The other day someone called me “old school.” That comment was largely prompted because I use an ancient Passier saddle with no thigh blocks, and I expressed my dissatisfaction with the “modern” saddles that, in my opinion, severely limit the freedom of the leg. I began my dressage career riding … Continue reading

Thanks to every student, boarder, parent, and friend who helped out at the Sunborn Stables Open House. It was a great time! People got lots of hands-on opportunities, but Unlike other medical treatments, Kamagra doesn’t cause any kind of gastric problems or side-effects. generic viagra germany In other words, some … Continue reading

The new Spielberg movie, War Horse, started bad and got worse. Contrived, and appealing to childish ideals and dreams about what relationships among horses, and between horses and humans are like, the move was a real disappointment. Worse, it was attended by almost a full house on Christmas Day, and … Continue reading

OK, day after the horse show and you feel rotten. Your horse and you didn’t get the scores you hoped for and you feel, “Why do I bother? I’m not any good at this! This is not a good enough horse, etc.” Remember that dressage test scores are extremely fluid. … Continue reading

If you mastered the walk to trot transition, the walk to canter or trot to canter transitions are not too much more complicated. However, it does require that your horse be light to the aids. So start by testing the walk to trot transitions and make sure they are sharp, … Continue reading

How should you really make a transition to the trot from the walk? Well, it depends if you want a good transition or a butt-high, low quality one. If you want the latter, just squeeze with your lower legs. If you want something more elegant that leads to self carriage … Continue reading

Why is straightness important? Simply put, if a horse is not straight, he or she can’t perform at her best. Without straightness, horses aren’t able to push themselves forward in an even, symmetrical way, and hence don’t run as fast, turn as efficiently, or collect as well. Horses go crooked … Continue reading

Saturday, Aug 13th– St. Paul, MN –Saturday was the culmination of three months of hard work for the horse trainers that took part in the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Society’s “Challenge of the Unwanted Horse.” Each trainer volunteered their time, their feed, and their facility to turn a useless, sometimes … Continue reading

Went to the Washington County fair yesterday and saw many youngsters doing the games. It was disappointing to see how the horses struggled to behave and do their best with riders interfering every step of the way! When I’ve worked with the 4-Hers I’ve always taught them to develop a … Continue reading