It seems the ultimate sign of caring, to say that we love our horses. Yet, I watch as people who say they love their horses treat them in ways that do not reflect that sentiment. Even riders who create obvious pain in their horses are defended, by their fans, with the statement that “They love … More Do you love your horse?
Riding is a selfish act – there is really no getting around that fact. Horses do not ask to participate in the activity, they are conditioned for it. That said, I have over forty years of experience that horses can, if treated right, come to enjoy the activities they engage in with their rider. With … More Why do you ride?
“Then comes a revelation, finally feeling that a horse behaves gymnastically correctly, and the new convert displays a fervor the likeness of which has not been known since the conversion of Paul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus.” Charles De Kunffy, The Ethics and Passions of Dressage (pg. 36) Have you had that moment? … More “Then comes a revelation …”
As I navigate through the real and virtual horseworlds, I am finding that new ‘breeds’ of horsemen have been created since I first started riding. Whether it’s the changing times, or the advent of social media, any differences in aspect or approach to horses seems amplified from what I encountered in the past. Perhaps they … More What type of horseman are you?
A Facebook friend recently posed the question as to why so many people enjoy watching today’s competition, and don’t see the ugliness and the damage done by the training methods being used. Why do they not seek the beauty that many of us in the 50-plus age group grew up with? The answer is simply … More Eye of the Beholder
In this era of learning everything by YouTube video or Facebook posts, people seem to rarely have the patience to spend time learning anything in depth. I have read many an article that says we no longer need experts because we have so much knowledge at our finger tips. I hope those authors never need … More Apprenticeship
Horse Crazy Once Again 