I was 13 when I entered my first horse show. The judge advised me that the yellow macramé browband I’d crafted for my gelding’s bridle was not customary horse show attire. In 25 years as a professional riding coach and horse trainer, I’ve worked with 100s of horses and coached even more riders. What I’ve learned from horses and their people! What I’ve learned about myself in the fishbowl of the show ring! Horse shows have enriched the lives of so many – and been the catalyst for the train wreck of others.

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

Lunging is an extension of your horse training, More than a chance to blow off steam. And lunging has tuned my eye in comparing the movement of hundreds of assorted horses, evaluating strengths and weaknesses in their ways of going.

Horse judging across a few disciplines is wearing many hats. And lots of learning!
Winter in Canada brings snow, seminars and judge’s exams. Hunter/Jumper, AQHA, Working Equitation, Extreme Cowboy, Mountain Trail and more…