My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
The safety issues that plague the sport of eventing are still getting a lot of press. ESPN recently aired a segment (now published on their Web site) that was pretty shocking. I originally had mentioned it in a post a few days ago, but since watching it today, I feel it deserves its own post. I […]
Read MoreWith the spotlight focused on the safety of eventing, it is critical that the ambassadors of our sport — course designers, trainers, equestrian organizations, and riders — take all steps that can prevent injuries to both riders and horses. There is some progress. For example, at the Olympics, there was a last minute change to […]
Read MoreThere has been a lot of discussion among the eventing community about how to prevent rotational falls — a fall where the horse hits a fence with its front legs or chest and its body somersaults over the fence with the fence acting as a pivot point. In a rotational fall, the rider usually is […]
Read MoreWhen I was a kid, no one paid all that much attention to concussions. Heck, we were lucky if we were wearing helmets that offered even a modicum of protection. Most of us got up, sat down again if we saw stars, and were probably back riding within a day or two. But, let’s face […]
Read MoreEvery couple of years a “kindly” landscaper or home owner offers our horses grass clippings from their lawns. Their intentions are good, but the consequences to horses can be severe. Yes, horses eat grass, so why not grass clippings? There are several reasons why it’s not a good idea: When grass is mown and especially […]
Read MoreThis afternoon I was just about to bring my horses in from a field when a massive thunderstorm blew into the area. Within minutes the rain was falling in sheets, thunder boomed, and lightning rippled across the sky. My first thought was that being out in an open field with two horses was not a […]
Read MoreMove over Hidalgo. After five years of research, conducted by Mary Higginbotham, the Long Riders’ Guild (LRG) has confirmed that in 1910-1911 Nan Aspinwall-Gable was the first woman to ride across North America (from San Francisco to New York) alone. At the age of 31 she rode 4,496 miles in 180 days, instantly becoming the stuff of […]
Read MoreWe’ve all been in this situation. You have somewhere to go and yet your horse will not get on the trailer. You start off calm and after 15 minutes your temper flares and your horse becomes increasingly obstinate. I once missed an event because my horse wouldn’t load. I know people who’ve literally spent hours […]
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