WARNING: Uncensored language. But all in fun.   Horses as a species are a paradox in the extreme. For those of us who love the world’s most improbable mammal – and insist on attaching ourselves to it mentally, physically and worse, emotionally – it is simultaneously the greatest waste of time and money imaginable, and yet also our very favourite thing to do. As berserk as the horses are, though, the people who frequent the industry are doubly questionable. I doubt there is any other sporting activity that brings out quite so many different types and kinds of humanity….

  As we delve into the month of November, lots of riders are taking on the challenge to drop their stirrups for the month. Some go so far as to taking their stirrups off of their saddles altogether. Riding sans stirrups is integral to developing a good seat, correct feel, and instinct for what to do when things go wrong. I think jumping small fences without stirrups really shows you where your balance is in the air, and how you tend to lean left or right. You also never know when a tack malfunction could leave you stirrup-less on course,…

  For most of us in North America, the 2019 eventing season has wrapped up.  Our horses are enjoying a little down time– some longer than others, depending on your winter climate.  Still, it’s never too early to start looking ahead to next season.  Since I’m very goal-oriented and driven to succeed, I like to develop a “roadmap” for the upcoming competition year and start planning early. What guidelines do I use to develop a competition schedule? 1. Identify your end goal (AECs, Area Championships, CCI, etc) and review the qualifications necessary for you and your horse.  Is this goal realistic?  Is it very ambitious,…

  Equestrians are not your average human beings. We are a unique breed of people that are extremely passionate and dedicated to our sport and more importantly to our horses. The equestrian community is small. Everyone knows everyone and the camaraderie in our sport is unparalleled. As an equestrian, it is easy to focus only on your riding results and using that as a gauge to measure your success. We have all felt like failures from time to time because of horrendous results at a competition. But there is much more to you as an equestrian than just your competition…

  The horses were fed and out went the lights, But there was something unusual about this very night. The horses felt nervous-some started to weave- For they had heard round the yard it was All Hallows’ Eve. They slipped out of their stables and joined up in a huddle, Talk of phantoms and demons had them all in a muddle! The lead horse stepped forward and started to speak- But he was interrupted by a blood-curdling shriek. The horses shot forward and rushed into the field, Looked for their leader, but over he’d keeled! For right there in the…

  Developing core strength will make you a better rider in all three phases. Strong core muscles improve your balance and posture in the saddle. Whether you are gearing up for your first Beginner Novice or aiming for next year’s Olympics, core will have a positive impact on your riding. Earlier this year, I shared five core exercises to help you work your core. Here are five more core exercises that you can add to your workout regime to keep yourself equestrian fit: 1) Russian twists – This exercise is one of the best ways to work your obliques, the…