English riding is divided into a variety of disciplines, or styles or riding. From pleasure riding to competitive events, each of these disciplines is unique and has its own set of priorities and requirements. One of the most common disciplines in North America is the hunters.
Once hunters were based on the sport of fox hunting. Several horses and riders would follow the hounds across...
The Fell Pony gets its name, FELL, from the Norse word meaning "hill." During the four centuries of Roman occupation on the border between England and Scotland, extra troops -- French, Dutch, German, Polish, Spanish and eastern European cavalrymen -- were brought in to protect Hadrian's Wall which separated the countries and to maintain law and order. Since bones of foreign horses have been...
Many horse people find that while riding at home is fun, they are interested in trying to show their horse. If you have been working on dressage at home, or even if you are mostly just riding on the flat, you might want to check out a local dressage show for your first venture into the ring.
Most dressage shows have pre-selected tests that are published at the beginning of the season....
When thinking of dressage the first thing that often comes to mind are the incredible efforts of the riders in the Olympic dressage ring each Summer Olympics. What many people don't know is that there is a lot more to dressage than just competing at the higher levels.
"Dressage" is actually derived from the French word for "training". So basically, any training you do with your horse is a...
When you have horses for sale you will inevitably have clients out to see your horse in person. If you have not had much experience in buying and selling horses, it is hard to know how best to present your horse to bring out his best characteristics for the clients.
The first thing to keep in mind is that first impressions can may or break a sale. Take a look at your barn. Is it clean and...
When you have babies around the farm it is sometimes hard to leave them alone and wait until they are old enough to start under saddle training. Fortunately there are other things that you can do with your young horses to keep you busy and to prepare them for their future.
Many horse shows offer line classes for young horses. In these classes the horses are led around the ring and are...
If you have horses and like to get off the property to ride, you probably have asked yourself this question at least once. There are many things to consider when thinking of buying a trailer and your decision should be based on your specific situation.
How often am I likely to use the trailer?
This might seem obvious, but without knowing how much you will use the trailer it is difficult...
So, you have decided to try showing in the hunter ring. If this is your first show you probably have a lot of questions about how a show is run. It is my hope that this guide will ease your worries and allow you to have a pleasant experience.
The first thing you need to do is find a show that is suited to your level of riding and the quality of your horse. Not all horse shows are the...
Is keeping a horse at home right for you?
As more people move to the outskirts of town, many consider keeping horses at home. With a country home and a few acres of land childhood dreams of having a horse of their own no longer seem unattainable. But, what does it take to keep a horse at home?
To begin with, you need to consider where you would keep the horse. Do you have an old barn?...
One of the nicest ways to bond with your horse is to spend time grooming him. While sometimes it is ok to just give your horse a quick dust-off before you ride, every so often you should spend some extra time with him just getting to know him as you groom.
So what is involved in grooming anyway? Most people think of it as merely running a brush over the horse, picking its feet and leaving...
