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...
When a minimally handled obese donkey with severely overgrown feet came to DaysEnd Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) in July 2024, his complex case required carefulmanagement. Corn Chip had been living...
My friend's seven-year-old asked Santa for a pony this year. When she told me this request was on her child's Christmas list, my friend and I both let fly a thick layer...
Lessons from an FEI dressage rider for $5? What's the catch? That was my reaction—and the reaction of lots of other riders—when they saw Meghan Laffin's post. Why would an...
Show coats. I mean seriously. I can’t even. If you thought us antique riders struggled with our fancy leather boots, wait until you hear about our riding jackets. We were...
Full disclosure. I’ve been trapped inside my hunter bubble. In my younger years, I dabbled. I dipped my toes in dressage, hunter paces, and eventing. I attempted Western. Fun fact:...
Are you a concerned parent whose child just started riding? A coach hoping to bring best practices to your team? A passionate rider at a beloved, longtime barn, looking to...
