My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
Commissions are one of those whispered about subjects in the equestrian world. They are slippery, secret and often hidden. There’s nothing inherently wrong with commissions — it’s one of the ways that trainers make a living — provided it’s above board and spelled out so that all parties know the deal, it’s perfectly fine and […]
Read MoreIf you are a Massachusetts resident who opposes horse slaughter, now is the time to call in your support for a bill now on Beacon Hill that bans horse slaughter for human consumption and its associated bulk transport. The bill is seeking co-sponsors until February 4th. Read the bill text at http://www.animallawcoalition.com/horse-slaughter/article/1519 Find your state Rep […]
Read MoreI’ve written before on retirement options for senior horses (Rehoming the Senior Equine). It’s not easy to find a place where you can be assured that your horse will be well cared for while living out its senior years, especially when the retirement facility is far away from where you live. But what about when […]
Read MoreThere are times when free leasing a horse is an excellent way to share expenses or make sure your horse gets enough work. The key is finding someone you can trust and setting up an arrangement that keeps you and your lessee happy and which keeps your horse safe and sound. I’ve been on both […]
Read MoreTreeless saddles are all the buzz. While conventional saddles with wooden or fiberglass trees have reigned supreme for thousands of years (the first “treed” saddles appeared in 200 BC in Asia), during the last decade there has been a vocal movement toward treeless saddles. Some people claim they are more natural, a throwback to saddle […]
Read MoreI frequent the saddle listings on eBay, looking for those great deals on saddles that I’ve always wanted to try. Sometimes the deals are too good to be true — for a reason: they are scams. Mostly, these are people who don’t have an item to sell but have pirated the photo from another auction. […]
Read MoreFor several years I’ve worked with CANTER New England, an organization that helps retiring racehorses find new jobs away from the track. In that environment, there’s always the worry that a horse will go to auction (and potentially to slaughter) if it is no longer competitive at the track. For many trainers it is a […]
Read More