I have a new horse! Meet A Knight’s Tale, affectionately known as Ledger. (You’ve seen the movie, right?) I found him in southwest Oregon, having been nicely started by an owner who didn’t quite have the time to meet his demands for a high-energy job. He’s seven years old, 15.2 hh, kind, and a little …
What makes a great endurance horse, and how do you get one? Here are my notes from high-mileage endurance rider Nick Warhol’s presentation on the subject.
Endurance rider and vet Dr. Melissa Ribley shares strategies for successfully competing in different regions, including being prepared for all types of climate and terrain.
Electrolyte balance is key to success in equestrian endurance riding. At the 2021 AERC convention, Dr. Langdon Fielding spoke on electrolyte problems in the endurance horse. Here are my notes.
I paid less than $400 for Aaruba. His breeder wanted quiet Arabians, and Aaruba wasn’t. No, Aaruba was the plain gray, high-headed, wide-eyed, last straw that sent his sire to the vet for gelding. I first saw him on the kind of windy, muddy day that whipped his mind to wildness. Still a leggy four-year-old, he flashed about the makeshift …
Endurance riders often encounter frigid, wet conditions. These stirrup covers are designed to fit over caged platform stirrups, providing protection from the elements.
Do you get the feeling that society at large has thrown in the towel? People keep talking about the end of 2020 as though everything will magically be better when the clock strikes midnight on January 1. I’ll admit the concept has spawned some good jokes, like the “wipe away 2020” roll of toilet paper …
Over a decade ago, when I had to unexpectedly retire a young endurance horse, I wrote this post on how to respond when a dream collapses.
Snow fell on the farm today. I found myself out in it, bundled in thick gloves and a hood, because the water tanks needed filling. The horses’ coats, bejeweled with ice, stood out from their round bodies. Whinnies caroled as I tossed extra alfalfa to keep them warm. I rested my elbows on a paddock …
Nobody rides for the awards, but everyone appreciates them. Coming up with the right idea at the right price is an ongoing challenge for ride managers. I plumbed riders’ minds to learn about their favorites. Here are 91 ideas, from old standbys to the downright bizarre, to get your juices flowing: Ride-Branded Awards These days, it’s …