Though it’s often confused with acupuncture, acupressure involves no needles, making it an easy, effective tool to use in everyday life with horses. TCM views the body as a whole, integrated system with mind, body, and spirit all being connected, and one of the foundational beliefs is that a life force, known as chi,…
I’m a very visual person and love photographs mixed in with stories. I love the tangible and I love to dog-ear pages so I can revisit what inspires me. When I’m ready to recycle the issue I take one more run-through and tear out pages and put them in a folder for future reference. Here…
Bringing your horses home to your own property after boarding them somewhere else is a dream for many horse owners. Before you make the big move, there are some things to consider to prepare for a smooth transition. Fencing If your property is already set up for horses, you may be a step ahead, but…
I always make sure to spend some time the night before, reorganizing, restocking, and throwing out last weekend’s accumulation of mint wrappers, receipts, and other trash. #1: REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE Drinking enough water can definitely be a challenge on show days. Bringing your own water bottle is helpful as it ensures you’ll have water on…
They talk about Chloe nonstop at home and we pretty much have the Netflix cartoon Spirit Riding Free on the TV on repeat. As soon as we get to the barn, however, they freeze up around the horses. Ask them if they want to sit on Chloe and they run the other direction. I am…
Lunging a horse is a powerful means of training and exercise. It can be a wonderful way to change up your training program and keep your horse interested. Both young and experienced horses stand to benefit from this form of exercise, if done correctly. If you’re new to lunging, it’s basically when a horse works…
I consider myself highly educated in equine health, training methods, and riding; but I am a master of none of it. When I converse with an elder who has been in the horse world far longer than myself, I take into consideration every hidden tip and trick they speak of; which brings me into my…
There’s a few different names- equestrian yoga, yoga on horseback, cowgirl yoga… but they all share the same purposes. They focus on mindfulness, breathing, and connecting with your horse. Through various movements and poses, the rider can strength muscles, improve their alignment, and support their emotional well-being. These exercises improve the relationship you share with…
I’ve owned horses my entire life, but about fifteen years ago, I had my first experience starting several young horses under saddle. I can safely say, both the horses and I learned a great deal during those two summers! As many people do, I used a round pen throughout the majority of the training process….
While some people just remove the shoes and hope for the best, it’s better to dive into the world of barefoot prepared. Barefoot horses must be supported with the right diet, the right trim, movement, and even varied footing, such as hard ground, sand, or gravel. Conversely, horses who are mainly stalled, fed sweet feeds…
