Memoir
Dear Back On Track,
My darling, I’ve gotten hurt before. My past is littered with traumas. I healed, but that old pain lingered. I ached. There was a shadow…
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Opinion
Opinion
Millennials Are the Worst, These Riders Are Proof
There’s been a lot of talk of millennials lately, and most of it isn’t good. Millennials (those born after 1980 but before 1995) have been…
5 days ago
Learn
6 Things to Consider When Selecting a New Trainer
Disclaimer: I have written this article with a focus on show jumping and my examples reflect this. However, the content holds true for all equestrian disciplines.…
5 days ago
Horse Rescue
Silent Heroes
Every once in a while we meet a truly remarkable person; a person with a special gift and the ability to carry it out. They…
1 week ago
Horse Health
What Is Restricted Feeding?
On one level, it’s exactly what it sounds like: restricting what you feed your horse. The devil is in the details, though. Exactly what is…
2 weeks ago
Behavior
Letters From Your Groom: Stop Feeding Your Horse So Many Treats
Look, your horse is a terror. He kicks the walls, bangs on his door, and paws incessantly in the cross ties. If you so much…
2 weeks ago
Show Jumping
The Lost Pony Divisions
I rode show jumping horses for 40 years, I have so many amazing memories and am grateful for the success I enjoyed in my career.…
2 weeks ago
Eventing
For the Record
I walked off my XC course on Sunday and just shook my head. A grimace was plastered across my face and my reins draped across…
2 weeks ago
Life
True Groom Confessions
Do you ever wonder what grooms talk about when they’re alone? What kind of secrets do they keep? Well, we asked a few brushers to…
4 weeks ago
Horse Health
’Til Death Do Us Part: Loving Old Horses
There’s a well-known saying, “Getting old isn’t for the faint of heart.” I imagine it’s not, but watching your beloved horse grow old is no…
1 month ago
Uncategorized
The Cyber Bully Inside All of Us
Almost everything I’ve ever posted, I published under a pen name. Gretchen is my real first name, and Lida is the first name of my…
1 month ago
Opinion
Priced Out: A Letter to US Equestrian President Murray Kessler
A response to US Equestrian (USEF) President Murray Kessler’s letter to members on August 2, 2017. Dear Mr. Kessler, I recently read your letter…
2 months ago
Hoof Care
I’m Not a God, I’m Just a Farrier
North Texas farrier Jessica Linder responds to L.C. Street’s “Your Farrier Is Not a God.” L.C, you are right about one thing—I am not a God.…
2 months ago
Hunter/Jumper
All Praise the Blue/Red Classes
You know what the best thing ever is at horse shows? The blue/red classes. If you haven’t heard of these (and they’re not a new…
2 months ago
Hoof Care
Your Farrier Is Not a God
Your farrier is not a god. You do not have to give him* offerings to keep him happy. You do not have to worry if…
2 months ago
Horse Health
Managing Old Soft Tissue Injuries
Tendon and suspensory ligament injuries plague horses performing in all disciplines. Even pleasure horses and pasture ornaments may fall victim if they take the proverbial…
2 months ago
OTTB
The Horse I Can’t Quit
Five years ago I took on an off-the-track-thoroughbred with the idea that he would be an easy flip. Some quick cash. A safety net for…
2 months ago
Pro Tips
So Here’s the Deal About Tipping Grooms
Usually, we tip people who do stuff for us. Bartenders and waitresses are high on the list. But unless you’re flat-broke or unforgivably cheap, your…
2 months ago
Hunter/Jumper
American Show Jumping Under Attack: Interview With USHJA President Mary Babick
July has been a very difficult month for the powers that be in Show Jumping in the United States. First, there was the fallout from…
2 months ago
OTTB
How To Be a Horse Trainer
So you want to become a horse trainer, huh? Sounds like fun—doing what you love and getting paid for it? Score! You are about to…