Here’s to the Little Jumps
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
I’ve spent a long time feeling like I was lesser within the
equestrian world. Growing up riding at a small private barn, our focus was fox
hunting and horsemanship, not equitation medals and hack...
It is Still Possible to Have a Successful Working Student in Today’s Climate
BY JENNIFER TAYLOR
A couple months ago, I gave a lesson to a 14 year old named Payton. She was brave, followed direction well, and had good equitation with soft hands to boot. My schedule...
The 2’6” Hunter Division is the Face of Income Inequality in America
BY PUBLISHER PIPER KLEMM
As I sit through the United States Hunter Jumper (USHJA) Affiliate Meeting, we’re hearing a lot about outreach. There’s the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA), the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), local...
Wool vs Foam Flocking: What Does It Mean for Your Saddle?
BY BRITTANY BIRD
So, you’re shopping for a new
saddle, and as you sip your morning coffee while researching different types,
you stumble across the foam vs. wool debate.
Some of your friends are all about the sleek,...
I Love Horses, But I’m Tired
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
My story is not unique in our sport. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love horses. Begged for lessons, was fortunate enough to ride as a kid. Worked hard and...
Tire Kicker
The ad said, “Please, no tire kickers,” and I was just old enough to know that I was one. I saw it hanging on the bulletin board at the feed store in town, just...
Lost in College – A Saddleseat Rider Uses (Hunter!) Horses to Find Her Way
BY CADY WAKITSCH
I never expected to continue riding horses after high school. I had been riding saddleseat since I was four, but I never owned or leased and didn’t get serious into competing. I...
Creative Braiding Shines at Maryland Horse & Pony Show Contest
Concluding last weekend, the Maryland Horse & Pony Show was an exciting event for competitors of all ages. A premier equestrian event for over 75 years, the show touts itself as a great opportunity...
Get Fit and Stay Fit – Exercises for Equestrians
By Izzy Feinstein
Just as you perform exercises with your horse such as grid exercises and trot poles to help them build up their strength, it is just as important to build up your...
Notes to my daughter – Life lessons at the horse show
Pictured: Grace McReynolds leading Lorelei Cudney's Bits N' Pieces at Colorado Spring Preview 2017 | PC: TPH Intern Mackenzie Shuman
By Averill Pessin
As parents, we hope our children get two main things from their sport: Short-term...
Hard Work Isn’t Enough to Show Successfully—It’s About Privilege
BY SHELBY BENNY
Many consider riding a dying sport. As urban sprawl leads to a decline in the availability of farmland and wages remain stagnant, horse ownership becomes more and more out of reach for...
“I Did My Part”: Groom Katie Williams On What It’s Really Like Under the...
BY KATIE WILLIAMS
“It takes a village” is a favorite Instagram platitude, usually shared alongside some stellar horse show results and a few glittering photos from the winner’s circle. But what does that expression truly...
Riding Through It When You Feel Like Quitting
BY JAMIE SKUBAL
How many of us have hit a stage in our riding when we just
want to give up?
Currently, I’m sitting in the middle of it. Right in the
heart of the show season,...
Horses Shouldn’t Always Be Expected to Jump
BY ANN DEMICHELE
I’ve learned more from horses who’ve said no than those that have said yes.
I’m a professional out of Northern Virginia. I grew up on a farm, and my mother is also a...
Relax With These Perfect Barn Organization Photos
We all have grand plans, but sometimes life gets in the way. At least that's how I feel about keeping my tack trunk organized. There are always 1,000 things to accomplish at the barn,...
Losing Your Heart Horse: Where Do You Go With a Broken Heart?
BY BLOG EDITOR LAUREN MAULDIN
It took me almost twenty years of riding to learn what a heart horse actually is.
I mean, in some way I've loved all the horses I've been around. Doodles, the stout Palomino who taught me...
A Step-by-Step Body Clipping Guide for Adult Amateurs
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
It's that time of year. When you don't know if you'll go to the barn to find your horse covered in blankets or covered in mud. In Texas, we have the added...
10 Tips and Tricks for Being the Best Horse Show Groom You Can Be
BY GRACE SALMON
Grooming gives you the opportunity to travel and experience shows that you might not get the opportunity to show at yourself. Think you have what it takes to groom at horse shows?...
Breaking Down Breeding: Maclay Finals Edition
Evaluating the bloodlines of the current top equitation horses
BY BETHANNE BORT
Like many equestrians, I spent most of November 3, 2019 glued to the 2019 Maclay Finals live stream presented by the National Horse Show...
That Time I Won a Car in the Hunters
BY KIMBERLY MALOOMIAN
October 26, 2019 will forever be known as the day I won a car. Just to be clear, it’s not a lease. It’s mine until I decide otherwise. I am sure that...
Disney Made a New Black Beauty Movie and I Have FEELINGS About It
BY LAUREN MAULDIN
I've never been one to cry in movies, especially when I was younger. My late husband once challenged me to watch Life is Beautiful without tearing up, and (although it was a...
The Emotional Truth About Selling Your Horse
BY JAMIE SKUBAL
Today, I’m sitting in the middle of my horse’s possible sale. To be honest, this is not the side I’m used to sitting on. If you had asked me three years ago...
