My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
According to Princess Haya, the president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the status of equestrian sports at future Olympics is precarious. In a recent interview she stated that there is no guarantee that horse sports will survive beyond the 2012 Olympics. The problems? Interest in dressage is low, there have been complaints about the […]
Read MoreIt’s no fun to be close to a horse that is panicking and tied — whether it be in a cross tie or a trailer. While some people strongly believe that it’s safer if the horse can’t get break loose, I have been in situations where a quick release mechanism would have been essential. For […]
Read MoreAt 1.6 meters (5′ 2 -1/2″) the show jumping fences at the Olympics looked enormous to me. It’s hard to imagine the multiple jumping efforts required of these horses over the days of competition. However, when only a single jump is required, there are some horses that can jump significantly higher. People started keeping track […]
Read MoreNorway’s bronze medal in the Olympics is in jeopardy after Camiro, ridden by Tony Andre Hansen, and three other horses tested positive for Capsaicin. The other three horses are Ireland’s Lantinus, ridden by Dennis Lynch; Brazil’s Chupa Chup, ridden by Bernardo Alves; and Germany’s Coster, ridden by Christian Ahlmann. All the horses were banned from […]
Read MoreWhen I first got my OTTB, Freedom, I thought that he was a prime candidate for a toy. He has lots of nervous energy and will weave and crib if contained. Of course, my idea of a toy, didn’t correspond with his. He had no interest in jolly balls or stall toys like Lick-its. Instead, I […]
Read MoreOne of the most interesting things about watching the Olympic show jumping was comparing the styles of the riders from different countries. Some rode in a half seat, some in a full seat. Saddles were different, bits were different, and most important (at least to the posters on various forums) was the way European women […]
Read MoreWhen I wrote about Elmer Bandit in June, the 37-year-old gelding was on the brink of setting a new record for lifetime mileage for competitive trail rides. Elmer had the summer off, but just came closer to his goal by finishing second in the 60-mile Spotted Rump Ride Competitive Trail Event (St. Louis, Mo.) in […]
Read MoreForget mucking stalls. Don’t worry about the rising price of hay, or whether your horse has enough turnout. These horses come with an on/off switch. Interactive mechanical horses were first developed to help jockeys recover from injuries suffered during racing and jockeys are still one of the major users of these simulators. However, manufacturers have […]
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