Ideas to Foster Growth, Resilience, and Effectiveness While doing clinics at Equifest in Kansas, I paused to check out the weekly Ty Evans newsletter. I’m glad I did. Ty posted a list of six principles of a high-performance mindset, gleaned from Justin Su’a, a mental performance coach for elite athletes. … 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
A Great Farrier is a Horse Owner’s Best Friend My mule Ellie kicked my farrier, Alex. It was a stark reminder of my oversight as I hadn’t upheld my end of the bargain and had neglected to train her appropriately. That was a few years ago, and I’ve learned a … Read More
Volunteer Efforts are Needed to Restore Burned Trails Unfortunately, wildfire racing across the landscape is a story that repeats itself every year. As forests burn, they take a toll on popular recreation areas and natural resources; wildfire recovery is becoming the norm for trail maintainers across the U.S. The devastation … Read More
Find Horse Training Success in Less-than-ideal Situations A round pen is one of those items that has been on my wish list for a while. Everywhere you look, it seems that a round pen is a “must-have” piece of equipment if you’re going to be serious about your horsemanship; I … Read More
Embracing Nature’s Clock Most people experience time as a linear construct with every second tracked by our devices, rushing through life until nature demands that we stop. But I feel a shift when I’m on the trail, slowly making my way into the wilderness; time slows down and stretches in … Read More
Tips for Staying Motivated in the Off-Season Don’t let snow and cold temperatures deter you from pursuing your riding goals. When the wind is howling, the snow is knee-deep, and you can no longer feel your face while gathering your horses from the other side of the pasture, it’s easy … Read More
Responsible Options for Happy Horses and Healthy Trails You’ve probably come across terms like “weed-free feed” or “certified weed-free forage” when feeding your horses and mules. Whether it’s a requirement or only recommended in the areas where you ride, it’s essential to understand what these feeds are, and which ones … Read More
Unveiling the Truth Behind Equine Footwear Hoof boots—we’ve all heard of them, and it’s a love-or-hate relationship for most. I tried boots from four manufacturers a few years ago and promptly returned to traditional steel shoes. Steel has worked for me for years. Other than a few sprung shoes, failures … Read More
A Tool for the Wilderness You’ve seen the old lumberjack photographs—two men in plaid holding opposite ends of a huge, long saw steadily working on a tree trunk of colossal diameter. The tool these men used is the crosscut saw. Today you can find these vintage tools displayed as décor … Read More
