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Modern Trends in Show Jumping
The sport of show jumping has evolved dramatically in the last 20 years. Some notable changes include: An increase in the number of FEI ranking classes offered worldwide More ‘high-quality’ competition...
View ArticleFEI Campus Is for the Horse Geek in All of Us
Growing up, did you save your babysitting money to buy expensive veterinary textbooks? Did you spend your free time memorizing the bones in the horse’s hoof and the names of all ligaments below the...
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Master Class: Using the 5 Objectives and Targets for Success in High...
High performance sport is a complex construct of many individual parts. Understanding and describing the holistic picture of an athlete’s performance requires: science, intuition and experience. Only...
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The “Deadly Sins” of Dressage
The ancient Greeks were among the first civilizations to stress the desirability of moderation, a virtue they called “sophrosyne”, as an antidote to the excesses of human behavior. They considered...
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On the Backstretch with the Stars of the WIHS Shetland Pony Steeplechase...
When the Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) first introduced the Shetland Pony Steeplechase Championship Series in 2012, it was heralded as “D.C.’s newest—and cutest—sport” by the Washington...
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Three Ways You May Be Inadvertently Putting Your Barn at Risk for Fire
There are few things in the news that affect horsemen more than reading about yet another barn fire in which multiple horses have perished. More so than from other tragedies, I find myself physically...
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7 Strange Sleeping Habits of Horses
You step outside and lovingly gaze into the pasture only to find your horse lying flat on his side. Your heartbeat quickens. OH MY GADS—HE’S DEAD! How many of us have lived out this scenario? (*raises...
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The Good Kind of Pressure
You know what’s great? When you can put your hands on your horse and make him feel better: rejuvenated when he’s tired, calm when he’s under stress, and comforted when he’s in pain. While there are...
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A Brief History of Horses in Music Videos
A long time ago (before The Big Bopper coined the phrase “music video” in 1959), in a galaxy far, far away (Earth, before MTV), it was the dawn of the “talkie era”. A rag tag team of animators from the...
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Advice on Becoming a Groom, from Actual Grooms
First things first, if you are looking for a 9-5 job, this is not for you. If you value manicured nails and hairspray—look elsewhere. If you’re offended by bad language and the odd missing...
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Show Swap Is About to Be Your Newest Obsession
If you’re like most riders, you’ve spent more time styling your show outfit than you care to admit. Hours have been lost searching for the perfect fit coat and breeches and brain cells burned agonizing...
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One Exercise, Eight Lessons, Any Discipline
It’s no secret that the arena can become a dreadfully boring place. Even the strongest, healthiest, most loving and connected horse-and-rider team are sometimes driven into the doldrums by circles and...
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Embrace Pressure and Become a Better Rider!
Does pressure in equestrian sport really exist? Well, according to some researchers and experts, it really doesn’t. It’s all dreamed up by you to make it difficult for you to perform when it counts....
View ArticleAlfalfa Is Not the Worst and Other Astonishing Revelations
I always thought alfalfa was basically the worst thing you could feed your horse. Maybe not arsenic bad. But I had it hammered into my head from day one that alfalfa was unnecessary unless you were...
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Bernie Traurig: A Solution to Every Problem
Clinicians who have trained and competed at the elite levels in multiple disciplines have a depth of knowledge and experience that is the accumulated wisdom from countless types of horse and mentors....
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3 Stretches Every Rider Should Be Doing (Like RN)
Riders are athletes. Shouldn’t we train for the sport like one? Start with this stretching guide, courtesy of our friends at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC, the boutique show that puts horse and...
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The Art of Horsekeeping
After nearly four decades of horse ownership, I’ve finally come to a realization: horsekeeping is not a science, but rather an art. Sure, I’d prefer it was the other way around. Wouldn’t we all? Just...
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Catch Me If You Can!
Ah, the wind in your face and your horse’s mane as he turns and snorts and shows you his heels! The carrots in your pockets, the handful of grain, the whistle and call you’ve developed for him (and...
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Are You Training Your Equestrian Mind?
About 18 months ago, we got a call from a concerned Mom about her teen equestrian daughter. There were fundamental problems with the two critical keys of high performance—enjoyment and achievement....
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Words of Warning: Don’t Let This Freak Riding Accident Happen to You!
I’m temporarily out of the saddle due to a freak accident. The initial tears I cried were not of pain, but fear as the image sank in of “Knight” spiraling out of control, whinnying and doing donuts...
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