Showing your horse in competitions and horse shows can be one of the most fun ways to enjoy being a horse owner. In this section, I collect tips for showing: how to safely trailer to show, perform at your very best, and win.
To help dressage riders study their dressage tests, I created this dressage arena PDF. This printable dressage arena is great for printing actual paper copies of a dressage arena layout so that you can study and memorize your dressage test by tracing a pen or finger around a tiny paper dressage arena printed from this …
Many horse owners enjoy exhibiting in horse shows for fun and the thrill of competition. When you think about a horse show, a certain image probably comes to mind. You may be surprised to learn that that image can vary dramatically around the world and even within the United States. In this article, we’ll talk …
Fake Tails- are they Really “a thing”? Horse shows have always been something of a beauty pageant for both horses and riders, but in the late 20th century it became increasingly common to improve the length and fullness of a horse’s tail by using what’s referred to as a “false tail” or “tail extension.” …
Quality horse jumps, poles, and standards can cost many thousands of dollars. For a casual rider or a beginning riding stable, the cost of purchasing a set of jumps can be prohibitive. In this post we will be talking about several ways to build attractive, unique, horse jumps without spending a small fortune! What This …
The diagram below provides an important tip for equitation classes that many beginners learn the hard way – by performing the pattern incorrectly in the show ring. As this diagram shows, to correctly execute a figure 8 in an equitation class at a horse show, it is important to not ride the pattern in …
Generally, horses shed their winter coats around the same time that temperatures start to warm and early spring plants begin growing. But horses might not always shed on time. In this article, we’ll talk about a few reasons that a horse’s coat might not be shedding on time or as quickly as other horses. …
Although you can easily spend thousands of dollars on authentic renaissance costume tack for you and your horse, it’s easy to make your own horse costume by upcycling tack you already have and making a few extra costume pieces using easy to find materials and basic sewing supplies. In this article, I’ll be walking you through …
Trailering a horse a long distance can be a stressful event for both horse and driver, but with proper preparation and equipment, you can reduce both your own and your horse’s stress level during the trip. Below are a few of my best tips and hints garnered from several years of hauling horses 4-6 hours …
