Topics on general care, training and welfare of horses
It has been an interesting week with Coffee – but it provides a very good illustration of the challenges we have when working with horses, and the decisions we have to make in how we react to those challenges. The wrong reaction can easily escalate an otherwise innocent situation into one that degenerates into fear, … More Coffee has a bad day … or three
My Dressage mentors were very good at creating exercises for humans that helped to illustrate the physical or mental challenges the horse goes through in their training and development. I recall many hours in the study room, with people struggling to perform – getting some small sense of what it’s like for their horses. I … More Parlor games
We all have a line. It is invisible. You may not be aware of your line, or think much about it. But, you know when someone has crossed that line. Everyone’s line is in a different place. Take the recent scandals of sexual misconduct. Harvey Weinstein’s behavior crossed nearly everyone’s line. Al Franken’s crossed some … More Where is your line?
In my equestrian library are a handful of books that I return to repeatedly – either for reference or just for the pleasure of rereading. One of these cherished books, A Horseman’s Notes by Erik Herbermann, was a suggestion by a used book seller when she did not have the book I was after. She … More Respecting the laws of Nature
In many parts of the world it is the season of celebration. Imagine that you have been invited to a festive dinner party. You’ve been told that children are welcome, so you bring your toddler along. The minute you pass through the front door, into the festive crowd within, off dashes your toddler! She runs … More How would you react?
A Facebook friend shared an interesting online magazine about bits and bit fitting. This was following a conversation around a very old style bit (pictured at right), and whether it was appropriate or not. All of this got me to thinking about my own experience with bits, and how finding the right bit for the … More Making a happy mouth
Horse Crazy Once Again 