I magine a bow and arrow. To the degree that you take back on the arrow against the bow string (because it is attached at both ends of the bow, creating a circuit), the effect on the arrow is to go exponentially more forward toward where it is direct

1 Overall: My first impression of this rider is that she’s kind of a seat-of-the-pants rider, but she hasn’t gone through the American equitation system. Leg: Her foot is what we call “too far home” in the stirrup: The iron is too close to the heel a

There’s nothing I like more than learning about different training exercises. How to make horses more rideable, turn better, become more supple. That was one of the reasons I asked riders at the Capital Challenge Horse show in the fall what their fav

1. The BootJacket from EquiParent is a silicone boot cover that is designed specifically for tall boots and paddock boots. The cover features a large zipper in the front for easy on and off, plus a slit on the heel to be put on over spurs. Meant to p

QMy 10-year-old event horse, a Thoroughbred gelding, suffered a mild suspensory strain during our final competition of the season. As part of his treatment, our veterinarian recommended stall rest. I know this will benefit the ligament as it heals, b

Hailing from a family of equestrians, Hunter Holloway has been around horses her whole life, and she’s been competing at the Hunter top of the sport since a young age. At just 12 years old, she became the youngest ever to win a national grand prix. I

The term shipping fever is a general catch-all to describe respiratory disease in horses that tend to occur after they have been transported. The same kinds of disease can occur in other situations as well, but the stress of travel and the conditions

This photo shows Larissa Williams on her Premium Oldenburg mare Sans Souci. Larissa purchased Sans Souci as a schoolmaster. She was trained up to Prix St. Georges and is now training Larissa through the levels. After two years, they are competing at

For 50 years, Practical Horseman has brought readers in-depth articles on the discipline of dressage from trainers at the pinnacle of the sport. These included those from the Spanish Riding School, German bereiters and Olympians. As the sport grew in

Brought to you by The Event at Rebecca Farm in Kalispell, Montana, held July 19–July 23, 2023, is a destination event for riders, trainers and spectators. Held in view of Glacier National Park, the event allows many to compete and then vacation in on

I ronically, one of the worst starvation cases Aiken Equine Rescue has taken in arrived I at the organization’s South Carolina farm in November 2020, close to Thanksgiving. The staff and volunteers named him Pilgrim. Pilgrim’s gaunt frame was covered

Focusing on the details of riding correctly shaped 20-meter circles is important for two reasons: Firstly, if you don’t ride accurate 20-meter circles in your dressage test, you’re throwing away points. The less accurate the shape of your circle in c

I magine the bit being in front of your horse’s mouth. Instead of pulling back, you want to push him forward into the bit for a softer, springier horse.—Phillip Dutton Seven-time Olympic eventer Phillip Dutton won Olympic team gold medals at the 1996

"It’s good, but you can make it better.” This was a phrase heard repeatedly from Steffen Peters at a two-day clinic at Raven Hill Farms in Florida, New York. The five-time Olympian coached a group of talented horses and riders, but his keen eye for t

For 50 years, Practical Horseman has been full of instruction on riding and training horses from all kinds of perspectives. But what makes someone a good horseperson? As the late Jim Wofford said in the December 2014 issue, “One of the many things I

Q A recent accident at the barn made me want to be better prepared to deal with common health-related issues that could involve my horse. For example: Say he comes in from the pasture with a wound that’s bleeding. How do I handle the situation? A The

Tendon and ligament injuries, and their subsequent repair and rehabilitation, have been prime concerns of equine veterinarians since horses began running, jumping and undergoing the stresses of competition. The more recent addition of regenerative me