A: When I train riders to compete in a hunter under saddle class, I try to ensure that they know what they are truly being judged on; so many people...
Q: I see lots of horses—hunters, especially—jumping what feels like a lot of rounds, sometimes multiple divisions at shows. How much is too much? A: That’s a hard question, as...
First, let’s make sure we are all on the same page, as there are multiple levels to consider: schooling classes, USHJA classes, national classes, and B- and C-rated classes—to name...
I’m not sure, as a trainer, that any of us would think it’s possible to be a great trainer and not a great horseman. But there are so many different...
For junior riders, ‘catch riding’ is a huge thing in the hunter/equitation world, and to some degree in the jumper world. As a freelancing professional, it’s a little tougher; most...
When we see equines in the Gaza Strip today, it is via images of donkeys pulling large barrels of water and horses serving as life-saving ambulances. But hidden in the...
As a trainer, teaching a 7-year-old, I would immediately put him or her on a pony. To start, the size is the best fit, safety-wise. I have always felt that...
This is very hard because you must understand that, truthfully, the equitation division is like figure skating: the look does matter. As a trainer, I personally don’t think the best...
I have such mixed emotions about this one! I began training in the day that thoroughbreds were being used less and less, and warmbloods started being used far more often...
Del Mar Fairgrounds is a hallowed ground in Thoroughbred horse racing. Founded in 1937 and put on the map by crooner Bing Crosby, Del Mar was Hollywood’s summer playground in...
For the uninitiated, “the jog,” as it’s often referred to, was a required part of certain recognized hunter divisions at USEF-rated competitions. Riders who’d placed in a class were called...
The path to a high-level, professional riding career in the hunter/jumper industry has changed SO much in the last 20 years. Today, the cost of horses, shows, and full-training/care has...
Like everything else in life, the more you trust someone, the more vulnerable you are to getting hurt. Horse sales are no different. In a perfect world, every trainer...
This is a question that oh-so many parents don’t fully understand. Riding in college is a very different game from other sports. First and foremost is the pipeline aspect. Many...
Question courtesy of Curtis Pool. This is a very complicated question as there are so many different points of view when it comes to teaching people to ride. As a...
This is very straightforward to me. As a trainer, I think too many of us are scared of their owners/clients. Horses don’t have to do all that they do for...
