Describing research into rider falls, an article headline read: “The risk factors surrounding many falls may be preventable.”     Makes good sense to me. And it lines up with what I’ve noted as a judge and riding coach over the years.      Judges see their share of preventable falls – enthusiastic riders, climbing aboard fresh, distracted or

Hit a horse training setback at a horse show? Don’t panic – rebuild. As a riding coach, I remind my students to break retraining down into the simplest pieces.

As horseman’s eye learns to recognize correct conformation and  gait patterns, and also learns to discern when something’s “off”, as a bank teller learns to spot a counterfeit.

Developing a horseman’s eye is a lifelong process –I’ve been watching horses for years – as a young rider from horse show bleachers, later making my living watching horses – as horse trainer, riding coach and judge.

Developing a horseman’s eye is a lifelong process of studying horses -reading, seminars and training your horseman’s eye through experience.

I’ve learned SO much about horses by watching them – I’ve sure benefited by watching countless horses revolving around me on a lunge line, studying movement, facial expressions. More than a chance to blow off steam, lunging is an extension of my training.And lunging benefits the horse –  if done correctly, Find Part 3 on