I love it when people find my blog with search terms that I haven’t addressed the issues for yet… gives me an opportunity to address them! :) This is in line with today’s search terms “of the day”… Horses who buck while being lunged. There are several different reasons, which I’m sure many other trainers …

I’ve talked about the use of pressure when working with horses before, written about it on here as well… which is exactly why I am excited to say that it will once again be the topic of conversation during my next online radio broadcast this Sunday! Links : Tune Into LIVE Broadcast! (12 noon – …

I’ve posted quite a bit on the whole Rollkur issue… this post will not delve into it in just the same way, nor is it focused solely on the Rollkur / hyperflexion problem. To be entirely honest, Rollkur / hyperflexion isn’t even *the* issue, rather we’ve again missed the whole problem that is being superficially …

I got this question posted and wanted to address it directly. Perhaps this will help anyone else with the same problem! Dani Writes : “I am currently exercising a very difficult horse. He is not vicious, but is very difficult to catch. When i go into the field, I approach him quietly, give him a …

Wondering if you have good timing, good rhythm? Wondering why I am writing something that perhaps has more in common with music than riding a horse? Good question! Riding is so well connected to music and dance, but that connection is so easily forgotten. The way in which we move our body, the timing of …

Ah, the old adage, “Less Is More.” It somehow manages to bring about reminiscent feelings of bliss in me.  How is it that we so often fall off the wagon and work so hard for so little reward? What did we get into riding for to begin with? Was it for the glory of winning …

It isn’t that I am against dangerous stunts. I even find them entertaining when they involve a professional, who isn’t advocating that beginner’s should try this at home or are capable of teaching themselves how to successfully do them. There are many who do stunts and tricks and so on, that impress me to no …

There are many opportunities we are presented with as riders that can risk us putting the horse’s welfare second, or third, or… Often it comes to me that difficulties in making decisions about a certain action, aid, cue, pursuing a particular goal, etc, arise when we are uncertain if we are putting the horse first …

A recent post on a discussion forum that I am a member of caught my attention this week. Relationships are what I deal with every day, think about at almost every turn of my mind, and am involved in constantly. The relationships I have with my horses, co-workers, colleagues, family members, friends, acquaintances, so on …

What can be said about one of the most prized elements of a well trained horse, that of a well-executed, light, balanced and beautifully collected piaffe? The stepping stone from basic gaits to airs above the ground, and while it is so sought after it also continues to be one movement that is considered difficult …