You think you know the game. A rider enters the ring. She is riding a horse. Together, they negotiate a series of obstacles—jumps—and come out with a score based on...
A menacing face hangs over the arena—huge eyes hollowed out by shadows. It is Ben Maher, looking as grim as anyone ever has. Flash! Boom! Pow! Bam! A veiny hand...
Dear Moms, Fair warning: horses are going to steal your kid’s heart. Buckle up, buttercup—you’re in for a wild ride. Which is exactly why I wish I’d had a mentor...
In today’s world, our schooling togs and accessories are just as fancy as our show ones. In my day, however, the idea of high-end schooling gear had yet to be...
If you’ve ever trudged into the field, halter in hand, only to watch your horse turn tail and leave like they just saw a tax collector—congratulations, you’re not alone. Few...
A regiment of kilt-wearing, bagpipe-playing Scotsmen enter the ring. Dozens-strong, unexpected, they give every neck whiplash as all eyes turn to them, a triumphant parade of pomp. A small troupe...
When Pennsylvania retiree Joni Miller first met rescue horse Charlie during her time volunteering at Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) in Woodbine, Maryland, it was not love at first...
Another week of cold. We've all been reduced to one thought, if you can call it that: “It’s cold.” Our conversations, if you can call it that, consist of “I’m...
‘It’s supposed to be fun, guys!’ Except, fun can seem frivolous. Fun can seem like a distraction from the hard ‘work’ that we’re taught will make us better. Fun seems...
Somewhere in the reclaimed swampland of the Everglades, that glorious river of grass (although it’s actually sedge, not grass, and it’s technically a marsh, not a swamp), a columnist is...
Winter carnival season is upon us! That is the Winter Equestrian Festival, a 12-week staycation for humans and equines in Wellington, Florida, just outside of West Palm Beach, northwest of...
Things have changed on the rider accessory front of the horse world since I was a kid. I speak of a time long before rhinestones glinted in barn aisles and...
I love this sport. Anyone who rides will tell you that equestrian is a lifestyle. It's your family. It's your base. It’s your identity. That’s especially true for youth athletes....
For Christmas in 2018, three young girls were gifted a small chestnut pony wrapped in a bow. Joker’s Jester was a surprise present for Peyton, Jordyn, and Presley Sears. Although...
Today, safety reigns supreme. Forty years ago, however, it took a backseat to fashion, and more importantly, tradition. Obviously, I will never turn my nose up at doing the smart...
Your barn is more than a place to ride—it’s the heartbeat of your equestrian experience. Whether you’re a trainer or student, the culture of your barn shapes the day-to-day experience...