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 …
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 …
My grandson asked me a while back if he and his sister could ride double on their horse. I remember doing the same thing as a kid, and I remember my dad scolding me for it — which is what got me thinking about what actually makes riding double safe or risky, beyond just “my …
Horses have been used in healing long before equine therapy became a formal practice. Today, structured programs use horses to help people manage trauma, anxiety, physical disabilities, and developmental conditions — but the reason it works is something horsemen have always understood: horses respond honestly to human emotion and behavior in the present moment. That …
Watch a dog trot alongside a horse in the pasture, or see the two touch noses over a fence, and it’s hard not to wonder if there’s some family connection there. They’re both social, both trainable, and both have lived alongside people for thousands of years. So are horses and dogs related, or is it …
A horse can drink 10 gallons or more on a mild day and twice that in hot weather, so the trough has to keep up. The wrong one cracks after a winter, leaks at the seams, grows algae fast in warm weather, or has a rim rough enough to scrape a lip. If you’re shopping …
After 30 years of owning and racing Thoroughbreds in Louisiana, I’ve named a lot of horses — some well, some badly, and a few that named themselves within the first week. The best names usually come from the horse’s coat color, personality, breeding, or the way they carry themselves, and this guide gives you curated …
Maybe your kid’s begging to start showing, or you’ve got a horse and you’re wondering whether you’d enjoy competing. Then you pick up a show bill and see classes like hunter under saddle, showmanship, reining, and poles, and it’s hard to tell which ones fit you or your horse. Quick answer: Horse showing means competing …
Are you thinking about buying a horse and wondering how the numbers work? Before you base your decision on price alone, remember that the horse with the lowest asking price isn’t always the bargain. A calm, sound horse that suits your riding ability may cost more up front, but it can save you money on …
I use lunging to start young horses, settle fresh ones, and check how a horse is moving before I ever put a rider on. What does “lunging a horse” mean? Lunging is a groundwork exercise where a horse moves in a circle around a handler on a lunge line, guided by voice, body language, and …