Ok, honestly, who cleans out the trailer tack room after the last show? Typically, the 1st spring show is motivation to unload the moldy ribbons, rusty bobby pins and leaking hoof oil before loading the horses and hitting the road. Well, with the first shows postponed, we might be inclined to kick the trailer tack … Read more Cleaning out the horse trailer tack room- and other life lessons.
Sharing an article I wrote for Horse Canada magazine, from the archives. English riders, don’t let the western title or tack deter you! Turns on the haunches have the same ingredients – forward “thought”, cadence, alignment (slightly arced). Differences? Dressage judges look for a walking rhythm, with the inner hind leg stepping up and down … Read more Fixing spins and turns on the haunches Part 2.
Sharing an article I wrote for Horse Canada magazine, from the archives. English riders, don’t let the western title or tack deter you! Turns on the haunches have the same ingredients – forward “thought”, cadence, alignment (slightly arced). Differences? Dressage judges look for a walking rhythm, with the inner hind leg stepping up and down … Read more Fixing spins and turns on haunches
It’s amazing that in the horse world, you can spot beauty and creativity in “functional” places. Jump course design. Trail course design. “Bling” sneaking into the every corner – browbands, belts, braids and boots. I believe the capacity to create is the imprint of God – uniquely human. I see the beauty, intricate design and … Read more Beauty in unexpected places
When I’m feeling squeezed by the world, does it bring out the best or the worst in me? In clinics for therapeutic riding facilities, I work with staff to teach or re-teach horses to stand quietly at the mounting ramp. Not a naturally pleasant experience for a prey animal – sandwiched between a tall ramp … Read more Pressures, prey animals and people.
As a horse crazy girl, I remember cresting one of the Caledon hills on a trail ride at Teen Ranch. The view, for this 10 year old from the GTA, where the only hills are suburban “berms”, was a completely new perspective. A new year inspires new riding goals. If you feel your riding’s a … Read more A fresh perspective: 8 different viewpoints to clarify your riding goals.
Put my baby in this feed trough?? This isn’t the way it supposed to be… “She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” Luke 2:7 Driving home after Christmas dinner, thinking of … Read more Christmas
Just returned from the AQHA judges update in Dallas. Past president, Bill Brewer spoke of ethics in judging and set the tone with a remarkable yet relevant statement from the Bible. Ancient wisdom, yet fitting to guide the 350 judges listening as we make show ring decisions in 2020. As I mulled over these words, … Read more Horse show judging ethics
As the dust settles after the rush of Black Friday and the Visa bills arrive, I was thinking about how easy it is to get our credit and our lives out of balance in our consumer culture . Bling and brands – when I began judging I was struck by how little influence fashion trends … Read more “Is it a need or a want?” –the Black Friday balance.
What book influenced you as a young rider? It’s fun to ask this to my clinic participants. Black Beauty typically tops the list. But this classic is more influential than I thought – so I learned at this weekend’s Equine Industry Symposium at the U of Guelph. Written from the horse’s point of view, Sewell’s … Read more From the horse’s mouth