The results of this study were not what I was expecting!Gave me a little lift– my exercise class ball-balancing experience was a bit humbling. Yikes – I should be able to balance better – I’m a rider! Turns out, researchers found, despite what many equestrians think, good “exercise-ball balance” isn’t what makes a good rider.

You never know the strength of a lead shank when it’s hanging on the tack room wall – only when it’s tested. As we head into a new year, our resolutions will be tested by February. And as we head into the unknown of 2024, our “faith” will likely be tested too – you know, what we believe, expect and hope in.

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.