Castle Leslie

With just a week available, I had to make the most out of every day. After spending a day recovering from jetlag and catching up with friends, it was off to Castle Leslie in County Monaghan. Located on the border of Northern Ireland, this was a perfect couple of days of horse-themed luxury.

I rented a car for the week, and while I adjusted pretty quickly to driving on the left-hand side of the road and shifting gears with my left hand, train service is available for anyone who doesn’t want the added stress of navigating the country roads by car.

The castle has an illustrious family history, and offers several options for accommodations. If you really want to make a splash, you can stay in the castle proper, or if you’d prefer more peace and quiet, the Old Stable Mews are located far out back on the property.

Most people interested in riding will be content to stay in The Lodge, which is connected to the stables and features the upscale Snaffles restaurant, drinks at Connor’s Pub, and a spa for relaxing after time in the saddle.

I arranged the trip to Castle Leslie through Unicorn Trails Horse Riding Holidays Worldwide, and the reservation process was easy and well managed. Every detail of the trip was smoothly planned in advance, and checking in at The Lodge was an easy process. The accommodations were well equipped and exceedingly comfortable. It was a huge highlight that the small balcony overlooked the stable yard.

My kids were heading back to school that week, but airfare from New Jersey to Ireland drops significantly in September: my flight was about $400, compared to over $1,000 in August.

My non-horsey husband agreed to deal with the back-to-school week so I could enjoy an adventure with my old friend, George Barry, who I’ve known since we were teenagers, when he and his sister and my brother competed in the International Tetrathlon exchange through Pony Club back in the late 1990s.

We’d traveled together before, and he’s a competent rider, and since riding is a high-risk sport—and so is driving a car in Ireland—I felt a little safer traveling with a companion.

Cross-Country Jumping

After settling in, we stretched our legs with a wander around the grounds and the castle. That evening we enjoyed an elegant six-course dinner at Snaffles. The food was delicious, featuring mainly locally sourced, fresh ingredients, and the service was impeccable. After dinner, we wandered out the door to the stables and admired the facilities and horses before retiring for the evening.

The full Irish breakfast the next morning was equally as impressive as dinner, if not more so. There was also an impressive array of fresh fruit, pastries and other breakfast items that left me wishing my appetite was larger. But with our horses waiting, I reined in my appetite. After changing into boots and breeches, we headed out to the stables.

The horses were fit and well cared for, and the borrowed helmets and cross-country vests were in good condition and up to the latest safety standards. I rode a gorgeous big gray mare named Blueberry, while George was on a stout gelding named Arnie. I’m 5’11”, and Blueberry took up my leg nicely. There were horses of all shapes and sizes, for riders of all shapes, sizes and levels of experience. A questionnaire in advance made sure that we met our ideal match.

Our instructor, Steven Carty, performed a brief assessment before we set off across the countryside. Steven was lovely and we chatted about the horses, the lifestyle working at the stables, and the history of the estate. If we’d had another night, I would have enjoyed sitting down with him for a pint at Connor’s Pub.

The jumps were on the small side, but since we were both out of practice, it was perfect. The cross-country course is extensive, but since we only had one day, we kept things simple, and the horses clearly knew the drill.

Next, we made our way to the corner of the lake, where we could jump in and out from a small bank or down a series of steps. Splashing through the lake with the castle in the background felt like a scene from a fairytale.

A walk in the woods that afternoon left me wishing we had more time to explore the estate. It was a peaceful way to wrap up our short visit, as the grounds and gardens are just as beautiful as the buildings.

The Wild Atlantic Way

I would have happily spent a week at the castle living the life of luxury, but our next stop would bring plenty of fun adventures. (In fact, if I were to do the trip again, I’d arrange to head to the castle after the beach).

A couple hours’ drive west to County Mayo brought us to the small coastal town of Westport, a scenic village set on the calm, clear waters of Clew Bay. The bay is home to a number of tiny islands—“one for every day of the year”—and set in the shadow of Croagh Patrick, the mountain where Saint Patrick is said to have driven the snakes from Ireland.

This segment of the trip was organized by Ireland Equestrian Tours and operated by Go Trekking Ireland. Laura Lamb of Ireland Equestrian Tours sent a number of brochures over with information about the various options, and the Wild Atlantic Way seemed a good fit for a bit of adventure and beach riding after our cross-country schooling up in County Monaghan.

We stayed at George’s uncle John’s house on the way, and got an early start to Westport so that we could be out riding early, before the tide came in. We met the proprietor of the Westport Woods Hotel, Michael Lennon, who took us to his stables to select our horses for a beach ride. I chose a tall, athletic and solidly built chestnut hunter type named Coady, while George rode a gray named Naymar.

Beach Ride to Remember

We followed the horsebox to a spot where we unloaded and mounted up. Four of us set off across the bay. Our guide, Joanne Mason, was on a smaller cob who was fairly submerged in some of the deeper water crossings, so I was glad to be on a long-legged sport horse!

Eventually we ended up on Bertra Strand, where we had a good gallop on the beach and then rode out on a grassy headland overlooking a couple of large islands. After clattering over a stony section, we came to another beach where we rode out in the waves, before crossing back over to Bertra Strand for another good gallop in the shadow of Croagh Patrick. By the time we wrapped up our antics, the tide had come in, so we picked our way around the bay and back to the horsebox.

After riding, we stopped at a local pub for a truly Irish experience: drinking a pint in front of a peat fire. While harvesting peat is banned in much of the country, some locals are still allowed to harvest a limited amount using ancient methods, and the particular smoky atmosphere in the pub evoked a bygone era.

At Michael’s suggestion, we spent the afternoon at Ballinrobe Races, about 45 minutes south. It was the final meet of the season and there was a good crowd out for the racing. This was a fun way to see another aspect of the Irish horse industry and enjoy the excitement of placing a few small bets. I braved the bookies and bet a couple of Euros on two winning horses, bringing home around 40 Euros and a slightly inflated sense of my ability to judge a winning horse.

That evening, we settled on the Westway Pub in downtown Westport for a bite to eat. The food was fresh and simple and the atmosphere smart but casual. I’d hoped to stop in to listen to the traditional music at another pub up the street, but with another day of riding planned, opted for an early bedtime instead.

Surfing Beach

The next morning the horses were hauled to Carrownisky Strand, a popular surfing beach a half-hour or so down the road. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and a little surreal unloading the horses in a sandy parking area populated mainly by surfers and families taking their kids to the beach for the day.

We made a bit of a spectacle, galloping on the wide, sandy beach, which is the home to an annual horse race. The horses were eager to go and we were all too happy to oblige, with sea spray splashing in our grinning faces.

To cool the horses out, we hacked to the nearby Bunlahinch Clapper Footbridge, the largest complete clapper bridge in Ireland, at 50 meters long. Its 37 arches are constructed in a primitive style, each made of flat limestone slabs, and likely dates to the 1840s.

On the way back, we walked past cow pastures and bogs where sheep were grazing on the verdant grass, later taking another lively canter down the beach. The horses were very fit and had plenty in the tank to give another good run.

Mountain Ride

The original plan was to do the mountain ride the following day, but with stormy weather in the forecast, I opted to join a group going out that afternoon. After a short rest at the hotel, I headed back to the stables with Michael and an American woman and her daughter who had just arrived on holiday. (George had taken an unplanned dismount into the saltwater on our beach ride and wasn’t keen to go on a three-hour ride in soaking wet clothing, so he stayed behind and had a stroll around the town).

I was on Coady once again, and we rode directly from the stables and enjoyed a long, leisurely hack to the base of the mountain. Other than an easy canter up a long gravel track, this ride maintained a leisurely pace and was a good opportunity to take in views of the peat bog, the mountain, and sweeping views of Clew Bay, following narrow lanes winding over hills and through little valleys past cottages and farms.

That evening, we walked from the hotel to the Quay for dinner at the Towers Pub, a little more upscale than the previous evening’s location. Following Joanne’s recommendation, we followed dinner with pink gin cocktails garnished with strawberries at the Coast Hotel across the street. It was charming and refreshing and a nice accompaniment to the live music featured that evening.

All too soon, it was time to head to the airport, return the trusty rental car and fly home.

◆ Amber’s Packing Tips and List for an Irish Riding Holiday

This article about a horseback riding holiday in Ireland appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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But I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge. In fact, I find it weirdly empowering to not only step out of my comfort zone, but to jump right off the cliff.

So, as I neared the tender age of 50 (how did that happen?), I realized just how much I missed horses and riding. I missed hanging out in the barn, breathing in the intoxicating scent of leather and hay, and staring into a horse’s dark, intelligent eyes. And I asked myself, “What are you waiting for?”

Getting Back in the Saddle Later in Life

I grew up with horses and ponies. Took lessons as a teenager. Spent all my school vacations and summer days galloping through fields with my friends. I was obsessed with two things: horses and Bon Jovi.

And then my 20s led me to new trails: marriage, building a business, and a busy lifestyle that eventually crowded out any horse opportunities other than an occasional trail ride.    

And then, one day last year, it hit me: I love riding! I love horses! I had the circumstances to start seriously riding again. And I knew it would be amazing.

Positive thinking is essential, but reality can’t be ignored. I’m 20 years older, my knees are shot from my lifelong addiction to stilettos, and my right shoulder partially dislocates regularly just for the sheer fun of it.

So, as an adult (AKA “older”) rider returning to the sport, I had a few lessons to learn and concessions to make. And if you’re new to riding or considering returning, perhaps these tips will make the transition smoother.

Do Your Research

When owner Amy Miller gave me a tour of SeaHorse Stables in Belfast, Maine—a 30-acre hunter/jumper equestrian facility—I was impressed by the family-friendly atmosphere, the huge indoor arena so I could ride year-round safely, the luxury of heated bathrooms and tack rooms (yes, that matters), and the fact that riders of all ages and abilities are welcome.

I wanted a place where I could get the full experience: grooming, tacking up, taking a lesson, and then enjoying time with the horse after. When you feel at home with your barn family and friends, you are in a much better position to relax and focus on enjoying your lessons.   

Work with a Trainer

A certified riding instructor has the expertise and experience to teach you how to ride correctly, replace bad habits with good ones, rebuild your confidence, match a horse’s personality to your own, and ensure every lesson is not only fun but also challenging.

Up Your Fitness Level

“It is of the utmost importance that adult amateur riders work on their fitness and symmetry out of the saddle,” says Stephanie Seheult, DPT, who specializes in equestrian fitness at Advanced Physio.

“When a weakness is identified, do targeted exercises and stretches, which will help you improve your position and strength in the saddle,” she continues. “Knee-to-shoulder stretches will help relieve tightness in your posterior hip, and side-lying leg lifts with your heels down will work on the gluteus medius muscle.”

To up my endurance and leg strength, I not only increased my cardio workouts, but added game-changing equestrian-based exercises and stretches to my daily routine.

Embrace Imperfection

Riding will quickly teach you the value of humility. I laugh at my mistakes (my two-point looks more like a six-point!) and refuse to take myself too seriously.

When we ditch striving for perfection, the journey to becoming a better rider is so much more rewarding—and a whole lot more fun.   

So I Said Yes

It’s never too late to do something you love. Eighty-year-old Betty Oare finished 8th in the Adult Hunting Championship at the Washington International Horse Show in 2021. Now that’s impressive!

But when my trainer invited me to enter the spring schooling show after just two months of lessons, my first response was, “No. Thanks, but no.”

I mean really … competing in a horse show for the first time ever at my age and less-than-stellar ability? What was she thinking? Wasn’t it too late for me to even consider entering?

Apparently not.

That annoying, competitive, never-say-no-to-a-challenge voice inside my head grew louder: Face down the fear. If you can zipline through the jungles of Costa Rica hanging upside down by your ankles, you can certainly walk and trot on command.

So I said yes.

And was surprised by the level of excitement that began to build in anticipation of the big day. I tackled each lesson with renewed zeal. I rewarded myself with a new show shirt and tan breeches. Most importantly, I smashed down any disquieting thoughts that arose, telling me to leave the show ring to the flawless 14-year-olds with perfect two-point position and ankles that flex like rubber.         

Show day finally arrived. I was riding Jimmy (the most forgiving lesson horse you’ll ever meet) in the first two classes: Adult Equitation Walk/Trot and Adult Pleasure Walk/Trot.

And … we won, both classes! Two blue ribbons! (Full disclosure: only two people competed in my class; my win may not be quite as impressive as you were envisioning.)

I like to think Betty Oare would be proud of me for not galloping away from a challenge just because some people might think you’re too old or it’s too late to try.

I got my first taste of competition. And I liked the flavor. It was a chance to put to the test everything my trainer had been sounding down into my brain, hands, seat, and legs. Will I enter another show? I hope so. Will I keep riding into my 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond? Most definitely!

Because it’s never too late.

This article about riding later in life appeared in the October 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Returning to Riding Later in Life appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“Garmin is a world leader in the health and fitness industry, and we are excited to bring our advanced sensor data and technology to the equine market with the introduction of Blaze,” Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing says. “Whether you’re eventing, racing, jumping or anything in between, this new system will help you monitor your horse’s health to keep them performing at their best.”

Innovative Design

The Blaze system starts with a removable, rechargeable sensor the size of a half-dollar, placed in a durable, washable neoprene wrap that can be adjusted for a perfect fit. The wrap securely holds the sensor to the skin on the underside of the horse’s tail, without irritating the horse or requiring any skin preparation.

The sensor’s battery life is up to 25 hours, and the wrap can be worn for up 10 hours continuously.

Easily paired with the Blaze Connect IQ app on your Garmin smartwatch or the Blaze app on your phone, you’ll sync your devices and instantly access a treasure trove of information about your horse, gathered and updated in real time. You can share your live stats with your trainer or friends in spectator mode. One sensor and wrap can be used on multiple horses, as you can create profiles for each one and easily select the right equine in the app.

Valuable Data

Choose from the following activities to track in the app: Ride, Recovery and Transport. While riding, you can track your horse’s heart rate, strides, gait, distance, skin temperature and changes to that temperature, and much more. You can also see the heat score in your area to determine if it’s safe to ride in current conditions. You can track your horse’s recovery as his heart rate changes, and that can be tracked while riding and in separate sessions for low-intensity wellness monitoring.

The Blaze can be used during transport to monitor your horse’s stress levels and comfort in the trailer, all conveniently accessed on your Garmin device or phone app.

After logging activity, you can view all of your data right in the app on your phone, and can easily toggle between horses.

Garmin-Backed

Blaze comes from a long line of Garmin products designed to help humans get greater enjoyment out of activities they already love. From aviation, marine and automobile navigation devices, to wearables for hiking, biking, running, swimming and other sports, Garmin has produced accurate tools that are proven to be durable in harsh conditions. Founded over 35 years ago, Garmin’s headquarters is located in Olathe, Kan., with offices worldwide.

Blaze was also tested by independent researchers at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, compared against medical-grade ECG systems. Over 100 tail wrap variations were evaluated, and it was tested at a Thoroughbred training center with more than 100 horses each day.

While developing Blaze, the device was tested in a wide variety of methods to make sure it’s both accurate and durable, holding up to impact, horse sweat, heat, cold and more.

The Blaze Equine Wellness System with tail wrap and sensor is priced at $599.99 and is available at Garmin.com.

This article about Garmin’s Blaze Equine Wellness System is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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That was until trainers began to always assign me the “difficult” horses and I burned out, abandoning horses completely.

Adult Re-Rider

When I returned to the horse world almost two decades later, it was because, once again, I dreamed of riding horses. I’d wake in the morning, remembering the feeling of freedom and connection and think, “I have to ride again.”

I took lessons, finding that muscle memory quickly kicked in. I remembered diagonals, how to cue the trot, and how to pick up the correct canter lead.

It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once, because as an adult returning to the barn after time off, I had a completely different mindset than when I was a teenager.

When someone asked me to tack up my lesson horse myself, I couldn’t. Growing up at a performance barn in the 1980s taught me to ride, but none of the accompanying horsemanship skills. We had grooms to tack our horses.

I felt embarrassed at my lack of knowledge and ability on the ground. While I still loved riding, I changed my focus to becoming a horsewoman, not just a rider. I took a job as a working student at age 35 in exchange for riding time at my barn. I learned basic horse handling and care, and the reward was time in the saddle.

The Love for Riding

One of the most wonderful perks of working with horses is the ability to mount up and spend time together in the arena or on the trail. There is no better feeling when you are on a horse, communicating without words.

I spent some of the best times of my life in the saddle. For years, I tried to find something that could replace that euphoria, but I drifted back to the mounting block each time.

My trainer is always after me to ride more often, but as a working mom, my barn time is limited. As a result, my trainer is always asking me to get on my pony and give him some exercise.

“He’s bored,” or “He wants a job” are common refrains. I constantly feel guilty if I don’t tack him up and get on for 30 minutes. After all, it’s healthy for him, and no one wants a spicy pony who has been sitting too long.

Getting proper exercise is important for both horse and rider. My pony has lived with EPM for almost 10 years, and keeping him ridden and properly muscled has been a huge part of his wellness program. He has less inflammation, more stability, and a healthier life when he is ridden regularly. For us, riding is one of the most important things we can do together.

Time Out of the Saddle is Important

Riding is only one aspect of horses, and one that perhaps has overshadowed all the others. As a timid rider, I found that the more time I spent working with my horses on the ground or even just hanging out in the paddock, the more my confidence improved.

My Thoroughbred, Delight, was diagnosed with kissing spine. Despite being only 11 years old, I retired him from riding after trying many therapies and discussing it with my wellness team. In fact, his dangerous and aggressive behavior under saddle with a previous owner was how he came into my life.

I dedicated all my time with him to groundwork, earning his trust again and keeping his brain and body busy, all without being on his back. Turns out there’s a lot we can do to have fun and give them a wonderful quality of life that doesn’t involve putting a saddle on their backs.

The Most Important Goal with Horses

One day, I may be too arthritic to ride comfortably. My horses may all be too old to carry a rider successfully. They will still be valuable in my eyes and worthy of my attention.

For me, learning to tack, longe, and do liberty and groundwork helped improve my communication with my horses and gave me a more enjoyable experience in the saddle. The focus on riding was the reason for my burnout so many years ago. Incorporating other methods of connecting and spending time with horses taught me how to listen better, be a more effective communicator, and enjoy the time spent with these animals.

Now with one riding horse and another retired, I can enjoy both animals equally because they require different things for exercise. Whether you choose to focus on riding or unmounted time with your horse, remember that showing up for your horse and spending time with them is the most important goal.

This article about there being more to horses than riding appeared in the April 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post There’s More to Horses Than Just Riding appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

I could feel her staring at my boots, caked with mud from some last-minute yardwork before my flight. Now at the airport gate, I looked up and caught her eye. She was well-dressed, probably in her 70s, waiting, like me, for our turn to board the plane.

“Do you ride?” she asked.

She wasn’t judging me. She recognized a fellow horse girl. Though it had been decades since I last seriously rode, my fashion preference for paddock boots gave me away.

“Oh,” I said. “Not for years. I gave it up when I went to college, and then, well, life took over.”

Two grown women, sharing a common bond in an unlikely place.

Growing up as a Horse Girl

Rooted in our childhood and adolescence, this connection between horsewomen is weighted with the understanding of what it means to work tirelessly and care for something unconditionally. It empowered us, built our confidence, and continues to define us.

And yet, in adulthood, many of us rarely speak of it. “Horse girls” are openly mocked as oddballs in American culture. Society forgives us our childhood obsessions but expects us to put away our youthful passions and grow up.

As an adolescent, horses and ponies offered an escape from my complicated relationship with my mother. When things got tense in the house, I sought refuge in the barn, grooming our family horse, Pridey, and tacking him up to hit the trails.

Steady and fearless, Pridey taught my two older sisters to ride before me. The three of us were raised around horses, a lifestyle rooted in our mother’s obsession. We rose early every morning to feed and turn them out before school. On weekends, we worked with trainers and rode competitively.

By the time I hit my teens, I was done with the pressure, both from competition and in particular, my mother. But I was not done with horses.

On the trails, I often dropped my reins and let Pridey lead the way, taking me far from my teenage troubles into our own special world. Pridey was my best friend, my protector, and my guide.

Pure Determination

It was on one of my trail rides that I met Kendra Hansis. Turning a corner, Pridey’s ears pricked up and there they were: Kendra and her pony, Butterball. We were both trespassing on land owned by a local farmer, and I immediately understood that it was Kendra who had been pulling tree branches over the dirt-bike paths to make jumps.

Unlike me, a horse girl by circumstance, Kendra got there through sheer will and determination. She read every book about horses and riding that she got her hands on. Her parents discouraged her, saying they could not afford a horse, and definitely didn’t have the money for vet bills, farriers, trainers, grain, and boarding costs.

As riders, we were taught back then that if you fall off, you must get back on. Kendra applied that lesson in every aspect of her life.

A friend of her aunt’s let Kendra groom her backyard pony whenever she wanted. That turned into a daily habit, and the woman eventually gifted the pony, Butterball, to her. That woman’s friend later offered Kendra another horse, Katy, knowing the mare would receive far better care under Kendra’s supervision.

In time, Kendra essentially became part of my family, joining me in my weekend chores, mucking stalls, filling water buckets, and lugging hay bales. Together, we hit the trails, where Kendra took chances and pushed the limits, racing over makeshift jumps and dodging branches and trees along the way.

Girl to Woman

“When you’re riding, you’re literally above everyone,” Kendra shared with me recently. “I remember hearing women say they lived in fear of men attacking them when they were out. I grew up on a horse. No one could catch me.”

The sense of independence that’s so empowering to horse girls can be a threat to others. A quick search on TikTok found a meme about a girl with “horse girl vibes,” which the voiceover describes as “quirky, like bizarre, like unhinged.”

That stigma starts to stick as girls become young women, when society expects us to trade in our obsession for horses for a more traditional path.

I was no different. I was 18 when I last saw Pridey. It was time to “get serious” and go away to school. Time to think about my career. Fall in love. Have babies. Pridey was sold so he could teach another little girl to ride.

Kendra took a different path. She entered the University of Connecticut in pre-vet, but she switched her major to English after one semester.

She fell off.

She ended up working in the school’s horse barns, rising at 5 a.m. to clean stalls before class. In time, the barn manager sent her to work at the breeding barn, where she said she “kind of got the bug.”

She got back on.

Despite meeting skeptics along the way, she studied horse breeding and bloodlines, learning the science of selecting the right stallions for the right mares. In 2001, she started Runningwater Warmbloods, her breeding operation, with a goal “to make better horses.”

Twenty years later, the only horse she could afford to breed in 2015, Fortunato H2O, was named grand champion at the prestigious Dressage at Devon Breed Show.

“When they called champion, I’m bawling,” Kendra said. “Me, a middle-aged lady doing her best with the one horse she bred in 2015. You hope you have a day like that in your life.”

Horses Are Still a Part of Me

Though I left that life behind, it’s still a part of me—the part that’s OK with a little dirt on my boots; the part that, in other aspects of my life, keeps getting up, even after I fall.

Like Kendra, the woman in the airport didn’t give up her horse girl days. She told me she made sure her kids rode, and then her grandchildren.

“Nothing is more important than learning how to be responsible for something, for having something that relies on you every day,” she said before we boarded our plane.

Today, my daughter is learning how to ride. Back in the barn, I listen to her trainer from the sidelines, watching the different personalities of the school horses, admiring their grace and power as they patiently support my daughter.

Just like Pridey did for me.

This article about Nancy’s “horse girl” journey appeared in the April 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post How a Horse Girl Stayed Horsey Despite Not Riding for Years appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

You start every winter with the best of intentions. This year, I’m going to keep riding all winter, no matter how bad the weather gets!

You’re a tough equestrian, right? You’re not going to let a little snow (wind/sleet/ice) stop you from spending time in the saddle.

But then deep winter sets in, and you struggle to simply keep up with the regular daily barn chores, along with the myriad of winter-centric tasks (shoveling, de-icing, shoveling, then some more shoveling). Throw in some winter weather advisories and what seems like two hours of daylight per day, and it’s no wonder that you ultimately decide that spending some downtime indoors sounds like a pretty good idea.

Winter downtime is one thing, but you also don’t want to go stir crazy. And horses are your thing—you want to learn, grow, explore—without freezing for hours on end outdoors.

The good news is there’s so much more to the equestrian lifestyle than time in the saddle, and winter is a great time to invest your energy into activities that will make a positive impact on your involvement with horses.

The following are a few ideas to get you started.

Read Horse-Related Books

We always tell ourselves we’re going to make time to read … and then we don’t.

This winter, make it happen. Set aside some of your downtime to explore an assortment of horse-related books, both fiction and nonfiction. Revisit childhood favorites and enjoy them with a new perspective. Explore new subjects that interest you—maybe training young horses, equine nutrition, or the history of your favorite breed.

Check out vintage horse books. Try some biographies of pillars of the industry. Read old breed association yearbooks. Catch up on your pile of magazines.

You’ll learn a lot, and you’ll have the satisfaction of making a dent in your TBR (to be read) pile. If you don’t have a TBR pile, get in the habit of keeping a list during the fair-weather months on your phone’s notepad app. When a book strikes your fancy but you don’t have time to read it, just jot down the title.

Explore New Skills

Quiet winter weekends are a great time to explore new skills. Have you always loved taking photos but wish you understood the nuances of equine photography? Do you wish your horse show videos weren’t so shaky and choppy? Maybe you daydream about creating beautiful artwork or sculptures of your horse.

Daydreaming is great, but you can take action by pursuing your ambitions: sign up for some art or photography classes, find a mentor who can give you some guidance, and practice, practice, practice! You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can make progress when you carve out regular time to pursue your passions.

Learn More About Your Horse

You love your horse and all of his endearing habits and mannerisms—but this winter, why not learn as much as you can about him?

Start with his pedigree, if available, and begin researching his ancestors. Look for photos, gather info, and find out more about your horse’s background.

Learn the basics of equine coat color genetics and discover how your horse came to be the color he is, as well as how and why he inherited his white markings (or lack thereof).

You can also explore breed registry resources to learn all you can about the history of your horse’s breed, or send off a DNA test if your horse’s ancestry is unknown.

Study for Certification

Do you have long-held ambitions that you’ve always wanted to pursue? Winter is the perfect time to take the first steps.

Check out educational courses and programs, then find out what it takes to become certified in the field you’re interested in, whether it’s judging, training, instructing, horsemanship, equine appraisal, massage, or another related area.

Fulfilling all of the requirements for certification can take a long time (in some cases years), but you can take advantage of the winter months to get the ball rolling. The time will pass either way, so you might as well be making progress toward your goal!

Stay in Shape

When it’s cold, chances are you’re craving comfort foods. Of course, comfort foods get most of their comfort from the gazillion calories they contain. And when you combine that with decreased activity levels during the winter, the result leaves you in something less than tip-top physical shape.

But it doesn’t have to be that way—staying in shape during the winter not only feels great, but it also gives you an advantage when the weather improves and you can get back in the saddle on a regular basis.

Your specific method of staying in shape will depend on your individual circumstances, but might include walking, swimming, yoga, visits to the gym, et cetera.

Make Plans for Warmer Months

There’s no better time to make plans than during the winter. Evaluate the upcoming year and begin to set goals and plans.

Which horse shows will you attend? Can you pencil in some weekends for trail rides? Add in dates of clinics, horse expos, breed association meetings, and local club events so it’s all on the calendar from the start of the year.

Then determine the training goals you want to accomplish with your horse this year. What farm improvements would you like to make? Are there any important purchases you need to consider this year? Start tackling the logistics now, while things are quieter and less chaotic than in the summer.

Get Organized

Wintertime is the ideal season to work on getting organized. Who wants to deep-clean a tack trunk in the middle of a crazy show season? Or sort a box with 43 nylon halters when it’s 98 degrees?

Use the quiet time and the cooler working conditions to make some cleaning headway in your tack collection, show clothes, and trailer. You can get organized slowly, at your own pace, without the rush-rush-rush of the summer schedule on your mind.

Set a Budget

Just kidding. Budgets are for New Year’s resolutions!

Tackle Repairs & DIY Projects

Feeling handy? It’s time to work on some of those long-overdue repair projects you’ve been avoiding.

From little things like repairing tack, fixing buttons on shirts, and replacing laces in paddock boots—all the way up to bigger DIY projects like repainting jump standards, building window boxes, replacing the flooring in the bathroom at the barn—you can tackle these projects during the winter months and feel relaxed and ready to roll when spring arrives.

Go Horse Shopping

Buying a new horse is a surefire way to have fun this winter and make the most of the seasonal downtime, right? Of course, even if you’re not in the market for a new horse, it never hurts to browse some listings or watch a few YouTube videos of horses for sale.

Window shopping can be almost as much fun as actual shopping, plus it’s a lot less expensive.

Get Crafty

Why not put your crafting skills to good use? Maybe you’ve always wanted to make a ribbon quilt with your keepsake show ribbons.

Or maybe you love to crochet—why not start making crocheted ponies for the kids in your life or to give as prizes at next summer’s horse shows?

Volunteer Your Time

Breed associations and local horse clubs are almost always in need of volunteers to help with events, to serve on committees, and to handle the details of various programs. Your assistance will be gratefully received, and you’ll have the satisfaction of being a vital asset to these organizations.

Perks of Trying Winter Equestrian Activities

After you’ve put the winter months to good use, you’ll be more than ready to greet the coming spring from the vantage point of the saddle. But you’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that you put your time to good use even on the coldest, windiest, and snowiest of winter days.

This article about winter equestrian activities with less time for riding appeared in the November/December 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Winter Equestrian Activities: How to Spend Your Time with Less Riding appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“I think they hoped it would just be a phase that I would grow out of,” Anderson says.

But as these things so often go, horses soon became a big part of her lifestyle. After years of riding hunter ponies, she moved to horses, which led her to the jumper ring. Then she found the sport of eventing, and she was officially hooked.

Anderson bought Nelson, a Thoroughbred who already knew the ropes of eventing, to help her learn the sport. When he was ready to retire in 2021, her parents bought her next partner as her clinical psychology Ph.D. graduation present. Global Jedi is a big, gray Irish Sport Horse, known around the barn as Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Anderson started dreaming big, but Obi fractured a splint bone in September of 2021. With the help of the veterinarians at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., just three months later, she and Obi were back on track to have a full 2022 competition season.

A Diagnosis

However, merely a month later, everything changed again. Anderson was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.

She’d found a lump a few months earlier, and while she thought and hoped it was just a cyst, she scheduled an appointment with her doctor to get it checked. Her OB-GYN reassured her that it was probably a cyst, but referred Anderson for imaging to be certain.

Imaging led to biopsies, which ultimately to a cancer diagnosis. A swift series of appointments ensued, and Anderson barely had enough time to accept what was happening and what this meant for her—and Obi’s—future.

Chemotherapy began by the end of February 2022, and Anderson got to work trying to figure out how she could keep riding and making horses part of her life through the upcoming months of treatment.

“I managed to push through the nausea, aches, fevers, exhaustion, sensitivity to heat, and other side effects of chemotherapy to have a pretty full show season,” she says. Anderson was exceptionally thankful to have Obi as her partner.

“He’s a steady horse. He is bold, brave, and extremely chill.”

Together, they competed in six recognized U.S. Eventing Association (USEA) events, finishing in the top 10 each time.

A Support System

Anderson’s barn family at Lucky Dog Eventing played a vital role in keeping her and Obi out and about during the show season.

“Our barn family is incredibly special,” she says. “We celebrate and mourn together. We are always there for one another. Everyone rallied behind me and Obi.”

Her trainer, Jenn O’Neill, or her friends rode Obi when she had chemotherapy on Mondays and when she was too sick or tired to make it to the barn.

“At shows, my friends made sure Obi was bathed, braided, tacked, untacked, watered, cold-hosed, and whatever else he needed,” says Anderson. “They made sure I rested, ate, and stayed hydrated. There were times I wanted to quit, but the support from my barn family encouraged and inspired me to keep going.”

In June, when she completed the long format Novice three-day event at the Indiana Eventing Association Horse Trials, she was exhausted. She knew it was in her best interest to save her energy for the next two months of chemotherapy, but she wanted Obi to continue in his competition season. Luckily, O’Neill was able to take the reins and keep competing Obi for the remainder of June and into July.

Strength and Courage

While Anderson was thankful that having O’Neill compete Obi was an option, she had mixed feelings about the situation.

“The ‘owner’ role was bittersweet,” she says. “I loved watching Jenn pilot my horse around his first Training [level event], but I felt resentment that the cancer had taken that experience away from me.”

While it was easy for Anderson to focus on what the cancer had stolen from her, she tried to focus on what her barn family had given her: support, encouragement, and inspiration that sustained her strength and courage.

“I learned how to be strong, brave, persistent, and gritty throughout my years with horses, and my barn family never let me forget that I was, and am, all of those things,” she says.

Getting to Cancer-Free

Anderson concluded chemotherapy in August, but her hemoglobin was near emergency levels, so her oncologist ordered a blood transfusion. After that, her energy surged back, and she started moving at full speed toward the USEA Area VIII Championships in September.

“The Lucky Dog Eventing barn family never faltered in their support and came to cheer us on at championships decked out in pink ‘Badass Gear’ from Mare Modern Goods,” she says. “I’m not sure how to describe what I felt when I galloped through the finish flags on cross-country to cheers echoing from a sea of friends all in pink—gratitude, joy, and relief. But we were back.”

Anderson finished her season with two successful runs at Training level, and she and Obi blazed through their final cross-country run of the season—decked out in pink—two days before her double mastectomy.

She has been cancer free since October 3, 2022. For those nine months, cancer dictated her life. Now, she no longer has to schedule her life around appointments and focus solely on surviving. Anderson can start living again and spend as much time as she wants at the barn and competing with her favorite horse and people, and she’s looking forward to a strong 2023 season aboard Global Jedi.

This article about an equestrian who overcame cancer appeared in the June 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Cantering Through Cancer appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

When the pandemic brought a bustling world to a screeching halt, equestrian Jessica Andrews immediately felt panicked. Her successful Los Angeles company, On Location Hair & Makeup, was dependent upon human touch, which was not conducive with social distancing.

With over 20 years of experience in the personal care industry, her expertise lay in making women feel confident and beautiful. The events leading up to launching her apparel business, Eques Pante, were influenced by stillness. Andrews followed her instincts, allowing her equestrian experiences to take the reins.

Beauty & Horses

Born and raised in London, England, Andrews moved to Los Angeles, Calif., in 2005, pursuing her hair stylist dreams. She gradually built her beauty business, providing makeup and hair styling services to the entertainment industry. Soon enough she had developed a long list of clients, from celebrities and producers to other influential women.

A horse girl from an early age, Andrews started riding at age 11. In her childhood, she could be found gallivanting through the English countryside aboard her pony, Pepper. She took the train by herself every weekend into Oxfordshire to spend time with him.

This strong dedication at an early age showed how much horses meant to her. Fast forwarding to adulthood and her new life in Los Angeles, Andrews found herself horseless, unsure about her future. Eventually she found her stride again, and began taking lessons at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center and beyond.

Changed by a Horse

One day she met Nahlea, a life-changing red filly that had been on a truck bound for slaughter until an equine rescue intervened, pulling her from the situation. Malnourished and unhandled, Nahlea didn’t have an easy start to life.

But there was something about the mare that captivated Andrews from the fateful moment she met her in a dusty Southern California lot. Nahlea was uneasy from her past, and trust wasn’t something she willingly gave out at first.

“It took me a while to gain her trust,” says Andrews. “I went slow, meeting her twice a day for short periods. Once I gained her trust, she followed me everywhere. We went for hand-walks in the hills and through forests; it was one of my favorite times with her.”

Mentally, Nahlea bloomed, but she needed to have surgery for osteochondrosis in her stifles. When she returned from a successful surgery and rehab, Nahlea was ready to start her riding career.

Andrews sought out a dressage trainer and began advancing her skills, spending hours in the saddle riding various warmbloods. Her seat and knowledge progressed, along with a new awareness of rider rashes and hot spots from long hours in the saddle.

It was then Andrews began trying different undergarments, searching for something that could help meet the demands of life in the saddle.

“I just felt like we needed something really custom for our sport, because every sport has an underwear!”

The Pandemic Idea that Led to Eques Pante

In the spring of 2020, Andrews was out of work due to the pandemic. Her creative mindset never stopped, and she began sketching and creating Eques Pante.

A passion for practical products and entrepreneurship was in Andrews’ blood. At one point, she wanted to make a hairbrush, but it never came to fruition because of cost and design challenges. When it came to Eques Pante, it felt easier, as if this product was meant to be.

“I had a little bit of an issue finding a factory that wanted to do something completely custom,” Andrews says. “Then I found a really great guy, and he helped me with everything through the entire design process.”

A year later, Eques Pante was launched in February of 2021, just a month after Andrews relocated to Colorado. Covid had inspired changes, and she was ready to embrace them.

Andrews has worn all the hats: she was the product tester, the fit model, the designer, and the brains behind the operation. There has been an amazing response to the brand, despite it being brand new. Andrews says the typical first-time customer is skeptical at first, but then impressed.

Goodbye Nahlea

2023 began with the heartbreaking and unexpected passing of Nahlea. The mare shaped much of Andrews’ life and the decisions she made along the way throughout the creation of Eques Pante.

“It was one of the hardest, saddest days I have been through,” she says. “That day, I said goodbye to my great friend and adventure partner for over eight years. [Nahlea] wasn’t an easy ride, and without her, I probably wouldn’t have sought to advance my riding skills and had a need to create Eques Pante.”

Moving forward, Andrews plans on continuing to introduce the world to Eques Pante. The brand was invented out of necessity, and Nahlea’s memory will always live on through this special company.

Find Eques Pante online at equespante.com and Instagram @equespante.

This article about Eques Pante appeared in the May 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Eques Pante: Ingenius Equestrian Underwear appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

I have loved horses for as long as I can remember. At the age of 2, I was at a company picnic with my parents when I spied pony rides at the bottom of a hill. Without a second glance at my poor mom and dad, I took off running down that hill as fast as my chubby 2-year-old legs could carry me, screaming, “Need to ride the pony!” the entire time.

That pony ride lit a spark that has burned bright for the last 34 years. I began riding lessons when I turned 7, and at the age of 16, I became the proud owner of an old, grumpy red dun Appaloosa named Phoenix.

A Wake-Up Call

My life as an equestrian was not without its challenges, however. I spent a good majority of my life overweight, and in the equine industry, that can be met with a myriad of backlash. I rode anyway. I made sure I always had a horse that could comfortably carry my weight and I did what I loved the most.

In 2019, I found out that I was pregnant. I also found out at a doctor’s appointment that I was at the highest weight I had ever been. High weight can lead to pregnancy complications, and that is exactly what happened to me. I developed a pregnancy complication called ICP, which stands for intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, brought about by my undiagnosed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

This serious complication can cause spontaneous stillbirth, and because of that, I was induced to deliver early and had my son at just 34 weeks gestation. I spent a total of nine days in the hospital, and he was in the NICU for an additional 10 days. That experience opened my eyes regarding the seriousness of my weight and my health more than anything else ever had.

A Major Change

Soon after, I began the process of getting approved for bariatric surgery. After six months of psychiatric evaluations, nutritionist appointments, cardiac testing and B-12 shots, I was finally approved and scheduled for surgery.

In August of 2021, I had gastric sleeve surgery, which involves the removal of around 80 percent of the stomach. Many people view weight loss surgery as an “easy way out,” but those people would be wrong. It wreaks havoc on your brain and your body.

Imagine the mental strain of being addicted to food and then suddenly not being able to eat it. I had to change my entire relationship with food, exercise, and how I looked at myself. However, I am happy to say that in the 15 months since my surgery, I have successfully lost 180 pounds.

I have felt the benefits of weight loss in all aspects of my life, but none more so than when riding my horses. I’ve heard others say that as equestrians, we shouldn’t expect our horses to be athletes if we aren’t willing to also be athletes as well. But I never understood that concept until I felt how much easier riding was after I lost weight and got in shape.

New Perspective on Riding After Weight Loss

Before losing weight, I would trot two or three laps around the ring before needing to walk because I was so out of breath. I would feel like physically passing out after jumping a course. I was in decent shape for my size, but I was not physically in shape to ride the way I needed to be.

I’m not saying that a person needs to be skinny to be an effective equestrian, but they should be in the best physical shape possible to be an effective and strong partner for their horse.

Now I can trot around with my big Dutch Harness Horse for quite a while without feeling winded at all. I even bought myself a tall but fine-boned off-track Thoroughbred as a project horse.

Beyond the weight loss, I have developed a love for fitness and nutrition. Yoga and cardio dance classes have become favorite additions to my week, as well as a passion for lifting weights that I never knew I possessed.

I’ve also gone back to school at the age of 36 to pursue certifications in personal training and strength training, as well as a master’s degree in nutrition. I’m hoping to begin a career focused on helping other equestrians reach their health, fitness, and weight loss goals.

I’m truly grateful that I was able to take the steps necessary to improve my health, my skills as an equestrian, and my life.

This article about Kylie’s weight loss journey appeared in the AR issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post An Equestrian’s Weight Loss Journey appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“Ignore the appearance of my fence.”

“I shortened the lead rope after I took the picture.”

“I know my position needs work.”

In an attempt to ward off potential critics, almost all of us, including me, have been guilty at some point of including an apology of sorts with our social media posts.

I’ve also seen a horse’s conformation ripped apart when an owner meant only to lovingly share a photograph of her horse. Then there are those who are not qualified to act as trainers, farriers, or veterinarians offering advice on how they would handle certain situations if it were their horse.

For example, years ago when my mare my was severely afflicted with founder, I was openly attacked in the comments of a social media post I made by the spouse of a farrier who did not know me and had never seen my horse. This person took issue with the treatment protocol of a well-respected veterinary hospital and their team of veterinarians and farriers who were very experienced in the care of foundered horses and whose care my mare was under.

Why Be Nasty?

Why is it that some within our equestrian community feel the need to make negative, critical comments—and in some cases cross the line into cyberbullying—on the social media posts of others?

“Typically, it’s a need to pass judgment on and criticize others,” says Janet Edgette, Psy.D., equestrian and clinical sport psychologist. “Or it’s such a deep sense of inferiority that only by judging others harshly can they maintain any kind of positive self-regard.” Sometimes, Edgette explains, it’s a need to present oneself as more discerning, knowledgeable or skilled than others.

In other situations, people who feel angry all the time are gratified by inflicting harm on others and seeing or imagining them in distress, according to Edgette. Or there can be a person who is vindictive and trying to exact revenge for some perceived or actual wrongdoing, even if inadvertent or accidental. These people want to “even the score,” she says.

Crossing a Line

While it’s bad enough when hurtful comments are a one-time deal, it’s even more cruel when these social media critics become cyberbullies. The line is crossed when this type of behavior becomes intentional.

“People who post mean, rude, or critical comments become bullies when they mean to hurt the other person and it’s repeated over time,” Edgette says. “There’s usually some kind of power imbalance between the critic and the rider being criticized. For example, the critic is an instructor, or someone with a large social media following, or perhaps someone in the rider’s barn or social circle that is popular or otherwise has a lot of social media capital with which to influence the opinions of others.”

A Varied Effect

The effects of these types of comments, whether they are one-time or repeated, can vary.

“The least affected individuals will have a very centered and grounded sense of themselves,” says Edgette. “Meaning, they are not overly reactive to external events in their lives, are disinterested in drama, have no need to prove themselves to anyone they don’t know personally, and don’t take comments personally. They realize that the comments reflect more on the sender than themselves. The most affected are typically those who are easily offended by others or are especially reactive in conflict situations, or who feel a strong need to defend oneself against any criticism, or who can’t resist the urge to prove the critic wrong, or who remain steadfast in the belief that there’s value in engaging with the critic.”

Detrimental consequences for those severely affected by criticism can range from physical and mental symptoms to poor performance in other areas of life and even suicide.

Preventative Measures

Fortunately, if you are a victim of a critical or hurtful post, there are steps you can take to keep the situation from spiraling out of control. Edgette advises not responding at all.

“Nothing positive will ever come out of any exchange between the rider and the critic,” she says. “There is no ‘changing the other person’s mind.’ The critic is not looking for dialogue or perspective or enlightenment. They are looking to make someone else feel bad. And for so many of them, this type of activity is recreation, which is incredibly sad.”

Edgette states that while you can’t stop others from posting negative comments, there are some things that you can do to reduce the chances of being on the receiving end of such criticism:

◆ Never respond to any comments that you get. That’s what the other person wants from you. They’re ready to do battle and have no interest in hearing your point of view. Leave it.

◆ Take a second look at your posts to make sure there’s nothing that might invite critics. For example, avoid claiming that your way is the best or asking for feedback.

◆ Don’t be a critic yourself, no matter how valuable you believe your input to be. If people aren’t asking, they aren’t hearing, either.

◆ Don’t try to inform or educate other riders even if you think they need to hear your advice or input and you’re sure that you’re saying it nicely. A comment doesn’t have to be critical in order to feel critical to the reader.

◆ Don’t let the poor behavior of others on social media change how you show up online.

In the end, it’s important to realize that attempting to shame others rarely results in positive changes. More often than not, it does quite the opposite. Instead, as an industry, we would do well to adopt a supportive dialogue with one another.

This article about social media critics appeared in the October 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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