At the sale barn, a horse standing quietly in a stall can fool you. That’s why I get it out on open ground and watch how it carries itself — movement reveals what standing still hides. A horse can look impressive at first glance and still have structural issues that show up once the work …
I’ve heard every tip about buying a racehorse — buy the best you can afford, never buy on credit, pedigree is everything. They’re all worth knowing. But the one that’s shaped every purchase I’ve made over 30 years is simpler: start with conformation. A horse without sound conformation will end up injured, uncompetitive, or both. …
I’m Miles Henry. Over 30+ years managing Thoroughbreds at Evangeline Downs and Delta Downs—plus family horses across Louisiana—I’ve tested every style of hay net in conditions that destroy cheap equipment fast: 95°F heat with 90% humidity, sudden ice storms, and horses that’ll chew through anything. Some of my horses eat from hay nets. Others don’t. …
Maybe you’re buying your first pair of irons, your knees ache after lessons, or you’ve heard US Equestrian is cracking down on certain stirrups and you’re wondering if yours are still legal. The tack shop wall runs from plain steel irons to flexible joints and magnetic footbeds, and they all promise something different. The right …
Maybe you just bought a horse three states away, you’re sending one to a sale or a new trainer, or you’re moving the whole barn. You call around for quotes, and the numbers are all over the place. One hauler wants a flat fee, another quotes by the mile, and a third won’t give you …
Not all paint is safe for horses — the wrong choice can irritate skin, cause respiratory problems, or be nearly impossible to remove from a coat. Every fall at barrel racing season-end ceremonies, the decorated horses are the ones kids remember longest, and over the years decorating our grandchildren’s ponies we’ve worked through most of …
You want to pair cowboy boots with jeans for the first time, but standing in front of the mirror, nothing looks right. Your jeans bunch into a wrinkled mess over the shaft, flare out too wide, or ride up and expose half the boot. Quick answer: For everyday wear, men’s jeans go over cowboy boots, …
When I took my grandson to the backside of the track after a race, he pointed out the small grooms with limps and asked if they used to be jockeys? The answer seemed obvious, I told him yes and then he asked why so many get hurt? This question made me think about the risks …
How important is the jockey in horse racing? Maybe your horse ran flat last time and the trainer wants to try a different rider. Or you’re handicapping a race, you see a horse switching jockeys, and you’re wondering whether that’s worth a second look or just noise. Quick answer: Yes, the jockey makes a real …
My friend, an expert equestrian, puts out round bales for his horses. I was taught not to let horses eat from round bales because they make horses sick. But with the price of hay skyrocketing, I decided it’s worthwhile to check them out. In general, round hay bales are used to feed cattle in the …
