration for Getting It Done One of the benefits of getting older is all the great memories we’ve made. I remember 2014 quite well. It was one of the best years of my life. Why? Well, it was the year I won my first buckle, and I did more horseback … Read More
Prepare with a Pre-ride Checklist and Practiced Training We’ve all been there: headed down the trail and our mount suddenly decides to exit the area, posthaste. How we respond to that event determines whether the ride is over or if it’s no big deal. My bestest boy mule, Ruger, encountered … Read More
In response to the popularity and growth of Western Dressage, The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC) has added a new Western Dressage certification track. The new track allows riders interested in Western Dressage to specialize in this discipline and earn certifications starting at the beginner level (D-2) and progressing … Read More
After the Show—a Judge’s Musings I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—I love horse shows, and I love being a judge. Judging horse shows takes me places I’d never be able to see and allows me to meet wonderful like-minded people. I also get to see horses, beautiful … Read More
Biting Insects Can Lead to Serious Health Problems in Horses and Humans Ahh, summer… the long days, the sun and warmth. The season is wonderful in so many ways, except when it comes to those annoying bugs. Flies, gnats, and mosquitoes can make our horses’ lives miserable (ours too), and … Read More
The EQUUS Foundation’s motto, “For the Love of Horses” drew Back on Track USA CEO, James Ruder, to the EQUUS Foundation to design a program that recognizes the significant impact of horses on the lives of people—especially veterans and their families. Back on Track’s therapeutic products help to achieve a … Read More
You’ll Know When It’s the Right Time to Remount The old saying is that you should always “get back on the horse”. I did get back on my horse the day I fell off during a moment of chaos when riding with friends. I got back on because I had … Read More
Samantha Rock Doubles Her Chances of Winning $50,000 at First Ever Mustang Challenge in Las Vegas Why mustangs? Samantha (Sam) Rock wanted a challenge and found it in 2015 when she started gentling and training wild horses and got hooked on mustangs. Sam considers herself a very competitive person and … Read More
