Calm & Safe Leading

Leading a large, anxious, excitable flight animal that outweighs you by 800-1,000 pounds can be a nerve rattling situation and it can also become dangerous.

Coping Strategies

Sport – and life – come with emotions, and sometimes they are strong and interfering. We must learn to distinguish between feelings and actions.

Little Pink and (Blue and Green) Houses

Outside many a barn and at every horse show, there is a Polymer Palace. Depending on where you’re from, they may be known as a Best Seat in the House, Drop Zone, Johnny on the Spot, Spiffy Biffy, Heeeere’s Johnny, …

Size Matters

There is a longstanding unofficial rule of thumb that a horse should bear no more than 20 per cent of its body weight, including rider and equipment.

Fixing Spins

A correct spin is essentially a horse walking his forehand around his haunches – body parts aligned fairly straight and a slight bend.

Straight Shootin’

An exercise I like to use to for improving focus, straightness and rating speed is called Post to Post. Compared to some of the other exercises in this series, it may seem fairly simple. It offers many benefits for both …