Q. My barrel horse will not stop completely or turn after I pass the finish line. What can I do about this?A: You have to practice just like you want you horse to be at a competition. I like...
Although it’s frustrating to have your hunter or jumper excused from the show ring due to refusals, don’t assume you have the right to school your horse over a more inviting jump before exiting. According to U. S. Equestrian...
Authored by some of the most experienced Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) dressage judges, this new "bible" is invaluable to dressage judges--as well as riders and trainers at all levels. It not only helps provide a better understanding of how...
Rollback turns are difficult because they involve so many skills. Riders need to look ahead and plan a turn after the first jump, then ride back to a second jump that’s often met on an angle. There’s a lot...
Huntseat equitation riders are often admonished by their coaches to sit up straight and maintain good posture. A graceful, erect upper body also complements a horse’s performance. Being a slouch in hunters-under-saddle or English pleasure classes tends to give...
"The judge just doesn’t like my horse.” Unfortunately that’s a common rationalization when a rider is perplexed about her horse’s lack of a ribbon in a hunter class. However, a prejudicial judge isn’t usually the problem. Instead, it’s often...
Q. At what age should a horse begin getting introduced to the cart?A. Horses can be started in harness as older 2 year olds, but keep in mind, their attention span--or lack of it--at this young age. In my...
Decorative markings brushed into the horse’s coat--quarter marks--enhance the conformation of a well-muscled hip and croup, and draw attention to the cleanliness and shine of a well-conditioned show horse. Quarter marks not only highlight a horse’s conformation and give...
Many saddle seat riders believe their sport is misunderstood by those unfamiliar with the discipline. Here, Carole Stohlmann, a United States Equestrian Federation "R” saddle seat equitation, Arabian, National Show Horse and Saddlebred judge from Oklahoma City, clears up...
The purpose of the showmanship class is for exhibitors to demonstrate their ability to show their horses, rather than showcasing the horse himself. In showmanship, the horse’s conformation is not judged. However, how the horse is turned out is...
