Horses and heat
Horses have a hard time in the heat, so it’s ok to ease up on our training and spend some time doing fun activities.
Strengthening the thoracic sling on the go
Here are a few ideas on how to strengthen the thoracic sling in a very casual, non-complicated way.
Reading the head position
How the horse chooses to carry his head can tell us a lot about what is going on in his body. Here’s a few tips on reading head position.
The benefits of hand walking your horse
Hand walking can be a great way to build endurance, lubricate the joints and deepen the relationship between horse and rider.
Do we focus too much on head position ... or not enough?
Your horse’s head position is a source of very valuable information, not a problem that needs to be fixed with shortcuts. Here is what a lot of riders get wrong when dealing with head position problems.
Longer days, longer rides?
Spring is a great time to get back to work, but we have to make sure to do it safely, otherwise we are increasing the risk for injury.
Before you buy a horse
Not every horse is right for every purpose. Before you buy a horse, have a long think about your skill level, your ambitions and your financial capability.
Running with horses – things to be mindful of
If you decide to try running with your horse, you need to keep some things in mind in order to avoid making (potentially dangerous) mistakes.
Why running with horses can be awesome
Going for a run with your horse can be very beneficial, but we do need to go about it in a cautious way, as it can be dangerous.
Four mistakes to avoid with young horses
Working with youngsters is a big responsibility as the early experiences can set the stage for the horse's wellbeing later in life. This is why we have to take care to avoid some common pitfalls.
Back to school challenge
If you are bringing your horse back to work after a lazy summer, make sure to make a plan first – this will make progress faster and healthier.
Good posture on the trail
Groundwork should not be reserved for the arena only. You can do some wonderful groundwork and set up a good foundation for healthy posture on the trail too.
A closer look at postural changes
Training your eye to spot good posture can be tricky. Here is a closer look at some things to be watching out for.
Moving on circles is hard work
Because lunging is such a common practice, we often forget how difficult moving on circles is for horses. We need to be aware of this is we want to make sure to teach our horses how to handle the challenge of moving on a bend.
Keeping hypermobile horses healthy
Hypermobility is a very widespread problem in the modern horse world. It comes with a host of health problems, which is why we need to do everything we can in terms of injury prevention.
5 benefits of working in walk
When working our horses to develop stamina or strength, we mostly focus on work in trot and canter, but we shouldn't forget that the walk is actually a great way to develop both muscles and endurance. And while we might see it only as a warm-up and cool-down gait, we shouldn't overlook its potential benefits. Here are five ways in which working in walk can benefit your horse.
Riding bareback – yes or no?
A question that often comes up is whether or not it's ok to ride the horse without a saddle. As always, the answer will be – it depends. Riding bareback can be a good opportunity for the rider to be better balanced and to learn how to better use his core muscles, but it can have negative effects on the horse.
5 groundwork mistakes to avoid
Groundwork is an excellent tool if used properly. Here are 5 common mistakes that compromise the beneficial effects of this kind of work.
It's not what you do, it's how you do it
When it comes to which exercises are appropriate for a specific goal, it all depends on the manner in which they are executed.
Not all muscles are created equal
Is there such a thing as too much muscle development? You bet! Here is why it’s important to differentiate between two major groups of muscles.