In life, there are always more ways than one to carry out a standard task. Sure some methods are more effective than others, but often there can be equally great ways to do things with unique pros and cons. Cleaning tack is a standard task that all equestrians have to perform. Whether or not you love cleaning tack or hate it with a passion, you cannot skip this essential duty or else your tack won’t last long, and that gets expensive. Try these three different but effective tack cleaning methods to find your favourite system… And be sure to…

  Vinegar (noun): a sour-tasting liquid containing acetic acid, obtained by fermenting dilute alcoholic liquids, typically wine, cider, or beer, and used as a condiment or for pickling. Based on the definition above, vinegar doesn’t sound as though it has the power to transform your horsey life but it definitely can. Vinegar is an absolute must-have in every barn because it has a variety of mega helpful uses. Best of all, vinegar is cheap! You can buy a 4-litre bottle of white vinegar at Walmart for only $1.97 CAD. Start using these 11 vinegar based barn hacks to make your barn life a whole…

  There is nothing more disappointing than going off course at a horse show. It doesn’t matter whether it is in dressage, cross-country or show jumping, going off course sucks and can cost you a top placing. Don’t let yourself down by forgetting your course. Drastically lower your chances of ever going off course again by following these straightforward tips for all three phases… 1) Practice your dressage test at home until it is second nature to you. Dressage is the one phase where you know the pattern you’ll be riding well ahead of the show. Take advantage of this…

  As a horse owner or rider, your number one priority is your horse’s health and well-being. Many horse people use a variety of pricey methods in efforts to keep their horses in prime condition. These range from joint injections to supplements to laser therapy to chiropractic appointments. Although these things can all be beneficial to your horse’s health, there are a variety of straightforward and cost-free ways you can ensure your horse stays healthy. 1) Pick your horse’s hooves before and after every single ride. Picking your horse’s hooves regularly is essential to keeping your horse’s hooves healthy. Stones…

  At every barn, there are certain stereotypical types of people that you will encounter. Some of these people you love and others, well, you tolerate them. But it wouldn’t be a barn without a healthy mix of different personality types. You are guaranteed to meet these nine types of people at every barn, which type are you? 1) The riding expert. Unfortunately, there’s one of these riders at every barn. You’re trying to mind your own business and ride your unruly horse, and they start chiming in with unsolicited advice. “You know I read that draw reins only put…

  A fellow equestrian friend of mine recently posted on Facebook that she dreamt she was exceptionally talented at a non-equestrian sport and went to the Olympics. Of course, she woke up and could not remember which sport it was. This sent me on a train of thoughts about which sports equestrians could, in fact, kick some serious butt at. Riding horses is HARD and dealing with them on the ground is even worse. This makes equestrians a tough breed of athletes with a range of talents. So if you are losing hopes of riding at this year’s World Equestrian…

  Female equestrians tend to not wear makeup to the barn but on horse show days most of us love to look our best. At events we are usually tight for time, so it is important that you have your makeup organized and that you know exactly what you are doing. Sorry boys, this post is not really for you…but there are a couple of tips about skin and lips that you may want to pay attention to. 1. Wear a foundation with SPF – A nice foundation will make your complexion look absolutely flawless and having an SPF in…

  Owning and riding horses is incredibly fun and rewarding but it can also be equally stressful. Looking after a horse is a huge responsibility, it’s like raising a 1200 lb. super accident-prone toddler. Equestrian sports are definitely not for the fainthearted, but no matter how brave you are, you’ll still end up having some fears. Many of your fears are a bit irrational and on the weird side. Here they are, bizarre fears that all riders have that no non-horsey person could ever comprehend: 1) Going to a show and forgetting your horse. 2) Your horse’s automatic waterer randomly…

  Competing in three different phases dressage, cross-country and show jumping requires Eventers to be well-rounded riders. Many of the same fundamentals and principles apply to all three phases. For example, you need to be able to ride your horse straight in dressage for movements such as the centerline. Your horse has to be straight on cross-country or else you will have run outs at narrow fences. Straightness is equally important in show jumping because drifting down lines messes up distances and a crooked horse is more likely to pull a rail. Although the basics apply for all of Eventing’s…

  You apply for a Working Student (WS) position with the rider who you have idolized for years and you get the job. You have fantasies about exercising their top horses and travelling with them to big events to help groom… But in reality, a WS mucks stalls, tacks up horses, washes horses, blankets horses, turns horses out, sets jumps, and performs various other unglamorous tasks. Nonetheless, being a WS is an opportunity that will teach you how top riders train and manage their entire operations. If you take on the job of being someone’s WS, you surely want to…