My Soapbox for Equestrian Writings
Not all horses are interchangeable — as the folks in this funny dutch commercial discover. Most non-horse people don’t really see the difference among breeds and disciplines. Four legs and a mane and tail covers it. Here’s a nice example of 15 different horse breeds:
Read MoreI like riding in fields. That’s just as well as we don’t have an arena at the barn. There is one that’s about a 10 minute hack through the woods but I’ve found that my horses are more forward and more connected when they are not surrounded by fencing. Today I read another good reason […]
Read MoreThe Quadrille today is a choreographed dressage ride that’s usually performed to music. As a ridden demonstration it became popular in the 17th century with four riders performing movements in a square. In fact, it was so popular that it became a popular dance. Riding in a quadrille is very challenging. I’ve tried it and […]
Read MoreAfter looking at all the photos of the Blue Mustang, it struck me that for many people, the most common image of a rearing horse (other than a wild stallion) is that of the Levade, a movement where a horse rears up at a 45% angle and then holds the pose for several seconds. It […]
Read MoreNot every ride goes according to plan. I’ve had a few where after I mounted my horse it seemed that nothing went right. My horse wouldn’t listen, I felt I couldn’t ride, and what should have been a pleasurable experience became an exercise in frustration. Funnily enough, it often happens when I most need the […]
Read MoreI have a vivid memory of posting this video, but my link in the camel dressage video goes to something different and when I searched my archives, I couldn’t find this one. So, this isn’t quite as dramatic as a camel and a horse; it’s two horses but from seemingly very different disciplines, dressage and […]
Read MoreLast week I posted a Pas de Deux dressage performance that included an English and Western horse whose riders switched mid-way. Thanks to a reader who contacted me, the link now goes to the right video! Here’s another Pas de Deux . . . with a whole new twist! It puts the Schweppes bull to […]
Read MoreLast week I posted a video that showed riders competing bareback in a Puissance jumping class. In the same vein, here is an example of a rider that has trained his horses to perform many of the movements of the Spanish Riding School without using a bit, bridle or saddle! I will not bicker with […]
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