My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
I haven’t ridden much this winter. The footing has been slippery and I no longer have access to an indoor. Given her intermittent work schedule, I decided that both of us needed to get back into shape for spring and that would involve ground work. Last winter I taught Zelda how to long line, so […]
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Having access to an indoor arena this winter has been transformative. I don’t remember the last time I was able to ride on such perfect footing! The only problem with riding inside in the winter is snow. And heavy rain. The first time we were in the indoor when the skies opened the rain hit […]
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One of the training tools we’ve introduced to Zelda recently is a rope halter. I’d used on on Freedom in the past, as he could get a bit “frisky” in the spring and using a chain over a horse’s nose can be too harsh as it applies considerable force to a horse’s sensitive nasal bones […]
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If you’re like me, I grew up idolizing the top riders in the world. They worked hard, they were amazingly talented. They won. We took clinics. We emulated them. We studied their techniques. And now, it’s coming out that many of them had feet of clay. Recently, stories have come out about two Olympic champions […]
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While the human population thinks that New England is still in the throes of winter, Zelda is pretty certain spring is around the corners. She’s shedding profusely and she’s in heat. This was never a huge issue in the small private barns where she’s lived. Freedom was always smitten by her, but she didn’t feel […]
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Although they can be very cute (and this one is), never forget that pony is a four-letter word. Of course, I can totally see Zelda behaving the same way. She wouldn’t be spooked by any of the elements but would totally try to eat the shrubbery. We all need something to make us laugh today. […]
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If location is key to real estate success, then the most useful training exercises available to every rider are transitions, transitions, transitions. I know I’ve written about transitions before, but I’ve been working with Zelda this spring, getting her back in shape, working on her balance and asking her to work more sharply off my […]
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Today I’m welcoming a guest post from Emily Davis from Cheval Liberté on training tips for young horses. I’ve never started a horse from scratch, but I have had the fun of restarting several OTTBs. Two things I might add to her list, based on my experience are : Work with a trainer. After I […]
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