Q: My horse is great at the walk and jog on the trail. However, when we are loping in a group, he bucks and shakes his head. I try to keep him at a slow lope, but he wants...
It’s no wonder that trail riding is the most popular equestrian activity. Riding a great trail on a good horse is an amazing way to spend the day. To ensure your trail ride is a glorious adventure and not...
Why can your horse make a beeline to his feed bucket but can’t travel in a straight line when he’s under saddle? If your horse is motivated to get someplace quickly, he will follow the shortest path to get...
Ranch pleasure is one of the newest AQHA-approved events and has been well received since classes were first in January 2012. The first-ever world championship class was held in during the 2012 Bank of America Amateur and FedEx Open...
You and your horse have worked hard all winter. He's fit, you're confident, and you're ready to go to a horse show. But there are a few things to take care of before you go through the ingate.
Don't...
Whether you compete in western pleasure, horsemanship, showmanship or all-around, making a good first impression when you enter the show pen is important. In these videos, AQHA professional horsemen and judges Casey and April Devitt show you how they...
Whether you ride competitively or stick to the trails, it’s important to have a horse that halts promptly. A horse that continues to pull against your hand or wiggles impatiently can cost you a ribbon in the show pen....
Q: I like to ride in trail classes, but I have trouble with the back-throughs. What’s the best way to practice?
— Lynn Bates, Indiana
A: There are a few key things to know when practicing a backing obstacle. First,...
Carla Wennberg, coach of the 2013 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association reserve national champion western team from St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, N.C., offers some advice to help you teach and reinforce neck reining.Equipment: Remember...
While neck reining is not necessarily a complex skill, it is one that requires basic training. If you want to ride one-handed, you need to make sure both you and your horse understand the foundation of neck reining.
Carla Wennberg,...
