A favorite pastime of horse enthusiasts everywhere is trail riding. After all, what could be better than taking your horse for a ride through a beautiful, scenic landscape?One of the keys to enjoyable trail riding is a quality, well-maintained...
Running Horse by photophilde on flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0It’s every horse owner’s worst nightmare: Your horse has gotten away from you—either by pulling away while you were leading him or unseating you while you were riding—and has taken off with...
It seems so simple to reach over and unlatch a gate from the saddle—far easier than having to dismount. However, without proper preparation for the task, the gate can become a stressful situation and deter you from venturing down...
It got dark really fast in the woods that day. A million leaves overhead danced and shook in an onslaught of soaking rain. Thunder rumbled in the sky beyond the swaying canopy. My horse, slick with sweat, rocked back...
If you’re itching to get out of the ring this summer, locating a local, equine-friendly park should be on your summer to-do list. If most of your friends stick close to home or focus on the show ring, you...
Stuck at work? Tired of sitting at a desk, staring at a computer screen? We totally get it—we’d rather be out trail riding, too. We don’t condone lying to your boss about an emergency at home and then ditching...
Riding your horse is a workout. We’ve been exploring ways to get physically fit for riding in the Fit Rider column in Horse Illustrated this year. But have you thought about appropriate fuel for the ride?A lot of equestrians...
My gelding, Corazon, spent the majority of yesterday morning tied to the fence, which for reasons I’ll explain more in a moment has become his daily routine. One hind leg cocked in a resting position, he stands dozing in...
When I look back over my life with horses, I can honestly say my happiest riding days were the ones I spent trail riding with my dog. I was a long distance rider—heavily into competitive trail—and the best way...
When I advocate for cross-training arena horses on varied terrain, I often advise students to stay committed by setting a goal. Fortunately, numerous trail organizations and events exist to help with this. Many offer intro level divisions that do...
