My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
Last weekend I took Freedom to a barn with an indoor. In all the years that I’ve owned him, I have never taken him inside one. The first steps into the dark, cavernous space took some coaxing. But it was the mirrors that really set him off. Along the long side of the the ring […]
Read MoreUPDATE: On February 14th the owners of the Steel Pier announced they had scrapped their plans to bring back the diving horses. One of the main attractions of Atlantic City’s Steel Pier was the diving horses. From the 1920s until the 1978 (yes, 50+ years!) horses ridden by women in swim suits dove from a […]
Read MoreWhen you buy a horse you are buying more than just an animal — you are investing in your hopes and dreams of what you want to accomplish. You visualize yourself coming in from that cross country course with your cheeks flushed and your eyes watering from the excitement . . . or finishing that […]
Read MoreHere’s an inspirational video that shows that hard work, perseverance and faith can really pay off. I love the description that the rider wrote about her experience. And it gives many of us who have only moderately talented horses can have hope. We’ve come a long way, and he’s taught me so much. If there’s […]
Read MoreIf you’re not actively working to get better at what you do, there’s a good chance you’re getting worse, no matter what the quality of your initial training may have been. I read this on the Internet (The Energy Project) and it encapsulated what I feel about working with a trainer. I’ve had a lot […]
Read MoreThere seems to be a lot of confusion in the riding world about the term “on the bit.” Lots of people tell me their horse is on the bit . . . but at least half of the time the horse is either behind the bit or over the bit. Anywhere, in fact, except on […]
Read MoreWe had a really good hunt season. Freedom’s ability to jump in the field really grew as he gained confidence and learned to settle better on the approaches to each fence. So I was a bit surprised when I had my first post-season jumping lesson and learned just how crooked he was! Sure, we can […]
Read MoreFreedom needs to be ridden several times a week. Not to keep him fit (he’s always fit) but to quiet his mind. After a few days off he sees lions, tigers and bears in the woods when we hack out. He is startled by the most common objects (a wet rock, a tree branch that […]
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