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Spring Winds
Grrr…. Need I say more than the title of this post? Spring is so lovely—temps warm up, pastures get green, months of dirt can be washed off—but oh, the wind. Horses don’t like it any more than we do....
View ArticleGames of the I Olympiad
For more than 1,500 years the world was void of the Olympic Games. That void was thanks to Roman Emperor Theodosius I who was so hell-bent on promoting Christianity, that he put the kibosh on the...
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Let’s Play
Horses are playful animals, and my young warmblood True is no exception. He loves to play with his equine buddies in pasture, galloping around, kicking and bucking, chasing them up and down the fence...
View ArticleA Brief History of the Olympic Medals
Nearly every athlete, young or old, dreams of winning an Olympic medal. Considered the highest achievement an athlete can attain, a medal from The Games signifies sacrifice, prowess and above of all...
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My Space
My Dutch Warmblood True came to me at age three with good halter and leading skills thanks to an excellent breeder, but I began groundwork with him on Day One. Groundwork is important for safety and...
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Does your horse stop or slow down when you sit the trot?
Sitting trot is a major milestone in your development as a rider. It is a demonstration of your independent seat and it will allow you to ride in harmony with your horse using subtle and soft aids....
View ArticleOlympic Games, the Original Amateur Hour
There was a time when only amateurs were allowed to compete in the Olympics. It seems strange now thinking back on it, especially given how many boxes of Wheaties have proudly displayed an Olympic...
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Groundwork on the Move
Last week, I introduced the basics of teaching True to stand still and respect human spatial boundaries on a halter and lead. Once he understood those foundations, we moved on to the details. True...
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More on Movement during Groundwork
Last week, we talked about teaching a horse to trot with you in groundwork, with crisp forward movement when you request it. But he also needs to back up when you do. To back a horse in this sequence,...
View ArticleBizarre Olympic Horse Sports
When I think of summer Olympic sports, I think of track and field, swimming, gymnastics, equestrian and a few other staples. But now because I have successfully made it to middle-age, I look at some...
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What’s the Right Joint Injectable for Your Horse?
“He’s due for work.” “She might need injections.” “It’s time for some routine maintenance.” They’re all different expressions for the same, common veterinary treatment in horses. For many equine...
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Moving Shoulders and Hips
Lateral work is helpful in strengthening and suppling the equine body, and in teaching the horse more advanced moves in performance. Most people start moving a horse’s shoulders and hips sideways from...
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Hoof Boots… or Let’s (Not?) Ride Trails!
Be careful if you ever get into a “discussion” with other horse people about the shod foot/bare foot controversy. Perfect strangers have scolded me loudly and in public at horse shows for making what...
View ArticleDid You Know? Polo Was Once an Olympic Sport
If I had a dollar every time I uttered “Huh, I didn’t know that,” while researching stuff I’d be a very rich woman indeed. Hopefully, what I present to you today, will have you uttering the same...
View ArticleOn the Trail in Golden Slippers
Sasquatch finally has hoof boots! You might recall from last week that True’s feet are very hard to fit because they are wider than they are long. Not to mention, BIG. And with a giant flare on the...
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A Friendly Assessment
I like to assess my horses’ progress every few months, as described previously in this column. Each time, I consider in detail what the horse has and has not learned, where she is in mental and...
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Ninja Cows and Trust
Just when green horses begin to settle and learn, something unexpected jumps in the way. That’s a big part of training youngsters: getting them used to all the strange smells, sights, sounds, and...
View ArticleQ&A: What’s considered jumping a horse too much?
Q: I see lots of horses—hunters, especially—jumping what feels like a lot of rounds, sometimes multiple divisions at shows. How much is too much? A: That’s a hard question, as each horse is so...
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Ninja Cows Redux
Last week, I described True’s first experience with cows. That event actually happened about a year ago. Three had escaped from a neighbor’s pasture and came within a few hundred yards of the arena...
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EU-Funded Study Suggests Young Athletes Need to Be Protected Early and With...
Each spring, the best team and individual riders in the country are crowned in hunter-seat and western competition during the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association’s National Championship. As the...
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