Sometimes it seems that the biggest lessons horses teach us have nothing to do...
BY PONYMOMAMMY
It’s easy to overlook how much we learn from horses every day. I’ve been riding my whole life, and still have a new takeaway from every lesson. While the mechanics and nuances are...
16 Things Your 16 Year Old Should Be Able to do by Themselves
BY PIPER KLEMM
Sixteen is an important age for any teenager. Beyond “Sweet Sixteen,” the milestone means driving for most of America’s youth… the first real step into independence and adulthood.
But in the equestrian industry,...
Reasons Why You Can’t Find a Braider for Your Horse
BY BETH BOYER
There's currently a braider shortage at the horse shows, and braiders are quitting left and right. It's a hard job under the best circumstances. While some clients are great, many are the...
The Breyer Model Horse That Sold for $22,000
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
Every summer before the hunter/jumper crowd flocks to the
Kentucky Horse Park for the Kentucky Summer series, a group of folks comes to
show with a very different kind of string—model horses!
BreyerFest, a...
Toxic Trainer Relationships: What to Watch Out For When Finding the Best For You...
BY TPH TEAM
A toxic trainer can kill someone’s love of riding faster than just about anything. From verbal to sexual abuse to simply playing favorites, trainers who are negative influences in our lives do...
Tack Rooms That May Be Nicer Than Your House
Tack rooms. It's where we throw our piles of tack and stacked up saddle pads that need washing. There's usually a barn cat or a corgi curled up by the window, and at least...
Clooney Enjoys a ‘Spa Day’ in Tokyo Ahead of Individual Jumping Final
By Catie Staszak
You know him as the 2019 individual European Champion. You know him as a two-time Olympian. You know him as the individual silver medalist from the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
You might not...
10 Equine Grooming Habits That You Need To Ditch
BY GRACE SALMON
Whether we have our sights set on the show ring or lessons at home, most riders share a common goal: to keep their horses looking great. Often times we are so focused...
Real Ribbon Displays to Get Inspiration for Showcasing Ribbons in Your Home
Special ribbon boxes make colorful accent furniture for your home. Plus, they give plenty of room to stack piles of glorious satin.
But you don't have to get expensive furniture for this look. Check...
Where Have All the Barn Rats Gone?
BY PONYMOMAMMY
Lately, I’ve heard a lot of talk about how young riders have changed since when I grew up. What happened to the good ol’ days where barn rats ran amuck for hours on...
I Would Like to Introduce Myself
BY LAUREN KARDEL
It has been impossible to ignore the responses of the horse community to George Floyd’s death and the Black Lives Matter movement. From my home in Eastern Holland, I am broadsided with...
There Will Be No Future Horse Trainers If All You Want to Do is...
BY SARAH MECHLIN DUHON
I feel strongly that everyone should be treated fairly and with kindness. The article “There May Be No Future Trainers: A Look at a Young Professional’s Burnout” by an anonymous young...
Ask The Judge: What’s the First Thing You Notice When a Rider Enters the...
BY ELLEN SHEVELLA
When asked what’s the first thing I notice when a horse and
rider walk into the ring, the obvious answer is turn out.
I probably care less about what color the rider’s coat...
How I Learned to Walk Away from Toxic Barn Behavior
BY CORRINE MARTIN
Here's the thing about gut instincts—they tend to be accurate.
Jen (names have been changed) was the big time trainer. We met before my first big show, and she came off as… quiet....
The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself is a Trainer Who Believes in You
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
Here are some things you can commonly hear come out of my trainer's mouth (often during my own lesson):
Don't rock your hips like that. That's so ugly!
Stop that! You're ruining my horse!
Of...
Exercises to Build Your Horse’s Topline
BY EMILY MILLER
When I purchased my 2011 Warmblood cross mare, Dixie, in 2017 she
was very green under saddle and unbalanced in her gaits. She was particularly
weak in her back and didn’t know how to...
25 Horse Tattoos Like You’ve Never Seen Before
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
While I spend a lot of time in pretty, traditional equestrian clothing, I still love tattoos. I've got a small collection of animal and literary inspired ink, but recently added a new...
An Explanation of Jumper Course Formats
By TPH Intern Vyla Carter
When I first started doing the jumpers after years of only competing in the hunters, I was confused on what Table II, 2(a) and the random number and letter seen...
Tips for Teaching 3 Common Canter Transition Mistakes Beginners Make
BY JENN ZALA
Personally, it drives me nuts to see beginners struggling with canter transitions. The kiss of death is when the horse winds up in a fast trot around the ring. It can be...
Riders, Body Image and “The Look”
BY RENNIE DYBALL
A couple weeks ago, I went to my local tack shop for spur straps and somehow found myself in the dressing room, mentally debating whether to buy a new show coat that...
Tail Whitening Hacks
BY TPH TEAM
If you live in Virginia (where it’s been muddy for 12 months straight!) and your horse has a significant amount of white in its tail, you learn to become good at tail...
The Dark Underground of Horse Show Costs in the USA
BY A FED UP HORSE OWNER
The letter to the editor was sent anonymously to The Plaid Horse.
We’ve all heard it. Many of us have said it. The rising costs of rated shows in...
