No matter your discipline, once you learn the finesse of communicating intent with your seat, weight, and legs, it opens you to a whole new level of riding. In addition to being able to guide your horse with a thought, the awareness you glean from practicing your side of the communication also educates your body into …
Be Inspired by Sylvia Loch’s The Classical Rider
When I call upon what words I could possibly use to do this book justice, I can find only: This was one of the most influential equestrian books I have ever read. Granted, it was one of the first books on training philosophies I’d read, so much like how Lord of the Rings will forever be the …
The Croup
The croup on the horse is identified as the area along the topline from the loins to the base of the tale. From the side, the point of the croup should be in alignment with or just behind the point of the hip which is the bony protrusion at the front of the haunches which …
Every Horseman’s Companion: Complete Holistic Care and Healing for Horses by Mary Brennan, DVM
Whether you believe in each and every nuance of homeopathy and holistic healing is irrelevant when compared to the trove of information detailed in this book. With an easy-to-use format and laid out like an encyclopedia, this Complete Holistic Care and Healing for Horses by Mary Brennan, DVM, has proven an invaluable reference and helpful guide …
The Shoulder
There is more to the shoulder than meets the eye. Firstly, it is important to realize that the horse’s shoulder is not actually attached to the spine by a collar bone as it is in humans. Instead, the shoulder is attached to and supports the weight of the front end by sheets of muscle. These …
Saddle fit & the Horse’s Back
After taking a brief look at the history and evolution of the saddle, the article then goes into depth on proper saddle fitting and function for various disciplines of the working horse.
This is a paper I prepared for a course some years ago and have decided to share. Hopefully you find it informative if not helpful!
Overcoming Obstinacy: Motivate a Soured Horse
While reasons are varied, rehabilitating the soured horse is as much about rekindling his desire to perform as it is his relationship with his rider. The latter is perhaps even more important as it is through developing a “partnership” that we’re more likely to be the person our horse wants to perform for, but when …