Using Gifts as Motivation to Push Past Fear by Laura Daly How do you find the one thing that can keep you going even when the task seems impossible? When dealing with large-scale fears, you need an equally large reason to motivate you to continue on the journey of … Read More
One Step at a Time Through a Water Obstacle by Marilyn Pineda Navigating a body of water—even if it’s only a puddle— very often results in the classic “I don’t want to” response from horses that have not yet developed confidence in their trail training. While it’s possible for … Read More
Get Acquainted with the Benefits of Venetian Turpentine by Eleanor Blazer On the Adriatic Sea lies the city of Venice, Italy. For centuries it has been a port through which exotic products such as silk, porcelain, spices, gems, wine and Venetian turpentine have been exported. Yes, the honey colored, … Read More
Best Rides off Interstate 5: Oregon and Washington by Robert Eversole As you drive through Oregon on I-5 the Cascade Range, with its thundering waterfalls, raging rivers, volcanic peaks and glorious clear mountain lakes, clearly beckons you towards its myriad of trails and special places. The Mount Jefferson Wilderness … Read More
Best Rides off Interstate 5, Part 1: California by Robert Eversole There are as many ways to tackle a wilderness trail ride as there are wilderness areas. For the next two months we’re focusing on places easily accessible from Interstate 5. We will begin in California and head north … Read More
Using Journals as Lesson Plans by Laura Daley A journal is an important tool in the journey to riding fear free. The fearful rider’s journal can reveal their fears and provide a clearer picture of what is happening to cause them. The better a rider becomes at expressing his/her … Read More
by Marilyn Pineda I love the picture included with this month’s trail training article. I took it from the back of my mare on a recent trail ride with friends. Why is it a big deal? There are no horses in front of us! Let me explain. My mare’s … Read More
Why Movement is So Important for Horses by Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. Driving through Kentucky recently, I passed breathtaking farms: acres and acres of meticulously manicured pastures, lined with white four-board fences that seemed to travel for miles. What struck me, however, was the barrenness of the fields. Where … Read More
Conquering the Straddle Pole by Marilyn Pineda It is the Year of the Horse and we’ve definitely been having fun with horses at Fire Mountain Trail Course. A rigorous schedule of trail challenge events, training and practice has helped with mastering a variety of obstacles already this year. However, … Read More
How to Instruct Fearful Riders by Laura Daly Being an instructor of truly fearful riders takes a positive attitude, courage and self-control. Your job is to help build up the rider and show them that they can think through the fear and still control the horse and their emotions. … Read More
