Winter 2022

Horse & Rider

The magazine for horseman who savors the western lifestyle

Horse & Rider1 min readLeadership
Horse & Rider
NICHOLE CHIRICO Editor CHELSEA SHAFFER Editorial Director JILLIAN SINCLAIR Assistant Editor Contributing Editors BARB CRABBE, DVM JENNIFER VON GELDERN RENE E. RILEY ALEXIS BENNETT MICHELLE MILLER Art Director STACEY HORNE Production Manager shorne@eq
Horse & Rider3 min read
One Year Ago
ONE YEAR AGO, I rode my horse for the first time. It’s hard to believe that one year ago I was introducing her to a saddle and saddle pad. Now, she knows her leads, can perform the basics of a sliding stop, understands leg and hand cues, and I’m even
Horse & Rider3 min read
4 Keys to Keeping Your Cool
FOR 10 YEARS I spent most of my time riding young horses and preparing them for futurities. While I enjoyed my time doing this, the cycle of starting a horse, getting them ready to the point someone else can compete on them, and then selling them bec
Horse & Rider3 min read
Saddle Chat
Do you have the right mindset when it comes time to step into the show pen? Go online to read Matt Mills’ advice for beating nerves and staying in the right mindset at a horse show in this month’s blog brought to you by SmartPak. When: March 10, 2023
Horse & Rider2 min read
Horse Life
TRAVEL / HEALTH / SOLUTIONS / STYLE / HORSEKEEPING TRAVEL Florida WHERE Kissimmee WHAT The Great Florida Cattle Drive WHEN December 4–10, 2022 Take a break from your fast-paced life and experience the cow culture ways. During this week-long event, yo
Horse & Rider2 min read
Health
Unwanted weight loss in horses is a vast category, and it’s usually secondary to another condition. Causes span the spectrum from inappropriate dentition and poor-quality feed to herd hierarchy issues and a wide array of infectious diseases and cance
Horse & Rider1 min read
Solutions
A good blanket is essential for keeping your horse warm and dry all winter long. The key to finding the perfect blanket is to buy one that caters to your horse. Is your horse rough on blankets? Look for a fabric that’s durable and tear-proof, so you
Horse & Rider2 min read
Style
For the friend in your life who loves to stand out, give the gift of color with this blue and white Western button-down shirt. Whether it’s worn in the show ring or day-to-day, it’s sure to add a pop of color to any wardrobe. $64.99; cinchjeans.com.
Horse & Rider3 min read
Horsekeeping
Learn the signs of cellulitis and the steps to quickly treat and manage it. One day your horse is fine, the next day he’s lame. He has a swollen, painful leg and won’t let you get near it. If you’re alarmed, you should be. Your horse may have celluli
Horse & Rider3 min read
No-Stirrup Riding Exercises
We’ve all heard of No-Stirrup November, but that shouldn’t be the only time you’re kicking your feet out of the stirrups. Dropping your stirrups is a great way to build core and leg strength, but it’s also a great way to improve your balance. The bes
Horse & Rider4 min read
Ride&Train
PRIVATE LESSON / WINNING INSIGHTS / PROBLEM SOLVED / CONFIDENT RIDER / RAISING RIDERS / CONFORMATION CLINIC IF YOU’VE EVER SEEN A CUTTING EVENT you’ve probably noticed how agile the horses are that compete in the event. They get low to the ground and
Horse & Rider3 min read
3 Steps to Desensitize Your Horse
There are many ways to go about desensitizing your horse. The most common method is by exposing him to anything and everything that you can find. You can have him walk over a big blue tarp, take him on a new trail ride, or simply bring the object you
Horse & Rider4 min read
Ride with Purpose
When it comes to confidence in the saddle, there’s no substitute for experience. If you don’t spend lots of hours in the saddle, you can’t expect yourself to get better. Gaining knowledge, owning knowledge, and applying that knowledge in practice is
Horse & Rider3 min read
From Crash-Landings to Cookies
When you’ve been riding your entire life, getting back on the horse after a fall has probably been drilled into you since the first time you stepped a foot into a stirrup. But when you’re raising a young rider, you’ll have more luck helping them gras
Horse & Rider4 min read
Performance Geldings
I’M JUDGING THESE APHA GELDINGS as a performance halter class, a division at stock breed shows that is open to horses that have qualified by earning points in performance divisions of their breed association. In performance halter, I’m looking for a
Horse & Rider6 min read
Be A Good Beginner
Congratulations, you’ve decided to take on a new challenge! Learning a new hobby or a new skill within an existing hobby is a great way to stretch and discover things about yourself. It’s also a great way to re-ignite your passion for something you a
Horse & Rider7 min readHorses
What’s With the Gypsy Vanners?
I confess: I was born a Western stock-horse snob. Other than the pony I took my first lesson on, my mounts consisted of Quarter Horses, Paints, and a lone Appaloosa. Being a predominantly Western rider, this made sense to me—I naively felt I had no r
Horse & Rider1 min readHorses
Learn More About Gypsy Vanners
Visit vanners.org to reach the official breed registry, learn the horse’s history, and find breeders and trainers near you. If you’re interested in the ethos of the Vanner, follow Alex Bauwens on social media @alex_bauwens and check out her fun and p
Horse & Rider7 min read
Equine Dentistry Through the Ages
Your vet wants to take radiographs of your horse’s mouth. What? you wonder, My horse is 15 years old, and he’s never even had his teeth done! What could possibly be wrong? Lots of things! Just because he looks great and seems to chew just fine, it do
Horse & Rider1 min read
The Dental Specialist
In 2014 equine dentistry was recognized as a specialization by the North American Board of Veterinary Specialists. To become board certified in dentistry, a veterinarian must undergo several years of specialized training in addition to passing a rigo
Horse & Rider7 min read
Desert Glory
Southeastern Arizona’s Saguaro National Park is a place of timeless beauty. Even though we’ve ridden here before, we never tire of the magnificent display of saguaro against the Sonoran Desert background. This tree-like cactus species is an iconic sy
Horse & Rider1 min read
Stately Giants
The saguaro cactus grows only in the Sonoran Desert of the United States and Mexico. Its range is limited by freezing temperatures and altitude. Each saguaro has its own unique characteristics. A giant saguaro begins life as a shiny black seed, no bi
Horse & Rider3 min read
A Home For Every Horse Continues 10-Year Anniversary Celebration!
Equine rescue organizations are overwhelmed with taking care of the ever growing homeless horse population. While the equine rescue situation remains dire, there are some truly wonderful moments and partnerships forged during the process. The rescue
Horse & Rider7 min read
The Physics Of Cow Work
In high school, did you ever ask your teachers or your parents, “When am I ever going to use this information?” Math and English have obvious connections to daily life. However, physics class is probably the last thing you think would apply. But ride
Horse & Rider5 min read
Stories of Hope
Our mission at Hope in the Saddle is to share the most meaningful and inspiring stories that emerge from the horse world—stories of how our relationships with horses can help us overcome life’s toughest challenges. We collect stories from all corners

Horse & Rider

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