If you want a horse to be an eventer it has to be comfortable jumping ditches. There are ditches on almost every cross-country course and they only get more abundant as you move up the levels. Teaching a horse how to jump a ditch can be a tricky task. However, if you are patient and use a logical training system you will have your horse jumping ditches confidently in no time. Follow these straightforward tips to introduce your horse to ditches: 1) Make sure your horse is in front of your leg and comfortable jumping small fences. Don’t point…

  There are many moments in our horsey lives that give us a great deal of satisfaction but for some reason, we never fully appreciate how much these moments mean to us. Let’s have a moment of appreciation for the moments in our lives that we sometimes take for granted … What underrated moments do you appreciate? Share your favourites by emailing me. 1. Finishing the final braid in your horse’s mane and then mentally high-fiving yourself for the professional job you did. 2. Putting a fresh bag of shavings in your horse’s stall… Best smell ever. 3. Clearing a massive jump…

  There is nothing nicer than walking into a stable that looks tidy and organized. If you are running a barn, it is important for your professional image that your barn always looks impeccable. Plus it is more practical and even safer to work in a barn that is kept tidy. Use these uber simple and creative ways to tidy up your barn in no time: 1) Store your brushes and bottles with an over-the-door shoe organizer: Human shoes and horse brushes are roughly the same size, making those over-the-door shoe organizers perfect for keeping horse brushes. You can also…

  Your horse has to be able to remain straight and controlled in its stride length if you want to be successful in show jumping and cross-country. A crooked horse can lead to rails and run outs, likewise, a horse who’s stride gets uncontrollably long will also cause poles to fall and stops or run outs. My first Eventing coach taught me my favourite exercise to train a horse to remain both straight and in the same stride length while jumping. Best of all, you only need four sets of standards and eight show jumping poles to set this exercise…

  Your average equestrian spends more time grooming horses than riding them. Over the years we all learn new, exciting and revolutionary grooming tips and tactics. Check back regularly for more grooming tips as we are on the hunt for the best.  Do you want your horse to shine as bright as the horses in magazines? How about as bright as the AQHA horses? Well use the product the horse shining pros do – Silverado Shine Aerosol. Don’t let dust dull keep your horse’ coat from gleaming. Simply spray this incredible stuff on your horse’s coat then wipe it with…

  Horses are a risky business. An average horse weighs around 1200 lbs. and it is no secret that horses are incredibly unpredictable by nature, making them a walking hazard. Horses are not only dangerous to their human riders/handlers, but they are also talented at finding the strangest ways to harm themselves. Although accidents will always happen, there are numerous measures you can put in place to ensure that your barn is as safe as possible. Do not let yourself or your horses be victim to a preventable accident. It will take a minimal amount of money, time and effort…

  “Why would green people buy green horses?”, asked one of my first coaches to my mother. My mother had just three months before, bought me a just broke 3-year-old and a 7-year-old. My mom looked at her a minute digesting the question and said, “Repeat that question and there is your answer.” I wanted a horse and I was lucky, my mom bought me two. It was a good deal. $1,800 each or two for $2,500. My mom is always on the hunt for a good deal. She told my dad that she saved him $1,100. Wipe the smile…

  We have all been there; you walk up to the leaderboard only to see a disappointing dressage score beside your name. You are shocked and feel ripped off because your test was PERFECT. You definitely deserved to win the dressage, only bad judging could explain this horrible situation. So how do you find redemption? You take to social media, posting about how amazing your horse was, blah, blah, blah and how you completely disagree with the way it was marked. Sometimes, you may even cite comments your coach made about how great your test was when you came out…